In 2010 Mary Kay and I began a bike ride from Denver, Colorado home to Plymouth, IN. We aptly called our blog and journey Spokin' Home. Unfortunately after 1000 miles we had to stop our ride in Missouri. Well after the birth of four more grandchildren (making it 20), a wedding, back surgery, and more kidney stones we have decided to finish the ride. Some have asked if we are starting all over back in Denver. No way! The word finish is key here.
On May 28th we will take a train from Chicago to St. Louis then another one to Jefferson City, MO.
We will spend the night there and on the morning of the 29th we will get back on the Katy Trail and start our ride home. We have the first two days and distances planned, but then we will play it by ear. We know that the wind, rain, heat, and hills can affect our daily mileage so we will just see as our legs and bottoms wear out where we are each day. I believe we will have approximately 550 miles to get us home.
We will miss our family and friends, but are really looking forward to this adventure. We are so fortunate and blessed to be able to come home to our family. We also know from our last experience that this time together - just the two of us - is a special time. We know we will need each other's love, encouragement, humor, and faith to get us from one small town grain elevator to the next, until finally we will see home and Lawrence Lake.
We invite you to join us on our journey. If we have Internet access we will post a blog each day. For those who weren't part of our last trip, we invite you to look back on our blog to get a picture of the first 20 days of this ride. Of course, the blog goes in reverse, so if you want to start at the beginning you will need to page back and the work your way forward.
Are we physically ready? Probably not, but we will ride ourselves into shape. We quickly realized last time that it is extremely difficult to really be prepared for a ride like this. The weather and stamina are of course instrumental in that, but the mental part of the ride is really difficult. I believe we are more ready for that this time. When you are hot, tired, and feel weak you tend to think to yourself, "Can I get up every morning for the next thirty days and ride another 50 miles in the wind and heat again?" We answered that question the last time (with Mary Kay's positive outlook) and we will be able to do it again. Hopefully, in 10 or 11 days after we start we will be back home.
Think about us on May 29, wish us luck and pray for us.
On May 28th we will take a train from Chicago to St. Louis then another one to Jefferson City, MO.
We will spend the night there and on the morning of the 29th we will get back on the Katy Trail and start our ride home. We have the first two days and distances planned, but then we will play it by ear. We know that the wind, rain, heat, and hills can affect our daily mileage so we will just see as our legs and bottoms wear out where we are each day. I believe we will have approximately 550 miles to get us home.
We will miss our family and friends, but are really looking forward to this adventure. We are so fortunate and blessed to be able to come home to our family. We also know from our last experience that this time together - just the two of us - is a special time. We know we will need each other's love, encouragement, humor, and faith to get us from one small town grain elevator to the next, until finally we will see home and Lawrence Lake.
We invite you to join us on our journey. If we have Internet access we will post a blog each day. For those who weren't part of our last trip, we invite you to look back on our blog to get a picture of the first 20 days of this ride. Of course, the blog goes in reverse, so if you want to start at the beginning you will need to page back and the work your way forward.
Are we physically ready? Probably not, but we will ride ourselves into shape. We quickly realized last time that it is extremely difficult to really be prepared for a ride like this. The weather and stamina are of course instrumental in that, but the mental part of the ride is really difficult. I believe we are more ready for that this time. When you are hot, tired, and feel weak you tend to think to yourself, "Can I get up every morning for the next thirty days and ride another 50 miles in the wind and heat again?" We answered that question the last time (with Mary Kay's positive outlook) and we will be able to do it again. Hopefully, in 10 or 11 days after we start we will be back home.
Think about us on May 29, wish us luck and pray for us.
Good luck! Read "Wild" by Cheryl Strayed for some inspiration on tackling an adventurous goal. I look forward to reading about your experience along the way.
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