At long last, an update for all our adoring fans(?)!

I don't have much to report, just felt like writing to curb some of this anxiety and excitement I'm beginning to feel. I'm (kind of) almost fully ready now...I have a sleeping bag, racks and my front panniers on the way. I'm equipped with several pairs of cheesy biking socks, padded spandex, one very brightly colored skort and one equally bright sports bra. I have a bike, a good tent and a sturdy helmet. We've run into some troubles with Dylan's apartment and are kind of in a worried haze about it, but I have no doubt that things will work themselves out as they always do. I had my last (scheduled) day of work on Sunday and now feel extremely free if not slightly worried. The weather is another concern...it just won't warm up. I want to be able to go on some long rides before we take off and it's looking more and more unlikely that that will be possible. I have so many people I want to see so often before I go but keep being too busy to do that.

But in the end, I think I really do worry too much. We'll be ok. We'll be great!

One of these days, I'll get Dylan (Klaus) to add something to this.

blog numba one

This has been a very lazy winter for me in every sense of the word. It's consisted mostly of sleeping, watching movies, reading western novels and eating junk food during all of it (I bet you didn't know I could eat in my sleep!). I found myself living in an apartment no more than a mile from where I work so my bike ride was about 5 minutes per day. I moved back into my mom's house this week (for good reason I swear!) on the north side, which significantly ups my daily commute. It's nothing too challenging, but it's made me realize how out of shape I am. I was ashamed at how much my legs burned yesterday on my way to work, and biking home this morning from Dylan's house on Willy St. I felt sluggish and grumpy. I turned onto N. Sherman which is a very long boring incline and started to feel a little worse. Then I heard my dad's voice in my head saying "You start to get into a cadence" and "It's more a mental thing than a physical thing" and my ride got a whole lot easier. Before I knew it I was pulling into my mom's driveway.

Anyway I guess the moral of the story is, I'm going to hurt for awhile, but it'll feel good. I can't wait to be able to be on a bike all day in the country by myself just counting off my pedal strokes. I can't wait to live the simplest life possible for just a little while.

Time For Introductions!

This is Elly and Dylan!

They really enjoy biking!

So they are taking an extra long bike ride!

It will be Excellent! It will be an Adventure! It will be an Excellent Adventure!