Pre Trip Jitters

February 27, 2009

As the trip gets closer, my emotions have been all over the place. I really am doing this trip! I really am leaving my family for two months. I really am done with the training. The waiting has been the hardest part. My school friends at work took me out on Monday night for a farewell beverage and to wish me luck. Saying goodbye to various friends and family during the past few weeks has been hard .

I've been 99% packed for two weeks now to make sure I was under the Woman Tour Weight limit. I have one carry-on size suitcase and one medium-sized gym bag. I will be checking both bags at the airport to stow away in the baggage compartment. (I took more luggage for our 18 day bike vacation in November and for this trip I'll be gone for an additional 40 days!) I also have one small carry on bag for the plane ride along with my bicycle helmet that will not fit anywhere else. The bike gear takes up a lot of space so once that is all on the bike I should have some more room in my bags.


We only bring a few cycling jerseys so don't be surprised if you see me in the same outfit frequently! Non-bike clothing is also very casual and limited so they'll be little fashion variability there either.


One More Joins Group!
We just found out that there will be one more addition to our group. A gal from New York City will be joining to make our group of riders grow from 20 to 21 (plus the the chef and two guides). Many other women have been experiencing the same pre-trip jitters. It's just part of the anticipation and excitement of an adventure. You may hear me chanting my mantra...it will all be fine...it will all be fine...it will all be fine.... and it will!

I ride in honor of my father, Don Meyers, who had Type II Diabetes. If you are interested in making a donation on line, please click on this link:
http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR/TourdeCure/TDC005008030?px=4582692&pg=personal&fr_id=5560

If you want to make a donation by check
please make the check payable to
American Diabetes Association and mail to
c/o Robin Sewell
60 Foster Street
Littleton, MA 01460

or call American Diabetes Association @ 1-800-342-2383


Cross-Country Bicycle Trip Details

Yes, I intend to bicycle 3, 098 miles across country on my bicycle with a group of 20 woman. I've met the New England women from VT, NH, and MA and through emails I have started to get to know the other woman from USA that have also have signed up for this trip. They hail from all over the country including California, Montana, Indiana, Texas, Arizona, North Carolina, Florida, Hawaii, New Jersey, South Dakota, New York, Colorado, and Washington. Some have biked big trips before while some are novices. The average age is 58. Some have retired, while many others are working part or full time. I've appreciated all the tips, hints, and advice from the experienced riders on biking gear,web sites, and equipment.

This journey takes 58 days and starts in San Diego, California on March 6th. The trip ends in St. Augustine, Florida on April 30, 2009. We stay in hotels each evening."Woman Tours" provides maps, lodging, home-cooked dinners, breakfasts, and snacks along the way on riding days. There is a SAG (Support and Gear Vehicle) that accompanies us on our trip, carrying extra gear and sometimes injured or tired riders too! We climb mountains in high elevations,bike over rolling hills and traverse deserts and flat lands along the southern tier of the United States in the spring of the year. We average 57 miles per day with 8 rest days ride through all types of weather conditions. Our highest mileage day is 111 in Texas with a few other 90 miles + days in Texas and Florida.






Getting Ready to Ride
Since this has been one of the snowiest, coldest, and iciest winters inNew England, I've only had two opportunities to ride my bike outdoors since December after an ice storm when my bike picked up all kinds of road gunk as well as salt spray. Recently, I rode outdoors in February on a fairly warm 40 degree day before my "dream machine" was shipped out to California for reassembly and a thorough tune-up. Most of my training has been indoors, early in the morning with spinning at indoor cycle classes, using the elliptical and treadmill machines, and taking muscle conditioning classes and free weight workouts when schedules permit.


These past few months I've had the opportunity to be grandma and watch my grandson from two months of age to four months. In between watching him 40 hours a week, I've attempted to work on endurance and strength at the gym before "work." Perhaps I am not in peak shape but as one of the women stated "after all, we are doing a ride, not a race, right?" I intend to be one who stops along the way to soak up the views of the sunrise, listen to the songs of the spring birds, and enjoy the total experience. I'll be at the end of the pack and one of the last riders to get in at the end of the day, but that's OK with me.

Why Ride?
We all need dreams and challenges at different times in our lives. Changes can be opportunities to try something different. I once thought I would hike the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. My knees did not like this dream and in most recent years voiced their disdain after surgery, on hikes, after competitive volleyball and other impact activities but especially at night when I really wanted to sleep. I discovered biking didn't hurt so much so why not try a different challenge of cycling across country? "If you change the way you look at things the things you look at change." (Wayne Dyer) Instead of complaining about what I can't do anymore, I opted to look for some other activity I could do.

Thanks
This is an opportunity of a lifetime for me. I thank my husband for his understanding and patience as I take a year of absence without pay in order to go on this ride and try some different activities. I thank my family, friends, the second grade team,and chums at school for all their support and encouragement. Through these near and dear to me, I know I will find the strength to meet this unique challenge.

For those that are interested, I hope to update this page periodically on my trip with pictures and information. Feel free to follow along!

With love,
Robin/Mom/Grandma/Mrs. Sewell