"pack lite, live long and travel far" Those are the words on the inside tag of my new protective computer sleeve. Such poignant wisdom was tucked away in an inexpensive netbook bag at the local Best Buy; a bag I didn't even need until our laptop bit the dust a few days ago. Each time I remove and replace the computer, I see those words and find myself lingering over them. They ring so true that I think I shall make it my mantra!
Today, Frankebutt and I worked on more trim work ... I don't think we're ever going to get every piece back up! Don't worry; I think I know why it's taking forever. All 3 of us have the "ride" on our minds all the time now. We are so easily distracted from the work at hand with thoughts of every aspect of the big trip. Midway through installing the kitchen trim, Frankenbutt practically ran from the house to the garage and started pulling apart an older cycling trainer. He pulled the single wheel trailer from the garage and started measuring. Next thing I knew, he was cutting and grinding metal pieces to form a new sturdy bracket to secure the Beast's BMX bike to the single wheel trailer. He finally revealed his creation to me and I was impressed! He has always been talented at fabrication and has a creative mind, too. His new design suspends the Beast's race bike above Coco's soft side kennel crate on the single wheel trailer. I suppose we'll test it out report the outcome on the next ride.
Meanwhile, I took a break from painting trim to make a few phone calls and return emails. As I walked about the living room on hold, I pulled my sleeping bag from the camping supply crate in the corner. When I wrapped up the phone call, I told Frankenbutt and the Beast to get there sleeping bags, too. I wanted to explore all the options that we'd have as we deal with the different weather scenarios we'll encounter. Although we'll start out riding in Florida (where it's typically warm) and end in Louisville, KY on Labor Day weekend (where it's typically warm), we can't rely on having only warm weather. For those of us who attended last year's Grand National Championship in Louisville, we all learned that it pays to have a sweatshirt handy.
Today, Frankebutt and I worked on more trim work ... I don't think we're ever going to get every piece back up! Don't worry; I think I know why it's taking forever. All 3 of us have the "ride" on our minds all the time now. We are so easily distracted from the work at hand with thoughts of every aspect of the big trip. Midway through installing the kitchen trim, Frankenbutt practically ran from the house to the garage and started pulling apart an older cycling trainer. He pulled the single wheel trailer from the garage and started measuring. Next thing I knew, he was cutting and grinding metal pieces to form a new sturdy bracket to secure the Beast's BMX bike to the single wheel trailer. He finally revealed his creation to me and I was impressed! He has always been talented at fabrication and has a creative mind, too. His new design suspends the Beast's race bike above Coco's soft side kennel crate on the single wheel trailer. I suppose we'll test it out report the outcome on the next ride.
Meanwhile, I took a break from painting trim to make a few phone calls and return emails. As I walked about the living room on hold, I pulled my sleeping bag from the camping supply crate in the corner. When I wrapped up the phone call, I told Frankenbutt and the Beast to get there sleeping bags, too. I wanted to explore all the options that we'd have as we deal with the different weather scenarios we'll encounter. Although we'll start out riding in Florida (where it's typically warm) and end in Louisville, KY on Labor Day weekend (where it's typically warm), we can't rely on having only warm weather. For those of us who attended last year's Grand National Championship in Louisville, we all learned that it pays to have a sweatshirt handy.
We spread all 3 sleeping bags out on our King sized bed, which is about the size of the floor of our tent. We decided that my sleeping bag should be in the middle since I am the most likely to need a bathroom in the middle of the night. If my bag is in the middle, I should be able to shimmy out of it and through the center door of our tent. We each got fully inside our bags and not surprisingly, Coco leapt onto the bed and quickly snuggled down between the Beast and me. In fact, after we all got out of the sleeping bags, Coco found a comfy spot in the Beast's sleeping bag and immediately started to snore. (Yes, Coco snores. She also burps and as any Frenchie owner knows, she also passes gas like a truck driver at a chili cook off!)
We made several efforts to get back on track with the work at hand, but each of us wondered about who would do what camp chores, like preparing meals, rolling sleeping bags, cleaning up dishes, etc. We basically decided that I would be in charge of the morning meal. I'll set up the primus stove and boil water for tea and coffee. I'll also prepare the oatmeal or make pancakes (w/peanut butter! for protein) while Frankenbutt and the Beast roll sleeping bags and break down the tent. The Beast will keep her at home chore of doing dishes. Frankenbutt will most likely prepare the evening meal while the Beast and I shower and change. After dinner, the Beast and I will return emails, blog, read and prepare clothes for the next day while Frankenbutt showers. Doing so will allow us to carry only one "showering kit" with shampoo, soap, toothpaste that the Beast and I will share and then pass off to Frankenbutt for his shower. We'll each have our individual toothbrushes and shavers, of course.
We know that there is a lot we don't know. How can we possibly know and prepare for everything we'll experience in this ride? I recently read an article by a regular long distance rider who said that every ride has a personality of it's own; that the mix of people on the ride, the places you visit and stay, and the challenges you encounter en route all shape the personality of the ride. I can't wait to see how ours will unfold.
This evening, I had a little deja vous. While scoring the bmx local race at the Tampa track, I was talking with my fellow scorers and a few other bmx moms about our ride. Some of them were saying that they just don't know how we're going to do it; that it sounded impossible. I remember my girlfriends saying that to me when I decided to start my own business on the heels of my first marriage ending. They said it was impossible; that I didn't have the money to start a business; didn't have office space or collateral for a business loan. I started the special event business any way. In the first year, there were times that clients offered me attractive positions within their organization. I often thought about accepting their offers and enjoying a steady paycheck, good benefits and a proper work space. In my second year of business, an incredible offer was presented to me. I didn't need to go home and think about it. I didn't hesitate at all in declining it on the spot because it was clear that my business was going to succeed beyond anything that any client offered. Tonight, I realized that I'm that committed to this bike ride, too.
We made several efforts to get back on track with the work at hand, but each of us wondered about who would do what camp chores, like preparing meals, rolling sleeping bags, cleaning up dishes, etc. We basically decided that I would be in charge of the morning meal. I'll set up the primus stove and boil water for tea and coffee. I'll also prepare the oatmeal or make pancakes (w/peanut butter! for protein) while Frankenbutt and the Beast roll sleeping bags and break down the tent. The Beast will keep her at home chore of doing dishes. Frankenbutt will most likely prepare the evening meal while the Beast and I shower and change. After dinner, the Beast and I will return emails, blog, read and prepare clothes for the next day while Frankenbutt showers. Doing so will allow us to carry only one "showering kit" with shampoo, soap, toothpaste that the Beast and I will share and then pass off to Frankenbutt for his shower. We'll each have our individual toothbrushes and shavers, of course.
We know that there is a lot we don't know. How can we possibly know and prepare for everything we'll experience in this ride? I recently read an article by a regular long distance rider who said that every ride has a personality of it's own; that the mix of people on the ride, the places you visit and stay, and the challenges you encounter en route all shape the personality of the ride. I can't wait to see how ours will unfold.
This evening, I had a little deja vous. While scoring the bmx local race at the Tampa track, I was talking with my fellow scorers and a few other bmx moms about our ride. Some of them were saying that they just don't know how we're going to do it; that it sounded impossible. I remember my girlfriends saying that to me when I decided to start my own business on the heels of my first marriage ending. They said it was impossible; that I didn't have the money to start a business; didn't have office space or collateral for a business loan. I started the special event business any way. In the first year, there were times that clients offered me attractive positions within their organization. I often thought about accepting their offers and enjoying a steady paycheck, good benefits and a proper work space. In my second year of business, an incredible offer was presented to me. I didn't need to go home and think about it. I didn't hesitate at all in declining it on the spot because it was clear that my business was going to succeed beyond anything that any client offered. Tonight, I realized that I'm that committed to this bike ride, too.
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