I
have been attentively following the daily progress of the Sea to Sea tour these
recent weeks and imagining what each day is like for the bikers as they gradually
make their way east. I
am looking forward to August 5 when I will be taking my place alongside the pedaling
pellegrinos who are making the full
journey to help break poverty’s bonds.
Besides
gathering some necessary bike parts and equipment for all the riding and
camping that awaits me, I have also been riding regularly to gain some physical
conditioning. Lungs, thighs, and one
particular delicate point of contact all need to become accustomed to the long
rigors of the road and nothing prepares them like prolonged hours “in the
saddle.” Since the beginning of May through
July 20 I have logged 1350 road miles.
The
week of July 22-26 a friend and I will be riding an estimated 325 miles along the outline of the Lake Michigan
shoreline from Ludington up to Mackinaw City as part of my preparations for stepping
up to join the ride in early August.
I expect to ride over 1200 miles during the three weeks beginning from Grand
Rapids on August 5, through Toronto, to Montreal and then down through the
Adirondacks and the Hudson Valley to New York City, ending on August 24. I am eager to get started!
