Long Haul Truckered Out

And so it goes...
After
1023 pictures taken
802 miles ridden
44.5 miles ridden/day (average)
31 new friends/acquaintances
14 boxes of mac and cheese consumed
12 books finished
7 flat tires (including 1 explosive blowout)
5 climbs of 1-2000 vertical feet
4 tubs of peanut butter
3 states
2 successful hitchhikes
1 official rest day
0 crashes
and the list goes on...

It's actually July 23rd. The day that allegedly would arrive despite our doubts. Over a month ago, we packed our gear on a porch in Seattle, looking ahead with only our uncertainty and spandex.We rode and rode some more, but the days ticked by, congealing together into a sticky mass of west coast America. Suddenly it was July, and we could practically see the Golden Gate. So here we are; The last RPM's, revolved, the last hill, climbed and the last rainstorm, weathered. To have an adventure was our ultimate goal, and succeed we did.

No one told us it would be easy, and boy was no one right. After a harsh reality check in lovely Arcata, CA, we realized our biking selves were no longer the youthful, jovial whippersnappers we were in June. We had consumed ourselves. Out of respect for our bodies, minds and the trip itself, we decided to stop riding in Arcata and travel to San Francisco by alternate means. We were disappointed, we were sad and we were embarrassed, but pride still emanated. Before this trip, the farthest I'd ever ridden was 35 miles in a day. By mid-July, 35 miles was considered a quasi-rest day.
So we didn't go as far as intended, but who cares? The goal was adventure, and location was a second thought. At first we thought we let everyone down, we failed, but in retrospect, Au contraire! I have the tan lines to prove this was no Thursday night cruiser ride. I'm so happy that I even had the opportunity to embark on this journey, much less ride 800 miles over some of the most breathtaking scenery around.
In short, we did it. No one defined what "IT" was, but we did it, and with precision and dedication.

Bill Clinton once told the press: "Mistakes were made." In our press conference, our statement would be: "Lessons were learned." For example: When planning a bike tour, use pessimism to your advantage. Here we were, two strong 20-somethings. 1400 miles on our first tour? No sweat...Eh not so much. Both time and terrain are easy to under-estimate, so over budget and save yourself the stress.
Next: Pushing it only hurts you in the end. We rode 760 miles before giving ourselves a rest day. Excitement permeated the early weeks of the tour, so we got on our bikes every morning without a second thought. The human body--though amazing--can only take so much. We learned this the hard way, and our lack of rest was a factor in our burn out.
Finally, the biggest lesson of the trip: Relax! The whole point of a trip like this is to be without a schedule. Stop at a redwood grove, jump into the ocean, stop for that ice cream you've been craving all day. There's no  destination that won't exist tomorrow. We made the error of rushing to camp, and in doing so, missed some fabulous opportunities.

Now this all sounds so sour, but please don't get the wrong idea. Having never toured on a bike before, we were greenhorns and these lessons needed to be learned. As I often told Ally during my nightly complaints, "it's all in the job description." This was no beach-side getaway, and I'm sure glad it wasn't. We were tested again and again, both mentally and physically. From hills to rainstorms to unspoken tensions, this trip was the best teacher I've ever had. Classroom learning is nice, but try riding 75 miles in the rain. You'll learn a whole lot more about yourself than Mrs. Darcy could ever teach you. Conversation was next to impossible on the road, so we both spent hundreds of hours inside our own heads. I know we're good company, but after 10 hours of hearing our own stories over and over...you get the picture.

So it's over. We're home, the bikes are in the shed, panniers empty,--waiting to be bleached--and muscles recovered. We made it. Safe and sound, looking forward to the next time we load up the long hauls and set out for a west coast sunset.

Thanks for sticking with us! Couldn't have done it without you.