Reality Check

It was a good week last week: I got to take the aircast off and we got three rides in!

The first ride could hardly be called that as it was only 12 miles, but it felt good to at least stretch the muscles a bit. We were able to do 34 on Saturday and 35 yesterday.
"A raggedy ride beats a dressed-up walk".
~Simon Peat

The reality check came on Saturday afternoon with the "practice pack". We gathered everything we're going to need on the trip, laid it out, then tried to pack it. We weighed it all and we're fine on total weight (under 50 lbs). But the volume killed us. There was NO way (and I mean NO way!) it was all going to fit on that Bob trailer! (Keep in mind that we're talking about minimal necessities.) So I pulled it all out and started over...adding the two panniers. Well, that was getting closer. We think we can do it after we pick up one more dry bag to lash on the rack above the panniers. We were hoping to avoid panniers in order to keep the least amount of weight off the back tire (less risk of flats). But, by putting the heaviest items on the trailer and the lighter ones in the panniers, we're okay.

(Also, Gerry replaced the tire on the trailer with a heavier-duty one that we ordered from http://www.biketrailershop.com/. We found them to have the best value and great service. And did we ever mention that we got the Bob trailer from http://www.moosejaw.com/moosejaw/? Again, good price and service; and they have a great sense of humor!)

We hooked up the loaded trailer for our Sunday ride. I was a bit apprehensive, having never pulled one before (we've done only panniers in the past). With over 35 pounds, I was very pleased at how well it handled; we hardly knew it was there. The next step is adding the loaded panniers.

I sat down this morning and "mapped" out everything I need to do each day up until we leave. I've found myself tending to bounce from one thing to another without finishing anything. I think this is going to be invaluable to me now as the time is growing shorter. It will help keep me on task to accomplish what I need to in the right time frame.

Loving the Son (and the sun!),
Pat