Carol's retirement celebration

Carol had a nice retirement celebration on Friday. That was her last work morning so neighbors I surprised her bright 'n' early with 4 signs on her college hill route, reading:  Carol's Retiring...Hit Cruise Control...It's Time to Let...The Good Times Roll (bicycle sketched on last sign, click to enlarge).

As noon approached we again surprised her by boarding her bus on the final run, singing songs, arriving at the potluck which her department held for her at Campus Services. Later we moved the signs and Carol to our front yard as pictured. Congratulations Carol!

~ Perry

Happy about a new bike

Margaret on her brand new Rodriguez UTB (Ultimate Touring Bike). Nickname: McDreamy!

Twin2 Planning

Thanks to Carol & Perry for starting this blog! Here's my current preparation in progress:

1. Keep practicing the Bach Ciaccone to perform in recital for my students on 3/24 and with my teacher on 4/7. This is an important milestone, knowing thereafter that violin practice will have to play second fiddle to spending time and energy getting stronger as a cyclist. I started working on this in 2004, with three years off for good behavior and to develop other skills. Now I'm back in the traces, preparing for a big demonstration of heart and soul supported by technique and endurance, all in service to this glorious music of J.S. Bach.
2. Keep going to physical therapy to manage the RSI injury I got at work from using the computer mouse too much. Try not to let the elbow injury make the violin shoulder suffer any more than it already does. Keep it all in balance.
3. Keep up with my job while continuing to document how to do everything that I do, so that my tasks can be handed off to other people while I'm gone.
4. Ride my bike once in a while, when schedule allows!
5. Keep on running over glass so I get more practice changing tires, as I did last night (practice changing in the comfort of my own home.) This will all be much easier in future, using a right-sized tire (1.25) instead of the 1.5" tire my dear husband accidentally bought for me. Still, getting the rear wheel back into the drops with the fender and rack stays took both of us. I look forward to eventually being able to change a flat on my own. The sooner the better for my training rides home from work.
6. Keep relying on my teammates to tell me what to pack. So far I have been collecting sunscreen, travel sized shampoo & toiletries, and lists of what kind of panniers and etc. to buy. Will buy a super warm & lightweight sleeping bag as soon as the REI coupons come out March 22nd. Will try to find a good price on a Big Agnes pad to ensure good rest after hard days of cycling. Try not to worry about any of this until after the recitals. Trust that the right smart phone & solar charging device will become apparent through friendly advice.
7. Keep gratitude in my heart for this opportunity to have a lifetime dream come true, and let go of everything I have to renounce when I start this journey. (Hair is already getting shorter, and will be extremely short by the time I leave.)

Do we have cheerful affirmation for this ride? I'm thinking, "To infinity, and beyond!"  But once I get to Bar Harbor, I'll be ready to come home to Edmonds.

~ Margaret

Trial packing job

Yes there was still snow on the ground when I recently did a trial packing test. I figure I got within ~90% of needed gear in this photo. Some adjustments forthcoming. Seemed to handle just fine around the block. Before long we will be doing loaded training rides.

~ Carol

Bicycle trip, planning stage

Carol sez:

This blog is to document our upcoming 3800 mile cross-USA bike trip, Netarts, OR to Bar Harbor, ME, June 25, 2013- late September or early October, 2013. Central characters include Carol, her husband Perry, her twin sister Margaret. These three may prove to be the chief authors of this blog. Also attending will be cousin Bruce (aka chief instigator), Bruce's wife Sue, their daughter Ellie, their friends Mark and Dee Dee who we have met, and Rob who we will meet.

Here is some background for the plan: My Mom was one of 6 siblings, thus I was blessed with many excellent cousins, about 22 last time I checked. One of them, who exemplifies excellence in cousins, has previously included us in Grand Adventures. Examples of GA's we have joined: wilderness backpacking at 10,000 ft. elevation, and at least two multiple-day bike trips. These may be tame by his standards, but have consistently proven fun for us. For some reason, though we dream about self-powered adventures vicariously by reading about them, we don't often make a plan and execute it. Plan-to-execution is something Bruce has practiced many times. When he "popped the question" sometime last summer proposing a cross-country bike trip, it didn't take long for us to say "yes!"

Thus, here we are, making lists and crossing off duties of preparation. Among the crossed-off items:
Get passports (necessitated by an excursion into Canada)
Get bikes tuned up
Get bike gear such as racks, panniers, handlebar bags, shoes
Get tent, make quilt
Get rid of job (notice given, two weeks left, woo hoo!)
I've done a trial packing job with an estimated 90% of gear on bike, and made it around the block.
Get bike fit advice from Physical Therapist.