When the thunderstorms rolled into Indianapolis around 5:30 this morning, there wasn't a soul among the collective ridership who didn't look up and give a nod of thanks to some greater power that we all weren't riding this morning. The rest of the line of thunderstorms that teased us yesterday announced their arrival like alarms clocks crashing and cracking and lighting up the skies in the pre-dawn hours here this morning. The rains didn't stop until at least 10 a.m. But, from then on, it was merely a windy and sunny day.
I spent the morning at the local bike shop in the center of town. As I have been impressed with the way Indianapolis has transformed itself since I was last here 30 years ago, I was also impressed with how much of a bike-friendly city this has become. They have loads of bike lanes and a bike-sharing program with stations throughout the city.
After finishing up at the bike shop, a number of us walked around town. Again, we were quite impressed with the city and how everything seems to be within walking distance. Nothing too spread out. You can get to either the football stadium, the convention center, the baseball stadium or basketball arena merely by walking. They are all that close to all the hotels and major restaurants in the area.
Much of the rest of the day was spend either reflecting on the past three weeks or hanging with many of the guys. We had lunch together, toured the Colts stadium together, watched Germany destroy Brazil in the World Cup semi's, and took in the local Triple A minor league baseball game. Not a bad day's work.
 |
| Monument Circle. Interesting statistic on the monument: 210,000 soldiers from Indiana served in the Civil War. There were only 1.3 million people in the entire state at that time! |
 |
| The tour of Lucas Oil Stadium was fascinating. Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys paid nearly twice as much to build his stadium as this one. And, to a person on our tour, everyone agreed that Indianapolis got the better deal. |
 |
| Behind home plate at the Indianapolis Indians baseball park. A fine summer night spent with a box of Cracker Jack's. |
My room feels naked without my bike in it tonight.
This ride had everything I expected and more. I can never tell what kind of people I'll be with so I was very happy with the group I've ridden with these past three weeks. The guys from Holland have all been fun to be with. All the riders became Dutch during this trip as we cheered for the Netherlands to advance in the World Cup.
The guys from Texas were also great to be with. Actually, Norm and Ted tried to bribe me yesterday in order to have me stay on the ride. The past couple of days that I've ridden with them, I've more or less served as their navigator. It seems neither of them are all that good at reading road signs, especially small ones. So between my better eyesight and my boy scouting skills, I was able to keep them both from riding off course (something that the Dutch were infamous for on this trip -- even those who are totally fluent in English; they're just not totally fluent in following route maps).
The rest of the group was also fun to be with. Dinners were always filled with laughter and engaging dialogues. Mornings were always filled with commiseration about the lack of sleep the night before and the concerns over the day's weather forecasts. Lunches were special treats when they occurred and were times for local discoveries as well as additional time to get to know fellow riders.
This trip had it all: torrential downpours; blazing hot, dry days; cold, fierce winds; skyscraper mountains, killer rollers and flat-as-a-pancake farm roads. Fields of every known grain and pastures, paddocks and sties of nearly every known animal. Headwinds, tailwinds, crosswinds and quartering winds. Smoothly paved roads and chip seal that would wreak havoc on derailleurs. Expressways filled with loud, high-speed tractor trailers and commuting cars. Empty back country roads as quiet as the breeze and the chirping birds.
 |
| Waiting for the thunder, lightning and rains to end in Dover |
 |
| Bone dry deserts in Utah |
 |
| High winds... |
 |
| High waters along the Missouri River, |
 |
| and VERY high mountains in Colorado. |
 |
| From the salt flats of the Great Sand Lake... |
 |
| to the wild rides along the Missouri rollers. |
 |
| From wheat... |
 |
| to wildlife. |
I now feel good about this ride. However, there was a time in the middle of Missouri when it just seemed to be dragging on. I probably hit a bad riding day and it got to me mentally, maybe spiritually as well. My mood was all wrong and I wasn’t having fun. I know rationally that I can bounce back, but it still amazes me when it actually happens. I can “will” myself into knowing that I should feel better, but it is a constant surprise when I step back and realize I’m not in that funk anymore. Not that I’m crabby. Rather, I just feel mentally worn out and can’t quite get myself “up” for socializing or conversations with others. Yet I know I can’t hide, so I just remain a bit more quiet than normal.
 |
| All with a great group of fellow riders... |
 |
| always getting ourselves bikes in order, |
 |
| and always ready to ride another day. |
As I said in yesterday’s blog, there’s a strong sense I’m having now that I should just finish the cross country ride this year. I know that’s not possible, but I’m looking ahead and thinking about another year of training and prepping and getting myself mentally and physically ready for the remaining two sections of the ride. Hell, I’m there already. I’m fit. I’m tanned. My legs are in great shape. Why not just get it over with now?! Instead, I’ll have to start all over again next year with my pre-ride routines. And that will mean getting myself mentally ready for the ride. That’s the part I think I’m currently worrying about. I’m not there now as I think about next year. It’s the “just get it over with” part that concerns me. That wasn’t the case in last year’s ride. That wasn’t the case as I started the Mississippi ride (although I recall that’s how I felt some time right after St. Louis). This shouldn’t be a chore. This should be fun. Yet there are definitely days when I’m on the bike and I’d rather be doing something else. I now know that I don’t feel the same about cycling as many of the other riders do. And that’s also okay. Each of us had to come to his or her own determinations as to why they are here and why they are doing this. Just as I shouldn’t be looking ahead at tomorrow’s ride when I’m still on the route today and I should be focused only on the next fifty feet of pavement, I shouldn’t be thinking either about next year or what my next obstacle to overcome will be once I’m finished with this ride across America. One step at a time. One pedal stroke at a time. One mile at a time. One day at a time. One year at a time.
As always, I have so many people to thank for helping me along the way again this year. I appreciate you all staying with me to read my daily missives. I have appreciated all of your support and words of encouragement -- especially those entreaties to remain upright on the bike this year! And I hope you had at least some fun in reading about the fun I had all across the middle of America.
So thank you all. I hope to see you all again next year as I conclude this cross country adventure.
The journey continues...
No comments:
Post a Comment