Day One

today was the start of my adventure and this new life i am envisioning. i left at about 830 AM, much later than i anticipated, but I also arrived much earlier than expected, at around 130 PM. Five hours and fifty miles, the time i was hoping to make but wasn't expecting.

The ride itself was nice, although the sky was gloomy and it started as sprinkling, to mist, to rain, to everything else in between . After traveling through Fremont, I took this Railroad something or other road, and i found it interesting that such a small road would cross such a highway as State Highway 10. It made me even more curious when the road turned to gravel. Being a couple of miles out of my way, and with my faith in the accuracy of google maps, i decided to keep going. Then i could see Highway 10! I came around a corner, the road being very wooded along the left side, and the road came to a dead-end. Great. The Highway was about 150 feet away, so in hopes of the road continuing on the other side, i continued biking on the grass until i could no longer pedal efficiently. From then on, i walked my fully loaded bicycle along the highway, and then up the small incline to the shoulder of the highway.

So now, i am standing on the shoulder of the highway, where, by the way; pedestrians, bicycles, and other small vehicles are prohibited. And cars are rushing past at overwhelming speeds. My suspicion of the road continuing on the other side was confirmed, so naturally, in between the lanes was a paved connection for vehicles to turn to the opposite side of the highway.
So here i am, riding on the shoulder of a major highway, feeling like a complete idiot, and then pushing myself as hard as i possibly can to avoid being struck.

The rest of the ride went smoothly, and before i knew it, i was with Rachel in Rural, a small town located just south of Waupaca.

Last night i felt very sick before bed. i felt like i wanted to just be done with this trip and go home. In the time of writing this, i thought feeling sick and going to what i can call home is not an option. This is something i need to learn to deal with and move on.

Now i am in Stevens Point, and the gloom that pervaded my mind this morning has subsided. The ride was good today, although i was worried i would get caught in the rain. I pedaled as quickly as i could, but once i could no longer see the sun i began to seriously worry. I made the ride in two and a half hours, more quickly then expected. This expectation was also based on my assumption that the land became more elevated from Waupaca to Stevens Point, which was wrong. I do know that the land will have many more inclines and declines in the next leg of the journey.

The time i spend here is always enjoyable, and i am very happy to be here, and well fed.

On Friday, i leave for Eau Claire, and will arrive there Saturday evening; just in time for Shari's going away party! It is interesting how things always seem to work out for me, at least in some ways.

Two Days.

I have two full days ahead of me before i leave. Dang. I have a lot to accomplish before my departure, and much of it will not get done adequately. I suppose that is how i always have and always will do things. life moves on, get over it.

Sorry to those of you who may have wanted to spend more time with me and didn't. Nobody came out on top in this one, because i did not accomplish many things i wanted to before i left. There was just so much to crunch in so little time. No worries though, i am the one that is leaving, so hopefully things go fine.