A few weeks ago, I picked up my old tiny rocking chair in the attic, to bring it downstairs for my niece to use during her visit. I noticed a leg had broken off where it attached to one rocker. I set it aside, and a while later we took it to the Amish carpenter who repaired our dining room chairs. A couple weeks after that we got a postcard in the mail saying that my little chair was repaired.

The Amish carpenter, Greentop Furniture (no, they don’t have a website) is 34 miles away via the bike-friendly route (as opposed to Highway 63). I know this, because a year ago I loaded two of the heavy dining room chairs onto my bike trailer and hauled it on a freezing March day. That trip took me 5 grueling hours, and I had Iain come pick me up rather than face the 34 mile return.

Today, I did not hook up the trailer. I thought with enough bungie cords I could fasten the little chair to my bike one way or another. So I headed out shortly after 8:00 a.m. 66 miles later, around 4:15, I arrived home, the rocking chair perched on top of the rear basket. Mission successful.

The mission of course was two-fold: to retrieve the chair, and to train for my upcoming Epic Adventure. I had a few hours to think and observe.

My bike fit is nearly dialed in perfectly. My right arm is troubling me, but it is tolerable. Chaffing is minimal. If I make no further changes, I can endure the Epic Adventure. Possibly in the three weeks left I can improve the bike fit a little more so my arm will do even better.

My body fitness is fine. I had some doubts as to whether being able to ride 70 miles in one day meant I could do it two days in a row, or 5 days in a row, but I don’t feel wiped out tonight. I feel fairly energetic, and confident that I could repeat this tomorrow.

It is very important NOT to think about the end, the goal, the destination. Whether I am in the first mile, midway, or mere blocks away, it is critical that I focus on anything else. The thought of the end brings on impatience which saps my motivation and the mental strength to get there.

Fortunately, it is surprisingly easy to avoid thinking about my destination.

I think I can expect this pattern: during the morning, I’ll be a bit bored, and I’ll enjoy mental activities like planning a class. During this time it is important to think about fun, positive topics. If I get started on the wrong topic I can get very angry or upset. After lunch, I’ll remember the fun I had in the morning, but will find I lack the brain power to do any planning. I’ll drop into a trance-like state, the kind where I suddenly realize miles I have no memory of the last half hour. This is common in a car, but it is more intense on the bike. I can even be aware that I am in that state. It’s actually very peaceful.

Stopping often and for the least excuse is essential. If I’m slightly warm, I stop and take off the jacket. If I see a convenient bench or picnic table, I stop even though I don’t really think I need a break, just to take advantage of the accommodation. On this Epic Adventure, I don’t ever need to be in a hurry. The goal is to get there, not to get there in any particular time.

Today’s stops:

1. Grocery store about 35 minutes into my trip. I was there about 15 min, to get a banana and snacks.
2. Picnic table at Catfish Corner, maybe 20 minutes later. I spent about 10 min drinking a coke and eating.
3. A bridge, ~1.5 hrs later, I sat on a sunny rock and ate some chips, then ducked under the bridge for nature’s call. Maybe 10 min.
4. Sturgeon, less than an hour after that. Bought some water at a gas station. 10 min.
5. Greentop Furniture, 30 minutes later. Got my rocker, guzzled water. 15 or 20 min.
6. Sturgeon again, 30 minutes later. Ate lunch with Iain & Nell. It took about an hour.
7. Red Top Church near Hallsville an hour later. I stretched out on the grass in the sun and napped. When I got up I was surprised it had only been 5 minutes.
8. A church on the north side of town an hour later, 5 minutes’ phone call to Iain.
9. Home less than an hour after that.

That might not add up quite right; the trip was right at 8 hours total. But it was something like that. The point is I stop when I feel any desire to stop, for food or bathroom (or under the bridge) or rest. I allow myself to look at the time once in a while, but mostly not, because that way lies impatience. I also keep my odometer from showing the trip miles, because that is also discouraging.

The most difficult time today was after lunch. My stomach hurt a bit. That’s why I laid down in the grass near that church. And I drank some water, but didn’t guzzle. That was a good move, because when I got back on the bike I felt a lot better. I’ve had rides where my stomach hurt like that but I was in a hurry to get home so I didn’t stop. I realize now that taking just a few minutes to rest actually makes the trip go quicker. Those times I was riding with a stomachache, I rode pretty slow.