Post-Trip Thoughts

How are we feeling?

Physically, our 52-year-old bodies are tired, but fine. We have both dropped modest amounts of weight, at least some of which we expect to regain in the coming weeks. Our legs feel stronger now and we believe that we could both bike long, long days, limited only by the sun and the annoyance of saddle sores.

Regarding the saddle sores, our derrieres have some mending to do. This was one of the more challenging aspects of our ride. We soon discovered that cleansing and alcohol swabbing each evening were bare minimum requirements to preventing sores from developing on the pressure points between the buttocks and our bicycle seats. Beyond this, we used certain agents like chamois crème to help prevent bacteria, chafing, and the heat generated from “down under” to form these sores. We also realized that some of the shorts that we originally took on the trip did not fit well and had to be replaced. Once we had developed sores, it was difficult, with the continued, uninterrupted riding, to fully resolve these issues, although modest intraday relief was always available. We also rode periodically with two sets of shorts, to increase the padding and therefore relief on the affected areas. These sores may also have been symptomatic of poorly fitted bike seats, a project that required more time and attention before the ride than we were able or willing to give it given competing interests.

We both experienced some numbness in our fingers, the result of many hours riding in the same position on the handlebars. Tim has some very sporadic pain on the inside of his wrist. Gloves can help to alleviate the pressure on the nerves passing through the base of the hands, but we were only partially successful in eliminating this problem. We both had our handlebars wrapped with supplemental materials during the course of our journey, which seemed more effective for Debbie than Tim. We expect these issues are temporary and will clear up with some rest.

Debbie had some swelling in her right foot that began in late July. Any related pain has now subsided although the swelling has not yet fully subsided.

Mentally and emotionally, there is a sense of feeling much more energized to go about daily activities. In the last few weeks, we feel that we had figured out the logistics and adapted well to a successful bike touring program. This allowed us to relish the remaining miles. We now find ourselves in transition back to life as “normal,” which for us is undefined since we are newly married. Further, Tim is in work transition, having retired from a long-term job at the end of April. So some adaptation to change is in the offing. Being recently married, we both feel that the bike adventure was a great way to learn more about one another and to develop our collective style and interpersonal skills. It has helped us to grow more deeply in love and relish one another while looking forward to what God may have in store for the future.

We both feel somewhat sad that the bike adventure of the past two months has ended, while being incredibly grateful for the blessing of doing it. We were extremely touched from receiving so much support in the form of well-wishes from strangers on the road and e-mails, blog comments, and prayers from friends and loved ones. These are permanently etched in our minds and hearts and act as reminders that we are thought about and loved. We know that we always had love, encouragement, and support from others, but the collective attention intensified the impact of receiving these most basic of human needs. Thanks again for your support.

Another facet of the biking experience is that we developed a straight-forward, simplistic approach, out of necessity, to our existence and mission for the past two months. As we now return to a dwelling that we abruptly left in a clutter, a consequence of a quickly planned wedding and bike trip and the complexities that everyday life deals in today’s world, we are reminded that our lives before the bike trip were also much more cluttered. Life can become complicated, but should it necessarily be so? One challenge is to develop a married life “system,” such as had been done on the bike trip, to accommodate a fruitful and productive life, shedding unnecessary baggage, while allowing for enough flexibility to allow God‘s blessings to flow.

Spiritually, we feel incredibly blessed. We feel that God has opened up the floodgates and allowed us to experience something that few people can. We know that He protected us and sent us helpers along the way. How can you explain only having a brief afternoon rainstorm in Ohio as the only rainfall over a two-month trip? How can you explain so few mechanical problems? Only two flat tires and a loose rack over 3,500 miles? He sent us beautiful weather, kept us safe from traffic, wildlife, crime, and health impediments. He provided us with the resources to even make this possible. We have felt so supported and loved by family and friends. In the process He has taught us more about His love for us and all people.

There was ample time while bike riding to consider the spiritual, including praying, having special songs run through the head (song of the day), and simply feeling the daily provision as we rode out a trip that others dream about. Debbie’s map case contained a daily devotional booklet, which provided opportunity and acted as a reminder to consider spiritual truths during the day. We are also hopeful that seeds sown for thehopeline.com bear fruit. The ministry needs are explained further in the applicable blogpage.


Scariest moments (mothers close your eyes!)

Tops on the list of scariest moments was an incident that occurred in the first week of riding on an interstate highway in Oregon. Debbie found herself on a rumble strip sandwiched between a slow-moving service vehicle on the shoulder and a high speed tractor trailer whizzing by on her left. When she bottomed out in one of the deep craters on the rumble strip, her front wheel began to swerve sideways and the bike’s balance was in question. Tim was riding immediately behind her and watched the horror unfold. Debbie somehow regained balance of the bike and pedaled out of the rumble strip as the speeding truck passed her by. Loaded bikes have unique balancing challenges that require added levels of both strength and caution when negotiating roadways and traffic.

When three dogs ran out from their ranch in Washington and swarmed Tim’s bike, Debbie witnessed the whole frightful incident from behind. The first dog lunged at Tim and bit his back pannier instead of his leg, but from Debbie’s vantage point, she was not sure of the location of the bite at that moment. Thankfully the other two dogs just barked a lot as their ring leader made the main charge. The attacking dog let go of the pannier after being dragged along for several feet. A passing car then herded the potential troublemaking canines.

Another scary incident was descending the long, steep hill leading into Ticonderoga, New York while in the dark. Of concern were unseen objects in the roadway, unseen cracks and crevices in the roadway, brake pad or rim burnout, and hand fatigue leading to a physical lapse from the constant braking. We were escorted down this hill by a local who shone his lights on our path. However, Debbie’s bike soon overshot his headlights as her bike raced down the hill.


Fears not realized

There were other concerns that led to caution, but did not cause any trouble. We traveled through rundown neighborhoods in two major metropolitan areas, where poverty ran deep. Locals had warned us of potential dangers in these areas, but we passed through them without incident. Another area of concern was passing through and overnighting in a small town on an Indian reservation that had been experiencing some violent crime. Again, we were diligent and cautious and passed through the area without incident.

Camping in wilderness was also concerning. Neither of us is outdoor savvy and so we were glad that we were not confronted with circumstances for which we lacked the experience or knowledge to stay safe. We sought indoor accommodations whenever possible. When we did camp, we had good experiences, although we both feel that we remain as novices in need of more experience and training.

Weather in the Midwest was also an area of concern. The extreme heat produced recurrent thunderstorm warnings, which can sometimes spawn tornados. We were completely protected from any of this extreme weather, although some overnight storms did occur while we were safe under the shelter of our motel rooms. While ending one ride in Rugby, North Dakota, we rode for miles into town toward black, ominous clouds. And in Illinois, dark clouds developed behind and beside us while we traveled to the safety of our motel in Streator. Later that evening, lightning could be seen in the distance.


Most impressive scenery

Montana’s scenery was magnificent if not majestic, marked by mountains, streams, the “big sky,” and endless wheat fields. North Dakota had some beautiful farmland and breathtaking sunsets. Niagara Falls provided evidence of the power of nature that God has created on this continent. The Columbia River Gorge had some wonderful vistas, with its waterfalls and mountainous backdrop. The beauty of the plains with the corn, wheat, and soybean fields were quietly comforting. We passed by many, many pretty lakes in Minnesota and New York, some of which were very close to the road! Vermont and New Hampshire were their usual beautiful selves, plush green despite the lack of rain on the east coast this summer.

What did not make the most impressive scenery list was the steady diet of road kill along the way, in various stages of detachment, a gruesome reminder of the power the internal combustion engine!


Most surprising

-Lack of motel accommodations on the route
-Rattlesnakes in the northwest
-Near desert conditions in Washington state
-Ghost towns in the making, with closed up businesses and abandoned buildings--the struggling economy was evident throughout our trip. Perhaps this latter observation was not so much of a surprise as it was eye-opening to see the effects that we had heard about daily on the news.


How were we treated?

We were treated very well. In fact, sometimes people made us feel like “rock stars”! For example, one middle-aged lady exclaimed: “You are my heroes!” People would light up whenever we told them that we were biking coast-to-coast. Inside of many people was a desire to do such a thing, and to quiz and chat and hear our story allowed them to live it out themselves. This was one of the biggest blessings that we have received from this trip--that we were able to share our excitement and joy with others.

Out west, we received many honorary toots from motorists. The Midwesterners seemed to prefer the thumbs-up sign while passing us by. In the eastern hills, motorcyclists would raise a hand or peace sign in tribute. We felt most respected on the road in the west and Midwest, where cycling seems to be a more respected method of transportation and entertainment.

We had people offer to put us up for the night, ask us if they could help out in any way, and encourage us with words and smiles. Restaurants, convenience stores, and waitresses were almost always wanting to assist us in refilling our water bottles. One such individual took Debbie literally when she asked to have her Camelbak filled with ice. After Debbie came back from the bathroom and put her Camelbak on, she soon discovered that the ice had been placed around the bladder rather than in it, thus melting quickly, seeping through the cloth container, and running down her back! This brought some smiles to our faces, although Debbie was gracious enough not to embarrass her supporter by explaining where the ice really belonged!

Our experience with the various churches that we visited was very positive. People were very supportive in making us feel welcome, describing upcoming routes, and inviting us to post-service activities. We even received a DVD promoting recreational activities on the Snake River, ironically dubbed Hell’s Canyon. We shipped this back for later viewing.


What did we learn?

-There is great vulnerability on a bicycle.
-It is important to focus and pay attention.
-There is a joyful stillness while logging miles on a bicycle.
-We were reminded how beautiful God’s creation is.
-We learned, or relearned, that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
-When you put your mind and energy toward a worthy goal and your trust in the Lord, He will direct your paths and grant you the desires of your heart.
-We could never have been fully prepared for this journey, but to embark being reasonably well prepared enabled the dream to happen.


What did we learn about this land?

-We are thankful for this land.
-We could be happy living in many of the states that we visited.
-Gambling opportunities are rampant across the country.
-There is tremendous beauty and bountiful harvest in our land.
-There are those in our land who remain imprisoned to poverty and poor social living conditions.
-We still need, as a country, to seek God’s blessing in our land.


What did we learn about others?

-There are good Americans all across this land.
-When you are pursuing worthy goals, others are willing to help and support.
People want to share in the joy.
-Others have dreams that they for some reason are unable to attain.


What did we learn about ourselves?

-There is satisfaction in completing "the journey."
-We needed each other to do and enjoy this trip--and what a joy to be able to share this with each other.
-We all still have a few good miles left in us!
-There are exciting things ahead.
-Do not place limitations on your potential.


If we had it to do over again?

-Make it a goal to ride a century during the trip (i.e. 100-miles in one day).
-Take all Sundays off, or at least one day a week.
-Reduce the weight.
-Start riding earlier each day.
-Find the right bike seat before leaving.
-Be more attentive to hygiene, paying particular attention to preventing saddle sores and keeping Camelbaks sanitary.
-Consider leaving the locks behind. Security is a tough call, but is the weight and hassle worth the bother?
-Consider camera mounts on the handlebars for quicker access and video shots while riding.
-Engage more people in conversation.
-Solicit overnight accommodations from cycling supporters.
-Consider 2-way radios to communicate while riding.
-Buy breathable Gore-tex for all rainwear.
-Take backup cleats for shoes.
-Train better before leaving.


Would we do it over again?

Early indications are “yes,“ but ask us later, after we’ve had time to fully absorb this adventure. Truly the events of the past two months have been a blur. There was so much stimulation with new activity and places that it is a bit overwhelming to digest. Next time, maybe we’ll plan to stay a few more days along the way and engage the people more!