Day 18, January 22, 2002
JEFF'S
UPDATE
Today in a word: a roller coaster! I had some concerns as we started the morning as I did not sleep last night for more than 2 hours after eating some of the local food [real heavy fried]. After a month of nothing but quality food and a strict diet designed to maximize our performance on the bike, this was a big mistake. Will not repeat that error!
However, the first part of the roller coaster day was quite uplifting for me personally. The terrain and landscape over the first 50 miles was almost identical to where we have our cottage in Ontario, and where my in-laws Emmi & Lou have theirs in Northern Ontario. I have such fond memories of both places that my thoughts transcended the headwinds and light rain.
The second part of the roller coaster ride was losing our RV for a few hours as we came across a low bridge that forced the RV to made a 50-70 mile detour. Normally this has not been an issue but just after that we came across gravel roads, a road construction site with gravel and cement, and about 10 km of the worst roads of the trip! Not good with those saddle sores!
The third part of the day was up and down hills similar to a roller coaster! Up and down, up and down causing a nice burn on the thighs!
Then the final part was the best part; out of the blue our friends Fredrik Carlberg and Jamie Layfield surprised us by biking the last 25 miles in the pouring rain. These guys drove all day and night from Toronto to spend the last part of the trip with us. We will use their fresh legs over the next 6 days.
In the end it was a great day for reflection. Amazing how much one day on the bike can emulate life with it's smooth and bumpy roads, its up hills and down hills, and its headwinds and tailwinds [ok we are still waiting for the tailwinds!]
We rode today for Colin Douglas Williams, a loving family man who passed away from cancer in December, and Norman Sauder, another loving family man who passed away in November. Both dedications show how such great people can be taken so early from their families by this terrible disease. As I rode through the countryside, and thought about my family, I reflected on the loss of these two loving people. My thoughts are with their families.
Finally, I rode today for Rene Liebs-Benke and his small son Remi, who lost their wife/mother Diane last week from cancer. The funeral was today. My friend Cindy Clifford told me this, and asked that I think about Diane, about Rene, and about Remi today. I reflected on this often today and thoughts about the impact of losing one's spouse with a young child. My prayers are with the family, in your time of need.
Tomorrow
is another long day as we push to get town towards the Gulf Coast!! Hopefully
it will not rain all day.
Diane, Skylar and Brooklyn; I am missing you lots!!
Jeff
KEVIN'S UPDATE
Today was one of our more interesting days....
We had a bit of a late start today not getting onto our bikes until 9 am. Forecasted weather was grim. Thundershowers with 15-25 mph hour Southeast headwinds. Maybe that is why we weren't as motivated to get pedalling early today.
Backroads had great scenery but the roads persisted to jackhammer our butts into hamburger. I was wishing I had my cushy mountain bike at times. While we were pedalling down one back country road for about an hour, we turned a corner and there was a 100 year old bridge with clearance of 9 feet. Our RV was snookered! We had to part ways with our home and liasoned with them at a future destination.
I felt a little bit sad when the RV, Jenn, Alison, Eric, and Chrissy [and our brownies and beverages!] left us. We didn't know if we would every see them again thinking they might have had it with us and may have headed straight for the Gulf Coast!
The next 2 hours was so different. We rode our bikes on a gravel road, walked our bikes through a construction zone that was repaving the road for the next 10 kms which made my privates feel like a maracas. I can't speak for Jeff, but mentally I was drained. Thankfully the RV didn't skip town but I think I suffered some separation anxiety!
We struggled along for about 50 more miles when all of a sudden at 4 pm with 20 miles left 2 Gears guys (Freddy from Boomerang our web page guy and his friend Jamie) came out of nowhere and pulled us for the last 25 miles at staggering pace, through a massive downpour while it was getting dark. I tip my helmet to these guys they drove all night from Mississauga to contribute there valuable time for the cause. The only reason this trip will be a success is because of the our support team here and all our friends at home thinking about us.
Rose, during the suffering low point today thoughts of you made me strong. 6 more days!!
Cheers from Gears in Louisiana.
Kevin Wallace