The last few days have been a scramble to get important stuff done before I leave for the tour. Today involved trips to the post office and putting together all the stuff for the tour. This took way too long. I had hoped to get to the Book, Jacket, and Journal Show in DC that my friend Katie Lee told me about but I ran out of time. Check it out if you are in town over the next ten days.
After about 90 minutes of work, The Mule is ready for a bike tour. Me not so much. But the time has come.
You will note that this bike weighs a ton. Some of the load is consumable. Maps. Soap. Chain cleaner. Lube. A book (Devil in the White City). I switched from a Kryptonite U-lock to a much lighter Ottolock to save weight. But I added two water bladders and a water filter so the bike weighs about as much as it did at the start of last year’s tour.
The bike feels much heavier though. I think I need to work on weight distribution. Everything in the so-called water proof panniers is in a plastic bag. That’s because the panniers have proven not to be water proof. Live and learn.
The engine is a bit heavier than last year. I attribute this to beer consumption. This year I consumed; last year I did not. After a few hundred miles and some temperance, I should be complaining about my pants being too loose.
Last year my body was in decent shape except for a sore left shoulder and arm. After a cortisone shot, that problem seems to be mostly gone. My left knee is very wonky though. I am seriously worried about it. The hills of Missouri should be a tough test.
Weather looks nasty. Missouri and Kansas seem to be having nonstop rain and thunderstorms. Let’s hope tornados are not in the mix.
I have the tour route roughed out. The starting point is still up in the air. Presumably I’ll start on Thursday from my in-laws house near North Judson, Indiana. If so, I’ll ride 60 miles to Kankakee, Illinois. On Day 2 I will connect with Bicycle Route 66 about 20 miles away. There is some discussion of driving me to Chicago where Route 66 begins. My first day will then likely be a confusing 65-mile ride to Joliet, Illinois. (If this is anything like riding out of Miami, I will be cussing for 6 or 7 hours.)
We shall see.
Oh, I don’t yet have a name for this tour, so I’m calling it the No Name Tour.
A Few Spokes Shy of a Wheel 
Excellent book choice!! Hope the weather holds up for you 🙂
Thanks. Me too. I dealt with some nasty stuff in Iowa and Minnesota last summer. This should be worse. So it goes…. Hope you enjoy Colombia. See you in July.
Love that book, plus there’s a Burlington, Vt connection, which is where I live. I think you’ll do fine, and remember, you’re retired, so go slow and enjoy. Very excited for you!
Good luck and have a great ride. I’ll be following your posts.
Have a great trip.
I too enjoyed that book good read, may the trip be tornado free