Final thoughts

The only certainty in life, beyond death and taxes, is that it won’t turn out the way you anticipate. I embarked on the Trans-Am ride on a whim, as an adventure and a swift kick to the head. I set the ridiculous goal of doing the trip as an unsupported solo ride in 30 days because I didn’t know if I could physically, emotionally or mentally complete the journey. And for me, that’s the joy of life: entering into challenging and rewarding experiences unsure of the outcome.

In the end, I wasn’t able to ride the entire route in the allotted time. After dealing with altitude sickness in Colorado, I suffered heat stroke in Utah. And not being able to eat for two days really put the brakes on the ride. Therefore, I decided to bypass Nevada and start riding again at the Nevada / California border.

But in those first 23 days, I found to a large degree what I was looking for on the trip. I overcame daunting obstacles: from environmental extremes to physical impairments to emotional rockiness. I learned that I am a stronger, more capable and resourceful person than I believed. It was a truly remarkable experience. Now comes the hard part – applying this to life beyond the bike.

Quick data:
Mileage: 3012 (out of an anticipated 3495)
Days in the saddle: 25 (out of an anticipated 30)
Daily average: 120 miles
Longest day: 160 miles (Ness City, KS to Eads, CO)
Average speed: 14.6 mph
Average time in the saddle: 8 hours 25 minutes per day
Dog chases: 33
Flat tires: 9
Shortest distance between flats: 3 miles
Longest distance between flats: 1,000+ miles (Day 5 to Day 14)
Trans-Am cyclists encountered: 72
Advil taken: 79
Toughest riding: Eastern Kentucky
Favorite riding: Virginia, Utah & Western Colorado

And then...

...you wake up the next morning and everything is the same but different. The apartment, the neighborhood, the walk to the store haven't changed but your pants don't fit. You haven't missed deodorant, underwear or the job for a month. And then you realize that they're the same - things we wear to make one's life more acceptable for others.
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Arrival

Ahhh...It's great to be back in San Francisco. I had a relatively flat final day of riding to Vallejo where I took the ferry to SF (there isn't a good way to ride around the Bay). Then I rode to the top of the Marin Headlands to end the ride. Before the trip started, I had spent a lot of time training in the Headlands and had picked that spot for the final destination. Plus, the view isn't half bad.
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Recap: Day 28

Our intrepid superhero is beginning to understand the limits of time, space and body. What would have been a moderately difficult ride only ten days ago, was a challenging one today. It began at the Nevada / California border and went over the Sierras at Carson Pass and ended near Sacramento.

Boy Blunder continues to have hydration issues. If only portable IV bags were available for cycling.

There is light at the end of the tunnel - tomorrow is the final leg of the journey to San Francisco. Yipee!!!
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Intervention needed!

I may have lost my wingman to the slots! First it was cards but now he's in the grasp of the One-Armed Bandit.
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Recap: Day 27

Due to the fact that I need to be back at work on Monday, I had to decide between riding to the middle of Nevada and then teleporting to San Francisco or bypassing Nevada and then riding California. I thought the latter a more attractive option.

I spent most of the day driving across Nevada on Highway 50 - the Loneliest Road in America - to get back on schedule. It wasn't exactly spellbinding at 75 mph so I can only imagine the monotony of it on a bike.

So I'm kicking it in the state capitol of Nevada. Yes, Carson City is everything they say it is!
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Recap: Day 26

The team took some time to do what normal people do on vacations - relax and take in the sights. We toured Bryce Canyon, did some hiking and started eating again.
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