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Friday, March 21, 2014

As light as possible


Enjoying a ride around the bluffs without any gear feels fantastic. Gotta enjoy it while it lasts, soon enough 18 mph averages will only come with a tailwind.

Monday, March 17, 2014

Issues with people

Well first I received the wrong color sleeping bag. But at this point, color isn't a huge priority for me. However, the fantastic people over at campmor sent the wrong color front rack. Rechecked my order (I like to make sure I'm right before complaining.....usually) and I definitely ordered a black rack. 

This is only a problem because in order to receive that rack, I have to send this one back, which means it'll be at least another couple of weeks before I can start training with front panniers (took em 2 and half weeks just to ship it here).

Man, these are such first world problems.

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Gear-a-palooza!

Well, I ordered what should be the last of my gear (of course I'm inevitably going to need more before I actually leave....). Amazon was so kind as to split my shipment into four or five separate packages to be arriving this week, but I suppose I'll survive. 

Now it's just a matter of figuring out the best way to pack two months of gear and clothes into four small bags. 

Let the week of packages begin!



Friday, February 28, 2014

Hello!

I'm currently in the "slowly realizing how close this tour is" stage.

After changing my tour route twice, reconsidered the possibility countless times, and working on my budget one last time, I can finally say that I will be biking the length of the Lewis and Clark trail.

The hope is to depart on May 10th from Hartford, Illinois and arrive in Seaside, Oregon by the first week of July. Though I've toured on bicycles in the past, this will be my first solo- self supported tour. I've promised to keep this blog updated throughout my trek, not just for my sake, but for my parents and grandmother, who are somewhat convinced that I'll be picked up by some stranger, get lost, or die, never to return to the civilized world again.

Along the way I will share photos, stories and share in the hardships that I plan to face. The goal is to stealth camp as much as possible- that is, to camp out unnoticed by people around me, to experience nature in its most natural form. However, I have budgeted enough to stay at about a dozen campgrounds (because who doesn't like company from other travelers once in a while), and for about a handful of motel stays, for when the weather is too rough to stay in a tent.

Later on, I will post information about the gear that I'm bringing, my trusty steed (a 2013 Trek 520), and information about my training schedule, since there are the select few who seem to think I'm a madman for adhering to my nutrition these last few months.

But that's information for another day.

Kaz