A Very Rainy Day at Manchester Beach

Tonight will be our second night at the Manchester Beach KOA cabin, as the rain has been heavy most of the day. Not a day to be on the highway, if it can be avoided. I have been thinking lately about how our trip is not exactly what we thought it would be. It is certainly costing a lot more than I anticipated. The ten dollars a day we thought we could get by on was totally unrealistic. True, we do have days when we don't spend more than ten dollars, but many more days when we do. We are spending more time in motels than I thought we would. That might a little different if we were doing this in drier weather. There seems to be no such thing as a cheap (Motel 6 or Super 8) on the California coast, at least not in Mendocino County. Most of the lodging we have passed has been the B&B or small, exclusive inns overlooking the ocean type. Too expensive for our budget. We are spending more on food than I thought we would. We usually have to restock in the expensive small country markets, since we only carry 2 or 3 days worth of food. Even the camping is expensive if we use private campgrounds, and usually we have no choice, unless we want to free (usually illegal) camp. I would try to do more of the free camping if we had a lower profile, that is a smaller tent or even bivy bags, and regular 2 wheel bikes.

How are we doing physically? I can't speak for Candy, only myself. My belly is definately getting smaller. Candy told me the other day that my "ass is getting cuter". My legs and lungs are much better than when we started. Now at the end of the day, I don't feel like I am about ready to collapse. I can pedal at a steady rate for 4 or 5 hours without pushing myself too hard. When I am off the bike just walking around, I feel stronger, more energetic, lighter on my feet. I like that feeling. I am sleeping better at night than when we started. My lower back has stopped aching throughout the night. I still feel really stiff and creaky when I get up in the morning. It takes about an hour for me to limber up and start moving around.

The mental part is the part that concerns me most right now. It would be really easy for both of us to stop right now, go home and resume a normal life. Life constantly on the move is getting a little old. Living out of plastic bags is getting a little old. Camping is getting old. Motels are getting old. Watching the traffic in my mirrors, wondering if the next truck is going to see us and move over is getting old. Seeing new country every day is great. Meeting new people, striking up conversations with the curious we meet is usually fun. Knowing that every day we move farther south, we are moving towards a warmer and sunnier climate is a motivater for me. Knowing that every mile pedaled is helping us lose a little weight feels good. Knowing that there are many people following our trek, and rooting for us, is uplifting. I suppose nearly all who tour by cycle go through these emotional ups and downs. Days when you just don't want to go forward anymore, then days when there isn't anything else you would rather be doing.

Ron.