The absence of tracking and posting over the last few days was due to a long struggle with continuing my trip. A case of metatarsalgia (fancy word for swelling and sharp pain) and bursitis in my right foot made pedaling very difficult. I tried to take an extra down day, but the swelling remained. It was a difficult (and far more emotional than anticipated) decision, but in reality, the only way to resolve the issue is a week or so of down time and RICE – Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. Since I was relatively close to Phoenix and Flagstaff I considered taking a train or renting a car to get further along the route while resting my foot, but based on my research it probably would not provide enough time to heal and a few more days into the ride the swelling and pain would be back.

So, I rented a car and drove home – very discouraged and disheartened. Looking at the bright side of this, I did manage to pull off seven days of interesting riding through mountains, deserts, large metropolitan areas, and tiny towns. I gained more bike-packing/touring experience and that even though I tried to take a minimalist approach in my packing I probably still had too much stuff.  I also met nice people with random life connections – Navy veterans, similar cycling interests, and geographic locations. Who would ever guess that I would meet a young man in Tonopah, AZ, who used to ride in the Pond Hill Rodeo in tiny Castleton, VT, where Sue’s family lake house is.

I also learned the value of a great support group! The text messages and comments on the web page were of tremendous value to me. I will apply the lessons learned from the feedback and many errors I made on the site to improve it for my future adventures. I consider this as a minor setback and hope to take a stab at this trip another day.

Thanks again to everyone for following along on my journey.

Wesley Bomyea