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.
Today’s ride started out flat for the first few miles and then it was pretty much climb for the rest of the day. The first 15 miles or so of the ride was on a dedicated multi-use path; although parallel to freeways it was free of cars. The next 10+ miles consisted of a dedicated bike lane and the remainder of the ride was on the shoulder with varying widths.
Tomorrows ride should be a little easier, with a good portion of it being down hill then turning flat.
Let’s start a the very beginning … we have been amazed by your preparation; route planning, partner or no partner, weather, and etc… Now, to actually begin – congratulations to get these first miles behind you! You have got THIS!!
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