Ready ?

Am I ready ? I don't know. I think so, but in starting something that you haven't done before you never can tell. I definitely feel much fitter and better prepared than last year. I am about 13lbs lighter, and have been riding much more consistently throughout the year than I did last year. I have many more long rides in my legs. I've trained as well as possible, while maintaining a reasonable balance in all of the other aspects in life. I haven't been injured or gotten sick (knock knock). So, I am about as ready for 470 miles and 48,000 ft of climbing as I have ever been.

Failure is a powerful motivator for me. Not making it last year has been in my mind ever since we rode out of Boone last October. The failure gets me out of the bed and on the bike early in the mornings when I'd rather sleep in. It taunts me to ride just a little bit farther or dig deeper into my "suitcase of courage" when I feel like riding easy the rest of the way home at the end of a hard ride. Hopefully we'll make it the whole length of the parkway this time, but we'll find out by this time next week.

One bummer is that a big section of the parkway is closed this year, and the detour is very inconvenient. So I've found an equivalent start of Day 2 that will give us the same mileage and climbing, and as an added bonus takes us to the top of Mt. Mitchell.

Katie has been super supportive as always, and will actually be driving the sole support car on Day 1 and along with Susan and Paul on Day 2.

It won't be lonely this time on the road. Henrik came from Sweden and will be riding with me. When you have someone to share the experience with, your joys are doubled, and your sorrows are halved. By my math that will make the adventure 4 times easier than last year.