I fly next Saturday 5th May, briefing and orientation is on Monday and the ride starts on Tuesday 8th with a 61 mile ride to Gonzales. Very exciting! Here’s the summary map and plan:

The first three days are a nice warm up for 91 miles with 4000 feet of climbing on day 4 and our first century ride on day 5. At least day 5 looks pretty flat!

Stocks of essentials are replenished, my bike has been serviced (by me following my successful Cytech Home Mechanic course – thanks Sue!!), and more efficient baggage planning means my bag will be smaller and lighter than last time. That might not seem much but being in a different hotel almost every night for a month a little weight saved makes a difference.

In addition to Paul, Ernie and Lon who were on the cross-country ride, I have found out that there are 4 other Brits doing this ride so the group is quite cosmopolitan and I might not be the only one excited on 19th May when Harry and Meghan get married.

I feel a lot more relaxed in anticipation of this trip. I know it’s a lot shorter, but cycling over 1700 miles is still a challenge. I think that knowing I am capable of doing it takes a lot of pressure off and (hopefully) means I can be more relaxed earlier which is good because I’m told that there is much more to see on this trip. The Mississippi River was the major trading artery into and through the mid-West so there is a lot more history.

Anyway, as regards whether I do turn out to be more relaxed or not, my ‘why am I doing this’ wobble is usually on Day 3. Let’s wait and see!