Tuesday, January 18, 2011

The Path Ahead

So, my Cadillac arrived early last fall. It's an inheritance gift provided by my frugal Momma, T.M. Revenaugh.

Back in 1947, as a newlywed, she traveled several hundred miles from Adrian to her childhood home of Calumet, Mich. with R.L. Revenaugh on twin Schwinns.
The plan after the shakedown cruise, was to pedal across the continent to Eugene, Oregon. There Richard would complete his senior year at the U. of O.
T.M. had graduated the year before with plans to become a college professor of English Lit.
They quickly found that the shake down cruise to the U.P. was plenty. They loaded the bikes on a Greyhound bus and headed west in late August.

Until her dying day, Mom maintained that the trip set the stage for the next 20 years! I'm ready for a similar experience.

My beauty is a Kona Ute, the SUV's of road bikes.
I was able to give it a few test runs along the highway, enough to know I was hooked on the notion of distance biking with a fine piece of equipment.

So, come spring, cycling the 39 miles from our homestead to town along the Haines Hwy. will allow me to train and see what I've got. The Ute can carry an additional 100 lbs. distributed between the panniers and across the fin-deck.

I'd like to take on the Golden Circle route up through B.C. to the Yukon, across and down to Skagway in time for the North Words Writer's Symposium in July.

The BIG TRIP ~via~ the rails-to-trails from Alaska to the mid-west is still shimmering on the horizon (I've skeins of yarn to spin and dye - Farmer's Market and shops to supply. Best get to Kraken!)

Here's a hats off to all Alaskan writers. 49 Writers , is fine portal to explore.

Also, special nods to Sockeye Cycle. Those inclined towards learning more about cycling through our region will enjoy the images and information offered by our local cycle shop.

Big happy January planning to you each!