Beating the storm

Today marked another milestone - 3000 miles cycled to date. Here's the proof:
3000 miles feels like a big deal. Much more than 1000 or 2000. I think we all know we can complete the trip, assuming no catastrophes.

Peg asked me an interesting question last night - How much further do you think you could go? Mentally, I'm looking forward to being done, back with family and off the bike for a spell. Physically, I could do this forever. I asked the question of a group of fellow tourers and they all agree - physically, our daily mileage is normal. It's what we do. It's not a strain on the system. I wondered before the trip if the high mileage would wear the body down over time, but that hasn't been the case.

However, I'm not feeling like Forrest Gump after he ran across the county a few times and said "I ran clear to the ocean. And when I got there, I figured, since I'd gone this far, I might as well just turn around, just keep on going. When I got to another ocean, I figured, since I'd gone this far, I might as well just turn back, keep right on going." I aspire to be Forrest Gump, but haven't quite gotten there.

We had a 95 mile ride today with rolling terrain almost all day. It might have been a hard day, but we found two coffee stops to keep us charged up. I faced a moral dilemna about 80 miles into the ride. I was riding with Roy most of the day, and had gotten a little ahead of him at this point. I figured I'd stop and wait for him, and turned around to see where he was. There was Roy, and right behind him was a line of dark black clouds.

I thought a good friend would wait and hope we could outrun the storm together. On the other hand, I've only known Roy six weeks, and while him getting electrocuted in a thunderstorm would be a bit sad, I'd be no worse off than I was six weeks ago. Also, he had a bottle of fine Kosta Browne pinot waiting at the hotel. That would be a good way to toast Roy's demise, and with Roy not there, there would be more for me.

It turned out not to be a difficult decision, and I bolted off at max speed, arriving at the hotel just ahead of the deluge.
Roy was not so fortunate, but did arrive safe but soaked. The wine was still good, although another glass would have been nice.