the ingredients for filling a need of adventure

In late Fall of 2006, I had attended a presentation of a couple from a neighboring town who had recently completed a coast-to-coast cycle ride.   When my mother and I were walking back to our vehicle, I stopped her and said, "One day...I will do that."
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Over those next few years, it had always lingered in my mind.  With school, money, time, and other commitments making the opportunity difficult to coordinate, I kept telling myself, "Maybe next year."

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I had just graduated in December(2010) from NPTI (National Personal Training Institute) as a certified Personal Trainer.  And my plans were lacking.  I had many ideas in my head...or visions.  But the getting there is what I am always trying to figure out.  I knew I would be moving in March.  I knew I was committed to being a nanny for a family, which I had been with them for a little under a year while I was in school, and I wasn't ready to 'leave'.  And I knew I personally didn't want to have the possiblilty of establishing clients at a gym(or wherever) and having to leave them within a month or 2.
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I had taken some vacation time for the first 3 weeks of January in Hawaii visiting family.  Giving me a much needed mental break.  And an opportunity to try and figure out what direction I may be headed.  It didn't take long for me to fall in love with the area... a little slice of heaven (and no, I am not talking about Ted's Bakery :).   Mountains, ocean, beaches, climate.....little bit of everything.  I left there on a 'high', thinking maybe I will move there.  Now is a chance.  Experience a location and culture you haven't been around.  I had no plan.  I looked into and researched it.  Hmmm, now there is an option.

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A couple weeks later, mid-February, I went up to Marquette, MI with my mother, younger sister, and friends for a few days.  My older sister lived up there so 1. We were visiting her and 2. There is a yearly dog sled race we have been going to for a few years.  During that weekend, I happened to mention to my Aunt Linda that I have always wanted to bike coast-to-coast.  She and a friend have done a few bike tours with eachother...  They are working on completing trips around each of the Great Lakes.  After talking about the idea and thought --- the conclusion I was getting from her was "Just do it..Go for it."

That's all it took...was for my Great Aunt to tell me, "Just get on your bike and ride."

That whole following week, it didn't leave my mind.
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I now had a plan.
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I had decided, in February(2011), that this was the year I was going to fulfill my desire to bike from the Western Coast to the Eastern Coast...unassisted..and solo.
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I have no commitments or anything tying me down.
I have the time.
I have saved the money.
I am wanting something new and adventurous
and

I am itching to 'get out' and see the beauty.

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I was planning on leaving at the beginning of April (due to my lease ending at the end of March  ~  And, because I had no other plan for when my lease ended).  ...Yes that would have been nearly a month that I was to purchase all needed gear, familiarize myself with the gear, learn the mechanics of the bike, plan my route-food-sleeping arrangements for at least 2 months, find a way to get out West, break the news to my mom....and then dad(and before I did that I wanted to make sure I had every detail down to a T so if they threw a question at me I had an answer....hopefully showing them I had done my research and was serious about this), and pack up my apartment and move everything home.

I begin the research and reading...
I begin making some purchases...and purchasing anything is a task for me because I have to compare every review, every price, every specification about it before I swipe the plastic.

I brought it to the attention of my mom...who pretty much just smiled and nodded.  I think it was a bit sudden or maybe it was because it was 11:30PM and she just told me she was heading to bed, and I said, "I need to talk to you about something."  Her facial expressions can usually do the talking.
Fast forward..Time flew by...next thing I know I am a week away from the end of March, and my planning wasn't going as..well..planned.

Within that week, I found out that my lease was all the way to the end. of. June.  WHAT.  By that time, I had already "checked myself out" of anything associated with the area I was living in and I was ready to dash out like a lit rocket in a cannon.   Where the miscommunication between me and the leasing office happened...I am not sure. I had papers saying March and they had papers saying June.  But, I wasn't going to argue it because I knew it was a good thing (though it did knock me sideways).  I just "checked myself back in" and looked at it as 'God knew this was going to happen, and wanted me to be better prepared, so I could make the most of what was yet to come.'  So He gave me a little cushion of time to prepare... equipment and trip details, mentally and physically, and financially.

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Over those next three months leading up to now, which is the end of June, nearly all spare time was doing something for the trip.
Spare time was really only the weekend.  After purchasing my bike, I was commuting to work on it.  The commute was an hour and a half there...which had me leaving at 7AM...and getting back to my place around 8PM or later.  By the time I got cleaned up, fed, and bags/meals packed for the next day, I was ready for bed.

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Little by little, I chipped away at the to-do's and checklist(s).
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One weekend at the beginning of May part of my long ride was along the Paint Creek Trail, which is a Rail-to-Trail recreational path in the county I lived in.  It was the first time I had been on there, and it seemed like there was an absured amount of cyclers on it and everyone was going in the opposite direction of me.  The thought of, 'Is there a race going on?' kept running through my mind...but yet, I saw no 'race' numbers.   I noticed in my little mirror a group of 3 people, a man, girl, and boy, slowly coming up behind me.  They casually followed behind for a bit until there was a break in "traffic"..they began to pass.  As they did, I asked the gentlemen, "Am I interrupting a race?" He notified me that this is a typical day.  Well, that little question sparked conversation.  He noticed the panniers I had on the back of my bike and had asked if I was currently travelling or preparing to.   And for about 7 miles we all road together -- me sharing my plans and him sharing his/his wife and their family experiences.  It didn't take long for me to realize I have crossed paths with a very cool family.  We swapped names and I took his business card -- and with all intention to contact again.  Well, of course, I misplaced all information...but recalled from my trusty memory his first name, some of the spelling of his blog name, and that he built bikes.  With that, I was able to find an email via googling(thank goodness for google)...and sent out a note.  Nearly 3 weeks had gone by and I had not heard from him.  I figured I had the wrong email, and missed out on an opportunity to learn and hear the experiences of veteran tourers.  Within a day, I recieved a reply -- he was just getting it because my email had gone to his junkmail. 

Over the next month before moving home, I was able to meet up with him, his wife, and 3 children --- hearing their stories, looking at pictures, working on my bike, going for a ride, and establishing friendship.  Talk about a family with a huge heart!  I was very lucky to have met them..I can not put into words how appreciative I am of the Keller family and how gracious they were in helping me get ready for my adventure.  Thanks Keller's!

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My start date has changed.... a lot.  It was going to be around July 20th because I was to move home..take a week to get all the gear organized..and then head out West to my dads cabin in Idaho for a couple weeks and then head out to the Oregon coast where I would begin.
But, excitement had me move it up to begin at the end of June.  My sister and I were to leave Monday June 27th (today), she was going to 'drop' me off on the coast, and then I was to begin and she was to head down into California to visit our brother.  I was going to bike to my dad's cabin, and stay with everyone for the time that they are there, and then begin again once they leave.

That was the plan - for a few days.

But, I couldn't get it off of my heart that...If I am going to be out West - I should (and want) to see my brother too.

As of 2 days ago, I made the final decision : :

We are to leave on June 27th.

Drive out to see my brother.  For however long we want..

Then work our way North for Oregon.

This is not what gear should look like a day before you are planning to leave.

**We didn't leave today, June 27th.

And even though the living room doesn' t look much different - Just in more organized piles - We WILL leave tomorrow morning after breakfast with our grandma Chiggi.

I have no set date of when I will begin ... but once I do, I will make my way as close to my dads cabin as I can (possibly making it all the way), and stay with them for the remaining time they are there, and like above, begin again once they leave.

My sister will be travelling around Oregon and Washington looking into a few Graduate Universities... So, with my first week or two of travel we  plan to spend a few nights here and there together if we cross paths on our way to our dads.  Also, if it is looking like I may not make it all the way to my dads, she is going to pick me up ... and after time spent there,  I will begin from the cabin and bike North to where I was picked up and start heading East again or drive back up and be dropped off where I left off.

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End date ::: Not sure.  I don't want a timeline because I want to be able to enjoy the surroundings I will be riding through rather than focusing on trying to be at a certain place at a certain time.  Also, I do not know what I may face on a day to day basis--weather, injury, physically tired, or wanting to stay in an area to hike a trail, explore a town, or drink a few beers.
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Through Adventure Cycling Association, I have purchased maps that will guide me across the U.S..
I will be taking a mix of routes scanning the Northern States.
Along the way, I am planning on using this time to  explore some towns and cities as possible future moving destinations once I return.
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Phone is my source of contact  -- and an SOS satellite tracker that by a push of a button I can allow my family know I am okay or in need of help.
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I will be carrying all gear in panniers - Front and rear.
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Bike : Novara Safari
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Cooking : I have a stove(MSRPocketRocket) and a mini pot/mug(SnowPeakTrek700).  --- Only need is to boil water. --- No gourmet meals for me.
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Food:  Oatmeal, rice, noodles, soups, peanut butter, bread.  Bars.  Dried fruit.  Buying fresh veggies and fresh fruits along the way.  Restaurants here and there.
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Water: Pump it. (But will definately take the offer of an open fosset)
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Sleeping : Hammock (HennessyExpedition). Also serves the need of a tent if no tree's are available for use.  Possible treat of a motel.
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Prepared with tools and parts for any mechanical issues I come accross.
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Not sure of how often I will be able to update the blog, but will do so whenever I have an opportunity.

This day has come fast. 
And I am ready :)  (Mentally that is --- there is some gear that I should go tend to)