Denise Goldberg's blog

Boston to Oregon, a cross-country celebration
It's time to live my dream of riding my bicycle across the country

Tuesday, June 10, 2003

Thoughts and memories

...a year later

I looked at the calendar this week and realized that it's the one year anniversary of the start of my cross-country trek. That's really hard to believe! It was a fabulous experience, one that I'd like to repeat some day. That day will have to wait a while, since I'm not ready to give up a steady income yet (someday ) and I'm currently constrained by my job's allowable vacation time - so for now I'm in a short trek mode

My trip is receding into the somewhat distant past, but my memories are still bright and shiny.

  • I remember wheeling my bike out the door on a bright, sunny day hoping that the funny feeling in the pit of my stomach would go away soon (and it did).
  • I remember holing up at a friend's house in Brattleboro, Vermont for an extra day, hiding from a cold, driving rain.
  • I remember that rain catching up to me again as I rode the funny cable ferry across Lake Champlain from Vermont to New York.
  • I remember days in the Adirondacks of cold rain, and switching to hotels as lodging because I knew I'd never be able to warm up if I wasn't dry.
  • I remember dropping off-route to the south to visit my parents for a few days, and my dad borrowing a truck to give me a lift back to the Northern Tier route at the end of my visit.
  • I remember wondering if I'd ever get across New York State as it seemed to stretch on forever.
  • I remember the wonders of Niagara Falls.
  • I remember my friend Sue driving down from Detroit to visit with me in Ohio for a day.
  • I remember the heat that followed me from Ohio through Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and parts of Colorado.
  • I remember the kindness of strangers in helping me to escape from the heat, offering a place to stay, or filling my CamelBak with cold water as the sweat dripped off of me.
  • I remember watching the corn grow taller through Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, until it was taller than me, and I remember the drought in Kansas and eastern Colorado where the corn was struggling just to survive.
  • I remember the constant wind in Kansas, and I wonder if it ever stops.
  • I remember Madelyn welcoming me to the Hotel Ordway (in Ordway, Colorado) with a clear, cold glass of ice water - she's definitely a cyclist's friend!
  • I remember finally reaching Pueblo, Colorado after thinking I'd never get there.
  • I remember the folks at the Great Divide bike shop making room in their busy day to tune up my bike (they always make room for touring cyclists ).
  • I remember the awesome mountains of Colorado and the varied terrain of Wyoming, from wide open spaces to red rocks that reminded me of Utah, to the Grand Teton Mountains, and to the geothermal features of Yellowstone National Park.
  • I remember the beauty of Montana, and my decision after wandering in Missoula that it was time for me to stop riding for a bit.
  • I remember all of the people who stopped to talk with me as I cycled through or stopped in their towns.
  • I remember the other touring cyclists I met on the road - and I've even heard from a couple of them since I returned home.
  • I remember being blown away by Chuck in Yellowstone National Park when he walked up to me and asked "Are you Denise?" - he recognized me from reading this journal!
  • I remember the magic of my trip...
Realizations about touring...
  • Long trips are for the overall experience. They encompass drop-dead beautiful places, and more ordinary places. They allow exploration at a slow or reasonable pace.
  • Shorter trips are worth taking too, and they can be planned to spend the entire time in drop-dead beautiful places.
  • Traveling alone does not mean being lonely.
  • Traveling with an open mind and attitude on a loaded touring bike opens many doors.
  • I'm still addicted to touring by bicycle! And if I can't be out there myself, I can enjoy trips vicariously by following along in other cyclist's journals. I'll keep writing about my trips, and if you're traveling on your bike I hope you'll contribute too for all of us who want to be on the road with you...