0. This is my first blog so bear with the changes as I fine-tune it like Mr. Olympia fine-tune's "ze pectorials".
1. I've been entertaining the idea of a cross-country bike trip for several years but never really took it seriously. (how can such a trip ever be serious?)
2. Sometime around Fall of 2010 I realized I might actually be able to pull it off in the near future. So I floated the idea selectively.
3. I made a New Years resolution for 2011 to start riding regularly. I largely kept this up until November and December.
4. Back in April 2011, one year ahead of the then-launch date, I told my boss about the trip. I explained I'd quit if necessary to be able to go on this adventure but he was unbelievably supportive.
I assembled my new bike around May with the help of Frank and began riding around. I did a trial run in November but since then I haven't biked very frequently. Current status is that my manager and manager's manager signed my Leave Of Absence form today so it goes to HR tomorrow. This ish is for real!
Basically I have a little over two months to put finishing touches on the bike, figure out what to do with my apartment and dos gatos, condition my ass for months of upcoming abuse, and somewhere in there plan the trip. Although this is a self-portrait from the Thanksgiving initial tour I did, it just about sums up how I'm currently feeling:
