Michael's Excellent Adventure
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Postscript
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Remember, if you've had just half as much fun reading these journals as I've had writing them, then I've had twice as much fun as you! —Michael |
The Numbers
| Day | Destination |
Miles
|
| Tailwind | Umatilla |
200
|
| Windmills | Pomeroy |
128
|
| Rivers | Lowell |
138
|
| Pass | Missoula |
125
|
| Butterflies | Lincoln |
88
|
| Rollers | Great Falls |
96
|
| Pancakes | Chinook |
142
|
| Fluff | Glasgow |
147
|
| Mosquitos | Williston |
156
|
| Group | Minot |
129
|
| Gremlins | Carrington |
139
|
| Hope | Hope |
79
|
| Air | Fargo |
80
|
| Perkins | Little Falls |
165
|
| Twins | Bloomington |
129
|
| Me | Trempeleau |
143
|
| Railroad | Oxford |
125
|
| Breakfast | Manitowoc |
130
|
| No Bed | Newaygo |
85
|
| Sweat | Lapeer |
173
|
| Two | London |
130
|
| Thames | Niagara |
120
|
| Falls | Rochester |
95
|
| Roam | Utica |
140
|
| Canal | Albany |
110
|
| Berkshires | Barre |
130
|
| Finale | Salem |
80
|
...For a total of 3396 miles in 27 days (the 28th day was the rest day in Missoula, and I didn't really chronicle the two rest days we took in the Twin Cities), for an average of about 125 miles a day. My mileage estimate is approximate, as I didn't have a computer for the last week, but should be within 50 miles or so.
Final Thoughts
A fantastic trip. The experience of a lifetime. Not much wilderness left in the country, so treasure it where you find it. I'm looking forward to doing much more bike touring, but never again as an athletic challenge. By that I mean, for this trip, I had a lofty goal and a limited amount of time to accomplish it, so I had to go all out. For tours in the future, I think taking my time and keeping the mileages under 60 so I can enjoy the towns and sights and things, and maybe do more camping, would be ideal. Also, there were problems on this trip, but I'm amazed and proud to report that I had the equipment I needed to deal with all of it, and no unnecessary equipment. Everything I needed and nothing more! How cool is that?
Thank you all for reading, and thanks so much for all of your support and encouragement.
—Michael