Bike Across America – Day Nine

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Start: Boise, Idaho
End: Boise, Idaho
Mileage today/cumulative: 0/640.5
Elevation Ascended: 0
Weather: Sunny, 88°

Our first rest day – woohoo! What fun stuff are we going to do with all of our time off? Laundromat. Go to the bank. Restock supplies from the local bike shop. Buy more toiletries at Walgreens. Clean and inspect our bikes. Say what???

We also fit in massages, some geocaching, and casual walking around just to keep our legs fresh. We’re also looking forward to a nice dinner at a farm to table restaurant recommended by an old friend.

I’ll now turn this post over to Hot Wife………

Bev’s Random Thoughts On Rest Day #1:

After eight days of riding, I am surprised how good my legs feel and how badly my butt (sit bones) feels.  Despite riding multiple days in a row during training, my booty just wasn’t prepared for so much time in the saddle.  I’m not the only one experiencing this problem.  Conversations over beer, dinner, and breakfast have been quite interesting and those not participating in this insane adventure would perhaps find them to be “TMI”.

I’m so thankful I own a home with a washer and a dryer.  On a related note, laundromats would be much improved if they served alcoholic beverages and crunchy snacks.

In addition to missing my washer/dryer, I miss home cooked meals.  We’ve been served good food for the most part, but I miss veggies and Arbonne shakes.

When we arrived at the hotel in Boise yesterday, a couple of riders were met by family members.  Nikki’s husband flew in for an expected visit, while former Delaware governor Jack Markell’s daughter surprised him with a visit.  Both of them were positively glowing with happiness.  It just made me even more thankful I get to share this adventure with Greg.  I would have a tough time leaving him for 50+ days even to do something I love.

These group adventures we participate in are sometimes difficult for an introvert like me.  I generally seek out the biggest extrovert in the group so I have cover in anxiety-causing social situations.  (Graciela – you know I’m talking about you!)  I haven’t quite found that person yet and have, instead, fallen in with several other introverts.  Luckily, they are cool with extremely sudden decisions that socializing time is over because down time is needed.

Related to the introvert situation….there is a rubber ducky being passed around the group in recognition of someone being kind or inspiring during the day.  Each night, the possessor of the duck has to make a speech and present the duck to someone new.  The receiving person has to make a short speech, spend the following day figuring out who deserves the duck, and then make a speech that night as part of the grand presentation. This causes me enough social anxiety stress to consider being very mean to whomever has the duck just to avoid it being passed on to me.  I might resort to the old “stick in the spokes” trick if cornered.  Extroverts will read this paragraph and not get it.  My fellow introverts will totally understand.

There is nothing better than discovering the hotel has a bar.  More points for air conditioning, comfortable seating, local brews on tap, and free, salty snacks.  So far, the winner of this totally made up category is the Best Western in Baker City, Oregon.

Our country is so beautiful.  I’ve met some wonderful people along the way, all with a story or two to tell.  Most people think we are some combination of brave, crazy, and lucky to be riding across the country on our bicycles.  I can only agree.  Bring on the next nine days!