Is it just me or does there always seem to be a hurdle to cover? Well here's the latest...as you know I'm not your typical long distance cyclist. I have Myalgic Encephalomylitis or as it's known here in the States CFS and FMS (Fibromyalgia). I've always seen my doctor before and after my rides, have to pay very close to what my body is telling me (or I should) and sometimes it gets the upper hand. Ironically, just before planning to ride for CFS/FMS awareness my doctor retired from family practice leaving me without a family doctor! Grrrrr....so, we're in limbo at the moment. I've been riding trying to build my endurance and strength but haven't decided if we will set off on such a major ride without medical supervision. There are a number of possibilities- 1) I could get lucky and find a new and wonderful family doctor without much of a blip. 2) I could chance things in God's hands. 3) (likely) We will attempt some week long rides thru Indiana, Michigan, Ohio...near home and see how I do. Right now I've been struggling with sleep issues and RLS, or what we thought was augmentation from my RLS medication but it's looking like it might be something more serious. We'll know more after some testing. (Ugh..) I'm asking for your prayers and good thoughts that it's NOT anything more serious. I really am frustrated and discouraged right now. It just feels like everything keeps going wrong. Our pipes busted coming from our water heater, our AC is broken because someone had stolen the copper tubing from the central air unit and put it all back together nice and neat so it went undetected when we bought the house (and it's been pretty hot), the car has had some issues (which is fine by me for the most part because I'd love to see everybody pedaling but not so fine by those who travel in carpools an hour to work daily!), someone I love dearly is going to have his first baby in July and more people I love are going to be coming up from Texas to be here when the baby arrives and I would hate to miss all of them, it's my last summer with my baby girl before her senior year and she has a bunch of things SHE wants us to do and I've learned the painful way not to let those moments pass me by, a number of people close to me have been diagnosed with cancer and it seems like a bad time to be gone far. (Lost a good friend when I was gone last time) ....you get the picture if you are a "signs" person like I am. Sometimes God wants us to wait a little and it seems like this MIGHT be one of those times....I just don't know. Time will tell and your prayers will certainly help.
In the meantime! We rode the Industrial Trail in Kokomo the other night and I was really impressed!!!! I had rode it once before and thought it was nice but I'm not big on trails that have a lot of busy crossroads and that is one downfall of The Industrial Trail as with any inner city trail. But WOW KOKOMO! You've done Good! I was especially impressed with my hometown having the first trail I've been on that had not just port-o-pots but an actual "depot" like building with bathrooms, water and a place where you could air up your tires and hang your bike with tools to work on it! It was really cool! They've obviously worked hard to keep it nice despite a few spots where vandals had knocked over a light or two. Why do people feel compelled to do such things??? If I could suggest anything to Kokomo I'd suggest perhaps a "free camp" for cyclists ...maybe at the end by the picnic shelter by the Eagles? Or down at the point of the UCT park? I've Free Camped in some town parks and it really doesn't have to be anything fancy. The UCT park would be great because they could keep a bathroom open and it's near the police station if they feel the need to have a drive by patrol which I doubt would be all that necessary. It probably would not get used all that often but would be nice to have and once they join the Nickel Plate with the Industrial Trail there might be more of a need? Just thought. But yeah, it's a nice little ride, well kept, plenty of stops and shops, places to eat and it gives you a feel for the city. Kokomo's "sights to see" are not far off the beaten path either should you choose to venture to say Highland Park or Kokomo Beach or one of the Malls so if you are riding thru Kokomo Indiana don't just stick to the main road or the back roads...venture in and pick up the Industrial Trail. It's worth the ride. I didn't take my camera along but will try and get some pics for you.
Keep the wind at your back and keep rollin...
