| Cross-Country Ramble 38:
Reality Checks Date: 4/5/98 11:32:32 PM Eastern Daylight
Time
"This time, if we're experiencing a problem on our trip, let's
talk about it and not just hope it goes away," I say to Ken as I
remember problems with knees, ankles, hills, long distances and heat
from the Western phase of our trip. Ken mumbles, "Sure."
Our resolve was put to the test in less than a week of riding.
Ken's ankles were hurting and we're only in High Island, Texas. We
reminded ourselves of our resolve to face reality. Ken called our
insurance company's Nurse Help Line for advice. If there's swelling,
cool down the ankles. Apply heat to help healing. Wrap the ankles in
ace bandages. And stop cycling. We rested one day. For the next
several nights Ken soaked the motel bath towels in hot water and
wrapped them around his ankles like giant ankle weights. This seems
to help. He religiously wrapped his ankles each morning. Within a
week the pain went away and didn't return.
Our next big reality test is drivers in Biloxi, Mississippi. They
are the worst we have ever seen. They rarely move over even when
there is room in another lane. Ken has two orange bicycle flags that
flare on each side of his bicycle. The top of each flag is about a
foot out from the handlebar and Ken's head. They help drivers to see
us. In Biloxi, it doesn't make any difference. Most drivers try to
come as close as they can. Finally, a large furniture delivery truck
scrapes against Ken's flag down the whole length of its side.
Bicycle rage wells up within me. Finally, we pull off the road. The
white sand beach is on our right side. I can't enjoy any of it. I am
shaking from anger and fear. We decide to try another route through
Biloxi and stop at the first available motel.
That night in our room we ask ourselves, "What are we going to
do?" Maybe the traffic won't be so bad tomorrow. Wait!
Time for reality thinking. We agree it's simply too
dangerous for us to bike here. We have to find a way out of town. I
call rental car companies. Perhaps we can drive ourselves out of
Biloxi. No luck, we have to return the car to Biloxi. How about a
U-haul? For $700 we can drive from Biloxi to Mobile and leave the
truck there. There has got to be a cheaper alternative. I call a cab
company. It's $75 to go from Biloxi to Grand Bay, Alabama, a rural
area. We decide it's worth the cost. Next morning the cab picks us
up. We put the bikes in the trunk and we're on our way. We're
dropped in a nice rural area and bike on to Dauphin Island.
Food has presented two problems. First is getting enough of it
and second is getting it at the right time. My evil twin shows up
when I am hungry. Strangely, I'm always surprised when she shows up
me because I don't feel hungry. A typical hunger event happened the
day we left Dauphin Island. I have a good breakfast before our ferry
ride to the next island. We have a small snack as we get off the
ferry. Ken and I bike towards Orange Beach. It's about 11. We're
biking against the wind. We have only 25 miles to go today. At mile
5, I feel like I'm biking through Jell-O, not getting anyplace. By
mile 10 I need a rest. We stop. I think this is an ugly place. We
start out again. Every pedal rotation is an effort. At mile 15 we
stop. Ken suggests we have a snack. I don't want any food. I agree
to eat something. It tastes terrible. We start again. Doesn't this
dumb place have any restaurants? We pedal on. At mile 20 a small
store appears. We go inside and get a coke. The shelves are mostly
empty of any food. We go outside and sit down to drink our cokes. I
have a biscuit we saved from Ken's breakfast. I lay down. I don't
want to bike anymore. It must be at least 5:00. Ken says its 1:00. I
rest more and finally agree to bike a little farther. At about 2:00
we arrive at a restaurant. I don't want to eat. My stomach is upset.
I'm upset. Ken cajoles me into at least ordering something. I order
a hamburger. It arrives. I taste it. Not too bad. I eat it.
Within what seems like minutes I'm feeling better, smiling and
joking and embarrassed at my evil twin's attitude. That night we
discuss the food problem again. We agree breakfast before 10:00 AM
is necessary. I agree that regularly scheduled food stops are
necessary whether I feel hungry or not. So far it is working. We
check our map before we start out and figure out where food stops
might be available. We carry along snacks that I really like and we
stop regularly. Biking is now a lot more pleasant for both of us.
Ken and I occasionally have a Scarlett O'Hara method of
operating. "We'll think about that tomorrow." Dealing with our
problems as we go has certainly make this second phase of our trip
so much easier.
Carol
Itinerary (days from Ventura, CA, in ( )'s)
- Day 28-29 (87-88) Bonifay, FL
- Day 30 (89) Marianna, FL
- Day 31 (90) Quincy, FL
- Day 32-33 (91-92) Tallahassee, FL
We've biked 861 miles since Houston; 2624 since Ventura.
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