Since I conjured up the GAP/C&O bike tour idea in April of this year, I've been planning to do it alone. Not for any particular reason other than I am alone -- which isn't a contagious disease, so it wasn't sufficient reason to not take this grand trip. As I told my friends about it early on, many would react with, "Wow; I'd love to do something like that!" To which I responded, "Well, come with me!!" -- never actually expecting anyone would. It's a big commitment of time to do the training and then take two weeks away from work and family -- well, it's just not something I thought any of my friends were positioned to do. And then there was Deb!! Deb had recently finished off a job at a shuttered refinery in St. Croix and moved back to VA. She's been exploring new career pathways and since she hasn't yet jumped into her next new thing, she actually could make the commitment. A trip to her local bike shop and some new dorky bike shorts later, I gained a travel companion!
I've done vacations on my own before, and they are OK. But when you see something really cool, it's nice to be able to turn to someone and go, "wow, isn't that amazing?" Having someone to share the trip with means the challenges are shared along with the cool stuff. Two people who can pay attention to where to get off the trail. Two people who can figure out a solution to a bike problem. One person to distract a bear while the other bikes furiously the other way for help... I'm sure glad you'll be joining me, Deb.
I've done vacations on my own before, and they are OK. But when you see something really cool, it's nice to be able to turn to someone and go, "wow, isn't that amazing?" Having someone to share the trip with means the challenges are shared along with the cool stuff. Two people who can pay attention to where to get off the trail. Two people who can figure out a solution to a bike problem. One person to distract a bear while the other bikes furiously the other way for help... I'm sure glad you'll be joining me, Deb.