I finally told my mom .....

I hate to admit to this but my mom was the last to find out I'm making this ride. She thinks I get too much exercise (and the dogs don't need any more exercise than a couple of walks a week). She definitely worries about me on The Bike. I asked John his opinion of when I should tell Mom and he thought that when we get to Edmundston would be good. I HAD considered just checking in with her every few days and not letting on that I wasn't sofa surfing at Charlotte Street. Tell her when we get back. Like the US military: don't ask, don't tell.

I told her Sunday evening after dinner. I started out with: "Mom, I'm going on a little trip with my bike". My sister, still at the table, said "Nooooooo". John, putting dishes in the sink, said: "Oh noooooooo". I was committed - there was no going back. Mom kind of moaned "Oh Mary Ellen" and I was too nervous to remember now what she said next other than, perhaps, "where are you going?" I told her it was cross-country. "How FAR across the country?". "All the way...to BC" I reply. She moaned again; well, actually it might have been more like a whimper. I assured her - a couple of times - that I was going with Jim. As if that was going to keep me particularly safe. At any rate, she was quickly off on another subject leaving me to think: " Gosh, that went very well".

My sister's philosophy is that (this is so huge) it's going to take her awhile to process it. I talked to Mom on Tuesday evening and she asked me if I was nervous. I admitted that "yes, I have a healthy bit of fear and respect for my bike and riding" and I assured her I wouldn't attempt to keep up with Jim if he goes too fast. She pointed out that she knows I'm sensible and won't do anything foolish (not intentionally anyway). She then asked: "Are you nervous about the H1N1?" Huh?! I opined that the Swine Flu was well past but she insisted that I keep my hands washed. I assured her (OR nurse that I am) that I'm the Queen of Clean. She seems to be processing the whole thing quite well ;-)

Sightseeing on the way:
We were going to travel with Tom and Pam who live in Ripley, Huron-Kinloss, ON. They have a great route all planned out but they're riding across N Dakota and I'd like to ride through the Badlands of S Dakota and see Mt Rushmore. They've been there, done that. We WILL plan to meet up with them on Day 3 at Marquette, Michigan, and then probably part ways as we make our way south. It would be fun to meet up with them again around Red Lodge, Montana, and ride Beartooth Pass with them. Yes, the Pass may be impassable because of snow. Then it's on to Yellowstone Park.

We have to be in Calgary by June 13th which, if we leave on the 4th or 5th, should give us some wiggle room with respect to weather days. Getting caught in the rain is one thing; deliberately riding into it is something else again. Jim will leave his bike at a friend's and on Sunday the 14th he'll hop a plane home to Freddy. His daughter's high school graduation prom is on the 15th and her graduation ceremony is on the 18th. He'll fly back to Calgary on the 19th with his wife, Trish. Here's where the plan is a little loose - again. Stay tuned .....