Day Two and Still Climbing

We are in Amherst MA on day two.  David got some sunstroke so we decided to get an inexpensive motel to stay the night and hopefully get a reasonable night’s rest.  Day one was rather grueling.  Not only did Google maps take us over the hills (literally) on roads that did not reach our destination, but the climbing was vicious and we got a late start.  We didn’t reach Wells State Park until close to 8 PM after back tracking a few times and getting slightly lost.  Unfortunately, a mile here and there off-course adds up! 

I also think that the fact that David was recently ill and that I had been too busy with my dad’s death, my daughter’s graduation, and getting ready to really train, play a factor in today’s exhaustion.  So the trip has started off with some trials – and David keeps saying, “and it’s just day two!” 

But I think the real lesson is that it IS really just a day at a time (and sometimes counted in hours or minutes).  We had to veer off our original plan and do a shorter day than we expected.  Yet, I am sure there will be many of these “recalculations” and they are to be expected.  Yesterday, the day was much longer than we expected – we went almost 70 miles when we expected to do 50 or so.  So, how to take things in stride is the key.

So, I am working on not stressing about the magnitude of the trip or the fact that my knee hurts  or how I will feel in two weeks of two months.  Right now, I am trying to rest after a shorter day of 45 miles (again with some tangential routes) and look at the route to Rochester NY to see how to minimize the climbing.  I am focusing on being in the moment and thankful for the chance to give this trip a go and for the support I have gotten along the way.