.... OR NOT

Oh yeah.

accidentally ended up on the interstate... while rolling into Kansas

after the century into St. Louis

i seem to have a "darn i missed another state line" streak.... this is actually my first one (and the coolest one by far)

Topeka, KS

I have so much to say but they're all jumbled up altogether right now and thinking hurts my head. So pardon the randomness and lack of flow.

Finally at a computer again... unfortunately I'm at the public library and cannot upload any pictures. Boo.

The days have been going by so quickly that it all the past days become one huge chunk of sights, sounds, and feelings when I look back. The rides have been long but fun, although I know that it's going to get a lot hotter really soon. We already hit 104 degrees when we rolled into Topeka yesterday. Hmmm. If I have to rank the obstacles on the road it'd be (in order) headwind, hills, and then heat. Headwind just blows. Literally. It's already pretty boring when you look to both sides of the road and see nothing but cornfield.... imagine the whole field leaning towards you because of the headwind. That just makes me want to cry.

Today is our day off. We visited a local hospice and spent some time there with the "clients" (what a weird name) there. It was sombering. I never truely realized the extent to which regression affects a person when he/she gets old. Does it feel frustrating to have to be taken care of and dependent like a child again after the prime if your life have passed? I don't know. Aging is something I'm not ready to deal with right now... but then again I guess I have plenty of time.

Chicago

Ok. First off, sorry for the lack of updates/pics. Internet is really a luxury when you're on the road. and so is time.

The trip is going very well. I'm having the time of my life. It's amazing how 25 people just come together and become such an efficient and supportive team so quickly. The first three days were rough.... but at least now we can say that we've biked through the Appalachians. It feels really weird that now we think of 60 mile days as "easy".

Well well... where to begin... I'd totally make fun of Cheng's bruised ribs but I have since then lost the right to do so since I got in an accident myself as well. Right now I have red hair and a patch of blue suture thread hanging out the back of my head. Busted my camera and cellphone... but that's a small price to play considering that I'm relatively intact except for the 6 stiches in the back of my head. I owe my life to the helmet and teammates who stopped my bleeding on the scene. Always wear a helmet!

The Lakes are great, especially at the end of the day when we jump in. It's sort of unnatural to me though, to not be able to see the other side.

Chicago is beautiful. Too bad I don't have any pictures yet. Just bought myself a Nikon 4600 (w/ 1 yr insurance). So the camera action will be resumed.

"enjoy life"

sandusky, OH

wooot! bridge!

hell yeahh!!!

dippin' the tires

Hopes and Fears

Five more days. I need to start packing!

Hopefully the Kevlar tires I bought at $32.99 a piece will keep me flat-free and save me time and frustration for the whole trip. And the rain jacket will be awesome and prevent me from being wet, tired, and miserable (as opposed to just tired and miserable??). And the camera will hold up... and I won't get into any stupid accidents... and laundered jerseys will dry quickly so I can have clean ones everyday.

I think I have what it takes now to do the trip. At some point, it becomes just a mental game. I really really hope that I won't crack under the pressure of fatigue and have to walk up a hill. No. That will be a personal defeat and I'll try really hard keep my spirits up and push it. But yeah, that's my biggest fear.

We'll see how it all turns out. *wink*

Mail Drop

In case anyone wants to be awesome:

FIRST MAIL DROP ADDRESS (Mail should arrive no later than Tuesday, 6/7/2005):

Jennie Chung
Hopkins 4K for Cancer
c/o Mt. Zion Lutheran Church
797 Detroit Street
LaGrange, IN 46761

SECOND MAIL DROP: (Before June 16)

Jennie Chung
Hopkins 4K for Cancer
c/o First Baptist Church
404 West Second Street
Montgomery City, MO 63361

THIRD MAIL DROP: (Before June 25)
*for mail*
Jennie Chung
Hopkins 4K for Cancer
c/o Franklin United Methodist Church
P.O. Box 152Franklin, NE 68939-0152

*for packages*
Jennie Chung
Hopkins 4K for Cancer
c/o Franklin United Methodist Church
1302 M StreetFranklin, NE 68939

In retrospect

It's May! Scary. In 22 days I'll graduate and then three days later I'll start out and bike to San Francisco. As cool as it is to nonchanlantly say "oh, I'm biking across the country" when people ask me about summer plans, the thought of me propelling myself from the one coastline to another is still... how should I put it... daunting? I can't believe how far we've come already and that everything is coming to an end... and beginning... all in a very short period of time.

Mother's Day coming up soon. I know I can't ignore it like I do Valentine's Day but what do I do?

Mom used to tell me about the times when she went hiking and on road trips during her "younger days", but now I can't remember any of the details. Well. At least I know that the tomboy in her is still very much alive in me.... and that she would have done something silly like biking across the country if she could. All the sights, sounds, tastes, and feelings that she didn't have time to experience, I'll open myself up to them this summer for her. That's it.

...and the countdown begins

One month until we take off.

in preparation:
- sold booze at beer garden (and no, we're not endorsing alcoholism....)
- made 2 more orders for bike gears. I can't wait to get those socks!
- started this blog. Hopefully I'll have access and time to keep this up on the road.