One week to go

A little less then a week to go and preparations are almost complete. I managed to quit my job without burning too many bridges, which, all things considered, I see as a major accomplishment. I decided against the marching band, balloon drop, or paragliding off the roof options, which were all considered at one point or another. Actually, there were people who I enjoyed working with and will miss. It's a weird sort of melancholy mood in leaving, where I'll miss all the good times, but still don't regret my decision to get out. It's been interesting to watch people's reaction when I tell them I'm going to Copenhagen. Some are very supportive, some pretend to be, but if you watch closely some will confirm my expectations that my career was going nowhere. Now I can chuckle to myself and silently shake my head at the dysfunction I'm leaving behind.  I plan on checking the newspapers to see what eventually happens.

With the help of some friends, my apartment is packed into a nearby storage unit with all the care of a jigsaw puzzle. Even so, I had to upgrade to a larger unit as my belongings surpassed my original expectations. Most of the past few days have been spent shuttling things back and fourth, tying up loose ends and, packing up, cleaning up, and generally getting ready. Sequencing of these events is important in having things run smoothly. Frankly the whole processes has been somewhat exhausting, and I sometimes have mixed feeling, such as when I turned in my apartment keys, or pack away some favorite items, like other bikes, paraglider, or snowboard that I didn't use this year.

Since I have no real plans of returning, I'm having a lot of "one lasts"... one last trip to the brewpub, one last trip to the shitty shopping mall, one last time buying gas. The cold and rainy weather has put a damper on some of these escapades, and seems to have people in a dreary, somber, or lazy mood. My body feels heavy from all the running around I've been doing. I'm not used to this kind of activity.

Since my lease was up five days before my flight, I've been staying on a friends futon for the past few days. This has made a good transition point where I'll do my final packing, as well as do more research and practice my Dutch. My key ring has is shrinking in sync with my responsibilities. Still, everything is under control and going to plan. Some nerves are building as my anticipation grows.  Some of my nights have been restless. Dreams of rowing solo in a large lake with round oars... seemed to work ok, but not optimal, for sure.

Launch Pad

The one month mark was pivotal milestone in my preparations. Confirmation that my career was going nowhere prompted a termination letter, which was surprisingly hard to do. My career centric upbringing made this feel like this was the linchpin most other things pivot on, mainly based on income or lack there of. My apartment, car, and all other bills and belongings are subsequently being minimized, stored away, or eliminated. Many worn out items that I had delayed on replacing are likely headed for the trash. Larger items, such as furniture, are on the bulletin board at work. Still, this has been my longest job, and I wonder what elements I’ll actually look back on, or even miss. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

The one month mark was also the longest could reasonably wait for the necessary vaccinations. The series or Rabies shots, in particular, are spaced over a three week period. I went to Passport Health, a specialized travel clinic, who was able to help me with vaccinations and other travel advice that was equally valuable. My lengthy, ambitious, and somewhat ambiguous travel plans lead to an initial intake evaluation/consultation that lasted nearly three hours. It was terrific to talk to someone who had direct experience and advice in travel health. Thank you! The literature they provided was highly useful, but somewhat terrifying in the range of diseases, parasites, and other climatic illnesses I could be exposed to. They also provided me with general antibiotic, a month’s worth of Malaria medication, and oral rehydration drink mixes to counteract traveler’s diarrhea, which is actually somewhat common (CDC estimates are about 40%). Perhaps the greatest danger is automobile traffic. Roads may be in poor condition, and traffic laws are not developed or enforced in some areas. I’ve heard crazy things about roadways in Morocco and Asia. The UK and Ireland have left side drive, where my ingrained riding habits may be dangerous. Health is particularly important to me as I’ll be on my own and on the road, relying on my health to get about. 

Also with about a month to go, I’m also ordering some last minute things online. Of particular interest is a GPS locator/beacon made by SPOT. Although my cell phone plan claims coverage in most the countries I’ll be in, I question coverage from a practical standpoint, especially in the outskirts. The SPOT will allow me to “check in” (which will calm my Mom's nerves) and signal for help if needed. An affordable rescue plan is available where they’ll come and helicopter you off the side of Everest if needed. This will be useful for serious illness or injury, or for critical equipment failures. Still, I will be on or near some sort of road the entire time, so flagging down help or finding help may not be so difficult. I am also researching health insurance options, and comparing them to COBRA coverage from my employer. 

Perhaps on a lighter note, one month was about the longest I wanted to wait to get my flights. I was able to score one way flights out of JFK to Copenhagen somewhat inexpensively. I figured Copenhagen was a great place to start, get encouraged, and see the “world’s bicycling capital.” Any damaged or forgotten items would be easy to reconcile. I was able to find a bag that fits over my bike with the handlebars and fork removed, yet folds up nicely for transport on the bike. Some trains and busses require bicycles to be bagged, and having such a bag on me gives me transportation flexibility without fussing around too much. 

The spring weather has also allowed me to test ride my new bike a few times. The first, unloaded ride was what one may expect. There were a few adjustments to be made afterwards in the brakes and shifters, but nothing serious. The larger frame fit my legs (and knees when standing) but extended my arms farther than necessary. An adjustable stem helped fix this. I am also stretching my hamstrings in order to rotate my hips forward and reduce back arch/strain. I’ve also had problems with my TI bands that manifest itself in knee pain, which is a known problem, but eliminated with even modest stretching. This will be ongoing. 

The biggest equipment change has been an increase in water capacity. I went from about 8L to 20L with the addition of two, 6L collapsible water bags. These are small and light to transport when empty or the capacity is not needed. Still, these take a lot of space and add a bit of weight when full. I hope that the 20L of water and SPOT device will give me confidence to go farther afield then I could otherwise. When the water is added to the other equipment, each pannier weights 10-15 lbs, and when added to a 45lb bike… it really makes for a monster of a bike to ride. The bike handles very solidly, and was stable and comfortable at speeds approaching 30mph (glad I got the disk brakes though!). The biggest problem was agility: the bike does not react to rider leaning (such as turning), and climbing out of the saddle feels very different. The added weight on the fork makes turning sluggish, and quick avoidance style turns are not always possible. The added weight on the bike makes the bike hard to get started, and feels much different in acceleration; you can actually feel energy going into the mass of the bike, making it feel like you’re riding freight train. The extra weight has a dramatic impact on even the smallest hills, as you’d imagine. The bike also had greater susceptibility to head and side winds with the extra luggage. All this made me highly question everything I’m bringing, and I’ve already started to feather out unnecessary items (such as my mini shower luffa). Clothing, especially shoes have been problematic. I will probably not be able to bring hiking boots for the side trips I wanted to do, but rather use my riding shoes for this, or maybe find something else along the way.

Personally, the realities of the changes are starting to set in. This is evident in my dreams, which are frequently very vivid, are changing in nature. Dreams of triumphant swimming represent negotiating emotions successfully, but dreams of misaligned/convoluted buildings represent changing, or at least unorganized state of affairs.The other night I had a dream where rats were drowning in a pool of muddy water, and miraculously turning into fish jumping for clearer water.... yup... time to go.

On a conscious level, some of the reality is starting to set in, but it’ll all feel like daydream until things physically start to move. I had a moment when packing my cookware: a small, light, aluminum pot, blackened by years of use over the campfire will the extent of my kitchen. I’ll be leaving behind everything else (like that really nice electric juicer.) Some of this feels like voluntary homelessness. Such emotions are self balancing. I’m as much excited as I am fearful, as much happy as I am worried. I am looking forward to the trip, but also question my physical and mental fortitude to handle the trials and tribulations of the climates and cultures I will experience. 

So I’m really just getting down the odds and ends now: finding a storage unit and packing my stuff, finding a buyer for my car, canceling utilities, and finish the packing list for my bike. I also have to find a place to stay and things to do in Copenhagen as I plan to be there a day or two to see the sites and recover from jetlag.

More to come: Stay tuned.