half day off

I took most of the day from work. It was nice because I spent my time doing inventory and applying waterproofing to the outside of my tent's rain slick, sleeping bag, and a few other items I expect may get wet. Won't say I am absolutely confident that the results will be as envisioned, but we'll see.

It's been an adventure in itself to try and prepare myself for this trip. Typically, I ride my bike as a commuter, but I'm always pushing myself to go faster. I average near 17mph on the trek to work (and I do have stops). While it is a great workout and I can make it 9.5 miles in 30-35 mins is pretty great, but I won't survive long with that pace on tour. I guess I'll just have to constantly remind myself to enjoy the scenery.

One more thing for anyone who may be interested in touring. I have found this website by Darren Alf to be a huge help in my planning. What he is doing is just the bee's knees and I would recommend his work for entertainment and information: http://bicycletouringpro.com/blog/