Guts and Glory Ride Gets Derailed

I received a phone call from the organizer of the rally, and I could tell from the sound of the ring tone that I was not going to be receiving good news.  Indeed, I was informed that due to pending litigation from a “competing” event, this year’s rally has had to be postponed….for a year. 

I won’t get into the specifics – I don’t know them all, but I will note that the filing was perfectly timed to disrupt as many plans, organizers, and participants as possible.  Here we are less than a month away, almost all of the logistics have been set, and poof!  No cross country adventure.  It’s very disheartening for the organizers, for the charities that were to benefit from this event, and for the participants.  OK, what to do now?  Got to get on the bike and go somewhere.  I can’t let Sigourney down.  We’ve come too far to just drop all thoughts of a trip.  I’ve got a heated jacket liner, and I aim to use it.  And sunglasses.  And duct tape.  Dammit, I’m going somewhere!

Shopping Spree

A Personal Mission to Stimulate the Economy

This trip has somehow created a sudden urge to spend untold amounts of money.  For some reason, I must have a new….well, everything.  Some of the new purchases one can justify - modern GPS unit, heated vest, new memory card (with vastly more megabytes), for instance. 

Then there are the things that should probably be regarded as "nice to have," but to me they are just flat necessary.  New gloves, new camera – the gloves and camera I had were perfectly good.  But they must be replaced, for they have been deemed unworthy.  They are old.  New sunglasses - gotta have 'em (even though my collection of sunglasses numbers in the dozens).  Not just one pair, though.  For some reason three pairs became necessary.  I’m throwing money around like a drunken Democrat.  New rainsuit.  The old one works just fine.  It fits well, folds up nicely, and most importantly keeps me dry.  But that's not good enough.  Because it’s not new.  Evidently I have an aversion to anything that is not new.  Or cheap.  Within 30 days the rally will be under way, and the allocated trip funds are dwindling rapidly.  I can’t stop spending.  I just bought new duct tape. 

I need help.  I may have to stage my own intervention before I deplete my life savings.  Well, at least the gas will be affordable…..wait….what?!?