Dogs, Blogs, and Bike Cogs

{"file_duration":347112,"file_extension":"mp3","file_id":163350555236,"file_url":"https://blog.pedaling4pups.com/hubfs/3850459-1712266470412.mp3","title":"Listen - Days 26-28: Dog(less) Days"}{}{}null{"audio":"audioplayer","styles":"group","translations":"group"}truenull142197065608"@hubspot/audio_player"2[]"NOT_SMART"{"groupColors":{"background":{"color":"#0C5394","css":"#0C5394","hex":"#0C5394","opacity":100,"rgb":"rgb(12, 83, 148)","rgba":"rgba(12, 83, 148, 1)"},"hover":{"color":"#FFFFFF","css":"#FFFFFF","hex":"#FFFFFF","opacity":100,"rgb":"rgb(255, 255, 255)","rgba":"rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)"},"override":"custom","text":{"color":"#FFFFFF","css":"#FFFFFF","hex":"#FFFFFF","opacity":100,"rgb":"rgb(255, 255, 255)","rgba":"rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)"}},"groupSpacing":{"margin":{"css":"margin-top: 0px;\nmargin-bottom: 10px;\n","margin":{"bottom":{"units":"px","value":10},"top":{"units":"px","value":0}}}}}"module""module""div"

We all make mistakes, but this one is inexcusable.

I let you, the loyal reader, down, and in turn, I let myself down, too. I hold this blog to a high standard and like a parent of a misbehaved child, I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed.

{"file_duration":322968,"file_extension":"mp3","file_id":163348499069,"file_url":"https://blog.pedaling4pups.com/hubfs/3850459-1712265350581.mp3","title":"Listen - Days 23-25: Little Victories"}{}{}null{"audio":"audioplayer","styles":"group","translations":"group"}truenull142197065608"@hubspot/audio_player"2[]"NOT_SMART"{"groupColors":{"background":{"color":"#0C5394","css":"#0C5394","hex":"#0C5394","opacity":100,"rgb":"rgb(12, 83, 148)","rgba":"rgba(12, 83, 148, 1)"},"hover":{"color":"#FFFFFF","css":"#FFFFFF","hex":"#FFFFFF","opacity":100,"rgb":"rgb(255, 255, 255)","rgba":"rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)"},"override":"custom","text":{"color":"#FFFFFF","css":"#FFFFFF","hex":"#FFFFFF","opacity":100,"rgb":"rgb(255, 255, 255)","rgba":"rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)"}},"groupSpacing":{"margin":{"css":"margin-top: 0px;\nmargin-bottom: 10px;\n","margin":{"bottom":{"units":"px","value":10},"top":{"units":"px","value":0}}}}}"module""module""div"

About a week back, a group of motorcyclists who were traveling the Great Divide (apparently that’s a thing and no one told me) passed me while I was biking. They stopped and were shocked I was going as far as they were, but only using one horsepower — I told them I was more of a donkey, but since this is a family-friendly blog I’ll let you finish that comparison.

{"file_duration":452688,"file_extension":"mp3","file_id":163349040408,"file_url":"https://blog.pedaling4pups.com/hubfs/3850459-1712265224849.mp3","title":"Listen - Days 19-22: Trail Angels"}{}{}null{"audio":"audioplayer","styles":"group","translations":"group"}truenull142197065608"@hubspot/audio_player"2[]"NOT_SMART"{"groupColors":{"background":{"color":"#0C5394","css":"#0C5394","hex":"#0C5394","opacity":100,"rgb":"rgb(12, 83, 148)","rgba":"rgba(12, 83, 148, 1)"},"hover":{"color":"#FFFFFF","css":"#FFFFFF","hex":"#FFFFFF","opacity":100,"rgb":"rgb(255, 255, 255)","rgba":"rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)"},"override":"custom","text":{"color":"#FFFFFF","css":"#FFFFFF","hex":"#FFFFFF","opacity":100,"rgb":"rgb(255, 255, 255)","rgba":"rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)"}},"groupSpacing":{"margin":{"css":"margin-top: 0px;\nmargin-bottom: 10px;\n","margin":{"bottom":{"units":"px","value":10},"top":{"units":"px","value":0}}}}}"module""module""div"

When my brother, Trent, hiked the Appalachian Trail, he often spoke of “Trail Angels” who helped him along his journey.

{"file_duration":349176,"file_extension":"mp3","file_id":163346109867,"file_url":"https://blog.pedaling4pups.com/hubfs/3850459-1712262792698.mp3","title":"Listen - Day 16-19: Start Your Engines"}{}{}null{"audio":"audioplayer","styles":"group","translations":"group"}truenull142197065608"@hubspot/audio_player"2[]"NOT_SMART"{"groupColors":{"background":{"color":"#0C5394","css":"#0C5394","hex":"#0C5394","opacity":100,"rgb":"rgb(12, 83, 148)","rgba":"rgba(12, 83, 148, 1)"},"hover":{"color":"#FFFFFF","css":"#FFFFFF","hex":"#FFFFFF","opacity":100,"rgb":"rgb(255, 255, 255)","rgba":"rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)"},"override":"custom","text":{"color":"#FFFFFF","css":"#FFFFFF","hex":"#FFFFFF","opacity":100,"rgb":"rgb(255, 255, 255)","rgba":"rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)"}},"groupSpacing":{"margin":{"css":"margin-top: 0px;\nmargin-bottom: 10px;\n","margin":{"bottom":{"units":"px","value":10},"top":{"units":"px","value":0}}}}}"module""module""div"

Quick rewind. Remember that 75-mile day that ended with an awesome view of Holland Lake?

Well, on our way to camp, Clemens gave me the best compliment that I heard on the trip thus far. After tackling a taxing 5-mile hill, he called me a “machine” — because of my consistent pacing up the mountain.

{"file_duration":447792,"file_extension":"mp3","file_id":163350549650,"file_url":"https://blog.pedaling4pups.com/hubfs/3850459-1712265023177.mp3","title":"Listen - Days 13-15: 2 Down, 4 to Go"}{}{}null{"audio":"audioplayer","styles":"group","translations":"group"}truenull142197065608"@hubspot/audio_player"2[]"NOT_SMART"{"groupColors":{"background":{"color":"#0C5394","css":"#0C5394","hex":"#0C5394","opacity":100,"rgb":"rgb(12, 83, 148)","rgba":"rgba(12, 83, 148, 1)"},"hover":{"color":"#FFFFFF","css":"#FFFFFF","hex":"#FFFFFF","opacity":100,"rgb":"rgb(255, 255, 255)","rgba":"rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)"},"override":"custom","text":{"color":"#FFFFFF","css":"#FFFFFF","hex":"#FFFFFF","opacity":100,"rgb":"rgb(255, 255, 255)","rgba":"rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)"}},"groupSpacing":{"margin":{"css":"margin-top: 0px;\nmargin-bottom: 10px;\n","margin":{"bottom":{"units":"px","value":10},"top":{"units":"px","value":0}}}}}"module""module""div"

Long post. I know. So, let’s skip the formalities and bad puns and jump right into the good stuff — me messing stuff up.

{"file_duration":289008,"file_extension":"mp3","file_id":163350549585,"file_url":"https://blog.pedaling4pups.com/hubfs/3850459-1712264818916.mp3","title":"Listen - Days 10-12: Going the Distance"}{}{}null{"audio":"audioplayer","styles":"group","translations":"group"}truenull142197065608"@hubspot/audio_player"2[]"NOT_SMART"{"groupColors":{"background":{"color":"#0C5394","css":"#0C5394","hex":"#0C5394","opacity":100,"rgb":"rgb(12, 83, 148)","rgba":"rgba(12, 83, 148, 1)"},"hover":{"color":"#FFFFFF","css":"#FFFFFF","hex":"#FFFFFF","opacity":100,"rgb":"rgb(255, 255, 255)","rgba":"rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)"},"override":"custom","text":{"color":"#FFFFFF","css":"#FFFFFF","hex":"#FFFFFF","opacity":100,"rgb":"rgb(255, 255, 255)","rgba":"rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)"}},"groupSpacing":{"margin":{"css":"margin-top: 0px;\nmargin-bottom: 10px;\n","margin":{"bottom":{"units":"px","value":10},"top":{"units":"px","value":0}}}}}"module""module""div"

Don’t get me wrong, town days are a lot of fun. There’s food, people, and all the dogs you can pet.

But, town days can make it easy to forget that I am working under a deadline. The book lays out a 70-day trip and I have exactly that amount of time to reach Antelope Wells.

{"file_duration":283392,"file_extension":"mp3","file_id":163347657500,"file_url":"https://blog.pedaling4pups.com/hubfs/3850459-1712264633430.mp3","title":"Listen - Days 7-9: The Alternate Route"}{}{}null{"audio":"audioplayer","styles":"group","translations":"group"}truenull142197065608"@hubspot/audio_player"2[]"NOT_SMART"{"groupColors":{"background":{"color":"#0C5394","css":"#0C5394","hex":"#0C5394","opacity":100,"rgb":"rgb(12, 83, 148)","rgba":"rgba(12, 83, 148, 1)"},"hover":{"color":"#FFFFFF","css":"#FFFFFF","hex":"#FFFFFF","opacity":100,"rgb":"rgb(255, 255, 255)","rgba":"rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)"},"override":"custom","text":{"color":"#FFFFFF","css":"#FFFFFF","hex":"#FFFFFF","opacity":100,"rgb":"rgb(255, 255, 255)","rgba":"rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)"}},"groupSpacing":{"margin":{"css":"margin-top: 0px;\nmargin-bottom: 10px;\n","margin":{"bottom":{"units":"px","value":10},"top":{"units":"px","value":0}}}}}"module""module""div"

Every description of the Great Divide is relatively the same. Usually something like, “an impossibly long, winding route that never takes you directly from point A to point B.” The point is to get off the main roads, onto forgotten dirt roads and trails that take you nowhere but always somewhere at the same time.

{"file_duration":324528,"file_extension":"mp3","file_id":163349039622,"file_url":"https://blog.pedaling4pups.com/hubfs/3850459-1712264334533.mp3","title":"Listen - Days 4-6: Canada"}{}{}null{"audio":"audioplayer","styles":"group","translations":"group"}truenull142197065608"@hubspot/audio_player"2[]"NOT_SMART"{"groupColors":{"background":{"color":"#0C5394","css":"#0C5394","hex":"#0C5394","opacity":100,"rgb":"rgb(12, 83, 148)","rgba":"rgba(12, 83, 148, 1)"},"hover":{"color":"#FFFFFF","css":"#FFFFFF","hex":"#FFFFFF","opacity":100,"rgb":"rgb(255, 255, 255)","rgba":"rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)"},"override":"custom","text":{"color":"#FFFFFF","css":"#FFFFFF","hex":"#FFFFFF","opacity":100,"rgb":"rgb(255, 255, 255)","rgba":"rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)"}},"groupSpacing":{"margin":{"css":"margin-top: 0px;\nmargin-bottom: 10px;\n","margin":{"bottom":{"units":"px","value":10},"top":{"units":"px","value":0}}}}}"module""module""div"

Believe it or not, sometimes I doubt myself (hoping you didn’t read the last post). But when I started this, I told myself one thing: If I make it across the US border, I’m making it to Mexico.

{"file_duration":217104,"file_extension":"mp3","file_id":163347983465,"file_url":"https://blog.pedaling4pups.com/hubfs/3850459-1712264206815.mp3","title":"Listen - Days 1-3: Off to a (good?) start!"}{}{}null{"audio":"audioplayer","styles":"group","translations":"group"}truenull142197065608"@hubspot/audio_player"2[]"NOT_SMART"{"groupColors":{"background":{"color":"#0C5394","css":"#0C5394","hex":"#0C5394","opacity":100,"rgb":"rgb(12, 83, 148)","rgba":"rgba(12, 83, 148, 1)"},"hover":{"color":"#FFFFFF","css":"#FFFFFF","hex":"#FFFFFF","opacity":100,"rgb":"rgb(255, 255, 255)","rgba":"rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)"},"override":"custom","text":{"color":"#FFFFFF","css":"#FFFFFF","hex":"#FFFFFF","opacity":100,"rgb":"rgb(255, 255, 255)","rgba":"rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)"}},"groupSpacing":{"margin":{"css":"margin-top: 0px;\nmargin-bottom: 10px;\n","margin":{"bottom":{"units":"px","value":10},"top":{"units":"px","value":0}}}}}"module""module""div"

A few years back, I was eating a steak dinner with my family. I love steak and am a notoriously quick eater. And, as soon as that filet mignon touched my plate I cut out a fat piece and shoved it into my mouth. It was so good, and I was craving more, but as I went for round two, my body engaged in an epic battle of man vs. food.

I was choking. First time in my life. I had literally bitten off more than I could chew.

{"file_duration":263616,"file_extension":"mp3","file_id":163346484757,"file_url":"https://blog.pedaling4pups.com/hubfs/3850459-1712264086171.mp3","title":"Listen - Well, this just got real. "}{}{}null{"audio":"audioplayer","styles":"group","translations":"group"}truenull142197065608"@hubspot/audio_player"2[]"NOT_SMART"{"groupColors":{"background":{"color":"#0C5394","css":"#0C5394","hex":"#0C5394","opacity":100,"rgb":"rgb(12, 83, 148)","rgba":"rgba(12, 83, 148, 1)"},"hover":{"color":"#FFFFFF","css":"#FFFFFF","hex":"#FFFFFF","opacity":100,"rgb":"rgb(255, 255, 255)","rgba":"rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)"},"override":"custom","text":{"color":"#FFFFFF","css":"#FFFFFF","hex":"#FFFFFF","opacity":100,"rgb":"rgb(255, 255, 255)","rgba":"rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)"}},"groupSpacing":{"margin":{"css":"margin-top: 0px;\nmargin-bottom: 10px;\n","margin":{"bottom":{"units":"px","value":10},"top":{"units":"px","value":0}}}}}"module""module""div"

As I'm typing this, I'm on an airplane headed from Boston, Massachusetts to Banff, Alberta. It's about 6 hours of flying time, which gives me plenty of opportunities to second-guess myself and rethink all of the decisions I made about this trip. Sound like a fun time? Let's get into it!