Route Changes

When I first lived in Clear Lake, IA, I would ride around Clear Lake (the actual lake) once if not twice a day on my mom's 1985 Schiwnn Roadster - suicide shifters and all.  It was a 14 mile loop from my house and included some hills, beautiful views, and not too many cars depending on the time of day.  Over time it quickly became my favorite route and one that was honest and true.

After I upgraded to my Scott Contessa road bike (Tessa), the route continued to be my favorite, but I was able to make it around lake faster and faster.  I enjoyed the ease of shifting on my new bike, and the extra power my legs gave from being attached to my pedals.  The route had stayed the same, but how I got around it had changed.  

I was back in Mason City at the beginning of October and took time to head over and bike "the Lake."  The course had stayed the same, but some of the views had changed - remodeled homes, higher water levels, and leaves that had started turning with the final coming of fall.  The view had changed, but once again, the route stayed the same.  It was here that I learned how to roll with the road. 

Tessa at the Sea Wall in Clear Lake, IA

As I settled into the ride, many memories began to flood my mind.  Times when this road provided much need stress-release from my job to days when sitting on the bench at the park with the sun in my face was the best therapy you could ask for.  This ride had always been my favorite because I always had a good idea of how it would go, but still every once in a while it would give you a few new surprises.  This ride was good break from the riding I had being doing in Dubuque, where every route was new to me and you truly couldn't predict what was coming around the next bend because you just didn't know.  Some days you just need a a predictable ride.    

There are so many things in life that we do because it is familiar.  Even though some of the details have changed, it always remains tried and true.  There are days and times when we are ready for changes and new challenges, and other days when all you want to do is stay the same.  Neither one makes for a bad day, it is simply up to us to accept the kind of day you want/need to have.

Lately, I have been facing a lot of changes and challenges.  Decisions on which road to take while listening to the opinion of so many others as to what they would do.  Ideas and possibilities that seem endless and amazing, all followed by the words, "You truly will be great at which ever route you take."  While I love the positive feedback and ideas, I still find myself at times craving for days of what use to be an predictable route.  Knowing that you need to take a chance on a new path seems exciting and rewarding, but there will always be that part of you that just wants to give up and do what you have always done simply because it would be easier.

But then you remember something.  Somewhere in the back of your mind it begins to creep to the front.  The idea that this is your one life to live and only you can make the best of it.  That in the end you know what is best for you and what you want to do with your days.  That these changes and challenges only are opening the door to better understand who you are and what you want to become.  The idea that even though the route seems different and unfamiliar, the reality is that it is simply a road, just like the ones you have ridden before.  Even our most familiar routes at one point were new challenges that we learned to love and embrace.

In life, just like on a bike, the details of the route are ever changing, you just need to keep pedaling and roll with road in front of you.   Knowing that it will always be the right way, because you decided on that route while remembering that it will always be lined with your own cheerleaders.  And at the end, you always knew it would be the one that gives you the most changes and challenges - the road will be hard at times but over time it will become familiar.  And most importantly, it will be the one traveled by you and your feet.    

Just go.    

Thank You Trempealeau

This past weekend I traveled to Wisconsin for a 2-day biking trip with my bike buddy, Eric. Before I dive in here are a few things that were on my mind before we headed up the road:

1. I am a born and raised proud Minnesotan.  After six years of being an Iowa resident, my family is still trying come to terms with it and so even the thought of traveling to and ENJOYING the Green Bay Packer-lovin' state of Wisconsin is a hard pill for even me to swallow.

2.  Before this trip, I haven't been on a bike for over 2 weeks.  Somethings had been happening in other areas of my life and the bikes have seen more closet time that I would normally wish them to ever see.

So with that in mind I will continue.  We decided to do this trip after reading an article in Bicycle Magazine about Trempealeau County and how it had these amazing quite country roads that were going to be endangered with the new sand mines industry that was taking off in the county due to the need of sand with fracking.  These quite roads were now being overtaken by large trucks and much more noise.

So Eric and I thought that since Trempealeau is only a few hours away, that we should go and try to ride these roads yet this fall.  As we began to plan the trip, I Googled my heart away for all that the area had to offer.  I found the Trempealeau Bike Club's website and Facebook page.  The website had some of the best route maps I have seen so far and even better que sheets with turn-by-turn directions and even information on places to visit and where bathrooms were located.

Road trip check list: cheese curds - check.  Map - check.

When Saturday rolled around for us to leave, the forecast was not in our favor.  Some much needed rain was suppose to be moving in after noon or so, but regardless we made our way north.  We arrived in the city of Trempealeau and were greeted by cloudy skis, so we drove around downtown and into the state park to check things out.  Once in the park we noticed how nice the park road was and with a glimmer in his eye, Eric asked if we should try and get a quick ride in here before the rain started.  I agreed and we quickly got ourselves and our bikes ready to roll.

As we started up the park's path, my legs started to scream.  It sounded along the lines of "You IDIOT!  You haven't used us in weeks and you thought this would be a good idea???"  The screams continued for the first mile or so and then as we settled into the rolling rhythm of the road, the screams ended and a smile crept across my face.  This is what I needed and had been craving.  The wind in my face, my bike below me and the feeling of all stress simply drifting away down this Wisconsin road.

Horseshoe Falls at Parrot State Park

We did a quick 10 mile loop in the park and out to their nature center and as we pulled back into the truck, we started to feel the cooling drops of rain.  We hustled to get everything put away and covered and then made our way back into to town for some lunch.  We stopped at the Trempealeau Hotel and had an amazing lunch while watching the rain fall.  After our meal we made our way to Fountain City to try some local wine and then finally to Arcadia where were going to crash for the night.

The next day we woke up to sunny skies and a light fog hugging the upper parts of the ridges.  We took off from the hotel and biked out on the route we had found on the website - the Top of the World loop.  About 5 miles in we took a quick break to check the map and at the same moment my contact lens decided it had enough and jumped ship.  Now with only being able to see part of the road in front of me we made our way back into to town to fetch a emplacement lens from my hotel room.  Once back in town and with fresh contact in (and extras in my bike pack!) we decided to change the route a little go backwards so we could hit the "Top of the World" earlier in the ride.

As we rode the quite country roads, we were swallowed in amazing views and colors.  All of the tress were starting to change and the ridges and valleys of the Mississippi were truly breath taking.  When we settled into one of our first climbs, I knew I was in trouble and the surrounding beauty was blurred with drops of sweat.  My lungs were heavy and my legs felt as if they had mud on them.  I pulled my bike over to the side of the road as Eric continued on.  I thought to my myself that I have been here before and I had let myself bonk on a hill much like this.  I had given up and this time I didn't want to.  I knew I could make it up this hill.  It might not be pretty, but I knew I could do it.  So I pushed on and again I stopped.  I gathered my breath and my thoughts and once again peddled on until I could see Eric at the top.  I had made it.

Tessa at the Top of the World

We continued to ride the ridge until we came upon another climb.  As Eric made his way past me, I yelled out "Is it worth it?"  Without hesitation I heard a "You bet it is" echo back.  Again I needed to pull over and stop.  But again, I also pushed myself forward after catching my breath and made my way to the top.  And boy, was it worth it.  There on the side of the road was a painted Earth.  We both pulled over and took in the view as it was truly amazing.  You could see for miles across the valley and into the next ridges over.  The trees that made up the patchwork quilt below us made you slow down and breath deeper and deeper to take it all in.  It was so worth it.

After taking a handful of pictures we made our way back down the other side of the ridge.  As we coasted down the hillside, we were greeted with even more beautiful views and a cool breeze.  We finished up the last 5 miles a little slower than we started as we took all of the scenery in.  We finally rolled into town and recorded a total of 37 miles for the morning.  We both had done longer rides, but this one seemed different to me some how.  That I had somehow grown on the ride.

Eric and I at the "Top of the World"

As we packed up for the drive back to Dubuque, I felt as if I was new again.  I knew that the hills that I would be facing in the coming weeks and months, were ones that I may not have trained the most for, but ones I knew I could get up.  All I would need to do is stop every once in awhile, catch my breath and keep peddling.  And soon I would be at the top of the hill enjoying the cool breeze and the amazing view.

It is trips like this that remind me why I love to ride.  I got to spend two days on the road with a great friend surrounded by the beauty that is Wisconsin - yep. chocked on that statement, so so true.  I survived the climbs and enjoyed the descents.  I got my picture taken with Igor the famous giant mouse in Fennimore while enjoying some fresh cheese curds.  I was reminded how much I love feeling of soreness in my legs after a morning ride filled with the fall air.  But most of all, I continued to learn more about myself and to let myself grow in new ways with each and every ride.  Because no matter the size of the climb, each ride is completely worth it.