It’s been 2 weeks since I completed phase one.  I’m well rested and getting ready for phase two from Jacksonville Beach, FL, to Washington, DC.

• During phase one, I rode a total of 562 miles in 9 days. Average 62 miles per day.
• I dropped about one pound per day in body weight, which is a good thing.
• My resting heart rate is much lower–also a good thing.
• My energy level has remained very high.
• Muscle flexibility is much better than when I began the ride.

Observations from phase one:

• My heart is warmed by the amazing generosity and outreach of donors to my fundraiser for Coast Guard Mutual Assistance. I’ve steadily raised my goal from $3,000 to the current $10.000.  Thank you, donors!
• The kindness of strangers is alive and well in this country.  Most drivers were courteous; some even waved or gave a polite honk.  Virtually everyone I encountered, whether in motels or shops, was very helpful. I received unsolicited offers of water and snacks when checking out of a few motels.
• Florida is extremely bike friendly with good bike lanes and paths.

Lessons learned:

• I was too aggressive setting daily riding goals for the first three days of phase one. The wind was the main factor in my actual riding distances.
• Except in the Florida Keys, making just-in-time lodging arrangements was a good practice.
• For the longer distances of phases two and three, I plan to take one day a week off from riding (I was close to “hitting the wall” physically during day 8 of phase one).
• Blogging on the road is hard. Limited Wifi and cell coverage made my initial attempts painfully slow. And my mental stamina was diminished after every day’s ride because of the intense focus that riding required.

Preparations for phase two:

• New bike tires (they generally last for 2500 miles).
• New bike seat (per Mick’s recommendation).
• More in-depth route planning by checking intended routes with RideWithGPS (per Jodie’s recommendation).

As spring begins to bloom in the middle part of America, I plan to begin phase 2.  Stay tuned!