I believe the best things about bicycling is all of the wonderful people you meet while on the road. I met my most cherished friend while riding my bicycle. He was my mentor at first, and slowly became a more significant part of my life. With his help, I have made one of my life goals become a reality–my first week-long bicycle tour! Our destination was the Outer Banks, a group of barrier islands situated along the coastline of North Carolina. I began to read everything I could get my hands on–brochures, maps, and the AAA tour book. I put myself on a training regimen, riding with my panniers and adding a little weight each time. Everything seemed perfect, indeed.
And perfect it was! From the first ferry ride to Ocracoke Island to the last ferry ride on our return, we made wonderful memories together that will last a lifetime. I touched my toes in the Atlantic Ocean for the first time and it was warm and comforting. The sunrises on the Atlantic and the sunsets on the Pamlico Sound were exquisite each and every day. And the beaches were glistening with seashells! Everywhere there were thousands of shells. The smell of the water, the touch of the sand on my feet, and the spray from the waves put me in a trance-like state. But I mostly remember the Outer Banks for their diversity. The beaches, of course, are beautiful, there is so much more. The shallow water of the Pamlico Sound was perfect for the wind surfers, and the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, with its miles of deserted beaches, gave me the feeling of a much more primitive time. The many forested areas with tall Loblolly pines gave me the feeling of being in the mountains, the elegant vacation homes lined up side by side all along both coast lines were so majestic, and seeing the many small inlets of water made me think I was surely in the South.
Then there were the mosquitoes, climbing the 268 steps to the top of Cape Hatteras Lighthouse (we looked at the view from every window), the Wright Brothers Museum, the Kittyhawk Kite Store, and the funny man who made bets with us about all kinds of crazy things, and then gave us a free slice of maple walnut fudge even though we lost all the bets!
The fourth day of the ride was the most exhausting. We were at the start of the return trip and had decided to ride a total of 60 miles for the day. It turned out to be a day with a very strong head wind and the wind got stronger and stronger as the day went on. By afternoon, I was extremely exhausted. The last 12 miles were profusely barren and the wind was powerful. But with steadfast encouragement, I made it to the next town. At the end of the day, I felt terrific! I was so happy to have finished the ride, but more than that, I had pushed myself to my personal limits and succeeded. As always with vacations, they go by too fast. For me, happiness is making memories in wonderful places and being part of the nature around me. And so my thoughts have already progressed to the next tour–300 miles on the Blue Ridge Parkway!