Okay, so I’ve been wanting to do this for a while, a proper road trip, but on my bike. Not a motorbike, a bicycle. Yeah, sounds crazy, right? But I finally did it, and man, was it an experience! I’m gonna spill all the details, from the kinda-sorta planning to the actual pedaling.
Getting Started (Sort Of)
First thing, I had to, you know, decide to do it. That took a while. Then, I looked at a map. Seriously, that was pretty much the extent of my initial planning. I picked a general direction – towards the coast, because, well, ocean! – and figured I’d wing it from there. I’m not big on super detailed itineraries.
Gearing Up
Next, the bike. I have this old, reliable mountain bike. It’s not fancy, but it’s sturdy. I gave it a once-over, tightened some bolts, oiled the chain, and pumped up the tires. That’s about all the “mechanical expertise” I possess.
Then, the gear. I packed way too much stuff at first. Like, three changes of clothes, a full-on camping set (which I didn’t even use!), and enough snacks to feed a small army. I ended up ditching half of it before I even left.
- Backpack: A big one, obviously.
- Clothes: One pair of cycling shorts (lifesaver!), a couple of t-shirts, and a light jacket.
- Food: Mostly energy bars and some fruit.
- Tools: A basic bike repair kit, a pump, and a multi-tool. (I barely know how to use half of it, but hey, it’s the thought that counts.)
- First-aid: Band-aids, mostly. And some sunscreen.
Hitting the Road
The first day was… rough. My legs were screaming, my butt hurt, and I realized I was terrible at pacing myself. I went way too fast at the start and ended up completely exhausted by lunchtime. I found a park bench, ate a sad little energy bar, and almost gave up right there.
But I kept going. I took more breaks, drank a ton of water (another thing I almost forgot!), and started to actually enjoy the scenery. It’s amazing how much you miss when you’re whizzing by in a car.
I found this cute coffee shop by asking for the direction from someone in the second small town I hit. I had a huge coffee. Felt human again.
The Rest of the Trip
It got easier. Not easy, but easier. My body started to adapt, and I got better at figuring out how far I could push myself each day. I met some interesting people along the way – other cyclists, friendly locals, even a guy walking his pet goat! (No joke.)
I slept in some weird places. A couple of nights I just found a quiet spot off the road and threw down my sleeping bag (light one, thankfully!). Other nights, I splurged on cheap motels. The showers were amazing.
I followed some secondary roads, and got lost. A lot. But that’s part of the adventure, right? I ended up seeing places I never would have found if I’d stuck to a strict plan.
Making It!
Finally, after what felt like forever (but was actually about five days), I saw it: the ocean! It was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. I just sat there on the beach for hours, watching the waves and feeling incredibly proud of myself.
Would I do it again? Absolutely. Maybe with a little more planning next time. And definitely with padded cycling shorts. Those things are essential.
