We met to discuss the route. I was, frankly, expecting some resistance from my companions because of the estimated length of the route. I thought there would be pressure to shorten it up. In particular, I thought my companions would push to cut out the loop from Missoula to Great Falls to follow the Missouri River. To my surprise, everybody seems fine with the route, relaxed about how long it might take. Of course, we may all be singing a different song when we're three months into the ride and still five hundred miles from Boston.

I discovered a young man from here in Alameda who pedalled coast-to-coast from September to November. He joined us for our dinner meeting to talk about his experience. There were some surprising elements. In many small towns, he just knocked on doors begging to use the shower. Someone always let him in. He was very open about his feelings during the trip. Toward the end, the weather was cold and he was tired and anxious to finish. Some local gave him directions and sent him over an enormous hill. Coasting down the other side, he discovered he was going in the wrong direction! The young man acknowledged weeping on his bicycle as he pedalled back over the hill.

Roy ordered a new bicycle for the ride. He had to choose between ordering a frame alone for immediate delivery or buying a factory-assembled bike for delivery in April. The factory-assembled bike is substantially cheaper option than having the shop assemble the bike from parts and the frame. Now I know Roy is excited about the ride - he went for the shop-assembled bike!