countdown –

200 days

mev — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 12:13:59 +0000

Today marks 200 days until TDA 2013 leaves Cairo. Since the last count at 300, TDA 2012 has finished the ride and we are next on deck. I’ve sent in my payment and rider profiles are starting to appear on the TDA web site. TDA has sent out two preparation emails including a large rider packet of what to expect, what to bring, forms to complete, etc.

We’re in middle of summer cycling season. I’ve gotten some riding, including completing Bicycle Tour of Colorado (BTC) this past week. However, also busy during week with work and with an upcoming move to Austin, TX. So still plenty of preparations and riding to do as we slowly get closer to departure from Cairo.

300 days

mev — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 13:41:41 +0000

Today marks 300 days until TDA takes off from Cairo in 2013. If you look carefully, you’ll see that it has been more than 100 days since the posting for “400”. The reason is I looked up past few TDAs and guessed on likely starting date so now counting down until January 12th instead of January 1st. It might be January 19th but I think I’m closer.

At this point TDA 2012 is about half way through their journey. I’ve been following along vicariously and taking notes. I’ve also now bought the bike and started a training ride or two – though haven’t done much intensive training yet. I’m also looking through equipment and otherwise starting to put a few things in place.

Where will I be when the countdown runs out?

mev — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 21:27:47 +0000

I have set my initial countdown to end on January 1st, 2013. This is in part since I didn’t yet know the exact day I might leave the USA to start the trip or even the exact day that TDA starts. It has typically started in mid-January and arrived in Capetown in mid-May but individual days might shift.

While I wasn’t quite sure where I’d be on December 31st 2012 as the clock strikes midnight, twelve days ago I got news that made this even more uncertain. AMD will be shutting down the Portland site. Employees don’t yet know (and this post will be embargoed until it is public info or even a little beyond).

There are a few different interesting possibilities that might surface on where to close out 2012 and ring in 2013:

I could make my way to Cairo already and prep for the trip there.
I could be in the San Francisco Bay area, where we’re told our jobs move once the site closes
I could be visiting family in Colorado
I could do a last minute tour and final preparation, for example on the Christmas ride in San Diego. A longer possibility would be Bangkok to Singapore.
I could have left AMD early and gone on a longer tour and be at completion of that trip, for example Prudhoe Bay to ?.

Hard to tell ans a bit fun to speculate. However, while it is still possible I could still be in Portland celebrating the New Year, that probability is now a lot less.

400 days

mev — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:23:03 +0000

Today marks 400 days before the start of 2013 and TDA.

We’ve now entered our rainy season here in Portland. I’ve gotten less riding in and seems like going backwards in conditioning and picked up some weight. Will be motivated to do best I can over the winter and also think through how to do this next year before TDA starts.

Sometimes wonder if I could “over-achieve” and make bike2013 not just TDA but an additional long ride as well, e.g. Prudhoe to Panama and take an entire year off. If I can get a six-month LOA from AMD, I’ll likely keep the trip to that, but if for some reason that isn’t possible it will be very tempting to make this a longer ride instead.

As we go through the winter here, it is encouraging to see that by time the next 100 days is through TDA 2012 will have started, I will have traveled to Thailand/Cambodia to bicycle and best of all, days will be getting longer again for some further riding and conditioning. Nice to see the days count down.

500 days and counting

mev — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 00:52:26 +0000

This past week marked the 500 day milestone until 2013 and the ride. I also spent this past week on vacation cycling from Portland to Glacier National Park.

While it was a good tour, I also found it a little tougher than it should have been. Some of this is perhaps not being in the top shape and also weighing a little more than I should.

The combination of the 500 day milestone and the recent tour had me focus again on getting more in shape and prepared for that Africa trip that keeps getting closer.