From Laurie:
I must admit that it is with a certain sense of doom, that I am down-loading the maps of our proposed route.  43.9 miles the first day! 887.1 miles total! Coastal mountains! Urban riding! (Did I mention Coastal mountains?)  We have done virtually no preparation - in fact Cathy doesn't even have a bike yet.  Am I crazy?  The fact that I did a long distance ride 30 years ago is not comforting.  It all feels like the time, at age 45, as my body was in free fall, head first in an attempt to show Cathy how to do a cartwheel  I realized it had been 35 years since I'd done this and.....crack.....I collapsed (head first remember?) on the ground.  Only difference now I am 55 and will be wearing a helmet.  Okay let's go!