Very cheerful part of bike ride...swath of yellow flowers.
To get to the point to start riding,
Requires a plan and deciding—
To ask for some aid—
Help with plans you've made.
Move on, thanks to help they're providing.
Where are you getting creative help?
This will be my count-down week.
I am leaving on Sept 10, Thursday.
Flying to Cincinnati, OH,
Start point for a commercial bike trip.
Joining Nancy and Ken Wright's Company
To ride Cincinnati to Cleveland.
I'm excited!
I have ridden with this company.
I know logistics are handled well.
I'll ride with old friends and some new ones.
Travel arrangements for my bike have been
More challenging than for me.
Decision: check my boxed bike as luggage.
With help from friend with big-space-vehicle,
Boxed bike and I will get driven to airport.
Friend and I will "lug" box to check-in spot.
I can't handle the box by myself anymore.
I wonder if I ever could.
That's the Mpls airport plan.
Left: Yellow trailside flowers. Right: Trusty trip bags—Eagle Creek roller bag and Ortlieb screaming yellow pannier
Cincinnati airport arrival is now covered ... with help.
In a check-in Zoom visit with Bob's niece
Who grew up in Cincinnati, I hesitantly asked,
"Do you still know anybody in Cincinnati?
Who might have a pickup?"
Answer? ... “Yes.”
Connection got made.
Transport for me and bike will happen.
I will get to make a
New Friend.
Asking for help…
One of my 5 Shifts.
As I write my book, I’ve been
Talking about how you have to be
Brave to ask.
I was brave.
I asked and now have the help I will need.
Plus a connection with kind, generous people.
Do ask!
Please ask for the help you need.
It can facilitate what you are hoping for,
Can open up new connections,
Can smooth snarled tangles
That turn up in planning.
I'm always relearning.
That list of five shifts...
Make a commitment
Ask for help
Connect with others
Find humor in the hard stuff
Recommit and recommit and recommit.
Those shifts are relevant and real.
Somehow they showed up when I started biking.
Now I find some part of that list
Matches what I need in an
Off-The-Bicycle-Life challenge.
Trust me.
Try them.
Please.
Hugs,
Lin
The perfect treat for Friday or Saturday ride: Martha's Bakery in Dundas, MN.
Lin –
I'm so glad you asked for help as needed and worked out all the arrangements for transporting you and your bike. I'm wrapping up lots of things this week in order to be ready to leave on Monday when I'll drive to Nancy & Ken's in Vermont. Tuesday morning I'll head west with them for a three day drive to Cinncinatti. I consider trips with Ken & Nancy to be rides with friends, not a commercial trip.
I've bought a similar screaming yellow pannier for to use this year instead of a trunk bag.
I look forward to seeing you in a week.
Hope
WooHoo! Off we go, very soon! Safe travels.
You are amazing Lin! Keep doing what you love – riding. Have lots of fun on your trip . with love Sigrid