In just over 24 hours I leave for what promises to be quite an adventure. My guess is that I’ll have some downtime in the evenings, and I am sitting here struggling over what to bring with me on the trip. Yes, I’ll be biking all day, and yes, it is going to be very hot. However, I am not sure I can, or want to, leave my knitting at home. Now, I’ve got my spinning and I’ve got a sock. But I’d like a bigger project. At first I thought I’d bring a 2 colored shawl. But then I remembered that I need to get 2 more christmas stockings done before August 11. I rather thought it would be wise to work on them instead. I guess you could say that I am quite unsure of what I should take this time. This goes hand in hand with not being quite sure what I am getting myself into in general. What is really happening here is that I am obsessing over something simply because I have a fear of the unknown. I don’t know what to obsess over during this trip, so it is far easier to obsess over what knitting project I should take!

I’ve been packing all week, a little at a time. There have been huge lists of stuff to bring, buy, do, and pack. I really do have a handle on it all now. These will be my first nights in a tent since I was a teen. This will be my first long bike tour. I am quite excited and as the day approaches, my anticipation climbs and my nerves calm a bit.

Last evening’s project was cleaning up the bike. I cleaned her up pretty well and got her looking sparkly, but I must admit to having help with the chain. Actually, while I had planned just to do the chain, my helper kindly (or obsessively?) decided to work on the chain, derailleur, and cassettes. I am telling you that the bike has never shifted so perfectly and easily before. It is brilliant. I took it out for a very quick spin around the neighborhood, and it practically pedaled itself up a hill. Lets hope that experience lasts all week!

Tonight’s big job is just getting the bags back on the bike so it is totally and completely ready to go tomorrow morning. And then dinner. Tonight is a night to use up a bunch of stuff in my garden so that none of it goes to seed in my absence.

Finally significant progress has been made with my knitting. The featherweight cardigan in particular. I suppose I’ve been working on it quite a bit this week but last night I was able to get to the point where I could divide for the sleeves. So of course the first thing I did this morning was make the divisions.

I can see that I will run out of yarn before I get to the bottom edge of the sweater so more spinning is in order. However, I have some serious doubts as to if I will have another finished skein prior to the end of August.

As for today, I get to make some ragbrai preparations, run some errands, and participate in the owl ride late tonight. Should be a great day. Hard to believe in one week I will be leaving for the longest bike ride of my life!