When a Plan Comes Together

Man, I loved the A-Team when I was a kid. It was a cool show. But one of the quotes I remember aside from, “I pity the fool,” is “I love it when a plan comes together.

There have been a few things lately that have made my Canada bike trip seem a little more real and like it is going to be Ok and come together in the end.

My new bike!!!The first thing: I finished the bike I was building for my bike tour this summer!!! After over a month and through many hours, I built the bike from the frame up. When I say “I did this,” like many big things, it was a team effort all of the way. My new friends I’ve made at the St. Pete Bike Co-op donated parts and so much time to help educate me about bike repair and put an excellent touring bike together. I am oh, so grateful.

Isn’t she purty?? 

But now that she’s done, I’m getting excited about the trip again. Fear and mental hurdles have been keeping the excitement at bay. Creating a specific tool (i.e. the bike) to help me navigate the miles and mountains I’ll face takes away some of that. Now I just need to train…

The second thing involves the first.

I took my new bike on its maiden voyage at Critical Mass last Friday night. While riding, a man from France joined our ranks. He spoke no English, and a friend and fellow rider was trying to keep a conversation going with him with her high school French from 15 years ago. I was sort of eavesdropping, riding ahead a bit, but not wanting to intrude. Finally, she asked if anyone else knew French, and I slowed and dropped back with them.

For awhile the three of us had a halting conversation in French. It was refreshing getting to use my French after a couple of years hiatus (see 2015 trip here, here, and here), and to discover that one of my friends is a Francophile. It hadn’t come up before.

Eventually, my American friend rode ahead and talked to other folks. I stayed with the French gentleman, and we talked en français for the entire trip. About an hour in all.

Our conversation was halting. There was a lot of repeating on both sides, both because of the wind from the ride as well as just not being super strong with French. But we talked about a lot of different topics. We were able to communicate. 

I told him a little about my trip to Canada this summer, and how I needed to practice for the Quebec province. C’était bonne chance that I met this gentleman, because he helped to reassure me that we’ll be Ok in Canada if we need to communicate in rural areas. The accent is different in Canada, but I think I’ll still be Ok.

The bike is together, my French is … well … good enough to get around. My traveling companion has taken care of the lodging for the trip. Not a whole lot left to do but go ride!!

I’ve got to hold onto that excitement! Because the fear is still there too…