Amazing Story from My Bike Trip to The Netherlands

I bicycle maybe 3 to 5 miles a day here in the US mostly in the summer.
Recently I decided to go to The Netherlands where they have thousands
and thousands of miles of dedicated bicycle paths throughout the
country in a very flat (table top flat) land. I figured on doing 20 to
60 miles a day. Well, listen to this:

The second day I was so excited I rode something like 80 in about 8
hours straight. I only stopped for a few sports drinks every now and
then. The last three miles were extremely difficult. I was covered in
layers of sweat, ached all over and was exhausted. It felt like I was
going into some sort of shock (maybe I was?) Then I saw my hotel which
was about a quarter mile away (you can see for miles in this country)
and I knew I would make it. Just then on the other side of the road on
the bicycle paths I saw, and I kid you not, the Olympic Torch go by!
There was a guy in an offical Oylmpic shirt and he was running with the
torch. I was too stupid shy and to beat to go over tell him about my
ride and ask him if I could carry it a few meters. In any case wasn'tr
that amazing? Right at that very moment? My friend here in the US
thinks that was sign of something. Amazing.

wrote:
The second day I was so excited I rode something like 80 in about 8
hours straight. I only stopped for a few sports drinks every now and
then. The last three miles were extremely difficult. I was covered in
layers of sweat, ached all over and was exhausted.

Sounds like you "hit the wall," as marathon runners call it. You reach
a point where your body has exhausted all available carbs and is now
running only on converted fat.

and I knew I would make it. Just then on the other side of the road on
the bicycle paths I saw, and I kid you not, the Olympic Torch go by!
There was a guy in an offical Oylmpic shirt and he was running with the
torch. I was too stupid shy and to beat to go over tell him about my
ride and ask him if I could carry it a few meters. In any case wasn'tr
that amazing? Right at that very moment? My friend here in the US
thinks that was sign of something. Amazing.

They do make a point of having those things cover as much ground as
possible. Personally, I've had two of 'em pass within a mile of my house,
in '84 and '02. But it's still exciting. Call it serendipity or what you
will, it'll always be a great memory.


Bill


__o | I used to think that I was cool, running around on fossil fuel
_`\(,_ | Until I saw what I was doing was driving down the road to ruin.
(_)/ (_) | - James Taylor