Friday ride home from Sausalito after catching early ferry to go watch part of Matt’s high school baseball game.  Because of my cranky right instep/arch, I’ve taken it easy this week, no running.  Biked to work Wednesday and today as an alternative to miles on the trails.

Better safe than sorry, so tweaks and pains have to be treated with respect (and fear) in the month leading up to the Dipsea and Double Dipsea.   

Along the bike path that cuts across the marsh between Sausalito and Mill Valley, I pass a couple on a tandem bike outfitted for a long trip.  I ask how far they’d ridden, and learn that they are in the last few miles of a 3800 mile ride!  They looked to be in their 50’s, fit and radiating satisfaction at completing their adventure.  They started in Fort Meyers, Florida, headed north to the panhandle, west all the way to San Diego, and then up Highway 1 to San Francisco.  They will finish their 63 day journey in Larkspur, the next town north past Mill Valley.   I congratulated them on their achievement, and told them that Heather and I are planning a cross country ride after our kids are in college (this couple had similar timing).  We will take the northern route, likely from Portland so we can stop by and visit our daughter Kyle in Walla Walla, Washington, on the way.    Seeing this couple on the last lap of their ride is so cool!  And inspirational!