The Miles Felt Different Today
Today we rolled into Solon, Iowa, reaching mile marker 1,242 on the Great American Rail Trail.
The day brought a couple of welcome surprises.
First, we are being hosted by the owner of the remarkable The Literary Hotel, a place with incredible rooms and a welcome opportunity to rest and recover.
Second, a local bike shop helped solve an issue that had been nagging me for days. A quick adjustment to the cable tension and shifter eliminated the gear-jumping problem that had been making parts of the ride more frustrating than they needed to be. It’s amazing how much relief can come from a few minor adjustments and the knowledge of someone who knows exactly what they’re doing.
And then there was the weather.
For the first time in what feels like a long while, there were no significant headwinds.
No feeling like the trail was moving backward beneath the tires. Just steady pedaling and forward progress.
It’s interesting how a calm day can feel extraordinary after enough difficult ones. The headwinds of the past few weeks made today’s conditions feel like a reward. Not because the miles were easier, but because they reminded me that every challenge eventually changes.
Tonight, at mile marker 1,242, I’m feeling grateful for the people we’ve met, the help we’ve received, and a day when both the bicycle and the wind decided to cooperate.
Four H’s Rating
Heat: 5/10
Humidity: 3/10
Hills: Iowa continues to make us earn it
Headwinds: 2/10
Some days the trail lesson is perseverance. Other days the lesson is gratitude. Today was a gratitude day.
