“Well,” said Pooh, “what I like best,” and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn’t know what it was called.”
― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

It always comes to this moment.  Before every big ride, I get to a point where the planning is finished. The trike is packed.  All I need to do now is climb in and ride.  But it’s not yet time to leave, so I must wait for another day.

The waiting is the troublesome part.  The waiting gives my mind time to wander and think about the trip to come.  My mind spins with all the possibilities of the tour to come.  But do I limit myself to eagerly thinking  about the fun adventures and interesting challenges that lie ahead?

Nooooo!   Because I’m human, my mind fills with awful possibilities and I start to second guess all the plans I’ve made.    All the excitement and joy I’ve felt while planning the tour begin to transform into dread.   I’m going away from home for a whole week, without Nancy.  Why am I doing that?  I hate being away from Nancy!  Bad things can happen on the road.  Scoundrels, cheats and thieves populate the world – and I may meet them.  Trucks.  Roads with no shoulders.  Rumble strips.   Fast food burgers!  Can’t we just call this whole thing off?

Perhaps I should do a credit card tour, and stay in nice hotels instead of all this camping stuff?  Maybe I should forget the ride to St. Augustine altogether – we can just drive up there with our trikes and ride around the place.

This is where the negotiation process begins between my mind and my fear.  My mind says, “You can do this,  and it will be fun.”   My fear says “You’re an idiot!”   My mind and my fear are going to continue to battle this out until the moment I actually sit down in the trike and pedal off.  I know I am committed. I know I am going to take that first stroke and get on with the tour.  But until that time – I know I am going continue in this anxious state of anticipation and dread.

Tomorrow, I ride!