WHILE THOUGHTS OF TRIK'N SWIRL IN MY HEAD: Hope!

The tendency though out my life has been to plan more than I could accomplish.

I planned to hike the 2,100 miles of the Appalachian Trail but only made it to six hundred miles. I was 65 years old and just plain old ran out of steam!

Even so, I do not consider myself having acted foolishly as I personally know of no friends or relatives who has packed over the mountains of Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and part of Virginia. My eyes were just bigger than my appetite!

I have plans to make a complete round-the-world back packing trip, London, Poland, Russia, China, and Hawaii. AM I SERIOUS? Kimberly and Jack have already presented me with a pack for the trip. UN HUH!

And, so it is with my plans to ride my new Terra Trike. My first planned ride being across the entire USA was more than a bit ambitious, planning-wise, it did border on the foolish. BUT THAT IS WHO AND WHAT I AM. No apologies!

A Terra Trike recumbent trike inspires such thoughts. Take a look at a few "bents".

My sons, daughter-in-law and one grand daughter ride RECUMBENT BIKES. I tried their "bents" but could not adjust to lying flat, balanced so high in the air. I sure can't knock their experiences. Todd and Amy ride their "bents" year around. Todd puts in many thousands of miles on his "bent" yearly.

Trikes make great errand vehicles. This lady can relax on her trike and make it to choir practice without paying $3.00 a gallon for gas or the stop and go, wear and tear on her expensive automobile. She can also skip her spa workout and not worry about back strain.

On the other hand, this lady can load gear on her trike and head out for a cross country trip with nil expenses, going fully self contained.

Riding established bike routes over little used roads, she will meet a lot of people. Some just curious and others enjoying the same freedom that she is enjoying. Not counting food, which she has to have anyway, her vacation will be pretty much cost free once she has accumulated her gear.

Some people like to ride a load free trike, choosing to pull a trailer instead. The rule-of-thumb is that a trailer works best on off-road trips and a loaded trike works best on hard surface trips. A trailer is pretty neat but I chose to go loaded.There are also trailers made for transporting children, or even dogs, for that matter.

For a real good time, buy a tamden trike and take along a pretty girl. Works for me! Let her sit in front, steer and do all the pedaling. WALT, THE BACK SEAT DRIVER! Sounds great!!

A real cool guy named Dan Price lives a natural life in Idaho. A trike is his only transportation. His home is all made of natural materials found on his leased-for-life land. In addition to this home, he also has a "studio" where he works as an author and artist, and a garage for his trike. If you would like to know more just google Dan Price to see his home and his trike. He has crossed the country in a 4,700 mile trip and traveled abroad. ALL ON THE CHEAP! He does not have a job. THINK OF THAT!

A lot of the country already has established bike trails on their highways. Riding alongside of high speed traffic, or congested city traffic, can be a bit alarming for the uninitiated.

On highway exits and entrances the bike trail moves out into traffic. Cars zooming along at 70-80 MPH on either side did get my attention, although I did get used to it. I retraced two days of riding in one trip, riding until about 1AM. I sure put a lot of trust in that little blinking red tail light.

The stability of that third wheel is wonderful. If you are riding up a hill, and get weary, you can just stop, set your brake, eat an engry bar, have a drink, take a nap, release the brake and go back to pedaling. Can you imagine riding through this deep, standing water with a two wheeler? My son Todd would give it a try but then he is a dare devil, and has the road rash to prove it. HA

RECUMBENT TRIKES ARE NOT CHEAP. YOU CAN SPEND FIVE GRAND AND NOT BREAK A SWEAT. My Terra Trike Tour is a special touring model. It is geared to climb mountains. It has dual disc brakes and wonderful "joy stick" steering. The seat is completely comfortable, like a good chair, and there is even a head rest for the above mentioned "nap". Yes, I have napped on my trike. My first new car was a '59 Chevvy. With a lot of extras, my trike costs more than that new chevvy.

Although I am not actually taking any action toward a ride until after I spend some time on a trainer in my office. If it goes well, I will try the easy Little Miami River Trail and GOBA described in my last blog.

I may also have a go at a fully supported Adventure Cycling one week ride called Colorado Rivers and Flowers. It is a beginner difficulty tour, riding about 39 miles a day without any gear. It costs $1,049 but that includes all expenses of a week's living. WE'LL SEE AS TIME GOES BY.

LIFE WILL BE GREAT IF YOU GIVE IT A CHANCE. I KNOW. SO DO MY CHILDREN, MY ONE GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT IN LIFE.

God Bless!

BYE-THE-BYE, REMEMBER THE CHANGE MAKING IT EASY TO REPLY TO MY BLOGS? GIVE IT A TRY MAUDE AND YOU OTHER READERS OUT THERE.