Next week the Katy Trail Ride begins, so this week has been busy, partly with trying to make sure I’m ready physically, partly with packing and organizing, and partly with tying up loose ends with my business.

Last week I did 62 miles on Monday and 30 miles on Wednesday, then didn’t ride at all for five days. In retrospect, that was probably not the smartest thing I could have done.

This week, as I started riding again, I didn’t feel strong at all. I did 35 miles on Tuesday, and felt some fatique (14.73 MPH average). Wednesday I did 44 miles slow and painful miles (13.69 MPH average). But Thursday I was feeling much better and did 26 miles (14.33 MPH average). Friday I felt strong again, and did a short but intense 17 miles (15.57 MPH average) with some intervals.

I purchased a new tent (Eureka Pinnacle Pass 2XTA) a few weeks ago as a replacement for my old dome tent. The new tent is easier to set up and take down, and packs smaller than the old tent. Sadly, it weighs about the same. I’ll do a full review later, after I’ve used it on this trip. This week, I set it up and tore it back down just to be sure I wasn’t missing anything.

I also purchased a new duffle bag. On last year’s trip I took two duffle bags, and this year I was determined to fit everything into one bag. But once the tent, sleeping pad and sleeping bag were loaded, there wasn’t much room left for anything else. Also, my other two bags were difficult to find amongst other bags. One was black and the other was olive green, so neither stood out.

I picked up the new bag at a local outlet store. It’s slightly larger than either of my old bags, and is blue, so I’m hoping I’ll be able to pick it out of a pile. Also, it’s made of a water-resistant material, which is a nice bonus. Again, I’ll review it once I’ve had a chance to use it.

So although this week has been a bit worrisome and hectic, I think I’m ready.