Frustration Station

I would love to paint the picture that this whole journey is sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows. But at the end of today, I am super frustrated. I haven't had a good riding day in the past 4 days and it is getting a bit old. A million things have happened. We were in a hotel 4 nights ago, so I was on the computer all morning. I didn't get on my bike until after 11am, then almost immediately crossed the ID/MT border and crossed into the mountain time zone. Poof! Another hour gone. With the late start, I only rode (forward) for 50 miles including a long stop for huckelberry pie and ice cream and a backtrack (through construction) because I lost my maps. Three days ago, I started late once again due to mechanical issues. I was riding like a rockstar for the first 50 miles and then started cramping. No good! Well, I will call it cramping, but is was a weird cramping and stabbing pain in my right side moving across my back and stomach then up my right chest and neck. So weird! Anyways, after advancing only 5 miles in the course of an hour between stops for stretching and walking and curling up into the fetal position, I called it a day. Yesterday, I had another good riding day along the beautiful Koocanusa Lake but stopped early to set up camp and clean up for church. Today was the pinnacle of frustration. I hit the road at a decent hour heading in the direction of Whitefish, MT. Whitefish was about 50 miles from my departure site and after the disgraceful daily average over the past three days, I was hoping to make it further than 50 miles. But low and behold, I didn't even make it to Whitefish. OMG! Approaching Whitefish from the West, I was traveling on highway 93, which has less than optimal road conditions (no shoulders, broken concrete, chia cracks, and moderate to heavy traffic). Though I vowed that I would not complain about road conditions (with the good comes the bad), I will say that I have traveled on gravel roads more conducive to road bikes than Highway 93. Anyways, riding on poor road conditions on a busy highway, dripping in rain, eating the road spray from RVs, shuttering from a few close calls with cars, and politely reminding those cars that they are idiots...it was time to call it a day. Safety first! But I only rode 33 miles today...ahhh!

After one more failure of a day, I am a bit frustrated. One or two of these days wouldn't even phase me. But I have only covered 195 miles in 4 days. Really?!? That is an average of less than 50 miles per day. I was doing better than this in the mountains! What is my deal? Is it mental? Is it physical? Are my expectations too high? Yes, yes, and no. I know I am not focused like I know I can be and need to be to get more mileage out of every ride. I am definitely exhausted. I am starting to feel lethargic between 40 and 50 miles, which is way too early. And I am crazy emotional about nothing, another sign of exhaustion or crazy hormones. My bet is on exhaustion!
Something needs to change STAT! I still have a long way to go, so I am trying to keep a level head and not FREAK OUT! It's a bit early for a major change in the game plan, I still have months ahead of me. MONTHS!!!

After a nap, a hearty dinner, a good nights sleep, and one helluva GAME ON pep talk, tomorrow WILL be a better day...or something may need to change. I honestly haven't even looked at a map to know where I am or what is in store for tomorrow...but it WILL be a better day. At this point, I will be content with a 70-miler. Wait! Am I entering the Northern Rockies tomorrow? Well, too late, a 70-miler it is. GAME ON!

Welcome to Montana!

Kootenai Falls

Koochanusa Lake..Montana is one beautiful place (pictures don't do justice)

Sign at the laundromat...Really Montana?!?