This is the story of my 2018 vacation, participating in the Bike Ride Across Georgia! Starting in Rome and ending in Hartwell, it will be seven days in the saddle, averaging 55 miles a day. I’ll be riding, pushing my bike up hills, questioning my motives, camping, making new friends (I hope), and experiencing Georgia in a whole new way. For the official propaganda and run-down, visit www.brag.org/brag. For my photos and daily notes, keep reading!

In 2017, I did my first bike tour in Iowa, joining more than ten thousand other cyclists making our way across the state as part of the famous yearly RAGBRAI event. I saw a great deal of corn and soybeans, met several awesome people and 3 cats, and learned a lot about distance cycling. Having determined that my favorite way to travel is by bike, I decided to try a different state. This year I can drive to the event, so no airfare or shipping the bike, which is a plus. I’ve also added a few pieces of riding and camping gear that should help a lot. Riders are estimated around 1,000. I’m looking forward to an even better trip than last year.  I am worried about the hills though!