40 Days to D-town

We've been pluggin' along with our cold weather workout regimen, but I'm starting to get stir crazy with the stationary biking and can't wait to get back to Dallas. It snowed here last night, so my hopes that Spring might finally be settling in were dashed. Fortunately we don't have long to go- I (Mia) graduate on May 9, a mere 40 days away! Then it's finally back to hot sunny Dallas for good for the first time in 3 years. We'll both return with a new appreciation for our hometown. Arik's been rockin' the Hyperfit workouts- he goes 5 days a week and does 2 classes in a row twice a week. The other 3 days, he comes home from class and bikes for an hour. He's a trooper!

Furry Arik on the Rowing Machine

Arik Post-Haircut & the Hyperfit Crew (on the right in yellow)

Last week I figured it was time we learned some camping basics. We considered getting "Camping for Dummies" on Amazon, but decided to raid the info on the internetz first. We found quite a treasure trove of tips, including:

- How to Dig a Cat Hole (or, where to stick your poop when there aren't any toilets around- vital info to be sure!)

-How to Survive a Bear Attack: I know it's an irrational fear, but the idea of being prodded awake by a furry bear paw has been one of my recurring nightmares about the trip. Fortunately, knowledge is power! Amongst the helpful hints I learned:

• Never run or scream. Grizzly bears can run 30-35 mph. (whoa!)
• Talk softly to a non-aggressive bear, but give an aggressive bear some sass! (yell, throw stuff etc.)
• Use bear spray but only as a last resort

Armed with Knowledge (and a can of bear spray), We Will Survive Your Ferocious Attacks!

- What to eat. Though most of the recommendations are for standard no spoil camp fare (GORP, peanut butter, etc.), we also discovered freeze dried meals! Just add boiling water to the bag, let it sit, and enjoy a gourmet (or at least more gourmet than GORP) meal! We'll probably bring a few along for a special treat.

That's all we have for now- let us know what we're missing!

We've also been gearing up via big online sales. We got the bike shorts I'll wear on the trip for 50% off (they're only 40% off now- muahaha!). We also got Arik's bike shoes for 25% off, and a long sleeved shirt for me for 20% off. Yippee! Alas we paid full price for our tent, but it should be worth it. I should note that even on sale, this stuff is all pretty pricey. We hope this tour will mark the beginning of a lifetime of outdoor adventures, so we're buying gear that'll stick around for a while.

As always, thanks to everyone who's offered support, encouragement, and donations!

Be well,

Arik and Mia

http://www.livestrong.org/grassroots2009/ariknmiabike