Saying goodbye to Austin

I am now at the moment where my departure is imminent. It is that point in time where I am realizing how crazy I am but I have already commited to a plan by purchasing all of the gear I am going to need for my trip. I have spent around three thousand dollars on my bike, gear, and vaccinations. Traveling is not cheap, even by bicycle. I am prepared to spend ten thousand more, if I have to.
My bicycle is a bike-commuter`s wet dream. It is a road bike with larger wheels and racks for carrying four saddlebags. I have a G.P.S. device mounted to my handlebars. I am pretty sure that I can get to where I want to be on this bike. The rest of my inventory includes: a bunch of socks, winter layers, rain gear that covers my entire body, a camera, tools and knives, my bike lock, bungee cords, a first aid kit, water purification tablets, a camelback, books to read, notebooks to write in, hiking boots, a tent, sleeping bag and pad, mosquito net, bicyle shorts, clothes, etc... I am going to dedicate one of my front saddle bags to food and extra water. I will probably carry a lot of energy dense foods that are mostly nonperishable like canned sardines and tuna, beef jerky, saltines, and peanut butter. This is more an emergency supply of food for when I am in less populated areas. Otherwise, food can be obtained cheaply all throughout Latin America.
I rode back-to-back hundred mile days with all of my gear, a couple of weeks ago, to get accustomed to riding with everything and make sure that it was comfortable. I learned that I am capable of riding many miles consecutively but that I should probably ease into it. The Texas Hill Country is beautiful but brutal. There are a lot of long rolling hills with steep grades that can be pretty tortuous when you are exhuasted. On day 1, I left my house at 6:00 a.m., rode 112 miles, and ascended 6,167 total feet to arrive at Enchanted Rock State Park right before sunset, which was at 7:30 p.m. I felt pretty exhausted and wondered if maybe I was pushing myself to hard. On day 2 I was still feeling pretty tired and consequently I left, three hours later, at 9:00 a.m. I followed the highway instead of back roads and arrived in Austin at around 9:00 p.m. I had to be at work the next day so I had no choice but to will myself back to Austin. The total distance I travelled on Day 2 was slightly shorter in distance and I ascended less to get back to Austin because Enchanted Rock is at a higher elevation. Still, I rode 100 miles and encountered the scariest part of my training ride when I had to ride on U.S. 290 from outside Dripping Springs to Austin after the sun set. There is hardly any shoulder and there was a lot of traffic passing me by at highway speeds. I was feeling pretty exhausted at work the next day but not too exhausted to go a show. By the day after that, I was pretty much fully recoverd. I feel like I am in shape to begin my journey.
I have spent most of the last week just tying up loose ends, hanging out with friends, and enjoying live music around town. I worked my last shift at work a couple of days ago. I will miss all of my coworkers. We were like a big happy family for many years together. Anyway,the departure date is but a few days away. I will soon embark on my personal odyssey. Just going to Big Bend will be very challenging for it is in the most desolate part of Texas. There are roads where I will have to travel 50 miles between towns. It will test my wits and endurance just getting to the border. I like to think that I am young tribal warrior going off into to the wilderness to prove my manhood by surviving. I hope to post to this blog roughly once a week.