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lovelytsunoda · 7 months

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this call is coming from inside the house // zhou guanyu

summary: y/n shows zhou one of her favourite small town fall traditions. it’s a shame that they can’t find their way out.

pairing: zhou guanyu x female! reader

warnings: getting lost in a corn maze, reader tells a story about how she failed her driving test the first time (but she passed the second time! that is what matters), brief talk about past regrets

i once fell in love, and it was gas…soon found out I had a heart of glass

she hummed along to the blondie song playing in the radio, pandora charms clinking into each other as she tapped on the steering wheel, her lovers hand resting gently on her thigh as they drove down the old country laneway.

“and there’s where I failed my driving test the first time. i still can’t park for shit.”

zhou laughed, gently rubbing his thumb in circles on her thigh. “babe, i hate to break this to you, but you still can’t park.”

“oh, fuck you.” she feigned offence, turning down a side street. “i have a backup camera now, my reverse parking has gotten so much better.”

she never thought she’d be here; showing the love of her life around the town where she grew up, introducing him to her parents. she’d come a long way from the shy, timid seventeen year old she was, grown into an outgoing, lively twenty-two year old.

and zhou was everything she could have ever asked for. he treated her like a queen every minute of every day, made her feel like she was alive, truly alive. he was her safe haven.

all it had taken for the two to meet was a chance trip to miami. y/n and her friends couldn’t get tickets to the gp, so they’d impulsively signed up to volunteer on race day. zhou had been in her car for the drivers parade, and he asked her out after the race that night. they had never looked back.

she pulled off the street and into the parking lot, indicator ticking in the background as she circled the parking lot, looking for somewhere to park the car.

“love, you might need to parallel park here.” zhou frowned, looking around for spaces. “the lot is packed.”

y/n cursed, lining up her car to parallel park into the only opening in the gravel lot. “god, please don’t watch this shitshow.”

with a laugh, her boyfriend covered his eyes, allowing his girlfriend to painstakingly put the car in reverse and back into a spot, eyes roving between the backup camera and the blind spot mirrors. her shitty parallel parking had been one of the reasons she’d failed her test in the first place.

finally parked, the couple stepped out of the red jetta, holding hands as they walked towards the farm entrance. they passed under a large orange sign proclaiming the farms official name, groups of excited children running back and forth over the grass, paper cups of apple cider in their hands.

she had worked there for three summers, and two falls, setting up the u-pick orchards and picking berries for the farmers market. and in the fall, she had the best task of all: helping plot the course for the corn maze.

the maze's path had barely changed in all the time that y/n had lived there, and there was something so quintessentially small town about it that reminded her just how different her upbringing was from zhou's

"babe, you've gotta be five pumpkins tall to go in the maze without an adult." zhou joked, pointing at the handpainted height sign: five cartoon pumpkins stacked on top of each other.

"you're lucky i love you." she laughs, putting her arms around her lower back and resting her cheek on his shoulder.

"i love you, too." he hummed, pressing a chaste kiss to her forehead before wrapping his arm around her shoulders and venturing into the maze.

there was something magical about corn mazes, almost as if they existed in liminal space. the soft fall breeze carried with it the smell of grass, the odors from the petting zoo nearby and the apple cider stand by the entrance. her heart swelled with love as zhou took her hand in his, softly guiding her through the first corner of the maze.

"it's usually a left here." she hummed, pointing a black fingernail towards a bend in the path. "many things about this maze have changed over the years, but never this corner."

"it's no fun if you already know the way." he laughed, following y/n down the bend. "where's the guess work?"

"um, i'd rather leave the maze in one piece."

zhou squeezed her hand reassuringly as they turned left, boots crunching over the leaves underfoot as they walked, jacket sleeves pulled over their hands. "walk on the wild side with me, babe. i'm not going to let you die in a corn maze."

"fine." she sighed, slowing her walk as they approached another fork in the path. "three paths, i'll let you choose."

she knew that this portion used to go straight through the middle, but that it had been changed to the right hand pathway. and of course, her lovely boyfriend had picked the left hand path, and she had to bite her lip to stop the protest bubbling in her throat.

she was supposed to be having fun, not worrying about dying in the maze with no food or water. there was cell signal, so she could always call her brother if worst came to worst.

the passage was narrow, only wide enough for one person to walk comfortably, so she drifted behind zhou, still holding his hand. the wind ruffled his dark hair, and he looked back at her with a fond smile. she blew him a kiss, gripping his hand and wrist as they exited the passageway.

when there was enough space for them to stand side by side again, she moved to stand next to him, placing one hand on his smooth, soft skin and angling his head towards hers before she leaned in to kiss him softly.

"thank you for sharing this with me. i know coming back here wasn't easy for you." zhou said softly, wrapping his arms around her.

"it's not that it wasn't easy, i do love it here, with my parents, and with my brother . . . but i don't really have much left here, all of my good friends are out in the city, and i met them in college. it brings back some memories that i'm not so proud of."

zhou rubbed his thumbs along her sides, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "i know, sweetheart. i know."

she kissed him again, sighing into his kiss. "i love you."

"love you more."

there was a rustle behind them, followed by voices as another group of tourists pushed through the maze. zhou tugged on her arm, pulling her around another, more secluded corner. it was a dead end, but that didn't matter when zhou pulled her in for another kiss.

"what'd you do that for?" she chuckled, looping her arms around his neck.

"wanted to kiss you some more."

public displays of affection had never been zhou's thing. he was so calm and reserved and shy, and the idea of being so vulnerable where other people could see it made his skin itch. things like hand holding, and an arm around the shoulders, a gentle kiss on the forehead were normal, but he was very shy about kissing in public.

she kissed him back, lips curving up into a smile. his lips were soft and warm against her cold skin, his hands cradling her body.

he made her feel so goddamn loved.

"zhou, sweetie?" she hummed, giggling as he kissed her hairline. "i think you got us lost."

"no i didn't. i know exactly how we ended up here." zhou frowned, looking around the dead end space. "it was just through here." he dropped her hand, walking back the way they came. "but i'm not sure where to go from here."

"is that not what i just said?' y/n laughed, coming up beside him and looping her arm around his. "you should have listened to me."

"we should have dropped breadcrumbs."

"come on, i think i know how to get us out of here." she giggled, grabbing his hand. "maybe it's time you let me take the lead."

zhou followed her, a lovestruck look on his face as he watched y/n pick her way back the way that they came, and then down the cetner path.

when that path eventually got them turned around as well, all zhou could do was laugh.

"you were saying?"

"shut up. do you remember how we got here?"

it was a sheer miracle that they found their way out before sundown, but they managed, the sun low in the sky as they emerged triumphantly from the mouth of the maze, y/n's arms pumping up and down in triumph. zhou reached for her hand, pulling her in for a quick kiss when he was certain that nobody could see them.

"you're a genuis, babe." he gushed, draping his jacket over her shoulders. "now, do you want the petting zoo or the apple cider?"

"why not both? we have all night before the maze changes over to the haunted house experience."

"you mean we have to go through that thing again? but this time with animatronics and men in costumes?"

"um, of course! but we know the way through this time!"

he laughed as he squeezed her shoulder.

"you're lucky i love you."

BONUS

yourusername I would follow you into the dark (as long as you could get us out of it)

TAGS:

@magnummagnussen @libraryofloveletters @diorleclerc @lorarri @cartierre @oconso @thatsdemko @scuderiamh @sidcrosbyspuck @clemswrld @httpiastri @love4lando

#zhou guanyu #zhou guanyu x reader #the cozy collection 2023 #formula one x reader #f1 imagine #f1 x reader #formula 1 x reader #zhou guanyu x y/n #Spotify

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sojutrait · 5 months

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hi soju!! i love your gameplay, its literally one of the only things that motivate me to play my own saves lmao. i was wondering if you have blog recs with other good gameplay tho? i hope you had a good day <3

GAAAAA theres so many good ones but straight off the noggin

@bunnithechubs literally so good, love her rotational gameplay sm

@veggyble my wittle kitten whiskers, she just started a new gp too so mmm

@castawavy / @seafoan i love cres' gameplay sm, i have physically fought for my life laughing seeing what happens in their game. SHE NEEDS TO QUEUE MORE THO 🔪

@javatrait posts so aesthetic pleasing it makes my jaw drop. AND THE DECORATING !! ugh love her posts sm

@servegrilledcheese love nino down, some of the best vanilla sims ever made AND great nsb2 gameplay

@squea CORN GAMEPLAY!!! love her posts and sim style sm

@cerubean love love love her posts sm, so realistic and calming

AND WAY MORE IM PROB FORGETTING ask me again in like a month fgkjfgk

#asks #anon #my fangirl list on full display omg dont perceive me

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squea · 6 months

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CORN NEEDS YOU!

After dramatically leaving Granite Falls Corn has embarked on the next stage of his aspirations! Friend of the World! I’m looking to populate his save with a bunch of pals for him so I’m asking YOU (politely) for some friends (or enemies or lovers; he’s very unpredictable)!! Read below more for more info!

< prev / next >

Young Adult / Adult Sims

Can be a single sim or a small household

No occults pls sorry!

Maxis match/mix but pls be aware i may change a few basic things for sim style purposes like default eyes or something!

As many or as few outfits as you like :)

Corn is pansexual and unpredictable. Some sims may end up as love interests so lmk if you’d rather them not be and their sexuality ofc!

Corn is also… noncommittal… if your sim IS a love interest… there is a high chance they will have their heart broken

Go crazy with information/ facts about your sim(s)! This can include their job/skills/preferences w/e I can edit their stats appropriately!

I use kuttoe’s hobby and personality traits as well as 5 traits in cas mod; you dont need to use this when making ur sim ofc but youre more that welcome to

Download can be public or private idm!

Make a post with ur sim and tag me, or if youd rather not make a post, dm me with ur sim and pictures :)!

There’s no time limit or deadline or anything like that. Friend of the world requires 20 friends so ha,,,ha,, it it will take us a while…

#im so nervous that no one will actually do this sgdfkgsd #corn gp #corn: friend of the world #ts4 gp #ts4 #the sims 4

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mariacallous · 28 days

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ODESA, Ukraine—In his office overlooking Odesa’s Pivdennyi Port on the Black Sea, Viktor Berestenko smiled contentedly at the half-dozen large international cargo ships just beyond the harbor. “It’s as beautiful as your first kiss,” said the grinning president of the Association of International Freight Forwarders of Ukraine. Speaking to Foreign Policy in late March Berestenko was only too happy to inform me that Ukraine’s three free ports—all in and around Odesa—are operating 24/7, and that the country’s grain exports are back to prewar levels.

The restoration of Black Sea trade is a major breakthrough for Ukraine, in stark contrast to the losses it has endured this year on the eastern fronts. In the Black Sea theater, Ukraine has pulled off the unthinkable: beating back the esteemed Russian Navy even though it has next to no naval force of its own.

From the tiny swath of coastline around Odesa, Ukraine has stymied Moscow’s attempt to landlock and hobble its economy by rendering it unable to market its voluminous agricultural exports. In the spring of 2022, the Russian military barricaded Ukraine’s Black Sea ports and brought exports to a standstill. This forced Ukraine to shift to land routes to market its goods and caused worldwide grain prices to spike, which raised concerns about famine in the Middle East and Africa. Today, Russia still occupies 16 Ukrainian ports. But the Black Sea front looks more hopeful for Ukraine than at any time since the war’s onset more than two years ago.

The Ukrainian fleet lost 80 percent of its vessels after the Russian occupation of Crimea in 2014. But, relying a combination of missile systems and unmanned drone boats guided by advanced GPS and cameras, Ukraine’s armed forces claim to have crippled a third of Russia’s Black Sea fleet. They have also upended the Russian supply lines that serve thousands of troops in the occupied areas of southern Ukraine.

On March 24, Ukraine landed another blow, reportedly using U.K.- or French-made air-to-surface missiles, taking out two large Russian landing ships and other infrastructure near the occupied Crimean port city of Sevastopol. Russia’s fleet has suffered such a drubbing that it prompted the firing of its top admiral, Nikolai Yevmenov, in mid-March. Today, Russia’s remaining ships are in docked in berths along the far side of the Crimean Peninsula, out of sight but not entirely out of Ukraine’s reach.

“Russia wanted to turn the Black Sea into a big Russian lake. But Ukraine reversed it,” said Volodymyr Dubovyk, the director of the Center for International Studies at the Odesa Mechnikov National University. “Russian ships today don’t venture into the northwest of the Black Sea.”

This cover has enabled Ukraine to improvise a sea corridor that begins in Odesa and hugs the safe shores of NATO members Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey as ships travel southwest en route to the Bosphorus Strait, through which most Black Sea trade passes. Exploiting a bumper crop, Ukraine is now exporting as much grain—corn, wheat, and barley—as it did before the war, as well as other goods, and has opened its Odesan ports for nighttime business to handle yet more. Prior to the war, Ukraine traded more grain than the entire European Union and supplied half of the globally traded sunflower oil, as well as iron ore and fertilizer, according to Bloomberg.

“This is enormously important for Ukraine’s economy, for the Odesa region, and for our future,” said Sergey Yakubovskiy, an economist at Odesa National University. “We have to do everything to keep this route open and reliable.”

Ukraine’s asymmetric Black Sea strategy relies ever more upon Ukraine-made drone boats—known as uncrewed surface vessels (USVs)—that speed across the water beneath Russian radar carrying up to 800 kilograms (1,760 pounds) of explosives. These projectiles have sunk or disabled some of the 24 lost Russian warships, evidence that Ukraine’s domestic arms production has been stepped up and is increasingly consequential in the absence of anticipated U.S. and European assistance. According to the Guardian, there are currently 200 drone manufacturing companies in Ukraine, some of them bankrolled by crowdfunding campaigns. In December 2023, they delivered 50 times as many robotic explosives as in the entire year of 2022, according to Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation.

Ukraine’s strategy is to maintain its presence in the Black Sea with the prospect of soon acquiring the longer-range missiles that it needs to hit Crimea itself and Russia proper beyond it, Dubovyk said. For Ukraine, he explained, the pressing issue is what comes next. “Crimea is in play, and if Ukraine can put more pressure on Russia there, it can make the occupation untenable. It would change the war’s logic if Russia couldn’t supply the eastern fronts from Crimea,” he said.

Russia’s response has been to target Odesa’s ports, energy infrastructure, and housing blocks with ballistic missiles. Seldom does a day pass without air raid sirens in the port city, which send its residents scrambling into their cellars. In March alone, Russian attacks killed 32 civilians.

One would think that the new coastal sea route would obviate Ukraine’s need to access EU markets via land, namely through Central Europe, and thus ameliorate the friction it has caused between the Central Europeans and Ukraine. Following Russia’s invasion, the EU allowed Ukraine tariff-free access to its markets, which had the effect of undermining the Visegrad Group states’ own grain trade and prompting farmers to take to the streets in anger, above all in Poland. Now, logically, trade could revert to its previous routes and the injurious tiff come to an end.

Not so quickly, explained Yakubovskiy, the economist. He pointed out that Ukraine’s new sea corridor is a temporary and unsanctioned byway, possible now only as a result of Russia’s naval weakness and an informal agreement between Russia and Ukraine not to target civilian shipping. It could end at any moment, he said.

As for Russia, it is not likely to improve its Black Sea positions soon. This is because Turkey controls the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits, and Ankara has chosen to adhere to the letter of the 1936 Montreux Convention, which prohibits the passage of warships through the straights into the Black Sea in a time of war. Russia thus has no way of getting reinforcements to its ports.

The upshot of Russia’s retreat from Black Sea waters and Turkey’s control of the straits has put Ankara in the driver’s seat. Whether Ukraine maintains its new trade route thus depends, to some extent, on Turkey.

In the past, Ankara has shown itself deft at using leverage to promote its own interests, whatever they may be. It could turn Viktor Berestenko’s bliss into a short-lived fling.

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flustersnaggle · 6 months

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STAND OUT, FIT INㅤ

andrew norman dolores (he/they) — a friend (or foe. or whatevs) for @squea's corn gp

occult: none

aspiration: spellcraft & sorcery

traits: bookworm, genius, overachiever, self-absorbed, socially awkward

age: adult (somewhere between late 20s to early 30s)

orientation: graysexual gay man

career: freelance writer

lifestyle(s): sedentary

likes: the color green, blues music, compliments, streetwear fashion, writing

dislikes: spirited sims, shabby decor

skills: charisma (4), cooking (5), entrepreneur (3), fitness (2), herbalism (6), medium (2), research & debate (7), writing (7)

(also comes with milestones (the simology one not the aspiration one), favorite umbrella, and preferred phone case too because i put maybe a little TOO much effort into him)

FUN FACTS

adoptive human son of two late powerful spellcasters. chose to be the World's Normalest Person™ and developed a complex over his nature as a regular human which he perceives as inferiority

his inflated ego and wounded pride forces him to reject anything less than visiting the magic realm and completing the sages' test himself as cheating

unfortunately for him, his poor constitution makes him prone to fainting under sunlight and leaves him completely winded after walking for more than 15 minutes at a time without breaks. with a hometown of henford-on-bagley and a current place of residence located in san myshuno, he does NOT live near glimmerbrook at all

did not have many friends growing up, thanks to his younger self's meek nature and general lack of social skills. even NOW he still lacks social skills, but he has learned to mask them behind a veneer of cold aloofness.

writes as a hobby (and lately, as a profession) whenever he's stuck at home

usually eats pre-cooked dishes and quick meals because of his low budget; what knowledge he has in cooking comes from messing with his moms' cauldron when they weren't home back when he was younger

just as spellcasters are—exaggeratedly or not—known for forgetting about their limits, andrew is HORRIBLE at taking care of himself. the man has been known to be so absorbed in his studies that he forgets to sleep for days at a time until his body finally decides to clock out

tumblr user squea if you are reading this and you'd like to kidnap this man into your game please let me know by DMing me!!! mostly because this is my first time sharing a sim with someone else over the internet and i don't trust me not to publicly humiliate myself lol

#corn was actually one of my biggest inspirations for making this sideblog because of his Silly so i figured i'd toss my hat in the ring too!#anyway don't let his looks fool you andrew may look cool but let me assure you he is a sopping wet pathetic little meow meow #the sims 4 #ts4 #ts4 simblr #simblr #sim: andrew norman dolores #snag's sim tag

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stonerbellybabe · 2 months

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You made a major mistake, you said that you are biking (and I am a bike freak)

What kind of bike do you have? What kind of biking do you do? (Road, mtb, CX, etc) Do you have cycling clothes? (Lycra, bib, etc) Do you have a power meter, bike computer, HRM, etc?

Sorry 😘

I have a Liv Alight (3 I think?) with fake leaves wrapped around the handlebars because it’s cute. I road bike but would love to try mountain biking if I ever live somewhere where that’s a thing. I have one bike jersey and it is corn patterned. I don’t really have any bike gadgets, just a fitbit with gps.

you can dm me we don’t have to have a conversation about bikes on anonymous lol

#ask

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wudlund · 11 months

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inspired by @squea 's corn gp, playing as a vamp and completing all aspirations <3

so here's toe (mistletoe worley) on her 2nd aspiration - lady of the knits !

she lives in forgotten hollow atm and is married to vlad (post makeover ofc)

completed aspirations: friend of the animals bodybuilder extreme sports enthusiast painter extraordinaire musical genius bestselling author best actress master maker lady of the knits -> in progress... public enemy chief of mischief villainous valentine successful lineage big happy family vampire family super parent master chef master mixologist fabulously wealthy mansion baron renaissance sim nerd brain computer whiz master vampire archaeology scholar academic serial romantic soulmate city native strangerville mystery beach life mt. komorebi sightseer freelance botanist the curator angling ace outdoor enthusiast jungle explorer eco innovator country caretaker joke star party animal friend of the world neighbourhood confidante leader of the pack good vampire world-famous celebrity inner peace self-care specialist zen guru

#ts4 #sims 4 #ts4 gameplay #toe gp #sims 4 gameplay #ts4 aspirations #wudlund

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brightgnosis · 2 months

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No one wanted to cook tonight, so we went to Arby's and I got a Corned Beef Reuben, some Mozzarella Sticks, and a Peach Lemonade. Then we did my stretches. And now I'm soaking in a very hot bath to get the spasms and pain to calm back down.

My Husband has his appointment with our GP tomorrow to see about Antidepressants. He was hoping to take me to the Botanical Garden to do some walk therapy since that seems to be what helps me the most despite also causing me the most pain. But a cold front with high winds came in halfway through today and knocked that idea out. So we opted for the stretches tonight instead.

It was nice, though, because the stretches didn't cause nearly as much pain as they usually do. I got through all of the first (up, no over) set without making many noises. Then about a quarter of the way throuh the second (up and over) set before it finally started hurting enouh I was hissing and what-not. So that's a huge improvement!

Little sad we can't go walk around the Botanical Garden, now. But oh well.

ETA: Doing TENS / EMS / MA on my leg after the bath and I forgot how spicy this unit was with fresh batteries in it. Oooh. Ouch! Worth it, though, because my leg hurts like a firecracker after all those stretches. Even the bath didn't do much for it. Though I'm sure being nearly an hour late on my Muscle Relaxer (because I was in the bath) isn't helping that 😬

#Personal #Food Is The Ultimate Love Language #Alphabet Soup #Sciatica #Piriformis Syndrome #Depression #Fresh ER 2 for 1 Deal

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exitrowiron · 2 years

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2022 Trek Travel Cross-Country Bike Trip Epilogue

The stats

21 riders including 8 women, 42 riding days, 4 rest days, 14 states, My personal stats - 3,735 miles (avg 89 miles/day), 142K ft ascent, 232 hrs moving time, 16 mph avg speed, $0 prize money

For comparison, the stats of the 2022 Tour de France

176 male riders, 21 riding days, 3 rest days, 2,081 miles (avg 98 miles/day), 157K ft ascent, 80 hours moving time, 26 mph avg speed, $2.7M prize money

I'm guessing that the average age of the Trek group was approximately double the age of the average Tour rider - we were older and slower but went considerably farther.

In anticipation of your questions:

Most memorable part of the trip: The rides in the Western States brought stunning views and memorable climbs/descents. If I had to pick one segment, I would recommend the Columbia River Gorge.

Most difficult part of the trip:

Days of temps in the 90s/100's turned asphalt roads into broilers, cooking us from our cleats to our helmet. Also, cold rain is no fun but we only had a few days of this. I also had a stomach bug that caused me to DNF a day and suffer the next few days as I recovered, but fortunately it was relatively short lived. Due to the DNF I missed 54 miles/4k ft ascent of the trip.

Physical impact:

Yes, I lost weight, but not more than 10 lbs. My body composition changed though; I lost fat and gained muscle. I didn't grow giant quadriceps like a pro rider but my cycling V02 max improved by 15% to 60. I never got sore like I do when I run and my only injuries were saddle sores in weeks 2-3 and a mild case of cycling elbow (i.e. tennis elbow) the last few days of the ride.

Was it easier or more difficult than I expected:

I really had no idea what to expect. I got stronger and faster as the ride progressed and was less sore than I expected. The ride was challenging, but it wasn't torture and I'm proud of averaging 16 mph.

Would I do it again?

No. I wanted to see the country from the saddle of a bike and to physically challenge myself and I've accomplished those goals. As the guides attested at the closing dinner, we had an extraordinary group of riders (kind, fun, thoughtful, strong) and I can't imagine being able to repeat that good fortune. Lastly, 47 days is a long time to be away from Beth, family and friends.

Things I learned riding coast to coast across the northern US:

1. It is ridiculous to think that 21 people in their 50s and 60s (and one in his 70s!) can bike across the country in 46 days. But what if they were provided:

• A training plan 8 months in advance;

• The best road bikes available;

• A GPS attached to their bike with turn-by-turn directions of the carefully planned route;

• White glove service managing all the logistics (luggage, hotels, meals, etc.);

• Refueling stops with water, sugar, salt, and encouragement every 17 miles in addition to a fully catered lunch stop each day;

• The support of 5 of the best guides in the business?

If you do all of that, then a group of ordinary (albeit highly motivated) men and women can do the extraordinary.

2. We live in a truly beautiful country; the Columbia River Gorge and South Dakota badlands were breathtaking, but so too were the simple pastoral beauty of the Midwest and the charming towns and villages of New England.

3. The vastness of US agriculture production is astounding and difficult to comprehend. Given the amount of land devoted to producing corn, the rise of electric vehicles and decline of gasoline/ethanol consumption will be nearly as disruptive to the farming community as it is to petroleum producers.

4. If political signs, flags, and bumper stickers are to be believed, there is a deep and troubling political divide between rural and urban America. This divide is being stoked by selfish interests and must be reconciled.

5. Those thick black rubber bungee cords with metal hooks on the ends that people use to secure things to their car or truck? They don’t work. Beth and I have picked up tens of them in the two miles of I90 that we’ve adopted, and I dodged hundreds of them lying on road shoulders while riding across the country. They should be taken off the market.

6. This trip reminded me of a lesson I first learned when I began Ironman training. The average human body is capable of amazing things, much more than you imagine. I occasionally hear the advice, “Listen to your body.” I think it is important to clarify that advice. Remember that your body evolved to crave an afternoon on the couch with a bag of chips in one hand, a cookie in the other and a milkshake to wash them down. So, when you’re listening to your body, listen carefully. Distinguish between when your body doesn’t want to do something and when your body can’t do something. At mile 14 on day 19, sick with a stomach bug, my body said it couldn’t continue and I listened. On the other mornings when my body said it was tired, I ignored it.

7. Bicycling is much easier on your body than running. Over 47 days of riding I never felt sore (with the temporary exception of my butt); I never needed a massage or used my Theragun. As an older athlete I plan to incorporate biking more regularly into my training regime to give my body more time to recover from the impact of running.

8. It is a privilege to do this ride. It is a privilege to have the good health, time, resources, and support (thanks Beth and all of you) to pursue an odyssey like this for 47 days. It isn’t lost on me that there was no racial diversity on this ride; that’s likely a reflection of the privilege this ride requires and the work we have left to do as a society.

9. When riding a bike a long distance, nothing matters more than the wind. Depending on the wind, a 40-mile ride could either be a thrilling 2-hour sprint or a grinding 3-hour sufferfest and in this respect, this cross-country ride is a metaphor for life.

Riders are quick to complain about a headwind, but very few will acknowledge a strong tailwind; on those days riders are more likely to credit their pace to their fitness and fortitude. This is a natural human tendency, despite the profound and more importantly, invisible influence of the wind. Bikers likewise compare their segment times to the results of other riders on different days despite those comparisons having little meaning without an acknowledgment of the wind (which never happens). Some riders have lighter, faster bikes, but those differences are visible, more easily accounted for and generally have less impact the invisible wind.

Riding against the wind isn’t just a physical challenge, it is mentally and even emotionally draining. I have a power meter in my pedals, and it tells me how much power I am producing. 220 watts with a good tailwind can easily propel me at 20 mph. Conversely, when riding into a headwind those same 220 watts may not get me above 14 mph. Here’s the interesting thing; even though I’m working equally hard in each scenario, pedaling at 220 watts for an hour with a tailwind is easy and fun; I’m going fast and making great progress. By contrast, I can rarely keep up a 220 watt effort for more than 30 minutes when facing a headwind; the slow pace and drone of the wind whistling in my ears are simply too frustrating and discouraging. It’s the same amount of work, but one feels considerably more difficult than the other.

Of course, a headwind isn’t necessarily an inevitable, unavoidable obstacle. A rider may be able to alter his course to one which is protected from the wind but still reaches the same destination. Or a rider could pick an entirely new destination, one which turns the headwind into a tailwind but arrives at a different but equally suitable destination. These options are usually only available to riders who are familiar with the area, riders who have been there before or have seen other riders navigate the optional routes and destinations successfully. Rookie riders are unlikely to deviate their course or destination and will generally attempt to grind it out in the absence of knowledge of the alternatives.

Sometimes a headwind is simply unavoidable, however. On those days, riders can help each other by taking turns pulling at the front, shielding those behind from the wind and giving them a chance to rest and recover. On many occasions during my trip, stronger riders would pull weaker riders for hours to the destination simply because they could and they didn’t need the help of the weaker rider.

At the risk of being preachy here (probably too late) I had the tremendous good fortune to be born with a strong tailwind. I saw other riders (my parents and their friends) reach my intended destination and I followed their course. In addition to a tailwind, I had the benefit of being pulled by older, more experienced riders (work mentors and great bosses like Jack ONeill). And finally, Beth Koetting is a strong and capable teammate who is riding with me and sharing the work.

3,735 miles taught me to be appreciative of a tailwind and acknowledge it’s contribution. More importantly, it’s taught me to recognize when others are struggling with a headwind. Odds are good that these riders would be equally successful with the benefit of a tailwind. I am reminded to help them find a new route or destination, or better yet move to the front and give them a chance to rest and recover.

10. The love and support of family and friends can make even the most challenging journey more enjoyable and for that I thank all of you.

Thanks for following along.

Mike

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