A day in the life of the SFT

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What do I eat? Where do I sleep? How far do I ride each day? Usually I try to avoid this mundane travelogue style of blogging, but I’ve had more and more requests for a glimpse into an average day of the SFT. Perhaps this summary will inspire you to hop on a bike the next time you’re looking for adventure. Bicycle touring is truly a fantastic way to travel!

Life on the road has its own cycles. Your schedule quickly shifts into alignment with the rhythms of the day and your focus narrows to concentrate on basic needs such as food and shelter. My day usually begins around 6:30 a.m. as the morning dawns overhead. Snuggled in my tent, I take out my iPhone to check the weather and plan a tentative route. Once the sky lights up it’s time for tea and breakfast on my trusty Jetboil stove. Oatmeal is my most common choice – 2 packets of plain organic instant oats, a handful of instant quinoa flakes and a spoonful of peanut butter – tasty and full of energy for the day ahead. By the time the camping gear is packed, the tire pressure is checked and the sunscreen is applied it’s usually pushing 8:30. Time to hit the road!

The first half hour of the day is always a bit tough. This is when your legs are still warming up and your body is settling back into its familiar position on the bike. Depending on the terrain, wind direction and road surface I can travel anywhere between 8 to 14 mph. My fanatstic Garmin Edge 800 GPS unit tracks my velocity, elevation gain and metabolic data. I keep an eye on the screen and regardless of my speed I try to keep my heart rate low and steady – hammering up a hill at 160 bpm is unsustainable if I have another 5 hours of riding ahead of me.

Along with monitoring my GPS data and route, I also have to keep track of my food intake. It’s important to stay fueled if you’re riding for an entire day.  I try to stop once an hour for some sort of sustenance – sometimes it’s a quick energy gel and other times I’ll have some trail mix or a tub of yogurt. I aim for a mix of carbohydrate and protein in every snack.

Usually I’ll take one long break from riding every day. I might stop at a grocery store to restock my food supplies or visit a library for some much-needed internet access. Traveling by bike isn’t about the speed, it’s about the ride, and I try to take time to appreciate the freedom of life on the road. This means occasional sightseeing, taking the scenic route and having conversations with curious strangers.

Late afternoon my destination generally draws near and I become antsy to finish up riding for the day and rest my legs. When I arrive at the campground (or if I’m lucky a hotel), showering is my #1 priority followed closely by an early dinner. Again, a mix of carbohydrates and protein are in short order – this could be anything from a peanut butter sandwich and a salad to a dried soup augmented with veggies and instant quinoa.

After dinner I’ll do my best to catch up on as many outstanding emails and blogs as possible before my eyelids start to get heavy and my bed begins to call to me. Early bedtimes are the norm on the SFT and I have been known to call it a night as early as 8 p.m. I always fall asleep with a snack by my side as often I’ll wake up quite ravenous in the middle of the night!

Pedaling across the country certainly isn’t glamorous but it is most definitely fabulous. Although I can’t wait to return home after the SFT is over next month, I’ll miss the peaceful existence of life on the road. I hope each and every one of you have the opportunity to experience the joy of a bicycle tour. Get out there and explore!

Guest blog by Mom: So what DOES her mother think?

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Self portrait attempt during a brief sightseeing excursion in DC.

“What does your mother think?”

Okay, at this point in the School Food Tour both Sara and I have had this question from a number of people, so let me try to respond from a Mom’s point of view.  First of all, I have to say that when the idea of the School Food Tour was still germinating in Sara’s brain; I thought it was probably just a pie in the sky idea that would not come to fruition.  In my mind, there were so many variables and obstacles to overcome that when Sara asked if her Dad and I would take her Siberian Husky, Grizwald, for the duration, I quickly responded, “yes”, quite sure that the dream would not become a reality.  Well, low and behold, I underestimated my idealistic and determined daughter.  We have now had the grand puppy for 10 months and Sara is on the last leg of the School Food Tour, pedaling north to the Upper Peninsula in Michigan.

For me, the time has, by turns, gone by quickly and interminably slow, waiting for phone calls, texts or emails to assure us of her safe arrival at yet another destination on the tour.   I’m afraid to say there have been times when my attitude has been, “hope for the best but prepare for the worst”, especially when waiting for some form of communication assuring us of her safe arrival in civilization.  During those times I worry and, when I do have to opportunity to talk to her, remind her of the dangers lurking (“Remember, Sara, there are people who actually live in those trees in the Redwoods who might prey on you”!)  Okay, that might sound a bit goofy, but remember, this is her Mom talking.  I have to say, my emotions during the past 10 months have run the gamut, ranging from anxiousness to relief when hearing her voice after a stretch of no communication.  While her Dad and I worry and remind her of the dangers of the road, we are also extremely proud of her efforts and in awe of this worthwhile epic venture.

After following the Tour from afar, at home in the Upper Peninsula, I now have a new appreciation for the daily grind of pedaling and promoting healthy school food while still working on the road; keeping up with updates to social media, blogs, etc. That’s primarily because I just spent the last week on the road with Sara as support vehicle for the School Food Tour, joining her for the Washington D.C. to Ohio stage of her trip.  During this time, I had the pleasure of meeting the elusive and loyal Felice as well as a generous supporter, Liz.  When we hit the road out of D.C. I found myself a little less anxious, thinking I now had some idea of the route on a daily basis.  Of course, it didn’t help to ease my fears when I found she changes her route frequently dependent on traffic, terrain, etc.

Throughout this grand adventure, my worries and concerns have been significantly assuaged by Sara’s friends, her sponsors, as well as our friends and family members who have supported her on this journey either in spirit or in person.  My thank you extends to the people who welcomed her into their homes, fed her and gave her a place to rest her weary head.  As a Mom, knowing that people like this exist helps me worry less and sleep at night.  So, in closing, as I always say at the end of my conversations with Sara on the road, I love you and be safe.  And, in answer to your question Sara, I do think it’s possible for one girl and her bike to make a positive contribution to the school food revolution in this country.

Guest blog by Felice: “A change of pace… but always moving and always learning!”

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Introducing my regular guest blogger, Miss Felice! This time, her take on history & the joys of traveling by bicycle. Enjoy!

Fabulous Felice - School Food Tour support crew superstar!!!

With a West Coast and Gulf Coast chapter of the School Food Tour under my belt, I was excited to seize one last opportunity to join Sara on the Tour for a ride up the East Coast. After a hectic couple of weeks of work and travel, I was keen to return to life at bicycle pace! I arrived in Charlotte, NC and collected my bike from the friendly folks at Uptown Cycles – who I must thank for caring for my precious machine. By the time I met up with Sara along the road, I had been struck by the beauty of the area – particularly the vibrant green fields and abundant blooming azaleas. And even though my nose started to instantly itch at the pollen in the air, I knew I was in for a great week of riding.

As we pedaled towards Richmond, VA we encountered many encouraging and inquisitive folk who asked some common questions: Where are you riding from? (Oregon … yes that’s right, Oregon!) Why are you riding so far? (The School Food Tour, of course!) Do you have a sponsor? (Yes – thank you John Wayne Cancer Foundation) and, What is it like? Well… the last one is a little more difficult to answer! It is especially tricky to describe to someone who will not even get out of their car to talk to you what it is like to explore the beauty of the world at bicycle pace, and how much more scenery you can appreciate compared to zooming along in a car. On my previous stints of pedaling on the School Food Tour, I had thoroughly enjoyed marveling in the natural wonders of the country – deserts, forests, rivers, mountains, beaches, wildlife and weather variations. But this chapter of the tour changed tune for me. Riding through the maze of roads in rural areas of North Carolina and Virginia I appreciated the chance to observe quaint farmhouses, grand plantations and estates, and spectacular gardens.

Beautiful scenery kept us happy during long days on the bike.

Traveling at a slower pace also gave us time to consider the area where we are riding. Since Sara and I were pedaling through a region so rich in history, we decided to learn more about the establishment of the United States of America. Being Australian, my education on the American civil war was spotty at best, so I got a crash course in US history! I was interested to learn about the numerous battles, the abolition of slavery, the secession of the Confederacy and the reconstruction of the Union following the war. The facts and figures were bolstered by some local tidbits of information that we found on roadside plaques that also gave us an excuse to have a snack and take a break from the headwind!

Using our brains while on the bike to take in a bit of history!

My favorite plaque was about the first major sporting event in the nation, horse racing at Long Island, which was the beginning of enthusiasm for sports spectating in America!

This love of sport also means that I must return to my work in the sporting arena, so I am sad to say that my time riding with the School Food Tour is over… A HUGE thanks to Sara for letting me join her on the adventure and I send best wishes for her onward journey to Michigan, and future endeavors. I strongly encourage anyone who can join the School Food Tour for a pedal, even just that final mile, to do so… you will enjoy the view of the world from your bicycle, and you might just learn something!

Thanks, Felice for the great recap of our journeys in North Carolina and Virginia. I can’t thank you enough for your dedication to the School Food Tour! -Sara