How does a touring cyclist keep a fresh supply of everything needed for a year long trip?  For groceries and basic supplies we will stop at the usual places, but there are other items that can’t be purchased at Bud’s Bait n’ Bike.

The answer?  Eagle’s Nest!

Eagle’s Nest is a term we coined for someone who will play a key role during our trip by shipping the items we need along the way.  We’d be lucky to have one.  As luck would have it, we have two!  Both of us have sisters who were not only willing to fill the role; they will both be excellent at it.  Lucky doesn’t really even begin to describe our, um, luck.  Thanks Shelly and Christie!

Before we depart, we’ll leave all sorts of things with one or both Nests.  Examples would be important documents, replacement contact lenses, a swap of seasonal clothing, pre-ordered specialty bike parts (in anticipation of a malfunction), fresh antlers for Biscuit, replacements for broken gear items and hard to find tasty people treats (Quest bars).  Any item that isn’t consumable will be numbered and inventoried.  If we need say, a winter jersey, we’ll look it up on a cross-referenced inventory spreadsheet and request the corresponding item number from the storage tote indicated.  It will then be sent USPS General Delivery for pick-up at a nearby post office.  Why numbered items?  Well, someone around here apparently likes spreadsheets.  In addition, numbering items leaves little doubt to which one is needed.  No need to say, “I need the red and white cycle jersey, no, not the Gore one, the other one, yes, with a zipper, it might be in the other tote.”  Amazon wishes they had their shipping this organized.  If we get tired of carrying something around or just don’t need it, we’ll send it back for check-in.  We think it’s all such a fantastic idea we pondered starting a business serving as Eagle’s Nest for folks traveling the world.

A while back we joked in a comment that that this trip will be better planned than most polar expeditions.  We weren’t really joking around all that much.  We will plan and prepare as much as possible now, but when it’s time for that first pedal stroke we will just relax and let the future unfold.  And you get to follow right along with us!  Can’t wait!

– Georgia, Mark, Junebug and Biscuit

PS. If you didn’t notice, there is a shiny new picture over there on our Instagram!  Georgia received her new bike frame from Gunnar!  As the build progresses, we will be posting more pictures.