Palmer couple will bike the length of the Mississippi River

PALMER — It only took a few excursions with the WomanTours bicycle tour company to hook Mandy Hale.

The Palmer-area woman is a veteran of the company’s weeklong and 10-day tours, and Hale has long been intrigued about an epic tour the company has on its 2012 agenda — a journey along the Mississippi River.

But as Hale grew fonder of the idea making that trip on a bicycle along the mighty river, and as her husband, Tom, became more intrigued with the idea, the Hales decided to plan a trek specifically for husband and wife.

Now, the Hales are just about two weeks away from the trip of a lifetime.

Mandy and Tom will begin their journey Sept. 5 at the Lake Itasca campground in Minnesota and travel the length of the Mississippi to where the river spills into the Gulf of Mexico, south of New Orleans.

And Mandy, who recently turned 60, thought this is a good a time as ever to mark this trip off her bucket list.

“I’m not getting any younger, not getting any thinner, not getting any healthier. I thought I’d better do this now,” Mandy said with a laugh. “celebrate my 60th year of life.”

Mandy considered making the trip with the tour company, and started saving money, but the WomanTours trip has a tab of several thousand dollars. Plus the appropriately named WomanTours are strictly for women.

“I can’t justify that cost, and my husband can’t go with me,” Mandy said.

Making the trip without the company became more attractive to Mandy when Tom began to warm up to the idea. The plan started with Tom making the first leg of the trip with his wife and evolved to Tom hitting the bike for the start and finish.

Eventually, Tom decided just to do the whole thing.

The Hales plan to spend many of their nights camping. They may bunk with the occasional family member or stay at a hotel when they crave an actual bed. They may also take advantage of the hospitality of those who frequent warmshowers.org, an online community of touring cyclists who offer shelter for members.

The Hales have planned about two months for the trip.

“It may take longer, I doubt it will take shorter,” Mandy said.

But the Hales are exactly in a rush to get to the Gulf in a hurry. They’re just looking forward to the adventure of meeting new people and seeing new places.

Mandy said they’ve tentatively planned to cover 30 to 40 miles per day during the first week, and see how that feels. They may hit 50 or 60, but know they’re not on a time trial. They’ve built in a day of rest every week also.

Mandy said she’s been mentally preparing for his adventure for nearly a year. She spent last winter at her gym on the stationary bike. Throughout the summer, Tom has been making regular trips from their Maud Road home to Palmer and back to get ready for the trip.

“I grew up on a farm. I never had a bike until I was an adult. As soon as she knew I was going, I knew I was in trouble,” Tom joked. “I started getting some seat time.”

Tom said it’s in his nature to want to know how everything works, so he’s spent time tinkering with the bikes, learning how take them apart, put them together, and fix potential problems.

The Hales have also been putting their gear together, packing essentials such as sleeping bags, a small two-person tent, rain gear and an ultra light camp stove.

Tom said it’s like packing for a sheep hunt, take only what you want to carry.

They’ll load all of their gear on racks and panniers on the bike.

The Hales have done their fair share of traveling. They’ve traveled through Mexico and Europe. But this will be an adventure of adventures.

And they know the best part of the trip is the journey.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com and follow him at twitter.com/matsu_sports.