Priorities

First                    Enjoyment              Even the uphill bits, the rain, wind and
                                                         swallowed bugs.

Second               Concentration         Don't want to end up as collateral damage or
                                                         a 'hood ornament' on a trucker's 16 wheeler.

Third                   Mileage                  Gota try for 60 miles per day.

Fourth                Stretching                Double leg cramps in the middle of the night, in
                                                         a zipped-up sleeping bag, in a single person tent,
                                                         is SERIOUSLY bad news.

Fifth                   Hydration                Don't want to cycle into the rear of a parked-up
                                                        16 wheeler or any other solid object for that
                                                        matter, due to fact my brain is frazzled.

Sixth                  Sleep                      Can't envisage this being a problem.

Seventh              Wildlife                   If confronted by a bear, the advice appears to
                                                         be, "stand your ground, don't run away and make
                                                         yourself look big".  Mmmmmm, not so easy when
                                                         your having an involuntary bowel evacuation!!!!!

Eight                 Food/Eating             I'm really looking forward to this aspect of the
                                                         trip.   Yipeeeee.

Ninth                 Wind                       That's the meteorological kind.  (Well, there
                                                        might be some of the gastronomic kind
                                                        bearing in might the previous entry.)
                                                        I'll probably not encounter winds which are
                                                        any worse than here in Scotland and at least
                                                        on the cycle in the U.S., they'll be warm.

Tenth                 Personal                Must ensure my important little bitties are
                         Hygiene                 looked after. Regular use of soap and
                                                       water, followed by lashings of Udderly
                                                       Smooth Chamois Cream and TLC. Don't
                                                       want anything falling off!
                                                       

Eleventh            Bike TLC                Keeping the bike happy is a must. Just like
                                                       a good cowboy, must see to the steed before
                                                       myself.  If it refuses to go, then I'm also going
                                                       nowhere.  This should in fact be the First
                                                       priority.          

Umpteenth        Computer                Maintaining this computer thingy is pretty low
                                                       on the priority list. So folks, if you don't hear
                                                       from me for a few days or weeks for that
                                                       matter, don't worry, I'll be concentrating on
                                                       more important things as listed above.