The Drake Passage. My 1st Solo Bikepacking Adventure

Not 3 minutes into the single track of the Harkness Conservation Area, I knew I made the right bike selection. Roots, rocks, logs and millions of slipper leaves covered the path ahead and it took me a while to muster up the confidence necessary for gunning up and over the mix of obstacles.

Thankfully in the last few years, my confidence as a cyclist has grown and these days I often ride on my own. Now in my late 40s, I’m not as full of the self-loathing I felt in my 20s or as uncomfortable in my skin as I was in my cancer-filled 30s. In fact , these days, I’m proud to say I finally like myself.