So stay flexible and remember that plans were made to be changed! But this was supposed to be an easy shakedown tour to get ready for the big one later this summer. What could go wrong? A lot! And it became complicated and somewhat of a mental gymnastics exercise, mostly because I wanted to stay as true to our plans as possible. But sometimes you just need to give it up. As Jerry likes to say, "If it stops being fun, stop doing it." Good advice. So here goes:

1. Mechanical Issues Can Zap You: So keep it simple when touring. That's been a long-tested theory, which is why you find simple cantilever brakes on touring bikes. Disc brakes requiring special pads and/or equipment might be difficult to repair and/or replace. Even Jerry's (and Happy's, for that matter) 20" wheels are a good example. Of course, if there had been time, we could have replaced it, and obviously, if we had been in Europe, we would have adjusted our schedule accordingly. But this was a short tour, and time was not on our side. On the plus side, Jerry now has new wheels for Europe!
2. Solo Cycling: But Jerry's departure left a bit of a gap in the triumphant three! Jerry and Happy cycle at about the same pace. I found myself riding a bit faster, so would often get ahead of them and then wait at significant turns or points of interest. When I biked with Lee Mitchell down the Natchez Parkway, we had an agreement to stop at all Indian mounds, remnants of the Trace, and all bathrooms and water! We were more ad hoc on this tour but will plan something similar for Europe (which will have more points of interest). But that said, it left Happy solo cycling through some rough terrain. I think that caught up with him on the third day, and I wonder if Jerry's company would have changed the outcome. Misery loves company!
3. Our Warmshowers Hosts Bailed: In fact, they did more than bail — they stopped responding. And this was after agreeing to host Jerry and me. Our last email to them certainly gave them an out. If their plans had changed and they were no longer able to host, let us know! Nothing. That left us in a bind since lodging in New Hope is not cheap and difficult to get at the last minute. Plus, most places require three days' notice to cancel and get a refund. So do we wait and hope to hear? Or do we make an expensive, but maybe unnecessary, reservation? Well, I definitely needed something for Friday night at a minimum, so made a reservation for a solo room at the New Hope Lodge (and it was not available Saturday night!).
4. But My Eyes Are Bigger Than My Stomach!: Wow, return in three days? And how long is that second day? 83 miles? 5,000 feet of climbing? Whoa, not gonna happen! I am not in that kind of shape yet! I trained a lot for the Alps and my tour through the Abruzzi, but neither had that kind of distance combined with that kind of climbing. And the climbing on this tour was a lot of up and down, which is harder than the long, continuous climbs in the big mountains. So if I had my doubts, I was pretty sure Happy would have a tough time as well. Yes, I could have taken it really easy and probably made it, but it would stop being fun!
5. Even if Three Days Worked, Where Do I Stay?: Well, the place I grabbed for Friday did have a room for Saturday night, but it was much more expensive, and I would need to move at some point during the day. Does that sound like fun? Not really.
6. Discussion with Happy: So I was mulling this all over in my head as I cycled along. Three days was not realistic; I needed four. But I can't wait till Monday to leave. I need to be home by Wednesday. But Happy needs a partner (his home partner only let him go on this trip if he was with somebody), and he couldn't leave his conference early, so his start date was not moving. So I thought, I can leave Saturday (or maybe Sunday at greater expense), and Happy can do what Jerry had planned all along — bike to Trenton on the towpath and catch a train home. You can board any train with a folding bike. Over dinner in North East, Happy agreed.
7. But Then We Had More Lodging Complications: I cancelled my advance reservations for the return trip but then found it was not possible to re-book my first night to Saturday as the hotel was full! I couldn't believe it. So further down the road, I found a hotel for $175/night before taxes! So I grabbed it. I also had a reservation for Jerry and me for Sunday night with a misterb&b host (sort of like an Airbnb) that I had to cancel/rearrange so Happy could use it. Fortunately, our host was accommodating!
8. So Solo Home?: So, here I was facing a four-day solo ride home without sharing hotels or dinner or the experience with anyone. Wait a sec, that was not the plan! And it had been brutally hot. What would the return trip be like? I have stopped trusting extended forecasts, even when only three days out.
9. Then Envy Struck!: Wow, Monday was supposed to be a nice (nicer?) day. And Happy would have (in my mind) a beautiful spring morning to bike to Trenton along the Delaware Canal Towpath. Sounded nice. And hadn't I earned two days off? And I didn't need to prove anything. I know I can do a solo four-day tour. OK, I will miss riding over the Conowingo Dam, one of my goals for the tour, but that could wait for another trip (if ever!).
10. Keep It Simple Sam (the Theory of KISS): Of course, it all made sense once I got the "need to complete" mentality out of my mind. Plans change sometimes. And it made eminent sense to stay till Monday, bike the towpath with Happy to Trenton, and rent a car to go home (my full-size bike would not be allowed on Amtrak without a reservation, and none were available). So Happy agreed to cancel his train reservation for a future credit and rented a car from Enterprise large enough to handle our gear. And my lodging in New Hope simply moved me into the more expensive suite Friday at no additional cost, no move required. This was becoming easy!
11. Now Relax!: Now I could actually enjoy my stay in New Hope, and I did! OK, Monday morning was not as nice as we would have preferred, but it wasn't so bad that we didn't enjoy ourselves. And I was able to get some additional late afternoon riding in after being dropped off at Greenbelt. And it was all more fun!

So I guess I am still learning to rewire. I need to be a little less driven and less competitive. I think I will always find it hard to not "attack" a hill when climbing, which means I will always gain distance on slower riders in that type of terrain. But maybe I will take it easier on the flats (since, per Mark, I am lazy there already!). We will see. Rewire, rewire, rewire.