Day # 89 Bent on Recumbent

Here is a girl after my own heart!!!
Pulled from 'crazyguyonabike.com'
Myrtle the Turtle Trike Tour - Sylvia Halpern:

"I've been thinking about a tour for a long time."
(me, too, Sylvia) How long? - (for me, since 1975 when I pictured myself and my 3 daughters, Terri, Roni, Chrissie, setting out together on bikes to go from ON to BC together.)
"So long I can't put it off any longer." (me, neither)
"My biking story begins at a time when I just couldn't keep on 'thinking about it' anymore. It was almost 4 years ago after a life changing event. I had surgery to remove a small benign brain tumor that had been wrecking hormonal havoc for more than a decade. It took a couple of years to completely recover but I was able to start exercising after about 6 weeks.
I bought a Cannondale hybrid and started commuting to work. The ride was about 15 miles round trip along a river and I loved it. I put clipless pedals on the bike and felt like 'a real biker' - I was so proud.
It was about this time the world of bike journals opened up to me. I became a bike journal reading addict. I also started dreaming about doing longer distance rides.
As I continued riding my body began complaining beyond a certain number of miles. I had a lot of wrist, neck, shoulder and butt pain if I rode much more than my 15 mile commute. I got myself to a bike shop to be measured and made the recommended adjustments but nothing really helped.
Somewhere, somehow, I started noticing recumbent bikes and I never looked back. The Easy Racer models in particular really caught my eye. These bikes are fantastic. They are incredibly fast and comfortable. After considerable research, I ordered a long wheel base Fold Rush expedition model with a fairing. What a beautiful bike. I was able to fold it up for transport on the back of my car.
I also discovered the recumbent community. This is a tight knit and very active group - especially in the pacific northwest. Very fun and supportive people.
I'll never forget my first ride the day after I picked up the bike. A group of about 20 riders gathered at the Gateway transit parking lot in Portland. I wobbled nervously out onto the road but quickly got the hang of it. One woman stayed back and was kind enough to take me under her wing. The more relaxed I became the easier the bike was to ride. The weather went from overcast to rainy to pouring as we started screaming downhill where I got up to 34 mph before applying the brakes in panic. I'd never ridden so fast before - what fun!! Others have recorded speeds of 45 mph. At the bottom of this hill is the Troutdale General Store where we stopped for lunch. I was so drenched that I bought a new t-shirt. I rode 32 miles that day and my body felt great afterwards. This bike introduced me to a whole new world."
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=rzyi&doc_id=2126&v=cl

Thank you, Sylvia Halpern.
I have been indecisive for so long about what kind of bike to get - this bears serious consideration.
I've thought, old bike, new bike, hybrid bike, e-bike, even scooter, but hadn't considered recumbent.
I'm off to the bike rental shoppe.