Thanks, all; I appreciate it. You're very kind! Yeah, the man made some really poor choices and has been really hurtful; this shocked a lot of people, not just me. Sometimes I have trouble wrapping my head around it.

kenyonchris, I'm sorry you've been through something so similar. I know it'll get better; I've had many dark days and am sure I'll have more of them, but the only way out is through, so through I go. Maybe with the bike, I can go through faster, but even if it's not a faster through, I'll emerge from it stronger, with quads o' steel!

BikeMomma, for new soul mates, I'm thinking Ben and Jerry. Good thing I'm biking!

ny biker, I'm in the DC 'burbs.

I'm likely to have a lot of questions as I prepare for this -- I know nothing about multiday away rides, but I'll bet lots of people here do and hope folks'll share!