A virtual step into my shoes

It’s a break day for Apollo, and I was just sitting here working my way through my typical hefty to-do list when it occurred to me you might like to know what all I do on this journey apart from ride Apollo! The actual ride is only a small part of my day/week schedule.  Apart from the occasional local helper (such as hosts that help out by contacting their local news media for me), I do everything myself. Even my "days off" are usually packed! You might notice that the following lists do not include a nap!

My riding days typically go like this:
- Wake up and get myself ready and packed
- Get Apollo fed and saddled
- Walk/ride for 4 to 8 hours (average 6, but depends on how far I have to go, the weather, the number of people and places I’m stopping to talk to, etc)
- Unsaddle and get Apollo settled in.
Then, in no particular order:
- Shower (when available) and otherwise get myself situated for the night
- Sort my photos of the day, back them up if I have WiFi access, and post them on social media
- Journal my day’s mileage and other data, and stories (the old fashioned way, on paper).
- Take care of emergency repairs to gear, if any.
- Get a ride to the store, post office, etc, if needed.
- Do laundry, if needed.
- Return calls and reply to messages from the day, and add any new host offers to my paper map, Google map, and calendar.
- Socialize with hosts. (Not a chore, but it does take time).
- Eat dinner.
And finally,
- Sleep.

My days off are just as busy.  In addition to taking care of Apollo several times a day, and my own basic necessities like eating and sleeping, I have the following regular chores.
- Repair any gear that got put off during the riding days (there’s almost always something).
- Contact all news stations and local papers for the next section of riding - a section being the time until the next break, typically about 50 miles.
- Search for and contact all domestic violence centers close enough to the next section’s route to see if they’d like me to visit.
- Network and search for places to stay every night for the next section, if not already arranged.
- Write a new blog post for this website.
- Order any supplies I can’t get locally, and have them shipped to a future stop.
- Sort any new photos, back them up if I have WiFi access, and post them on social media.
- Edit and post a new YouTube video, if needed and if WiFi is available.
- Get a ride to the store, post office, etc, if needed.
- Do laundry, if needed.
- Return calls and reply to messages from the day (and less urgent messages that had been put off for lack of time), and add any new host offers to my paper map, Google map, and calendar.
- Socialize with hosts.
- Take care of anything else I’ve thought of during the riding days but didn’t have time for.
- Make a note for my next break day if I have too much to do to finish the list.

Is that all?! Phew!