The NPT was one of the funnest rides I've ever done. I had a week open in April one year and decided to hit 30 parks in that one week time period. The places I went to, the things I saw, the incredible vistas and beautiful scenery were all exquisite. It rained all day, every day. I never slept in a hotel, I just slept in parks and wherever I could find a safe place to sleep, usually just for a few hours at a time. One of my most memorable experiences was going to Monocacy Battlefield (which is not a National Park but they still give stamps - and these stamps count!). Traveling along the Civil War Corridor and stopping at multiple battlefields was hauntingly beautiful, ethereal and deeply spiritual--even soul-stirring. Imagining the sacrifices that took place at these battlefields, the determination, vision and hope that our national forebears held (and which brought them to action) was very powerful for me.
While at Monocacy, I went into the visitor center, got my stamp, chatted for a few minutes and got a drink/bathroom visit, etc. Getting back to the bike, I realized I had lost my key. Sometime in the last 10 minutes. At this stage of my riding, I was not riding with a spare. I checked all my pockets. Turned out all my gear, went back through the VC, checked every counter, talked to everybody. Went back into the bathroom (three times). NOTHING! Without my key, the ride was done. How could this happen? What had I done?
Then an idea flashed. When in the bathroom, I had thrown away my drink bottle. I quickly rushed into the bathroom, upturned the garbage, and rifled through the trash. In trying to go as quickly s possible, I had mistakenly tossed my keys into the trash. Sure enough, I heard the tinkle of keys on the floor and voila! My keys were un-trashed. FREEDOM! With the garbage cleaned up, I was back on the bike and moving toward Gettysburg in a few minutes.
Learned lessons:
a) I now carry two spares.
b) I "always" (OK, maybe most of the time) keep my wallet/keys/glasses in the same pockets/same get on/get off procedure
c) I never carry my keys (in my hands). Always goes into pocket as soon as I'm off the bike
d) The more tired I am or the faster I am trying to go, I always mentally slow things down to make sure I don't forget something
e) Whether on bike or car, the National Battlefields are sacred to me. I love going to them and taking my family