Shifting Gears

Imagine a shy country girl, who had never traveled out of the United States,
embarking on a yearlong bicycle trip around the world, leaving behind all the
comforts of home to travel with 249 strangers. In Shifting Gears, she explains
the turmoil she endured before leaving, the daily hardships encountered in
camping and biking in Third World countries, the brutally long miles of daily
riding, the language barriers, the personal dynamics of living with the same
strangers 24 hours a day and dealing with a myriad of new personalities. Even a
serious accident in France didn't slow Al down, and she returned to finish the
trip she had spent four long years working to finance. She overcame lifelong
insecurities to become a leader of fellow cyclists and went home with a desire to
live her life differently than previously planned. Her idea of returning to
Driggs, Idaho, refreshed and ready to teach another 10 years backfired, and she
retired early to pursue dreams she never before felt able to accomplish. For Al,
life began at 50 and she is slowly ticking off those dreams, one by one, as she
realizes them. She now knows the fear of the unknown won't stand in her way and
that there are fascinating people all over the world waiting to be part of her
adventures.