After posting on Facebook about possibly doing another bicycle tour, a friend I met on my first ride asked me a very interesting question! She asked "Is biking now your life?"
Sometimes it's questions such as this...totally unexpected and spontaneous that spur great thought and personal introspection. After thinking about my friend's question, I came to the conclusion that YES it is! But not for the reasons you might think. Cycling and in particular my bike ride across the country has taught me so much about the human spirit. The kindness of strangers, the love and support of friends, to extend a helping hand to a stranger...even if it's only to shake theirs and learn more about them, to understand and accept that plans don't always go the way we hope and be open to changing them, to press on when you don't feel you can, to enjoy every sunrise, every sunset, every storm and every challenge because this is when we grow the most. To keep the faith in all situations, to not take life so seriously, not to compare myself to others and to know that everything is possible if you believe it is. So my friend...for these reasons, YES, biking is now my life!
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Today was a short day as far as mileage is concerned but long thanks to the 95 degree temps! I rode from Dayville to John Day Oregon which was relatively flat with just a few modest climbs. To keep my mind off the heat I put my headphones on listened to music while riding along the John Day river. I was noticing a lot of the lyrics mirrored how I'm feeling about this journey...here are a few of them. "So often time it happens, that we live our lives in chains and we never even know we have the key" Already Gone by The Eagles "When your hourglass runs out of sand you can't flip it over and start again. Take every breath God gives you for what it's worth" Don't Blink by Kenny Chesney "His sight has turned inside himself to try and understand the serenity of a clear blue mountain lake. And the Colorado Rocky Mountain High, talk to God and listen to the casual reply" Rocky Mountain High by John Denver "So If you're tired of the same old story, oh turn some pages" Roll with the changes by REO Speedwagon "When the water's high, when the weather's not so fair, when the well runs dry, who's gonna be there, you find out who your friends are" You find out who your friends are by Tracy Lawrence. I'm about 180 miles from my home town of Meridian, Idaho! Don't know the exact date I'll be rolling through but it's in sight and I'm looking forward to seeing Nick and my co-workers at Office Value!
Miles Today - 31.8 Cumulative Miles - 330.9 Already in the second week of this incredible adventure...wow! I wanted to post a little about my thoughts after this first week and will update everyone tomorrow with details of my ride from Mitchell to Dayville.
Looking back to June 10th when my boss and I pulled into Florence, Or. in a driving rain storm perhaps this was to be a metaphor for the entire journey. What seemed to be a gloomy, drab day for the beginning of the ride quickly changed to beautiful sunshine and then back to heavy rain storms for much of the day. The pain from riding is hardly noticeable one day and is so painful the next, if leaves me wondering if it will ever stop and of course it doesn't really stop entirely but becomes manageable. The one thing that is consistent is the incredible people I'm meeting every day...each with their own unique story. The very first day I met up with another cyclist (Ryan) about 5 miles into the ride. Neither of us having ever set on an adventure like this, we have been riding most of the way together, motivating each other, laughing, dealing with challenges...oh and Ryan cooks up an awesome bacon and eggs breakfast and steak dinner too! We have become good friends in just a week and look forward to keeping in touch long after the ride has ended. Many other cyclists including Karolina (AKA That Cycling Chick) who is trying to cycle across the country with no money...she is something else! A great sense of humor and could probably make sailors blush too! Mitchell, a recent college graduate that decided he wanted to ride across the country this summer before going back to school or pursuing a career and he's doing it! He is one of the nicest guys you could ever meet. All four of us have crossed paths several times in different places on this trip and over the weekend we were all quests at the Spoke'n Hostel in Mitchell, Oregon (Mitchell is convinced they named the town after him!). This place and the people who run it (Pat and Jalet Farrell) are truly special. The hospitality shown to guests at this facility (A church) should be a lesson for all hospitality companies big and small. They are not only concerned about you as a guest, they are genuinely interested in you as an individual. Thank you Pat and Jalet for everything...I won't forget how special you made me feel. There of course are so many other people I've met along the way...not just cyclists but people at rest areas, stores, restaurants and more who are so curious about what I'm doing and why! Offering suggestions for routes, offering food, water and extending well wishes for a safe and fun trip. Then there is the time for heavy reflection while on my bike...my thoughts turning to Bob, Nick and a dear friend that is battling some serious health issues. I draw such strength from all of them and enjoy the time I have alone with each of them individually at different times of the ride. Going through some steep climbs or in the middle of nowhere, I never feel alone. Then all the continued support from family, friends and co-workers. I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate it. The commenting and sharing of photos, stories from my ride. The "great job Dan", "You got this" etc. Thomas and Joni posting photos of Ace on Facebook...it all culminates into, I'm not really riding alone and I am so thankful! What does the next week, month or months hold in store? No way of knowing but I look to continuing this adventure of a lifetime!
Hard to believe but the moment is almost upon me! I know you'll be there helping me up those steep mountain passes and enjoying the exhilaration with me as we soar down the mountain on the other side. I love and miss you so much Bob...
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