Madison, Wisconsin
Miles: 0 ------------ Total Mileage 3,159.60
Theme: Wow - We Really Rode Across the Country!
It is hard to believe I have been home for 4 days already.
I am not sure how to even begin this last blog. The trip truly was an experience of a life time! One funny thing that occurred the first day back. Kate and I walked down to Trader Joe's to get some groceries in the house. While we were there I bumped into an acquaintance. He noted my "Life is Good" t-shirt which has a picture of a recumbent bike on the front. He said "Do you have a recumbent?" I hesitated in my reply because I was thinking yes I have a recumbent but it is in a bike shop in Florida right now getting boxed up so that it can be shipped back to Wisconsin. So I fumbled with my answer saying "Well no, I mean yes." He immediately replied "Well you haven't been riding it enough if you don't know if you have one or not." I looked at Kate and we both smiled and then I proceeded to tell him, "Well that's not really the case as I just rode it across the country some 3100 miles." When he picked his jaw up off the floor he said "That's amazing - wow, congratulations!"
Many people have asked what did I gained from this adventure. I don't know the full answer to that question but below are a few things I learned. I have a renewed faith in people. We met so many kind and generous people on this trip - people who wanted to hear our story, who wanted to help us (whether it be giving us water or a cool place to sit on hot and humid days, helping us get back on course when we made a wrong turn and did bonus miles, recommending places to eat and then leading us there in their car while we rode behind on our bikes, or making sure we could safely get through a construction site by letting us ride ahead while they blocked cars from passing us until we were safely past the road construction). The unexpected kindness from strangers was so refreshing - it truly did renew my faith in people.
I was also stunned by the beauty of this country. My photos don't begin to capture the beauty of the landscape such as the subtlety of the changes in the scenery around every corner, the dramatic desert landscape, the blue skies with wispy cloud formations, the trees which have stood for centuries which hold amazing stories in their bark, the beauty of a cotton field or pecan grove, the grandeur of looking out from the top of Emory Pass, the beautiful green water of Pecos River that appears out of nowhere, the arches of branches lining many roads we traveled down, the foot prints of shore birds on Dauphin Island, the rising sun as we started our last day of riding to St. Augustine. And this is just a partial list of the amazing scenery! I was awed by the enormity and beauty of the land.
This trip made me realize once again that I need to live in the moment - not worrying about what is ahead or what has passed. It doesn't matter what is around the corner, what matters is the hill I am climbing right now. As I started out on this trip across the country - it seemed impossible to ride over 3,100 mile in 8 weeks. We took it one day at a time. We would get up in the morning, gather what we needed for the day and then start out. We would ride, eat, drink, ride... until we got to our destination. Then it was time for dinner followed by a map meeting where we got our cue sheets for the next day and off to bed. And on we continued day after day. Before we knew it, we literally rode across the country. By focusing on the task at hand - all 16 riders fulfilled a lifetime dream. And of course I can't overemphasize the gift of new friendships that I have made that will go with me throughout my lifetime.
I realize that I am truly fortunate to have had the opportunity to go on this journey. Without the support of Kate and the rest of my family, friends and colleagues, and WomanTours - this would still be a dream in the back of my mind. I am truly grateful for the many things people did so I was able to take off for 8 weeks. Thanks for supporting and pushing me to follow my dreams! My life is different because of this --- and for that I give thanks. May each of you follow your own dreams - big and small.
