Full Circle

I know that a lot of time has passed and there are many more stories to tell but I think it is fitting to share that we made a $50,000 donation to the ACS Hope Lodge yesterday.

Video Killed The Radio Star

In California I was fortunate to participate in my third radio interview. A small station in Port Reyes where we had stopped for a few minutes for our rest break to eat ice cream and recharge.

A Way of Life

On the 4th of July I called my parents to give them an update on my condition which went a lot like "Everything is Awesome!" I had eaten dinner at Aunt Renee's the night before where their roof overlooks San Francisco Bay, and we watched the sunset and hung out over flourless chocolate cake and ice cream. And then on the 4th, Carlos cooked oysters and grilled salmon kabobs. Anyways, on the phone I was talking to my dad about being on the road and what it is like to get up everyday and ride and that's it.

Previously I had noticed myself getting tired while listening to people back home talk about all the things they had to do and how many options they had to consider in what they were trying to accomplish. With this thought in mind, I realized how simple life is now. My primary responsibility is riding a bike from one city to the next. If I can do that, I am successful and I have spent the day doing exactly what I intended to do.

Of course, a lot more happens out here than just riding a bike, but ALL I have to do is ride every day. After that, I am free to move onto the next thing, be that finding a laundromat, meeting host families, planning the route for the next day. All of the extras that take place after riding are the flavor and spice of my summer, while being on a bike is definitely the meat. But try to imagine having only one thing to do every day and if you accomplish that one thing you are free to appreciate, experience, and live the rest of your life.

I find myself strongly desiring to bring this mindset home with me because I have a bad habit of overbooking myself and never being able to devote my whole self to any one thing. Out here I can honestly say that I am 100% present and every day gets my all (it's pretty easy when you only have one thing to do). I absolutely feel like I am accomplishing/experiencing everything that Texas 4000 has to offer and I hope what I am learning can become a way of life.

Single Speed Slaughter

Sometimes we go and do things that don't make very much sense but in the end make a big difference.  I was riding sag (last rider who helps take care of anyone who has flat tires etc...) and thought 'this terrain seems easy and I have to ride at the back so I will ride in my hardest gear today.'  So I rode all day in my hardest gear and it was very hard.  There were two long hills that tortured me at 4 mph for multiple miles.  So, now I can say I rode 74 miles from Florence to Lincoln City, OR in the hardest gear possible. Go me.

Hills Headwinds and Happiness

 

Just reached Dammeron Valley, UT, a few miles from Veyo as the date on the site says. So far I have crossed 3 states which will be 4 tomorrow, climbed lots of hills and ridden straight into heavy headwinds and been happy the whole time. There have definitely been challenges, pain, tiredness, soreness and some suffering but the very fact that I am here trumps any discomfort that I will or have already encountered. The one thing that makes everything worthwhile is THE PEOPLE. The people I meet everyday randomly as I ride across North America, the people who are anxiously awaiting my arrival in each destination, the people at home who love and support, the people with cancer who we remember and recognize every morning before we ride and last but not least, the people who I am riding with. Every aspect of all of these people is what really makes this summer a life changing, perspective widening, inspiring and humbling experience.
Almost every community we have come into has welcomed us with arms wide open and then bent over backwards to give us every accommodation that we could possibly want or need. Great food, showers, laundry, beds, swimming pools, recreation spots on our off days, groups to present our message of hope and knowledge to, and opportunities to meet and interact with people whose stories blow our minds. I have had several conversations with team members about the people we meet, which go something like “Wow, the things this person has accomplished, encountered, or overcome makes riding a bike to Alaska sound like child’s play in comparison.”
I don’t know that words on a page can really express or describe what I feel right now as I reflect on all that I have been through in the past 17 days. My mind is flooded with images of riding up long hills into a setting sun, conversations with teammates about why we are out here, fun dinners that have been put on by church communities. Getting up every day to exert myself physically to a greater extent than I typically would in a full week, trying mentally prepare for what the weather has in store and then to go out and ride, despite any lingering pain, soreness and stiffness or general lack of desire to be on a bike at all ( I never thought that would come from me) has been a stretching experience for me. At the end of every day, though something amazing has happened because I did get up, because I did ride every mile and because I was there when the cancer survivor who has been waiting for months to meet us tells us their story and expresses their love, gratitude and appreciation for what we are doing. We ride for those who can’t, that is our motto and that is why I am here. Not only those with cancer or who are caring for those with cancer but even for our own team members who have come into circumstances that prevent them from being able to ride.
Since I left, I have more facial hair than I have ever had, I have less leg hair and stronger legs than I have had in a long time, I have an amazing farmers tan, I have showered less, eaten better, met more people, talked on more radio shows, slept less, ridden more, gotten angry less, loved more, been extremely grateful, had my mind blown regularly, laughed harder and more (at myself and others), been outdoors constantly, complained a little bit, wanted to quit, wanted to stick it out, felt sorry for myself, missed my wife, seen the Southwest at 15 mph, taken awesome pictures, taken crappy pictures, spent more time in a swimming pool than I have in the past few years put together, given more hugs, applauded in appreciation, remembered that I can make a difference if I try and realized that people really do care.
I am amazingly blessed to be here, sitting in a volunteer fire station in Dammeron Valley, UT, typing a blog entry that pales in comparison to what is really going on. I ride a bike every day, I ride for those who can’t and wouldn’t want to be doing anything other than what I am doing.

On The Road

So, I am officially riding a bike to Alaska! Right now I am sitting in the 10,000 sq ft home of the family of a member of the Rockies route, on our first rest day in Albuquerque, NM. Our hosts have been so generous and helpful, without them I don't think we could continue our journey. Tomorrow we ride out to Cuba, NM and then on to Farmington. Several member of the press just showed up and heads of the Cancer Society and other Medical Centers are here now for dinner (Our host is the mayor of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, a small suburb of Alb, and has a TON of connections). I am going to take pictures of my hand written journal entries to give a daily synopsis of events. Look forward to more posts and pictures! You can also go to texas4000.org and click on the "photos" tab to see pics posted by other riders!

Fundraising Update

With the garage sale and more individual donations, the fundraising total is up to:

$2726

Over half way there!

With a special thanks to:

Jeff Brumfield
De Leon Family
Sutherland Family
for individual donations

and

Clint and Chaliese Jones
The Edgar Family
Jared and Nichelle Fort
My immediate family
My inlaws
My wonderful wife
for garage sale donations and helping a ton on Friday and Saturday