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.
