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.