Bouncing back is a term used for the day after the "big ride" -- essential to be able to do this especially on the kind of ride we're planning. I'm happy to say I bounced back just fine this morning, dropping 45-50 miles in the bank without much difficulty. The bigger issue to me, as per usual, is time. I'd loved to have kept riding today, but I do have pressing work -- especially with "Boys of Summer" (the Bay Area Screening and L.A. screening are coming up very soon!).
One thing I did this morning was a spiritual cleansing of my bonk ride the other day (where I nearly wiped out in the LAX tunnel). I re-rode that route up to the point of the tunnel and, as I was wondering if it was legal or not to ride through, I decided (this time) to go left up Imperial Highway. Still not the easiest are to traverse -- one merge across two semi-blind 55 MPH lanes was part of the deal, but, it all worked out. Got a nice two-mile headwind for my efforts -- and I did feel very good about rewriting my history, so to speak, to a positive, strong ride.
By the by, the investors proposal for "Share the Road" is ready. If you're reading this and would like to get involved financially, please contact me. It will be an outstanding documentary.
May 31, 2005
| Gary Erickson writes about "riding the white roads" in his book, "Raising the Bar"http://www.clifbar.com. Gary is the owner of Clif Bar, a sponsor of both "Share the Road" and "Boys of Summer". I'm not writing this to blow smoke or say how great he and Clif are because they gave us some of their product for these trips. I truly believe I've found a mentor in this man and his path so far. His book arrived at my doorstep last Friday completely unexpectedly. Clif had given us the go on 1,000 Clif Bars a month ago for our ride, which I was very excited about. But this book... It was sent by Rick Wilson, the field marketing manager in Los Angeles. No note. Doesn't need one. The book speaks volumes. Gary writes of this in literal terms of riding (white) roads in Switzerland and Italy that are smaller and that you must look for on a map with greater detail to find. They often lead you in remote places where most people aren't looking. They also usually take longer to traverse than the "red roads" (read: main highways). But the rewards these backroads offer are the rewards of life, experience and adventure. If you are a person who is only interested in arriving, not the journey itself, red roads will be your way. I know I'm a white road person -- in so many ways that speaks to my core. I'm coming up on birthday #35. Many of my friends are financially well off, married, have kids (or kids on the way) and careers with retirement plans in place. I have my art. I have my freedom. I have my journeys and adventures. The business side of what I'm doing has come alive in a major way, especially since "Boys of Summer". Isn't that amazing? By doing a project that I CAN NOT make money from, I'm growing faster toward my business and financial freedom. Read that again -- I think it's worth a second look. This documentary this summer, too, though I am planning on making money from it (and hopefully quite a bit as I feel there's everything right with honoring one's art and sweat), is one that comes from the heart. I believe in the road and sharing it. That is exactly what Gary is doing with his book. And that is what I will be doing in my documentary. I will show that there are other ways to go than the red roads. There are alternate paths that speak toward higher good for the community of all living creatures; that we are interconnected in nature; that by seperating ourselves and taking a dominant approach rather than a respectful one, we are making our environment and therefore NECESSARILY ourselves sick. It's time to take a look. Today's ride was a bit of a white road for me -- though that's metaphorical as there was tons of traffic. But I allowed myself to get a little lost, to adventure around where I wanted to go. Though I never found my way onto Mulholland, I really enjoyed where I did get and am thankful for the trip.  | ||||
No comments:
Post a Comment