Share The Road - On the road - Day #30

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Day 30 Cadiz, OH to New Alexandria, PA 108 miles Two state lines today. Let me back up...whoo. Time to catch my breath. See -- we’re about half way through our second biggest climb day of the tour. So far, it’s been a series of ups and downs like we haven’t seen -- at least with this consistency. It’s very fun on the downhills and a hell of a lot of work on the uphills. The flat ground is almost non-existent. Everyone’s struggling. My hamstrings tightened up on me during my sleep last night -- I know this because they woke me up. The teamwork element has been very good in a lot of ways -- the communication started this morning with everyone talking about how they felt about yesterday -- we were a little hyped up over Bernie coming on board (“New Toy, Daddy!”) and therefore we rushed a little bit. We were all excited about the prospect of hills and we worked very hard -- there is a price to pay for that. I was once told by a friend and fine actor, Michael Asberry: “You don’t always get all you pay for, but you pay for all you get.” I do believe everyone is doing the best they can. There are tense moments. We are more packed in than ever. We are all tired and the end is so in sight...at the same time, the only thing that matters is right now. These are the only roads in front of us. Last night’s sleep was good again(save for the cramps) -- that really makes a difference in how I get up and how my head wants to do whatever I have to do. My body seems to be able to handle quite a bit -- but if the head doesn’t want to do it, it will do it’s best to sabotage the situation. One of the things that changes when you get into a situation with more people is communication must improve in order to be efficient. The self must give something of itself and one must allow himself to be served and to be of service. There was a saying on a church bulletin board we went by that said: “In order to be great, one must be of service.” Gary told me this is a paraphrase from the book of Matthew in the Bible. It also reminds me of an Eastern parable -- two groups of recently deceased people were separated and sent to heaven and hell. They were both given an immense feast with the most amazing delicacies. The only rule was they had to eat with three foot long chopsticks. Those in hell, try as they may, could not eat. They dumped the delicious looking food on the floor and cursed and spat and called those who made the rules stupid. Meanwhile, those in heaven, fed the people across from them with chopsticks and they all ate to their delight. Service. Surrender. Teamwork. Uplifting. Responsibility. Accountability. Hard work. Respect. LATER... the heat swelters. The humidity is driving all of us a bit nuts. We’re feeling it and we’re ciompletely soaked in our own sweat. Drinking water only does so much. At some point, the exposure begins to mess with your head. As we stepped out of the SAG to take our last ride of the day, Bernie (our new rider) and I looked at each other as we sensed the same thing: that sweltering heat had very suddenly gone away. It was about 20 degrees cooler. Before we could say anything, the thunder in the distance confirmed what we thought: storm a comin’! We tried to ride it out, but the lightning started up and the rain was really dumping. Now, rain on an open, flat, non-trafficky road is one thing. On these hills, in the heart of rush hour with lots of pot holes and unexpected nasties that get filled up with water and suddenly appear rideable is another. We pile into the SAG. We’re beat. We’re tired. We’re ready to call it a day and figure out the mileage later. Except Gary. Gary is on a mission. Dude waves everyone off and keeps riding. He has said many times that he is NOT afraid of lightning and that he’s ready to go if it’s his time. So...we’re all on the SAG and talking about this and we decide Gary’s not made a good decision from a team perspective. We are able to track him down a mile or so later and Geoff jumps out of the SAG to try to talk to him. He says one thing that rang in Gary’s head: “This trip is not about you!” It was the ego ring and Gary was wise enough to answer the call...after hitting one of those dark potholes that looked rideable. He realized that if he was even raising the chance of something happening to him by one percent, that was too much risk to take what was the reward? “Saying” that he rode all the miles? Look, if anyone wants to call into question the amount of miles we’ve ridden they can kiss my saddle sore-ridden butt. We have put in our time and we have worked incredibly hard. We have ridden across the country and much more. I’m proud of Gary’s decision and I’m proud of all of us for standing beside him and letting him know we love him too much to allow him to get hurt. We had a great dinner at our hotel restaurant -- excellent food and more laughs than we’ve had at one sitting at any time in the trip. Tomorrow we hit Chris’ hometown of Mapleton, PA. He has loads of events lined up for us. I’m excited.

Share the Road - On the road - Day #29

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DAY 29

Troy, OH to Cadiz, OH

90 miles

I actually got a good night’s sleep last night! I woke up at 3:30 (before looking at the clock) thinking, “Well, if I have to get up now, I can go”. To my delight, two more hours! I’ve started doing pushups every morning to help get the blood flowing. I think this is something I’ll be adding to my regular regimen at home, too. I remember Herschel Walker saying he never did anything but pushups, pullups and situps. I still like the gym so I won’t be cancelling that anytime soon. But one thing I have found is that I really, really enjoy is working out outside; being part of an adventure -- going somewhere as opposed to being on a treadmill or a stationary bike. Yes, there are additional challenges -- but isn’t that life? Isn’t that more organic and resonant? The gym is a workout in a vacuum and so it has that appeal -- “control”. The outdoors -- anything can and does happen. You are forced to constantly adapt. I don’t remember the last time I got a flat tire in the gym or had someone back into my bike and wreck my rim. I’m not adding those things in as “good” things for the outdoors, just saying that’s part of life. The upside of breathing fresh air, seeing new things, meeting people out doing the same thing and more is immeasurable.

LATER...

We meet up with Bernie -- Gary’s contact through work that he’s never met in person. He called us yesterday to say he was in Cadiz, OH (thinking we’d be there yesterday). Since we weren’t, he met us halfway on our ride today. He rode across the country on his own a few years ago. He did it in 30 days -- being hospitalized twice; once for having open sores in his groin be infected by the dye in his uniform and once for dehydration. He doesn’t seem nearly as crazy as I thought he’d be...I’ve only just met him though.

He IS a strong rider, that’s for sure.

Share The Road - On the road - Day #28

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DAY 28
Troy, OH to Hebron OH - 99 miles

Today’s teamwork felt better. One of the reasons it worked for me was because we had a great discussion last night over dinner. That dinner, by the by, was insanely good. I had a greek salad, bruschetta and a pesto tortellini. Unbelievably tasty. At any rate, everyone loved their meal and after the great time we had at the festival, we began to open up about our experiences on the road.

For some the pace was too fast. For some there wasn’t enough communication. For me I was missing the fun and individuality -- part of which I express through my picture taking. The honesty and discussion did us all well and it showed today on the ride.

One thing I’m not doing well enough is sleeping. It wears on me. I had a very, VERY hard time getting up this morning. It’s hard anyway, but when I’m lacking in sleep, my happiness fades a bit -- the silliness that helps me see things more openly. Then the bitterness seeps in. The pain I’m feeling throbs more deeply. Today I had tremendous pain in my groin (the chafing). It’s always there, but when I’m not well-rested, it goes through the roof.

At any rate, we made it. And five days into having Raul on board, I must say it is wonderful to have him. He’s an inspiration and a wealth of knowledge. He told me about a race in Puerto Vallarta and said he’d like to stay in touch with me after we’re done here so we can talk about maybe hooking up down there. I’m not fluent in Spanish, by all means, but I can do a bit of chatting -- enough to make Raul smile at my attempts.

I was particularly energetic when we finished the ride and excited about out campground tonight. Turns out it’s a great RV park -- clean and full of people (sold out). Nice amenities -- shower, pool, bike rentals (like I want that...). Nice. At any rate, I picked up some food at the market I’d been thinking about all day and Raul and I put together an awesome cookout that consisted of: tomato/cucumber salad, guacamole, peppers and onions grilled with garlic, BBQ corn with green chiles and burgers (veggie style for me, of course). What a meal. We’ve had a lot of great ones on this trip, but something about eating outside and being part of the prep always makes me that much more satisfied.

I took the time to actually look at our last six ride days today. I gasped when I looked at the last day from Philly to Ocean City. It suddenly became very real. I’ve avoided looking at that because I don’t want to get ahead of myself -- I don’t want to lose my being in the moment. At this point, it is real. Six more ride days -- that’s it. There are some significant challenges road wise -- particularly over the next three days. But you know what, we have experience that tells me we’ll be fine. We’ll overcome whatever needs to be overcome. The fact that we’ve come together as a team underscores this.

Random thought of the day: I’ve heard that Eskimos have dozens if not hundreds of names for snow -- because they live around it so much, they notice the finer details and label it for all the different conditions. The road is like that for us -- not that we’ve named all the different types, but I can tell you the road that you drive on is not the same as the road that you bike on. We are sensitive to so many different things because of perspective. It’s all in how you look at things.

Share The Road - On the road - Day #27

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DAY 27 

Greenfield, IN to Troy, OH-- 95 miles

Somebody should have issued a local jerk warning last night. Some fool backed up into our RV in the middle of the night and tweaked four of the eight wheels on our bikes. Nice way to wake up.

The good news is as follows: the guys are all troopers, Gary has insurance, we have the equipment and enough know-how and we got the work done. We were on the road about 90 minutes later than expected and if that’s all the worse for the wear we are, then good deal.

The weather (perhaps because of that storm last night) held off from getting blazing hot today. It was warm, but the cloud cover kept it from blazing and the humidity was barely noticeable. THAT makes a huge difference.

The team element of riding continues to be a challenge for me. Different riders, myself included, have different abilities. At various times, people follow or don’t follow the rules Raul has set forth for us. This can be frustrating. I do my best to breathe and just handle my side of things. Communication is still difficult on the road. Taking pictures really suffers. The freedom to do little side-jaunts really suffers. This is the price of going forward as a group. Ultimately, it serves the entire group better (I just have to keep reminding myself of this).

We’ve stopped in to do a little laundry right now and everyone’s handling their business. We may actually get to watch “Super Size Me” this afternoon if we can get everyone’s divergent butt in here. My money’s on “Free Crab Tomorrow” (that is in reference to a sign that we saw on a restaurant in Tempe, AZ -- it’s wonderfully ironic in denoting the things always talked about but never to really be delivered).

Seven days of riding remain. That’s amazing. Only seven days. Then what? Back to life, back to “reality”...I have a jacked-up financial situation waiting for me at home and I need a job -- a good paying gig. Anyone out there reading this with a cool job to offer, hit me back. I’m a great leader and at the same time follow instructions well. I take initiative, I have loads of management experience, I’m good with people and extremely creative. Talk to you soon...whoever you are.

LATER...

We’re in Troy. Turns out to be quite a chic little cultural town. They have a jazz festival going on and Chris and Gary hustle us into the parking lot where we distribute hundreds of bands (truth be told we enlist some local kids to do the work for us -- why work when there are available eager beavers?). The set up with the SAG looks great. The festival has several hundred people and we’re holding off on dinner ‘til it’s over. Grrrr...says my stomach. Don’t get me wrong -- I’m a jazz LOVER. I’m also tired and hungry. Tired and hungry vs. Jazz concert is not a contest.

We lost an hour today. Don’t know what happened to it. Don’t know who was supposed to be watching it. No idea where it went. Just know it’s gone and that’s that. It’s rumored I’ll get all the hours back that I’ve lost when I return to L.A.. I’ll believe that when I see it.

Share The Road - On the road - Day #26

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DAY 26
Terre Haute, IN to Greenville, IN - 99 miles

Scratch the nice night. I went from sweating from the humidity, to becoming chilly, to hearing the wind nearly whip the tent down, to lightning, thunder and heavy rain pouring down. One flash of lightning was so bright it lit up the whole campground. When I started getting dripped upon, that was enough. I made the mad dash (after having the zipper stick for about a minute) and ended up soaked. Chris was nice enough to scoot over and let me share a piece of his bed. The downside was he punched me in the arm at about 5:00 asking me if it was time to get up. I said no, we were getting up at 6:00. He said oh and rolled over. I didn’t punch him back. I’m not like that (anymore).

The teamwork was present today on the bikes -- but it had a different effect on me. I found myself terrifically challenged by it. I don’t know if something’s working itself out or if I’m just being selfish. I have a terrific independent spirit that I have developed through years of doing it “myself”. Myself needs to be in quotes because I realize even in times where I did something completely on my own, there were always others who supported me in getting to that place. At any rate, I struggled with the group element as one of the great joys of cycling to me is the exploration. With this teamwork, it’s not about exploring, it’s about being machine-like. Five minute pull, go. Fifteen minute draft. Five minute pull, go. Stopping for a picture is a chore as if anyone doesn’t want to (and this is evidenced by frequent rolls of the eyes and sighs), I feel guilty. I know this is best for the group right now...so this is how it will be. I know I have the rest of my life to cycle the way I want to.

It was very, VERY hot today. The humidity is kicking. The pulsing off the road from the heat is palpable. I can feel the crops next to me that have been freshly watered as they radiate a blanket of steam. The roadkill (largely possums and skunks) have a stink that seems to linger even longer. We saw a gorey roadkill yesterday -- a poor deer who just didn’t get it done. The few roadkill deer we’ve seen to this point have been mostly in tact. This one’s organs were strewn across the road. The glimmer on them made them look fresh.

I’m being a bit morbid right now.

It is what it is.

LATER...

There was an amazing storm tonight -- a tornado watch was issued from the national weather service. What that means to us in the morning? We’ll see. I filmed the incredible lightning and thunder for about an hour it was striking all over the place and the thunder was setting off car alarms. The air sirens went off -- reminding me of old war movies. The lady from the front counter at the hotel we’re staying at said we should come inside. I said, “Do we have to?” Like we’re in school or something...yes, Bobby. Come inside right now or you’ll get a check-minus on the board!

We stayed outside.

Chris asked the woman for more cookies. She said he’d had enough. I agree.

Share the Road - On the road - Day #25

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DAY 25

Vandalia, IL to Terra Haute, IN - 94 miles

Today was about teamwork. The four riders, Geoff, Gary, Raul and myself, pulled together on the first two rides and rode in formation for the entire shift. Wow. It was very powerful. We each took five minute leads in the front, effectively breaking the wind (and occasionally, breaking wind) for the group behind. This drafting thing is pretty amazing. At the end of the third leg (25 miles each time), the group had spread a little bit as the pace we set was a bit hot for Gary (we were averaging over 20 and the humidity was a mutha).

For me it was plus/minus. On the plus side: teamwork. Freaking beautiful. Having everyone together -- beautiful. Being part of a unit -- beautiful. Our pace (when we got into camp) was excellent). Our SAG stops were short and measured (not too much cooling down).

On the minus side: Not stopping to take pictures of things that were interesting; feeling more mechanical than adventurous; sometimes not paying attention to the road as the point in drafting is to watch the pedals of the person in front of you (trusting they’re watching the road).

So we’ll see how to work some of the kinks out. It is a good thing, overall, but perhaps for one or two of our legs each day we’ll have a breakout session where everyone rides at their own pace. Maybe...we’ll see.

By the by -- two more flats for me today. We changed my tire with the hopes that maybe that would cure my flat-itis.

LATER...

Miserable hot today. I sat outside and worked on the internet for about two hours in a shady spot (wireless internet in RV parks -- oh yeah!). I drank about 60 ounces of water and had no need to pee. There’s all the info you never wanted on my bodily functions.

We ate at another Texas Roadhouse restaurant and they liked our story so much they gave out bands and commitment cards to every customer that came through the door over the 90 minutes we were there. In addition, Raul got a free t-shirt.

I’m sleeping outside tonight again. The tent is great and, with the air mattress, it should be a nice night.

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Share The Road - On the road - Day #24

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DAY 24
Belleville to Vandalia, IL - 76 miles
 

Home is the word for today. The kids at the house we've been staying at have repeatedly expressed their sadness about us leaving their home. I have sadness in my heart, leaving here; sadness as I miss my home with my Bella in Los Angeles; sadness as I miss my parents and their home I grew up in in Walnut Creek; sadness as I miss Annamaria's parents home in Las Vegas; sadness for my sister and Migdalia and their home in Dallas; sadness as I think of my family in Seattle and the reunion that Annamaria and I won't be making it to this year. It's home. It's family. It's my heart. And I am blessed to experience this sadness because it reminds me of the incredible amount of love in my life. I wouldn't know this if I didn't have this many people or this many places to call home.

The road, too, is a home -- in a weird way. I am a citizen of the road. It is a lifestyle. It is constantly in movement and flux. It gives and takes quickly. It is dangerous and beautiful. It is blazing hot and freezing cold. It is fast and slick and slow and sticky.

Today I embrace the new challenges in front of me. We have a new rider in Raul we have welcomed to the team. We have different roads we've never been down and we will make it up as we go along. We leave the comforts of a home and make the SAG vehicle our (now even more crowded) home.

We'll do fine.

LATER...

Yesterday as we were getting ready for out day of speaking, Chris asked me to even up his side burns and trim his neck hair. Though I'm no barber, I've become the team trimmer, if you will, having already shaved Gary's head, my own and cleaning up Chris one other time. As I sat him down he told me how glad he was that I was on this trip -- that he and I really added balance to the overall squad and that we supported each other as we tend to be more like-minded than either of us are with Geoff or Gary. This is not to take anything away from Geoff or Gary, just to say that I (and I think Chris would say the same) tend to see things from a political and religious standpoint ( and all the derivations from there) a bit differently than G & G. G&G are staunch republican/right-wingers. Enough said.

After the whipped cream incident the night before, it really made me feel good to hear Chris say that. It drew me closer to him after I had been feeling seperated. Sometimes things just work themselves out.

Despite the differences in the team, there is a commonality of love and respect. There are various actions that each of us participate in and/or commit that cause any number of us to look at each other with cross eyes. I've found, for my money, that it is best to allow others to have their way and me have mine. Who am I to judge, right? I've also found on a number of occasions on this trip that when someone has done something hurtful, they've come around in time. By giving them their space and offering continued love (that's a biggee, because if you shut them out, there is the possibility of guilting them into an apology rather than having them come to their own natural, and therefore, much more resonant conclusion), people will come around.

An example of that happened today. We are at an RV park in Vandalia, IL (smack dab in the middle of the lower part of the state). It was a short ride today, so we actually have some time to enjoy some of the things this place has to offer -- pool, video games, basketball hoop -- very cool. At any rate, I was coming back into the RV after giving out some bands to some kids at the pool and Geoff approached me. He apologized for some of what he called his excess with alcohol over the last couple of nights and the behavior that followed. Though I found nothing particularly offensive about his behavior, it was obvious that he was at least tipsy. One of the things I've struggled with in Geoff's drinking, which has been occurring daily on this trip, is that it seems counter to the message that we are offering. Gary has been adamant about saying everything in moderation. I think that's a good message. I tend to be more stringent, but I know my way is not the "right" way -- I don't think anyone holds the universal right way. Moderation is the key. What moderation means is up to the individual. That line is so fine.

I'm getting away from the importance of what I'm trying to say here -- Geoff was very conscious and very heartfelt with his apology. He had tears in his eyes. I hugged him, told him I loved him and that I appreciated his apology. The smile on his face was worth the stars in the sky.

Riding with Raul today is worth a lot of writing and will warrant more space, I'm sure. But for now, let me just say "Wow" about the impact this quiet man has brought to our group in just over a day. We were all concerned about the infringement of space, bringing another person on board. Where would he sleep? Where would we put his stuff? Would he fit in with the group? We seem to have a delicate team balance -- will he set us off that and into the near chaos we seem to flirt with so often?

Hitting the road with him answered all the questions and more. I had THREE flat tires in less than 24 hours. One that happened somewhere between the end of the last ride and yesterday and two more today -- they were actually blowouts, not slow leaks; the tube all at once disintegrated. At any rate, Raul was on the flat tires in nothing flat. Gary did his part, I did mine and we fixed them very quickly. No complaining or griping -- just getting it done. This is how Raul rides, too. He rides with pace and relative ease -- which is kind of funny because if you looked at him you probably wouldn't consider him an athlete. He is short, has skinny legs and a bit of a belly. But on the bike -- my man can ride. He shadowed me for much of the morning, then got in front so I could draft him. By the time we were into our second run, we were very comfortable going back and forth between leading and drafting. The beauty of this teamwork is that it allows the drafter to work at a less pedal pace and still maintain the same speed as he is in the front rider's draft. Working alone, you're going to fight the wind anyway. Working as a team, you give each other the chance to continue the same pace and work as one. It's an amazing feeling.

On the last ride, Gary joined us and that was really something. All three of us riding, dropping back, jumping forward and all without any verbal communication. We read the body language. It's like a dance.

At the RV park, Raul made us his own special recovery drinks with a powder mix of vitamins and mineral he brought from home, then proceeded to do all the dishes, sweep and mop the floor. "I like to do dishes", he says. And, by the way, when he picked us up yesterday, he was calling US heroes. Apparently everyone back at the Vegas church (of which Gary, Geoff and Raul are all members) are buzzing about what we're doing. I'm very, very honored.

Raul's effect on everyone is nice to watch. For me, I love to have someone to ride with me at a high speed. He challenges me. I want to push a little more. I'm learning about the team elements of riding -- maybe I will compete after this tour is over. He also offers companionship -- there are almost no words spoken, but having him there is enough.

We're off to dinner in a few minutes. I hope to be able to shoot some hoops at this classic old wooden hoop in the grass when we return. It looks like where Jimmy Chitwood from "Hoosiers" might have trained.

Share the Road - On the road - Day #23

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DAY 23

St. Louis, MO

REST DAY

A rest day -- or “rest” day, more appropriately. We get up and don’t have to get on our bikes. That, in and of itself, is kind of amazing. We do have work to do, however. Gary is speaking at Anheuser Busch today -- as in the makers of Budweiser (the home office, no less). 

We roll down there and meet our group -- they’re wonderful. Gary is an electric speaker, captivating the group with his comfort on stage, passion for the material and information. It’s great to watch people nodding, wearing the bands and signing the committment cards. Again -- this is a HUGE corporation. 

There have been and will be great questions of, what were you doing talking to a company that makes an “unhealthy” product. Well, what would we do? Ostracize those who want to listen? This group is comprised of people -- people who are interested, who want the information. What they do with it is their business. As for making an unhealthy product, that could be said for many things. Life is about choices, Gary is fond of saying. Also, everything in moderation. 

I’ve had my time with alcohol. I drank quite a bit in my late teens and through my twenties. I still enjoy a beer or glass of wine now and then, but I don’t drink to get drunk anymore. Life is far too precious. I remember my last hangover several years ago too well to want to revisit it. I felt stupid and I felt like I was wasting a precious gift -- totally by my own actions. 

We got a VIP tour of the brewery (which takes up 10 city blocks!) after that. It’s an amazing place. 

Afterward went to pickup our fifth rider, Raul. He is a member of Gary and Geoff’s church back in Las Vegas. He’s a very nice guy and quite a rider from what I understand. We had another speaking engagement with a ladies group at a church in another part of St. Louis. It was similar information from Gary, but he related differently to the smaller, more laid back crowd. He was able to get a little closer to them. Again, they were smiling, laughing and nodding their heads at his words. 

We finished the night by coming back to our incredible hosts’ house. I commented that it felt like coming home because of how welcome they made us feel. Excellent dinner, company and friendship. We got our laundry done, rerouted (as we had some problems with the location where we ended on Sunday), fixed our bikes, re-worked the SAG and are now ready for bed. It’ll be time to get up and get back on the road all too soon. That’s okay. For now, we sleep (in the comforts of a house...ahhhhh...).

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Share the Road - On the road - Day #22

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DAY 22

Camdenton to St. Charles, MO

60 miles

A short one to be sure. We left at 4:30 as we’re going to the St. Louis Cardinals game today (woo hoo!) and that meant headlights and taillights. I’m really not a fan of the headlights because of their weight and the fact that I feel restricted by yet another wire. In the sense that they keep me from being hit by oncoming early-riser automobilers, I think they’re great.

We had some of our steepest -- check that -- DEFINITELY our steepest hills this morning. They weren’t terrifically long, but the sharpness of the grade was a good morning douse of cold water -- or warm sweat as it turned out. Once again, the riding conditions (less traffic, cooler temps, no wind) are excellent in the morning. 

We took I-70 in to St. Charles and that was plus-minus; plus in that when the shoulder was there alongside the major freeway, it was racetrack-like -- I was really able to fly. When it wasn’t, it was pretty sketchy and for a Sunday morning, there was a fair amount of traffic. We actually had to cut across a freeway division of three lanes at one point in order to avoid getting on the 170. Not too bad, but enough to make sure you’re totally there. 

I got to the end point of exit 229 (as we had agreed upon) and Chris wasn’t there. I thought for a second I might have gotten the wrong exit, but Geoff really made 229 very clear before we left and we all agreed on it. I called Chris and left a message as he wasn’t answering (or couldn’t get service). He called me back five minutes later and asked if I was riding with my head down. He said he was right off the 228 as that was actually the exit we needed to take. This really got me and I took a deep breath before responding that we all agreed upon 229 at the last SAG stop. If he wanted to change that for any reason, he could have called me. I have no problem with the change -- I do have a problem with the suggestion that I’m not paying attention when I followed the instructions.

It was a moment of tension and it blew by. I decided not to explain to Chris how I felt and why I was upset. In hindsight, I can see this might come up again -- I hope not. I don’t like for things to fester. At the same time, Chris can be hard-headed (just like the dude whose words these fingers fly from). I love him dearly and he does great work for us -- and, at times, I see the 23 year-old in him very clearly. There’s nothing wrong with that. I just have to remember to take a breath and be the best I can be. 

We got to Ron Burgess’ house (another friend of Gary’s) and WOW what a place. Who knows how many acres, but the nearest neighbor is a long shout away. He has three kids around who love to play and we did just that -- pool and regular whiffle ball sandwiched around going to the Cards game itself. We must have handed out 500 Shifting Gears to Better Health bands and could have done a lot more if we had them. It was a blast. 

The Cards game was great -- St. Louis' pitcher, Carpenter, pitched a three-hit gem. I loved being there, especially after having been at Busch just a year ago with my dad. It did make me sad for him -- I miss him. And knowing that he, mom and Annamaria were going to the A’s game on the same day -- there was a little connection there. The A’s won, 5-4, by the way -- WOO HOO!

We got back to Ron’s and had a fantastic cookout. We were talking about the trip and Geoff brought up that there had been no knock-down dragouts between out group just yet and he hoped we could continue that. I echo those sentiments. There are times, living in close quarters, where things get tense. If I can remember not to shoot off my mouth, but rather, step back and take the high road, I’ll do well. There are some things worth talking and working out, there are others best to let go. Which is which is...the difficult part.

Gary paid me an interesting compliment yesterday, comparing me to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (pardon the misspellings). They are Biblical characters who chose to eat and live healthier lifestyles (avoiding meats and alcohol, for two things). Gary knows he doesn’t eat as well as he can and says that’s just his choice. It’s been interesting on this trip -- Geoff eats and drinks the worst, Gary’s second and then Chris. Not to puff myself up or declare myself a saint -- I eat sugary and fried foods from time to time and will have an occasional beer or glass of wine -- but when I have my choice, I’ll eat natural organic veggies, fruits and grains and be very, very satisfied. I do think these things taste great and I love how they serve my body -- cleanly. They make it more possible for me to live the healthiest life I can so I can be available to accomplish the things I want and be of service the way I want. 

It just makes sense to me. 

The kids and I watched Sixth Sense on an awesome bigscreen downstairs. I was fading in and out and, at some point, Chris tried to put whipped cream on my hand (with the intention of itching my nose and making me smear it on my face). Brian, one of the little boys who’s really taken a liking to me (says I'm his role model:)), woke me so the shenanigans wouldn’t go down. I was half awake and thanked him. Chris stood over me with the container right over my upper lip. I said please don’t. He laughed. I, again, said please don’t. He did and I ended up with a whipped cream mustache. I was too tired to react so I just layed there. Brian got me a rag, but not before Ashley, the little girl, played copy cat on Chris’ action and whip-creamed me a pair of glasses. 

Ashley and Brian both lost their biological dad about two months ago. They mentioned it to me rather matter-of-factly at different times during the day. So many things rushed into my head about what to say, but, really, what do you say? I told them I was sorry for their pain and a moment later we continued to play. Ron’s their step-father and a very, very kind man. Their mother, Jean, is a wonderful and sweet lady. For those reasons, among others, I think they’ll be okay.

Share the Road - On the road - Day #21

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Day 21

Camdenton, MO to Hermann (Her-MANN according to Gary)

112 Miles

The morning is not easy -- every morning. That’s part of the deal. The first five minutes or so my head is filled with “No”, “Go back to bed”, “I hurt”, “What is wrong with you? Let me answer that for you...”(fill in the inventoried pleasantries).

The point is to make the morning as non-brain oriented as possible. I lay things out the night before so I don’t have to think in the morning. The brain will do what it does. I will continue with simple mechanical thoughts: “Bathroom”, “Uniform”, “Butt butter”, etc..

Had a great talk with a rider I met on the side of the road today -- I rolled up behind him (he was riding a three-wheeler) and we began to talk. His name is Dave and he used to ride two wheelers (a “roadie” as he put it) until he developed debilitating arthritis. That hasn’t slowed him down from doing his best, though. He talked about how much he loved Lance Armstrong and found him to be an inspiration and at the same time knew he’d never be Lance. That he was doing his best was enough. 

I almost wiped out today -- the closest I’ve come. I was coming off a shoulder that was ending onto HWY 54. What I didn’t realize was that the difference between the shoulder and the HWY was a sharp ridge, rather than a smoothed bump. When I turned my wheel slightly to merge onto it, my angle wasn’t sharp enough and the wheel caught. My weight was going left and my bike was balking right. I shook for a second, righted myself, and moved to the right (on the few inches of shoulder remaining). Had I spilled, it would have been right onto the HWY... It was a good reminder of the need to pay attention.

Katy trail -- What an amazing discovery. We heard of this place earlier in the day from another rider we struck up a conversation with -- that, by the way, is one of the many cool things about cycling -- the social aspect. At any rate, he mentioned this trail and mentioned a local state politician that had recently sponsored a race on it’s 300 mile loop (it roughly follows the Lewis and Clark trail -- at least in places). It runs along the 94 - a narrow highway that was beginning to trouble us because it lacks a shoulder. Chris called me and advised we get on the Katy as there are some really nasty hills on the 94. I’m skeptical at first, but I’ve come to trust Chris -- and boy was he right. This trail was beautiful -- lined on all sides by trees (providing much needed shade). Then, it opened suddenly to our right and showed us the Missouri River. Stunning. Gary and Geoff didn’t hesitate -- they jumped in, uniforms and all. I held off as I didn’t want to get soaked and have to ride in a uni-- that might chafe me. It’s funny -- that sounds kind of wussy now as I look at it, but I know certain levels of my discomfort and know how it can affect everything I do. It was the best choice for me. I really enjoyed watching them enjoy. 

Tonight we had a nice dinner at a riverside place whose name escapes me. I have been challenged on this trip to find things I can eat as a vegetarian -- especially in the midwest. One thing it has caused me to do is eat a lot more cheese than I’m used to. I love the taste of cheese -- I just know that dairy’s not in my highest good so I try not to consume too much of it. 

There was another spectacular sunset -- this one overlooking a bridge and the Missouri River. I simply can’t get enough of sunrises and sunsets. From a filmmaking standpoint, the production value of them is spectacular -- tremendous wow factor for audiences and their useage is universal. 

We have a very early start tomorrow and we’re running a little late tonight. I have to do my best to keep my snappy self in check at times like this. When I see selfishness at times like this it really gets me -- but I’m no angel and I’m not going to start judging others. Breathe in and out and do what needs be done.

Share The Road - On the road - Day #20

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DAY 20
Fort Scott, KS to Camdenton, MO
115 miles

We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto.

Crossed the border this morning about five miles into the ride -- rather anti-climactic for such a long journey through Kansas (like the Governor was supposed to come out and wish us well or something). The state we spent the longest amount of time in was Arizona - that won’t be topped this journey.

The difference so far has been the wetness of the state -- Kansas certainly had the humidity, but not the amount of lakes and rivers I’ve seen so far in MO. We’ll be camping in the Lakes of the Ozarks tonight -- kind of cool, as I’ve heard about this place but never been before.

The road has been a series of ups and downs -- emblematic of the trip itself. Today though, it’s as if we’re on a rollercoaster with no tracks -- the flatness of the plains is plainly behind us (My Fair Bike Ride). I think there will be some more flat land early next week in Illinois, but once we hit Ohio and Pennsylvania, get ready to rock. Some of our most serious climbs are there.

We’re doing longer miles today and tomorrow than originally scheduled in order to make it to the game in St. Louis on Sunday. We thought we had a Sunday night game, but it turns out it’s an afternoon game (1 PM) and we’ll have to leave early on Sunday (even with the now shorter trip) to make it on time.

As much of a challenge as today has been with all the hills, I’ve actually really enjoyed the ride. I haven’t seen much worth shooting pics/video of, but the overall feel of the place is good. We don’t have much of a shoulder on the road, which has made for a couple of close calls...there are two types of honkers -- the one with the loud, long blast right as they get up to you to express their displeasure and (seemingly) try to scare you off the road (if not your bike), then there’s the double tapper -- two short blasts usually followed by a wave. I’ve interpreted this as encouragement -- “Keep going!” “Looking good!” “What’s Lance doing in Missouri?” Okay...they don’t really say that I look good.

I mentioned that 48 hour film contest yesterday -- there’s a possibility I still may be able to make it work.

One thing about this stretch of HWY 54 today -- it may be the most dangerous area we’ve ridden so far because of the lack of shoulder. I’ve been “buzzed” at least 3 times by big rigs, once uncomfortably close. I could literally reach out and touch these mammoths without extending my arm. And they honk at me like I should look out for them. God forbid they actually slow down and wait for a clear lane to pass me.

The last stretch of 54 actually had a shoulder -- thanks and praise -- and it had the deepest rolling hills and valleys. We finished the day with a mother of a hill (no offense, mom) and found ourselves at an RV park right on the water at the Lake of the Ozarks. We got a swim in and layed out on the dock. I did a little yoga (an added challenge with the ebb and flow of the water below) then stretched out and thought about “On Golden Pond”, as I usually do when I’m at a lake. I also thought about Lake Sawyer, the lake we have our family reunions at in Seattle. I filmed a beautiful sunset tonight.

As we drive off to dinner, I get to see a bit of tomorrow’s route. We’re doing 115 again and it appears it’ll be more of the long rolling hills. The morning starts with a big one (usually does, doesn’t it? HEY YO!).

Share The Road - On the road #19

You can be in the documentary this blog is based  on! Click here to tell us your definition of health. Day 19 90 miles Eureka to Fort Scott, KS Got on the road at 6:30 this morning -- a little later than I would like. I like being out there and watching the sun come up while we’re riding. Regardless, the morning mist was fantastic and we took some spectacular pictures on the road. I rescued a turtle from the middle of the road this morning. That was a great feeling as I’ve seen tons of them as roadkill from Texas on. This guy was right on the yellow stripe, just asking to get smashed. I picked him up, he ducked and peed all over the place. Can’t believe how much liquid he was carrying inside that little shell. Chris and I got into another discussion last night -- following up on the one we had the day before regarding food intake. He feels I’m being pushy with what I’m saying. I can understand him saying that -- he’s not the first to offer that reflection to me. I am passionate about what I believe in -- not to try to convince anyone that I’m right, just to offer points of view that have, perhaps, not been considered. The farther I go in life, the more I realize how “out of the box” I tend to be. I don’t do this for the sake of being different -- I follow my heart and soul. I question things -- always. I know this makes some people uncomfortable because it challenges them to question themselves. A lot of people would rather live a life of relative comfort, it seems, knowing only what they know and getting by with that. I won’t do that. I will remain open. I will continue to question. I will continue to consider “I don’t know” one of the most wise statements there is. Why? Because it leads away from ego and toward questioning, listening and new understanding. LATER... This ride feels long and hot today. My legs are a bit dead. One more roll and we’re at our location -- about 30 miles to go. Wish us luck . LATER... Some days just feel longer than others. I don’t know why. I feel an overall tiredness today -- which is kind of odd because I got good sleep last night (rare on this trip). I find when I’m in production that I generally don’t sleep that well. Then, usually, at the end of the production, I sleep very hard for a couple of days, sometimes getting sick to boot. It’s because it’s work on an uber level -- nothing I’d want to do for an extended period of time (define “extended” ? It’s relative). That’s one of the reasons I won’t feel an ounce of guilt about the big paychecks when they do start rolling in -- I’ve put in time adn paid my dues. I got a call from an agency I worked with in Vegas today. They offered to let me direct a piece they’re doing for a film festival -- the 48 hour film festival. It sounds like a lot of fun, unfortunately I’ll still be on the road. Not unfortunately because I begrudge this -- I would choose this every time if offered both things equally -- but unfortunately because it’s missed opportunity. That’s how it goes, though -- you give some to get some. I think everyone’s feeling a bit of fatigue today. We’ve been on the road a while now and we’re all missing the comforts of home to a degree. Gary expressed feeling some guilt about being away from home today -- much like I felt with my struggles last week. That’s okay -- it’s part of the journey.  You can be in the documentary this blog is based  on! Click here to tell us your definition of health.

Share the Road - On the road - Day #18

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Day 18

Mount Vernon to Eureka, KS

97 miles

My morning started with a little fuzz -- a bit of residue from my anger and darkness the last couple of days. The good thing was, I recognized it early and instead of going down that path, took inventory of the situation and made another choice -- a choice to be grateful for the things I have versus angry for the things I don’t. That shift made all the difference.

I know that being angry constricts my highest good. I make every effort to live to my highest good, to love with my deepest, most resonant heart. That can’t happen if I’ve shut down. Again, the anger may feel powerful -- and IS powerful -- for a moment. It doesn’t resonate, however. In fact, it’s a quick spend of energy followed by a low-energy hangover. These are all great lessons to relearn, time and again. The truly encouraging part is the recovery time -- if I recognize and make a different choice in short order, that shows me I’m in good spiritual/emotional shape; in the same way as regaining normal breath and heart rate after a hard run. The faster the recovery time, the better shape I’m in. 

We’re about half-way into today’s ride, at a SAG stop in Benton, KS. We have two more days of Kansas, I think. Today we were off the main drag for the first 40 miles or so -- all back roads and local roads -- really cool. There were lots of turns but Chris did a great job of marking the streets. 

The headwinds really picked up in the second half of the ride. I would much rather ride hills then have headwinds (“be careful what you ask for...”rings in my head). I was looking ahead to our course through Ohio/Pennsylvania and we have some significant climb days there. None of them top the ones we had out west, but there are several that will give us a workout, that’s for sure. 

We cooked out tonight -- very delicious. Restaurants are nice, but there’s nothing like cooking out to me. These RV parks don’t compare (obviously) to the beautiful state parks my dad and I stayed at last year. But, we just haven’t made the commitment to staying at beautiful locations -- it’s more convenience for the work at hand, which is completely understandable. 

Watched a little Dave Chapelle last night -- that brutha is funny. The laughter is so good for my soul -- tremendous healing power.

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