Share The Road - On the road - Day #36-38

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DAY 36
Ocean City Recovery

Everyone sleeps -- except me. I’m up at 5:45. I don’t need to wake anyone else this morning as I have for the past 35 days. In fact, doing so would more than likely get me a punch in the face.

I get up and go down to the beach, a mere block from the Earl’s rented beach house. There are not many people out this morning. I stretch, breathe, then wade into the water. It’s said to be 82 degrees but it feels cooler than that to me. I get knee deep, then waist deep, smiling at my slowness to submerge myself completely. In my mind I know all the truths I need to know about diving in and the way things open up for me when I do so. And yet I stand half in and half out of this water...1, 2, 3 dive into the small wave that rolls at me. I am in. I am committed. I am wet and no longer cold.

I body surf for about 15 minutes -- the waves are just barely ride-able, but that’s not important. I get out and stretch, do my morning pushups and some tai chi.

The boardwalk is beginning to wake up. I retreat to the Earl’s house. I’m still the only one up.

As the crew starts to rise, the chatter begins. Where’s my helmet? Did you get my supplements? Pass the butt butter -- no wait! Don’t. We’re done. We will ride no more forever...on this tour at least.

I get some bagels and muffins with Gary’s friend Ken, who congratulates me again and says how he really hopes he can do something like what we’ve done. I’ve been hearing that a lot -- a lot of people want this ‘once in a lifetime’ experience. I understand that...and I feel this will be far more than once in a lifetime for me. I think this is the beginning of adventures for a lifetime -- perhaps the definition of a lifetime. These adventures and all that goes into them are consistent with what I feel about the purpose of life: to explore, to consider, to grow, to discover, to be scared, to laugh and to share.

I have today to detox, tomorrow to help clean up last minute details of the journey (breaking down the bikes, cleaning the SAG and prepping for life back in L.A.) and I will fly out on Tuesday. My flight is a long one as I have a stop-over in Atlanta to go along with the five hours in the air. It will be even longer because I’ll be chomping at the bit to see Bella. I’ve been chomping for some time...

LATER...

We went to the boardwalk tonight -- quite a scene: packed with people, rides, miniature golf (I won with an impressive 36 over 18) and Kohr’s ice cream. We came home and watched ‘Boys of Summer’. It was nice to share that with everyone -- and it made me very sad, too. I miss my folks and seeing the changes Dad’s gone through in just a year’s time really made me think about the value of time with him - the value of time, period.
 

Day 37

Ocean City, NJ

Thoughts begin to blend one into the next. I got up early again this morning and Gary’s 10 year-old son, Tommy, joined me at the beach. He is a great kid. We did some body boarding together, then I did some yoga/tai chi and he did some cool sand design. We both had fun.

There was much work to be done today -- the biggest coming in the cleaning of the SAG and the packing of bikes and everyone’s goods. Stripping down and out the SAG was a very sad affair -- our mobile home suddenly became nothing more than an empty box. The logos were torn off, the insides gutted, the stallions (bikes) stabled (boxed). Gary has been nice enough to pick up the tab for SO many things, including paying for a bike mechanic to put the baby back together in L.A. -- I could do it, I know, but...I’d much prefer a pro do it well so the next time I take her out I’m not worried about the front wheel popping off. The next time I take her out...when will that be? It’s good that it take a little while, though. The chafing has not subsided -- not by a long shot. A few weeks off will do me well, even if I’m screaming inside (and the moans have begun).

The one thing that may keep me off even longer is the back rim -- it’s completely tweaked and I know it’ll cost about $200 to get me a new one. When I’ll have the money for that? Whoooooo...

Saying goodbye to Raul was the worst. He was such a heart and soul piece of our group. Having him leave was the final nail in the coffin -- our team is truly dead.

We hit the waves and water one more time. It was great as the swell had actually picked up a little bit and we were all getting slammed around. The ocean is truly a healing place for me.

Day 38
Ocean City, NJ

I fly out today. I hoped to get up this morning and go say goodbye to the ocean, but it just didn’t happen. I was tired and if I need the sleep, I’m going to respect that. There’s a piece of me that’s always Go! Go! Go! and this time I told it no. I have the ocean on the west side -- even if it is colder -- it’s there and waiting for me. The ability to sleep -- or the allowance of sleep -- is a premium.

I got up at seven and had to do Chris’ last interview in a bit of a hurried fashion as he was off on another adventure -- deep sea fishing. Good for him. The kid continues to run. Pat (Gary’s wife) said with a sigh, ‘Ah to be 23 and just be able to drop everything and go at a moment’s notice...’.

I had a quick liquid breakfast, then it was off to Sally the SAG -- which is now just a big white box -- to ride up to Newark. The long drive gave me a great chance to interview Gary at length. He was the most important member to get, truth be told. This trip was his brainchild and he got it going. I’m very, very impressed with him and really feel I have made an amazing friend.

He was very candid, as he was throughout the trip, and had many wonderful things to say about me. I was very humbled. I was also glad to feel closer to Pat. I don’t know her all that well, but felt like over these last couple of days I got to know her much better. The Earls are givers -- I am thankful and humbled to have made their acquaintance.

At the airport. Goodbye. It’s emotional, but not over the top. I’ve said goodbye in my heart long ago. Still, I will miss them.

The flight to Atlanta is first. I’m no fan of layovers, but this ticket was provided -- one of the many things provided by the Earls. I had a little snack in the cafe here (in ATL) and got to talk to Annamaria. That was nice. We have an opportunity to do some work in Vegas -- may be headed out there tomorrow -- swim goes my head. It would pay us a little money -- maybe that makes it worthwhile. What’s next? What’s next? What’s next? rings...:).