Day 10-6/25 Updates
John's Day 10 Journal: Reflections on a Lifetime Experience
06/26/08 11:05
Route:
The Final Leg
Total Miles: 31
Miles I Road: 31
To Date Total: 943
Weather: I doesn't matter
Highlights
Today is it, there is no tomorrow. That means there is no 3 am wakeup calls, no more packing the bikes and luggage before driving to our next drop-off point, no more riding for eight hours, no more repacking and having lunch and maybe a stop at a hospital before driving in a death trap for hours to our next destination and then having dinner a Cracker Barrel. It means no more dragging our weary bodies back to our rooms to do some laundry in the sinks, prepping for tomorrow and, if lucky, getting the daily journal entry off before getting to bed after 11 pm.
BUT I AM GOING TO MISS IT ALL!
I’m going to miss waking up in a new state, watching the sunrise before me as it introduces me to a country unknown to me before. I’m going to miss riding for hours at a time, oftentimes in a single file with a group of guy’s I can now call true friends, with the sun in our faces and the wind at our backs. I’m going to miss the strength in my legs to push forward as the fatigue of the muscles pleads with my mind for a compromise. Believe it or not, I’m going to miss the long van rides with all of us talking about the events of the day and banter with each other before we each of us quietly find a soft spot to lay our heads to get a few minutes of downtime.
I’m even going to miss the 3 am wake-up call and the screaming of my body to stay down but instead pulling myself up because I know what I’m about to experience will be too grand to miss.
But the experience I didn’t really foresee going into the ride is the greater will of others. I did not find it while riding; I found it in the hospitals we visited. The kids, their families, the nurses, and the caregivers showed me that their desire and hope to succeed and fight back at the terrible diseases that have taken over the children is much rawer and much more centered on the realities of humanity. I found the will in Hannah, in Columbus, OH, whose light in her eyes shows so much more life than I see in my own. Or Hayden, in Kansas City, whose family is excited to be going home for the first time in 60 days, even if only have to return in just a few day to continue on with their fight. The exhaustion from the battle is worn on their faces, but the will to have Hayden is so strong that they move forward with obvious determination.
So, as our three teams set off together today for one last ride to our goal of the Atlantic, I found it hard to see it all end. Too much has been invested to have it all end so soon. I am deeply gratified by my success and I will deeply miss the ride of a lifetime.
Total Miles: 31
Miles I Road: 31
To Date Total: 943
Weather: I doesn't matter
Highlights
Today is it, there is no tomorrow. That means there is no 3 am wakeup calls, no more packing the bikes and luggage before driving to our next drop-off point, no more riding for eight hours, no more repacking and having lunch and maybe a stop at a hospital before driving in a death trap for hours to our next destination and then having dinner a Cracker Barrel. It means no more dragging our weary bodies back to our rooms to do some laundry in the sinks, prepping for tomorrow and, if lucky, getting the daily journal entry off before getting to bed after 11 pm.
BUT I AM GOING TO MISS IT ALL!
I’m going to miss waking up in a new state, watching the sunrise before me as it introduces me to a country unknown to me before. I’m going to miss riding for hours at a time, oftentimes in a single file with a group of guy’s I can now call true friends, with the sun in our faces and the wind at our backs. I’m going to miss the strength in my legs to push forward as the fatigue of the muscles pleads with my mind for a compromise. Believe it or not, I’m going to miss the long van rides with all of us talking about the events of the day and banter with each other before we each of us quietly find a soft spot to lay our heads to get a few minutes of downtime.
I’m even going to miss the 3 am wake-up call and the screaming of my body to stay down but instead pulling myself up because I know what I’m about to experience will be too grand to miss.
But the experience I didn’t really foresee going into the ride is the greater will of others. I did not find it while riding; I found it in the hospitals we visited. The kids, their families, the nurses, and the caregivers showed me that their desire and hope to succeed and fight back at the terrible diseases that have taken over the children is much rawer and much more centered on the realities of humanity. I found the will in Hannah, in Columbus, OH, whose light in her eyes shows so much more life than I see in my own. Or Hayden, in Kansas City, whose family is excited to be going home for the first time in 60 days, even if only have to return in just a few day to continue on with their fight. The exhaustion from the battle is worn on their faces, but the will to have Hayden is so strong that they move forward with obvious determination.
So, as our three teams set off together today for one last ride to our goal of the Atlantic, I found it hard to see it all end. Too much has been invested to have it all end so soon. I am deeply gratified by my success and I will deeply miss the ride of a lifetime.
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"I Did It!"
06/25/08 17:10
Tony here...
"I did it. I did it!" Those words from Sam via Piper, who talked to Sam earlier today. He did it.
The Ride to Reach the Day blog has a great report with pictures posted. Check it out here.
"I did it. I did it!" Those words from Sam via Piper, who talked to Sam earlier today. He did it.
The Ride to Reach the Day blog has a great report with pictures posted. Check it out here.