19 miles to go

Hello everyone,

Sorry to be updating these stories so late, but some of this may still be of interest.

This really was not our last dinner as after the final ride to the beach, we would have a celebration banquet,  but it was to be a memorable time as all the riders gave a short talk on their experience and feelings about the tour. It was pretty moving and more than a few tears were shed in the process. When we had our introductory meeting, everyone shared the reasons why they wanted to tide their bike across country, These talks were considerably more profound as the level of friendship, our shared pain and the great times forever changed our outlook and the cross-country ride took on a whole to meaning for everyone who did it.

Some common themes emerged in just about all of the discussions:

•  The great service, love and care provided by Crossroads and staff
• The organizations and causes that we road for
• The new friendships
• All the married couple doing the ride spoke of doing it with and for their spouse and how it deepened their love for each other
• The stories and adventures that were shared along the way
• The compassion and teamwork exhibited by the riders and sense of one for all and all for one
• How our lives and perspective on what is possible have been forever altered
• Thanking friends and family for their support

A couple of talks really stood out in my mind:

Larry, spoke of how each of us would be changed by this adventure but we wouldn’t know exactly how and how much until much later on. he also asked each of us to hold a thought as we had a group picture taken, so that when we looked again at that photo, we would remember that thought about what the ride meant to us. At this point, what we have done, hasn’t completely sunken in. Most of us are trying to transition back to “normal” life and the after shocks of our accomplishment will reverberate through our lives and come back to us again and again.

Harry, said that when it thought of the ride, he would think of “awe”. First of all there were some “awe”ful things that we endured such as the desert heat, headwinds, saddle sores etc and we would just as soon forget. Next there was some “awe”some aspects such as the scenery and sights along the way. Lastly, he was in “awe” of the accomplishment and the people he road with. Harry besides being one of the funniest people I know, also had a unique talent for putting things into perspective.

Roberta, the better half of the tandem couple and fairly new to riding, said that she did the ride to be able to spend more time with her husband Jeff. She gave a very emotional and love filled soliloquy that evoked a few tears. Roberta, is not as adventuresome as Jeff and for her to attempt this was pure love. All of the couple riding tended to repeat this theme, it was something they did together and it made their marriage stronger.

Some of the stories were very funny such as Nick (from Britain) who sometimes looks and almost sounded like Robin Williams on a roll. Almost all had a tinge of humor and everyone had a unique insight into certain aspects of the ride. It was a fun-filled dinner followed by a few drinks and the knowledge that tomorrow morning, we would pump up our tires for the last time as a group and proceed to our destination.