I'm in Payson, Arizona. I got here by pumping and cranking my own two legs over hills, across plains, and through desert land, as well as swinging hammers, sawing wood, and nailing boards.
Chris Benson and the mayor of Portales, NM with a proclamation stating that August 2 is Bike and Build day in Portales.
Seriously?! What is this life?! Most of the time it still doesn't seem real.
Life is all about perspective and mine has shifted significantly since starting this trip. How could it not? When you spend all your time with 32 like-minded people striving toward a common goal to help a greater purpose, if you don't come out changed you did something wrong.
It's about seeing the generosity of folks all across the country willing to sacrifice precious resources to help us achieve our goal. It's about small interactions we have with people in gas stations and at host sites where we get to hear their stories and share our own. It's about getting to be part of a family that never stops supporting you and loves you for who you are no matter the circumstance. It's about being part of a once in a lifetime opportunity where you get to experience your homeland in a way not many people are willing to risk.
Yes, obvious aspects like geography, food, and the physicality of my body change; some of the more important takeaways I've discovered about myself are the fact that I am more mentally strong than I thought; I want to do something with my life that makes me happy and that does good for other people even if I don't make a ton of money; I'm going to be a damn good driver when I get home.
We as a society spend too much time worrying about where we have to go or what the next thing we have to do is. Slow down! If this trip has taught me anything, it's the joy in taking the time to talk to people, actually seeing the scenery you're passing by, being considerate of other people (drivers, please when you see a cyclist or hiker or whoever, see them as a human and not a nuisance. Too many times have we been passed by assholes who, for no good reason, try to intentionally cause us harm because we try to share the road with them.)
With only three weeks left, there is still a lot left to see and experience. Like having my first time camping be at the Grand Canyon or seeing Southern California. And doing it all by bike, nonetheless. Every ache, pain, mental breakdown, laugh, and smile has been worth it to get me to this point. Call me crazy, but this is a crazy life and I wouldn't trade it for anything.
We've gotten to ride on historic Route 66
Mountains in AZ we descended through
