Day 5, A rest day. I have had some chance today to reflect on where we have been this past week and looking at the photo with my hand on Jeff’s back all I can ask is “does my butt make my bike seat look small, or my bike seat, make my butt look big?” Lycra tells no lies. Somewhere around 472 miles with 24,529 feet of climbing over 12 summits, all with a leather wedgie, generates a unique experience.
As the body tires you begin to feel emotion that is normally repressed. With no warning I have felt like weeping for the loss of Alison and the many that are presently fighting Cancer. This entire experience has been a metaphor for the struggle one has with Cancer, ridden on the road labeled the “loneliest road in America” with just a few friends for support, with mountain after mountain to climb and persisting, almost mocking, cross and head winds on roads that would normally be easily traveled on a Bike. Anytime you are cycling there are inherent dangers, we have had a few close calls with people that have no sense for the value of a Life. Riding on a 2 lane highway on the traffic side of the rumble strip, trying to avoid the debris that covers the shoulder of the highway, there have been several occasions in which passing motorist and even a motorcycle rider have passed within a couple feet of us, horn blazing, even though the adjacent lane was completely empty. What point is to be made with this behavior? Basically just another ___hole with a driver’s license. In a car you can simply put on the brakes and (here is a novel idea) wait for a couple minutes if needed, before safely passing, no need to show those cyclists they don’t belong on the road, no need to run one down….. blah, yaddah, blah, and when you wave…..use all 5 fingers. That said, almost all of you out there are courteous, for you I give thanks. Many truckers, motorcycle riders, and motorists wave politely as we climbed those summits, even those small gestures help provide some encouragement.
At Sacramento Summit (the 11th summit we have climbed) we paused to pay tribute to a few that have passed and those that are struggling with Cancer. Using a few rocks I wrote Alison at the edge of the summit. She is gone but not forgotten. She had enough will power to complete a physical challenge like this one but she lost her struggle with Cancer much too soon in life. I also found out on Day 4 that my Aunt Grace has been diagnosed with Bone Cancer. These things help bring perspective; no one has ever deserved Cancer.
Larry Peterson had to leave our journey for business on Day 3. He has made reference to Jeff and I taking too long to gather our “dishes and dolls” at the start of day 3. I just wanted to clear this up; I only have action figures and a mess kit. It is without question that one person with a positive attitude, strong legs, and good mind can and does make a substantial difference. Larry has been missed and hopefully, with business obligations fulfilled, he will be able to join us on the final leg into SLC on Saturday.
Jeff has been an absolute inspiration. Some people have the ability to be a five star General, Jeff is such a man (I like to think of him as our good Napoleon). There is no quit in him. Even with much suffering on this “Bike Ride” he has not once shown that he would stop our quest. Many people may have climbed in the car and with A/C on ridden in comfort to our next destination to, “try again tomorrow” not Jeff, he is committed, He is truly Inspirational!!!!
Jim and Sam have done a great job driving support. During this struggle it has helped that the support vehicles carry the extra water and food in between the many miles of unoccupied road. At the Utah State line the sign clearly says “Next Services 83 Miles”. We could not have crossed these stretches without Jim and Sam.
At the end of this entry I would say thanks to all of you that have been following our Journey. Thanks for your support, for helping raise awareness and funds to combat Cancer.