Day 2

We started today by driving back to our ending location from yesterday, and started out on a long stretch that was a bit downhill – a great start to the day.  For the first part of the ride today  it was windy – headwinds, cross-winds.  I am not sure at what point either our direction changed, or the wind’s direction changed but it seemed like the collective cyclist karma in the entire universe began conspiring for our success.  We had miles and miles of the smoothest pavement, with a strong wind at our backs.  I’m not sure whose tax dollars are contributing to the maintenance of that road (thank you to whoever you are) but it was probably one of the best situations we could ask for.

We ended the day in a quaint mining town called Eureka and had a fun dinner with good company at a cute Chinese restaurant.  Today felt much less painful for me than yesterday, but even when the going got tough I reminded myself that I am on this journey voluntarily.  I could choose to abandon the journey at any time – when my butt hurts or it’s hot or windy.  People who get cancer don’t choose it and they can’t get off and take a break.  Even for us on this long ride across the desert, I feel safe in saying that at some point we have all had to dig deep to find the resolve to keep pedaling. I find resolve to keep  pedaling by thinking of my biking buddy Brian and the life changing impact cancer has had on his life.  I think of my dear friend Mike Sanderson who made a trip to Phoenix for what he thought would be a quick week-long stay for some treatments at the Mayo Clinic and never made it home.  I think of my Uncle Steve, who only knew he had cancer for a week before he passed away.  Their struggles and losses make my temporary pains seem insignificant.  And so I too, ride on, with the collective support of all those who are pulling for me (figuratively and literally) in their memory.