Why on Earth would you Do “THIS” Ride this Way?

Haven’t had much reception or time or energy to sit in a bed and blog.  So much goes through your mind when the sky is dark, or the wind is whipping you around, enough to give you windburn, or when a climb is so hard you think your leg muscles are just going to explode….. the adventures I have had on Roo Crew have been like no other.

As we pull into a Local Townie Gas Station, in Weston, a very peculiar man pulls up on a trek TT bike that looks as though it had been to Alaska, California, Texas and Florida and BACK.  He had a backpack attached to it, 4 layers of jackets on, worn shoes, ear-buds, flashing lights, and a go pro camera on the front of the BIKE… it hurts his head to put it on his helmet.. He talked about John Boehner and how much he detested his actions….. Nick said…. and I quote, “dude I have know clue what you just said, but mate, cheers to ya and have an awesome ride.”

Our little Trek man, asked all sorts of questions about where we came from how far, how long, and then he said…. “You are doing the ride backwards!” “Why on earth are you not riding from Maine and then going to SC.” I wanted to stay and chat, but ……. he had already detained us for about 15 min and no one in the group had any clue what he was saying.

But as I pushed off… I thought, well, I guess I understand … If I rode from Maine to SC I would be able to follow the foliage. But that is not why I do THIS Ride THIS WAY. I began the process of answering this question. Through 4 of the TOUGHEST climbs.  1 included 1/2 mile at a 20% grade.

I do this ride this way, with my roommate from college because I love her. She works so hard at her job. I get random messages about how she has lost a patient, (Dawn, is a nurse at Cleveland Clinic for Children) and it breaks my heart into pieces, because I know she is crying as she is venting…. I just want to wrap my arms around her and tell her how amazing she is….. I would not be the person I am today if God had not put her in my life….. Thank you for blessing me with such an amazing friend, God. She is one of my rocks in life.

I do this ride this way because of Ron and Jen Jerina, they are the masterminds behind this ride… this way.

I do this ride this way because of the People I have in my life that are battling and I know that my efforts are making a difference not only with education, research but for resources too for those that need assistance.

I do this ride this way because of my husband, who has been there for me for 10 years, while I get sliced and diced on for Melanoma and skin cancers that have caused me so many surgeries that I am beginning to lose count… And when I get back to Greenville, I will go through another.  It is a constant reminder that cancer is apart of my life as it took my Dad, and I know that it has effected my children.  I don’t like cancer very much…. I don’t let my girls say this word, but I hate it. On the flip side however, cancer has made me into the person I am today. I better one.

I do this ride THIS way because I learn more about myself every time I go. I do this ride THIS way because it is healing, it gives me hope, it gives others hope, it makes people smile, it makes strangers toot their horns and cheer for you. It raises a lot of money for a lot of people that are facing more challenges then I can even imagine.  I do this ride to teach my children that life is not about “you” life is about giving to others.

What have I learned this year so far, is that I can literally laugh more than 30x in a 2 hour van ride and have sore abs in the morning from it. I have learned that every place we have stopped….. someone is there to tell a story about their journey. I have learned that cell phone coverage makes life difficult to check emails, and to keep in touch with those you love. I have learned a new language, Australian. I have learned that Loren is an engineer and has a brilliant sense of humor and such a profound love for his family that when he talks about them….. He lights up.  I have learned that Dave is totally attached to his cell phone. I have learned how to do art work on those that are sleeping.  I have learned that Dawn has more patience 4  adults that act like children for 5 hours in a van- then she probably does with her own CHILDREN!! I have learned that when I put my mind to riding my bike I CAN do over 25,000 feet of climbing in 4 days of riding, even when I am crying, even when I was mad, even when I was frustrated, when I hurt, and even with lack of sleep.  I have also learned that doing this Ride THIS way is sooooo much like a cancer journey.  We didn’t always make the right turns, as team we didn’t always communicate effectively, our ride, or our journey has been harder then any other ride I have done in my life… INCLUDING MT MITCHELL. But at the end of the day, all of us, Dave, Loren, Nick and Dawn would always say goodnight, and be appreciative of the journey we had for the day. I will be forever changed by this experience, in so many ways. I am so grateful that I have had the opportunity to do this again and for my ROOmates. I love these guys like they were a brothers and Dawn is my sister.

I will continue to do my part for others for as long as God allows me the opportunity. I will not take a single day for granted.

So if I see this TREK man again…. I do this ride this way, because I can and because a lot of people depend on the funding that we provide for hope.

Wow…. what a ride this year mates… almost there.