Day 83: October 3rd, 2010 (Route: Draper, VA to Rosedale, VA)

Day 83: October 3rd, 2010 (Route: Draper, VA to Rosedale, VA)

Technical Data

Distance, miles: 93.78
Ride Time 7:19:57
Work, kJ 4510
Average Speed, mph: 12.66
Average Power, watts: 169
Normalized Power, watts: 210

Forecast: Cloudy, 50-55 degrees with light rain pretty much all day. (Can someone say COLD!)

Crickets chirpping all around, unzip the tent and look out to see what the morning has to offer. Sky blanketed with dark clouds, brisk chill in the air, start the morning routine. Packing up the tent, blanket, and clothes. Download data from yesterday then put away the pc. Fill water bottles and we're off. BoB and I, trekking Westward. Terrain is rolling, gradual inclines that peak around 12%. Suns rays of light fight to break through the blanket above, autumn colored trees canvass the countryside while dairy clouds graze in the pastures.

Westward clouds, dark, racing across the sky to the south bring cold temperatures and percipitation. Thoughts come and go, those that stay have one pondering of life. What are we here for, to serve those that we interact with on a daily basis, to please ourselves, or to serve the God above? Many will debate that all three are equal, maybe their thoughts are true, maybe their false, do we really know, does anyone that is still alive truly know? Faith is all we have, the belief in something we cannot see or touch, still the unknowing. Holding on to positive thoughts of the future, that we will be taken care of out here on the road. Too many surreal situations to be just coincidence on this journey of ours, there must be a higher power then one we can see, touch, feel here on the thrid planet from the sun.

Wind picks up, darkness above us now, lite rain, then harder and harder. Must seek shelter quickly, store about a mile down, pull in out of what mother natures has in store for us today. Soaked to the bone, cold that the bones are chilled. Out of the weather, wondering will this pass, will I warm, will we cover the mileage wanted today? Locals coming in and out, looking at me, wondering what they are thinking. Not caring, turn, look outside, still raining. Break into a laugh inside, thinking this is so epic! Smile...

Calculating distance, should we, could we in this rain? Questions fill the mind, fork in the road, must make decision soon or lose precious ride time. Risk it, having faith it will pass and stop or head to a hostel, sit it out for a day or two. Chilled to the bone, clouds break to a lighter shade of gray, sun still hiding decide to press on. Thinking can't lose another couple of days to weather. Legs been quiet up to this point, thinking good thought on this subject we push on. Roads soaked, water standing in sections I travel down the highway free as a bird, falling into a world of emptiness, one that's empty of stress, of busyness, of congestion, of worry's, of the meaningless things that cloud our vision, our thoughts of the greater meaning of what it means to fully be alive. Water splashes up and soakes my feet, feet cold as if in a blizzard we contiue to press on down the highway, free...

Smiling, mind feels with wonderful thoughts of healing, of being free, and just enjoying the moment. Riding my bicycle today, versus the survival mode we have been in the last couple of days, BoB and I press on. Loving it, the leg is on the mend, however must not get ahead of myself just too soon. Stopping to refill and to warm up, thinking shouldn't stop, just have to try and warm up again on the bike. Temperatures in the 50's and raining feels like mid 40's, however the mind is aleart and knowing what's going on. 100% in the moment today, from the thoughts to the weather to the rain that soaks the pavement that lies in front of me I ride. I ride to find myself, to think, to ponder, to explore, to learn, cherishing every moment that has passed over the days to the current moments, to those that lie just around the corner of time.

Looking down, computer reads 80 miles in, thinking this is great, I continue to ride, the leg has been feeling great all day, allowing me to push the big ring, the last three days of spinning possibly has helped, I'm sure its in need for some rest, however today I was riding, today the confidence is back, today I am complete. Cresting the peak I continue to ride, the wind picking up and the rain drops tapping on my clear suit made of plasitic. Descending, slow to not take a tumble, thinking must come back when the weather is favorable for fast descents and the feeling of living on the edge, the feeling of being alive...

*Most adventure seekers that I have spoke with all seem to mention the same things, when in the moment, whether on a cliff, 2000+ ft, exposed with your life in your hands, to riding a motorcycle with tunnel vision at 130+ mph, to riding a bicycle down a mountain at 60+ mph, the mind has no option but to live in the moment, as its life or death that is in the moment in the near future, the feeling of being alive, minds exposed with nothing but the present. To find this ability without the catalyst described above is difficult to do, some take decades, some a lifetime, some will never accomplish this, however when one does those feelings like when seeking that adventure will fill your heart with the softest, most gentle peace one can ever experience in life, one that brings smiles for eternity.

Am I growing, daily I would respond. To become the Man that God wants me to be, to become the leader, the mentor, the adventurer, the lover, the father, and husband, and most of all me, just being me is all he ask for and that I can do, and will!

So many thoughts fill the mind when I think about this, so many people out there try and be like others, like their father, like their mother, and so on. What if every one just allowed people to be themselves, so many live in fear of not expressing themselves for what others think, I question why? You are who you are, no one is to judge you for who you are besides the man upstairs. So today, I challenge everyone to just be themselves and enjoy life today, who are you supposed to be, what do you want to be?

I have so many things in life that I have yet to do, and I'm not planning on letting much get in the way of that. To continue to grow, to learn, to explore! Are you? Are you living up to your potential, fullfilling your dreams? There is no time like the present to make that change if there is something you want to change in your life to help fullfill those dreams and become who you want to become, better yet who God what's you to be...

Rolling on down the road I'm close to 90+ miles and really need to find a place to pitch the tent tonight, I passed on an ideal spot 10 miles back and now I'm kicking my thoughts thinking, you should of, then I just turned the thoughts to rely on the faith that I possess, thinking something will come up, something has too! Over the mountain, a church with a pavillion, a blessing to my cold wet being. Pull into the pavillion and park my bike, then I look down and a sign, "Biker's Welcome", I try the door and its unlocked, a safe haven in one of many of God's homes scattered across the nation, a dry place to sleep, water and heat. I strip down to get out of the wet clothes and can't believe how soaked I was, water could be ringed out of the tops I was wearing, I think I might need better rain gear now!

Only one thought tonight..."Thank You Lord for providing for me yet again when in need" Faith brought me to where I am, closer to home and tomorrow I shall press on with hopes of being back within two weeks or so, weather depending of course! Godspeed...