Chains Chains Everywhere

I want to start today with a quote from POP's: " Why do i always seem to get on the bike when the big hills start" 
This is so true each time Dad would hop on the bike either to start a day or after a mileage break he seemed to have a steep climb right off the bat.  But he just kept pumping the pedals and finishing the climb.  With the vocalization of PUSH PUSH PUSH until he reached to top.  So awesome to watch him defeat the challenges that were in front of him.


Well i am going to wind up two days into one blog so stand by as this could be wordy but i will try to keep it a bit simple.  Yesterday was the last day that my Mom, Tom and Phil road with us.  What a joy it was to have them with us.  Each one brought with them something special, weather this is a joke, a song, a smile or encouragement when needed.  Such a great time with these guys and feel so lucky to have had them with us.

I posted a note on Facebook but it is still important to mention here my mother rode 157 miles in three days which was amazing to be a part of.

So on this day of the ride i swear a gremlin got onto the bikes yesterday as it seemed that every time we turned around someone was having an issue with a chain.  I think we through about 5 chains and actually had one completely fly off.  As mom and i were riding behind Shane i heard the tell tale sign of a chain falling off and then Boom there it came Shane's chain came flying back at us.  First time i have ever seen this happen, so crazy.

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So on day four i wanted to take a minute and simply just describe to everyone what a day is like on this trip.

Ok so let me set the scene you.  You wake up to sounds that you are not familiar with, the scratch of a wood floor under an air mattress the smell of  plastic and the aches and pains of riding 65 miles from the day before.  You role out of the bed, sit up and take a look around to make sure you are not still dreaming.  Then you remember what you are doing and why.  The urge to roll over and go back to sleep fades away as you realize that you have to keep moving forward, keep following the routine.  As you rise you to your feet you are greeted by others in the room doing the same things, some are wide awake and cheery others are grunting in there response.  You go about your steps of grabbing your gear you had laid out the night before, stumble to the bathroom to change and brush your teeth and take a long look in the mirror again remembering why you are doing this, smiling you turn around and walk out.  Now the clean up begins, you deflate your air mattress, roll your sleeping bag up pack up your clothes grab your gear and walk it outside to the truck.  The process of packing the truck has become routine what was once a jigsaw puzzle of boxes and bags is not an finely tuned machine of putting each in its place.  You check your tires for air, grab a quick breakfast and gather with the group.  Now the days "work" begins.  you hear POP"s push off and spin his pedals against the ground, Carl yells out some words of motivation,  Shane says lets go, you look around at the sag drivers and smile then look up the road at the riders pulling away from you.  You clip in one foot push off find the other pedal, click your in and on your way.
Now the ride is started you begin to pedal and find your place in the saddle.  At this point you are fidgeting on the saddle always looking for that sweet spot, your feeling the muscles in your leg slowly come alive yet each one has a little resistance to waking up just yet.  You look around at the beautiful scenery hear the hum of the chain and feel the road beneath the wheels.  You are in your moment you are where you were meant to be.  The day continues on in this fashion, pedal, encourage, drink, eat laugh repeat.  Even when things are tough and you don't think you want to go one you find the will power by thinking of your pain or discomfort as fleeting while realizing that those with PD are fighting discomfort each day.  If they can overcome that and have a great attitude why cant you simply keep riding?  And so you do PUSH PUSH PUSH........up the Tommorrow down the hill up the next one never retreat never turn back.
You reach the end of the day, you meet the great people who have opened their home or church to you.  You tell the story of why and how they look at you with amazement and it reminds you how lucky you are to be doing something that is meaningful.  You have dinner gather your gear for the next day, pray for the strength to get up and start again knowing it will be given knowing you want to do something to make a difference and knowing God has given you all you need to be successful.  You lay down, hear the crinkle of your sleeping back, think about the day and how sore or tired you are.  Smile close your eyes and quickly drift off to sleep.
For some this sounds odd or silly or just crazy.  For me this is a way to give back to try to make a difference and show others what can be done when we stand up and say Not Today, Not this Disease or Circumstance it is not going to keep me down.  As the poet says "fight fight against the dying of the light".  A good friend (Tom Casey) last night said find a cause find a reason join it and make a difference.  So if PD is not the fight you want to join that is ok, find one that takes hold of you heart and do something become part of the community.  Tell your friends how important they are and your family that you love them.  Each day is a gift and we need to make good use of it.