Wow. One full day after our return to home, and I am overwhelmed. First of all, one million thank you's to my lovely friends, Caley and Becky. This morning, I woke up in my bed sad that they weren't by my side getting ready for another day on the bikes. You ladies inspire me every day, not just when we're bicycle touring.
Thinking back through our journey, I feel most of all humbled.
This trip brought me to my knees in so many ways-- physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I never expected it to be as hard as it was. Finding out just how weak I am and how much I need a strength greater than my own was a brutal experience, but irreplaceable.
Like Becky, I, too, felt intense gratitude for all the unexpected gifts we received on the road. I am grateful for:
- Tom and Wendy in South Fork for taking us in their home and treating us like their own children
- Andy and Amy McCoy for a nice plot of land to camp on, hot coffee in the morning, and heartfelt conversation
- Paul at Covenant Heights Christian Retreat Center outside of Estes Park for giving us a warm, dry place to stay and a hot shower on a very cold and wet night
- Ken in Redstone (?) for offering us a cold drink of water on a hot day
- Tom and Linda for showing up in the middle of nowhere all throughout the 2 weeks with coolers full of cold fruit, chocolate and drinks (I will forever love maroon Yukon SUVs)
I was so impressed by these people who shared a piece of their lives with us. I am also full of gratitude for all the simple pleasures we enjoyed along the way-- uncontrollable laughter, random sit-down-and-eat emergencies, running water, toothpaste, super smooth asphalt, sunshine on a cold morning, really strong bike tires, breaks that worked when we needed them, a friendly wave or cheer from people in cars, chapstick, sunscreen, and the health to do what we did. All of these things remind me of a passage from one of my favorite books, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard:
"It is a dire poverty indeed when a man is so malnourished and fatigued he won't stoop to pick up a penny. But if you cultivate a healthy poverty and simplicity, so that finding a penny will literally make your day, then, since the world is in fact planted in pennies, you have with your poverty bought a lifetime of days. It is that simple. What you see is what you get."
I hope I will always see the beauty in small things, wherever I am. I hope that I will always recognize a gift from God in my every day life. I hope that I will always remember that my strength is not my own, but that I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13)
Much love and gratitude,
ev.
ev.
To the "1050 Trio":
ReplyDeleteWhat an experience - over 1000 miles by bicycle in the mountains of Colorado; does it get any better? You rode many of the roads I've also enjoyed by bicycle, and spent time in some of my favorite mountain towns.
I have no doubt you had the time of your life. As you return to "normal" life back at work, your thoughts will often go back to your trip; your experiences, your fellowship, and the awesome things God taught you through this journey. What a blessing to be at a point in life where you can take 2 weeks - a mere 2 weeks that represent less than 5% of a work year - to have what will undoubtedly be a one of life's great milestones, and something you will remember throughout your 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, and beyond.
Your pictures are great, as is your commentary. I enjoyed following your journey. From what I can see you only made 1 mistake – you passed up the Evolution IPA at the Golden Brewery for something that looks like a mere pilsner or worse yet, a wheat beer ;-) !
Congratulations on a great accomplishment!
Phil