What If...?

"We are not super-cyclists who put in hundreds

of miles a week on the bike. What it really

took was the realization that we could do it. I

think getting beyond all the ‘what ifs’ and just

getting on the bikes is all it takes. We finally

realized that all we really needed to do was

‘shut up and pedal’!"

-Dan, Alison, Sonia & Gus

www.shutupandpedal.org

What if I end up in a ditch? What if I get hungry or thirsty? What if I can't come to terms with such an endeavor? What if I am not ready to go in time? What if no one wants to travel with the likes of me? What if I'm not good enough? What if a storm bellows in? What if I get skin cancer? What if my camera gets stolen? What if I ride into a parked car? What if my tent leaks? What if my tent blows away? What if I get mugged? What if its too beautiful? What if things just don't work out? What if I'm not in shape to go? What if...indeed.

"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it."

"I think getting beyond all the 'what ifs' and just getting on the bike is all it takes." Some folks hesitate to straddle the saddle. Well, many folks do that anyway. They think they cannot complete a ride across town let alone across state. They go through all the 'what ifs' in their mind. What if this? What if that? All those 'what ifs' portray all the negative thoughts and ideas and circumstances that could possibly happen to them en route. I mean, after all that brain com-busting negativeness, who wouldn't be scared? What I think is interesting though is that all the 'what if' conversations are of the negative nature. No one says, "What if everything goes according to plan?" What if I enjoy myself? What if the weather is superb? What if I encounter an amazing view atop the next hill? You usually never hear positive "what if" statements. We are wired to expect the worse, not the best. What will happen if good things come our way? So be it. What if...something happens? So be it. What if the trip comes back to bite me in the rear? So be it. What if the trip is awesome? So be it. What if, what if, what if. Stuff happens, good and bad. The trip will be awesome in good weather and bad, through frustrations and stress, illness and health, soreness and strength, and when things go wrong, things will go on. When things go right, things will go on...and on...and on. What if? I don't know...that bridge will come and then I will cross it. Will you cross it? It's beckoning...it's calling...it's there.

Companions Wanted

Okay, here’s the deal: Next summer (flexible/tentative dates: June 15-August 30) I will bicycle down the Pacific Coast and up through the Sierra Nevada Mountains with my friend Jeff driving a support vehicle sharing the adventure with me and making sure I stay sane. The reasons for such a trip are first and foremost, adventure and freedom on the road. Other reasons include fundraising with the eventual goal of starting a Christian camp which may include the start of a bicycle adventure ministry which may also include backpacking and canoe trips. The fundraising also includes raising awareness and gaining support and spreading the word for my vision. In short, this trip down the Pacific Coast is the first in a possible series of bicycle trips to raise awareness and support for God’s future camp.

                                                  

That being said, I would love to have more company along for the ride. Like I said, I have a support guy coming along. In addition, I already have one other person interested in joining me for a leg or two along the Oregon Coast and may stay in a Yurt. I am in talks with another friend who also may join me for part of the trip. My guess is that most if not all of you will be available or will want to accompany me on the entire trip. However, as I lay out the rough route plan, consider joining me for a day, few days, or a week. It’s totally up to you. As soon as you commit, we can then talk about other logistics like getting to and from your starting and ending point.

Okay, here’s the “very rough” plan as I see it in early September: June 15, drive from Salem, OR to Port Angeles, WA. From there, we may or may not do a side trip into Olympic National Park. From Port Angeles, follow 101 to the coast; follow the coast down the coast until we cross over into Oregon. We will travel down the Oregon Coast making our way into the Redwood Coast, Northern California. As we travel through the Giant Redwoods, and the rest of California, crossing the Golden Gate, etc. there will be many points of interests, hikes, stops, etc. to see along the way as there will be in Oregon and Washington. Our goal is not to race, but stop when we want and to take our time, given the amount of time we are allotted. When we make it to Imperial Beach, CA, our journey will then take us back North, but this time through the Sierra Nevada Mountains. I desire to visit such National Parks as Joshua Tree, Sequoia, King’s Canyon, Death Valley, and Yosemite making our way into the state of Nevada for a brief visit until we head back into Oregon past Crater Lake National Park and the Cascades ending the trip back in Salem, OR. Like I said, that is a very “rough” outline of the trek and may/will change as the departure time gets closer.

If you live in Washington, Oregon or California, or anywhere else I suppose and would like to join me on this fabulous adventure, please let me know and we will talk and deliberate and then ultimately have fun!!

See you out on the road.