DOR -1 means Day Of Ride -1
Here I am …. a year later. Last summer, I sat on an Amtrak train, the California Zephyr, headed to Reno, NV where I’d meet the 2015 Bike the US for MS team. They’d been riding for 55 days at that point, so they knew each other really well and I was the new guy, hopping on for the last few days.
I knew that I wanted to get a chance to start fresh this year, where everyone is a stranger and we get to know each other with fresh muscles and excited feelings. I think everyone was pretty burned out when I finally got to meet them last time.
So, here I am, on a BART, headed to SFO for a midnight flight to Norfolk, VA. Last year, I was leaving a wife, three birds, and two dogs just for a week of cycling. Things weren’t great at home and I almost didn’t do the ride at all, thinking that I should stay home to work on our home issues. I already missed an epic ride called RAGBRAI, so I was on the fence but ultimately made the right decision to get on that train. I know staying home wouldn’t change anything, so away I went.
What has happened since that day was a bit of a transformation for me. I’m now single, having been working on myself for the past 10 months, learning who I am and what I have to offer this world. Focusing on myself, my career, my family and my little dog, Toby. I’ve dated…. I’ve fallen in and out of love and I’ve broken some hearts and had mine broken, too…. but now this ride will be the final step in the healing process before I move on with my life. Endless hours on the bike and relaxing evenings at the campsite will give me a new perspective and some closure. What happened in my life was unavoidable and an example of why we should never ignore our instincts, those gut feelings. It will always catch up to you, that’s just the way life works out and in my case there is something better out there for me. I had to go through hell to realize that but it’s made me a much better person and I’m excited for this next chapter to start.
But first, I RIDE!! I’ll get on that plane and prepare myself for an amazing experience, and you can read about it here.
I can’t wait to share my stories with you!
-mlg