Week 1

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If I gave you this link in some way feel free to read. But my trip is my own private journey, and this isn’t a travel blog or anything like that. This is just for friends and family to keep up with how things are going. I’ve only shared with a few people, so please ask before you share with anyone. It’s pretty personal and private. I didn’t put any effort into making this site or figuring it out, so pardon the clunkiness. Thanks!

“You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house.

Haggai 1:9

Summary of my week: I want to quit every day. Mornings are the hardest. I threw up a lot the first few days from fear. The fear is still my biggest battle, but not the only one. If you know what I’ve been going through the last couple of years, you know my struggles with moving from the past into the future. It’s a journey of dying to myself, and probably harder than it needs to be, but it’s going.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12 something.

I cling to these promises as I walk through the tatters of the past. I walk from the place of “I want” to “I submit”. The time on earth is exceedingly short, and it is the “time to die”.

The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.

Neil Peart

Those words were written by a man who died to himself, but couln’t accept new life. I threw that book away months ago, because although his story has helped me many times, his conclusions are all wrong. I am taking his advice to follow my front tire, but that’s it. I remember buying his book in college, because I felt like I do now; scared of the changes and scared of the loneliness. Led by the hand of God I made it through that, and through all the next challenges, Wether I can finish this trip or not, I know I will be led forward.

OK here is a summary of my trip so far. My mind and my body have been in constant turmoil. I wanted to quit the first day, and every day since. I am giving it my best shot, and I am planning on NOT quitting due to my nerves, my anxiety, and my fears. But if my body cannot do this, and it never gets fun, or I figure out what I need to figure out, I will quit. I have no pride.

Laura drove me up to Astoria a week ago. We spent the night there. She had clam chowder that tasted MUCH better than anything I’ve had in Pismo. The next morning I drank a bunch of water and threw it all up. I took a wrong turn right away and had to backtrack several miles. Weather was foggy and rainy. I had one big climb (big being relative, much bigger climbs later) that broke my spirit. I spent 3 hours in a park in Seaside regretting my trip. I really thought about quitting. Ended up just getting a hotel, and then even staying there the entire next day. I was so discouraged.

I finally got up the courage to keep riding. I was so worried because I knew there were 3 big grades. And they kicked me hard. I huffed and puffed up them for hours. I also got clipped by an RV. The mirror hit my back and arm. It was a big surprise. It still hurts, but no major damage. Stayed in Wheeler that night. Dinner was mashed potatoes and a peanut butter burrito. A raccoon visited that night, which was nice.

The next day was actually an easy ride, and I stayed in Tillamook. body and mind still exhausted. Hard not to quit.

The next day I met up with a guy I had met a few days earlier, and we talked some. He encouraged me. He is a phycisist and the Senior chess champion of Kansas. He says it gets easier, but a week in and I still am not sure. Had a huge, steep climb that day. I wanted to wander into the forest and get eaten by bigfoot. But I made it. Filled up my water in a dirty auto parts sink. I got picked up in Pacific City by a friend of my grandfathers, my dad, and me. Him and his wife put me up for the night, and it was wonderful. They are kind and loving. And they had a great dog.

He drove me about 10 miles on my route. I don’t feel bad about it at all. It was nice. I was able to ride farther than any other day that day. It was hard and hot, but I made it to Independance, where there was a really nice biker boater campground next to the Willamete River. It was a peaceful night.

Now for today. I am in Corvallis, and my mind and body are in rough shape. Gonna wake up and see how tomorrow goes. Thanks to everyone that has given me encouragement. It means a lot to me, and I hope you know it. Feel free to reach out and check on me. Here are some of the pictures I took, not really in the correct order.

I caught up with her a few days later and got my revenge

There is my first week. Maybe my last as well, I don’t know yet. My mind and my body are challenged like never before. I’m at least giving this a shot. I love you all dearly.