Ok. So this will be the last blog associated with Ride For The Wish. I'll be using another site to individually blog not connected to Wendie's Wish or this ride (Though that may be the content of the occasional entry). None of that is really important to this post outside of I hope you continue to read and not be completely bored with my now boring life.
Yesterday was surreal for so many reasons. Firstly, from an athletic standpoint, it was a pretty big sign of how far the three of us have come in the last month. We put together two back to back 100 mile days and yesterday we were flying. Coming into the park our fireman escort had to put his sirens up because we got up to 40 mph...on our bikes....awesome. Secondly, I can not even begin to explain to you the excitement and chills we got riding into Georgetown yesterday. Pretty sure Davis captured it on camera and there was a pretty epic fist bump that happened between Cameron and I. I will never forget what it was like to follow a firetruck all the way in to San Gabriel with my two best friends and for that memory alone I am forever grateful.
And guys, this community is awesome. There were more people there than I could have imagined and for every person that was there there was another that wasn't because it was July 4th weekend. The best part was all of the people I DIDN'T know and had to be introduced to. That says a lot of each of those people because watching me pedal in and almost pass out due to caffeine over dose isn't as exciting as it may sound. Not to mention tights are not flattering for these legs people. Don't worry they won't be making an appearance any time soon.
I also really enjoyed getting to meet the people we have been so lucky and blessed to help. To walk by your sides through your different battles has been the biggest blessing of this journey thus far. To hear some of you call me a hero was humbling and eye opening. Wrong. But humbling. I promise I'm still just a kid with a few crazy ideas and the time to make it happen. That being said, I do love each of you.
AND SO MANY THANK YOU'S. The Best Sign Group in Springdale, Arkansas for doing an awesome job on banners and promo. MinuteMan Press for putting all designs on the trailer, truck, and pamphlets. Emmert Productions for doing video and taking care of us riders. Ben Decker and his kick butt designs that you people love so much (seriously this guys is awesome). All our sponsors who I can't actually name each of you because apparently more and more checks came in while I was gone. The community and donors who made the trip a reality and also make Wendie's Wish a reality on a daily basis. The Sun for covering our story and all the news stations along the way who wanted to interview a kid who stumbles over his words like a newborn giraffe. A FAMILY LIKE NO OTHER. Seriously I could not do what I am blessed to do without the love and support of the best family in the world.
Lastly, my riders. Cameron and Evan have been by my side for the last two years and I can always count on them. Sure, after a month I'm sick of these dudes, but I love them to death. I will never forget the hell that we went through together and how it felt to ride in with the two of them and see the faces of everyone. You guys are an inspiration to me, and your friendship surpasses all of my angry feelings toward you in the last month, I promise.
Alright, I'm wrapping this up I promise (I have a movie to catch AND I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY THIS SUMMER). The Lord has blessed me infinitely in this trip, in the journey thus far with Wendie's Wish, and with friends and family that love me. To each of you that have been inspired, I'm glad I could play a tiny role in that. But I challenge you to use it for loving and serving others. I'm no hero and I never will be. I'm awkward, selfish, and often inconsiderate (seriously ask my girlfriend, she's been gone for two months and probably still knows these things to be true). So, thank you again. This has been the biggest blessing and honor of my life thus far.
Glad to be home. Eagle Never Dies.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Friday, July 5, 2013
The Ride is Done, But We're Not.
Tomorrow we're done. That sentence was the sweetest thing I have typed in a month.
A little over a month ago I wrote a blog about how important College Station was to this trip. Even in writing that post I couldn't wrap my mind around the fact that we would actually eventually be back here. There was nothing sweeter than finishing a hundred mile day in the Promised Land. Just to have something so familiar around me that has shaped who I am today made me feel like the last month didn't even exist. I can't put into words what it feels like to be back in this place and be 100 miles from home. That huge number seems like something so minor to stand in the way of the three of us and a what I hope to be an awesome homecoming.
But as I sit on the eve of the end of this trip there is so much racing through my mind.
Physically I feel fantastic at this point. It's a little terrifying to admit that I can feel fantastic after a hundred mile day and almost a 2000 mile month. To see the extent that I can push my body on any given day continues to blow my mind. But what's really on my mind is the reality that it's over. Don't get me wrong I am more than ready to step off this bike and slip into a coma where I don't wake up till the fall semester has started. But I have invested almost all of my emotional and mental energy into this trip over the last two years. Wendie's Wish exists as a product of this trip in a sense. And I have spent the last month investing more than all of my physical energy into it and in less than 24 hours I will be home. No more bikes. No more camp sites. No more videos. Done.
So what's next?
We grow.
We grow until the community doesn't want us to grow anymore. We serve until we can't serve anymore. We love until we can't love anymore. Then we continue to do those even past that point. A bike ride will not help a family and it won't change a life. It maybe changed my life as a rider but it won't change yours. It serves to get your attention. To spark something in you that motivates you to be a part of something bigger. And we hope that bigger exists within Wendie's Wish. But if it doesn't, we hope it turns into a flame to serve someone else.
So you've followed us, you've prayed for us, and you've encouraged us. But the truth is we don't need it. There are a lot of people that need those things from you but we are not those people. However, we want to serve those people. So help us serve them.
Thank you guys for an awesome month. Y'all have been fantastic. Tomorrow we party. Goodnight.
A little over a month ago I wrote a blog about how important College Station was to this trip. Even in writing that post I couldn't wrap my mind around the fact that we would actually eventually be back here. There was nothing sweeter than finishing a hundred mile day in the Promised Land. Just to have something so familiar around me that has shaped who I am today made me feel like the last month didn't even exist. I can't put into words what it feels like to be back in this place and be 100 miles from home. That huge number seems like something so minor to stand in the way of the three of us and a what I hope to be an awesome homecoming.
But as I sit on the eve of the end of this trip there is so much racing through my mind.
Physically I feel fantastic at this point. It's a little terrifying to admit that I can feel fantastic after a hundred mile day and almost a 2000 mile month. To see the extent that I can push my body on any given day continues to blow my mind. But what's really on my mind is the reality that it's over. Don't get me wrong I am more than ready to step off this bike and slip into a coma where I don't wake up till the fall semester has started. But I have invested almost all of my emotional and mental energy into this trip over the last two years. Wendie's Wish exists as a product of this trip in a sense. And I have spent the last month investing more than all of my physical energy into it and in less than 24 hours I will be home. No more bikes. No more camp sites. No more videos. Done.
So what's next?
We grow.
We grow until the community doesn't want us to grow anymore. We serve until we can't serve anymore. We love until we can't love anymore. Then we continue to do those even past that point. A bike ride will not help a family and it won't change a life. It maybe changed my life as a rider but it won't change yours. It serves to get your attention. To spark something in you that motivates you to be a part of something bigger. And we hope that bigger exists within Wendie's Wish. But if it doesn't, we hope it turns into a flame to serve someone else.
So you've followed us, you've prayed for us, and you've encouraged us. But the truth is we don't need it. There are a lot of people that need those things from you but we are not those people. However, we want to serve those people. So help us serve them.
Thank you guys for an awesome month. Y'all have been fantastic. Tomorrow we party. Goodnight.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
You ALWAYS Get In The Strangers Truck
We're in Texas. Honestly, I should stop the whole blog there because let's face it, Texas trumps all other good news. There is no greater feeling than crossing that state line. I imagine one day a woman will have to compete with my love for this holy place and she might just have to settle at second. Tough stuff. That being said, getting here didn't happen without a rough road. Literally.
Twenty miles into our 80 mile day today we came across a gravel road. This is the most evil of evils. Our precious delicate road bikes were not made for the abusive gravel roads that get dirt in our chains and wear down our 23mm tires. We hate these roads so much that we made a rule for them. That being said, we are prone to breaking just about every rule we have made for ourselves and the trip. That rule was made after my first flat (There have been a total of 6 flats this trip), that we would no longer ride on these poor excuses for paths of transportation and would instead choose to wait for Davis to help us cross them. He's our boyscout to our old lady. Just yesterday we took a nap on a gravel road while we waited for him to show up. Yes, we can nap anywhere at this point (I will now be accepting all napping challenges for cash). But today was different, because Davis had to get his own flat on the truck fixed, which put him about 30 miles from us with no truck. We might as well have been Moses before he parted the sea. Except we had no staff and I don't think God was parting this one (That being said I didn't ask him too so I guess I'll answer for that one later in life). It's important to note that we've tossed the directions multiple times at this point and Evan has navigated us by phone, which does not tell you the mileage for each road. So when approaching the gravel Evan claimed it was only about 2-3 miles of gravel before we got to the main road. He was wrong. He's always wrong. He will continue... to be wrong.
After five miles of riding (taking nearly an hour because you don't move in this stupid stuff) a kind stranger pulled up in his truck and asked why in the world we were out there. This man was obviously a scholar because we were asking ourselves the same thing EXCEPT he had a solution. Climb into the truck. Kids, your parents will always tell you to not talk to strangers and I vote that you listen to your parents as authority. But if you ever find yourself crossing hell on a bike, you throw that rule out and get into the man's truck because dang it, you're tired and he has two more wheels than you and a hemi.
After sitting in a truck bed flying probably 60 down a dirt road we were returned safely to the smooth paved asphalt. It was like riding on glass compared to what was behind us. As we pedaled on and our knights in dirty denim drove off, we crossed the state line and a tear rolled down my cheek as the angels sang hymns and Jesus descended on a cloud (This may or may not have been in my head but you weren't there so you can't prove me wrong).
All in all it was a great day! We're 4 more rides from Georgetown and I can smell San Gabriel. Today I got chills just thinking about all the things that wait for me Saturday. Like, not having to wear tights, never getting back on my bike, COCA-COLA, mi familia, friends friends friends, COCA-COLA, Honey, and COCA-COLA PEOPLE.
But really, 4 days. See y'all Saturday.
Twenty miles into our 80 mile day today we came across a gravel road. This is the most evil of evils. Our precious delicate road bikes were not made for the abusive gravel roads that get dirt in our chains and wear down our 23mm tires. We hate these roads so much that we made a rule for them. That being said, we are prone to breaking just about every rule we have made for ourselves and the trip. That rule was made after my first flat (There have been a total of 6 flats this trip), that we would no longer ride on these poor excuses for paths of transportation and would instead choose to wait for Davis to help us cross them. He's our boyscout to our old lady. Just yesterday we took a nap on a gravel road while we waited for him to show up. Yes, we can nap anywhere at this point (I will now be accepting all napping challenges for cash). But today was different, because Davis had to get his own flat on the truck fixed, which put him about 30 miles from us with no truck. We might as well have been Moses before he parted the sea. Except we had no staff and I don't think God was parting this one (That being said I didn't ask him too so I guess I'll answer for that one later in life). It's important to note that we've tossed the directions multiple times at this point and Evan has navigated us by phone, which does not tell you the mileage for each road. So when approaching the gravel Evan claimed it was only about 2-3 miles of gravel before we got to the main road. He was wrong. He's always wrong. He will continue... to be wrong.
After five miles of riding (taking nearly an hour because you don't move in this stupid stuff) a kind stranger pulled up in his truck and asked why in the world we were out there. This man was obviously a scholar because we were asking ourselves the same thing EXCEPT he had a solution. Climb into the truck. Kids, your parents will always tell you to not talk to strangers and I vote that you listen to your parents as authority. But if you ever find yourself crossing hell on a bike, you throw that rule out and get into the man's truck because dang it, you're tired and he has two more wheels than you and a hemi.
After sitting in a truck bed flying probably 60 down a dirt road we were returned safely to the smooth paved asphalt. It was like riding on glass compared to what was behind us. As we pedaled on and our knights in dirty denim drove off, we crossed the state line and a tear rolled down my cheek as the angels sang hymns and Jesus descended on a cloud (This may or may not have been in my head but you weren't there so you can't prove me wrong).
All in all it was a great day! We're 4 more rides from Georgetown and I can smell San Gabriel. Today I got chills just thinking about all the things that wait for me Saturday. Like, not having to wear tights, never getting back on my bike, COCA-COLA, mi familia, friends friends friends, COCA-COLA, Honey, and COCA-COLA PEOPLE.
But really, 4 days. See y'all Saturday.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
An Early Homecoming
I'm writing this at 7:30am after very little sleep so you'll have to excuse almost everything after this line of text. If you're sitting there thinking I'm irresponsible for not getting enough sleep before a 70 mile day of riding, you might be right. But I'm also in Little Rock, Arkansas and it was worth giving up a couple hours of sleep for the best time I've had this trip thus far.
I can not talk about riding into Little Rock without mentioning a fun little story as we were riding in. As much as I'm sure you all want to read about the party that was waiting for us in Little Rock, right outside the city my family had already started hunting me down. When riding through Conway and Mayflower I was wondering if anyone in my family would actually attempt to try to find our route (which had not been made public and changed THAT MORNING). I wasn't surprised when flying down 365 we were flagged down by my aunt who just had to take pictures. She was pretty proud she actually found us and got to see us before everyone else. Also if you enjoy the most recent pictures of us riding in to Little Rock, those were taken by her and they are AWESOME.
Pulling into my Nana's driveway yesterday after a 60 mile day and the haunting hills of Little Rock never felt better. It was an early homecoming. My dad's family was sitting in the garage waiting for us and as soon as we rode up they were cheering and taking pictures like we were the Miami Heat. After laying down in the driveway due to lack of motivation to make it inside, my Uncle Jason showed up. Also, if you're trying to connect all the branches of my family tree, figure out which uncle is on which side, or anything close to that, give up now. You would have an easier time tap dancing on water. BACK TO THE POINT. As soon as Jason showed up he unloaded a truck full of roughly 100 pounds of shrimp (with the head), coolers, vegetables, a ton of boiling equipment and tables and chairs. We were setting up for quite the front yard party. Trust me, no one parties like this family. No one. We packed out my Nana's front yard in a residential neighborhood with around 40 people. Forget trying to get your car down the street because we had claimed all curbs as ours. For those of you reading this who did not get to experience the other worldly food that my uncle makes, I'm sorry. Really, I sincerely feel bad for you simply because your life is worse for it. These guys went all out, Jason's cooking, burgers from my Uncle Tom, SODA ON SODA ON SODA, cheese cake, fruit, pizza, it just keeps going (I even helped myself to half a package of oreos and a glass of milk before bed...don't judge me).
But after all the food, the chaos of kids running everywhere, the tickle fights with my little cousin, and the confusion over a couple t-shirts, it started to wind down. It all went by fast and I wasn't really able to spend quality time with any specific family member and that kinda sucks, but I can't wait to see most of them back in Georgetown (Some of them I'll even see in Tyler... I'm telling you they are hunting me down). It was a huge blessing to get to have my friends with my family. It was an even bigger blessing to see my family love them the way they love me. You can't feel like a stranger when you're there, it's impossible, no one will ever let that happen. But none of that is even the best part. This was...
Growing up I spent time with my mom's family and then I spent time with my dad's family. Never together. Not once. My best memory of both families was at my oldest brother's wedding three years ago. I hate splitting time and I always feel like one family is getting robbed. So yesterday's biggest blessing was having both crazy and total polar opposite families together in one front yard. Something that I'd like to think my mom would have loved more than I did.
After staying up late with my cousins (because let's be fair, they're my best friends and I was not letting sleep rob me of time with them) I woke up to make my morning cup of coffee and write this blog. Before the first pot was even done channel 7 news was at the door. The poor reporter stayed with us all morning as we ate, got our bikes ready, and patiently awaited Grandpa Evan to get all his stuff ready to leave. Then we were off.
If you want to hear more about the interview and the tv stuff you aren't going to see it here. If you're in Arkansas and got to see it I sincerely hope you enjoyed it, because it was a fun interview on both channel 7 and 11 (who hunted us down on our ride). If video comes online I'll be sure to share it but it's all things you already know and this journey and this organization isn't about the interviews or my time spent in front of a camera so I don't want to make it about that. I love doing it because people get to learn about us and I will do every interview that anyone wants to do and I am SO blessed to have a family that set both of those up for us before we left. You guys are my biggest fans and foam fingers are coming soon. But I want to continue to challenge you and push your focus on the mission, to love and serve people. In our case, these people are specifically impacted by financial struggles that are a result of having cancer. So be encouraged to love and serve them, not to be inspired by a feeling of a kid who lost his mom two years ago. Six more days. We're close.
I can not talk about riding into Little Rock without mentioning a fun little story as we were riding in. As much as I'm sure you all want to read about the party that was waiting for us in Little Rock, right outside the city my family had already started hunting me down. When riding through Conway and Mayflower I was wondering if anyone in my family would actually attempt to try to find our route (which had not been made public and changed THAT MORNING). I wasn't surprised when flying down 365 we were flagged down by my aunt who just had to take pictures. She was pretty proud she actually found us and got to see us before everyone else. Also if you enjoy the most recent pictures of us riding in to Little Rock, those were taken by her and they are AWESOME.
Pulling into my Nana's driveway yesterday after a 60 mile day and the haunting hills of Little Rock never felt better. It was an early homecoming. My dad's family was sitting in the garage waiting for us and as soon as we rode up they were cheering and taking pictures like we were the Miami Heat. After laying down in the driveway due to lack of motivation to make it inside, my Uncle Jason showed up. Also, if you're trying to connect all the branches of my family tree, figure out which uncle is on which side, or anything close to that, give up now. You would have an easier time tap dancing on water. BACK TO THE POINT. As soon as Jason showed up he unloaded a truck full of roughly 100 pounds of shrimp (with the head), coolers, vegetables, a ton of boiling equipment and tables and chairs. We were setting up for quite the front yard party. Trust me, no one parties like this family. No one. We packed out my Nana's front yard in a residential neighborhood with around 40 people. Forget trying to get your car down the street because we had claimed all curbs as ours. For those of you reading this who did not get to experience the other worldly food that my uncle makes, I'm sorry. Really, I sincerely feel bad for you simply because your life is worse for it. These guys went all out, Jason's cooking, burgers from my Uncle Tom, SODA ON SODA ON SODA, cheese cake, fruit, pizza, it just keeps going (I even helped myself to half a package of oreos and a glass of milk before bed...don't judge me).
But after all the food, the chaos of kids running everywhere, the tickle fights with my little cousin, and the confusion over a couple t-shirts, it started to wind down. It all went by fast and I wasn't really able to spend quality time with any specific family member and that kinda sucks, but I can't wait to see most of them back in Georgetown (Some of them I'll even see in Tyler... I'm telling you they are hunting me down). It was a huge blessing to get to have my friends with my family. It was an even bigger blessing to see my family love them the way they love me. You can't feel like a stranger when you're there, it's impossible, no one will ever let that happen. But none of that is even the best part. This was...
Growing up I spent time with my mom's family and then I spent time with my dad's family. Never together. Not once. My best memory of both families was at my oldest brother's wedding three years ago. I hate splitting time and I always feel like one family is getting robbed. So yesterday's biggest blessing was having both crazy and total polar opposite families together in one front yard. Something that I'd like to think my mom would have loved more than I did.
After staying up late with my cousins (because let's be fair, they're my best friends and I was not letting sleep rob me of time with them) I woke up to make my morning cup of coffee and write this blog. Before the first pot was even done channel 7 news was at the door. The poor reporter stayed with us all morning as we ate, got our bikes ready, and patiently awaited Grandpa Evan to get all his stuff ready to leave. Then we were off.
If you want to hear more about the interview and the tv stuff you aren't going to see it here. If you're in Arkansas and got to see it I sincerely hope you enjoyed it, because it was a fun interview on both channel 7 and 11 (who hunted us down on our ride). If video comes online I'll be sure to share it but it's all things you already know and this journey and this organization isn't about the interviews or my time spent in front of a camera so I don't want to make it about that. I love doing it because people get to learn about us and I will do every interview that anyone wants to do and I am SO blessed to have a family that set both of those up for us before we left. You guys are my biggest fans and foam fingers are coming soon. But I want to continue to challenge you and push your focus on the mission, to love and serve people. In our case, these people are specifically impacted by financial struggles that are a result of having cancer. So be encouraged to love and serve them, not to be inspired by a feeling of a kid who lost his mom two years ago. Six more days. We're close.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
No More Hurdled Benches
We're in the countdown days people. Less than 10 rides left. I feel like every day someone from Houston is stating how many days are left but it's just not going as quickly as it does before the rockets take off.
Today was pretty much flawless. Seventy miles of pure bliss. What I mean by that is, we had a full 60 miles of flat road. Flat roads mean a fast and easy pace with minimal pain (The last 10 was kind of a nightmare though). In the bible when the man finds a treasure in a field and sells all he has to buy the property...I imagine he was about half as happy as a cyclist who got a day of full on flat roads. We even crossed our second to last state line into Arkansas.
Let me just preface this by saying that I am first and foremost an Aggie. I love BTHO all things and the War Hymn runs through my veins. Not to mention if anyone asks where I'm from I will always say Texas. It's home. Done deal. However, Arkansas is my second home. It's a very distant second but a second none the less. I was born in Fayetteville, home of the Razorbacks, and raised on crimson and white. So it's always a personal inner battle not to let out a Woo Pig Sooie every time I cross the state line (But then I remember what John L. Smith did to the Hogs this year and I begin to contain myself). Needless to say I am stinkin excited to be here and SO ready to be in Little Rock on Saturday. My family knows how to party. Mom's family knows how to party. So naturally, we're gonna party. But let's get back to what happened on today's ride.
When riding through the tiny town of Marmaduke, Arkansas, Evan got his second flat tire of the trip. No big deal though because we had our hand pump handy and a spare tube in our bag. Easy and quick fix for the machine that is Evan Hibbs. The cool thing though was when a nice woman came out of our home to talk to us and tell us how she had seen something in the paper about bikers (not us, so apologies to stealing your spotlight other bikers). She then brought us out glasses of cold water which we received thankfully. BUT EVEN COOLER was when she brought her grandkids out to meet us and proceeded to tell her grandsons that, "These are real men," or, "These are tough guys". Can we note that those to phrases are not normally used to describe me (standing at six feet and two inches tall and weighing in at a whole 140). Those little dudes must have looked at us as if we were super heroes. Not to mention I don't think I've ever been used as an example to someone's grandkids who I was just meeting for the first time. But in that moment, as we got to shake their little hands and introduce ourselves, we were like something out of the comic books. She was so overly excited to hear about what we were doing and eager to check it out online, then hugged me with a quick, "bless your little hear," like I was one of her own, before she left.
Lastly, I'll let you into my mind again on today's ride. Sure this would be something better to write about as we approach Georgetown, but I might forget it. Next Saturday we get to finish in San Gabriel park which is cool for a number of reasons. First off, the three of us riders spent many hours and miles in that park sweating and beating our bodies into nothing in order to become better athletes, better teammates, and better men. To finish there together on what is definitely my last major athletic endeavor with them means the world to me. But also it's home to one of my most favorite memories.
My junior year of high school I was battling for a spot on varsity (as I was every year of high school except my senior year). I wasn't an exceptional athlete compared to some of my teammates who were often some of the nations best. As a matter of fact I didn't win my first race till I was a junior and I won less than 5 races in my whole career. I wasn't much of an athlete to brag about or write home about. Especially not in the legend that was Georgetown Cross Country. BACK TO THE POINT. At the Georgetown home meet that year, Coach Hunt ran me on JV, as he often did to help me build confidence after a butt whooping I probably took the week before. Two miles into 5k I had basically led the whole race with another kid from Cedar Park. We hated Cedar Park. Almost like Auburn hates Bama. We were the central Texas power houses and you made sure that if you got to line up next to the green and black you embarrassed them. Not to mention this kid was likely to be the same athlete I was (battling for his spot on Varsity). Coming into the last mile, leagues in front of the field, a crazy woman and co-pilot come running over the hill and hurdling benches just to see the race. Crazy woman was mom and co-pilot was Tyler Martin. They were more than ready to see me get my first victory and at home none the less (spoiler alert: I lost in the last 100 meters because I got out kicked). But I will never forget that moment ever, and it happened in San Gabriel Park. That place is quite honestly nothing special but it means the whole world to me. I taught myself how to punish my body there. I ran 6 races there in my career. I made my best friends there who are on this trip with me today. And I captured the excitement of a mom who wanted to see her son win. And a friend who wanted to see his brother beat the crap out of a rival. Both are truly missed. But Saturday we ride into those moments and we finish at those moments and I know it'll give me chills.
Although no one is going to be hurdling benches and it's not a race to win but a race to finish (though Evan will say differently). Another memory will be added to that park and I can't wait. 9 more days. We're comin in hot.
Today was pretty much flawless. Seventy miles of pure bliss. What I mean by that is, we had a full 60 miles of flat road. Flat roads mean a fast and easy pace with minimal pain (The last 10 was kind of a nightmare though). In the bible when the man finds a treasure in a field and sells all he has to buy the property...I imagine he was about half as happy as a cyclist who got a day of full on flat roads. We even crossed our second to last state line into Arkansas.
Let me just preface this by saying that I am first and foremost an Aggie. I love BTHO all things and the War Hymn runs through my veins. Not to mention if anyone asks where I'm from I will always say Texas. It's home. Done deal. However, Arkansas is my second home. It's a very distant second but a second none the less. I was born in Fayetteville, home of the Razorbacks, and raised on crimson and white. So it's always a personal inner battle not to let out a Woo Pig Sooie every time I cross the state line (But then I remember what John L. Smith did to the Hogs this year and I begin to contain myself). Needless to say I am stinkin excited to be here and SO ready to be in Little Rock on Saturday. My family knows how to party. Mom's family knows how to party. So naturally, we're gonna party. But let's get back to what happened on today's ride.
When riding through the tiny town of Marmaduke, Arkansas, Evan got his second flat tire of the trip. No big deal though because we had our hand pump handy and a spare tube in our bag. Easy and quick fix for the machine that is Evan Hibbs. The cool thing though was when a nice woman came out of our home to talk to us and tell us how she had seen something in the paper about bikers (not us, so apologies to stealing your spotlight other bikers). She then brought us out glasses of cold water which we received thankfully. BUT EVEN COOLER was when she brought her grandkids out to meet us and proceeded to tell her grandsons that, "These are real men," or, "These are tough guys". Can we note that those to phrases are not normally used to describe me (standing at six feet and two inches tall and weighing in at a whole 140). Those little dudes must have looked at us as if we were super heroes. Not to mention I don't think I've ever been used as an example to someone's grandkids who I was just meeting for the first time. But in that moment, as we got to shake their little hands and introduce ourselves, we were like something out of the comic books. She was so overly excited to hear about what we were doing and eager to check it out online, then hugged me with a quick, "bless your little hear," like I was one of her own, before she left.
Lastly, I'll let you into my mind again on today's ride. Sure this would be something better to write about as we approach Georgetown, but I might forget it. Next Saturday we get to finish in San Gabriel park which is cool for a number of reasons. First off, the three of us riders spent many hours and miles in that park sweating and beating our bodies into nothing in order to become better athletes, better teammates, and better men. To finish there together on what is definitely my last major athletic endeavor with them means the world to me. But also it's home to one of my most favorite memories.
My junior year of high school I was battling for a spot on varsity (as I was every year of high school except my senior year). I wasn't an exceptional athlete compared to some of my teammates who were often some of the nations best. As a matter of fact I didn't win my first race till I was a junior and I won less than 5 races in my whole career. I wasn't much of an athlete to brag about or write home about. Especially not in the legend that was Georgetown Cross Country. BACK TO THE POINT. At the Georgetown home meet that year, Coach Hunt ran me on JV, as he often did to help me build confidence after a butt whooping I probably took the week before. Two miles into 5k I had basically led the whole race with another kid from Cedar Park. We hated Cedar Park. Almost like Auburn hates Bama. We were the central Texas power houses and you made sure that if you got to line up next to the green and black you embarrassed them. Not to mention this kid was likely to be the same athlete I was (battling for his spot on Varsity). Coming into the last mile, leagues in front of the field, a crazy woman and co-pilot come running over the hill and hurdling benches just to see the race. Crazy woman was mom and co-pilot was Tyler Martin. They were more than ready to see me get my first victory and at home none the less (spoiler alert: I lost in the last 100 meters because I got out kicked). But I will never forget that moment ever, and it happened in San Gabriel Park. That place is quite honestly nothing special but it means the whole world to me. I taught myself how to punish my body there. I ran 6 races there in my career. I made my best friends there who are on this trip with me today. And I captured the excitement of a mom who wanted to see her son win. And a friend who wanted to see his brother beat the crap out of a rival. Both are truly missed. But Saturday we ride into those moments and we finish at those moments and I know it'll give me chills.
Although no one is going to be hurdling benches and it's not a race to win but a race to finish (though Evan will say differently). Another memory will be added to that park and I can't wait. 9 more days. We're comin in hot.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
If You're Only Inspired, I've Failed.
Tonight is our last night in Missouri. You have no idea how good it feels to have typed that out. As much as I hate West Virginia, I hate Missouri infinitely more. Today should have been a short day of flat easy riding. Instead we had 20 mph head winds and an escaped convict who stole a cop car was on the loose. Here I was just thinking local law enforcement was filming the next Fast and Furious, when really we were just a couple miles from a stolen cop car and a lasting stay behind bars.
So yes, today was awful for riding. No cyclist in their right mind would go out for a ride in what we went through today. That being said, today was a great day for me mentally. However, before we get there I'd like to apologize for the lack of revisions in previous blog posts. I slept through the majority of my four years in high school, therefore I rely on quick wit and sub par comedy to get me through writing. Punctuation and correct spelling is an after thought.
So after reading a friend of mine's blog I was inspired to just write down a list of things I've learned. They could be about me personally, my faith, the trip, other states, or random knowledge you may never need to know till you're stupid enough to ride across the country.
1. No state in the United States compares to Texas. Done. End of Conversation.
2. Nothing can save you from the pain of a bicycle seat in your butt for seven hours. I found hell and it's where my butt meets seat.
3. West Virginia is where cell phone service goes to die.
4. Coca-Cola is the nectar of the God's. Anyone who says differently can drown in a vat of your soda of a choice.
5. I have the best friends in the world. I hate them all. But they're still the best.
6. I miss everyone. Literally every day. Georgetown and College Station are the greatest places on earth and I miss both of my families from each place. Side note: Family isn't just a term for those with the last name Melikian.
7.(They'll probably start to be more serious) I love to blog and write. I'm not great at it but I love it. So I'll probably write my own after this trip is all said and done separate from Wendie's Wish. I process and learn better when I get them out there.
8. I am a man of faith. Though my actions may say differently, I am. I suffer serious conviction on what the Lord calls of me every day, especially on this trip, and most days I'm beat to a thin nothing spiritually. So it begins to become an after thought of everything else I do, and that is the saddest truth of life.
9. Wendie's Wish is not a memorial or memory of my mother. It wasn't created to be and never will be. That's a hard truth for a lot of people. And if Wendie's Wish is made only to give a good feeling to others and to be inspired without action by something a 20 year old kid and his friends did, I've failed. On a deeper note for me personally. If it only makes an impact in this present life (though this will often be the case and it will still be a great success to see that family come out of a bad situation), I personally have failed. But if I am able to make eternal impacts for the Kingdom in loving and serving than I can rest sound that I am where I am called to be.
10. At the end of the day, interviews, newspaper articles and magazine articles don't mean a thing if what I stated above isn't true. Which brings me to my next point.
11. Wendie's Wish is most definitely not about me or anything I can do. I'm not that great and the last thing I want is for people to make me to be great.
12. I'm stronger than I should be. What I mean by that is I've always been an endurance/aerobic athlete. I can endure pain longer than most and it leaves me with a lack of dependency. I need dependency. Because I can carry myself longer and harder than most people I meet I forget that Jesus saved me so I could be dependent on him and do more than I could by myself. That's pretty cool.
13. (lighter note) My friends are superior to me. This trip is proof of that. I know because my best friend Cameron Foreman keeps claiming to be out of shape and he keeps laying it to me on the bike. Not to mention Evan Hibbs is an aerobic machine. He just can't be beat.
14. Wendie's Wish is a product of what the Lord has done. Anyone that disagrees or thinks differently has obviously never met me. I'm not capable of near as much as what the Lord has made capable through me.
15. Before the last two years I had a heart for people with hurt. But it was just a heart for those people, almost filled with pity. Now I have been that person. And I'm not upset about it.
16. My family rocks. My sister wants to do inner city missions and God bless her she'll leave Texas to do it (read number 1). My brother loves this organization and will do anything to see it succeed. My dad will disagree with half of this post because he thinks I'm "extraordinary". My sister-in-law thirsts for biblical knowledge more than just about anyone I've ever met and THAT is the biggest blessing in knowing her.
17. My girlfriend supports me more than anyone I have ever met and it's driving her absolutely insane that she can't be in the middle of all that's happening in Wendie's Wish like she gets to be in College Station. I count myself pretty lucky to have tricked her into sticking around.
18. This trip is much harder than I thought it would be. Not because of the mileage, but because we're on our own out here. Also something I don't regret. These guys are my family.
19. I hate biking, but I love the time I get to pray. Student Life is probably the most rocking camp out there because it's being soaked in hours of prayer. My family and friends should be killing their personal ministries and I'm sure FBCGT youth is on fire right now (This is even without my prayer). Big things are going to be coming as soon as I can get back and get them on paper and organized for Wendie's Wish.
20. Lastly, I miss youth ministry. It is the greatest blessing of my life to get to teach and grow with students as they learn about a God who loves them and cherishes them and has a better plan for them than they have for themselves. It is an even bigger blessing that the Lord uses someone like to me to do his work, because I'm pretty sub par, and that's how I know the gospel is alive and well.
That's not all I've learned this trip but I figure 20 is enough. I know tonight wasn't a lot about riding and cool stories of thunderstorms. But it's what happened within me in today's ride and I wanted to you get to experience that. Can't wait to be back July 6th. I miss Texas, y'all!
So yes, today was awful for riding. No cyclist in their right mind would go out for a ride in what we went through today. That being said, today was a great day for me mentally. However, before we get there I'd like to apologize for the lack of revisions in previous blog posts. I slept through the majority of my four years in high school, therefore I rely on quick wit and sub par comedy to get me through writing. Punctuation and correct spelling is an after thought.
So after reading a friend of mine's blog I was inspired to just write down a list of things I've learned. They could be about me personally, my faith, the trip, other states, or random knowledge you may never need to know till you're stupid enough to ride across the country.
1. No state in the United States compares to Texas. Done. End of Conversation.
2. Nothing can save you from the pain of a bicycle seat in your butt for seven hours. I found hell and it's where my butt meets seat.
3. West Virginia is where cell phone service goes to die.
4. Coca-Cola is the nectar of the God's. Anyone who says differently can drown in a vat of your soda of a choice.
5. I have the best friends in the world. I hate them all. But they're still the best.
6. I miss everyone. Literally every day. Georgetown and College Station are the greatest places on earth and I miss both of my families from each place. Side note: Family isn't just a term for those with the last name Melikian.
7.(They'll probably start to be more serious) I love to blog and write. I'm not great at it but I love it. So I'll probably write my own after this trip is all said and done separate from Wendie's Wish. I process and learn better when I get them out there.
8. I am a man of faith. Though my actions may say differently, I am. I suffer serious conviction on what the Lord calls of me every day, especially on this trip, and most days I'm beat to a thin nothing spiritually. So it begins to become an after thought of everything else I do, and that is the saddest truth of life.
9. Wendie's Wish is not a memorial or memory of my mother. It wasn't created to be and never will be. That's a hard truth for a lot of people. And if Wendie's Wish is made only to give a good feeling to others and to be inspired without action by something a 20 year old kid and his friends did, I've failed. On a deeper note for me personally. If it only makes an impact in this present life (though this will often be the case and it will still be a great success to see that family come out of a bad situation), I personally have failed. But if I am able to make eternal impacts for the Kingdom in loving and serving than I can rest sound that I am where I am called to be.
10. At the end of the day, interviews, newspaper articles and magazine articles don't mean a thing if what I stated above isn't true. Which brings me to my next point.
11. Wendie's Wish is most definitely not about me or anything I can do. I'm not that great and the last thing I want is for people to make me to be great.
12. I'm stronger than I should be. What I mean by that is I've always been an endurance/aerobic athlete. I can endure pain longer than most and it leaves me with a lack of dependency. I need dependency. Because I can carry myself longer and harder than most people I meet I forget that Jesus saved me so I could be dependent on him and do more than I could by myself. That's pretty cool.
13. (lighter note) My friends are superior to me. This trip is proof of that. I know because my best friend Cameron Foreman keeps claiming to be out of shape and he keeps laying it to me on the bike. Not to mention Evan Hibbs is an aerobic machine. He just can't be beat.
14. Wendie's Wish is a product of what the Lord has done. Anyone that disagrees or thinks differently has obviously never met me. I'm not capable of near as much as what the Lord has made capable through me.
15. Before the last two years I had a heart for people with hurt. But it was just a heart for those people, almost filled with pity. Now I have been that person. And I'm not upset about it.
16. My family rocks. My sister wants to do inner city missions and God bless her she'll leave Texas to do it (read number 1). My brother loves this organization and will do anything to see it succeed. My dad will disagree with half of this post because he thinks I'm "extraordinary". My sister-in-law thirsts for biblical knowledge more than just about anyone I've ever met and THAT is the biggest blessing in knowing her.
17. My girlfriend supports me more than anyone I have ever met and it's driving her absolutely insane that she can't be in the middle of all that's happening in Wendie's Wish like she gets to be in College Station. I count myself pretty lucky to have tricked her into sticking around.
18. This trip is much harder than I thought it would be. Not because of the mileage, but because we're on our own out here. Also something I don't regret. These guys are my family.
19. I hate biking, but I love the time I get to pray. Student Life is probably the most rocking camp out there because it's being soaked in hours of prayer. My family and friends should be killing their personal ministries and I'm sure FBCGT youth is on fire right now (This is even without my prayer). Big things are going to be coming as soon as I can get back and get them on paper and organized for Wendie's Wish.
20. Lastly, I miss youth ministry. It is the greatest blessing of my life to get to teach and grow with students as they learn about a God who loves them and cherishes them and has a better plan for them than they have for themselves. It is an even bigger blessing that the Lord uses someone like to me to do his work, because I'm pretty sub par, and that's how I know the gospel is alive and well.
That's not all I've learned this trip but I figure 20 is enough. I know tonight wasn't a lot about riding and cool stories of thunderstorms. But it's what happened within me in today's ride and I wanted to you get to experience that. Can't wait to be back July 6th. I miss Texas, y'all!
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
It's The Little Things...
Since my last post we have officially cleared Kentucky AND Tennessee. Tonight we're sleeping in the middle of nowhere on the border of Missouri (seriously no camp site, just an awkward pond and enough space to clear a tent). That being said a lot of awesome things have happened.
To say Kentucky was good to us would be an understatement. It was like Christmas morning compared to the awful state of West Virginia which was more like walking on hot coals. Despite one popped tire (me), we had smooth riding and high mileage. In Louisville we got our first home cooked meal and was shown some awesome hospitality by the Sheehan family and we could not be more grateful. I was able to get my bike all fixed up and the local Louisville news station covered the ride (go to www.wendieswish.org/media).
Nashville was the one night we spend in Tennessee and a good friend was able to put us up for the night and we couldn't be more thankful. The closer the we get to Texas the more stops we get with friends and family and it makes things infinitely better. We were even taken to dinner in Nashville by my Uncle Tim and his family which was a huge blessing because we needed a good reload on calories.
To say that we are exhausted at this point would be an understatement. As I'm writing this, Evan Hibbs is napping on the table at McDonalds and it's only 7:00pm. We can't wait to see everyone back home and be back in our own showers, our own beds, and our own dogs (lets be fair I miss Honey more than my own girlfriend some days). Unfortunately the posts are getting shorter but that is mostly because things are getting easier and there's less crazy stories to post.
Again, thank you so much to everyone who has put a roof over our heads, paid for a meal, sent us texts of encouragement, or took care of us in some way along the route. At this point it's the little things that make it worth being out here. For example, the 2000+ calories I just pounded at McDonalds will not be regretted.
Hope y'all have a blessed night and pray for us as we most likely shower at a truck stop and sleep off the side of a gravel road. See y'all July 6th!
To say Kentucky was good to us would be an understatement. It was like Christmas morning compared to the awful state of West Virginia which was more like walking on hot coals. Despite one popped tire (me), we had smooth riding and high mileage. In Louisville we got our first home cooked meal and was shown some awesome hospitality by the Sheehan family and we could not be more grateful. I was able to get my bike all fixed up and the local Louisville news station covered the ride (go to www.wendieswish.org/media).
Nashville was the one night we spend in Tennessee and a good friend was able to put us up for the night and we couldn't be more thankful. The closer the we get to Texas the more stops we get with friends and family and it makes things infinitely better. We were even taken to dinner in Nashville by my Uncle Tim and his family which was a huge blessing because we needed a good reload on calories.
To say that we are exhausted at this point would be an understatement. As I'm writing this, Evan Hibbs is napping on the table at McDonalds and it's only 7:00pm. We can't wait to see everyone back home and be back in our own showers, our own beds, and our own dogs (lets be fair I miss Honey more than my own girlfriend some days). Unfortunately the posts are getting shorter but that is mostly because things are getting easier and there's less crazy stories to post.
Again, thank you so much to everyone who has put a roof over our heads, paid for a meal, sent us texts of encouragement, or took care of us in some way along the route. At this point it's the little things that make it worth being out here. For example, the 2000+ calories I just pounded at McDonalds will not be regretted.
Hope y'all have a blessed night and pray for us as we most likely shower at a truck stop and sleep off the side of a gravel road. See y'all July 6th!
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