This will be my last posting in the blog.
After a short reconnection with my family on the west coast, I will return home the New Jersey and resume the daily stresses, pressures, and constant fear of job security that American corporate life have become. I will leave the blog online and will leave it open for comments for about another week or so. Feel free to post comments. I will also post pictures online in a while. Look for Picasa user "tivoman1".
Blog Central - Where it all happened
After a short reconnection with my family on the west coast, I will return home the New Jersey and resume the daily stresses, pressures, and constant fear of job security that American corporate life have become. I will leave the blog online and will leave it open for comments for about another week or so. Feel free to post comments. I will also post pictures online in a while. Look for Picasa user "tivoman1".
The past 3+ weeks have been an amazing experience for me. I have seen things and done things I never thought I would. I have met all sorts of people of all ages from around the world.
To most people, I was going on a bike ride up the Alcan Highway. For me, it wasn’t about the ride, it was about the journey.
The journey started late last year when I needed to start planning my sabbatical (a rare benefit these days). I wanted to do something different, something I would not normally do, something few have done, something that challenged me physically, and something that meant something (to me). I have always wanted to do a long bike ride, so I spent many hours surfing and searching for unique, long, and challenging rides. I found this ride and investigated. I called Tom and spoke with him about the ride and asked that he put me in contact with someone who has done the ride before. Tom put me in contact with a guy named Bill (I will not use anyone’s last names to respect their privacy). Bill spent about 45 minutes on the phone talking about his experiences, Tom, the ride, and offered a ton of advice. We also shared several emails along the way. It was what I needed to make the commitment to pursue this. Thank you Bill.
Next I had about 6 months to prepare. This meant endurance training for the distances, losing a fair amount of weight (a challenge I have had all my life), deciding what I needed to bring, acquiring what I needed, and spending the money, oh the money…. I have a great group of riding buddies, however, to get the miles and distances I needed, I rode well over a thousand miles alone. Long rides, early in the season. I went to spin class early, and stayed late. I changed my eating habits. I was focused on this one event.
I spent a considerable amount of time planning, buying equipment, trying out things, talking to folks, asking for advice.
However, it wasn’t just me, it was everyone I interacted with that made it possible for me. I couldn’t have done it alone. For the last 6 months, just about everyone I know or interact with has heard me drone on and on about this ride.
There are many folks to thank. All my cohorts in spin class at the 24-7 Club in Bethlehem PA: Lizette, Sarah, Deb, Jim, Jim, Trish, Jennifer, Carrie, Rich, Kurt, Gene, Joanie, Diane, Diana, Tammy, Rob, Robin, Craig, John, Doc, Sharon, Jeff, Dan, Ann (aka Sue or was it Sueann?), Ellen, Rene, and of course the instructors Fred, Gwen, Diane, Chris, Karen, Jen, Bonnie. Who all would ask and chat about the ride with me as well as encourage and work out with. There is Tomias and Marty from Genesis Cycles who helped outfit me with many items, and John at Cyclefitters who expertly fit my bike properly and eliminated a nagging back pain issue I had.
Of course there is the core group of riders that I am proud to call my friends: Keith, Sue, Abdel, Thor, Greg, Terry (not to mention Pat, Doug, Karine, Maureen, Lorraine, and Jennifer - all truly the better halves), along with Rod, Art, and the great gals of the Pharma Flyers: Cathy, Kathy, Ariel, Denise, Joanne, Rose. My colleagues at work who picked up for me in my absence (I am sure there will be some surprises waiting for me when I return) and my employer for providing me the means and opportunity to take the time off needed. I couldn’t have done it without all your questions, interest, encouragement, advice, and that glassy eyed smile when I talked about the ride for the umpteenth time. I hope I didn’t miss anyone or misspell your name. Thank you all.
Of course there is the core group of riders that I am proud to call my friends: Keith, Sue, Abdel, Thor, Greg, Terry (not to mention Pat, Doug, Karine, Maureen, Lorraine, and Jennifer - all truly the better halves), along with Rod, Art, and the great gals of the Pharma Flyers: Cathy, Kathy, Ariel, Denise, Joanne, Rose. My colleagues at work who picked up for me in my absence (I am sure there will be some surprises waiting for me when I return) and my employer for providing me the means and opportunity to take the time off needed. I couldn’t have done it without all your questions, interest, encouragement, advice, and that glassy eyed smile when I talked about the ride for the umpteenth time. I hope I didn’t miss anyone or misspell your name. Thank you all.
I have to also thank my best friend Mike, who I dish a lot of abuse to and know to get him to cave. A trip like this would be about 500 items below the last thing on earth Mike would sign up to do. I did not pressure or guilt Mike into coming. He chose to join out of love and friendship and words can’t describe how much it means to me that he came. He really pushed his comfort zone, much more than me, on this. I love you man.
There are, however, three people that deserve special thanks.
First is my lovely, and ever suffering wife Sue
Sue stood by me on this from the start. I knew that she was worried about the scope and potential risks of such a trip, not to mention the separation. In the 29 years we have been together, this has been the longest time we have been apart. I know that she did not want me to go, however, she was right there helping me plan, shopping with and for me, sitting home alone on her days off while I was out riding, and picking up all my homeside duties while I was out. I couldn’t have done it without you Honey. I love you.
Final thanks go to my parents.
To my Mom who always cheered me on and told me I could achieve anything I wanted. My Mom is suffering with Alzheimer's and I am truly excited that I will be able to hug her and thank her in person in a couple of days.
Which come down to the real reason behind the journey for me: to fulfill a dream of my fathers. My Dad bought his first travel trailer in 1967, and owed travel trailers and motorhomes up until about year before his passing in 2009. Starting in 1976, he and my Mom traveled full time from one end of this nation to the other and ducked into Canada and Mexico a few times. My Dad often talked about taking a trip up the Alcan highway. There would be articles in the trailer magazines that he would read and talk about to my Mom. I can remember asking him "What trips are you planning for the upcoming year?" and one of his responses was "I would like to travel the AlCan highway."
Back in the 60’s and 70’s the highway still had a lot of it’s rough character and bringing a travel trailer on the highway was an arduous undertaking. You would have to wrap the whole front end of your trailer with plywood to protect the front. You would be expected to go through a few sets of tires, broken windshields, dents, breakdowns and dust. He talked about it, he kept the articles around, he would perk up with there was something on the TV about the Alcan. He never did get to make the trip. On the day he passed away I took a small lock of his hair and I carried it with me on this journey.
So Dad, thank you for everything. Thanks from coming along and watching over me and keeping me safe. I hope the spirit of the journey was all that you dreamed it would be. I love you and I miss you.
Peace.
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