THE DAY I FINISH TO START THE BEGINNING OF THE REST OF MY JOURNEY!

It has been a great journey. The hardest part of beginning is the first pedal stroke. With that stroke comes the realization of the uncertainty. The senses open up wide. You notice if it is cold, hot, wet, dry, clear, cloudy, great or miserable. You notice the noises, the barking of the dogs and the possible unpleasant chase and how easy the day can turn from wonderful to a nightmare. You notice the looks: some of wonder and amazement to suspicion. Labeling starts and with the looks you wonder what is going on their mind? Do they think I am crazy, or destitute, how responsible or irresponsible my life choice is, do I have a significant other and what does she think, how I am paying for this trip? All these questions are some of the things that I have actually been asked several times during these 97 days of my journey. People wonder all these things because we live in a society that in my humble opinion is car-centric and consumer centric. We want to consume and consume more and the more we consume the more we want. I have often criticize others for been part of this consumerism and car driving vortex but I do admit that been able to stay in a nice clean place and having running water are good things and are things worth working for. Before this journey my perspective about our society was very bleak and cynical, but having spent time in the cold , rain, fog, heat and humidity and not always having access to a shower or regulated indoor temperature has made me change my perspective. Hey, I do not have to drink the whole glass of kool-aid but I can drink what I need. So, the end of this journey comes at 3000 miles which it self is not the reason I did this trip. I knew that I would start in NYC and that I had to go to Pittsburgh down to DC and into Skyline drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Those were the places that I really came to see on this journey, the rest I would let come naturally and see what ever the road would show me. The road change along my journey. It change from asphalt to this mirror showing me my reflection and I started to see the change, I started to not be so critical of the things that I was angry and frustrated about, so many that I do not have enough life time to tell them all. Along the miles, the cold, snow, wind and vulnerability came strength and determination, along with about 350 new facebook friends who encourage me and pushed me along the steep hill, and whisper comfort during the cold, dark night in the forest where you know you are not King and something out there knows you are vulnerable. Been on the forest without cell phone coverage knowing that if something goes wrong you have to fend for yourself is unnerving but also very liberating. It is liberating because you realize that if you stop worrying about all the things you can not control, your life becomes very simple and that is very unique. When you can deal with the duality of what you are use to and what you have to adopt to, it really liberates you. I know for me I became a nicer person, a happier person, a more approachable person. My other half said it on the phone as she could start noticing my change. She said I could breath, I was thinking more and ranting less, l also started liking who I was becoming. The long unwinding road has made me a little more lean, my skin is darker, I am willing to smile more, and laugh more, I want to hear more and talk less ( Lord knows that is so difficult) . So I started in NYC and will finish in Charleston SC. Epic, to most perhaps not, to more experienced cyclo tourists, not at all, to this human being, spectacular, amazing, unbelievable, but important I know that I am alive and I get to live so more, so I will move on to try to live the best that I can in hopes my next journey is better than this one.