It is Monday, May 23, 2011. I completed this trip on Sunday, May 1. So why did it take 21 days to write a conclusion to my journey. I suppose I could have completed this entry a day or so after we finished this trip as most of the thoughts included herein have been with me for some time. But I waited because I wanted to let things settle out in my own mind. I am realizing now that nothing is changing, so it is time to bring this to a close.

The most enduring image I have of this country is how vast the expanse is. It was so open and so empty throughout our route that it made me wonder where were all the people hiding. I always knew that much of the population of America is confined to the urban centers. But until I pedaled across emptiness and wilderness it never really sunk into my mind just how desolate the country is. The resources of America seem endless and the open space is overwhelming. Perhaps if we had plotted a different route I would have another impression. As it stands, I am struck by what a small physical area most people live in as compared to the enormous emptiness and openness of the uninhabited areas.

I think Americans are just friendly people. Everywhere we went, people were willing to help us and seemed interested in our story. Americans like to talk and the people we ran across along our ride were not snooty. As a rule, they are friendly and open and they like who they are. It comes across in small ways, but you can feel it. The most interaction we had with locals was at the convenience stores. I think in many cases, convenience stores are the diners of rural America. I never really paid much attention to them before my cycle ride, but I soon began to see them as gathering centers. Of course there is gas and packaged food, but in many cases we found serviceable, warm meals. Some people have laughed at us for eating meals in convenience stores, but in actual fact we had some pretty satisfying lunches (and a dinner or two) in what many people consider Gas Stations. Locally owned restaurants may be available. If the town is large enough, fast food chains might be present. But there is always a convenience story and it is almost always populated with locals. Someone would always ask us what the heck we were doing in Nowhere, USA on our bicycles. That would illicit a ten minute discussion and often ended with somebody taking a picture. I miss the convenience stores.

I think that small town America has a quality of life that is hard to beat. I like the cities. I like the hustle and bustle of city life, the excitement, food and culture of a Chicago or New Orleans or New York. But if I had to pick a place to live, it would be someplace like Wadley, Alabama. I just loved the feel of riding through small towns like Wadley. I mentioned in my daily blogs that some of these small towns are run-down and economically depressed, but many appear economically healthy and inviting. Some of the main streets that we rode through have the appearance of Hollywood movie sets; they just seemed so idyllic. I think the quality and pace of life in small town America is simply hard to beat.

From a personal perspective, this was a spiritual journey for me. Our success, our safety, and our overall execution were all directly related to faith and prayer. I think I knew this was going to be the case before we started, but it became more and more evident to me as we progressed. I don’t know how prayer works or why it works. I am sure that some people will read this and wonder where I am coming from, perhaps doubting my conclusion. There were so many things that happened during the course of this trip that I can not simply write them off to happenstance or coincidence. So many things that worked out just right, from health to safety to weather conditions, that I just know deep in my soul were providential. It was a faith journey for me, and I hope that what I experienced can be continued in my remaining time on this planet.

I know that my faith needs to be continually pushed and challenged. I learned that I become fearful and hesitant if I am unchallenged. My partner on this ride, Dan, provided the push for me. Dan has a willpower that is second to none, and he pushes himself out of his comfort zone. I, being a very competitive person, challenged myself to keep up with Dan. Hence, I was always pushing myself out and up. I know that I must find ways to habituate this in my daily life.

I learned that nothing stays the same – the road continually changes. If you don’t have a shoulder to ride on or if the wind is coming in your face, keep your head down and keep plugging away, because it won’t last forever. In the same token, when things are going well, they don’t last forever either. So perhaps my job is to keep my head down, keep grinding away at the problems of my life, and walk forward with a faith that believes that things will always change (for the better). Focus, execute, work hard, keep the faith, and keep moving forward – things will come around for the better.

I have come to look at my life as a story. Many people believe that things are predetermined and we are simply living out a script that is written in advance of our lives by the Creator. I don’t prescribe to that belief. I think we are creating our story everyday by our thoughts, words and actions. I think that I am a co-creator in the story of my life and I have decided that I want a great story. So if I want a great story for my remaining days on this earth, it is up to me to write it and to live it. I don’t believe this is a solo venture. I believe that God walks within me, in my thoughts and dreams, and he creates with me. This is a large part of what living the faith is all about. I must trust.

I believe that I was too old and too out-of-shape to ever dream that I could accomplish this challenge. Logic should have told me that this challenge was beyond what I could effectively attain. I did it because of willpower and faith (and perhaps a bit of naivety). One way or the other, this physical and mental challenge was beyond what I should have logically assumed I was capable of.

I learned that I play to the level of competition. When I compete with C students, I do C+ work, no better. If I want to excel in life, in ventures, in challenges, I need to put myself out against other individuals that seek higher performance. I am a very competitive person and I don’t like to lose. Perhaps this comes from being the fifth of five boys, I don’t know. But I do know that when someone is alongside me, pushing me, I may not like the competition, but I perform much better. The life lesson in this, for the remaining time of my life, is to watch who I hang with and to place myself alongside individuals that will push me to excel. The alternative is to accept mediocre performance.

I think my best days are ahead of me. Don’t misunderstand me, I fully know that everyday from here on out is a blessing and I am approaching 54 years of age. We don’t live forever and I can never regain my youth. But the apprenticeship is now over. Everything that I have encountered over the past 53 years of my life prepared me for what is coming down the pike tomorrow.

I can break my life into three periods –

Period One – birth to approximate age 35. This was the time of living and working for tomorrow. Everything I did was about building for tomorrow. Tomorrow was always in the forefront. Education was a sacrifice that allowed me to have a better tomorrow. I saved money for my kids future. It was always going to be better somewhere down the road.

Period Two – 35 until about age 53. So this is it? I woke up one day and realized that I was in my physical prime and this was what I had been planning and sacrificing for. Our society is set up for this age – thirty-something to fifty. This period of our lives places us squarely in the mainstream. We are the target market for just about everything. We run things and we control a large part of society. Realizing this was a bit depressing to me because I started to wonder if tomorrow was going to be better. It was like going on a vacation and knowing that each day put me closer to the end and eventually, I would have to go back to work.

Period Three – Now until ? (actually, this is the “Age of Now”). I have accepted my mortality. I have today, and perhaps tomorrow, and who knows how long beyond that. I want to live and experience everything that i reasonably can because it is in front of me.

What I have decided to do going forward is to ride with the wind and take what the road gives me. I have made this statement to a number of my friends since my return and when they ask me for the details of what that really means, my answer falls short. I don’t know exactly how to explain it, but I think I understand the concept. I feel that I have spent the last 53 years of my life pedaling against the wind. I don’t want to do this anymore. I want to learn to accept what comes to me and use it to the best of my advantage. I want to live life more fully and I want to remind myself every moment just how fortunate I have been throughout. I thank the Lord for my blessings and the gifts of my health, family and friends. The rest is just lagniappe, as they say in New Orleans.

And that is the whole ball of wax, Honey Bunch.