"With a Little Help from My Friends"

Thanks so much for following my bicycle adventure and living out my dream trip with me. After breakfast in New Castle, IN, I told Vikki and Ronnie about Kyle Casey’s role in my life, and they thought I should mention it in my closing blog. I think that’s a great idea.

Kyle was a friend and fellow Boy Scout with my son, Adam. A group of ten of them stuck together and all earned their Eagle rank, the highest rank in scouting. Kyle had completed all of the requirements but before his ceremony, he passed away in an auto accident. We held his Eagle ceremony posthumously in the funeral home, an event that greatly impacted everyone there. His death inspired me to take advantage of every moment of life, and served as a central inspiration for my trip. We are raising donations to fund the Kyle Casey Memorial Scholarship Fund, which is awarded to a Gaylord High School senior each year. My hope is to raise enough money to make the scholarship self-perpetuating, working from the interest, so that it can live on indefinitely in his memory.

The real lesson I learned from my bike adventure is about the goodness of people and, as the Beatles put it so well, “I get by with a little help from my friends.”

Some of the friends are ones whom I just met on my expedition through their simple acts of selfless kindness. When Phil Harnden and his family rescued me after my derailer exploded on my second day, I knew that I would make it through my trip. There are so many examples, from people providing me “experienced” directions, donating bike parts, and bringing me water, food and the occasional beer when I needed it, I cannot describe them all. The world is full of good kind people, and you should not be afraid to venture and meet them. They will enhance your life.

Some are the family and friends whom you have known through your whole life. Christa gave me the “blessing” to leave and rescued me twice when I needed her on the road. Having the opportunity to get together with many whom I haven’t seen in years reminded me that some bonds are too strong to be broken. Riding with my sister Cathy proved to be a fantastic memory, just one of many elements of family support that I won’t forget. And neither should you. What a celebration when I returned! Thanks for showing me the love! What can I say, Family and Friends must be treasured and not taken for granted.

Last, my own two hands served as my friends of last resort. They helped me resolve daily situations from eating to sleeping, routines everyone takes for granted. Many doubted my sanity and ability to finish this adventure before I began. But by using my own self confidence, I proved that with the right preparation, persistence and problem solving skills anything is possible.

I hope my adventure inspires you to fulfill your dreams. I am an “ordinary” guy, not some type of hero. Let me serve as an example instead, and tell me about the great plans you fulfill in your own lives.

NOTE: Maybe I will write a book…. You’ll be the first to know….. This blog is best viewed from the beginning (in February). Read one or two entries a day. If you can make it last 32 days, you'll know how I felt.... AWESOME!