Relationship Reflection

Imagine this: You've been sleeping on a different floor (or sometimes pew) every night for the past 62 days. It's 4:00 am and you're waking up to the sound of The Circle of Life blasting from someone's travel speakers.You're too tired to do anything but roll up your Thermarest, pack your bag, and see if you can get your hands on a whole banana before they're gobbled down by the 32 other perpetually starving young adults. Roll call is done, route sheets are passed through the group, and before you know it you're hitting the road. The very, very dark road, lined with vibrant stars actually twinkling about you. By this time, it's 4:45. The only think you can see is the flashing light of the cyclist in front of you, the occasional headlights of a semi truck, or what seemed to be an unlimited amount of shooting stars. But of course, what you could not see what that we were heading up what seemed to be a very gradual, very continuous incline. Once the sun rose, the wind picked up too. Mile 45: lunch. Everyone seemed to be struggling a little bit. The roads were bumpy, it was already 95 degrees, no cloud to be seen, and the winds were blowing at just about 30 mph. Just when you think that you're done. It's time to jump in the van, you hear laughter, and the sounds of helmets locking. The Wolf Pack was ready to move on. At the start of lunch, six of the stronger riders had bound together, working to conquer the head wind. By lunch, the pack grew to ten. Just ten miles past lunch, the group maxed out at sixteen riders. for the next fifty miles, and almost 6 hours, the group of sixteen cyclists do everything in their power to keep the riders around them positive. Arriving at the host, the group who managed to enjoy the hardest ride of the summer, stopped to howl, just you had for the entire last five miles. 

During the summer of 2012, I had ridden my bicycle from Portland, ME to Santa Barbara, CA. The trip was organized by the non-profit Bike & Build, and supported affordable housing all along the way. Out of 32 people, I started the trip knowing but two others. By the time we reached Amarillo, TX, I understood something so beautiful about these new relationships I build: our hearts will always be connected. Thinking about to that awful 100 mile day into Amarillo, I remember a few things: I ate mostly m&m's for lunch, I found my first, and only license plate, we spit water in each other's faces ("elephanting") to stay cool, and I have never laughed so hard. My Bike & Build friends are those who I was never have imagined being in my life. They are kind, supportive, inspirational, and are completely comfortable with cookie sandwiches for lunch and eating the entire apple. 

As many of us came to Bike & Build from across the country, many of us had to retreat back to our home states after our journey was complete. Through my long-distance relationships, I'm starting to learn that you can still remain connected to another person even if you're only ever able to talk on the phone. I have also learned to really listen to others when they share their experiences. It is always an incredible thing to take a piece of advice from someone who has walked a different road in life. It is also important to open up, and share a piece of yourself with others. Accept help, and don't forget to offer it, too. LONG LIVE THE WOLF PACK.

"The Wolf Pack" Amarillo, TX