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2006 hunger ride review
There are literally hundreds of memories I will take with me from my journey across the United States in the summer of 2006. Looking back, many long and hot summer days on the bike ended up going by much faster than I had anticipated. I'll never forget how I felt leaving Charleston, SC and those first few miles of riding. There was a wide range of emotions: excitement for the adventure, fear of the unknown, and being intimidated by the total distance (3400 miles!) of the trip. In addition, I definitely questioned if I had trained myself properly prior to the trip.
But I set off for the Pacific coast despite my insecurities. As one might expect, riding a bicycle across the United States was not easy, especially those first few days. I rode 750 miles the first eight days of the trip, so I learned what it was like to ride with great deal of soreness. But I also learned the human body is able to endure and withstand much more than we often think. What was the greatest moment in the 50-day, 3400-mile journey? I'm not sure that I can narrow it down to one.
I can say that many times on the journey, it was the little things that made the trip special - the things that you wouldn't expect. An interaction with a couple in their late 80's in a small town in Missouri, seeing a beautiful farmhouse in the plains of Kansas, a dip in hot mineral water in Idaho, a horn honk and a friendly yell from some locals. Sunsets. Groundhogs. Home cooked meals. I can't think of a better way to see and experience the beauty of our country than on a bicycle. There were all kinds of spectacular views--from the mighty Rockies, to the hills of Tennessee, to the openness of Wyoming and Idaho. Sometimes, the best part of a day was simply the satisfaction of a making it up a strenuous uphill climb after I'd already been biking for nine straight hours! There is a payoff: I love speed. You can't beat 40+ m.p.h. down a mountain!
Much more than all of these things, what I'll remember most is the people that I shared this journey with; people I did not know prior to the trip who opened up their home for me. The kind folks that outstretched their arms and said, "What can I do for you?" The many restaurant owners and managers who said, "This meal is on us, thanks for what you are doing." Without question, these people made the trip what it was. In the summer of 2006, I was surprised, encouraged, and motivated by the generosity of those I met. I was challenged to be a more giving person because of the hospitality and generosity that I was shown.
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