2007 reflections

Winter is here in all it's glory. At 15 degrees to is too cold to ride. I have been working on my book and writing about this last years trek. Time has created a new perspective on what I did this last year, Perhaps it is the natural reponse that comes to us at the end of the year to look back and refect on what we did the past year. I am humbley amazed to what I had the oppertunity to experiance and truly in wonder to it all. My last ride was I am begining to understand was very extreme. It is funny when I was doing it, It seemed natural to cycle 136 miles alone across a desert in a single day. But in hindsight I wonder how I did it and did it day after day alone and with so little support.
The whole tale will be told in the book, which I hope will be finished by spring. I really have never shared much personal information on this blog or truly expressed the hardships that I experianced or the sense of failure that drove me onward day after day. Rereading the journal over the last trek I must explain to my friends that read this blog a few things.

First of all, my trek journal was often in the hands of another, my former project manager, Julia. Often I would not have internet access and she would write my experiances in my stead. The true nature of what I was doing was never really told. It became a wonderful adventure for childern to read, she was so talented and did a great job. But behind the tale it was a different truth, one of hardship phyical endurance and pain. Julia often told me I was the "monkey on the bike." Looking back I realized that my regret was not being able to impart just how difficult it was to ride solo across America on a double and pulling a trailer with 80 lbs of gear. It is not because of what I did but that I could. So many that I wanted to help who deal with the most difficult reality of limb loss never got the true message of the ability of going within and finding their own true ablities.
So, 2008 will find me back at the begining I will cycle from Harbourview Hospital in Seattle, Where I had my amputation to the tip of South America alone the Pan American Highway. My Next trek will do what my last did not meet face to face the very people like me that deal with limb loss.

Back On line!

I have been unable to update my website and blog for some time. My laptop was never returned by my former project director, so I had to wait till Santa delivered a new Dell this holiday in order to do any real website updates. There will be many exciting changes and new information in the coming days.


Winter is in full swing here in Santa Fe but despite that I am getting some riding in. I am not alone in that as many cyclist ride throughout the winter here. Tonight will see another winter storm. I think it is time to get some ice tires. But it will be good training if I ever get to do the dream of cycling in Antarctica.
My winter job has allowed me to meet the most amazing new friends. Jim Maclaren continues to inspire and humble me, His unflagging determination in dealing with his mobility issues leaves me with wanting to do more and help others.
I had the great pleasure this last week to make the acquaintance with noted television host and interior designer, Christopher Lowell. My job allows me to meet many celebrities and politician's. He is by far the most down to earth, kind man I have met in a long time. It was a great lesson to see that someone so in the public eye can be so unassuming and fun. I hope to see him and his equally kind friend, who was a real delight in LA when I cycle there next season. She was a real pistol! As an example of the their good nature they returned to the resort last night with a lost 16yr old girl that they found while walking back from dinner.
The resort is along some dark curvy roads and they convinced this young woman who got separated from her party to return to the resort and get a map and directions. I simply had our shuttle driver take her to here accommodations.
You hear so many negative things about people in the public eye,but you never hear the kindness of strangers they also offer. It made my day.