It is bitterly cold here and even I am not out cycling in 3 degrees weather. There is too great a chance for frost bite when it gets this cold. I am snug and warm in my little Caseta and am excited that Qwest is coming by on Thursday to install my DSL line. I will have internet at home once again. Many of these little casetas or guest houses here in Santa Fe are not wired for cable and I had no desire to install phone service. But Qwest just started offering low cost DSL and I am thrilled. Until now I have been using free hotspots about town or logging in at the resort to work online. This inconvenience has slowed down my plans for the 2008 season a little. I will be announcing my Itinerary in the coming weeks once the plans are firmed up a bit. Right now it looks like I will be starting my trek in Seattle and doing a series of 2 day event rides with others with disabilities along the west coast. Taking the winter off after my injuries was the best thing I could do. In fact not only has it allowed me to rest and recover, but because of my job I have met several celebrities and politicians who are sympathetic to what I am trying to do.
Although, I did get some good press last year and did raise awareness about the issue facing those dealing with limb loss, I feel I did not reach out enough to those that live with mobility issues every day. 2008 will be different. I have ridden over 20,000 miles across 11 countries since 2003, so I think I can safely say I can do such treks without pause. The trouble is when I am out in the middle of the desert cycling 100-125 miles alone who am I helping? I have hard enough time getting fit able bodied cyclists to join me on such a day, getting someone with mobility issues is even harder. Someone very dear to me noted that the best media involvement I have received is always at the beginning and the end of the trek. With that in mind I am planning a national tour at the beginning of the season that will take me all around America doing a series of one and two day cycle treks with other cyclists and those with mobility issues, that want an opportunity to show themselves that they can get off the couch and move on in life. This type of tour will allow me to reach more people in need and to also speak to local and national civic groups that share an interest in helping others around the world. I have learned many things over the last 20,000 miles and I know I will continue to do endurance treks well into my 70’s. But what I learned on my last trek was that the focus needs to shift from what I can do to those I am trying to help. So 2008 will see a fundamental shift. I have proven my ability and it is time I focus on helping others find theirs.
I have set and achieved many records and done many feats people told me I could not do. There is one day out of hundreds on the road that will always mean the most to me. And that was early on during my first crossing of the US. I spent the day cycling to the summit of Mt Rose in Nevada. I reached the summit and realized right then I had crossed a mountain. And the mountain was not the one I was standing on at the time. The real mountain that I climbed was the one took me from the despairing feeling that I was disabled, to the realization that I could achieve anything I set my mind. To this day, it was the greatest day of my life. I want others to cross that mountain as well and I hope to be able to help give them that opportunity. 2008 will be a great year!
