I don't believe in miracles. But today I've been blessed with the compassion from strangers that almost put me to tears.
In the hopes that the weather may turn unexpectedly, I took off early at 4:30 AM for the full 107 mile trip. I didn't get much sleep - maybe it's because my metabolism is at an all-time high, but it's been very difficult to get sleep at night. I got about 3 hours of sleep, because I woke up unexpectedly at 1:30 AM and couldn't sleep till 2:30. Eventually I gave up and began packing for my trip.
The temperature was at a good 20 to 25° F (-7 to -4° C). I was able to get a solid 25 miles in before my extremities went numb, and core temperature dropped significantly. By the time I hit Peru, IN, my body wouldn't stop shaking so I stopped at a pancake house to grab some coffee and extra buttered toast.
In the hopes that the weather may turn unexpectedly, I took off early at 4:30 AM for the full 107 mile trip. I didn't get much sleep - maybe it's because my metabolism is at an all-time high, but it's been very difficult to get sleep at night. I got about 3 hours of sleep, because I woke up unexpectedly at 1:30 AM and couldn't sleep till 2:30. Eventually I gave up and began packing for my trip.
The temperature was at a good 20 to 25° F (-7 to -4° C). I was able to get a solid 25 miles in before my extremities went numb, and core temperature dropped significantly. By the time I hit Peru, IN, my body wouldn't stop shaking so I stopped at a pancake house to grab some coffee and extra buttered toast.
While there, a kind waitress named Tammie kept stopping by to make sure I was okay, my coffee was hot, and that I have everything I needed. Doesn't sound like anything special, but It's rare to see a waitress stop by every 5 minutes in a busy breakfast joint. I guess you can't ignore a young man shiver for an hour in the corner like Sarah McLachlan's pup on a PETA commercial. Full on three cups of coffee and four slices of toast, I hit the road again to go towards Kokomo, IN.
Heading down to Kokomo, I kept checking the weather, which reported heavy rainfall and storm warnings beginning 1 PM. Flooding warnings came up for the afternoon, around when I'd be rolling into Indianapolis. If I did endure the weather, I wouldn't be able to stop until I reach the outskirts of Indianapolis, which would be at least 50 miles from Kokomo. So, I decided to roll into a Comfort Inn and shorten my trip for the day.
As I rolled in to the Inn to check in, I noticed my wallet was missing.
Of course, I don't lose my wallet for 10 years, and this is the perfect time to lose my most valuable possession, in the middle of Indiana, far from my destination. But, the show must go on. Rooms can't be booked without a credit card, and since Indianapolis is the next closest city with a Chase branch, I began prepping my bike to continue the long trail South. I did, however get a couple minutes to chat with the staff, and told them a little about my trip, and mAss Kickers. Plus, a few minutes indoors was great to bring my body temperature back up. Things tend to go wrong on big trips, and at the end of the day, the best thing to do is keep fighting.
Minutes later, I was handed a phone with the general manager of the Comfort Inn, Lena, on the line. Lena explained that she appreciated the trip I was making to raise funds and awareness for mAss Kickers, and had her own fair share of tough experiences related to cancer. She offered to let me stay for a night at the Inn for free, and I almost immediately broke into tears. I had barely gotten any sleep the night before, and my body was exhausted from the wild temperature swings throughout the day. It was a beacon of light after a tough day, and I am nothing but grateful for her show of grace during these times.
So today, I'm ending on a good note. I've experienced the unity that cancer brings, and it's been extremely humbling. I feel like the luckiest person on Earth. With regards to the trip, because of the weather, I'll be delayed by a day. I'm cutting out my trip to the Fall Creek Falls State Park to get to Nashville by New Year's. This will cut my trip to "only" 559 miles :). Every time I think of hitting Nashville, I get an adrenaline rush. I can't wait to hit Indianapolis tomorrow. But for tonight, I'm signing off.
Hope everyone's had a piece of Christmas miracle this year. If not, it's never too late to spread the joy!
Of course, I don't lose my wallet for 10 years, and this is the perfect time to lose my most valuable possession, in the middle of Indiana, far from my destination. But, the show must go on. Rooms can't be booked without a credit card, and since Indianapolis is the next closest city with a Chase branch, I began prepping my bike to continue the long trail South. I did, however get a couple minutes to chat with the staff, and told them a little about my trip, and mAss Kickers. Plus, a few minutes indoors was great to bring my body temperature back up. Things tend to go wrong on big trips, and at the end of the day, the best thing to do is keep fighting.
Minutes later, I was handed a phone with the general manager of the Comfort Inn, Lena, on the line. Lena explained that she appreciated the trip I was making to raise funds and awareness for mAss Kickers, and had her own fair share of tough experiences related to cancer. She offered to let me stay for a night at the Inn for free, and I almost immediately broke into tears. I had barely gotten any sleep the night before, and my body was exhausted from the wild temperature swings throughout the day. It was a beacon of light after a tough day, and I am nothing but grateful for her show of grace during these times.
So today, I'm ending on a good note. I've experienced the unity that cancer brings, and it's been extremely humbling. I feel like the luckiest person on Earth. With regards to the trip, because of the weather, I'll be delayed by a day. I'm cutting out my trip to the Fall Creek Falls State Park to get to Nashville by New Year's. This will cut my trip to "only" 559 miles :). Every time I think of hitting Nashville, I get an adrenaline rush. I can't wait to hit Indianapolis tomorrow. But for tonight, I'm signing off.
Hope everyone's had a piece of Christmas miracle this year. If not, it's never too late to spread the joy!