Thank you Sander

Just the other day I was emailing with my friend Sander in St. Louis and I was lamenting about my bike commute in to work. I was complaining about the traffic and that people drive to close and yadda, yadda, yadda... and Sander made the comment,
'you should take pictures'.... at first I thought there is no way. Mostly because it's hard enough to trek 14 miles one way and with traffic the LAST thing I want to do is pull out a camera along the way.. I just want to get to my destination. --EEEERRRTTT! (insert needle scratching off the record sound here) wait... Did I just say that?! How wrong is that!?!?! I almost can't believe I felt that way. Most of the time I go around living and telling folks that life is not about end points or destinations, that it's really about the journey.. it's about the ride, if you will.

So today I headed out to work and brought my camera with and it was an amazing experience. Biking commuting that distance is hard sometimes. People in their cars and trucks do drive to close most of the time and you are always on the defense. Always. People who are driving aren't expecting bikes and most of the time aren't watching for us. But even with that I realized today how wonderful it is that I can bike to work. How lovely 90% of the ride actually is.. and I am sort of embarrassed that I ever complained at all.

Lots and lots of people ask me about my commute to work and what route I take and how long it takes. Here is a short breakdown. I ride from NE Minneapolis to Bloomington. It's about 14 miles one way. It takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. I'll ride most of the year if the roads aren't too snow/ice covered. This year I'd like to ride a lot more in the winter and am thinking about setting up my mountain bike with studded tires. The route I take varies a bit, but not too much. I head out of NE and cross the river at the Stone Arch bridge in downtown. Then I take Portland south to 42nd street and the head west. From there it's tedious and boring to all those who don't live here. So, if you REALLY want to know I'll tell you, but maybe over coffee :)

Anyway, it was an interesting experiment today and I am encouraged at how much fun it was that I was able to ride my bike today and that I have that option. More people should try it and see for themselves. Don't let winter or cold weather deter you.. enough layers and it's all good.

So good! As Homestar says.

Thank you Sander for throwing out the idea. It was a different way to look at what I was taking for granted. I realized how easy it is to complain and that I should do less of that and just enjoy the ride.

Be well all and I hope you enjoy the photos below.

My Commute from NE Mpls to Bloomington - What I See Along the Way

Smiling and hoping this pretty face makes it to Bloomington safe and sound. I am smiling even though I just realized it's raining... 14 miles to go in the cold and rain.

Last chance to take the VW instead of the Trek. I opted for the two wheel option.

My block - Fillmore Street NE Minneapolis. This is taken as I ride away from my house. It's raining.

Just before heading into Downtown, I go through part of the U of M campus. Usually traffic is much heavier as I cross here, but today it's pretty quiet.

The lovely Stone Arch Bridge. I love this part. Just heading into Downtown Minneapolis from the northeast side of the city where I live.

The Mississippi. My favorite part of the commute.

Downtown Minneapolis. Crossing Washington and heading south.

The fine city of Minneapolis.. it really is pretty easy to bike in.

My first highway crossing on the commute and I am so thankful not to be in my car! Even if it's raining and cold. I'd take this anyday.

Leaving Downtown!

Heading south on Portland Ave out of Downtown.

Ugly Hwy crossing. Suckers!!! I almost feel bad for them in down there in their cars!

This made me laugh out loud. I was happy to have my camera to catch it. Even the bus drivers have Twin Fever!

Fall in Minneapolis and can you tell it's also election season?

A hop on the bike path around Lake Harriet for a about four blocks, but it's so pretty how can I resist?

A really nice glimpse of Lake Harriet in Minneapolis. I am starting to see that this riding to work does not suck.. even if it's 40 degrees...

Wow, this riding to work isn't so bad. It's worth it.

A baseball field in the offseason.. This makes me think about my dad. Hi Dad!

Lovely Minnehaha Creek. I get to look at this on various parts of my ride in. It's really pretty now with all the trees changing colors


SW Minneapolis, a quiet neighborhood. It really is lovely to be able to ride.


My last Hwy crossing. I cross over major highways four times on commute.

If I ever die on this commute this will be the road that it happens on. This is the last quarter mile of my route to work and it's the frontage road to Hwy 494. People (fuckers, as I call them) drive very fast and very close to me on this road. I told my boss one day upon arriving to work that if she was on her way in and saw me dead, killed, by a motorist on this frontage road to please drag my ass in to Minneapolis and let me take my last breath there. I do not want to die on a frontage road in Bloomington.


Arrived! Safe and sound!!

A group of good people doing good work

This group of individuals came together to make a positive difference. We all raised at least $4000 and some donated at much as $25,000! It was the first year with a new group doing a ride to raise money for the MS Society and it was a success. Next year we hope to double the number of participants and continue to make a difference. Collectively we shared the love of Italy, good food, amazing riding and made many new friends and memories. I always come back from these events changed and better. I hope some of you will make the journey with me next year.

babysteps back into the real world

Babysteps....babysteps. That's what I say to myself when I am having a tough time adjusting to something. That something could be climbing a steep mountain on my bike, running a hard race, doing some god-awful house project, or in my current state, trying to transition back from riding my bike and not thinking about work for 2 weeks. I am suffering right now and having a very difficult time transitioning back. Please, there has to be someone out there who will pay me to ride my bike.

All good things must end

This is it

Thanks to everyone who donated, helped me, supported me, and loved me enough to get me to Tuscany. I've been back exactly one week now and it almost feels like a month has passed. I come back to my life here and to the work on my desk. I slid back into my life and into the unending battle of just trying everyday to find my way. I try hard and I constantly feel like I am learning all the time. All that happens to us each day, I constantly remind myself that all I have control over is how I react. I remember being on a bike ride with my friend John and we stopped for coffee and I made the comment that nothing seems to work out like I think it's going to and his response was "rarely do things work out like we think they are going to".

I dunno, but I find peace in that statement. I find comfort knowing that I don't know. It makes me stop and smile more now. It makes me nicer to the crabby person who is checking me out at the grocery store. I remember that I don't want to be standing in line buying groceries, and it's probably a pretty safe bet that the person checking me out wants to be there even less. It's those thoughts that make me stop and ask how their day is, and then really listen to the answer.

I don't always do good by those around me. Sometimes I stumble on my way to try and find happiness. Sometimes I hurt people around me that I don't mean to.. with simple things like my disregard and not calling my friends or family enough, or sending an email or picking up the phone. Sometimes I get wrapped up in all things 'me'. I don't like that about myself, but at least I can say that being aware of something is at least the first step in making a change. And not to be afraid of change. And mostly not to be afraid of life. By not being afraid of making mistakes you find courage in knowing it's ok to fail. Falling down teaches us how to get back up. And we can all get back up even when it's hard.

I hope sometimes when I ride my bike to work in the rush hour traffic that just one person --just one-- sees me and feels inspired. Inspired, maybe not to ride a bike, but to do something outside of their comfort zone. Inspired to give the next bicyclist on the road just a little more room as they pass by. Inspired maybe to take a different road home and see something new.

When I found out I had MS it took me about 2 minutes to realize I needed to fight this out. Because of MS I've ridden my bike in the French Alps and the Spanish Pyrenees. I've rolled along on two wheels through Tuscany. I've tasted wines from the regions. I've licked the salt from the Mediterranean off my lips. I've laughed alongside of some of the most magnificent people as I clicked my gears and cranked the pedals. I have not given up or in.

I am back stateside and fall and the cooler weather is setting in. I layer on the clothes and I head out alone and hope for the best.

Tomorrow morning I will look at myself in the mirror and be happy to see the person staring back at me. I'll hop on the bike. I'll feel my tired legs as I climb out of Northeast Minneapolis and I'll smile. I'll try harder to not resist so much and that the only thing I know for sure is that change is going to come. I'll love as much as I can what I have today, what is around me, what is given to me and I'll give back as much as I can. And at the end of each day I'll know I tried, even if I failed, and know that sometimes courage is that quiet voice at the end of the day that says "I will try again tomorrow"

Love to you all as I sign off of this blog. I say thank you for helping me fight. Wellstone said it best when he said "We all do better when we all do better"

Piper

Two years I traveled with Piper and she's one of the funniest girls. She is also smart, kind and indulges me when I suggest we go swimming in the Mediterranean Sea at midnight. She is also the other committee member who made this trip possible. It took one phone call and conversation and I remember her saying "Let's do it!" She is remarkable. Thanks Piper for being you.

She's like a sister

Let me see that picture

Pete and Anne

Because you raised $8000 for a disease that I have. Because you love me. Because I can call Pete at 2am and tell him my car is broken and he'll help me. Because Anne did some of the most difficult biking and still loved the trip. Because I have known you both for 12 years and you've always supported me, housed me and treated me like family. Thank you!

Joe

The first year I did the Europe bike ride I was not prepared. I didn't know what cycling in the mountains meant. I suffered and felt like a failure. The first night after the first hard day on the bikes I saw Joe at dinner and I said to him "I feel like a failure" and he looked at me and said.. "just let it go, don't worry about it, there is tomorrow and you'll be fine" He doesn't know this, but his saying that carried me and made me get up the next day and try again. And come back the second year and then the third year. I want to say thank you. Thank you for traveling with me for three years in Europe. For encouraging me, making me laugh -- a lot, and for making me a better biker. I can't imagine doing these trips without you. Without your energy, your smile, your spark. Thanks Joe.

The weekend wrap-up

This weekend I plan to write the last post on this blog. I'll post some of my favorite pictures and try and recap the trip and some highlights. Stay tuned for the season finally!

Crepes in Paris

On the advice of my friend Sander we ate crepes from a street vendor in Paris. So good.

Via Paris

On my way back home I had a stop over in Paris. I'd never been there so I did most of the touristy things. I did wait in line and go to the very top of the Eiffel Tower

Meena and Sander

Sander and Meena. Sander rode with me last year on this bike ride in Spain. He's a great guy and I was so happy when he brought this wife Meena along this year. They really are an amazing pair.

Tall boy from the factory

With my friend Sander, whom I also rode with last year in Europe. He's tall. He does not play basketball. He is 5'18. Traveling with him and his amazing wife Meena was great. They are spectacular!

Hey this isn't my bike!

I dunno this feels too big

Biking along a ridge in Tuscany.. you can see my friends on the road ahead. The biking on this day was amazing. We were just outside a small town called Volterra.

Resting in Tuscany.. happy

Stateside

Hello Everyone. I am back and trying hard to focus on work and all the stuff of regular life. Here are a few pictures for today. Tonight at home I will vet through all that I have and tell you some more stories. This is a nice shot my friend Peter took. The trip was unbelievable and I feel really lucky to have spent two full weeks in Europe and riding my bike. I'll have some great updates later tonight. Lots of stories to share.

Words won't do this justice, it's really lovely in Tuscany

Another Rough Day of Riding Bikes

Just me and my girl Piper

When were weren't on bikes we were still having fun

Beautiful Tuscany

Siena

I am hoping to post more pictures tomorrow. I am not able to do it from this internet cafe I am currently at. The trip have been amazing. The riding hard, but great and today is actually the last day the whole group is together. We arrived in beautiful Siena this afternoon and I am just posting this quickly and then going out exploring. The Tuscany experience have been a very memorable one. The people, the food, the biking... all almost undescribable. I promise to post more pictures to show you all. Really I don't have the writing talent to do it justice, so I hope the pictures will do.

The group has been great and they are all wonderful people. I cannot believe how fast the time went and I am not sure how to talk about it all..

More tomorrow.

Have bike, will travel

Here is a taste of some of what my life has been the past week. It's been amazing. I posted a little longer note after all the pictures. I hope you enjoy them. Things are really wonderful here and I can't even really tell you in words how beautiful this trip has been so far.

All the hard work of raising $4000 for the MS society is done and now I just sit back and smile. It's wasn't easy to get the news that I had MS, and climbing these mountains on my bike, well, that's not so easy at times either, but it's the downhill part that makes it all worth while. We all have our obstacles in life that challenge us and it's during those times that one finds out what you're made of. It's the hard stuff that makes the sweet stuff in life sweeter. I swear. I wouldn't lie to you. Because of MS I am here and what an amazing journey it's been so far.

More soon.
Love and thanks to all of you who donated to the MS Society.

Italy

Lovely

Portofino Italy

Piper and me

Fun pics

Enjoying life in Portofino.

Starting the ride on Sunday

Checking out maps. Everything looks the same.. vineyards and windy roads.