Wednesday, July 2, 2003

McAlester, Oklahoma

Go to calendar

Home    Next Page      Previous Page    Photo Album

                                               Some comments by Joe

From the Bottom of the Food Chain

When we began this ride, I promised not to kibitz or say anything in this journal.  The journal was to be a record on which the "Boys" could reflect, observe, and record their experiences.   

However, today is a day where two seemingly unrelated events occurred that is so representative of the character of this year's ride that I had to make a comment.  

From the first day of this ride almost four weeks ago, the "Boys" have been pushing to ride as many miles as they can each day, culminating in a "Century" (100 miles) going into Dodge City, Kansas.  With each long day of cycling, there have been little or no letup or time to rest.  Each "Down day" is a visitation, and the only recuperation that happens is while they are talking to amputees in rehabilitation facilities.  So they get pumped up enough each day to make the ride the following day.  As in everything else, when you ask the body to do more than it is able, it will only do so much before it rebels. 

Today was that day.  The boys hit a brick wall.  Mark who pushes himself hard has lacked the energy to continue, coupled with some stomach troubles.  So he was a support driver while Trish was a relief rider.  

It was not long today before Jim ran out of steam and could not continue to the end of the ride. 

Even Bruce, our Mountain bike Energizer Bunny, faltered and lacked the energy to continue. 

It was at this low point of our ride that the second event occurred which touched our hearts and energized our efforts.

Whenever we have a need, someone or something has always come in to fulfill that need, and in this case it was a young six year old who came into our lives on the road. 

And his name is Kyle.

While resting at a roadside convenience store, the lady behind the counter asked if we were the riders that she saw on television last night.  She said that her nephew, who has cerebral palsy,  was so taken by the bicyclists that told her that he also wanted to ride a bike some day. 

At this point in time, when the energy levels were so low, we terminated our ride for the day and waited for Kyle's aunt to go home and bring Kyle down to the store to meet the riders. 

.

So we met Kyle and he touched each of us with his courage, determination  and dream to be able to ride a shiny new bicycle someday.

We too know what it is to dream and to do whatever it takes to overcome adversity and we recognize all that Kyle is capable of being and doing in his lifetime.

For all of your dreams, Kyle,  we wish you well and want you to know how you have given us the strength to continue on the road that we have chosen to travel.  We know that you will, one day, achieve your dream and join us on some future adventure.

So the "Boys" completed their trek into McAlester, Oklahoma, past oil wells and through the rolling hills of southern Oklahoma. 

Refreshed and recharged, yet strangely subdued, they are ready for what tomorrow brings on their ride to Fort Smith, Arkansas. 

Return to Top of Page