Ode to Joy!
I knew today was going to be special when we departed our hotel at 6:30 am. It was so dark, we had to drive 15 minutes east of Indianapolis before we could get on our bikes.
As the sun rose, we were surrounded by rolling corn fields and cool temperatures. Walt and I decided we needed a jacket. When I started to open the hatchback of the van to get my jacket in my suitcase, Walt said we didn’t have time to open my suitcase: it was too beautiful to wait a minute to ride. So, I wore a t-shirt over my bike shirt instead and off we rode into the rising sun.
It only got better. The joy of being alone on a quiet bike on lightly traveled country roads continued throughout the day from southern Indiana into southern Ohio.
A highlight was biking through Lewisburg, Ohio past Amish farmers and families in horse drawn carriages. We learned from local residents that Lewisburg, Ohio was founded by German descent residents of Lewisburg, PA traveling west in 1782.
Tom Crum (Class of 1969) would have been proud of me today. I took three deep breaths to start the day: one to relax and get centered, one to be the best person I could be, and one to pass no judgement the entire day: I just let nature enter my senses.
I thought of my friends who would have loved to be with us today: all the Silverback riders, and David, Ric and Thuc from work.
Yes there was the excitement of a cooler autumn Saturday with leaves changing, footballs flying in backyards and squirrels hustling to pick up nuts for winter storage.
The Bucknell van knew that Kelly and Mark (Kyle’s parents) were driving south to meet Kyle and our team for dinner.
I knew that Sara was driving around rainy Los Angeles to buy ingredients to make more trail mix and find more HEED (electrolyte mix) for the effort on Monday-Wednesday through the hills of West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania.
As I biked, I thought of Drew and Jennifer working (with Lucja’s help – our 31 month old granddaughter) on an island in Canada to close up the family cottage for another winter to journey tomorrow to Parkersburg, WV via Toronto and Pittsburgh for my 60th Birthday Party at Tygart State Park in Grafton, WV on Monday. Grandpa has ordered a birthday cake with Vanilla frosting in Parkersburg, per Lucja’s oral request yesterday.
After 58 miles of biking, Walt and I got back into the van and watched three 22 year old Bucknell alumni (Kyle, Pat and Jay) play like three puppies for another 54 miles on their bikes. We didn’t need to say a word to each other to share the feeling of this joy: these Bucknell alumni love each other unconditionally, and this love had spread thoroughly to Walt and me in the van. The 38 year age difference between these Bucknellians and me, and the 54 year age difference between Walt and these Bucknellians aren’t separations at all: we are one bonded family that just enjoys being together no matter what we are doing.
We barely knew each other 14 days ago. The Bucknell family and a common purpose has united us very quickly and strongly. What a joy!
