It was so hot in the desert, and there was a day the whole camp got very sick with a stomach bug. Remember kids, always wash your hands! But regardless of all that, we had to keep on biking. You may think I am crazy, but it was all part of the adventure. An adventure cannot be wonderful ALL the time. There have to be ups and downs, otherwise there is no adventure. If you know everything that will happen, why go on the journey? Not knowing what will happen can be the best part!
Seeing beauty all around you while finding out who you are when things are tough is why you go on expeditions. Just when you think you cannot ride another mile, or your bottom hurts so much you have to stand up every other pedal stroke, you find strength in yourself. These are the experiences you remember. Now that I have seen how strong I am and what I am truly able to do, I am so confident. I will never forget this experience. I think you all have this in you, too. When you make up your mind and make a plan you will achieve more than you ever imagined possible. Remember to work hard and stay focused.
Adventure is also about fun. We adventure for silly fun with new, cool people along the way. I didn’t know any of my fellow riders before the trip, but I know their life stories now. I even know who snores in their tent, and who will help out when things are hard. We shared campfire stories and second helpings of dessert. When we felt we couldn’t ride any more, we told each other our most embarrassing stories or what we dreamt of eating.
Expeditions really allow you to be yourself. No pretend, no fear, just you! With a 100 mile goal, I knew I couldn’t carry the worries of other people. It didn’t matter what people thought of me on the road, and it didn’t matter how I looked.
