I woke up on the morning of August 8th with butterflies in my stomach even before I was conscious enough to realize why I was so nervous: We were about to embark on our last ride together. I snuck out from breakfast with Kareem to try out my "bike legs", hoping to be able to ride into Cannon Beach rather than scoot along behind Brando in the follow-along wagon we had "bought" from Wal-Mart the day before (or, God forbid, the life-endangering WeeHoo!). Needless to say, I was beyond excited to find I could pedal around the block with relative ease. The morning's "pump ups" were especially long (but even Niel didn't mind) and remarkably energetic for our group of non-morning people but Bryant and Behbinn worked really hard to make that morning's routine special. We were even able to work in Kyle's favorite "4 Quarter" chant! However, eventually we were unable to put off the inevitable any longer and set out on what was to be the shortest 60 mile ride of our lives.
Arriving at Cannon Beach was a bigger and more beautiful experience than I ever imagined it could be. Of course, we climbed to the very last mile, despite our being at the coast (yet another western oddity) and, of course, we were about half an hour late. We regrouped at about a mile to go and rode all together, sandwiched between the two police cars escorting us. Just as we finally began our descent down into town, Haystack Rock broke the horizon and everyone went completely mad with joy and communion and pride and life. We had finally made it, together.
The ride soon became a parade as we rode through downtown still screaming like mad, a contagious excitement that had pedestrians running alongside us, cheering, and made motor vehicles stop in the middle of the street to blow their horns and hang yell encouragement out their windows. Once we hit the sandy shore, we dropped our bikes, stripped out of our sock, shoes, and jerseys, and took off in a mad 400 meter dash for Haystack Rock, Tender leading the charge trailing a giant American flag. I soon fell behind so Kareem and Bryant scooped me up and carried me about half-way, refusing to deviate from the path for a moment even to side-step a child's sandcastle. Such vailiantry! The moments following our collective entry into the water were a magnificent blur of ocean spray and embracing bodies, a window of time that stays with me as more of a feeling now more than any distinct memory. Later that evening while walking by the seaside, I realized the ocean was rather cold, a realization that struck me as rather funny seeing as it never even occurred to me during the ten minutes? half hour? lifetime? we had spent laughing in the waves earlier in the day. The afternoon was spent feasting in the nearby park with friends and family and the day came to a close as we sat around a fire on the beach and waited for the last embers to die out.
The next few days were beyond difficult and I find myself revisiting them in my dreams. Retaining my composure as I told the people that I loved goodbye was hard, and I frequently did not succeed. Still, the separation is becoming easier and easier for me as I think about all the wonderful things they are free to do now that this summer has ended (and I can't wait to hear all about it).
To everyone who has helped to fund this trip, cheered us on, or prayed for us as we ventured across the country: I cannot express in words how thankful I am for your support.
To Drea, Rockelle, Daze, Brando, Adam, Bryant, Niel, Lizzy, Tender, Dennis, No-Um, Johnny, Mowie, Court, Mike, Cat, Lara, Star, Karim, Keef, Marcie, Pey-pan, Kyle (and Kevin), Beth, Abs, Jake, Natan, Ririe, Jetpack, Snyder, Lisa, and Little Flower: Home is whenever I'm with you.
Over and Out,
Lace
Flashback time:
Karim and I back during the ride into Vernal, Utah.
Brando shaving for the scavenger hunt in Clay Center, KS.
The bridge in Maybelle, CO.
A sprained ankle in Kansas City.
Shots from our random B&B shoot in Denver, CO. Photos courtesy of Efrain Cruz.
Jorts shot.
The whiteboard while allotting grant funds in Dayville, OR.
Now, the last few days:
Portland Build site.
Me and Marce, who is undoubtedly in the middle of telling somebody what to do, haha. c:
Playing Mini-Tanks in the middle of the town fair in Vernonia, Oregon.
Group hug after our last family meeting in Vernonia.
The VooDoo doughnuts Mama Biggs brought to us during lunch into Vernonia.
Snyder's Unicorn-in-a-Box Award for winning the race into Dayville, Oregon.
Dennis blocking the door during our witch hunt for the Muffin Top Eater.
Bryant with his Superlatives!
Dougie & Rover II, aka RoBro. Also pictured: Ross (the trailer, who always follows us) and Jesse (the van, who always gets us lost)
"Tha Bois." c: Just before our last ride!
Johnny and I at the final summit!
Lunch!
Four-Square during lunch!
Climbing to the end. Notice, if you will, Snyder's newest addition, Rastanana.
Ryan's celebratory helmet decorations! (That didn't last all that long.)
Niel's final nard.
About to be escorted to Cannon Beach!
Sweep bringing up the tail.
Keef and I! On Cannon Beach!
Snyder being mischievous and Mike taking it like a man, haha.
Karim and I!
Champagne was everywhere.
Ryan and I!
Dipping our front wheels into the Pacific. "We rode here!"
An ocean shot I took as I was trying to find my way back to the host.
Haystack Rock.
