Afterwords: Thank You, Earth!

Zen and the Art of Bicycle Riding

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It’s been almost two weeks since I completed my Ride For April. The gifts I collected in Michigan have been distributed, the layers for winter riding packed away, and the planning begun for my next biking adventure. I apologize I couldn’t bring everyone some Michi-Gummies!

In a post along the way, I mentioned seeing sandhill cranes and chatting with amateur photographer and wildlife enthusiast Gary Mason about them. He posted his images from that day and they’re amazing. Below you can see the first baby already hatched, then the second egg with some cracks starting to show, then both the babies out and about. Isn’t that so cool?

I pretty much had to throw myself back into life once getting back to Virginia, but was able to take some time out to do some biking with my best biking partner ever, completing the 2-Day Challenge for the Cap2Cap ride. It was a real treat to have some company after so much solo riding.

I’ve had the opportunity to reflect on the trip in conversations with friends and family. I’m still incredibly grateful and continue to feel lucky to have been able to take the time to complete such a journey.

One of the more succinct take-aways for me has been how a trip like I took tends to narrow one’s focus. My regular concerns were very small and specific — what clothes am I going to wear? which way should I turn? do I have enough to eat and, if not, where do I get some food?

Then, as long as those concerns were satisfied, I tended to let my mind wander into the most esoteric and existential places — what is life about? what is my place in the world? how profound is the beauty of nature?

That contrast between mindsets and the constant moving between them was one of the more interesting aspects of the trip. I hope to be able to hold on to the calm and centered feelings that I felt when I was in the long-biking-trip zone and let them reinforce the really great parts of my life.

There is no better book to close this chapter of my life with than April’s Thank You, Earth. It is a beautiful love letter to our planet and the natural world. It was read at April’s Celebration of Life and encompasses so many sentiments I hope I can retain as I trudge through my day-to-day. The book is a gift from April to all of us and I’m so happy to have it and to have known her.