lost and found in retirement
I pedaled through dark tunnels of green with mountain laurel to my right and the sound of rushing waters to my left for three days. The forest unfolded and the sun streamed on my bike as the trail approached Meyersdale. The view ahead was stunning. The Salisbury viaduct appeared as a ribbon of steel and concrete high above the expansive open valley. Wind turbines rimmed…
I pedaled west from Berea towards Sandusky from the starting line of the 2010 Bike MS 150 Pedal to the Point. I was surrounded by 2,400 cyclists, most of them much more experienced, fitter, and on much more expensive bikes. I questioned if I had any right to cycle with them. I was a new cyclist, only a year out of getting on my bike…
February 21, 1970 was not a typical Saturday morning. I would normally be glued to the TV watching cartoons. Instead, I was preparing to visit my father in Alliance City Hospital. He was being transferred out of intensive care. A phone call that morning changed my world. The call from the hospical infomred my mother that my father had passed away. My dad lived an…
I nervously scanned the people in the conference room at Summa Akron City Hospital on that cold January night in 2008. I was taking my first step towards bariatric surgery by attending a weight loss seminar. I saw a cross-section of obese people who appeared to be equally as uneasy. I suspect my newer friends and followers may not know I had bariatric surgery. I…
Community I toured Florida’s Space Coast in early spring on Bike Florida’s supported weeklong tour. Like Ohio’s GOBA, this ride is a moving community of cyclists where people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities return to renew friendships and make new friends. Flavor I returned to the North Carolina Coastal Tour in late April. Mom and pop diners and dives are on my radar on…
I battled bad habits most of my life. Vince Lombardi once said, “Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing.” This points out, there are habits that are good that need to become part of our life. I have worked on moving many of my bad habits to the good habit side over the past 10 years. Resolutions will be in your mind as the…
My 2018 bicycle touring season has drawn to a close. Retirement freed my calendar for things that make me happy. Exploring the world on my bike makes me happy. I am a learner, a person who seeks to learn more. My learning experiences are typically about things that intrigue me. There are times when these experiences lead me to learn more about myself. Here are…
Last week I set out on my first solo bike tour. It was a time of apprehension and anticipation. I was uncertain what I would find out about myself and solo touring. It was a wonderful experience, something I will do more of in the future. Here is what I learned about life from my week in the saddle. Every day is a new adventure….
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