By late winter I finally made the fateful decision to make the ride from Portland Oregon to Portland Maine. My first step was to find someone to make the ride with me. I asked everyone I know and many whom I didn’t know if they would like to make the trip with me. The common response was “Sounds great, but no thank you,” or, similar words. Early in the spring; a friend of many years, Dave Moss, offered to drive as support. (Commonly called SAG—short for “support and gear”) Quickly I accepted and the planning began.
Question #1: Can we use the trip to raise money for an important cause? Answer: Let’s approach Special Olympics Oregon.
With the help of Kelly Coates of Special Olympics Oregon, we put together a fund raising site, and a blog site to document the trip. Next we selected a route, planned a schedule, a fundraising strategy and literature. I decided to cycle the “northern tier states” essentially following US Route 2. After riding up the Columbia River Gorge and a stop in the sumptuous wine region of Walla Walla, Washington, I joined Route 2 in Spokane and traversed the Idaho panhandle, then across the Rocky Mountains at Glacier National Park. After the grueling climb, things improved as I rode downhill and across the vast Great Plains of Montana and North Dakota, through Minnesota and Wisconsin, and into the Northern Peninsula of Michigan.
Route 2 takes a hiatus for a bit, so I crossed into Canada at Sault Ste. Marie, re-emerging at the northern tip of Lake Champlain. There I rejoined Route 2 in time to struggle with the Green Mountains of Vermont and the White Mountains of New Hampshire before the final segment to the Atlantic coast at Portland, Maine, 3400 miles from the starting point. Dave created a great informational brochure and we put together of all our camping equipment, maps, schedules, supplies, etc. Dave also contacted every small-town media source hoping that we could get some news coverage about our trip and Special Olympics.
Up front I want to recognize a special someone in my life who has a lot to do with this long ride and my commitment to raise as much money as possible for the Special Olympics organization. This special person is known as Lauren. I met Lauren a few years ago and immediately we became friends. Lauren is a niece of a close friend and a Special Olympian from Nebraska. Lauren has been an inspiration to me from the very beginning and is a constant reminder to me that there is nothing that I can’t take on. I may not succeed, but the most important thing is an attitude of the possible.
As Special Olympic Oregon Athletes would say, “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.” This trip has been ripe with exposure and experiences regarding the people who work with the Olympians, others who support the Special Olympics activities; and, most importantly, the athletes themselves. Long before I even thought of the long bike ride, I had an opportunity to watch Lauren compete in a Nebraskan Special Olympics equestrian event. Lauren walked with pride as she shared her medals and awards. I walked away with a commitment to do whatever I can to further the efforts of the Special Olympics organization. I find it difficult to express in writing how personally satisfying and rewarding this ride became. Over and over people gave of themselves to make this trip successful, growth provoking, and life affirming.
People, now new friends, opened their homes to us for a comfortable night’s sleep, fine food, and wonderful conversation. Almost on a daily basis people donated what they could to the Special Olympics. The donations ranged from the teenager who gave all of the change he had in his pocket, to the custodian working at a middle school on an Indian reservation in Montana who gave every dollar he had in his wallet, to the couple who I met having stopped to asked directions--they donated $100. Nearly everyone we met had a story to tell of a family member, a relative, a friend, or a neighbor with special needs. Many, probably most, would talk about how important the Special Olympics organization and activities are to those who are involved. Dave’s effort to contact media sources paid dividends in the form of news articles as we crossed the country. Reporters would meet us for brief interviews on our schedule. For instance, Darlene Sawyer in Bagley Minnesota offered us breakfast at the local café. Unbeknownst by us she had invited a group of Special Olympians to join us. They all arrived with medals around their necks from a recent competition. One among them was a man of 75 who was proud that he also rode a bicycle and was “in the Hall of Fame in Washington.”
That is just one of the many examples of how Special Olympics’ events cause people, of all ages, to walk proud. These Special Olympians had taken a break from their work at the local thrift store. Their stories caused me to realize in a very personal way how important it is that we each have an opportunity to be engaged in productive and beneficial work. I quickly reflected on how I felt when I as a 5th grader delivering newspapers, as a high school student pumping gas, as a college student working as a school custodian, as beginning teacher, and as a founder and executive director of a large not-for-profit education firm; and now, once again, as a humble potter on the Oregon coast. We all deserve the opportunity to walk proud having contributed in the form of productive effort. Another high point in the trip was an opportunity to meet numerous Special Olympians in Traverse City Michigan. Again the result of Dave’s pre-ride efforts, the Special Olympics Organization in Michigan arranged for me to ride in the National Cherry Festival Parade in Traverse City.
I rode my bike, Dave drove the decorated truck, and we were followed by 35+ Special Olympians who rode bikes or walked. The day before the parade, a middle-aged lady talked with great pride that she was going to be in the parade. As we passed thousands of people on the parade route, people applauded the Special Olympians. To a person they walked or rode with pride and smiles on their faces. To this day, they talk about their experience in the parade. The organizers had also arranged for me to be interviewed live in studio for radio and TV news (not my favorite thing to do). However, it created more visibility for Special Olympics’ events and efforts. Memories of this adventure will be with me for the rest of my life. Prior to leaving Portland Oregon I was looking forward to the adventure, the challenge, and the opportunity to contribute in a small way to the future success of the Special Olympics.
Never did I imagine how enriching our association with Special Olympics Atheltes would be for Dave and me. In retrospect, it is clear that the Special Olympians and the numerous people associated with them have influenced and enriched my life to a much greater degree than I could ever hope to influence theirs. Much was shared through the blog about our wonderful experiences---the people we met top the list of wonders. However, not enough had been shared about the quality, integrity, and dedication of my friend, Dave Moss. His commitment and effort associated with my success has been there at every turn. All I needed to do was ride my bike. Dave was constantly looking out for my well being. When road or weather conditions were bad, he was always near by. When it was time for nourishment, I knew that he was just up the road a bit ready with either a small café or a picnic lunch under a shade tree or off the tail gate of the truck. At the end of the day he would ride ahead in search of camp sites or motels when weather was at its worst. If we were camping; he would prepare, hot well-balanced, and tasty dinners.
The wine was often open and breathing before I had completed erecting my tent. Each breakfast was preceded by a cup of French press coffee. On the days that required that I be on the road particularly early, he would break camp and follow me after the tents were dry and stored. There is no way that I can adequately express my appreciation for his support on this trek across country. Other cyclists were envious of my SAG driver.
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