Some Closing Thoughts & Thanks

I have come to the end of the road! Quite literally! I find it surprisingly hard to believe that over the last month I rode my bicycle 1,819 miles from Stillwater, OK to Key West, Florida. It does not feel real to have woken up every morning, get on my bike, and ride it all day long. While pedaling down the road may have filled my days it was definitely not the content.

Nearly every inch traveled was new to me and the distance was not only measured in mile markers but with friends and family. Be they old or new relationships they all seemed to ask the same question: "Why?" As if they expected me to be prepared with some rehearsed, definite answer. They appeared to be satisfied when I replied with a keywest4kayla.blogspot.com charity flyer but I did not begin this journey with an answer to "why." I, myself, am not even sure how this all began.

Maybe it was merely an adventure, a challenge, a test of my physical capabilities, to discover if I was mentally strong enough to overcome the urge to quit something so taxing, to raise some awareness and money for Kayla, to see just how good of a planner I really am, how I would react to all the unforeseeable obstacles that are impossible to plan for, to see just how stubborn I truly am, to uphold my motto of always doing what I say I will, prove I am capable, to find direction in my life, experience some sort of epiphany, uncover the secrets of life, to be someone instead of anyone, because someone said I couldn't, or just to ride to a warm, tropical destination.

And, in conclusion, it is not any one of those reasons, but a combination of them all - woven together in a complicated fashion in which one clear, definite answer can not be separated from the others and stand alone. The depths of my reasons go beyond any explanation. And, I am completely content with that because this has been the most meaningful, un-pointless ride of my life. Yes, it was hard. Yes, it was long and monotonous at times. Yes, there was at least one day I wanted to quit (between Lafayette and Morgan City, LA). No, I am not riding my bike back. But, what I have learned about myself and others, the places I've seen, the people I've met are simply irreplaceable. I can not say I have not lived.

Thank you Ron Meredith, Travis Chipres, Mom, Helen & Jim Reeves, Amanda Hoddy, Mikey & Linda Ratliff, Andrew Atchison, Andrew's Papa, Jenna Plumley, Ashley Crawford, Robert Davenport, John Moon & Niki, the Engeron family, Brittany List, Robert Siler, Robert & Travis, the Tyrone Injury & Wellness Center, Reale Bicycles, Derek Brice & Chris, Levi Branson, Jesse Gaud, Madill Subway, Kayla Nimmo, Cooper's Bicycle, Corey Whaley, Adrian Overton, Jerimy Cottino, Kurt Stebbins, everyone who gave me words of encouragement along the way (Lora, Pearle, Tedric, Mirella, DJ, Beth, Lisa, Robert Green, Tone, Randy, Mo, JC, Rene, Jon, Anthony, Tabi, Barber, Danielle, Brittany Bailey, Kaelyn) and everyone who donated!

P.S. The direction of life is always forward and the destination is only limited by your own imagination.