A photo essay from guest Blogger Helen Steussy of The Flight Continues
Why
would
a
Mother
and
Daughter...
bike
across...
Death
Valley...
...together?
Maybe...
we were
trying
to
capture...
...a bit
of the
magic...
...from
last
summer's
bike
ride....
...across
America.
It
was
magical
last
summer...
seeing
the
grandeur
of
America....
and
the
charm...
from
the
seat
of my
Serotta.
For
50 days...
and
3,060
miles...
we
rode
with
ABB...
and
50
strangers
who
became...
...our
greatest
friends.
Together
we
faced
bridges
in
Michigan...
in
Michigan...
tunnels
in
Wisconsin....
Wyoming
Mountains...
Vermont
Hills...
Idaho
Rivers...
and
Oregon
Deserts....
Heat
Cold
Rain
Wind
and
Hail...
And it
was the
most
magical
time...
...of
our
lives!
Now
9 months
later...
we are
hungry
to taste
again...
the
magic
of
the road.
It's not
just us.
Others
from that
50 day
journey
ache
to
remember...
Some
plan
to join together
this spring
to ride
the Natchez Trace
Others
will meet
in Colorado
for a
shared ride.
Gerard
just
posted
his tattoo
Dan
wants
one, too!
(He just
stopped
by Indy
to see me for
breakfast)
Todd
just
announced
a sabbatical
from his
work
so
he can
bike
again
across a
country.
(he won't say
which one)
Al
and I
yearn
so much...
...to live
again
in that
mystical
realm
where
all that
matters
is
the wind...
...and
the rain.
So
February
for her
birthday...
...I
meet Al
in
Death Valley...
...to bike
100 miles
with
Adventure Corps.
Our warm-up
ride
Thursday
was
delightful.
Bright blue skies.
Gentle breeze.
Soft,
sunny,
warm!
Saturday -
the day
of the
century -
was
BRUTAL!
Cold!
Cruel
head wind!
Sand
and grit
blasting
into our
faces!
Why
do we
do this?!
Shoulders
hunch
against
the gale.
I huddle
behind
my daughter.
Squinting
my face
into the
storm
cadence
is stiff
One
stroke
at
a
time.
My Cat-eye
must be
broken!
It
barely
moves!
We
finally
reach
the first stop -
Badwater -
"I'm done!"
I announce.
Time for
this Mom
to
head
back....
to hotel...
car...
camera...
comfort...
I've
faced
Death Valley
and
"No thanks!"
Not today.
Besides
I'm slowing
Al down.
Her only
chance
to make it
is to leave me
behind!
My journey
back
is not easy.
Blue skies
surround
me...
white-out
ahead!
Is it rain?
snow?
sleet?
Dang!
It's dust!
That damned wind
has circled
back
to blast me
on the way
home!
I creep,
crawl
and
struggle
one
mileage
sign
at
a
time.
collapse
at
mile
2...
Dang!
It's dust!
That damned wind
has circled
back
to blast me
on the way
home!
I creep,
crawl
and
struggle
one
mileage
sign
at
a
time.
collapse
at
mile
2...
...where
a Dutch angel
picks me up
and whisks
me back
to safety!
I leap in
the car
and rush out
to
rescue Al!
I find her
- ready
to bonk -
at mile 45.
- Go for it, Al!
- I'll pick you up
when you're
ready
to drop!
What a trooper!
So while
she faces
wind
dust
and
extreme fatigue...
I take
pictures....
....of
Death Valley
flowers...
...and
fellow
hard-core
cyclists.
When I find
Al again
she has
found
new friends...
and Marc
help her battle
the winds
of Death Valley.
(They only
had a tailwind
for 7 miles).
I watch
cyclists
push
to the
limits...
...of
human
endurance...
sometimes...
with
a
smile
(?)
...and
I say
- Yes!
This is it!
This is
the magic...
...of biking!
This is
the magic...
...of life!
cyclists
push
to the
limits...
...of
human
endurance...
sometimes...
with
a
smile
(?)
...and
I say
- Yes!
This is it!
This is
the magic...
...of biking!
This is
the magic...
...of life!
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