Day 7 of our cross country cycling trip was a much-needed rest day. It was a day to recover from the physical and mental exhaustion of cycling across the country, and most importantly, to spend time with my family. Being away from them while riding has been the hardest part of this journey. I miss them every day, and no climb or miles could compare to not being with them.
But today was different. Today, I got to spend time with them. I got to hold my wife in my arms, play with my kids, and catch up on all the little things I had missed while on the road. We went for a walk and just enjoyed being together.
It was a day of rest, both physically and mentally, but also a day of rejuvenation. It reminded me of why I was doing this, why I was pushing myself to ride across the country. It wasn’t just for the thrill of the adventure or the sense of accomplishment, but also for the love of my family and the desire to show them that anything is possible with determination and hard work.
And as I spent time with my family, I couldn’t help but think about my wife, Erin, and all that she has done to make this journey possible. She has taken on the challenge of running K-Pro, managing the house, shuttling the kids to school and all their extracurriculars, planning trips to come see me, and giving the kids extra love and cuddles while I will be away for eight weeks. She had done all this while being my rock, supporting me and encouraging me every step of the way.
I couldn’t thank her enough for all that she does. She was the reason I was able to pursue this dream, and her love and support were the fuel that kept me going through the challenging moments on the road.
I also want to thank my kids, Eli and Ivy I know this is tough on them, too. But I have heard they are handling it well and even doing extra around the house to help mom.
In the end, Day 7 was a reminder of the power of love and the importance of family. It was a reminder that, no matter how far we may travel, they are always in our hearts. And it was a reminder to never take them for granted and to cherish every moment we have with them. I’m going to miss them when they leave and will be counting down the miles until I get to see them again.