I Wanna See it When You Find Out What Comets, Stars, and Moons Are All About

A lot of you ask how this trip came to be...and as stated in a previous blog post, in short, it was an epiphany had when the timing of a magazine article collided with the moment I was figuring out what being "all in" was really about. At least, that's when I figured it out...but it really goes back about 7 years to a chilly January afternoon in Washington, D.C. And for those that don't believe in things working out in mysterious ways, just read on...it took me 6 years to grasp it all. If it were not for the following events I am positive, beyond any doubt, that I would not be on this ride today:

President Obama's first inauguration.
A flippant request for a reserved seat at said historical event.
A flippant request being granted.
Standby tickets on Southwest.
A friends sister living in Arlington.
A 5 minute shuttle bus encounter at Arlington National Cemetery with the Omaha Police Department.
Email exchange of pictures with OPD.
Cordial conversations spanning years in-between.
A RAGBRIA Ride (a bike ride across the state of Iowa with 20,000 of your closest friends) and a happen chance introduction of a dance dad from Star, Idaho and a police officer from Omaha, Nebraska...and the connection of a mutual friend.
A divorce.
Cordial conversations spanning months, weeks, or days via text.
Bicycling Magazine.
Epiphanies of being all in.
A breakup.
And a friend that makes you feel human.

...and that's how the blue bike, named Cheshire, came to be. I walked into Bob's Bicycles in Boise, Idaho as the owner of 4 bikes...and walked out as the owner of 5 bikes...and I hadn't bought a new one...I was confused at the salesman's statement, "this is your bike, you've just been asked to pay it forward...you can take it now, or later, but it's yours..."

I am proud to call John, an Omaha police officer, my friend...although we've only met for a very brief 5 minute encounter in our nations cemetery, I have never had a friend be as rock solid as he. Thanks for being there buddy, and for respecting the unknown adventures of life as much as I do. You are my kind of friend...someday you ride The Big Dummy and I'll ride Cheshire and meet you where there are 4 billion stars to sleep under against the backdrop of breathtaking beauty...that would be rad!