Lightbulb – ON

This weekend was amazing. It being warm and sunny in May in WA, you don’t pass up the opportunity to get some of that sunshine because you never know what tomorrow will be like. So, I went for a short ride. It’s been ages since I’ve gone for a solo ride and I almost forgot how nice that is. Nobody to worry about and with only myself to keep from getting run down by cars, it was certainly one of the more relaxed rides I’ve been on in a while. Turns out I’m pretty good at not getting run over.

With only my thoughts to keep me entertained, I began hatching a plan. Recent “Big Life Changes” have left me feeling unsure about the future so I thought the ride would be good to work some of it out. I always do my best thinking on the bike and it worked.

Here’s how it went:

Over the last  15 years, I’ve taken 2 major bike tours across the US. In ’96 it was West to East and in 2000 it was North to South. It’s time to go again but where? First thought – Mongolia. Second thought, complicated but do-able. Third thought, where else can I go? Answer, CANADA. I’ve always wanted to travel coast to coast in Canada. Perfect.

That night I got a call from my mom, it was Mother’s Day after all. Some might choose to keep an idea like this to themselves for a while, but I was excited (I’m easily excitable) and I told her about my idea for the next trip. Like the terrific mother she is, she expressed concern about me traveling for months on end by myself. I assured her I would take some Karate classes before the trip and that seemed to appease her. After a few moments I heard a gasp and then, “I’ll be retired by then and I can go with you!”

Now, I don’t when the last time you spent more than a couple of days, (or hours for most), with your mother was but it’s been years for me. At first I wasn’t sure but the more I think about it, the more I think it would be fantastic. My mom is strong, adventuress and crafty. And how many people get to share something they love so much with someone they love so much? I feel lucky to have a mom who not only fully supports these crazy endeavors but wants to do them with me. Lucky indeed.

I started looking at maps, checking mileage, and calculating time and funds required. It’s totally attainable in 3-4 years if not too much else changes between now and then. For some reason I like the way 2014 sounds… More research is required but I can’t wait to get to the east coast. New Foundland & Labrador are places I’ve always wanted to go. I mean, how bad can a place be that is named after really nice breeds of dogs?

So, here’s to hatching plans and the proverbial light bulb getting switched on. Cheers!