Still pedaling away.

We are just over a week away from reaching the Pacific Ocean. As tired as my mind and body have gotten over the past two months, I am still enjoying every minute of this experience. Simply being so close to the end causes me to think back at everything that has happened this summer and everything that I have seen. Cities that we rode through just a few weeks ago now seem like a distant memory. Each day, I am presented with amazing new experiences and the opportunity to do something that I absolutely love. I am so blessed to be able to wake up and ride my bike all day while enjoying the company of amazing people and seeing amazing landscape. I have found myself taking a little bit longer to get into the host sight so that I can have a few more minutes on my bike each day. Everything is so simply and so perfect.

The two nights that we stayed at the Grand Canyon has been not only one of the highs for this trip, but has been one of the most enjoyable experiences of my entire life. The anticipation on the climb up to the rim was almost more that I could handle. I would find myself charging up climbs on the off chance that I would be able to catch a glimpse of the rim only to find myself disappointed and out of breath. However, the wait was worth it. I have previously visited the Grand Canyon when I was 11 years old, but that experience was nothing compared to this past weekend. I was just so overwhelmed with the vastness and the beauty that it was almost difficult to comprehend. My enjoyment was heightened by the faint sense of superiority that I felt over the other visitors who had gotten to the rim by car, bus, or motorcycle. "Oh you drove here from California? An 8 hour drive you say? Yeah, that must have been a tough car ride. Me? Oh, I've just been riding my bicycle for the past 2 months over 3000 to get here. No biggie." The stay at the Grand Canyon was capped off sitting on the canyon rim at sunset and drinking a beer with some of the best people I have ever met. I really can not say that it gets much better than that.

The hiking trails into the canyon were very tough, but really allowed for a more intimate exploration of the canyon. I got a late start in the day, but was able to fit in a 6 mile hike down below the rim. I am just so in love with being outdoors and exploring through my own power.

It is difficult to put into words how inspiring this trip has been and how much it means to me. I hope to keep the momentum from this trip and to continue on pushing myself mentally, physically, and emotionally. I have permanently raised my status quo. Perseverance and diligence has moved me over 3000 miles under my own power and I know that I am yet to reach my full potential. I am all at once inspired, anxious, and at times terrified for what that means, but I am ready to rise to the challenge. There is still so much for me to learn and so much room for me to grow but I welcome the experience and will continue to face seemingly impossible tasks with the same mentality that I have been trying to cultivate all of my life.