Friday, July 18, 2003

I have a difficult phone call to make. For a month now I've been trying to get a hold of my peace corp rep to break the news that I'm not going and try to get information about postponing my leaving. It's a decision I've made for sure now, I'm not going (yet). Now I have a lot to deal with.

Gradschool. What a scary word. Do I have the grades? What places don't suck? Are there enough options around that Qehn and I agree on AND that we can both make it into? It's going to be hard, but worth fighting for.

Ever since I've made the decision not to go my life has suddenly opened back up. I still want to join the peace corps, go to the carribean, africa, etc, but I can't do it without her. I feel like I've been given a stay of excecution. I can be with her forever now. I believe all the things I want to do I can still do, and that I've made the right decision, because now I can do them with her. I feel free.

I'm in Omaha right now on my third day of rest from the Roadshow. Tomorrow I start riding again - only 20 miles, to the start of RAGBRAI. Ah, RAGBRAI! The party begins once again. Qehndrah managed to visit the last three days, it was wonderful. She had to go back this morning, but she'll return tomorrow night and spend RABGRAI with me. Then, it's only 20-some days and I'll be finished biking across the damn country and be home again. We're past halfway now.

Every once in awhile it dawns on me what I'm actually doing. I've ridden through Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Nebraska so far. Completely self supported and on our own we've had to deal with everything that this country can throw at us, and made it through. It's been 10x harder than I thought it would be, but we've punted and improvised and survived every little setback, wrong turn, bike problem, freak weather, headwind, mountain, drought, and psycho RV that has been thrown at us.

We are truly becoming survivalists. I've been scrounging in dumpsters for food, bathing in streams, riding 50+ miles between water and sleeping in dugouts and under tables. I've overhauled bikes by the side of the highway while screaming semi-trucks fly past. I've hungerly scarfed down stale bread at the top of mountains 10,000 feet in the air. I've flown 40 mph down hairpin turns, cranked 4 mph up 7 and 8 percent grades for hours, and powered at 8 mph through 60 miles of headwinds and over construction. Semi's and RV's have passed 6 inches from me going 60 mph - more than once, showering me with stinging gravel.

I've been cut, sunburned, dehydrated, sick, hungry, and sleep deprived for much of the trip. I have saddle sores, and aching knees, hamstrings, and achilles. .... I have to use butt-lube...

Man, it rules. Adventure is easy to have. You don't need money, you don't need shit. Go walk somewhere, bike somewhere, do something. I met a person who works intermittently, saves up 2-3 thousands dollars and then just travels/hikes/bikes for a year or two. Completely nomadic and exploring the world. I know people that did the same trip I'm doing last year for $50 dollars a month by eating out of dumpsters and sleeping under bridges. Money is not the issue. Work for 6 month, quit, and have a year of adventure. If you truly believe humans weren't supposed to live under flourescent lights, 9-5 jobs are not the way to exist, and that school is worthless, than fuck it. Don't do any of that, go have the adventures you want to have. All it take is a *teeny* bit of effort.

Living is easy, all it takes it practice.

ILYQ

Posted by Seager @ 02:28 PM CST Link |

Monday, July 7, 2003

It's been a long month since I've posted last. I'm currently still on the Roadshow biking across the country. For those of you that live in a hole, read the updates HERE at the roadshow diary.

Now for some personal news. My time away from Qehndrah has caused me to rethink the peace corp. I'm thinking about not leaving until I can join with her, and we can go in as a married couple. I've realize from the time apart that it is not a good feeling, and I don't want to leave her again. I'll try to keep some word here as to what I decide.

I've begun to look like a starvation victim. My weight is the same due to muscle, but I've lost all my bodyfat. It's kinda wierd. I have neat tan lines too. Uhm... my contact died so I've been wearing glasses... uhm... I dunno. The roadshow diary pretty much sums most everything up.

Oh.. WYOMING SUCKS! IT SUCKS! There is nothing here, lots of headwinds, and yokels. Tons of dumb yokels. *sigh* I can't believe I can't wait to get to Nebraska. Freakin Nebraska is like our new mecca. Soon I will be on RAGBRAI, and all will be well. Yay! Lovin!

ILYQ

Posted by Seager @ 04:36 PM CST Link |