Peace on the Peninsula

Day 8 (17 July) (Day 8 distance biked 43.17 miles): I departed the campground after the 3 P.M. checkout and headed off following my Google Maps  bicycle route. I am not looking at the route details closely during this trip. I am not concerned about elevation profiles that lay ahead or the details along the route that might interest me or impact me. So when Google Maps bicycle route option takes me from a road with no shoulder or shade and routes me onto dedicated hiker/biker trails it is a welcomed surprise. Day 8 led me onto the North Coast Inland Trail. Contrary to what I said above, once I found myself on the trail,  I did look at the distance of the trail to gauge how long I might be biking on the trail and to see if I could glean where I might possibly stop for the night. I biked until a tiny bit of sunlight remained post-sunset and set up my tent, fired up my stove and had some instant noodles for dinner that night. Well, in setting up my tent that night, I didn’t ensure that my tent stakes were properly secured and I awoke somewhere before 5 A.M. to a non-stop flashing of lightning in the sky and very strong winds thrashing my tent. The rain came and the winds increased and I paid for improperly setting up my tent. Tent pegs loosened and some pulled completely out as the gusts increased and I watched my tent rainfly blow off my tent. I jumped out of my tent, barefoot in the rain, non-stop lightning lighting up the sky and expected to be endlessly chasing my tent. Fortunately, I did not get electrocuted and my rainfly was caught on a nearby fixed object. After securing my tent properly this time, I crawled inside my tent and sponged up the pooled water and squeezed it outside. I took off my clothes and didn’t bother trying to put on dry clothes because it was warm. I wrapped myself in my damp synthetic lightweight blanket and went back to sleep.

Day 9-10 (18-19 July) (Day 9-10 distance biked 54.7 miles) After waking up and shaking the water off my gear the best I could, I continued on my route through the town of Fremont.  I remember seeing a man from a distance, walking in the same direction on the other side of the road. He had some dark object in his hand that I couldn’t make out and in light of all the shooting violence going on, I briefly wondered if he was carrying a handgun. He wasn’t, it was a  hand-held meter reading device. When I passed, the man queried from across the street to where I was going and I replied “DC to Anchorage.” A few minutes later, a  tall and lean gentleman riding a bike with panniers in the opposite direction drew closer and he biked across the street to me and we started to chat. Well, it turns out Shayl from the UK ( his website, offonmybike.com) has been cycling around the world through something like 25 countries for 15 or so months. We chatted for about 15 minutes. During our conversation, I kept internally comparing how much lighter his gear appeared to be than mine and I just kept thinking I have way too much and any problem I have or will experience will pale in comparison to his journey. One topic of conversation was complete strangers offering a place to stay and food. He had just left a family that offered that kindness for the night and I told him about the kind police officer and the woman offering the cup of coffee, but I had yet to be offered refuge and welcome by a complete stranger. We departed ways, and I left with my spirit boosted by my brief encounter with Shayl who was heading to New York to complete his journey. I stopped at a local deli just yards away and bought potato salad and macaroni salad for the road.

The man walking through the street earlier with the hand-held reader came into the deli and he struck up a conversation with me and introduced himself as Justin Held. Justin said he knows what it is like trying to do what I was doing and how the offer of a warm place to stay, shower and food to eat can be helpful to someone like me because he has hiked sections of the Appalachian Trail with his good friend. Justin kindly offered his home in Grand Rapids, Ohio and so I checked my route and saw that it was in the same direction, maybe a little off-path and about 50 miles down the road. I gladly accepted. That path took me into punishing headwinds in open, unsheltered farm country and made me doubt my decision even if it was a tiny bit off my path.

I couldn’t have been more wrong, Justin and I clicked and I truly am happy to have met Justin and have made a close friend for life. I was able to meet Justin at what appears to be a monumental intersection of great, positive change happening in both his personal and professional life and to be let into the intimate details of someone’s life so quickly was way beyond anything expected . Justin recently got engaged to the love of his life, Amanda, who I unfortunately was unable to meet because she is off for a few weeks fulfilling her Air National Guard committment somewhere in Europe. Besides being in the Air National Guard, Amanda dedicates her time and passion, as the founder and president of H.O.O.V.E.S (Healing of Our Veterans through Equine Assisted Services) a non-profit organization that “incorporates rescue horses in experiential workshops to heal, develop and grow our heroes of the past, present and future.” Her organization provides their services at no costs to veterans or family members. Please take a moment to visit her website at (www.hooves.us).

Besides our interests in outdoor activities,  Justin impressed me through his creative artistic pursuits in sculpturing (www.jghcreations.com). I also was able to witness his balancing multiple jobs; city meter reading and his deck and painting business (facebook.com/Helds-Quality-New-Deck). I am leaving Grand Rapids rested and inspired by a new friend who took time out of his life to help a complete stranger.