Admitting our own errors and misjudgments demands at least a modicum of humility. Our lives are driven by goals, destinations, and visions of the types of people we hope to be. And most of the actions we take every day are somehow tied to these goals. But we change. And when these changes conflict with […]

Posted on October 12th, 2007 by Derrick
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With only a few days remaining, I awoke this morning reflecting on all the wonderful people we have met along the way. Pat in Seattle who gave us her personal map of the city. The hotel manager in Yakima who sat with us for an hour examining routes. The dozens of restaurant owners whom allowed […]

Posted on October 9th, 2007 by Derrick
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The spirit of freedom and enthusiasm upon which we conjured this trip has been reignited on our last evening in Los Angeles as we admired the setting sun while speeding along the open Pacific in a sailboat. I had never sailed before, but once Jason—the seasoned sailor among us—commanded that Gigi and I sit upon […]

Posted on October 8th, 2007 by Derrick
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Our friend Gigi (MAPP ’06) has allayed her initial fears and decided to join us en route for a few days. Donning her bright yellow cycling vest as she powers up the challenging climbs of the Big Sur coastline, she has proven that building self-efficacy in a new, intimidating pursuit is not only possible but […]

Posted on October 1st, 2007 by Derrick
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The word for today is undeniable and bold: karma.
A few days ago I had been imagining myself as a sponge. After traveling for weeks, living out of the two small bags strapped to the sides of my bicycle with very little to offer the world, I have been amazed and comforted by the ever-present willingness […]

Posted on September 28th, 2007 by Derrick
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Having crossed the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco not long ago, our temporary travel partner Dmitry has now departed, leaving Jason and I with some more free time for reflection.
This city is absolutely amazing! Too much to explore intimately in the little time we’ve allotted. Gorgeous Muir Woods and Golden Gate Park. Cultural vibrancy […]

Posted on September 25th, 2007 by Derrick
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Over the past few days we watched Taming of the Shrew at Oregon’s famous Shakespeare festival, sandboarded down dunes (similar to snowboarding without the snow), camped on the beach, and climbed a mountain road called Seven Devils. Today, however, the real adventures began.
Working our way towards the California border in southwest Oregon, today’s destination was […]

Posted on September 17th, 2007 by Derrick
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After a bit of a detour into easter Washington, Dmitry and I spent the last day and a half exploring the beuatiful Columbia River Gorge leading into Portland, Oregon where we arrived this evening. Having had to handle a few bicycle repairs, Jason remains a day or two behind us, but plans to meet us […]

Posted on September 10th, 2007 by Derrick
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As I prepared to embark on this journey a few weeks ago with no set plan other than our ultimate destination, the one pillar of certainty I felt I could rely on was the presence of my traveling partner Jason. Today that certainty has crumbled beneath me.
One of my college buddies, Dmitry (who was also […]

Posted on September 5th, 2007 by Derrick
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On a journey of 2,000 miles, one should never conceive of the entire distance at once. The sheer magnitude of it all sabotages the mind and freezes the legs. This can be particularly counterproductive on the first few pedal strokes of a half mile, 12% gradient hill, as I discovered Monday afternoon just before crossing […]

Posted on August 30th, 2007 by Derrick
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