I have left Columbus on my shiny red Honda Goldwing several times in the past without difficulty. This time was different. It was very challenging physically, mentally, and emotionally. Maybe it’s a different time in my life. Maybe I know the challenges of the ride. Maybe it’s the unknown challenges of the ride. I don’t know, but I know it was different. So many mixed thoughts and emotions leaving Columbus State University.
It wasn’t until we drove into downtown and saw the Columbus State University nursing students and faculty waving and sharing their excitement, that I was sure I was ready to go on this ride. Seeing their excitement energized me and got me excited to get started on this journey. Thanks to Columbus State University nursing students and faculty for that.
Friday 9/3/2021 Columbus to Johnson City TN. Special Thank you to Columbus motor squad for getting us to Harris County and then a special thanks to Harris County Sheriff's Office for getting us out of Harris county. We were trying to find our place until lunch in Juliette. My friend Tommy “Duck” Frye rode and stayed through lunch. Then he said goodbye and returned to Columbus along with a few others who made the ride to Juliette. We continued to Johnson City TN.
Sunday 9/5/2021. Wow. What a day. It was the longest planned day of the entire ride by miles and It was my birthday. So many thoughts throughout the day. To think this whole “Miracle Ride” started because of a birthday. To think how many kids fight for their lives to have their first birthday. To think about the previous birthdays I’ve had. Then I heard there may be a “surprise” waiting at the hotel in New Hampshire.
The weather and the roads were less than desirable for riding a motorcycle. It rained a lot from Baltimore through New York City and most of the time onto NH. I went back to a conversation I had 2 weeks ago at country’s barbecue. I was asked some questions about the ride. I shared the ride is temporary. If it was to rain every day, we know it will only be 21 days. We know at the end of each day, we will go into a dry hotel room and be able to take off wet clothes, and be free of the wetness. There are families who are not sure of today, and have no idea what tomorrow will bring to them. What we are doing is temporary to make a permanent difference in the life of a child. Makes our challenges seem so minimal.
Monday 9/6/2021 Portsmouth NH to Batavia NY. First gas stop was early. Met Mark in the gas station who asked who we are and where we’re going. As I started to share the story, I noticed a tear, then another. He was very touched by what we are doing. He asked for a website so I gave him a card with all the information He said thank you for what you guys are doing and walked away. I’m not sure what his story is, but obviously he has been through something that was painful.
As we were riding through small communities, we passed a couple of colleges, universities, and hospitals. I began to think What’s their story? Who’s telling the story of their college, their university, their hospital? We are sharing our very own Columbus State University throughout the entire ride with each person we get a chance to talk with or that sees the stickers on the bikes and checks out the website.
The miles are great time of reflection on our own story.
More from the road later.
Steve