Waypoints & Guidance

North Fork in May?

 Drawing Forward

Three are times that writing just doesn't come at all. Despite having a lot to say and more to reflect...it just won't formulate a sentence, much less an entire post. If there is one thing that endurance events develop, it is a character trait that compels one to keep driving ahead. Over time, you will learn to keep driving toward the great unseen thing well over the horizon. Always respecting the here and now, you have to keep that vision of what is known to be, but yet cannot see - always driving forward. Moreso, the pain and affliction along the way have to be taken as only temporary. The object, hard to see but only in your mind, has to remain as clear in your soul as though it defines you and by default - you define it in the end.

A brief little Sunday afternoon get-away to Utaba.

A light has gone out

Sunday morning I caught the news I new would come someday - although not appreciating the inevitable and absolute emptiness that always accompanies such life events. Perhaps that light flickered for those close to the situation, adding to the anguish of what was happening - only to eventually be completely removed. Regardless, a light that shined ever so bright for too many people, has been removed. A beacon of truth and direction that gave a certain guidance, that only could be appreciated after an enveloping darkness has replaced it - or has it? As that light has gone it's course, it served to guide us forward into the open, that we could see without it's brilliant illuminance. What we thought would have been a remaining darkness is actually an enhanced ability to see the brilliance of what does in fact remain for us - those left behind.

I took a few minutes this evening to swing by and pay my respects - but to also see a dear old friend. He just celebrated his 90th birthday, but is left to make it without his better half of nearly eight decades. One of the last to be left standing, its hard to explain how difficult it is to think that someday that light will also be gone. As with his other half, that light guided so many, so far back, it is only with sentiment that we long for those days of our past - when that light was always our guide. I have been fortunate - blessed to have had those lights in my life. 

A storm lowing in over the Black Mountain

Seeing "it" come....

Watching that storm blow in over the Black Mountain Sunday evening was a cold reminder of what we know is coming, but dismiss as just another storm. We know what's coming, but yet shrug it off as just another squall. Perhaps we can learn to appreciate all opportunities and not walk past those that may never come our way again. Perhaps we never will - until we can no longer reach out and touch that of which we now take for granted. Lets not let that next opportunity blow by again.........

A helluva week trying to beat the weather. More hill intervals for now, with regular indoor stuff to bridge the gap. A few minor adjustments to the hardtail, with the new saddle. I think a good long ride is in order. Suck it up, dress for the weather and just get passed the minor inconveniences we think set us back.

Click here for "Play Me" Neil Diamond

Pulling for Reed - Ride HARD!