The long straight road ahead

Tomorrow I leave Canmore, headed to Cochrane and then the Prairies. I have had such a nice time with Susie and her parents Russell and Marilyn. I stayed an extra day and they have treated me to lots of good food, earl grey tea and conversation as well as letting me wash all my clothes. Sandra and Alan also joined us for dinner on their way back to Ottawa from a road trip up to Alaska. Susie kindly organised a physio appointment and big thanks to Lissa at Rocky Mountain Rehab and Sports Medicine Clinic for working on my neck. My bike got some attention too, the guys at Rebound Cycle gave it a quick look and sold me some new bar tape and isozone padding for the handlebars. Ryan the manager also warned me that there were not many bike shops in the Prairies and gave me his card and said if I needed anything they could ship it!!

I am a little apprehensive about the Prairies, BC exceeded my expectations on so many fronts and I hope the next leg is not too long and lonely. But when I think back to the start of the trip I was pretty terrified about the mountains, I was sure I would be pushing my bike. So many people said I was brave and that they could never do it but to be honest I had no idea I could, I just thought I would regret it if I didn't try. Even if this trip were to end tomorrow I am glad I took the risk. On one of my rest days I read this poem in a book and I have re-read it a few times.

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach for another is to risk involvement.
To expose your ideas, your dreams, before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To believe is to risk despair.
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The people who risk nothing, do nothing, have nothing, are nothing.
They may avoid suffering and sorrow, but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, live.
Chained by their attitudes they are slaves, they have forfeited their freedom.
Only a person who risks is free.
(William Arthur Ward). 

Alan, me, Sandra and Susie.

Downtown Canmore.

Vending machine outside Rebound Cycle.

New bar tape that matches my frame!!