Copyright © 2014 Jacki Rose,
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
Published in eBook format by eBookIt.com
ISBN-13: 978-1-4566-2192-6
Editing and Cover Design
by David Farkas
inspirational speaker, writer and artist living in Amherst, MA.
He can be reached at 866-4-FARKAS
About The Author
Jacki Rose is the author of five books including "Take Your Life & Love It!" and "11 Steps to Powerful Public Speaking." She offers personal development workshops designed to help people get over their negative thoughts and experiences and to move on to a happier, more fulfilling life. You can learn more about Jacki and her programs at www.JackiRose.com.
Introduction
Something Greater Is Out There For You!
Have you ever desperately wanted something that you did not get? Then, because you didn’t get it, you got something even better?
When we don’t get what we want we usually find something greater out there.
Several years ago I decided to pursue my dream. I dreamed of becoming a bicycle tour guide. I desperately wanted to spend my summer doing that, even though it didn’t pay very much. I applied and actually got an interview. I was so excited! I drove five hours there and five hours back on the same day. The interview went great. I felt I would get the job. But I wouldn’t find out until March, and this was January.
For two months I hoped and prayed I would be chosen. I started working out hard at the gym, taking spinning classes, which are very intense workouts on a stationery bike. All I thought about was getting that job and spending my summer doing what I love to do, bicycling.
What do you love to do? What if you could do it all summer long?
Finally, March came and I couldn’t wait any longer. I called them up and asked “Did I get the job?!” I was expecting to hear, “Yes you did.” But that’s not what I heard. Instead I heard “You have not been chosen.”
I was devastated. It seemed my dream was not going to come true after all. I felt rejected, disappointed, and sad. I needed to find something that would take the pain away.
No, I didn’t reach for drugs, food or alcohol. Well, I may have had a cookie. But then I picked up one of my cycling magazines, and began searching. I didn’t even know what I was searching for, but within seconds I found an ad for a bike trip across the country. I thought, “What the heck”, “I’ll just give them a call to see what it’s all about.” Three months later I was on an airplane to California to begin my cross country bike adventure.
Most people who know me know that I biked across the country, but what they don’t know is how steep the hills were. They don’t know how sick I got during the first couple of days from the high altitude or how many saddle sores I got on my derriere.
They also don’t know about the incredible people with whom I was so privileged to ride. The man with one arm who was riding a custom bike built just for him. The young guy who, after a near fatal car accident, was not expected to come out of a coma, and certainly was not expected to walk again. And, the 70-year-old women, who was, 70 years old!
These amazing people were on my bike trip across the country and I couldn’t even keep up with them!
On June 6, 1997, forty strangers from all of the country, gathered together with a common goal to ride their bikes from San Francisco to New Hampshire in 52 days.
We began our journey leaving the Pacific Ocean by pedaling across San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge and heading toward the deserts of Nevada. There we saw nothing for days, but after tackling the hills in Tahoe, we appreciated the flat terrain. Soon we were riding through the salty lakes of Utah, where we enjoyed views of the beautiful mountains.
Half way through the trip we arrived in Colorado where we caught glimpses of incredible mountain streams and peaceful green pastures until it was time for the most challenging climb of the trip. Monarch Pass is the continental divide between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. In just nine miles we climbed to an elevation of 11,312 feet! That would have been hard enough, but I had already acquired nasty, painful saddle sores.
I must admit, it was a very tough climb for me. Every now and then, I had to get off my bike and walk because of the dreadful pain. I was the last one to the top, but I made it. I found the rest of the group waiting for me, and they had been waiting quite a while! I was greeted with cheering, clapping, and sounds of “Yeah Jacki!” I was filled with a tremendous feeling of accomplishment.
There were many more challenges and many more accomplishments. After each accomplishment I was astonished at what I was capable of. When I say accomplishments, I mean interminable hills and biting headwinds, but I never gave up.
The ride continued over the roller coaster roads of Kansas and Missouri. We would climb to the top of the one hill, and then enjoy a fun ride down. When we got to the bottom, it didn’t even level out. We were immediately greeted with another climb and then another fun ride down. This went on for days.
In Indianapolis we had an opportunity to ride our bikes around the Indy 500 speedway and the Major Taylor Velodrome. What fun that was.
From Pennsylvania to New York we enjoyed the fresh sea breeze of Lake Erie. From New York to Massachusetts we were exhilarated by breathtaking views of the Berkshires although we had lots more climbing to do before the trip was over.
Finally, after 52 days, 3700 miles, and a weight loss of only ten pounds, we made it to the Atlantic Ocean in New Hampshire.
There we dipped our wheels in the ocean, congratulated each other and felt overwhelmed with emotion. Sadness because we knew we probably would never see each other again, and joy because we didn’t have to get on our bikes the next day! We also felt elation because we had accomplished what we set out to accomplish. We had experienced things most people will never experience.
Have you ever desperately wanted something, but didn’t get it? Then, because you didn’t get it, you got something even better?
My dream was to become a bicycle tour guide. Instead, I rode my bike across the country. A dream I never thought possible, and a life changing experience.
The
