Pedaling Chronicles - Day 27

Finding Gratitude on a Forced Rest Day

"Life is full of surprises; sometimes you just have to embrace the detours." – Unknown

Week 4: Fredericksburg, TX - Austin, TX - LaGrange, TX - Navasota, TX - Cleveland, TX - Lumberton, TX - DeRidder, LA

We’ve arrived in Cleveland, Texas after a day that unexpectedly turned into a rest day for me—at least from cycling. This shift was both a source of frustration and blessing.

We had planned for an early start at 7:30 a.m., aiming to complete our ride early enough to make it to Houston for a dinner at our place. However, my bike had other ideas. Just as we were gearing up to set off, I discovered that the rear gears weren’t shifting. This left me with only one gear in the back and two in the front, which could work for a day but would be completely unmanageable with 15 more days of riding ahead.

On the bright side, we were only a short distance from Houston, which became a silver lining in the day’s unexpected turn of events. I hopped into Tara's lovely RV for a ride. During our journey, I had a chance to learn more about her and her job. Although she was here primarily to assist Terry when we weren’t riding, her presence has often provided a much-needed sense of comfort, especially when we've required a second vehicle. It was bittersweet to know that today was her last day on the tour, as one of her colleagues was flying in from San Francisco to take her place. I encouraged her to speak with Terry about joining us in St. Augustine to celebrate; it felt important that she remains connected to our growing group.

Once we arrived home, I headed straight to the Trek Bicycles store, where the staff was remarkably accommodating. Upon explaining that I was in the midst of a cross-country biking adventure, they prioritized my bike repair. In just 30 minutes, Dhanno was fixed and ready for the road again. The technicians weren't entirely sure what had caused the issue, but I suspected the shower I had inadvertently given Dhanno the night before might have affected some components. Leaving the store, I felt a wave of relief and gratitude that it was a relatively quick fix.

While I was at my favorite bike shop, I decided to pick up a much-needed rain jacket—I can’t believe I waited so long to get one! I also treated myself to a massage, which truly felt refreshing.

Back at home, Namrata was in full swing, preparing for dinner and ensuring every detail was perfect for our friends driving in from Cleveland. Payal, Gaurav, Samir Bhaiya, Pranika Bhabhi, Tristram, Ashley, Vaughan, and Tracy joined Norman, Terry, his wife Suzzy, Chuck, Martin, Don, and Jackson. The evening was filled with laughter and camaraderie. Conversations flowed effortlessly, and I felt with each shared story we deepened our bonds as a circle of friends.

As the night wore on, we reluctantly had to pull ourselves away, knowing we needed to return to our hotel about 90 minutes away to rest for tomorrow’s ride.

While I felt a tinge of disappointment at having missed a day of cycling, reflecting on the day evokes immense gratitude within me. My bike breaking down close to Houston ultimately led to a safe ride with Tara, a speedy repair at Trek, and a memorable evening spent with friends who filled our home with warmth and blessing. In this moment of reflection, it struck me that our family had grown—what more could I possibly wish for?

"We do not remember days; we remember moments." — Cesare Pavese

Song of the day: Ae Zindagi Gale Lagaa Le from the film Sadma