I'm riding my bicycle, and writing a journal. Nothing will be edited, free-flow from my mind to keys, at the end of everyday, on 1800 km bicycle adventure, I'll write something. This is what is on my mind today. I’m not trying to be a good writer.

Grit

We never test our resilience. Life is comfortable - for most of us - we can buy whatever we want, whenever we want it. We don't even need to have the money. We work with our minds not our bodies. Patience is not a skill practiced, but a problem to be cured. What if we slowed down and took life at a different pace?

If you watch the news, you'd think the world is a terrible and scary place. Most of us have or know parents who teach their kids that strangers are evil and the world is full of danger.

But... If you get on your bicycle and pedal - far enough - you'll find countless numbers of kind people. You might learn that the world is necessarily full of beautiful souls who are willing to support a total stranger for no other reason other than joy,

The purpose of riding so far, from Seattle to San Francisco (1800 km) is to remember that the world - both natural and civilized - is inherently good. 

The idea for this ride has come from several people. First Martijn Doolard, a Dutchman, who ride his bicycle from Vancouver, Canada to Patagonia, Chile. He wrote a book about his 19,000 km journey and I read it. I was immediately hooked by the raw beauty one can wake up to everyday, as well as the unique places and people one can encounter. His adventure combined a love for bicycles with a passion for travel and photography with a style I didn't know was possible.

Next came friends, Kate and David, who were intimately familiar with the type of bicycle touring I read from Martin's book. David has been bicycle touring all over the world for leisure. He had ridden Saudi Arabia into Israel, across the United States, and soon to be Vietnam. David being in his sixties made it clear that bicycle riding does not need to be an olypmic endeavor, but can be pleasant and contemplative. Kate introduced me to her neighbor who has been a part of Adventure Cycling and gave me immense support and recommendations. 

My girlfriend's Swedish uncle rode his bicycle in the 1970's from Sweden, across West Germany, and into Belgium. The list goes on...

I began to realize that crossing a country, or entire continent by bicycle was a common experience for so many, but a foreign concept for me until recently. I started dreaming my route up in the depths of winter in New York City. California Dreamin' I suppose.

Accomplishments

Recently I woke up and realized that I haven't accomplished anything. I haven't hit the mid-life crisis yet, but perhaps a contemporary-youth-existentialism is appropriate. Now, in this moment, I am healthy, young (pun), and objectively free shape my experiences. Freedom doesn't happen in retirement. Health doesn't come at 65. Why not now?

There should be an element of discomfort in exploring your limits. I should feel exhausted, uncertain, and surprised - everything a modern life attempts to eliminate, I want to reintroduce. Sleep on the ground. Be hungry for a while. Get knocked around by mother nature. Why do we run from these things? What if struggling, nature, discomfort, and beauty is what we need to be ourselves?

Rambling

I toss and turn in my mind trying to determine what is the purpose of living? Society tells us it is to desire to he comfortable, productive, and wealthy. Less than 0.0002% of human existence has been spent in western, industrialized, educated, rich, and democratic environments. We did not evolve with complex economies, carbon energy, or digital technology. 

I don’t think we should reject the comforts or aspirations or modern life, but balance them out. This is my attempt to balance my life. I hope it works.

Thanks for reading

Jacob