Look at the world through quiet eyes.
~Howard Thurman
Hello friends. It’s been a year! Lots of change, lots of loss, many lessons, and loads of gratitude for all of the support offered by dear friends and family. I’ll certainly reflect on the happenings of this past year in future posts. For now, I am simply settling back in the saddle of Sacred Cycling by setting off on a pedaling pilgrimage across my new home state of Michigan.
This morning, starting in South Haven, on the shore of Lake Michigan, I began the Lake-to-Lake Trail, a 275-mile sojourn on trails and roads across southern Michigan. This route ends in Port Huron, MI on the shore of Lake Huron. My plan is to take about 5 days to reach the beach in Port Huron, then take a day or two off, and map out a route back home through the middle of the state.
Today was a beautiful sunny day with temperatures in the low 60s all day. Perfect cycling weather. After 40 miles of easy pedaling on the Kal-Haven Rail Tail, I am settled in a hotel in Kalamazoo.
Over 25 years ago, I spent several months working at an adventure center just outside of Kalamazoo. That was a wild and wonderful time, and K-zoo has changed dramatically. Either that, or my memory of my time here is foggier than I’d like to admit. Regardless, after arriving in the early afternoon, and getting a quick shower, I strolled around the Kalamazoo Mall, enjoying a lovely latte at Factory Coffee and a Curry Chicken wrap made by the amazing and wonderfully kind Regan at City Centre Market & Deli.
Pilgrimage is not about rest and recreation, muses Phil Cousineau. Rather, “to set out on a pilgrimage is to throw down a challenge to everyday life.” So, here I am, throwing down a challenge; pedaling with intention to witness the world, as Howard Thurman nudges me, “with quiet eyes,” in hopes of seeing something sacred along the way. I don’t really know what’s in store for me. But I do know that this trip is more than just a simple ride from point A to point B. I felt called to pedal; invited to explore my new “backyard.”
A quick note: as I so deeply appreciated many of your comments in the past, I made the sad decision, after contending with far too “inappropriate” comments, to turn off the comments section on this site. For those who have my email, please send me your thoughts. For those who do not have my direct email, please feel free to leave me a message through the “Care to Share” link on the homepage.
Thank you so much for your patience, and for your willingness to rejoin me on the road. I’m really excited to return to reflecting on life from the saddle of my metal mare. And, eager to see and experience whatever is revealed.
For now, as always, pedal on, my friends.