A phone-call to bring this story full circle: Although cycling in America was, and remains, a long-term goal, it was made possible partly due to the motivation provided by Chuck & Gemma’s wedding. So it is neat that I post this just after Gemma called for what turned into a lengthy catch-up. We chatted as all good friends can, free of judgement and about all sorts. Rarely do I enjoy phone conversations as much. Actually I am rather odd on the phone. I prefer calling over texting, but am less good at the long phone conversations. I have a conversation window of about 10mins on the phone. I’ll spare you the details of this call but she asked how the new job was, and we joked at how Nicci is growing up and that Gemma is already married and we were scavenging hedgerows to make homemade jams etc...
To cut a long story short, Gemma winds up saying
“Oh speaking of growing up, I’ve got some news...!” Congratulations readied on my lips as the last time she had uttered such a sentence it had been to tell me of her engagement. You can imagine the list of ‘news’ that ran through my head here...
My point in bringing up the phone call was one of plans. The future doesn’t wait to happen, it occurs every moment in the present and the journey we have taken stays with us. Have I changed?
I think that it must be almost impossible not to change. Maybe if I had been travelling and cycling for 20 years...maybe then I would not change so noticeably. But change always happens and I like this. Too often the mistake is made that change is bad. Comfort is good and I seek it as much as the next person, but change doesn’t have to irradicate comfort, and it can help avoid the pitfalls of complacency.
So yes I have changed. Crucially I think that had I written these reflections earlier this year I would not have felt the change so profoundly. It helps that I have moved jobs and moved house since arriving back in the UK. Chuck has even turned 30 now!
Given the experience, and how clearly I needed to formulate plans and solutions to issues along the tour, I feel the ability to analyse situations better. Not necessarily in the field of my new work- teaching kids from incredibly tough social and emotional backgrounds- but in making decisions plans for achieving results.
Reminiscing over time spent in Charleston I have come to an interesting conclusion.
Either I was the luckiest guy in town that day and happened upon some seriously cool people at exactly the right time, or I live in the wrong place. If this kind of acceptance is more apparent in that part of the world it is a lifestyle I have been hunting and now the question I ask is where do I find it again. The easy acceptance of a stranger is hard to come by in England, in my experience, and I have many small ideas as to why this might be the case but it isn’t important. What is important is the simple observation- my point of view on the matter. I have tried and to an extent succeeded in finding the same sort of hospitality in my own house last year so I know it can be done. Now I wish to find this again.
The next thing for me is to formulate my next challenge. Work is certainly providing one at the moment but the experience of adventure, and the cycling were incredible. I will tell you of a dream of mine...I wish to canoe the lakes in the west of Ireland, and as I have mentioned previously, to cycle the west coast of America. The idea of cycling in America started from just such a vague thought and it stayed with me for almost seven years before it came to fruition. I hope it won’t be that long for the next adventure...
So that’s almost it from me here. I come at last to the close. At the moment I feel fitter, stronger mentally and a lot poorer! It is the financial issue that prevents further journeying for the moment, but while I cannot take on another journey just yet, I can keep writing.
It would be my pleasure if you found just one thing in what I write that inspires or challenges. I strongly urge everyone to undertake a challenge like mine; do as I did and make it your own challenge. Go at a pace that suits you and seize all the opportunities that present themselves.
With love, Phil
P.S The news from Gemma on the phone...that story belongs to her! But for those of you who I met and haven’t met Gemma and Chuck, they are aiming to buy a house together. Not babies yet- which was my first thought! Congrats to them!
