the real thang

Morning on Ocean Avenue. Nice day, cool and calm, a good day to ride. Although I won't be riding along with Kevin and Darryl today my thoughts and hopes will. I'll drive the support vehicle, shop for food, bike parts, make the meals. When I signed on to help for the first month of this ride I didn't really know why I wanted to do it except that I'm a vagabond at heart and this was clearly an adventure. I could slow down and veiw this great and magnificent land from a different prospective. This falls into the realm of hitchhiker or hobo, days meander and life enters. With that comes the sense of being in the right place at the right time. This morning follows that truth. Darryl and Kevin begin their ride from the Santa Monica Beach Pier and as if planned find the more than 2000 white crosses representing the fallen soldiers from the Iraq war stretching out across the sand. This moving tribute called Arlington West has been active for 2 years placing the crosses, names, photos of loved ones in the sand each Sunday. The numbers continue to grow. Not only do they represent those that have died but also the wounded and disfigured veterans that are seldom talked about. I was deeply moved. I was troubled by my previous apathy and feeling of helplessness. It was more than good to see people taking action and speaking out about what is going on. And so for me already this trip has grown to mean so much more. An opportunity to stand behind my beliefs AND with the motion of my hand on the wheel and Darryl and Kevin's feet spinning round and round the crank shaft we might make a wee ripple in these all too quiet waters. Louise