When planning my 4th lengthy distance bicycle tour down the Mississippi River, I actually needed to search out somebody to return with me. I had been lucky sufficient to have driving companions on my first bicycle tour down the California shoreline, however I had been compelled to journey alone on the following two excursions. That’s why, after I started planning my 4th lengthy distance bicycle tour, I made an additional effort to discover a driving companion.
It was 2004 on the time and I used to be in faculty. I had a number of pals that had been keen on becoming a member of me on my bike experience, however every of them appeared to have an excuse for as to why they may not be a part of me out on the street.
One of many folks I used to be pursuing as a possible driving companion was my good pal, Ryan Nakashima. Ryan had joined me for the ultimate leg of my bicycle tour down the California shoreline in 2001 and he had had a good time, however I had been unable to get him to affix me on any of my subsequent excursions.
After I approached Ryan about becoming a member of me for my experience down the Mississippi River, he stated he’d love to return, however felt that he could be unable to make it occur as a result of his mother or father needed him to take summer time college lessons and get a job. I understood the place he was coming from, as a result of my dad and mom needed me to do the identical factor, however I wasn’t going to surrender on him that simply.
As a substitute, I made a decision to write down his dad and mom a letter, asking them to contemplate letting Ryan be a part of my on my bicycle tour down the Mississippi. Here’s what I wrote to his dad and mom:
Mr. and Mrs. Nakashima:
The intent of this letter is to influence you that Ryan ought to accompany me on a part of the bicycle tour I’ve deliberate for this upcoming summer time. Beneath are the principle causes that I would like Ryan to accompany me on this as soon as in a lifetime journey.
Initially, I would love some firm on the market. It may be lonely typically and the miles certain go by faster when you will have somebody to speak to. I don’t thoughts touring alone, however having somebody to speak to, that will help you out if you end up in want, or to push you up that subsequent large hill is at all times a pleasant luxurious.
Secondly, I would like Ryan to return on this journey with me as a result of I would like him to expertise among the issues that I’ve been experiencing for the final three years. I used to be extremely joyful that Ryan may accompany me for that brief distance on my first tour down the California shoreline, however I feel he obtained cheated out of the true bicycle touring expertise. He was driving the streets of Los Angeles for goodness sakes!
Initially, he has seen these streets one million instances and the surroundings in Southern California is sort of non-existent. Secondly, the site visitors in So-Cal is simply horrendous. He biked in among the worst situations I’ve ever seen on my travels. I biked via some main cities on my final tour up the east coast and nothing was even near among the issues Ryan and I biked via on that first journey via Southern California. If he could make it via the streets of LA, he can undoubtedly make it down some lonely Mississippi farm roads.
I would like Ryan to expertise only a small piece of what I’ve been experiencing these final three years and I really feel that the journey I’ve deliberate for this summer time is an ideal alternative for Ryan to get on the market and expertise a completely new slice of America.
I’ve included some details about my deliberate bicycle journey with this letter. I’ve included the itinerary, a abstract map, a scan of the maps that we’ll be utilizing to information our means via the states, an article from Journey Biking journal about why you shouldn’t fear about us making this tour, and likewise a spotlight web page of my very own which paperwork simply among the adventures that I’ve been on within the final three years. I hope that this data will likely be of some help to you. My hope is that this data will make you a minimum of take into consideration presumably sending your son on the market to experience with me for a pair days.
I really feel that each one of many bicycle journeys I’ve ventured on has been life-changing experiences and I might hate to see Ryan miss out on such a chance. Please suppose it over. If in case you have any questions or considerations, ship me an e-mail or give me a name.
I’ve stated it various instances, to each my dad and mom and to Ryan, however I’ll say it once more. There isn’t any means that in 5, ten, twenty and even thirty years that we (Ryan and I) are going to look again and say, “Keep in mind that summer time we spent taking summer time college lessons and dealing? Wasn’t that nice!”
No! In thirty years we will likely be saying, “Keep in mind that time we rode our bicycles down the Mississippi River? That was among the finest experiences of our lives!”
That’s what I wish to be saying! In truth, that’s what I will likely be saying! I hope that Ryan has the prospect to say that as effectively.
Assume it over,
TOURING-BICYCLE
Regardless of my greatest efforts, Ryan was unable to affix me on my tour down the Mississippi River. He went to summer time college and obtained a job working for minimal wage. I’m certain that if I requested him as we speak what he did in the summertime of 2004 that he could be unable to inform me.
The explanation I share this letter with you is as a result of I would like you to see simply how troublesome it may be to discover a driving companion to your bicycle tour. You’ll speak to lots of people who’re keen on becoming a member of you, however when it comes proper all the way down to it, most individuals are unable or unwilling to make the leap. However you may’t let this cease you! Do what you may to discover a driving companion to your tour, however in case you are unsuccessful, don’t cancel the experience. As a substitute, go it alone! You gained’t have somebody to speak to every day, however the expertise you’ll have as soon as it’s all over will likely be greater than price it.
What sort of experiences have you ever had in looking for a driving companion to your bicycle tour(s)? If you happen to had been capable of finding somebody to affix you, how precisely did that work? If you happen to had been unsuccessful find a driving companion, did you go it alone? Or cancel the tour?
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