March 13: Happy Birthday to Me and Making It Real!

https://give.michaeljfox.org/barbarasbigride

It's a big one. And so I have big plans. No jewels or luxury jet-setting trips. But it will be a journey. A big one.

This plan has been a long time in the making. For years, I have dreamed/fantasized/been terrified of riding my bike across this great big country of ours. I think about it every time I fly coast to coast. I'm not sure why, but it definitely has been a "thing" stuck in my stubborn head.

I had planned to do this trip for a "semi-big" birthday in 2018. I'll spare you the details, but suffice it to say it didn't happen that year or any year since for various reason. Some might say that this was just not meant to be. 

Fast-forward to 2023. A another big birthday staring me down. Needed to do something to combat the birthday blues and feeling old. When a similar feeling came upon me ten years ago (for the last big birthday), I came up with the idea to climb Kilimanjaro. (You can read about that journey here.) Somehow I managed to not make it all about "me me me" and climbed in honor of my parents, who were both suffering from Parkinson's disease at the time. I proudly raised more than $25,000 for Team Fox (thanks to so many of you reading this now!), an organization dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson's. Unfortunately, despite the progress in research and treatments, there's still no cure, hence my motivation  (or at least justification!) to embark on another challenging adventure.  

And so--finally-- I'm going to stop talking about it and just do it. On May 6, I plan to join 23 now-but-not-for-long-strangers with Crossroads Cycling Adventures and attempt to pedal my way from LA (wheel-dip in Manhattan Beach, one of my favorite spots!) to Boston. 

3396 miles. 49 days. 15 states. And more thousands of feet of climbing than I care to contemplate.

This time, I ride in memory of my parents -- though they remain with me every day. This way, whether or not I ride "EFI" (every you know what inch!), every mile will be for a cause. I hope you'll consider donating to that cause here.

As for the actual birthday, I plan to ride 2 x my birthday years from La Jolla to LA, where a room at the Ritz, Ben, and Bondi will be awaiting me. Wish me luck!

And speaking of Ben, I could never even contemplate doing this ride without his love and support, my husband of 30 years, and partner in all I do, even when we are miles apart. Thank you for putting up with me and hopefully I'll finally be able to put this ride in the rearview mirror and stop talking about it. I love you.

More thank you's to follow, but for now, I just need to get through tomorrow, one pedal stroke at a time!