Laurey inspired me

My friend Laurey Masterton finished her cross-country bike trip today. She set out to raise awareness of an money for ovarian cancer. She's a longtime survivor and it seemed important to her to do something meaningful during her "golden" year (she was born in 1954 and she turned 54 last year).

She has done more than raise awareness -- she has inspired all who have followed her on the trip (search laurey bikes for the Web site).

I have followed her all the way on Facebook, all the while realizing I'm only two years older. As she crossed mountains and hot, hot flatlands, I knew she would make it, but to share her journey through her bogs and e-mails was extraordinary.

I kept looking at my old 12-speed Trek out by the garage, where it has been for the last seven years, knowing it had declined beyond my ability to fix it.

So this morning I brought it to Hearn's and traded it in on another used bike -- a Schwin hybrid, meaning I can take it on trails or roads. I plan to take it mostly on the gravel roads in the national forest for now. My biking muscles aren't very strong, so I'll have to work up to the big hills. But I am inspired. I hope I can keep myself worked up for the goal -- pedaling all the way from Bent Creek to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Then maybe I'll get into pedaling along the Parkway, and who knows how far I'll go?