Relative Something

Thursday of the bike week seems to be the pinnacle of the whole adventure. The second to last day of riding, we are high on the rush of the friendships that have bonded over shared accomplishments as well as frivolous play and belly laughs we’ve enjoyed, yet as we are just a day away from the end, we know our moments together are numbered. We are scheduled to be riding mostly south from Winona to the last night of tenting in Rushford.

Thursday night often blossoms into a gala event with riders assembling a variety of silly things to wear or accumulated fake tattoos and then buying up whatever they can carry for appetizers and cocktails to celebrate together our accomplishments and good fortune of the adventures that Jim provides. One of the amazing things about this week is that there are very few decisions we need to make. It is all laid out for us to just enjoy doing. I like not needing to think about where to ride. The route is already determined. The food choices are made. The camping spots established. We just show up and ride. Jim does a lot of behind the scenes work to provide us with a fantastic adventure. That, combined with the friendships the experience give rise to, has everyone in a festive mood.

With just one day left to ride, a few in the group might just stay up a little later than normal. The rest of us hardly hear them and find sleep comes easy when you’ve spent days riding a bike.