Version 2.0 – This morning I find myself morphing a bicycle riding story and a “fearing death for not living story.” Not possible. Can’t be done. At least not by me. So below are two distinct stories. The first not necessarily a feel good story but, more an insight story into some of life’s feelings.
Perhaps as a result of a milestone age. The age number doesn’t matter in the scheme of things; what I matters is: do you feel that you’ve been living life to the fullest?
How can anyone tell if their living life to the fullest or not?
Perhaps the lyrics below of “life passing you by” by Pink Floyd may shed some light.
“Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain.
You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today.
And then one day you find ten years have got behind you.
No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun.
So you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it’s sinking
Racing around to come up behind you again.
The sun is the same in a relative way but you’re older,
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death.
Every year is getting shorter never seem to find the time.
Plans that either come to naught or half a page… “.
Most of us, even in the pious, priest-dominated Middle Ages, I suspect , didn’t really believe all of what they preached.
Like for example when we die, are we just gone? Do we go nowhere. Do we just cease to stop being?
What of life’s regrets? Is this really just a fear of nothingness, of feeling that there are things in life you feel you’ve left “undone?”
STORY DOS (2).
The Rosarito to Ensenada 50 miles Bike Ride in Baja California is a route classified as “Moderate Difficult”. If you’ve done this bike ride then you know that all is fun until that inland blasted hill that just keeps rising and rising arrives.
At some point on the hill all kinds of riders start walking their bikes; your body says no more. You question your decision to ride. Why. Why do I do this to myself.
Finally, the hill is crested. Soon you begin literally coast for miles and miles at around 35 mph. More if you think you can negotiate that Mexican downhill road. Most don’t and opt to ride their brakes bringing the bike speed down to a respectable level.
In the early days Mexican entrepreneurs would set up to entice you into stopping by enticing you with goat cheese tacos and ice cold Coronas. Before long you felt invincible again.
Riding 50 miles on a bicycle in a foreign country. Wow. To me today it seems like an eternity ago. You placed your own self here and this isn’t exactly a prison sentence, is it?
It is something you chose to do; a challenge like many more in your lifetime; taken on as a human being hungry for new experiences.
Twice a year a bike ride takes place on these roads and avid cyclists complete the full bike ride in 2.5 hours with the rest of us cyclists doing it in an average of 4 hours.
My first Rosario to Ensenada ride took place around 1992 and continued on for about ten years or so. Twice a year. Spring and Fall. First it was Chuck and I. Then my friend Steve tells me his parents own a mobile home next door to the Hotel Rosarita, the starting line. Soon we have our own cheering squad. Then Steve and more friends are added. We become Team Margaritaville. A riding club – but, only in Baja.
When I wasn’t working all I ever wore were those colorful ride shirts. And the full sized ride posters I framed a few.
On May 3rd, 2021, participants of the 35th annual Rosarito Ensenada bike ride are in for a special treat. For the first time in the history of the event, the course will take riders down the coast on scenic toll road instead of the normal inland route on the free road. This will allow participants to take in the amazing ocean views for nearly all of the 50 mile ride.
The Rosarito Ensenada 50 Mile Fun Bicycle Ride’s history dates back to 1980, when a few friends rode the old free road from Ensenada to Rosarito Beach and noticed that they had ridden exactly 50 miles.
The ride became an annual tradition and quickly grew so large that in 1986 a second ride was created to alleviate the crowds. Every year thousands of riders participate in the event.
Imagine life today without all of those wonderful machines that do everything for you, from the moment you awaken, ice cold water, hot running water, central heating, air conditioners, big-screen televisions and all sorts of computers and smartphones.
Today to you they are necessities. Yesteryears not so much. My wife Patti daily likes to hug her dishwasher and says thank you so much for making my life easier.
Think back at all the things you already subjected yourself to and already have endured that are as physically hard as, or worse than, say dying.
I feel like I still have at least one more Rosarito to Ensenada ride left in me. Come join me in 2021 unless you’re too busy planning a slow death.
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