Riding To Recovery: Day 147: Today was my Birthday Ride and it is Dedicated to Billy-Blu Tucker

Billy was the quintessential Siamese cat. Two days ago Billy made that journey to the other side that so many of our family pets have made before him. He had deep blue eyes that were as crossed as can be. I grew up with “Si,” a Siamese cat, and Billy always reminded me of my family's Si. There’s something so royal about Siamese cats. They have a lion-like presence that commands respect. Billy was 20 years old and lived a good life with his guardian that loved him dearly. I carried a grainy photo of Billy with me on today’s ride, so in a symbolic way, he went for a ride with me out to Point Reyes and back. ;-) On the last climb of the day for me, while riding up Chapman Drive, I ran into a confident Siamese mix kitty literally walking up the middle of the street. I was blown away. What are the chances that on the ride that I would dedicate to Billy, that a Siamese mix would just happen to be strolling up the street in front of me? I stopped and he just walked straight over to me… I’m not a religious guy by nature, but one must wonder why things like this happen. I only wish that I could have steadied my camera long enough to get a shot of his strikingly deep blue eyes.

I had a few cancellations for today’s birthday ride. One friend crashed on his birthday ride last week, so he couldn’t make the ride, and then another friend came down with a cold, and hopefully for him, not one like mine. Then another friend was pressured to attend a work related meeting that turned out to not be worth attending. Fortunately my friends “J” and “S” were ready to roll. I was set to meet them in Woodacre, at the market, but as usual lately, I was behind and trying to catch up. I don’t even know how late I was in arriving there, but even though I was late, I was greeted warmly by my friends.

After exchanging salutations we were quickly mounting our bikes (theirs is a tandem), and we were heading off towards Point Reyes. We took the Nicasio Grade route, past Roy’s Redwoods, and past the San Geronimo golf course. “S” urged me to climb the grade ahead of them, so I did. Near the top I noticed a memorial that I’d never seen before, perhaps because I used to be so oxygen deprived by the ride up to the top. It’s a lovely memorial to a cyclist that was killed by a drunk driver in 1999. Her name was Cecy Krone. It was fitting for me to see this memorial while on a Riding to Recovery ride, and with friends form AA and Al-anon. It’s a sobering reminder of the disease that has affected so many of us, and literally through generation after generation of families. The disease of alcoholism runs deep, and it has roots that spread out like a vast web.

As I shared with my friends today, I told them about how I had momentarily felt “recovered” from the impact that the disease has had on my life, but that I was VERY quickly reminded that one never recovers from this, and that you are forever in “recovery.” I’ve recently been exposed to new areas of my life wherein my exposure to alcoholism has had a profound impact. It’s OK though, it’s just another layer that is now exposed, and I can now simply deal with it. I now have the tools and the strength, and not to mention the friends and family to support my effort to overcome what's already been done. I’ve come a long way in a year, but there’s a lifetime of recovery ahead of me…whoa.

The friends that I rode with today are an inspiration to me at many levels, and they’re a great example of the past, present, and the future that I look forward to. I hope that when I’m in my retirement years that I have the same energy, enthusiasm, and care that they do. “S” and “J,” thank you for joining me on my 45^th birthday ride!

We rode out through Nicasio Valley where the reservoir level was shockingly low. When I took the photograph to the right I noticed what looked like an old bridge uncovered by the low water levels. A benefit to riding with people that are older and wiser than myself is that they can fill in the blanks. After we stopped for a nature break by the reservoir shore, we talked about the water level, and sure enough “S” and “J” filled me in. The bridge used to cross Nicasio Creek, and the road that we were using is new, and the old road used to course through the valley that is now the reservoir! So if you look closely at the photo, you’ll see the old road to Point Reyes, and the bridge of which I speak. I hope that I never stop learning in life.

From there we pedaled over to Point Reyes where we stopped off for quick pastry and a cup of Joe at the Bovine Bakery. We met another couple that was riding their tandem that was built by Bernie Mikkelsen. We chatted and shared stories for a while and then remounted our two-wheeled friends and made our way towards home. We rode back via Olema Grade, and then the Cross Marin Trail that goes through Samuel P. Taylor State Park. The nice and wide bike path offered us a great opportunity to talk about a variety of things, including recovery. I feel fortunate to be able to talk to people that have been in recovery for decades. I’ve made a lot of progress, but comparatively, I’m still in Kindergarten. ;-)

We parted ways at their home in San Geronimo Valley and I headed out of West Marin. I was feeling really strong, so I was tempted to go even farther by extending the ride to include a lap of Paradise Drive. I even thought about doing a full century. I had the legs today to do it. Unfortunately I started getting cold on the way back, and I had dressed for warm weather. The good news is that I’m back to doing long rides after being sick for several weeks, and I don’t even feel the least bit fazed by today's 60 mile ride. I think that I’ll do the Marshall Wall on Sunday when I make my return to Partners in Recovery. Yahoo! I received a very special birthday present today, and I mean truly special. As I look around my office, where I keep special gifts that have been given to me by close friends. There are maybe a dozen gifts that I’ve received in my 45 years here that represent giving of one’s creative self. So thank you for the lovely gift. You know who you are. ;-) 20^th St. @ Alabama, AKA, the Atlas Cafe, has seen my feet many times, albeit when I was in my late 20’s. I wonder if they still have those cooly branded to-go coffee cups? Blue, red, and white? I'll be riding there on my bicycle sometime soon, so the Americanos are on me. Thank you, thank you, thank you!