Hey, remember when I was all set to head down to Jersey last week to go on a bike touring adventure with my best friend, Brad? Well, the remnants of Hurricane Nicole scuttled those plans, turning our trails into a muddy mess.
After a bit of logistical tap dancing, we decided to push it back a week to this Saturday where we’ll be greeted by morning temperatures in the 20s along with a gusty wind. Never let it be said that we’re not hardcore. (At least it will be sunny?)
The upshot is that I spent most of Thursday traveling only to find out the Internet was out at my parents house, all of which left me very little time to work on this week’s Ramble. My apologies.
It struck me during this process that the simple act of doing stuff with friends gets more and more complicated the older we get. Between kids and work and The Schedule, there’s fewer opportunities to pencil something in on the calendar, let alone plan an all-day adventure.
Both Brad and I are fortunate that our families are always willing to absorb extra responsibilities if it means we get to spend some quality time together. We’re also fortunate that after 40+ years of friendship, we still want nothing more than to be able to spend a day together outdoors.
Over the years, we’ve run across Jersey as part of a relay team, covered hundreds of miles on the Appalachian Trail, and one time found ourselves in the back of a police car. (A story for another time.)
Regardless of the event, whether for fun or competition, every time we make the time for one of these outings, we wind up learning more about each other and ourselves. My hope for everyone reading this is that you have someone like that in your world.
If you do have an adventure buddy, you already know there are times when you’ve got to put everything else on hold just to make the magic happen. This is one of those times. I trust you all understand.
We’ll be back next week with our regular offerings. In the meantime, think of us while we’re getting after it in the freezing cold. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be, and no person I’d rather be suffering with than my brother, B.
Sometimes the short and sweet posts are some of the most meaningful, Paul. In all of my years of running, I've had friends run with me, I've run with friends, I've done races with friends and I've encouraged friends new to the game. But I've only ever had one true running partner/buddy. As difficult as it is to even think about, typing it is even harder. She departed from our world in 2019 and I carry her spirit with me every time I get out there. Cherish those times with your people and please continue to share them with us. They're so special and I'm grateful that you do.
tell Brad hi