Day 2 — Through the Pee Dee
Cheraw → Marion/Mullins, South Carolina
     We survived another day on the road, but one bicycle nearly became the new headquarters for a colony of South Carolina fire ants! I'm happy to report that today was wonderfully uneventful when it came to major mishaps. And that's no accident. A lot of planning, preparation, and coordination went into making this ride as safe and smooth as possible.
     But I did learn one very important lesson today: Never underestimate the speed of a fire ant!It all started when a chain came off one of the bikes. Another rider stopped to lend a hand, laid his bike in the grass, and went to work helping get the chain back on.Big mistake!
     Apparently, the local fire ants saw an opportunity to stage a full-scale invasion. Within seconds, they were swarming the bike! Suddenly, our roadside repair crew became an emergency ant-removal team. The bike was being moved, water bottles were being emptied, and everyone was scrambling to evict the uninvited passengers. The good news? The chain went back on, the ants were washed off, and we were back on the road without further incident. Lesson of the day: The grass may look greener on the other side, but here, it might also have an army waiting for you! From now on, we're sticking to the pavement. The fire ants can keep the grass. We didn't invite them on this trip anyway!
Another Beautiful Day on the Road
     It was another beautiful day for riding. We started with temperatures in the low to mid-50s, and by afternoon, they had climbed into the 70s. The overcast skies helped keep the heat down, and the scenery was every bit as beautiful as yesterday's. And something my legs especially appreciated: The roads were flatter! After yesterday's ride, I don't think anyone was going to complain about that. Once again, the ride itself was fun and enjoyable. But what really made the day special wasn't the weather, the scenery, or even the flatter roads.It was the people. I know I said something similar yesterday, but it deserves repeating. After a long stretch of riding, there's something wonderful about pulling into a rest stop and seeing the smiling faces of our volunteers and the families traveling with us. They're there with encouragement, refreshments, and a genuine interest in how we're doing. Those smiles and kind words do more than you might imagine. They lift your spirits, refresh your attitude, and somehow make getting back on the bike for another stretch seem a whole lot easier. I cannot say enough about these wonderful people.
     This is only Day 2, and already I feel like I belong here. And believe me, that's not because I'm some extraordinary communicator who can walk into a group of strangers and instantly make friends. It's because of how welcoming, accepting, and gracious everyone has been. They've made me feel like part of the family. Over the next couple of weeks, I hope to share some of the personal stories of the riders I've met on this journey. Stories of lives changed by injury, challenges faced, adjustments made, and the determination to keep moving forward.So stay tuned. There are some remarkable people on this ride, and their stories deserve to be heard.
Now, About Those Miles...
     According to my cycling app, I logged 53 miles today. Is that correct? Well, let's just say it's a reasonably educated guess! I did remember to turn the app on today, which is already an improvement. Unfortunately, I occasionally forgot to un-pause it when we left our rest stops. (I get it, the next ride I will have a checklist on what to start before we leave). But I usually remembered fairly quickly. So I rode approximately 53 miles, give or take a few.
The Strange Feeling of Day Two
     The second day of a three-day ride is always interesting. You're well into the adventure now. The excitement is building because the destination is getting closer. You can almost imagine the ocean waiting at the end of the road. But at the same time, there's a little sadness beginning to creep in. You realize there's only one more day of riding. One more day with these people who, just a short time ago, were mostly strangers. It's a strange combination of excitement and reluctance. You can't wait to reach the finish line, but you're not quite ready for the journey to end.
The Countryside We're Riding Through
     Much of today's ride took us through South Carolina's Pee Dee region, an area shaped by rivers, agriculture, and generations of people who have called this part of the Carolinas home.Marion takes its name from Revolutionary War General Francis Marion. You may know him better by his nickname, "The Swamp Fox." Marion became famous for using the South Carolina landscape—its forests, rivers, and swamps—to his advantage during the Revolutionary War. And nearby Mullins has an interesting story of its own. In the late 1800s, tobacco transformed the town. Mullins grew from a small community of fewer than 300 people in 1890 to more than 1,000 just over a decade later. By the beginning of the 20th century, millions of pounds of tobacco were moving through its market. These communities have seen their share of changes over the generations. Crops have changed, industries have changed, and people have had to find new ways to move forward. And that brings me to a word I've been thinking about quite a bit during this ride. Adapt.
The Power of "I Can"
     Many of the people on this ride have had to adapt to a completely different way of living following an injury. Things that once seemed simple may now require a different approach. Even something like riding a bicycle may mean learning an entirely new way to ride. And yet, here they are. Riding mile after mile, sharing stories, laughing, encouraging one another, and enjoying the adventure. What amazes me isn't simply what they've overcome. It's their determination to keep moving forward. That "I can do it" attitude. It's an attitude I want to carry home with me.Adaptive sports aren't about telling someone what they can no longer do. They're about asking a different question: How CAN we do it? Maybe the equipment changes. Maybe the technique changes. Maybe expectations have to change. But the adventure doesn't necessarily have to end.I was reminded of that again today as I watched riders using recumbent handcycles, powering themselves down the road with their arms and enjoying the experience. Think about that for a moment. Most of us complain when our legs get tired from pedaling. These riders are covering mile after mile using their arms! And they keep going. To those riders, and to everyone on this journey who has found a way to keep moving forward despite life's challenges, I salute you.You've reminded me that sometimes the biggest obstacle isn't what we can or cannot physically do. It's whether we're willing to find another way.
One More Day
     Tomorrow morning, we'll climb onto our bikes one more time. But tomorrow will feel different.It's our final day of riding, and by evening, we'll have reached the Atlantic Ocean. It will also be our last evening together on the road on this particular journey. I'm excited to reach the coast, but I already know I'm going to miss this group. In just two days, they've become much more than fellow riders, volunteers, and traveling families. They've become friends. And while tomorrow may be the end of this ride, I sincerely hope it won't be the last time we ride together.
Tomorrow: Marion/Mullins → North Myrtle Beach.
     When we started in Monroe, the Atlantic Ocean seemed a long way away. Tonight? Not nearly so far. One more day. One more ride. One more chance to make memories with some remarkable people.
Tomorrow, we ride to the sea!
And with any luck, the fire ants will stay home.