Today was it in so many ways. We have had a great trip so far but today was special because I had that rare feeling of ecstatic joy that comes when I truly feel fortunate for so many things, but especially the simple fact that I am alive in such an amazing world.
This may seem a bit over the top but it is true. I can think of few times when I’ve felt truly inspired by my surroundings but today, after a cold, cloudy morning along the coast, we entered Sonoma County in the afternoon. The clouds broke and the sun came out. We would go in and out along the bluffs and as we’d come out to the Pacific Ocean, I would continually be amazed. I was smiling the whole time and just loving life. There is something awe inspiring about the ocean, especially from the high rocky bluffs overlooking the Pacific. It is so vast and so powerful; it represents an entirely different world from anything else I’ve experienced. The way the light hit the water was beautiful and at times, it even looked like an endless expanse of snow as the light made the ocean look all white at times. The ocean also represents a whole new level of freedom in my mind. Julie and I are and have been fortunate in that we’ve had the freedom to explore and experience the world. However, leaving the land and being out on the open water seems to me like a level of freedom I have yet to experience but long to.
To top off the beautiful day, we had the wind blowing at our back all afternoon. We could actually feel it pushing us up the hills. It helped us to our biggest mileage day thus far, getting in 71 miles for the day. We are camping with our friends Jenn and Dave again. We have a good meal lined up for tonight, and we are anxiously awaiting our arrival in San Francisco this weekend to see some good friends from our time living in the Bay.
Throughout my afternoon, I had an old family-favorite church song in my head. I was singing the Old Irish Blessing to myself and thoroughly enjoying my time in the world today. I am not a religious person and do not have beliefs that extend beyond this physical world of experience, but that didn’t matter to me because it all seemed so fitting.
May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
The sun shine warm upon your face, the rain fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.
I could hear our Rooney family singing it as I pedaled along and was filled with happiness and peace as we cruised along today. It was truly an absolutely amazing day.