We Call It a Day and Promise to Be Back

We spent the night in a place with history.

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And we met someone who appreciates an aspect of our history.

Lisa grew up in Syracuse, NY, and studied and vacationed in Jeffrey’s native Thousand Islands region. She and her partner regularly celebrate their anniversary at this hotel. She pursues a helping profession in the retirement field. She spoke of how nice it is to see Muslim refugee parents walking their children to school, laughing and at peace, in her Sacramento neighborhood. And of how sad that some of her neighbors blame local crime on “the Muslims”. It’s no surprise that Lisa thinks asylum applicants deserve a guarantee of counsel to pursue their claims.

Leigh works at the hotel. A bartender, we imagine he has seen and heard it all.

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He asked about the Ride and gave Jeffrey valuable route advice, warning that we should stick to the coast because inland routes go through snowy mountain passes. After yesterday’s hills, we’d been wondering if there is a better way for us to go. Now we know there isn’t.

Our rear tire had gone soft. Jeffrey inflated it. He didn’t find a leak, but saw some cuts and will replace it soon.

The morning fog cleared and we set off for Bodega Bay. What a beautiful day!

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A mile and a quarter (2 km) up the road—up a steep ¾ mile hill—the breathlessness that worsened yesterday, returned and brought Jeffrey to a halt. He waited for it to pass. It didn’t. We were near the top of the hill …

Close—yet too far.

… but Jeffrey couldn’t reach it. And he felt too weak to pedal us back to town. Uh-oh.

The descent is steeper than it looks.

Jeffrey did something out of character. He called 911.

Three medics and a state trooper came from Bodega Bay Paramedic Rescue, the Sonoma County Fire Department, and the California Highway Patrol. Jeffrey’s vital signs and EKG were fine. But in light of Jeffrey’s recent medical history, the medics asked to take him to the hospital. Jeffrey declined. Yet he was concerned.

These fine people were provided by the community (also known as the government) to help Jeffrey, a stranger. No questions about papers or pedigree. That’s the America we love. Jeffrey regrets not recording their names.

Jeffrey rested a while at this, our closest approach to Seattle, 15500 California Highway 1.

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Then we turned and made our way back to Valley Ford.

Our generous friends Julie and Nattie interrupted their Sunday hike and drove 210 miles round trip to bring us to their home, where we started this Ride, in San Jose.

Nancy alerted Dr. Shujaat, the lung expert. The doctor phoned and told Jeffrey that the embolism evidently has not dissolved enough to restore circulation to Jeffrey’s left lung. The lung inflates, but no oxygen is absorbed.

Jeffrey has been propelling us on one lung.

Dr. Shujaat prescribed time and rest. The recovery can’t be rushed. He respected our Ride attempt. We don’t know what we can—and cannot—do unless we try.

Quotable Theodore Roosevelt (he died in 1919 at age 60) admired “the strenuous life”.

Let us rather run the risk of wearing out than rusting out. We like that.

Ninety percent of the work in this country is done by people who don’t feel good. Perhaps.

Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don’t have the strength. That, Mr. President, is nonsense. “To go on” requires strength. For now, Jeffrey doesn’t have it.

We hope he’s strong enough to go on the Deep South Ride, as planned, in May. We hope to resume the Seattle Ride, perhaps in the fall, perhaps next spring.

We’ll be fine.

We’ll be back.

Stay tuned.

19 thoughts on “We Call It a Day and Promise to Be Back”

I have been both worried and in awe of you taking on this trip, Jeffrey. Glad to hear you are listening to your body–and your doctors! Much love and healing to you. Hope you are back home safely with Nancy soon.

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19 thoughts on “We Call It a Day and Promise to Be Back”