As my trip sails off into the sunset, both literally and philosophically, it's tempting to indulge in a bunch of silly philosophizing and over dramatization.  But the truth is, even though some important things are happening, it's not about individual moments, but about trajectory.  It's human nature to assume that today, as a transition day, is somehow more important than other days.  But it was always about the journey and not the destination.  The fact that I am flying today from San Diego to Portland is just that, a lone bare fact.  Absent the context of this amazing journey it wouldn't mean much.  And so my focus is on that journey.  I am so happy that I went on these trips.  I am so grateful to that person who stood in front of the Bend Public Library and agonized over failed relationships, failed careers and the trajectory of a life headed down and had the courage to stick to the decision to head out on a bicycle.  I feel a debt of gratitude to the person that worked those extra months in San Francisco, when I didn't want to be there.  Who took a devastating breakup, 3 separate moves and some health issues in stride and just powered through.  I could have given up - and in fact in 2015 I did.  But this time there was no giving up.  And the trip was everything I could have hoped for.  After the first trip, I felt like I was part of a family.  But after two trips, I feel like I am part of a community.  There is no question that this is now the most important thing in my life besides my family.  This organization - Bike the US for MS - is amazing and Cassie and Don and everyone are to be commended.  But it's the larger community of distance cycling enthusiasts that I'm really excited about as well.  There is so much more to do - the Ring Road in Iceland, Bike the UK for MS, the Northern Tier, the Souther Tier, the TransCanada road (have you heard about this? It's 22,000km long with no cars), biking around Australia, etc., etc.  And racing: STP, the TransAm Bike Race, weekend fondos and smaller events.  Triathlons, too.  Maybe even one this weekend! 

The larger point is, this isn't an ending.  It's just a new beginning.