My friends started an adventure today. If you aren’t already familiar with it, each year around this time a decently-sized group of people captain unmotorized water vessels from Fort Desoto to Key Largo: about 300 miles. A special group of folks do this challenge totally human-powered: generally via kayak. My friends are special. The challenge component of this is that they finish in a week. It’s called the Everglades Challenge.
I do not aspire to ever do this challenge myself. I do enjoy recreational kayaking from time-to-time, with low mileage and lots of pretty things to look at. But 300 miles in 7 days? In shitty weather?
Ummmm. No thanks.
But I am ever so supportive of them who have such big dreams, or dreams like them. So I’m part of their shore support team. I’m taking care of the truck-that-bears-the-kayaks while they are off kayaking, and I’ll go pick them up at the end point next weekend.
(Obviously they are going to make it to the end point. *fingers and toes crossed while wearing my shamrock too* Hey! Being realistic here. There’s a lot that can go wrong…)
The last time I helped out with this race was in 2014. That was my friend’s first time doing the race. (more here) Not too many months later, she decided she wanted more and circumnavigated Florida on a kayak (more here and here).
I feel like the “normal” things required of humans to survive generally take our attention. And with that, we might lose site of our dreams, in whatever form they may take. So it pumps me up to see my friends truly taking risks to live their dreams. Life is too damn short not to honor those dreams!
Maybe your dream looks vastly different than captaining a kayak 300 miles. But fucking do it! And find those friends that will rally behind to you encourage you to get it done.
This year my friends are traveling with another. He said to me this morning, “I heard that you are friend of the year!” That comment caught me off guard. I suppose accompanying them down to their start site this morning and having to drive some miles to pick them up on the other end is something that not every friend can or would do. But if you don’t have at least *some* friends who would help you accomplish your dream?? Shit, you seriously need new friends.
No, seriously.
And while I would help them with no payment at all, I must admit I get something out of the deal. You see, one dream helps to spark others. I can’t sit around and say, “Oh, it’s so amazing you are doing the Everglades Challenge. I wish I could do dream X, Y, and/or Z.”
If they can do the Everglades Challenge (multiple times!!), I can put some energy into my goals too!!
So for me, they’ve helped me commit to a dream (goal is probably a better word) of my own. In a couple of weeks, I’ll be riding the Florida Coast-to-Coast Trail. It’s an approximately 250 mile series of bike trails from St. Petersburg, FL to Titusville.
Their Everglades Challenge has become my bike tour. I did my first bike tour in celebration of turning 40 back in 2018. I’ll be turning 43 soon, and when I do this bike tour it will be my 3rd. I hope that becomes a trend for me. A week of a slower pace and more connected life at least one week out of the year in my life.
I’m keeping track of my friends, pretty literally, via GPS as they go through the different stages of this challenge. I’m wishing them good weather as they do this really hard thing that they love so much. And I’m glad I’m able to help them manifest it.
I’ve got a few sets of adventurers that I’m friendsies with. They are part of my tribe.
More posts about my past bike tours:
2018 Canada bike tour: Start, Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7 & 8, Day 9 & 10, Day 11, Day 12, Day 13.
2019 Key West to Fort Lauderdale Tour: Start, Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5.