Walking Contradiction, Partly Truth and Partly Fiction.

dThats a line from a Kris Kristopherson song. Man its true about me right now. I had a mentally taxing day yestersday. This ride I heard about really got under my skin. http://bicyclefilmfestival.com/2009_site/images/flyers/bike_flyer04.jpg

Its a two-month ride across country, starting in NYC and ending up in LA. I was going to be in NYC and LA this summer. This ride pays $25 a day, plus $3000, plus airfare. It seems too good to be true! My dream gig!

But it means no road trip with boyfriend, no NYC time with Sara, no camping trip with John, no time for art.

I think it ended up hitting some identity issues for me. Am I this adventurous gypsy biker? A rooted, committed community member? A girlfriend, a hipster missionary? A faithful friend that doesn't back out of plans with friend because a better offer comes along? A scared, jobless girl that doesn't want to pass up a money-making opportunity? An opportunist who sees a story? Do I want to spend the summer with people I don't know, and lose the opportunity to deepen relationships with people I care about? Then again, I will meet new, exciting people, participate in an amazing adventure, and have an opportunity to write about 42 new personalities, two months worth of new locations, and 3500 miles of new scenery. Plus, I do not want to struggle with money all school year, and I have a way to make some money this summer that I would enjoy doing! Do I want to go to NYC and LA on my terms on my dime, or on someone elses terms, on someone elses dime? In the end I decided to throw my name in the hat. I am really excited about the opportunity, but at the same time, its hard to weigh against my other thoughts. Sometimes I feel "partly fiction." What I wrote:

Wow,

I heard about your ride, and I am all set to go! I am 29 years old and live in Denver CO. So far my life has been one big adventure! I grew up in rural Oregon where I participated in Future Farmers of America (I was on the milk tasting team, the soil-judging team, the welding team, and farm debating!) I went to the Naval Academy, lead Marines in War, got out, and became a bike messenger for 3 years in downtown Denver. My messenger career culminated in winning the Bike Messenger World Championships in Dublin, Ireland (I attached a podium pic!). I then decided to teach Math at the worst high school in Colorado for a year. Then I tried middle school. This whole time I have been working with a writing coach and harboring a desire to become a professional writer. Check out some of my blogs http://jaimieandchristiegotomexico.blogspot.com/, http://subtleredemptionstory.blogspot.com/.

I have traveled all over the world, living for extended periods of time in Africa, Kuwait, Papua New Guinea, and Italy. I have ridden my bike across country once before, unsupported, in a month from the coast of Oregon to Boston with a friend after college. I have traveled the Pacific Coast Highway, rode 1800 miles through Mexico (see blog above), and have done numerous small tours around the East Coast. I have been carless for about 3 years, and never plan on owning a vehicle again.

My bike is a custom Merlin with S&S couplers. Its my dream bike! I have road triple chain ring on the front, and a mountain bike cog in the back, juicy disk brakes with a wound up fork in the front....Its an extention of my body. I go everywhere with that thing!

I have already rode across country, and I have been in the "scene" for a while. Why would I want to do the ride this summer? Oddly enough, I already planned to be in NYC in June, and in LA in August. I would love the opportunty to write and ride all summer. Getting to know 42 new bike enthusiasts sounds like a blast, and living in a tent is fun for me (I have lived about 2.5 years of my life in a tent or vehicle :) ). I would love to chronicle the journey, and look forward to the opportunity to spread bicycle love!!

Respectfully,

Jaimie