This morning at breakfast Dean and Laurie Twehues walked into the restaurant. I had met them just briefly one evening in Eastern Washington over a week ago.  I am glad we reconnected because they are another inspirational couple living their life for the right reasons. How and why did Dean retire at age 50?  I asked.  His early retirement was motivated by a book I mention often – Halftime by Bob Buford.  He didn’t JUST read it. He read it over 5 years ago and then started to plan for the rest of their lives.  Dean had a high-level engineering job and traveled all over continuously.  He asked for a demotion so he could be home more and have time for community service work.  They sold their home and moved into a condo and worked at cutting their expenses in order to plan for early retirement.  How many people say “I wish I could” but then don’t take the necessary steps so they can?  Mitch Albom wrote all three other books Dean mentioned.  Yes, Tuesdays with Morrie is a favorite of his as well.  Dean said he might not have been able to refocus his life without the help of a Life Coach.  One of the things she said to him is – “when the student is ready the teacher will come.”  One of the things that made them ready was the death of Laurie’s father.  Then her mom had a severe stroke.  It made them realize how precious life is and how quickly it can change.  When we first started talking this morning Laurie said she found the Three Reasons on my card of interest.  Why?  She has lost a relative to ALS and both she and Dean do volunteer work for hospice.  We said good-bye at breakfast since I still had packing to do, but a few hours later we met again at the Continental Divide and I hope we meet again and again…

Last night I heard the trains go by my motel room four or five times. I wonder if one of them lost its caboose?  When looking for a room I should always ask – if there is a place close to eat, do they have cell phone coverage, and are there train tracks close by.

For a biker this sign means “slower times” ahead.  From a positive standpoint, it means we will go slower and see more.  Yesterday, someone thought I was taking things to an extreme when he saw me trying to chain up to this “8 ton clearing ball.”  I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to get it UP the mountain, but can you imagine the ride down?

Glacier Park is beautiful, but these volunteers are helping to keep it that way.  They spend one weekend a year picking up litter. THANK YOU!

This morning was an ideal biking day.  Blue sky, just a few clouds, mild temperatures and a nice wind at my back.  What more could one ask for except pretty mountains and rivers.  I had it all.  And now you can…

As I crossed the Continental Divide I raise my bike to salute YOU for riding along and supporting our 3 REASONS. 

My thanks and congratulations to the over 1,400 people who have contributed $250,000 to date, which is 50% of our goal.  As I RIDE the next 3,600 miles I hope each of you will help make more people aware of the RIDE —and the need to support these three great causes.  If you haven’t done so, please send a mailing to your e-mail list.  There’s an easy way to send the site to your friends at the top right of every page on the site, including this one.  Everyone’s extra help is needed.  As I sat on a guardrail looking at these mountains, I was wishing all 1,400 donors could be lined up on the guardrail enjoying this day together and the rest of the RIDE to East Glacier.

FROM THE BEGINNING   |   PREVIOUS   |   NEXT
...