Bike Against the Wind Trailer and New Website

Please head over to www.chanceoffate.com to get the latest news.
https://vimeo.com/123904864

Thank You

I'm not going to try and sum up my trip because hey thats what the movie is for, but I would like to take this time to say thank you. I have learned so much about this country, other people, biking, myself, weather patterns and so forth.

I have often been told that education is a necessity and experience in invaluable. With this trip the combination of both education and experience is perfect. My mind has been filled with all sorts of survival methods from whats the best way to put my tent up, to where to find water in a desert. I have learned how to listen and pay attention to my physical body in order to make it up a 4000 ft mountain in 110 degree heat and still survive. The list can go on, but the most important thing that has been reinforced is just how much I need to connect with others.

I left on this trip to be alone and find my own path and I kept running into situations where I needed the help of others for shelter, for directions or simply a pat on the back. I feel as though there is such a push in our society to be individualistic and not to rely on others, that we become lost at sea floating around with just a life jacket keeping our head barely above water. I need others to make my clothes, to build my computers, to drill the wells that supply my water, to make the ball bearings that put my countries space shuttle on the moon . I need people to tell me that I'm doing a good job and to let me know when they feel as though I'm not being honest to myself. I need people to tell me the honest truth about how they feel for me, in order to move on in my life. And by doing this trip I have found a whole world of people that are ready and willing to do that. Yes, there are fears, and yes, I avoid scary situations like walking down a dark alley in the middle of the night, but these are not the things that guide my life, these are not the things that keep me from continuing to talk to people. The amount of energy that it takes to keep connected with people is worth every ounce.

I just want you all to know that I could not have done this trip without you, the people that I met, my family, and yes the people online that everyday made the effort to "like" a post I did or even wrote me an email. Thank you. KEEP connecting with people and KEEP traveling down this wonderful adventure called life.

ADD YOUR STORY AND JOIN THE ADVENTURE
www.bikeagainstthewind.com/stories.html

BIKE TRACKS: Givers "up, up, up"

TOTAL TRIP MILES: ~4,700 miles

TOTAL TRIP: 104 of 104 Days

What Inspires Me

I have seen quite a few things this trip and with a week left I started to think about what it is that keeps me inspired for the next day. Inspiration can come from anywhere even a random bicyclist that you meet in the middle of Arizona.

Below are some things that inspire me:

The way light can be played with.

The way the sunset hits the bottom of a cloud and creates a golden glow.

The ingenuity of humans and the pliability of nature.

This picture.

My Parents (including my dads crazy hair)

These are just a few things. Post some things that inspire you.

ADD YOUR STORY AND JOIN THE ADVENTURE
www.bikeagainstthewind.com/stories.html

BIKE TRACKS: Givers "up, up, up"

TOTAL TRIP MILES: ~4,200 miles

TOTAL TRIP: 96 of 104 Days

Help Mark Get Across the Country

Don't be Clouded by the "Cartoon Physics" of this Oil Spill

Everyone seems to have a solution for the BP oil spill. Starting in Alabama traveling through Florida, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, I have heard people from all different backgrounds say that they know the solution to "plugging the hole". The "solutions" usually are some form of explosion usually dynamite of which allows for "mother nature" to take care of the rest.

Every time I hear somebody say this I think and ask them "If it is that easy, why hasn't it been done?" And I continue to ask that. Are there so many complications with plugging a hole 5,000 feet under the water or is there a big conspiracy with BP and the Government that they just plan on trying everything but the simplest thing using "cartoon physics"?

I don't have the answer for that but what I have observed is that when I was in Louisiana 4 weeks ago the people seem to have a hopelessness towards the spill. A sense as if this was another disaster that is happening and they will just deal with it and figure out how to rebuild their lives again.

I traveled to Venice, LA and talk to Allen, a commercial fisherman. He lives and survives off of the marsh in Venice. He lives in a 1 room home with a 8 ft dock, both of which he has hand built himself after Katrina. I asked him what he would be able to do if the oil got to the marsh and started destroying the roots that hold the ground together and killing all the fish and he looked at me, looked at the wooden floor, put his hand on his head leaning against his half built kitchen counter and said "I don't know...I.. really don't know."

Today (6-24-10) I read USA Today and there was an article about how individuals in the Gulf coast were taking action and making large barriers that will stop the oil from hitting the coast. This was very encouraging to me because I knew that the Lousiana people were strong and so within the last 4 weeks the same people that I sensed a hopelessness are hopeful.

This catastrophe deserves a repayment and a much needed look at the way our natural resources are gathered, but right now physical action seems to be the solution. So if you think you have the answer PLEASE do it.

Gardening

mom, dad and me

Dad in Austin

I spent my last night in New Orleans planting vegetable seeds. I felt as though I have truly been"sown" into the fabric of New Orleans. I would have to say that I would not have changed that experience for any amount of Mardi Gras beads.

The second half of my journey has begun. Four more state to travel through. After a week of rest in New Orleans (a second home to me now) I have had to readjust myself to the traveling lifestyle again. Get used to my bike, getting back into the regiment of being constantly alert. I have met up with my parents whom have been living the vagabond lifestyle for the last five years. They are following me in their small RV van from Texas to San Diego. I am prepaired for this portion of the trip to be more focused on self discovery and development of my relationship to my family, of which I am very excited for.

After two and a half months of travel, I have definitely learned and experienced allot and am everyday becoming more and more excited to share my travels with all of you. As one of the people I have met said "the two things that people should do, read and travel!" I hope that in some way the seed of adventure has been growing in each of you. And once again there is certainly More to Come...

BIKE TRACKS: Brian Regan Comedy

TOTAL TRIP MILES: 3200 miles (my odometer is broken so this is an estimate)

TOTAL TRIP: 75 of 104 Days

Help Mark Get Across the Country

Traveling to the Unknown

Florida

My imagination runs wild while I am traveling. Ranging from different ideas on how to promote the documentary, to what the dogs are thinking when they realize that they are chasing a human on a big bike instead of the largest chew toy they have ever seen. I like the fact that I am able to explore all the crazy ideas and occasionally I write them down. I keep a hand written journal along with the twitter and facebook updates and this blog. I had some trouble starting it, so what I did was let my story telling skills take the reigns and I created a alter ego that is a captain of a adventuring sea ship. My first entry was within the first couple of weeks while being on the road. At that time I was haveing some motivation problems on doing the documentary and learning how to stay alive while touring. This is how it read:

"Day 11, 4-15-10

Today I start my personal journal. My first mate found me crying over the maps in my captains quarters and it shook him to the point of inspiration. He told me that he cannot follow the command of a meek and sad individual, so if I were to lead this crew into the unknown seascape than I needed to make decisions for my self and follow them full heartedly. No more must I think about how my choices affect others, no longer must I worry about my reputation. If I am to lead this ship to victory through this treacherous voyage than I must take a stand.

After looking my first mate in the eyes I took a deep breath then stood and said, "Tell the crew to hold on to their hats, buckle down and get ready to go on the greatest adventure of their lives, because I am here and I am ready to make the choices that will lead us through the storm and into the great unknown""

I recently reread this entry and I wanted to share it with all of you because I have met some amazing people that everyday make decisions that lead them through their adventure. From Dave who is trying to see his children, but does not have the funds, Nate who was recently laid off from an oil rig and now is trying to be an inventor, Connie who works everyday getting her kids to all of their activities along with maintaining an active role in the education system, Granny who is the grandmother to anybody that needs one, to Rodz who has opened his own seafood store and is now struggling to keep it open because of peoples fear of oil contamination. Each of these peoples stories continue to inspire me to ride on, to take the lead of my ship and make the destinations that need to be made.

Now halfway through my travels I am excited to see who else I meet and what stories they have. I want so badly for all of you to meet the people that I have met and learn from them the same way that I have. I plan on keeping my imagination wild and seeing what comes up. So man the sails and hold strong, cause we are still on the adventure into the unknown.

BIKE TRACKS: Givers "up, up, up"

TOTAL TRIP MILES: 2355.2 miles

TOTAL TRIP: 45 of 90 Days

Help Mark Get Across the Country

Things Seem to Happen

A phonebooth in the middle of the NC woods

I live a fairly simple life right now. All i have to do when I wake up in the morning is decide on where I want to bike, where I want to eat and then get on the bike and ride for how ever many miles then do it over again. I have places where I want to go, I find places along the way and then people and places seem to make them selves known at the perfect time when I most need it.

Every single day of this trip something that many people consider destine, happens.

Example:

I was staying at a campground on Jordan Lake in Central North Carolina and I was trying to decide whether I should head towards Raleigh the next day because I had 4 days till I was supposed to meet my friend Sean and the Band he is with (Lotus) for one of their concerts. I wake up and pack my bags on my bike and this red car comes to my campsite. This man and woman stick their head out and ask me if I'm leaving. I tell them yes and they start unpacking their camping gear in the campsite next to me. We start talking, I tell them about my trip and how I am trying to figure out where I am going to stay for the next couple of days. Well After helping them set up their tent and unload some other things from their car, they invite me to stay an extra day or two at their campsite. For a split second my mind goes no I was planing on going into town, my bikes all packed, but then I realized that this was exactly what I was looking for.

After Staying with this couple and their kids for the couple of days I became friends with them and now I am even playing a word game with Brian on my I-phone.

Life seems to provide if I keep my mind open.

Many of these types of stories have happened to me all through out this last month and in North Carolina they seem to just keep happening. This makes me think about a topic that I have been thinking about since High school (probably earlier). whether or not our lives are guided by Fate or freewill. IS everything already planed out for us? Am I writing this blog because I was destine to think these thoughts and do these actions? Or am I souly the one that is creating these instances?

I like to think that I have the control over my choices. That the actions I take are my own. I guess that is a common thought. I feel more in control of my life thinking that way even when I choose to not control my life and let life happen, that is my choice.

Fate is a very interesting idea though. It seems to make moments and meetings easier to explain. When I meet someone and I feel right talking to them, to think that is was completely random takes away the romanticism. But if I was fated to meet this person then the stars have aligned and I have followed the path that was meant to be. My meeting and interaction brings me to another checkpoint in my life. I feel as though this is a safe way to explain things that I don't understand.

With freewill I feel as though I can trace back my steps and choices and go "Of Course I like hanging out with you" we both went to the same type of school and we both traveled and we both chose to be actors or what ever the choices where that I made in my life and you made in yours. I don't want to think that I am who I am because it was mapped out for me, I want it to be my choices and my trials and tribulations that created who I am and why people feel the way about me that they do.

So every time that something like the Jordan Lake camping example happens I question myself on whether this was a complete and utter coincidence or was I fated to become apart of these peoples lives. Either way I am happy that all these things are happening.

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Please keep commenting on facebook, twitter and Bikeagainstthewind.com. I am still looking for more people to videotape themselves talking about why they live where they live and what are the roots that hold you there if there are any. Please film yourself talking and post it on youtube then submit it through the SUBMISSIONS page of Bikeagainstthewind.com.

Thank you.

BIKE TRACKS: Lord Finesse

TODAY'S MILES: haven't left for today

TODAY'S TIME: 0
TOTAL TRIP MILES: 1376.5 miles
TOTAL TRIP: 32 of 90 Days