TRIBUTE TO MY STOKER EXTRAORDINAIRE!

Now that the odyssey is over, at least this segment of it because you can be sure we will continue to have more wonderful experiences together, I would like to pay tribute to my stoker extraordinaire! Rusty stretched and reached beyond his comfort zone and probably into the "Twi-light Zone" at times without complaining. He followed this woman anywhere for two months. However he decided that two months was plenty and that two weeks would be better.

His idea of camping in the past was to arrive, set up the tent and spent the rest of the time relaxing. Camping WAS the experience. But on this experience we rode all day, arrived exhausted, set up camp, fixed dinner and went to bed. A totally different type of camping. Rusty would set up the tent and blow up my sleep pad as well as his own on many a night when I'm sure he was too tired to pucker and puff one more time.And then the next day he would do it again. We almost always awakened earlier and got the day started faster than his body wanted to.

On a long hot ride he shared his cold water when mine was gone. He kept us from going astray with his careful and astute calculations when I had no clue which direction was up. He let me pick the fixings for the Subway sandwiches.
He stopped anyway and anytime for a picture moment even if it meant back tracking a little. He endured getting his calf whacked by the pedal arm crank repeatedly as we prepared to ride off and I would "pedal up" without telling him.
Rusty stoked up hills encouraging me when I was having a bad day. When climbing a difficult climb I would feel a sudden push of power coming from the stoker and then after reaching the top he would always say "great job, Captain!"

We have learned a greater sense of commitment, cooperation, determination and appreciation! We think it would be good for every married couple to share a two month tandem bike ride to really get to know each other. We became more sensitive to each other and more aware of our blessings. We feel we evolved into a smooth and efficient team. Scot Nicol, a designer of tandems said"When you are working well together as a team, an incredible synergy can develop and that is something that you could never replicate when riding alone." We learned that we can go farther, faster, higher, stronger, and longer than we thought we could. We are ready for the next adventure and I pick Rusty as my stoker!!!