I Can Do Anything!

I grew up without much TV. What I did watch was usually PBS. Shows like Arthur, The Magic School Bus, Wishbone, etc. These shows all tend to emanate the thought "You can do anything." "You can be whatever you want to be."
I thought everyone knew this. I thought this was common knowledge. But apparently I am one of the few people who heard that and actually believed it whole-heartedly.
When I say "Man, I would love to make a computer game!" or "I would love to build a sky-scraper!" or "I want to bike across the continent!" I say it differently than most people. Or mean it differently. When most people say things like that, they are saying "I wish." When I say things like that, I usually mean "I intend."
Why don't people believe in themselves? Is it really our parents and educators fault that we don't believe in ourselves? Or is that just how most humans are naturally?
Looking back on my life, I do feel like I have always been optimistic and self-confident. And I mean from a very early age. I did grow up in an environment where I was encouraged to believe in myself, but I think I started out that way.
What is the real reason most people don't have self-confidence? And why do so many, when they see true self confidence, show disdain or label as egotistical?

-Gabriel

You're On A Diet!?

It happens to me all the stinkin' time. I'm at someone's house, or a restaurant with friends, and I'm offered something especially tasty, that also happens to be diabetes on a plate. I usually say something like "Oh, no thanks." or find some other smooth way respectfully decline. And then they ask the question. I don't know why they feel it's necessary, or even polite to ask, but they do.

"Why?"

"Excuse me?"

"Why don't you want any?"

And that starts it. Now I have to try to explain without getting myself and everyone around in too deep.
"I'm on a diet." is my usual approach to giving as little information for them to continue the conversation as possible.

"You're kidding! You're on a diet!? Why!? Like you need it!"

"Um, to stay in the condition I want."

Seriously people. I don't really consider myself to be on a diet. It's kind of a lifestyle thing. That's what it's supposed to be! Now, sure I'll eat ice cream occasionally, but it's not a consistent thing. The point is, the reason I'm in the condition I'm in is because I watch what I eat regularly. Not just when I want to drop a couple of pounds. Most of the people I know who are in at least descent shape are that way because they intend to be that way, not because they were just born skinnier.

Granted, I actually weigh more now than almost ever before in my life. Part of that is left over from the weight I gained on my transcontinental bicycle trip, but part of it is because I haven't watched what I eat as consistently as I used to. Also, I think I'm probably still transitioning out of my youthful body into an adult body. Which generally means you weigh more.

I digress.

But my rant is over, so it doesn't really matter that I digressed.

Thanks.

-Gabriel

Everyone cancels on me. But I'm still happy.

I like making things. I like making things that I've never made before. I also like projects that I don't need help with. Why? Because if something screws up, I can fix it on my own terms, and I don't have to worry about someone else's expectations. It seems like every time I get involved in a multi-person project, something gets messed up, and the whole thing is ruined just because an outside party didn't hold their end up, or didn't follow through, or in some cases never got involved like I thought they would.
Why is it that humans are so notoriously unreliable? I guess we all know the answer to that question. It was mostly rhetorical anyway.
I feel like I do a good job at most everything I do. I just want others to do the same!

-Gabriel

Last night in Wyoming!

The past few days I've spent in Wyoming have been much more pleasant than the last time I was in the state.
Last time I was in Wyoming, it was winter. There was snow everywhere. My brothers and I were driving a convertible LaBaron, pulling a small trailer. The interstate was closed, but they wouldn't let us turn around to find another route. We waited on the side of the interstate for nearly 2 and a half hours for road crews to plow the road. When they finally opened the road again, they had only plowed one lane. So, we drove in that lane, and the semis drove at 70 MPH in the unplowed lane, throwing mud and slush up onto our windshield. We tried to wipe it away, but it would only smear, making visibility even worse. So we tried windshield washer fluid. It was frozen. One time, when the mud and slush was so thick and smeared on our windshield, and the snow was really coming down hard, we were driving along and suddenly there was a stopped vehicle ahead of us. We couldn't stop, so we had to jump over into the unplowed lane. As luck would have it, there just happened to be a semi going over the speed limit in the lane we had just pulled into. As luck would further have it, there was another vehicle ahead of us. We slammed on the breaks, knowing that there was no way we could stop in time, or that the semi could stop in time. Somehow, (and I'm not exactly sure how) we didn't get hit or hit anyone. Not a pleasant experience.
Anyway, the worst thing I've had to deal with on this bike trip in Wyoming is the number of hills.
Thanks for reading!

-Gabriel

Finally updated!

Alright, I know I haven't updated this since my second day, but give me a break! I've been biking all day, everyday for 25 days.
That excludes rest days.
Today, Friday, July 24th is the 26th day of my trip. It is currently a rest day. I am in Rapid City, South Dakota, and am pretty interested in seeing Mount Rushmore's evening lighting ceremony. I have seen Rushmore a couple of times before. Once during the day, and once during the night. I have never seen the lighting ceremony, however. Every time I see it I think 'Man! I should make something like that!' Unfortunately, even though I think I'm pretty good at coming through with whatever I set out to do, no one would believe that I could do something like that. I guess I'll just have to do it all by myself... :)
Tomorrow I bike to New Castle, Wyoming. It's about 78 miles, and my route goes right past Mt. Rushmore, so I should have a lovely (Albeit difficult) ride out of South Dakota. It's hard to believe I've been in this state for 5 days already! That won't be anything compared to the 8 days spent in Montana I'm sure!
Anyway, until next time!

-Gabriel

Ps. I'm going to try to keep this thing updated better, and hopefully start uploading photos as well!

Second day finished.

I am sitting in my hotel room in Farmville, Virginia after sitting with my legs in ice water for 15 minutes, napping, and then taking a luke-warm shower. I biked about 72 miles today, through the back country roads. It was very very nice ride! Everything was beautiful. Farms, woodlands, plains, fields of corn, and very few dogs chasing me! It was too good to last however, for I came upon a gravel road that I was not expecting, and couldn't ride on it because I put street tires on my bike. After I went through the hubub of putting my bike in the back of a Toyota Camry, I drove on a couple of miles until I found pavement again. I got my bike out, put the front wheel back on, biked around and the corner, and..... More gravel. Oh well.
Anyway, I'm sure I'll have more to share in my video blog in the next few days. Thanks for reading!
-Gabriel

Training continues!

Today I am going to try to bike 40 miles. The day before yesterday I biked 33.7 miles fairly comfortably, excluding the immense heat of course. After that I intend on going to more restaurants and asking for gift card donations to pay for my food on the trip.
Thanks so much to everyone who has sponsored me so far!