What a joy to be back in the saddle! There is nothing quite like the feeling of rubber hitting the road, especially when I’m riding alongside my cousin, Jeff. I’ll be honest: my energy wasn’t exactly at 100% starting out, but with my stomach finally deciding to cooperate, we set out to see what this big, beautiful country—specifically the rugged heart of Arizona—had in store for us.
The entire Cycle Of Life Adventures (COLA) team rolled out of Tucson as one, a powerhouse pack making sure every rider was safe and set for the journey ahead. My personal goal? Just make it to the first water stop and see if my body would play nice.

A “Small World” Miracle

On the way to Pitstop 1, the universe gave us a little wink. From across a four-lane road, a lone rider spotted us, swung around, and pulled up right next to Jeff. As it turns out, this rider—Kirk—hails all the way from Snohomish, WA! He recognized Jeff’s team jersey from back home. There we were, over 1,500 miles from Washington, sharing a moment on a Tucson road. Talk about serendipity!

Crushing Goals (and Headwinds!)

The wins just kept coming. Not only did I breeze past the first water stop, but I cleared the second and rolled right into lunch! My stomach was still tender, but the scenery was too stunning to ignore. Jeff took on the role of “Official Team Photographer,” pausing to capture the incredible desert vegetation before grinding out some extra power to catch back up with me. What a legend.
After days of battling stubborn headwinds, the cycling gods finally smiled on us: a glorious tailwind pushed us all the way into Benson! It felt like a victory lap.

To top off an already incredible day, we spotted a beacon of hope just before the hotel: Starbucks. Two delicious cold brews later, and two “coffee-loving fools” were officially in heaven.
It wasn’t just a good day—it was a great day. We are back on the bike, finding our rhythm, and riding proud as Cousins Cycling 2 Crush Cancer!