Today was one of those days where gratitude kept sneaking up on us from every direction.

Gratitude for the weather that treated us kindly. Gratitude that both Frank and John were back on their bikes—upright, pedaling, and even smiling.

Gratitude for this wild opportunity to ride across the country, fully aware that countless others would love to be doing exactly what we’re doing.

Gratitude for loved ones who cheer us on and support us enough to let us chase this dream. Gratitude for friends who drive hours just to share a meal and a conversation. Gratitude for the adventure itself. Basically, if it moved, breathed, or waved at us today, we were grateful for it.

We rolled out of Portal, AZ at 6:30 a.m.—a time of day that John and I normally reserve for sleeping. But off we went into a 99‑mile day bound for Columbus, NM. The first water stop never materialized thanks to an unusual van‑key mix‑up, but since the morning was cool and we were still warming up our legs (and personalities), it wasn’t a big deal.

The highway was a two‑lane ribbon with not much shoulder and not much traffic… unless you count the oversized loads barreling past. The oversized loads kept things interesting, offering either a surprise tailwind or a sudden slow‑you‑down swirl depending on their direction. Thankfully, our radar and mirrors earned their keep today as we scooted over whenever something the size of a small planet approached.

The best part of the day was seeing John back in the saddle. His goal was to make it to lunch and then reassess, but he ended up riding 80 of the 99 miles. That’s a huge win. He probably could’ve pushed through the whole thing, but he wisely chose the “live to ride tomorrow” strategy. For a guy recovering from being sick, that was peak responsible‑adult behavior.

Tonight was our one and only night in New Mexico, and it came with a bonus: Hank, John’s friend, drove all the way from Silver City to pick us up and take us to Deming to meet Renee and Waldo. I had the pleasure of meeting them for the first time, and they are truly wonderful people. Great conversation, great food, great company. Hank even bought dinner and orchestrated the whole thing. That’s friendship at its finest.

So yes, today was long, and early, and occasionally windy in ways we didn’t ask for. But it was also full of people who care, moments that matter, and reminders of how lucky we are to be out here doing this.

Gratitude on gratitude on gratitude.