Jeremy to the West

June 9 2018 Sat $133 Day 26

I know I'm close now. Know it in my mind. But I can't feel it through my numb and tired body. My eyes are too weary to lift above the pavement beneath my feet, to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I've grown weak and the way is yet steep. The rains are torrential, the air is biting and the winds are eroding. I can't beat Her. But maybe I should've never thought that was the point.

I'm not asking for your mercy. I lay bare my soul for you, stripped of pride atop the winding spires of the Earth and hot with indignation. Strike my iron will with your great hammer, O Magnanimous One, so that I may be steeled against adversity. Mould my clay heart with powerful fingers so that it should never falter in guiding me. Sow within the soils of my soul the seeds of a strong and beautiful garden, rich with that which my being requires.

Do all this for me, I implore you. And then pour your icy crystal rains over my frame, exposing every crack and crevice so that I might cast off this concrete shell and unfurl shimmering glass wings. Let this tempest cool and cleanse my being to the last dregs of my wretched and wonderful humanity. Gift unto me the coveted insights I seek, for have I not proven my devotion in blood and blisters? In the bites of insects and pangs of hunger? Torn muscles and ground teeth? I've come so far. Show me. Please show me.

Alternatively, you could lighten up on the fucking wind, you insufferable shithead. The first things I saw exiting the motel this morning were a BC and a Canadian flag stuck rigid opposite the direction I was headed. Great. I guess She's decided to fight to the bitter end.

But y'know what? I put up a hell of a fight today myself, exploding through Leviathan's mouth and leaving Hell's Gate in the dust. I guess I must've followed Dante's journey in reverse to find it so near the end.

At 14:00 I arrived at Hope and was faced with another split in the road. To my left was Hwy 1 while my right held Hwy 7. I went right like last time, despite it meaning diverging from the road I'd followed to this point. My reason for this is that Hwy 1 is off-limits to cyclists between Abbotsford and Vancouver, so I decided to take Hwy 7 while it was directly before me, rather than traverse a side road to it later.

I rode 80km after making this choice, atop the 65km I'd already cycled. This brought me to Mission, where I stopped at a Subway for a small meal before finding a motel. Here a couple informed me that this city is a sketchy place and it was wise to lock up my bike. They told me of a decent motel I could stay in, which is where I am now.

Vancouver isn't even 70km away now. I'll be there by tomorrow afternoon. My adventure is drawing to a close and I couldn't be more ready.

What's your first thought? Patriotism? Because mine is that the WIND IS AGAINST ME AGAIN.

I must be in Hell because that was the longest two minutes of my life.

I'm bustin' out.

Time to make another choice.

Hope BC, baby. Can't stop, though. You're not the goal today.

I'm so happy to see this welcome sign.