Welcome Back Cody
I haven’t known Cody for long. I knew he was an outstanding member of our SAFE Families community serving as one of its co-chairs but that was it.
As a matter of fact I believe the second thing I learned about him was that he was doing this crazy thousands-of-miles-over-the-state-lines bicycle ride.
And I remember that the first thought going through my mind was “Okay” followed by “WOW!” and at the end a nice, solid “Why?” Then, as fate would have it, I was tasked with assisting him and talking to him previous to his trip. You know, collect a little bit of information to help with his social media and stuff like that.
I was told he was a nice guy so I was like “Cool! It should be an easy, casual hook up and chat”. And indeed it was. Cody is, veritably, a cool guy.
This is a photo of him to prove it!
But then he told me about the time he was run over by a car five years ago, about the broken bones, the long months of rehab, but most importantly, about how deeply impressed he felt when he found out about other people, who had experienced similar life-changing events such as his, out there doing these crazy thousands-of-miles-over-the-state-lines bicycle journeys and overcoming their fears, and sorrows, and ghosts. How attuned he felt when he expressed his respect to those very people out there doing their thing, and how communal the experience was when they replied back. They inspired him.
This is him while in recovery.
And this is him currently undertaking his very own Crazy Thousands-of-Miles-Over-the-State-Lines Bicycle Journey. (Gonna have to put a trademark on that!)
He told me, as modern times demand it, through my screen, that this trip was a necessity. He needed to prove that the incident, the lingering pain, and becoming a statistic should not, could not, and would not define him. This trip was for him and him alone to prove that he was… more. More than what he currently is. And that was it. Not for the likes, not for the views, not even for the sake of having a good memory. But to prove to himself what he was capable of.
And apparently eating a lot… like, a lot!
Nom.
NOM.
NOM!
NOMMMMM!
And so, after crossing stone and metal bridges,
stopping to watch phenomenal sunsets,
fighting off… dinosaurs?
And apparently visiting Thor’s well…
Okay Cody wait, buddy, what are we even doing here?
You know what? Never mind.
So after all that, and thousands of miles under his wheels and pedals, he’s finally reaching the finish line: Los Angeles.
The city that five years ago put him in a hospital bed.
I cannot even begin to imagine what Cody has gone through: not only during his ride but since his collision.
However, what I can do is respect a man’s determination to become more, marvel at his physical and mental resilience, and stand in awe as he rides every day closer to his goal. But make no mistake, that goal is not the city where his incident happened, it’s not some beach where his friends will be waiting for him. The goal is doing that which your soul demands you to do.
Suddenly, it’s not that crazy, at the end of the day thousands of miles are reduced to an instant, crossing state lines is nothing compared to changing your state of mind and that bicycle ride becomes a journey within.
Welcome back Cody.
Cody will arrive at his finish line on Sunday August 30th at the Ocean Park Beach Walkway, Santa Monica at approximately 2 PM.
We will be there to show our support, celebrate, and welcome him.
If you happen to be in the area or simply want to join him for the very last stretch of his amazing ride, hop on your bike and be ready. He will make one last stop at Penmar Park in Santa Monica, where his original ride was supposed to end years ago. He will be there at around 1:45 PM.
Hopefully you’ll be there too so you can head together to his finish line at the beach.
Join us to celebrate this outstanding accomplishment.