Juneau, Alaska (Mendenhall Valley)

Reset and Recharge

The first task today was to engage Olive.

Until now, my R4P schedule had been largely mapped out. I had 30 days to complete the route, with a rough daily agenda and waypoints determining where I should be at different stages. I stuck with it. Apart from a few emails and phone calls—insurance, pest control, movers, logistics for my granddaughter returning from Sweden, and other emerging priorities—I was able to focus almost entirely on my riding assignment.

But starting today, it was time to begin the transition back to the farm.

We had spent seven years in Honduras—where I worked, our kids studied, and my wife kept us all healthy and active. We flew back from Tegucigalpa to Panama City Beach, Florida on May 30, 2025. But our stay was brief—tenants were still in the farmhouse.

Now, with the R4P journey behind us and the tenants gone, we were finally ready to transition back into life in Panama City. And I needed help getting organized.

So I set up a new project for Olive to coordinate, monitor, and advise on. I brainstormed the key outstanding tasks for the next few months, and Olive captured them. From here, we’ll review them once or more each day—crossing off completed items and adding new ones as they arise.

At the top of today’s list was taking Lucy to the only bike shop in the valley and seeing if they could box her up. Hopefully they could—otherwise, I’d have to do it myself, and that would be a hassle.

And I’m not a fan of hassles. There, I said it.

I rode Lucy down to the bike shop to be packed. That was a mistake. Another couple had just bought the boxes and carried them back to their accommodations. That would’ve been smarter.

I stopped at a lumber yard and bought some duct tape.

Back at the hotel, I rested. I napped. When the text arrived saying Lucy was ready, I walked back down. The price was outrageous—$131. My mistake.

I carried Lucy back to the hotel and stored her in the room. I borrowed a marker and wrote my name and city on the box.

Then I bundled Lucy’s three saddlebags into one big, beautiful piece of duct-taped luggage. I showered, set my alarm for 3:30 a.m., and was asleep by 8:30.