The Tour of Life...



When I think of the Tour de France, it reminds me of my love of bikes and my tour of life, so far...
I think of how the spokes all come together, the human is the engine, the drive behind the action and how
many stages of life we go through.  Sometimes we don't win the race, but isn't it about the journey...




The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination.”~Don Williams


Cycling is like life,  we start out in a pack, we found our cadence, we sprint along, throughschool, college, work, life, sometimes we bonk, sometimes we break away, other times we have to bridge the gap; we all race, in our daily lives.  Everyday is another sprint, another journey, sometimes it is agony, other times it is joyful...

Success is not a place at which one arrives but rather the spirit with which one undertakes and continues the journey.”~Alex Noble






I think of the song, by Blood, Sweat and Tears, "Spinning Wheels"     I'll share some of the lyrics:

 What goes up must come down
spinning wheel got to go round
Talking about your troubles it's a crying sin
Ride a painted pony
Let the spinning wheel spin

Did you find a directing sign
on the straight and narrow highway?
Would you mind a reflecting sign
Just let it shine within your mind
And show you the colors that are real

Someone is watching just for you
Spinning wheel is spinning true
Drop all your troubles, by the river side
Catch a painted pony
On the spinning wheel fly

Yes, this could be a bike, motorcycle, or perhaps a car. I know a few of you, think a painted pony is a Mustang,  but either way, isn't it true...


"I thought of that while riding my bicycle"~Albert Einstein


 "Next to a leisurely walk, I enjoy a spin on my tandem bicycle.  It is splendid to feel the wind blowing in my face and the springy motion of my iron steed.  The rapid rush through the air gives me a delicious sense of
strength and buoyancy, and the exercise makes my pulse dance and my heart sing."~Helen Keller


Didn't Lance Armstrong's book say it all, "It's not about the Bike"    Isn't is about finding your passion, the thing you want to put your blood, sweat and tears, into.   You have to compete or finish your own tour, or sometimes start a new one.


I hope your ride is exhilarating and you don't grind too many gears~

Comments

DEZMOND said…
that's exactly the main point - the journey is important not the destination itself.
Jennifer said…
oh I just love this. It is so true....about finding your passion. :) You speak right to my heart dear Ella. I cannot wait to jump back onto my bicycle.
A wonderful post, I didn't have a bike I couldn't seem to balance, I feel off my brothers' and nearly lost the top of my finger.
Later in life I did ride pillion on my late husband's motor cycle/

Take care.
Yvonne.
Hi Thanks for the visit, and comment, no I am not craving peas, When I wrote this I was at a loss what to write about, there was one pea left on a plate and from that image came the poem. Another follwer has been looking for it but couldn't find it so decided to re-submit the poem.
Yvonne.
unnamed lad said…
...a very thoughful post and i really enjoyed reading it.

...but i can't help but look forward to my final destination:)
paperbird said…
It's all about passion. this probably sounds funny but I get a little nervous riding bikes. When we traveled to France I was almost run over!
LR said…
finding our passion is the best journey. enjoy yours as well.
Unknown said…
Passion for flowers and growing; for movement and the stillness of "moving," lives do tell us of life.

Love Spinning Wheels! BS & T always had such cool songs.
Arlee Bird said…
I haven't ridden a bike in probably 40 some years. But I guess I haven't forgotten how if the old adage holds true. I used to love bike riding when I was younger.

Lee
Tossing It Out
Wow, you've come up with some great bike snippets there! Very clever of you :-)
Unknown said…
love the quote on the spokes.. you are a clever one.. this is a great post... the pictures of the place in storm king.... the art place... you can ride bikes in there and I so want to get a babysitter so I can ride with my husband in there... YOU are so CLEVER
Nice collection of photos, too!
Hart Johnson said…
I think this is one of the reasons I love Paulo Coehlo's 'The Alchemist' so much. The story is ALWAYS about the journey. Nobody is ever happy if the whole point is the destination...
babYpose said…
Beautiful photos, cool bike!
Ella said…
Hi babYpose-Thanks for visiting me; I will come see you, sometime soon!

Hi Hart-I am going to go find that book, ;-D It would be a great to read again! Thanks~

Alex-Thank you; I know you are gearing up for all that is coming your way! I will pedal over, soon...

Lisa-Thank you;sounds like a great place!

Charmaine-Thank you; I made a collage once like a wheel. This reminded me of it~

Lee-You are so right; We never forget...you should pony up again~

Hi Ciss-Great name, too...Thanks for visiting me!

Ludid-Congrats on being in print!!!

Lorraine-I can totally understand why! You have good reason to feel this way~ Hard to forget, sometimes xXx

Bud-in due time; YOU have a lot left to do! ;-D

Yvonne-I think you n' my Mom could be related. She fell off a bike, broke her thumb, never rode again. Like you, she loved riding on the motorcycle. My Dad would leave on weekends; she jumped on!

Dez-Thanks for visiting! It is...you never know where you may end up~