837 Miles In: The Best Part of the Ride

Today we continued on the Cardinal Greenway out of Muncie, Indiana, toward Bunker Hill and crossed another small milestone: 837 miles into this journey. Which means there are now less than 3,000 miles to go before La Push, Washington.

Today’s ride was a mix of rail trail and quiet rural backroads. Long stretches of wheat and cornfields. Big skies. Very little noise.

As I pedaled through Indiana farm country, something struck me:

It’s incredibly peaceful here.

No hurry. No chaos. Just the rhythm of turning pedals and the quiet that comes when life slows down enough to notice it.

We stopped for lunch at a diner in Sweetser, Indiana, and ended up having one of those conversations that has become one of the unexpected gifts of this trip. We talked with the owner and staff about the ride, where we started, where we’re headed, and why a group of veterans would decide crossing America by bicycle sounded like a good idea.

After lunch and a break away from riding, we asked for the bill.

There wasn’t one.

Without fanfare or attention, they quietly covered our meal.

It was another reminder of something this ride keeps teaching me:

People are kinder than we often give them credit for.

At 837 miles in, I’m beginning to think the best part of riding across America isn’t the miles, the scenery, or even reaching the destination.

This ride keeps restoring something valuable: faith in the goodness of ordinary people.