Two days past I was at my favorite coffee shop, The Lyric, in Clayton, NY. I meet a lot of teens there for coffee, business meetings, record live concerts, you know…the usual. I had just finished hanging with two guys and walked outside when I saw this really gnarly BMW touring bike parked right in front of my truck. It was plastered with stickers from all over the world and looked like it had been driven through a desert and back. I climbed into my truck and then thought, “I have to meet whoever is riding that thing and find out what their story is.”
So I closed the door to my truck and hoped the meter lady wouldn’t notice my time was about to expire (no more quarters on me). I walked back into the Lyric and surveyed the usuals, looking for someone out of place. There, in the corner, was a couple. Riding pants, bike helmets, and a laptop was all I needed to see.
“Are you guys with that bike?” I asked.
I guess my enthusiasm said the rest.
“Have a seat,” they offered, wide smiles on their faces. Fortunately they were as eager to talk as I was.
Allow me to introduce you to two absolutely, amazingly extraordinary people: Simon & Lisa Thomas. Their many accomplishments, as well as their fantastic photographs and videos from around the world, can be seen on their awesome website www.2ridetheworld.com. But despite being the Guinness Book of World Records holder for the longest contiguous motorcycle ride, they are some of the coolest, most down to earth people you’ll ever meet. But there is a reason for that.
“We’ve realized that it’s the people that are the most memorable parts of our trip,” Lisa said.
“The media paints this awful picture of humanity, that everyone’s bad and there are horrible problems everywhere,” Simon added. “But that’s simply not reality. Reality is that most folk are wonderful, genuine, well meaning souls. The world is a wonderful place.”
Not to mention this pair have more sweet stories to tell than your average joe! But there’s a reason for that, too.
“We were tired of letting our lives slip away,” Simon replied when I asked, why are you doing this? “We wanted to actually live life, not just watch it.” So he and Lisa sold everything they had and set off on a two year trip around the world…
…that was five years ago.
Long story short, they are now staying in the DIBOR dorms here in Depauville for a few nights regrouping. I figured they’d like a dry, spacious place to stay rather than their usual tents, and they love the wireless DSL to update their website as well as the hot shower thing (always a plus).
I encourage you to go check ‘em out and drop them a note! It’s been an honor to meet them, befriend them, and even house them! Proving that cool things wait around the corner for each of us. You just have to look.
As I’m sure they’d challenge you, take life by the horns and live it. Don’t just dream about what you want to do–start doing it. Sell something. Save your money. Draw up the plans. Seek wise counsel. Invest. Learn. Whatever stage you’re at, go to the next one. The Lord gave us this life to live it for a purpose.
What’s yours?
CH
