BRAGGING, a journey across Georgia
“You can take the girls out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the girls!” (or the men that traveled with us). This was my third BRAG, Bike Ride Across Georgia. We had 20 riders this year from LaFayette, Ringgold, Chickamauga, Dalton and the surrounding area.
Our team, “LGC” (Loose North Georgia Cogs) varies in ages of life, careers, health and personalities, but for one week we traveled across Georgia from Atlanta to Savannah on bicycles, as one group, supporting and loving each other and the people we met along the way. The ride was about 400 miles, lasted six days, and took us through several cities across Georgia that I had never visited.
Our first day was heading out on Peachtree Street in the middle of Atlanta. Many of those that rode with me on the startup day did not like the “big city.” Fortunately, it was a Sunday morning and very limited traffic, but it was also rainy, which doesn’t always make for a great bike ride on streets. We had two wrecks from our group getting out of Atlanta and many others from the other 1,000 riders. I heard numerous times that day, “I like riding the country roads better,” and that is what we have here in northwest Georgia.
After getting out of Atlanta and heading east toward Social Circle and other small communities, our group started riding better and were more successful. Watching 20 people who haven’t ridden together much pull all their strength and weakness together to become one very well-oiled engine and “team” is very interesting. I hope this encourages each of you no matter what age, illness or fitness to consider doing a ride like this or at least join some of us in our ChickamaugaChattanooga Battlefield Park for a little biking soon.
We saw some beautiful communities and people along the way, but we have all the same things right here in our back door. It’s a great way to enjoy being outside and seeing our area from a differ- ent prospective and angle. It is also a way to make friendships that you will never forget.
What I learned or experienced on this sixday bike ride is:
There is still no place like home. City life is nice, but there is nothing better than the small communities and the people that live in them.
If I think I hurt or have it tough, talk to someone along the way, they have bigger problems.
When you feel down, smile and soon you will have many smiles coming back your way.
People that come together on this journey have so many different reasons to ride, but their support and love work as one with no exceptions.
Family can mean biking groups such as the LGC that created a bond to last a lifetime. When you experience such extreme emotions of joy and tragedy in one event, you hold a special place in your heart for these people you shared it with and the person that loss their life.
Our group of 20 completed the ride successfully, but we witnessed the loss of a rider at the finish line.
Just a little detail of the people that rode with our team: One rider is 26, the rest are in the mid 40s-60s.
Some grieve the loss of children, spouses and other loved ones, some ride with severe diabetes, seizures and other serious diseases, some ride for their family and others ride for reasons we may never know, but whatever the reason we ride, we ride to support each other and help and love someone else along the way.
Thanks for letting me share this journey with you. If you are interested in riding bikes or wanting to know about biking in our area, biking clubs, routes, etc., contact me and I will gladly help you find your way. Lisa@ LisaHeyer.com
We have so much beauty in our area, and I promise, you will see it so differently from a bike seat.
Real Estate Community Connection submitted by Lisa J Heyer, owner/broker, Jackson Realty.