A window into my hermit-like existence.
Most days, I walk a circuit from my rental on Mississippi Road. Down to Virginia. Past Billy Graham’s house. To the stone Montreat gate. Up Kanahwa. Jog a block across Mecklenburg to Mississippi. (The picture is of the STOP sign at that intersection.)
From there, I turn left into a vertigo-inducing climb. To the end of Westminster and back. To the end of Mississippi (wheezing the whole way) and onward to the house. If the neighborhood included % grade signs, that last bit would rate at least a 30. Maybe a 45.
I cannot IMAGINE riding a bicycle on the roads in Montreat, but MTM can. He’s itching to bring one of his vintage racing bicycles up here to have a go.
In honor of MTM’s bicycle fetish, I’m posting a link to an article that touched him. Robin Williams was a bicycling fanatic. Many of MTM’s online bicycling forums have included tributes to Robin Williams’ love of the bike.
But no story touched me quite like this one. Please take the time to read it.
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TODAY’S MERIWETHER LEWIS BIRTHDAY MONTH TRIVIA QUESTION:
IS ANYONE READING THESE MERIWETHER LEWIS TRIVIA QUESTIONS?
Yesterday’s Meriwether Lewis Birthday Month Trivia Question: TRUE OR FALSE. MERIWETHER LEWIS LIVED IN GEORGIA.
Answer:Â TRUE. Meriwether Lewis’ stepfather moved his family to Georgia when Merry was seven or eight. He learned much of his outdoor skills from his stepfather while he lived in Georgia. At 14, he moved back to Virginia to oversee his family’s plantation. AT FOURTEEN.
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To Live Forever: An Afterlife Journey of Meriwether Lewis is just $2.99 on Kindle during August in celebration of Meriwether Lewis’ Birthday Month.
Click here to read an excerpt.
Or click below to buy it.
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To check out the entire Meriwether Lewis Birthday Month Series, follow the links below:
Lewis and Clark: Screwing Their Way Across a Continent
Lewis and Clark and Sex Bombs
Who Was Meriwether Lewis Godfather?
If Meriwether Lewis Had Lived to be 80
Lewis and Clark and Old Blue Eyes
The Lion Will Lie Down With the Lamb
My Natchez Trace Walk Featured in We Proceeded On
Dead People Follow Me And They Talk To Me
Is Suicide the Final Arbiter of a Life. For Robin Williams. And Meriwether Lewis.
WordPress Is Killing Me
Fate’s Fickle Fingering
Happy Birthday Meriwether Lewis
I Just Can’t Come
55 Comments
i love that story so much, andra )
It made me sad through my smile.
A humble smile from a complex man. And yes, it’s pretty close to flying.
I always feel out of control when I ride a bicycle. MTM is braver than I am.
Me too..thats why i ride slow and straight..no curves or hills, thank you…
Answer to today’s question: Yes.
Most people don’t hazard guesses, so it’s hard to know.
The answer is YES and that should win me an MTM bike, right?
MTM probably has enough bike parts to build you a bike, Lou.
Yes. Yes we are. And trying to come up with smart-ass answers to then as well thank you very much.
Enjoy your stay in Black Mountain. Beautiful up there. Have you visited Andrews Geyser yet?
Still sad about Robin Williams, he was one of the greats.
Haven’t been to the geyser. I just went into town for a coffee break. The Dripolator makes a good cup.
A dripolator and a geyser are not the same thing. Is the cool little used bookstore still in town?
What a touching story
It was.
Robin Williams: Great story
Meriwether Lewis Trivia questions: Reading: yes. But are people reading the answers?
I can’t tell what people read unless I include a link. Lots of people read the Robin Williams story today, which is great.
My father has a Pegoretti. It is a work of art, and I think it cost more than my car(s). I used to be a little resentful of the 15+ hours a week he’d be out of the house riding, but as an adult I completely understand now. It gets rid of the crazy and makes you a better person/parent/partner. My dad and Robin Williams would have been fast (and hairy) friends.
MTM is apparently building me a bike while I’m in the mountains. My street bike is too heavy to ride for exercise.
When I click the link it tells me the article is no longer available. Could be that it recognizes a Canadian IP address or maybe an issue with accessing it from my phone. Will try again later on my laptop.
p.s. I am reading the questions. 🙂
It might be the case, Nancy. Other Canadian readers appear to have clicked and been able to read, though. Hmmmm.
I was able to get to it on my laptop. Great article, showing yet another side of RW.
TRUE! (is anyone reading…)
Ha. Good one.
He was a mensch. What a beautiful story about a beautiful man.
He touched many.
Wonderful article. Thanks.
Thanks for reading.
Yes, I’m reading the questions. I even read the article about a beloved man on a bike. I’m just a reader, I guess.
Me, too. I’ll read just about anything.
Lovely tribute, and yes I’m reading the trivia questions. 🙂
Hope you’re feeling better and better, Lisa.
Thank you. Yes a little better each day.
What a beautiful story. He brought so much joy to people. It’s so sad that he never seemed to feel that joy for long. Thanks for sharing that story.
I read the questions.
It’s got to be hard to be the source of laughter for so many. A big burden to carry, in a way, particularly when any slump hits, as they inevitably do.
Yes, I’m reading the questions. 🙂 I’ve clicked on the link but haven’t read the article yet. I’m so anxious to do my bike ride – we’ll be doing it in September where, hopefully, it will not be so hot, but not as cold as it was last time (30 degrees) – it’s the longest bicycle journey – will have taken us two years to complete it – hahaha. I’m getting tubeless tires so my tire doesn’t blow out this time. 😉
I hope you’re going to post lots of pictures and updates. I can’t wait to see how it goes.
Of course we read the questions! Sometimes, however, we get more invested in responding to other matters brought to our attention and forget about answering them. 🙂
I also read the article you’ve shared here, and it is bittersweet. Now that I live in relative flatland, I sometimes entertain the idea of having a bike again, but the treadmill is probably safer! 🙂
MTM rides his bike all the time, usually with a group of guys. I don’t worry about him doing long distances when he’s with a group.
Thank you for sharing this Andra. I struggle with it.
We all will for a while.
I didn’t know this about Robin Williams. He was so well-rounded, which I think makes his ending even more tragic. Thanks for the link.
You’re welcome.
I can understand how this touched you so, Andra, and it is yet another story and tribute to Robin Williams’ kindness and generosity to others. Thank you for sharing it here.
Yes. I do read your Meriwether Lewis questions, and I mean to answer them, but, then a butterfly flits by the window, or I walk to the kitchen to get a drink of water and end up washing the floor. Sigh.
I’m the same way, Penny. We have so many things pulling at us these days. (And to answer your Charleston? question on Kate’s blog, we’re seeing them when they come. MTM is giving them the Mayor’s Institute walking tour on Saturday. I’m pee-my-pants excited about their visit. I just hope Charleston decides to be kind in the heat department. There’s a heat advisory tomorrow.)
Wonderful story 🙂 And the answer to today’s question: yes, we are reading the Meriwether Lewis triv. Most excellent.
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There’s a lot of trivia where he’s concerned. Maybe you’ll see him at The Smithsonian.
It is
I too cannot imagine riding a bicycle on Montreat. Heck, I wouldn’t even drive my car down some of those steep driveways. If I were you I’d wait for him in a rocker down at the Assembly Inn.
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