My visit to Scranton, PA marked the official beginning of the 2014 Drive N Bike. I had an incredible experience — a great talk, a receptive inspired audience, gracious and grateful hosts, and a enjoyable biking experience. If the next forty plus days are at all like the last two, this is going to be an amazing trip.
My entire visit was related to the 11th Annual Tour de Scranton, a local bike ride in honor of Erin Jessica Moreken who died of a heroin overdose at far too young an age. Her parents formed a foundation funded through this ride to provide assistance in collaboration with the local courts to young adults who are successfully working on their recovery program. This is a wonderful model for encouraging and challenging people struggling with addiction to assimilate into society as they make continued strides in their recovery program.
I was honored to be the featured speaker at a kick-off event the night before the bike ride. With an intimate and engaged audience of sixty parents I had the opportunity to share the 100Pedals story, the mission of the Drive N Bike, the Four Wheels of Personal Recovery (Part 1 and Part 2) and a rant. I was grateful to be part of this program and pleased to have received so many positive comments afterwards
Today, I embarked on a 32 mile bike ride around greater Scranton. Were it not for the good fortune of finding a riding partner in the parking lot when I first arrived at Scranton HS, I am not certain I would have enjoyed the ride as much as I did. The conversation, the pace, the navigational support, and the camaraderie of the ride was blessed by my riding buddy. Again, if every ride goes like this one, I am going to be one grateful person when I return home in June (seems a long way off right now). Thanks, Shaun!!
Tomorrow I am off to Boston. As I depart, I am grateful and honored to have been welcomed into Scranton this weekend. It was an awesome, amazing, and incredible way to kick-off this year’s tour!! Thank you, Tom and Betty Moreken and your entire committee!!
