Hello my 'fabulous four' grandchildren, Kate, Lucy, Willem and Alexander.
This is your Grandpa Bill, sometimes Grandpa Beef, checking in from Africa - Sub Saharan Africa, that is, to my Tunisian babies.
I'm in Zambia today, fly to Lilongwe in Malawi tomorrow, where Jessica, Lianne and I will join the Tour d'Afrique. We start our ride April 7.
So why, kids, am I doing this ride?
First of all - taking a page out of your book Lucy - it's fun - it's an adventure. I can just see you sitting on my handlebars, grinning, laughing, enjoying every minute of it! Every day as the adventure unfolds, I'll be thinking of you, Luce.
(Code L = Lucy = Fun and Adventure)
Second - As I ride, I'm going to have time to think. You're a great thinker Kate. You always make amazing observations and then you follow that up by figuring out how everything fits together. As I ride along, I will be thinking, contemplating, pondering about the world's most pressing problems. You are incredibly smart, I'll draw my insights about thinking from you Katy-Kate.
(Code K = Kate = Thoughts, thinking, Understanding)
Third - riding my bike is going to be a time for creativity - a time for a little of Edward de Bono's 'green hat' stuff. When it comes to creativity, Will Will, you are my hero, my source of inspiration. As I ride, I'll think of your imaginary 'lung cutters' and the fun we had 'operating' with them. I'll remember how you can spend hours creating environments, societies, mythical characters, adventures. You live in a world where nothing is impossible. Alternately stated - Everything is possible. It's going to take creativity to solve some of the world's most thorny problems, but you will be with me Will as the solutions for these challenges unfold.
(Code W = Willem = Creativity, Intuition, Problem solving)
Fourth, riding my bike through Africa will be a time for me to emote, to express and to experience my feelings, my gratitudes. I may not have told you this before, Ander, so I'll do so now. I don't know anyone else, regardless of age who is so connected to their emotions, their feelings, as you are my oldest grandchild. Conventional wisdom suggests that we look to the old, the published, the worldly, when it comes for advice or insights into our emotional world. For me, Ander, I look to you. I learn from you every day. When riding my bike, whenever I feel happy, ecstatic, sad - I'll be thinking of you. By the way, I see that the Rockets won their series with a 7th game win, but now they are behind with the Tri City Americans - go Rockets! Also, your science project was beyond brilliant - well done - I am so proud of you.
(Code A = Alexander = Emotions and Feelings)
So now you have it - the CODE!
Each day will be an experience, a quest, a journey of great significance.
Each day I will experience all aspects of the CODE.
It will be like a WALK in the park,
Get it? The CODE
WALK
W = Willem = Creativity, Intuition, Problem solving
A = Alexander = Emotions and Feelings
L = Lucy = Fun and Adventure)
K = Kate = Thoughts, thinking, Understanding)
Each day I will experience all of these codes and I will think of each of you.
I will write about all of these in the weeks ahead......
Some creativity...... a little gratitude........ a little fun...... many thoughts.....
For those of you who don't know my second generation babies, suffice it for you to know that Kate is the most intellectually alert person on the planet.
Lucy is the most fun-loving and most adventurous person alive.
Will gets the universe's gold, silver and bronze medals for imagination and creativity.
No one, any where, all ages included, has more emotionally intelligence than Ander.
One thing that you, dear reader, needs to know about me - I have no biases!
Welcome
Follow us on the Tour d'Afrique. Lilongwe, Malawi to Cape Town, South Africa.
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Of course I understand the 'no biases' element ...I have a second generation baby and know too well the amazing gifts and capabilities they bring to this world.
ReplyDeleteAnd with them in your heart, mind, and soul, it WILL be a WALK in the park Dr!
The best to everyone involved. My thoughts and love go with you all.
Lisa Cubitt,
A forever grateful bilateral rib resection recipient...thanks to you and 'Dr. Willem's lung cutters' ;)
Ride safe
How special you are Bill to acknowledge your love and very special relationships you have with each of your grandchildren. All the best to you in your journey over the next 6 weeks. Know you are never far from our thoughts and prayers. Forever awed and amazed by the incredible YOU!!
ReplyDeleteAs Always, The Barkers
150 kms completed today and 200 ahead for you today? Outstanding! Be Well...Be Safe.
How did the first day go Dad? We want to hear all about it! love martha
ReplyDeleteJess, Lianne and Bill,
ReplyDeleteWe are all dying to hear how you last few days have gone. I have sent a few inquisitive texts, but not heard back, so hoping it is just because you are out of range or phone minutes!
Considering what you have not only physically been going through with these very long days of rides over 150 kms , but mentally, I thought a few words of encouragement and sentiments of love and admiration can only be helpful.
I hope by now you have fallen in love with your bikes and tents ….if not ….then it is probably time... like them or not ….it’s time to fall in love…
Every morning when you get up, before you go to sleep at night, but especially when you are having a tough go ….gather up the energy from all the love and support from all of us who admire and love you…. like a slide show, let our faces pass before you …let us help you through
Whenever you need a push; pull out the remote of the projector in your mind and key up the slide show of the faces of those in Zambia that you have already helped and dream of the successes yet to come from the incredible OkaZHI project you are leaders in …just don’t fall off your bike when doing so!
You are riding in the direction of your dreams- how incredible is that…listen and follow your heart it speaks to you every day
Robert Frost reminds us “ The only way around is through” so keep riding in the direction of your dreams and focus at the end results
My wish for you today is the aches and blisters will quickly heal …in fact that they GO AWAY…right NOW!...
And that your positive spirit will carry through today and tomorrow …
We all admire you for your courage…and for just BEING YOU!!!
In closing I send out to you this Apache Blessing:
"May the sun give you new energy by day
May the moon softly restore you by night
May the rain wash away your worries
May the wind blow new strength into your being
May you walk gently upon this earth and know it's beauty every day of your life "(and especially during this ride)
As Always In Loving Admiration, Mom/Diana aka Ma Barker
Hey Bill, picked up my bamboo bike. I have been putting it through the paces on my trainer in the basement, so far so good, no breakage!! How are things on your end? Hope the ride is all you anticipated and then some. I wish I could be there to experience the adventure and jubilation in doing something you love for such a wothy cause. There's always next year. I'm clearing my calendar already, Ed.
ReplyDeleteHey Bill,
ReplyDeletegreat start to your blog! looking forward to more! We love you and think of you everyday. Enjoy your adventure - we are so proud of you!
love Bev, Tess and Mandy xoxox