Some of the comments we’ve received from strangers along the way have made me think a lot about my relationship with femininity, womanhood, and the strong women in my life.

These past few weeks have provided me with the privilege to constantly admire the beauty of this country, but I am consistently (and rather abruptly) reminded of our ever-present, greedy, colonial American ideals.

“She’s a wildflower,” said Arvil from Kentucky, “a real free spirit.” This friendly stranger was telling us a story about a friend of his while we all shared a moment on a bluff of the Oregon Coast. This got me reflecting….

A cross-country bike trip sounds like the adventure of a lifetime, but how will it ever compare to the landscape that is nearest and dearest to my heart?