Mountain T.O.P.

Most people wouldn't decide to move across the country on a bicycle. Most people wouldn't decide to move across the country on a bicycle a mere three days after they're going to be on a mission trip for a week, leaving them only two days to figure out all of the crucial details surrounding a trip across the country on a bicycle. I have never been accused of being most people.*

*I've also never been accused of murder or arson or most felonies. I was accused of stealing a mouse ball when I was a junior in high school. I was told I would have to serve detention, but refused to go since I had not stolen the mouse ball. It went back and forth, me and the assistant principal and the people in the Attendance Office - them giving me more detention for not going to detention, me not going to those detentions. One day, in the middle of the whole ordeal, I was named a National Merit Semi-Finalist and that was all the ammo I needed to just tell the guy to shove it.

I'm ready for the New Mexico trip, and am prepared to live for two months on only what will fit on a bicycle. So, when I packed for this eight-day mission trip, I packed light. I figure I will only need 13% of what I will need in August. This makes packing easier.

I packed deodorant, a toothbrush, some old clothes, a bar of soap, and a wretchedly uncomfortable (but miraculously light!) sleeping bag. On the list of things I didn't pack: a razor, shaving cream, hair product, shampoo, SPF, face wash, etc... This can only mean one thing. Look for to the patented "Aaron Helman Resembles a Boy Band Member but Only if that Boy Band Member Was some Sort of Hobo"* look to begin before the bike trip is even nearly planned.

*All Rights Reserved. (c) 2008.

See you in a week.