Road Trip on Scooter from CO to AK
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ROB'S RUCKUS ROADTRIP

On 5/11/15  I set out on the adventure of a lifetime, riding my 49cc scooter from Colorado to Alaska on the backroads of North America. Along the way I'll be sharing my story of recovery from drugs and alcohol, and raising funds to help students in recovery.

FOLLOW ALONG AS I GO!



There sure is a lot of smelly road kill out here...

5/18/2015

14 Comments

 
PictureLogan & I on top of the Gore Range in Vail, CO
As I prep to leave Salt Lake City, UT, I am sitting in one of my best friend's room - unfortunately he's not here to hang with. The past few days have been pretty rough. I knew this trip would be a real mental test which was a big part of the reason I decided to do it on a scooter. I wanted to push myself both physically and mentally, I just thought that time would come a little later, like once I was in the middle of nowhere in Canada. Well I sure as hell was wrong, I got hammered with rain for 150 miles while in Utah, a drive that lasted 7 hours and proved that I wasn't as well prepared for the rain as I should have been, even though I had garbage bags rubber banded around my feet, I was still soggy as a leftover meatball sammy. My rain pants had some issues and my ass was completely soaked, my "waterproof" gloves, not so waterproof. Once I got to Park City I thought I'd treat myself to a nice dip in a fancy hotel's hottub and snap some pictures of me doing so, well that was brain fart, I dropped my phone and there went all my pictures from the first week and communication for the next few days.

Oh, it continues- the next day I had to get from Park City to SLC, I could take the back roads as I planned or make the brilliant decision and head down the sketchy I-80 over a pass and into SLC. Scared shitless and trembling I took I-80, I wanted to be able to see one of my best friends before he left SLC for the weekend, and I-80 was the shortest route. Through snow and rain and dodging blown out tires and trash in the shoulder, I made it into SLC only to be too late to see him. Feeling devastated and defeated, a lot of dark thoughts started rushing into my head. "F%*& THIS, I don't need people in my life, I can do this and anything I want all by myself with nobody's help, why am I even doing this trip??" 

These are normal thoughts that rush into my head when things don't go as expected in my life. I get lost in my own head, and forget why I am here and what is truly important, and sometimes it takes something to happen to get me back down to earth. Well sure enough something happened, my mom called me that day and told me my good friend Logan had drowned in a kayaking accident. That did it. Right then I was brought back down to reality and remembered that life is about pursuing your dreams and being able to do what you love. Logan died while filming a kayaking movie up in the Pacific Northwest, I was hoping to meet up with him and the crew when I finally scootered up there. I have lost two other close friends, both doing what they loved. My friend Tony (pardee on) passed while skiing in an avalanche and Todd (WWTD) passed after hanging out with his best friends and saving another friend's life. I share about these other two kids because now I have three doods upstairs watching my back. 

So yeah, I knew shit would go down while I was on this trip, I knew I would be tested, NO I didn't think I would be alone scootering while thinking about the passing of another friend. Maybe this will help me to think deeper along this trip and make me be  more aware that I do need to ask for the homies upstairs to help guide me along this trip. To turn this sad sappy post around I want to talk about what my buddies upstairs have already helped with during this trip! So when you see some pics with the WWTD shirt and the Pardee on shenanigans, just know that is my way of reminding myself and others that we've got homies up there watching out for us guiding us the whole time! (my next post will be all about how I've been hooked up so far from my DOODS upstairs!)

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Picture
Smiling because I do have THE best friends in the world
Picture
The Scooter packed after camping near the Utah-Colorado border- before the rain!
14 Comments
Fred Stephens
5/18/2015 04:02:19 am


Good writing Robert! I will read every post.

Reply
Devin
5/18/2015 04:31:06 am

Hey bud! Thinking of you and wishing I was with you. I have a lot of doods upstairs, two of which were the closest people in my life when they left. This trip your on will honor there lives. By helping others you are using your past to save other people from the same suffering you have experienced. You're a strong guy and I know you can do this. Stay strong and please call me when you get to a phone.

Peace and love

Devin

Reply
margo
5/18/2015 05:20:26 am

Robert I am sorry about your friend....what you are doing is amazing and let the Doods from Upstairs keep guiding you.

Reply
Billy
5/18/2015 06:27:28 am

Robert,Sorry to hear about Logan :( I am sending my upstairs doors to help see you thru to AK !! YOU GOT THIS ,Billy

Reply
Kevin Stephens
5/18/2015 06:44:07 am

Robert,
You are the man! You'll look back on this with fond memories. No matter where the journey takes you or how difficult or sweet the days, enjoy the ride. Keep the memories and make new ones. The doods are with you.

Reply
Myra
5/18/2015 06:48:59 am

Robert, you are amazing and what you are doing will make a difference in the lives of many. I'm sure Logan will ride with you for a while! Keep the faith!

Reply
kyle link
5/18/2015 11:21:05 am

keep crushing it rob!

Reply
Dad
5/18/2015 01:12:36 pm

You are on my mind every day. Please be safe. I am so Proud of you.

Reply
Elan
5/18/2015 02:48:15 pm

Sup ROB, glad you are on a good path. Love ya doggy. Keep on scooten!

Reply
Willie Culkin
5/18/2015 02:55:19 pm

Rob, I am so sorry about Logan. In 1994, I lost one of my dudes in a kayaking accident on the Cache la Poudre. You'll process this as best you can. You'll walk (or scoot) through this, come out the other side and be OK. There are a lot of people in the recovery community who are thinking about you and we've got your back too.

Reply
Dennis link
5/18/2015 11:22:48 pm

Hi Rob!

I'm sharing your story with some friends, and you're an inspiration for us all! While you're going through some real struggles as you head down the road, you're also going for an incredible goal, putting you miles ahead of the majority!

We're all proud of you and know that while there will be ups and downs, don't miss all of the awesome that is happening then the crummy crap starts clouding things ;)

Reply
Matt Luczkow
5/19/2015 10:54:39 am

yo buddy sorry about Logan. Keep on keepin on. I'm thinking about you!

Reply
Karen Holce
5/21/2015 07:41:10 am

Hi Rob, I just read your story in the Daily Camera. Both my husband and I graduated from CU in the 80's. One of our sons, and our daughter currently attend CU and I think my son can relate to your personal story. We live in Portland, Oregon and would love to host you for a night or two if you are passing through. Plenty of room and three dogs to welcome you. Feel free to contact me 503-939-5959-
Peace and so sorry to hear about your good friend. Karen

Reply
Mary
5/21/2015 02:25:00 pm

So proud of you and thrilled for you on this journey- the ups and the downs! You've come so far, and I for one am excited to see how far you'll go!

Reply



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    Hi I'm Robert, I am traveling from Colorado to Alaska on my scooter! I WILL be doing some crazy shenanigans along the way! 

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