and following our will and wind we may just go where no one's been

Here I am in Bethesda, MD at Katie's house as she drops Daumantas off at the airport for his flight back to London. I wasn't even able to accompany my friend to the airport because there was no space in the car with the bike box crowding the back seats. Oh well, after all we were side by side, or wheel to wheel, for the past 10 weeks as we crossed over 10 states, pedaling, camping, cooking, getting drenched, frozen, exhausted, bruised and scratched, but always celebrating our freedom and determination every step of the way. I can think of few people so reliable and adventurous that could have made our venture possible, and our friendship and respect for each other will remain valuable assets in our lives wherever and whichever way we decide to live them.

Meanwhile, while Daumantas goes back to London to try and rebuild his life and career there, I will stay here for another month, treasuring my time with my fiance after all this separation over the last two years. Nothing else in the world makes me happier and more complete than being with Katie, so I decided to put my friends and career secondary to her, and to do everything possible fighting the forces that are pulling us apart. The green card seems like an almost certain prospect for next year, so perhaps there is light in the end of the tunnel. Till then, I don't have a plan but I am not afraid to embrace the random and hope and persevere. Our cycling adventure of the past two months gives me confidence and makes me believe in myself like never before.