Scooter Quest is over and it’s time to reflect.

Let me begin by stating: I’m not certain how we all survived. As with any road trip, there were moments of pure joy and extreme rage. Oddly, those “rage” moments are the ones I remember best… But I think I had a good time.

While it may not be totally apparent, this trip was the embodiment of friendship. Sean, Dustin, and I worked together — in some fashion — to overcome: Wisconsin State Troopers, Pennsylvania, some asshole debating when Feel So Good was released (it’s 1977, asshole), road crazies, three busted scooters, and missing our friends and family at home.

Further, let Scooter Quest be a testament to my friendship and my word given to Chris and Joanne Campo. I said I would arrive in New York on a scooter and I delivered. I love those guys and couldn’t be happier that they allowed me to share in their special day.

(The wedding was amazing! Literally. I was amazed. Also, because Chris and Joanne had talked up Scooter Quest for weeks leading up to the wedding, when I arrived and introduced myself as, “A friend from Minneapolis,” immediately everyone asked: “Are you the scooter boy?!” I felt like a mini-celebrity. Chris and Joanne, thank you for that.)

But there were difficult moments…

Like when I almost hit Sean. Or almost hit Dustin. Or almost left the group and ventured to New York on my own. Or discussed gay marriage with Sean. Or driving 500 miles alone through New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Ohio over the course of 18 hours. Or when Sean’s scooter seized 30 miles outside of Minneapolis on Day 1. Or when Dustin’s scooter seized in Ohio. Or when we got terrible sun burns. Or when all the bars in Indianapolis close at midnight on Sunday. Or when I got a $186 ticket in Wisconsin. Or eating at the Colossal Buffet in Wisconsin Dells. Or when Sean got a $120 ticket. Or sitting in rush hour traffic for 2 hours on the George Washington Bridge in New York City. Or getting lost in Manhattan. Or coming face-to-face with the Amish. Or getting lost in Wisconsin and fearing for our lives. Or when my scooter broke down…

Without adversity, the trip would have been too easy. Anyone could have done it and that would have made our 12 days on the road less than worthwhile.

Dustin sent me a sweet email this morning which sums things up:

We’ve had a run of adversity lately but I think that’s what makes us the manly men we are. We’re very much like kites, sometimes we don’t really have any control over which way the wind blows us. But, kites rise against the harsh wind, otherwise they’d never leave the ground.

And he’s right.

Like I said earlier, I’m not sure how we all survived, but we did. And we’re stronger for it.

I think next year for Scooter Quest we’ll take Harley’s instead…

Walk | On | Red