Thoughts from home

 Thoughts from home by Bill Poindexter

November 29, 2023 6 AM, 30°F, clear skies 

Topics:

60, cats, thinking too much, philosophy, procrastination, odd jobs, synchronicity, seer, nature, asking God and universe-What’s next?, My expeditions, and future bikepacking expeditions, what’s really important, meeting Jesus in Baja, being thankful

I turned 60 on the 27th. The last couple of weeks have been a very reflective time which is pretty normal for me this time of year but more so turning 60. I’m still in that reflective mode, probably for a few more days. 

Simply, I’m trying to figure out what I want to do, for the future, or at least the near future. Right now I’m Recruiting, working odd jobs, and writing, and philosophizing, and having a really good time with my three rescue cats and communing with nature. I’m feeling very happy at my home right now. And I’m doing a lot of thinking about myself, my life and the future of the world. The plan is right now to, do what I usually do, which is figure out a way to make some money and save a little extra, and head out on the road again and write about my experiences. Over the last few months, I’ve been studying other writers, styles, and experimenting much on my own writing. Kind of giving myself a masters in creative writing. I feel one of my callings is communication in the form of speaking and writing. So I’m going with my gut. I’m living on the edge a bit, in terms of financial security. But my painting of my life is large and vibrant. I’m used to living on the edge, I’ve always been a procrastinator, I like the feeling of the unknown, and always have the mindset of “what’s the worst that can happen“ I can’t tell you exactly why I do what I do or why I live the way I live, except that I’m true to my heart.

Life is so interesting, I feel like an observer of it. I feel very strong, mentally, and physically. If you were to ask me right now, “what is the meaning of life“ I would probably tell you to live it to its fullest try to experience everything you can make a lot of mistakes understand there is no balance there’s always gonna be ups and downs, and embrace the ups and downs, and at the end of the day show love and compassion to those around you whether they be humans, animals or nature.

Reflecting back on all my expeditions, short trips, and just my commuting around my home town, there’s always been an element of universal contemplation, you know -is there a God?

With all the weirdness of the world, it’s easy to question the existence of a higher being. With me, it seems, I’m always steered in a direction of synchronicity‘s and serendipity. That are hard to explain. From my intuitive standpoint – I see and hear everything. I’ve even been called a Seer more than once.

I find myself asking for guidance from the universe on a daily basis. Truthfully, I can’t tell you I believe in God, but I feel better when he’s around :-) which I guess means that I do believe in God?

Let me tell you a quick story: in the last decade, I’ve had some pretty cool experiences on my cycling and hiking trips. If you don’t know, I’ve hiked in the desert of Joshua tree national Park, and also on the coast of California – backpacking. I’ve also ridden my bike all over Kansas and Missouri, from Los Angeles, down through Baja Mexico, from Missoula, Montana up to Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada, and back down to glacier national Park, from New Mexico to Banff, Alberta, Canada, and the last long ride I did was last year, where I rode from Kansas City down to Springfield Missouri and then took a left turn and bicycled to Yorktown, Virginia. And this past summer I base camped in northwest, Montana, where I worked, and was able to travel around the mountains and the national forest on a daily basis. With all these experiences, I commune with nature on a very intimate level as I’m usually camping and sleeping on a patch of ground. I’ve ridden my bike in all types of weather, and I’ve met many people and had many conversations about life and what’s really important in life. I’ve also done these trips with sometimes multiple injuries either chronic or overuse injuries. And I always going out with the mindset that I need to be hyper aware to be able to self rescue if anything were to happen – which is always been a good metaphor for my life. I learned how to self rescue at an early age. I guess I’m lucky that way. And on all those trips to as I push my physical mental facilities, I contemplate my own mortality, and I find myself talking with God/the universe. And there’s even been a couple of times where I feel like I actually met, and had a conversation with angels/God/Jesus. I could be wrong, but they were both unusual circumstances and good conversations. I will be sharing those stories soon.

Synchronicity has played a large part with all my trips before and after. Too many coincidences. To give you a few examples on one trip I ask the universe for a bicycle and a friend of mine loaned me a brand new bicycle. I also called that trip the grateful trip and I was walking on a trail And I just happened to look down and there was a button in the middle of the trail that had Grateful written on it. Another time, a friend of mine, who is a very strong Christian, and a good man said he felt that Jesus was after me for a relationship with Him, and I told him, my friend that I appreciated that, but I was very unsure of my faith, and about a month later I was on a train to Los Angeles, and my seat partner ended up being a young Christian woman going home for Christmas break and she was studying at a Bible school outside of Chicago. And that trip being the same trip where I went to Mexico at the end of the trip, I met Jesus. You laugh, or show doubt, I’ll tell you the story sometime.

There’s some pretty cool stuff happening right now as well. And I wanted this post to be short, so I’m not gonna share any more today as you can tell. I’m on a search for truth. Truth is so important to me and trust me. I’m not anything special at all. I make a lot of mistakes, but I do understand truth and I write about truth and I will never ever apologize for sharing truth. I feel like I’m almost ready to go out and do a trip alone. I need to be out in nature for a long time by myself. I need to figure out a way to make that happen.

I’m interested in seeing what answers I come up with.

Well, just wanted to share what I’m thinking and what my journey is right now. I’m hunkered down in Kansas City, Missouri, I’m recruiting full-time, working part time at a bike shop, doing yardwork and handyman work for a couple of people when there’s work, I’m writing, and I’m living my life on my own terms.

If you’d like my writing or wanna hear more about my stories or my current journey. Feel free to reach out. You can comment below or connect with me by sending me an email at poindexterrecruiting@gmail.com.

Thank you for your support

Peace and love, Bill

Dispatches… What people are saying

 Dispatches from the road by Bill Poindexter

What people are saying about this blog… The good the bad the ugly. 

Authors note: it’s important to note that what I write is not gonna always going to be popular. And I’m OK with that as long as I’m telling the truth about what I see. I know there’s gonna be times when I make mistakes and maybe even get the story wrong. That just happens . But it’s important to stay true and tell the truth as I see it and we all know I’m fallible. Lord knows I have issues and I’ve made many mistakes in my life. I tend to go back and reread what I write just to make sure I got it right the first time. And there’s been many times. I am tempted to go back and add some fluff to it and make it a little prettier Less raw and correct some of the mistakes -but then I catch myself and and I said to myself.  Being completely authentic in this day and age, it’s hard to find. Most authors, add a lot of fluff to their blogs / media is spun in many different directions, and most the information is false. I feel in my job for the rest of my life is to tell stories about my experiences and tell the truth and be messy. And if anybody doesn’t like that, then they can go Read another person’s blog and get all that fancy fluff feel good stuff. But if you’re like me, you understand that life is hard, it ain’t always pretty, and there is no true balance in life that’s a complete myth…We just try to do the best we can we’re gonna have ups and we’re gonna have downs. We try to stay in the middle of the road as possible or you crash and burn. End of authors note.

What people are saying, about wholeearthguide.blogspot.com. 

From Deb

“I like this poem,Bill. Read it several times and I could see it from the older person’s side as they said it and I could see it from the younger person’s side as they listened…. Thank you for sharing this with me.

My favorite phrases which conjured up many feelings:

*If you share yours 

Do not put conditions on your sharing-

*Don’t admire darkness

*All will make sense with your friends:

Compassion 

Truth 

Integrity “

“Love this. Love the stream of consciousness process and your observations of life in a small western town. Love seeing the photos of the people you’re meeting…. 

And FrenchFryGate. You rebel, you 😆.  That little saga right there is worth a short story. Small

 town personalities, petty feuds with the competition, bluegrass bands and tarot cards and young women dancing… and the unknowing outsider, literally riding into small town life with all its flaws and beauty, already a rebel, not knowing that his choice of french fries would set off the next scandal. Reminiscent of Richard Brautigan.”

From Gary:

“ I've read each post you've made and really enjoyed the intimate connection to what's going on in Polebridge from your perspective! I'll have to plan for another ride up this season to catch up a bit with you.…”

From Todd:

“Please keep them coming, Bill!  Can’t wait to hear more of your stories and the people you meet.  Best of luck bartending!  It seems like your a natural!“

From Monica:

“Bill you inspire me. You live your life so authentically.  Even on the days you feel like coming back to Kansas city... you lean in and feel it. What else can we do in life if we're  halfway conscious?”

From Colin:

“Rock on brother! I keep your page open at work and plan to read every day I work once I get the bar set up. Thanks for the positive words “

From Abbey:

“I absolutely love your blog. It’s relaxes me to read this through your eyes. Thanks for sharing “

From Kelly in Kansas City:

“I am loving all of this.  I feel like so many online blogs pump the positive and make it sound like shangri La.  I am rooting for you and send me your Venmo handle again please!  I’d love to buy you a burger and coffee from KC☀️”

Well, that’s just a few… if you’re interested in supporting my journalistic endeavor please let me know I am on Venmo-I’m always up for a sandwich and a cup of coffee. 

Saving money for my ride back to KC  in September and will be biking the length of Baja Mexico in December/ January in which I’ll be doing dispatches from the road…

peace and love from the road, Bill Poindexter.

Enjoy the photos… They are from the last two weeks-new friends, a bear, the saloon and lots of nature

The Whole Earth Guide

There is a story here. It started 60 years ago, the summer of 1963, on a beach, on an island. My mom was swimming off Squibnocket Beach in the town of Chilmark, Massachusetts on the island of Martha's Vineyard. I was still in the womb and would not be born until November 27th, just a few days after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. The assassination was that act of terror that most likely forced my birth into a troubled extraordinary world and set me on paths of great suffering, physically and mentally ( depression, anxiety attacks, was beaten severely at military school at the age of 14, self destructive behavior causing to weigh over 430 pounds twenty years ago, there is more), but I learned to look at each life challenge as a temporary obstacle and a new "mountain" to climb thereby invoking paths of extreme adventure and compassion. So, the story begins...

Earth Rise (Nasa)

Hi, my name is Bill Poindexter, I am many things; a writer, speaker, author, coach, career counselor, adventurer on foot and by bicycle, outdoor educator, naturalist, minimalist, yoga instructor, environmentalist, and the creator of the Whole Earth Guide (WEG). I have been many things, but always saw the Earth as fragile, and now feel the need to help save our home (Earth).

The Whole Earth Guide is a series of guides with an ever evolving role to create a world peace where the health of: people, the environment, and communities is paramount. This is being created as you read this by a cooperative group of like minded Whole Earth Guides.

Original brainstorming sheet '18

The WEGs will be in the form of books, articles, podcasts, blog posts, live feeds, FB post, instagram images, letters (on paper), and stories by humans like you and me. I am starting the first step, telling the story, mission and vision. The organization is a not for profit, but we will not be tied to any government. This is for the Earth, the Whole Earth. We see one Earth, but for it to survive we all must get along and create a World Peace, there are no more choices, certain things must change in order for the planet to survive, our home.

These guides are inspired by the Whole Earth Catalog, by Stewart Brand

Bill Poindexter,  Banff Nation Park, photo by Sarah Burch

The first phase is two publish two guides in the next few weeks, as I am authoring both, They will be about what I know best, how to travel by bicycle and sharing inspiring stories and adventures from my travels like:

Sage and Pine

"How to find a place to sleep while traveling on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route (GDMBR)

What “they” don’t tell you in the Guidebooks.

Jack, Anna, Bahne, and myself had come off a long climb from Pinedale, WY, heading north. We were a day away from Grand Teton National Park. At the bottom of Union Pass, we stopped at a lodge for the usual GDMBR fare of burgers, fries, and beer. I noticed a couple and an older woman. The older woman stared at our disheveled group, but being a vagabond and wanderer, I was used to the stares, as we were a live

story.

After we ate, I walked outside to gather water bottles for refills. The couple and older woman followed me out.

They smiled. “Where are you traveling from?” the man asked with kind eyes.

“New Mexico,” I said and explained the route to them. "We are bicycling, self-contained, from New Mexico along the Continental Divide, on dirt roads and trails, to Banff, Alberta, Canada. The four of us met on the road, and we’re traveling together for a few days."

“Where do you sleep,” the woman asked, as though somehow searching for her past.

“Any place,” I say simply. “On the side of the road, in a shelter, bathroom, campground, back of a restaurant, lawns, people invite us into their home, but really, when the sun starts to set any patch of earth will do.”

Their eyes widened, and they looked at each other and nodded in complete understanding.

“Where will you sleep tonight?” the woman asked.

“Dunno,” I said smiling. “There is a campground a few miles up the road, or we may just keep moving till we find something and head into the woods. Something will present itself; it always does.”

The couple thanked me for telling them about our travels.

I walked back in the restaurant and told my companions what happened. Seconds later the man came back in and said, “My wife says you all can stay in our cabin tonight.”

We graciously agreed, and, 30 minutes later, we were at the cabin. Jerry and Anna, and Anna’s mother, hosted us for the night.

Full-blooded Arapaho, Jerry later that night confided in me that he longed for the “old ways” of his people.

He said, “The way you are traveling on your bicycles, with your gear, free on the land, was the way my ancestors traveled on horseback or foot. I am envious.” He gave me a serious look, “You will always be welcomed here.”

That night I slept deeply. Embraced by kindness, present and past. That’s the Wild West; that is the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route.

The next morning, we rose to coffee, a view from the balcony, and good food. We took pictures of our new friends and us, then we rode.

Side note: While on the Divide three Native Tribes, the Pueblo, Apache, and Arapaho, showed me incredible hospitality. I came to the West to see how the past and present meshed with smells of sage and pine."

Sage and Pine is one of hundreds of stories I have. 

I wish I could tell you all how this idea will play out, but truthfully, I do not know. I never know. I just follow my gut and let every day unravel, and see what happens. Oh there is some planning, but mostly I am curious to see how this story unfolds.

Next?

Whole Earth Bikepacking Summit-ever rolling, continuous, think of a bunch of curious, environmentally friendly, compassionate, healthy, Earth loving, World Peace optimists, cycling together and creating real change in a troubled world. 


I will be sharing stories from the road. Stories about the people with us and the ones we meet,  environmental conditions of the places we travel and the patches of dirt we sleep on, and we will share the commonalities of humanity with communities we pass through, and will seek out nature and the wilderness on many different levels, and we will ask questions, seek solutions to issues, and travel by bicycle to show a simple way to live. Can't make it? You can still be a part of it. This is grassroots. 

Grassroots movements and organizations use collective action from the local level to effect change at the local, regional, national, or international level.

If you are interested in following this "live" journalistic endeavor please let me know.
We could use your help financially, you can Venmo me, or will put a paypal link for you to click, and open to cash if you meet me on the road. The money is to help support the mission so we can tell the stories that need to be told, without condition:

Mission: To inspire good health: for people, the Earth, and community. And ultimately help create World Peace so the Earth can survive. 

There will be links coming as we evolve to our You Tube Channel as well.

How will it unfold?
Good question

If you would like me to speak to your organization about our focus, or teach how to: travel by bike, wilderness ethics, living car-free, tell stories of my adventures, or even teach a simple Yoga class, please let me know asap.

Things we need? Marketing folk, administrative and operational help, money, food, like minded folks who wanna make the Earth a better, livable, healthier home.

Hope to see you soon. 
Bill


Get your Whole Earth Guide here