Penny is an artist who uses her creative side and imagination to express herself. She’s now using this opportunity with ASDNext to not only do that through art, but also blogging. For much of her life, she felt like the “quirky sidekick” stereotype in a movie, always doing what others expected of her. When she was diagnosed with autism later in life, that all began to change. This news was life changing and she knew it was time to rewrite her story. She’s no longer on the sidelines of this so-called movie that is her life, she’s the director, leading-lady, or whatever other part she needs to play to figure out who she REALLY is! Every small step toward authenticity is now a victory for her in this new stage of life.
View all postsBiking Beyond My Comfort Zone: A Gettysburg Adventure
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One of the most incredible sensory joys I have discovered as an adult with autism is riding my bicycle. Speeding through my natural surroundings, feeling the wind aggressively whipping my face, and pushing myself to pedal faster is exhilarating. My favorite sensation is zipping down the descending side of a big hill, fast enough to throw both my arms open wide, like a bird, the closest I could possibly feel to flying. Sadly, I didn’t ride my bike as much as I’d hoped this year until October, when I accepted an invitation to bike around Gettysburg with friends. This nearly 24-mile excursion was more than a leisurely ride; it was an opportunity to crawl out of my comfort zone, both physically and socially.
We were using a printed map of the battlefield and other must-see monuments along the way. Cellphone coverage in some areas was spotty, so we were able to take mini breaks while our elected navigator recalculated and recalibrated our route. Being with a group of people of various skill levels (my overall weakness being stamina) was a fun challenge. It fostered teamwork and camaraderie among the four of us, Becca, Bobby, Sherri, and me. We fell into our own little rhythms, biking in single file through the town of Gettysburg, until we unexpectedly encountered a detour due to some filming taking place. The re-routing of cars and foot traffic left almost no room for 4 bikes to squeeze and speed down the historic and narrow streets. The traffic jammed, ultimately leading us to decide to walk our bikes on the sidewalk for a bit.
Once we got out of that mess, we were free to ride again, taking in the vast beauty of the peaceful roads. We encountered numerous canons, old rickety fences, trenches, railroad tracks, and gravel paths, as well as many different stone and copper monuments. Some of the iconic sights we saw included the Alabama State Monument, the Eternal Light Peace Memorial, the O’Rorke Memorial, the Oak Ridge Observation Tower, and many more.
The weather was initially chilly, but the more we moved, the more we warmed up. Our outer layers were shed and shoved back down in our packs. The backpack I brought was a lightweight waterproof “Water Buffalo” I usually use for floating down the creek. Inside, I crammed 2 water bottles, a protein bar, a homemade sandwich, and numerous mini snacks. My bike also has a mount for a single water bottle, just below the handlebars. Under the seat is a small zippered pouch (for my keys) and a detachable fanny pack in the front. I knew the Stanley would spill, so she was not invited to this party.
The map guided us alongside deep, wooded trails, eventually leading us toward “Culp’s Hill Observation Tower.” The word “hill” should have been our key indicator that this would be a grinding, grueling ride to the top. I dropped into my lowest gear and fought for my life up that stretch of pavement. I don’t know who NOPED out first, but at some point, we realized it was a faster walk, pushing the bike alongside us, than subjecting ourselves to THAT agonizing two-wheeled climb. Reaching the tower felt like such an accomplishment, only to end in quick disappointment. We were met with a locked gate and a sign indicating that lookout access was closed due to aggressive wasps. This slight disappointment called for an actual sit-down lunch break. Bellies full, and hope restored, we were ready to head off again.
We zoomed to Little Round Top, taking a turn to climb “The Castle,” the 44th New York Infantry monument. From the top, we could look down at Devil’s Den, our next destination. The parking lot that housed our cars had a strict closing schedule of DUSK. Dusk? What does that even mean? Our brains and bodies had completed well over 15 miles at this point. The clouds partially covered the sun, as it contemplated setting at some point soon. We weren’t sure. So, the rest of the ride was a fast-forward all-out sprint through monuments.
This 24-mile bike ride through Gettysburg was an adventure filled with unforgettable memories. We encountered more hills and slightly more traffic than we had anticipated. Everyone took turns complaining and struggling along these challenging obstacles. We also laughed, celebrated our small victories, and faced all the physical challenges together with teamwork just as much. Personally, I’m happy I held it together, with no tears. This was my longest bike ride in a while, and I couldn’t have asked for a more encouraging and hilariously sarcastic group of people to share it with.
Penny
