JOURNEY OF HOPE: A DAY IN THE LIFE

My name is Jackson Escamilla, and I am a member of the Iota Beta Chapter at the University of Texas-San Antonio. I was recently appointed to The Ability Experience Board of Directors. Currently, I am participating in the Journey of Hope, cycling across the country to support people with disabilities. During this 63-day journey, each day has unique aspects, but our overall schedule remains the same. Here’s a look at my typical day while cycling the Journey of Hope and what future team members can expect if they participate in a summer event with The Ability Experience.

6

A.M. WAKE UP!

First, I check what time zone I’m in because it changes frequently throughout the trip. Then, I look at my phone, and send some messages to my loved ones so they know where I am and how I’m doing.

I pack up my belongings (air mattress, sleeping bag), get dressed in my cycling uniform, walk out to the vans, put my bags in there, grab a bite to eat from the crew chief and get ready for circle up. This is when the team gathers in a circle and learns the plan for the day to find out all necessary information: where we’re going, how many miles we will be cycling - on average about 75 miles a day - who we’re riding with that day, etc.

Then, I meet up with the guys I’m riding with and come up with a game plan for the day. We get our lights, look at the route and make sure we are prepared for all the necessary precautions we will take to successfully bike the route.

7

A.M. CYCLING

Our cycling typically lasts around six to seven hours, depending on the day. If it is a day when we are riding more than 80 miles, we will have lunch on the road at mile 60, usually consisting of a sandwich and any other food the team is provided on a given day. Today, we are eating lunch on the road, so we all made and packed our sandwiches this morning.

1 P.M. LUNCH ON THE ROAD

When we finally make it to mile 60, we are all flagged down as we arrive at the crew stop. They pull all of our lunches that we made this morning out of the van, and it is officially time for lunch. After 60 miles of cycling, it is great to have something to eat and catch up with some of the guys. The hardest part of the ride is over, and hopefully from here on out it will be smooth sailing.

3 P.M. CYCLING COMPLETED, HEAD TO LODGING

After the ride is complete, we will head to where our lodging is for the night.

4

P.M. FREE TIME

Free time usually lasts about two hours. My teammates and I are able to explore the area, call our loved ones and relax after a long day of cycling. This is a great time to get prepared for what the next day/next week will consist of, whether that’s the routes we are doing or what you want to spend your free time doing in a specific area. Some guys just use this time to do nothing, which is okay, too!

6 P.M.

Friendship Visit And Dinner

Now, it is everyone’s absolute favorite part of the day, the Friendship Visit. Though everyone who hadn’t been to one before the trip started was a little hesitant when we arrived at our first one, now everyone is more than comfortable and looking forward to these visits. These visits are what gets us, or at least me, through the many miles each day. Besides getting dinner, we get to spend time with our friends, people with disabilities who are always so excited to see us and just be themselves around us. It is so nice to be the yearly visitor that these groups look forward to, and the smiles on their faces when we do something as simple as having a dance party with them are absolutely priceless. We get to spend a few hours with our friends, but somehow, by the end, it never seems to be long enough. Despite how tired I am after getting off the bike, these visits wake me right up.

9

P.M. HEAD BACK TO LODGING

After the Friendship Visit, it is about time for us to get some muchneeded rest, so we head back to our lodging for the night. Even though we sleep in close quarters most of the time, everyone is pretty tired and falls asleep immediately, so the noise level is not an issue. I have gotten used to falling asleep somewhere new every night, and I’ll admit that my air mattress feels surprisingly comfortable after an 80-mile day.

10 P.M. LIGHTS OUT

Before heading to sleep, I check how many days are left of the trip and consider another day completed as a success. I message a few of my loved ones, set my alarms and am fast asleep before I know it, hopefully getting well-rested for another day on the road.

“My favorite part of Journey of Hope was meeting guys from across the country from different walks of life. You’re just immersed in many different perspectives. In between that, you’re able to make these really amazing connections with all these guys and the organizations we work with along the way. You’re able to make lifelong friendships and create bonds of brotherhood that are unique from the ones you have within your individual chapters. You’re able to make something that you care about a lot. You’re able to grow from day one to day 63 and see your brothers grow. Hands down the thing I loved the most was seeing brothers go from being super shy at Friendship Visits to running around, throwing water balloons at our friends and really having a new demeanor from the beginning of the trip.”

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN EMBARKING ON THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME?

You have the chance to embark on Journey of Hope, a cross-country trip, or Gear Up Florida, a trip across the state of Florida this summer that will test your limits and help jumpstart your journey as a servant leader. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to help spread awareness and celebrate the abilities of all people through Friendship Visits with various disability organizations. Did you know most cyclists come in with no road-biking experience? Fundraising is daunting for everyone, but we work with you step-by-step to help you reach your goal. You can even earn useful incentives like a free flight to orientation to cut down on your own expenses for the trip! We’ve helped students and alumni from all over the country participate. If you’re willing to put in the time and effort to join the less than two percent of Pi Kappa Phi men who have completed a summer adventure, we’ll give you tools and resources to make it happen. Contact Patrick Carlson at pcarlson@abilityexperience.org.