18 Miles Per Hour

18 MilesPerHour is about riding through the world instead of just passing it by.
ANDY’S TREE. This is about a little tree right at the junction of Sullivan Canyon trail and Sullivan Fire Road, near Dirt Mulholland. It’s a tree that reminds us to be grateful. We usually greet that little tree after we’ve finally crested that awful, lung-searing climb out of the canyon. Seeing that tree means we’re done and we’re grateful that it’s over. Then we catch our breath and it gets way deeper. See, a good, long-time friend named Jonathan Rho planted this Coastal Live Oak in rememberance of Andy Sak who was killed while riding his bike. It was originally planted overlooking Malibu Creek State Park but after a couple years of diligent watering it appeared to die. He planted another on the same spot but after a wet winter the original tree rebounded. New life. And this is the tough, stalwart little tree that congratulates us at the top of the canyon. Jonathan re-planted it here feeling it was a more tolerant spot. I’m glad he did. Because it’s an amazingly effective reality check. An instant reminder not just of Andy, but another friend who suffered the same fate – Kellie Wilson – who left behind a 5 year-old son. Tragic. Not forgotten. Which brings us to the final reason this tree makes us feel grateful: Jonathan. It reminds us that good people like him are in the world. People who go to so much trouble to make sure a friend is not forgotten. That gives us peace. Makes us want to do more. Makes us want to be better people. All that emotion from that humble, tough little tree. Every time we pass, we give it a little drink from our water bottles. It’s a good ritual. You’re welcome to join in. The tree will thank you. Andy and Kellie will thank you. 

ANDY’S TREE.

This is about a little tree right at the junction of Sullivan Canyon trail and Sullivan Fire Road, near Dirt Mulholland.

It’s a tree that reminds us to be grateful.

We usually greet that little tree after we’ve finally crested that awful, lung-searing climb out of the canyon. Seeing that tree means we’re done and we’re grateful that it’s over. Then we catch our breath and it gets way deeper.

See, a good, long-time friend named Jonathan Rho planted this Coastal Live Oak in rememberance of Andy Sak who was killed while riding his bike. It was originally planted overlooking Malibu Creek State Park but after a couple years of diligent watering it appeared to die. He planted another on the same spot but after a wet winter the original tree rebounded. New life. And this is the tough, stalwart little tree that congratulates us at the top of the canyon. Jonathan re-planted it here feeling it was a more tolerant spot. I’m glad he did. Because it’s an amazingly effective reality check.

An instant reminder not just of Andy, but another friend who suffered the same fate – Kellie Wilson – who left behind a 5 year-old son. Tragic. Not forgotten.

Which brings us to the final reason this tree makes us feel grateful: Jonathan.

It reminds us that good people like him are in the world. People who go to so much trouble to make sure a friend is not forgotten. That gives us peace. Makes us want to do more. Makes us want to be better people. All that emotion from that humble, tough little tree.

Every time we pass, we give it a little drink from our water bottles. It’s a good ritual. You’re welcome to join in.

The tree will thank you. Andy and Kellie will thank you. 

  1. 18milesperhour posted this