“We tend to imagine life as a journey… toiling along a road toward some distant place is one of the most compelling and universal images of what it means to be human, depicting the individual as small and solitary in a large world, reliant on the strength of body and will.” Rebecca Solnit, ‘Wanderlust’
By the time the Summer of 2013 arrived in Boise, Steve had been battling cancer for eight months. And in those eight months, he’d continued to work full-time, he’d finished the Boise State EMBA program, he’d traveled, he’d continued to train, and he had received a full round of chemo treatments. Even after all of that, with the long days, clear blue skies, brilliant sunshine, and hot weather that summer brings to Idaho, Steve stepped it up and started doing even more.
Steve thrived in the hot sun, and in the summer he added triathlons, serious biking, and running competitions to his list of activities. The pace that Steve kept seems impossibly difficult to many people not battling cancer, much less while undergoing chemo. But Steve was a special kind of warrior.
Known to find a sports metaphor for just about every event in life, Steve’s take on his cancer situation was classic Steve-O:
Being a sports fan I look at my situation like a professional football team. My doctor is the head coach and he calls the plays. I’m the quarterback and I tell everyone in the huddle what the play is. My family makes up the other positions on the team. Every position on the team is important as I need support in research, spiritual, health, hope and happiness. And then there is the owner of the team…God. He has the ultimate decision on the direction of the team. If he wants to add players, he can. If he wants to change the player’s positions, he can. If he wants to fire the coach, he can. All of us are accountable to God, the owner of the team.
Steve truly did approach life as a high stakes game, and he showed up to play. All out. Every day. He was the quarterback, but he was an exceptionally agile and resilient quarterback, as the sports announcers refer to those QB’s who can execute the called plays, but can also read the field, adjust, and run the ball themselves when needed. He did what was recommended by the medical experts, “as much as possible, stay active and maintain a normal life” – and in the summer of 2013, Steve took that coaching advice to a level that the doctors never imagined.
To achieve all that Steve achieved, he maintained a goal driven approach. He was a planner who established a strategy and then applied a determined focus to execute his plan and achieve his goals. He also valued family and friendships, so he took care to make time for social gatherings and special events. And when he found a special place that he loved, he also made the effort to make return visits, which often turned into annual traditions. But these priorities didn’t preclude Steve from being open to new opportunities and experiences. He always allocated some bandwidth for serendipitous moments and unexpected expeditions.
The Shakedown was one of those expeditions. It was a four-day, 130 mile bicycle tour, and one of Steve’s first big Summer of 2013 adventures. Cory, Steve’s good friend and his sister-in-law Jen’s boyfriend of fifteen years, had done quite a bit of bike touring – and it was something that Steve had talked about doing for the past couple of years but hadn’t yet had the chance to do (thus the catchy name.) It was high on his bucket list, so when Cory proposed the idea, Steve was all in.
To make this trip happen, Steve first needed a touring bike and gear. To find a bike, he just waded into the layers of sporting equipment and miscellaneous parts that had taken over the Andrews’ garage. When he emerged he had an old steel frame, which after Cory’s close inspection, turned out to be the frame of a high quality touring bike. After the local bike shop, Bike Touring News, worked it over, and Cory and Jen contributed some gear, Steve was all set for the big trip.
The second big hurdle was Steve’s schedule. The trip needed to be sandwiched between chemo treatments and work – and the chemo treatments could be unpredictable. Thankfully, Cory didn’t mind staying flexible and accommodating Steve.
When the scheduled departure date approached, Cory left ahead of Steve and rode the first eighty miles to Three Island Crossing State Park in Glenns Ferry, Idaho. Once there, he camped for two nights, passing the time until he got word that Steve had received his chemo treatment and was feeling strong enough to make the trip. Cory then bicycled another twenty-three miles to meet Steve at the Ox-bow Cafe in Bliss, Idaho – their planned rendezvous point.
The trip was expected to involve three nights of camping as the two friends traversed the unique landscape of southern Idaho – through the small Idaho towns of Hagerman, Jerome, Shoshone, Bellevue, and Hailey before arriving at their final destination of Ketchum. They didn’t plan to stick to a rigid schedule or pre-planned route, just take each day as it came. The pleasure was in the journey.
The meet-up at the Ox-bow Cafe went as anticipated, and Steve and Cory set out, fully loaded with all their gear, down the hill toward Hagerman. Unfortunately, they were just ten-minutes into the trip when Cory’s de-railer malfunctioned and they were forced to pull over. It was about a thirty-minute repair job and Cory apologized for the delay. But Steve, good natured as always, reminded him, “It’s a beautiful day, we’re on our bikes, all is good!”
After the unplanned break, the two started pedaling again, riding along the Snake River that flows through the beautiful Hagerman Valley. An easy twenty mile ride took them to their destination – Miracle Hot Springs. When Steve made their reservations, he had been told they would be in an overflow site behind the garden shed. They found the shed and the “sweet” campsite behind it – a beautiful spot located along the banks of a clear stream. They quickly set up camp, grabbed their fishing gear, and had just begun to cast their lines when the owners showed up and put a bit of a damper on their day. No, this sweet place was the large group campsite, the overflow site was a tiny patch of grass immediately behind the garden shed. Steve and Cory hadn’t even recognized the area as a campsite. Bummer.
By the time the two broke camp and resettled in the correct spot, it was approaching the dinner hour. Steve, the chef for the evening, had brought two packets with steak, potatoes, carrots, and seasoning. He threw the foil packets directly in the hot coals and let them sizzle while the two friends chatted and relaxed by the fire. The simple meal cooked up nicely and the adventurers enjoyed a great dinner.
After eating, they headed over to the Miracle Hot Springs pools. The Hagerman Valley is known for its natural hot springs and the many pools that make the waters easily accessible. The two cyclists spent the rest of the evening soaking in the warm, comforting waters. When it was time for bed, well-fed and completely relaxed, they climbed into their tents and slept well.
After a good night, Steve and Cory woke up refreshed and ready for Day 2 of their bike tour. They had a simple breakfast of fruit and granola bars and hit the road. Their destination for the day was Jerome, Idaho – thirty miles away. The first several miles took them on a beautiful ride along the Snake River, flanked by majestic canyon walls, which were accented with waterfalls and green vegetation.
Eventually, the meandering River Road they’d been traveling along came to a T, and their destination required that they head north – on a very steep road directly up the canyon wall that they’d previously been admiring. The tough incline didn’t phase them. Steve just pulled out some energy packets, gave Cory a little hill climbing advice, and then led the way as he powered up the road. Once they reached the top of the canyon wall, they stopped to rest a bit while they appreciated the dramatic and breathtaking scenery of the winding Snake River and Hagerman Valley from the new vantage point.
The remainder of the Day 2 ride took them down country roads that traversed acre after acre of rich agricultural land in Idaho’s Magic Valley. Early summer in the region had produced young green sprouts as far as the eye can see, and the scenery was dotted with barns and quaint farm homes. In that pastoral landscape, the time passed quickly for Steve and Cory, and before they knew it they had arrived in the bustling little farming community of Jerome.
They’d worked up quite an appetite on the uphill ride, so before heading to the KOA campground located a few miles outside of the town, they found a sandwich shop for lunch. Cory had a regular 6-inch sandwich, and Steve devoured an entire 12-inch with double roast beef. Re-energized, the two travelers rode a few more miles to the campground to settle in for the evening.
Upon check-in at the KOA, they happened to get a site next to two fellow touring cyclists who were headed south. The foursome spent much of the evening swapping stories and trading travel tips. Steve, who loved the social aspect of all sporting activities, completely enjoyed the chance to make new friends and talked about them for days after.
Cory was in charge of their second evening meal, and he chose to serve his camping standard – Ramen noodles with a bunch of fresh, chopped veggies tossed into the cooking pot. Steve, who had never considered adding vegetables to Top Ramen, loved it and raved about the meal. Along with the dinner, they also enjoyed a couple of beers they’d purchased at the KOA’s little general store, which may have enhanced the noodles and veggies, just a bit. After dinner, Steve and Cory took a swim in the pool and enjoyed some more conversation around the campfire with their new friends. When night fell, they were worn out and ready for another night of much needed sleep.
Day 3 started with a relaxing morning. The travelers drank tea, took their time packing their gear, and then set out on the two-lane state highway to Shoshone, a historic, but mostly forgotten, railroad town. The twenty mile route took them through gentle hills and more farmland before flattening into the Shoshone area’s dry deserts and sagebrush.
Once they arrived in Shoshone, they toured around the small town for a bit of sightseeing. Then they found another sandwich shop, got some lunches to-go, and headed to the local park to relax over another filling meal. Cory’s bike got a flat tire, so they fixed that, then, in the cool grass and shade of the little park, a nap seemed like the right thing to do, so they both stretched out for a midday snooze. After their relaxing break, they were both energized and ready to hit the road again.
The next leg of their trip was thirty miles along Highway 75, through barren lands – high desert country with sage and tough brush, interspersed with black lava fields. The road was under construction and all motor vehicles had been diverted to an old, abandoned highway, so Steve and Cory received an unexpected break from the traffic along ten miles of newly constructed road. It was a small pleasure for which they were grateful.
In that desolate, uninhabitable country, the only option for a rest break was about fifteen miles north of Shoshone – in an attraction straight out of the 1960’s – the museum and gift shop of the Shoshone Indian Ice Caves. Steve and Cory took advantage of the opportunity and enjoyed chatting with the friendly staff as they refilled their water bottles, but they didn’t have time to tour the geographic oddity – the ancient ice caves found 100 feet underground in a lava tube formed over 10,000 years ago. After a short rest, hydration, and conversation, they climbed back on their bicycles and continued the journey.
The next fifteen miles brought Steve and Cory to the intersection of Highway 75 and U.S. 20 – and a more hospitable landscape. This area, with nearby Magic Reservoir and the Big Wood River, had some appealing camping options – which the two travelers briefly considered. But they were both still feeling pretty good, so they decided to press on to the small town of Bellevue – another ten miles to the north and the entry point to the corridor running through the beautiful Wood River Valley.
That final stretch, the last of a sixty mile day of riding, was uneventful, but drained the last bit of energy from Steve and Cory. Once in the small, rural town of Bellevue, Cory suggested they just grab pizza or a burger at the local saloon. However, for his inaugural bike touring expedition, Steve wanted to be a purist and stick with simple food cooked at their campsite. Cory agreed, and they started looking for a good spot to camp.
The search for a campsite went quickly. Steve and Cory approached the driver of a truck parked at the side of the road and were directed to an RV park located along the Big Wood River. Geared for large recreational vehicles, and mostly permanent residents, the manager charged the two cyclists half-price to pitch their tents for a night. They quickly set up their tents and started receiving guests.
While the bike tour wasn’t a pilgrimage, it might be fair to characterize it as a “revisionist version of a pilgrimage”. Cycling all day through remote, awe-inspiring terrain can be a spiritual experience. And in some ways, the qualities of a pilgrimage were inherent in the Sun Valley Shakedown trip. As with a pilgrimage, biking as a mode of transportation provides a new awareness of and connection to the environment. And bicycling through 130 miles in rural Idaho takes a person to a quiet space beyond the existing complications of life – such as duties and social structure, and in Steve’s case, Stage IV cancer. “Much of what has been bound by social structure is liberated, notably the sense of comradeship and communion” with places and people you would otherwise not have the opportunity to commune with.
In Bellevue’s RV Park along the banks of the peaceful Wood River, Steve and Cory connected with some of the unique locals. First, a woman who was a permanent resident stopped by to welcome them. After a round of introductions, she asked if they’d met Bob yet. Bob was also a permanent resident and an avid bike tourer. After a bit, Bob stopped by their camp, and the four of them had a nice conversation. Then, after the social hour, Steve and Cory had round two of Cory’s special Ramen and veggie meal and then, completely exhausted, crawled into their tents for the night.
On Day 4, Steve and Cory woke up to another perfect day of sunshine, blue skies, and very low breezes! Ahead of them, they had a pleasant twenty mile ride on the Wood River Trail – better known as the bike path – which would take them to their final destination in the town of Ketchum. Their plan was to get to town and meet up with Julene and Jen, who had been enjoying a few days of hiking, biking, and the amazing restaurants and boutique shops of the Ketchum and Sun Valley area.
The guys hadn’t traveled too far on the path when they encountered the gals, who had biked out to surprise them, and accompany the adventurers on the final few miles of their journey. Together, the four of them cycled down the popular path that followed the Big Wood River through the picturesque Wood River Valley and straight into their final destination. Once they reached Ketchum, the rest of the day was all about relaxation and delicious food. First, they hit one of Cory’s favorite spots, Wrapcity Cafe, for a late breakfast. And that evening, they chose Steve’s favorite restaurant, The Sawtooth Club, for a special dinner, celebrating a very successful trip and incredible experience.
The Ketchum/Sun Valley area was special to Steve and Julene and they loved spending time there, but this time they didn’t have the luxury of lingering for another day. There was no time for idle enjoyment, Steve needed to return to work and training and his “normal life”.
CaringBridge Post
By Steve Andrews — Jun 23, 2013 11:02pm
Hi everyone! Here’s an update to share with you. I’ve been doing very well. I’m feeling stronger every day and have not been in pain for some time. We are hopeful that this means the tumors are getting smaller. My next scan is scheduled for July 3rd. The results of this scan will tell us how successful the chemo treatments have been. I will get these results on July 9th. On June 11th, I had my 12th and final FOLFOX chemo treatment. The doctor said I’m his first patient with my cancer that made it through all 12 treatments. He said we are now in “uncharted territory”…this is a good thing! The plan now is to go with weekly Herceptin dosages. Herceptin is not chemo. It’s a monoclonal antibody that prevents cancer growth by sticking to the proteins that grow the cancer cells. It prevents the epidermal (a protein) from getting into the cancer cells. The doctors are hoping this treatment will prevent the cancer cells from growing back. Only 20% of the population can benefit from Herceptin as you must have a HER2+ gene. I’m very lucky to have this gene.
Like always, I’ve remained active this past month. Over the Memorial Day Holiday our good friends Mike and Cheryl visited from Seattle. They brought the Seattle weather with them (clouds and rain), but we still had a super time.
I was able to keep my Boise Ironman streak alive at six years by participating as part of a relay team. My good friends Craig (swim) and Alan (bike) did an awesome job. I brought us home with the half-marathon run. The crowd was electrifying at BoDo as I crossed the finish line. This was a very memorable day for me.
Last week I went on a 4 day/3 night bike ride/camping trip with my friend Cory. We traveled together for 130 miles with saddle bags on our bikes. Starting in Bliss we went through cities such as Hagerman, Jerome, Shoshone, Bellevue, and finally Ketchum. We met some great people along the way and had a super time.
This past weekend Julene, Karlie, friends, and I completed a 50 mile bike ride called the Blue Cruise, a fundraiser with Blue Cross. We had a great time.
Faith continues to be a big part of my life. I’m convinced that the power of God and my X Factor are major reasons I’ve been feeling good. The Elders at Foothills Christian Church have told me they continue to pray for me on a regular basis. And a special thank you goes out to my Wednesday Bible Study Group for their continued support. Kelly Loy, MSTI Chaplain, has organized a prayer circle for me on Tuesday, July 2nd, 1:30-3:00 in the Kissler Chapel at MSTI. Everyone is invited, so please attend if you can!
God Bless you all!
Steve
