Proclamation by mayor of Cape Girardeau for “David Pike Pickleball Day.”
Pike also struggled with the decision to travel alone on
a small boat, leaving behind a supportive spouse and a
comfortable lifestyle.
“I consider this a time of reflection and self-discovery,” he
says. “I wanted to do something on my own, with its calculated
risks and rewards.” He talks with his wife several times a day
via FaceTime, and she has joined him at certain locks along the
way. He travels with his trip companion, “Wilson”—a volleyball
similar to the one that kept Tom Hanks company in the 2002
Photo of Paducah, Ky., Ambassador Nancy Sutton with Dave.
16
film “Cast Away” that was given to him by his “pickleball family”
in Arizona.
On his blog, Pike writes that he has a “bit of adventure in his
DNA.” He’s canoed through the Canadian wilderness and hiked
Longs Peak in Colorado. A colon cancer survivor, Pike also says
that his outlook on life changed a bit after his diagnosis and
treatment in 2002. In 2003, he retired at 55 from the State of
Michigan, where he worked as the CFO of the Department of
Agriculture.
“It did influence my decision to retire at 55 and enjoy life a
little more. I don’t think it had that much to do with this trip,
other than as you get older, you realize every day is a gift and
there is no guarantee about tomorrow,” he says. “So I decided,
with Ann’s support, to go for it.”
The trip has not been without its challenges. Pike has
encountered varying degrees of wind, rain, heat and humidity,
all of which have hindered his travels. He sleeps on the boat
when he has to; otherwise, he camps in his tent or stays in
hotels along the way.
“Mother Nature likes to mess with me. I am in the heat and
humidity one day and then constant rain on another. Keeping
exposed to the environment has to be the most challenging,” he
says.
Pike has been documenting his journey through his blog,
sixthousandmilesinadinghy.wordpress.com, since July 2015.
“I think this blog gives me a way to document who I am and
how I deal with life’s challenges. In some ways, I see this as an
opportunity to tell my grandchildren about who I am in a very
unique way,” he explains. “It’s about leaving a legacy that will
help them remember me. Everyone else is along for the ride.”
Players interested in connecting with Pike while he’s on his
journey can reach him at [email protected]. •
Dave’s journey — Pickleball Rocks.
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