keeping a stable mind

So I have been thinking about the knee a lot. This trip really started off wobbly. I got sick, pulled the calf then the knees deiced to shoot pain to my brain like the Grand Finally during the 4th of July. But I was determined to push myself through this ride. But all of this has taught me some things.
If I would have quit the ride, Jamie would have met the guy who had a bad back two bad knees, no teeth and a modified cane holder attached to his bike who was on a ride to Arizona. I mean I might have half a brain, but this guy still would have put me to shame.
The other thing I learned is that pain can only hurt so much. If you just keep pedaling where it hurts the most, it can't hurt any more. I don't know where I am going to use that knowledge again but I am sure glad I have it.
This brings up a good point. When do you truly know how much you can take until you put yourself into a situation that you don't think you can take. My knees hurt bad. Like I am literally screaming in pain and holding back the urge to well up. (Unfortunately I am a MAN and can't cry but I was damn close to strapping on a skirt, sports bra and saying things like, cute and OMG)
I figured out that if I peddled fast and keep my knee hurting the worst I could handle it a lot more than peddling slow, taking breaks and taking it easy. All it did was drag the inevitable pain on and on. So fuck it, just peddle fast and hard and keep the pain right there in all of its glory. At least I got to the camp earlier and I could control just how much it hurts. Which was pretty bad.
So, what did I take from this? Pain is inevitable and is best dealt with hard and fast. Because when it's all said and done it's in the past and your over it that much quicker.