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ROY — Bob Quick is biking across America to prove that obstacles don't have to stop you from achieving goals.
"He would always say 'I'm riding from coast to coast,' " said Quick's friend Bowen Gines. "He'd say 'If you don't believe me, you're a fool.' "
Quick, who is from Roy, and his son Conrad, have spent the last week in Louisiana and will be in Mississippi this week. Quick has faced difficult obstacles in his life — he's a former drug addict who has since gotten his life on track.
Nine years ago, Quick was running two successful businesses. But his success had a darker side — he used his profits to fund a drug addiction.
Gines remembers a chat he once had with Quick.
"Me and him sat down one day, and we talked about how much money he thought he may have spent over that time, and we concluded $1.3 million."
Quick suffered a massive heart attack and was dead for nearly four minutes before being resuscitated.
The wasted money was minor compared to Quick's health. One day in his garage, Quick suffered a massive heart attack and was dead for nearly four minutes.
Roy City Fire Chief Jason Poulsen remembers the day well.
"With the quality paramedics we have and drugs and technology, we were able to bring Bob back," Poulsen said.
That episode led to 16 heart stents, a pacemaker, and a defibrillator.
The experiences gave Quick a new outlook.
"It changed my whole life," Quick said. "I decided I have to really give back."
The change in Quick happened, well, quickly.
"It was just black to white," Gines said. "He was just in the dumps. When he had his life-after-death experience, he just decided 'Forget it, I'm done.' "
Quick decided it was time to start working on his "bucket list" and to start helping others along the way.
He went to culinary school and became a chef.
Roy City paramedic Marla Easton is a fan of Quick's cooking skills.
"He's got a well-rounded view of cooking," Easton said. "He knows all the ins and outs."
Quick now uses his cooking talents to give back to the firefighters who saved his life.
He was just in the dumps. When he had his life-after-death experience, he just decided 'Forget it, I'm done.'
–Bowen Gines
"He's spent a lot of nights here cooking for each of the shifts," Poulsen said. "They've had gourmet meals."
"It's good stuff," Easton said. "I've never had anything that I've said 'I don't think I want that again.' I've always said 'Gosh, you need to come back and make that again.' "
Quick has become a traveling chef as he bikes from California to Florida.
He and his son stay the night at fire stations where Quick earns his stay with cooking.
But Quick said he is the one who is being rewarded.
"Each one of these firefighters, the hugs they give me, the thumbs up they give me, everyday. It's a very humbling moment when you look up and see them firefighters, and they have tears in their eyes."
Quick plans to arrive in Florida by Thanksgiving Day.
