The alarm went off at 8 a.m. and Mark quickly suited up in his padded shorts, jersey, gloves, sunglasses and helmet. I readied the camera and water and penned the last set of directions that would guide Mark the 30 miles from Ellsworth to Bar Harbor. I grabbed my cup of coffee and stole a quick kiss from my husband before he took off for the last time and I cautioned him to be careful of the heavy traffic. The temperature rose into the 90's as I waited 45 minutes and then went after him. Highway 3 was littered with cars that, I'm guessing, were filled with tourists looking forward to a big day of shopping, whale watching and eating seafood.
I spotted Mark, who had already made it 17 miles down the road, so I gave him a hoot and yelled, "Woohoo!!!" while pumping my fist. I located the ending destination in Bar Harbor, but due to the crazy crowds, I had to park a 1/2 mile down the street. Grabbing the camera, I ran down to Main Street and positioned myself at the finish line. I "people-watched" for the next 15 minutes until I saw him. Dressed in red and riding his red, Giant OCR 1 bicycle, he was impossible to miss. I snapped pictures and we both smiled proudly, as he pedaled down the pier to dip his front tire into the bay as a kind of ceremonial ending to this beautiful tour that began 4,300 miles west of here on the other side of this blessed country. Surprisingly, we weren't sad that it was over. It felt like it was time.
These last two months have been such a wonderful blessing that it's hard to describe in a few short closing words. Experiencing all of this together is something that we will always treasure and carry with us throughout our marriage.
Not everything went exactly according to our original plans due to things that were simply out of our control. When we got on that train a little over four weeks ago in North Dakota, it was tempting to think that we had failed. But thankfully, we are loved by our Lord Jesus. "Well what does that have to do with anything?" You may find yourself asking. It has to do with EVERYTHING because our success isn't measured by numbers or miles or any other human standard. Rather, our success is measured by our obedience through faith to our Heavenly Father. Mark and I have both come out of this experience with the ability to say that we followed His voice as best as we can hear. Although we are certainly far from being perfect children, the Lord has been gracious in giving us both His peace and love in all of the decisions we've had to make in regards to this trip and our hearts can rest in His assurance. That is a lesson that we've learned during this adventure that we hope to take with us for the rest of our lives.
We're so thankful to Steve Peifer and his family for their ministry to the students of Kenya and for allowing us the blessing of helping Kenya Kids Can in some small way. We look forward to the day when we'll get to visit Kenya ourselves and witness this miracle of feeding 25,000 students with our own eyes!
We're also so thankful (in an indescribable way) to Tim and Jan Butorac and all of our friends at RTC that have allowed Mark to be absent from work for so long. We look forward to rejoining all of you on September 20th!
Where are we going from here? Well, we have a few more stops to make before returning to Rochester, MN. Right now we are headed to Kentucky to see my family. My younger brother is in the U.S. Air Force and is in Kentucky for a short time. We're not sure when we'll get to see him again, so we're taking this opportunity! From Kentucky, we will go to North Carolina where Mark's childhood best friend is getting married on September 18th. They haven't seen each other since our own wedding two years ago, so this is very exciting for them.
Thank you all for reading and following along with us for these two months. Thank you for your donations to us and to Kenya Kids Can. Thank you for your encouragement and support and for following us along our journey. This will be the last blog, but it's been the most fun getting to write and report our day-to-day touring. It's made us feel connected to you and has reminded us that we weren't just doing this trip for ourselves, but for dreamers everywhere! If you have a dream, even as silly as riding a bike across America, you can do it for real!!!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Day 53
The heat is back today!!! It reached a high of 97 degrees, which is the hottest we've felt in a while. We did some driving today as Mark was in need of some rest and we're getting so close to the finish line that we can taste it!! We checked into a motel in Ellsworth for a rest day. Tomorrow will be Mark's official last day of biking, as we are only 30 miles from Bar Harbor, Maine!
Day 52
Today was Mark's last mountain to climb, the Kancamagus Pass. The elevation reached 2,855 feet and he made it up easily. He did get one flat tire, but that only set him back about 10 minutes. He was on top of the world when he reached the top and had proven to himself that he could do it. The Appalachians have nothing on him! He was one of many bikers attempting the climb today. Men and women of all ages were handling it, which I think served to spur Mark on.
We said goodbye to New Hampshire as we crossed into Maine, our final state in this journey. We're camping tonight somewhere close to Wiscasset. We're very excited because at 7:00 the owners of the campground give everyone free ice cream!
We want to give a special "thank you" to Gracepoint Church for your kind generosity. This family of people took the bill for the tires that we had to unexpectedly buy for our car when we were in Michigan. You've blessed our hearts with this sweet act of love and we thank the Lord for you! Bless you, Gracepoint!!
We said goodbye to New Hampshire as we crossed into Maine, our final state in this journey. We're camping tonight somewhere close to Wiscasset. We're very excited because at 7:00 the owners of the campground give everyone free ice cream!
We want to give a special "thank you" to Gracepoint Church for your kind generosity. This family of people took the bill for the tires that we had to unexpectedly buy for our car when we were in Michigan. You've blessed our hearts with this sweet act of love and we thank the Lord for you! Bless you, Gracepoint!!
Day 51
Our time in Vermont came to an end today as we crossed into New Hampshire which, so far, equals Vermont in its beauty. Mark biked some good mileage and I followed him closely to take some good pictures of him riding through this wonderful part of the country. The temperature never rose above 70 and now that the sun is setting, it's dropped into the 50's!! The season is changing quickly up here. We're thankful that we bought good sleeping bags that cocoon our bodies and keep us warm in 30+ degree weather.
When Mark finished riding for the day we stopped off at a place called Lost River Gorge. There were a few options for hiking trails, so we picked the shortest one (3/4 mile) that advertised a nice overlook at the end. We briefly read the warning sign that said, "For experienced hikers only!" But Mark shrugged and said, "Oh, Americans exaggerate everything. I'm sure we can handle this trail easily." So we started down the trail and, at first, it appeared that he was right. Then we came to the point where the trail went straight up and there was no longer ground to walk on, but rather giant rocks and boulders. For the next 45 minutes we climbed up while hanging onto trees and roots to pull ourselves up. Yes, we were rock climbing and using every available muscle in our bodies. You may be wondering why we just didn't turn around when we saw the difficulty that lie before us. My only answer is that we Tiu's must have a problem. We don't know when to say when. Anyway, we made it to the top and the overlook was pretty nice. The climb back down was a different story. It was some scary stuff. At first I was just trying to go backwards and descend it the way you would a ladder, but I eventually has to sit on my bottom and scoot my way down. Mark was just saying, "Huh. I guess that sign they posted was legitimate." :)
Another adventuresome day.
When Mark finished riding for the day we stopped off at a place called Lost River Gorge. There were a few options for hiking trails, so we picked the shortest one (3/4 mile) that advertised a nice overlook at the end. We briefly read the warning sign that said, "For experienced hikers only!" But Mark shrugged and said, "Oh, Americans exaggerate everything. I'm sure we can handle this trail easily." So we started down the trail and, at first, it appeared that he was right. Then we came to the point where the trail went straight up and there was no longer ground to walk on, but rather giant rocks and boulders. For the next 45 minutes we climbed up while hanging onto trees and roots to pull ourselves up. Yes, we were rock climbing and using every available muscle in our bodies. You may be wondering why we just didn't turn around when we saw the difficulty that lie before us. My only answer is that we Tiu's must have a problem. We don't know when to say when. Anyway, we made it to the top and the overlook was pretty nice. The climb back down was a different story. It was some scary stuff. At first I was just trying to go backwards and descend it the way you would a ladder, but I eventually has to sit on my bottom and scoot my way down. Mark was just saying, "Huh. I guess that sign they posted was legitimate." :)
Another adventuresome day.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Day 50
Sheesh...50 days on the road already? Craziness!
Well, we woke up to some showers this morning, but they passed for enough time that we were able to pack up our tent before they poured out again.
Mark ascended his first full mountain pass since we left the Cascades today: the Middlebury Gap which reached an elevation of 2,000 feet. He scaled it pretty well, which is good news seeing as how he still has a few more passes ahead of him and hilly terrain all the way to Bar Harbor. He says that he'd very much appreciate prayers for strength in his body and full recovery in the nights as he sleeps. We rode through another Rochester today. In the last few weeks we've been from our home in Rochester, MN to Rochester, NY to Rochester, Vermont.
Tonight we're camping in Thetford. Mark has gone meat crazy again and is currently grilling himself a steak over the fire while I watch in pretend fascination and munch on my bag of broccoli. The Grillmaster is in his element.
Well, we woke up to some showers this morning, but they passed for enough time that we were able to pack up our tent before they poured out again.
Mark ascended his first full mountain pass since we left the Cascades today: the Middlebury Gap which reached an elevation of 2,000 feet. He scaled it pretty well, which is good news seeing as how he still has a few more passes ahead of him and hilly terrain all the way to Bar Harbor. He says that he'd very much appreciate prayers for strength in his body and full recovery in the nights as he sleeps. We rode through another Rochester today. In the last few weeks we've been from our home in Rochester, MN to Rochester, NY to Rochester, Vermont.
Tonight we're camping in Thetford. Mark has gone meat crazy again and is currently grilling himself a steak over the fire while I watch in pretend fascination and munch on my bag of broccoli. The Grillmaster is in his element.
Day 49
We crossed into Vermont today by means of a ferry boat across Lake Champlain! We now have used almost every kind of transportation that is available on this trip: airplane, car, bicycle, train, feet and now boat! Are we missing anything??
I like being in Vermont because this is the setting for one of my favorite movies: Irving Berlin's "White Christmas."
This state has some of the hilliest terrain that Mark has yet to ride. He's handling it like a pro though. We're camping tonight in Middlebury, which is a really cute college town. Mark is cooking hamburgers, brats and chicken breasts over the fire right now. He's tired of our sandwich meat and wants lots of leftovers for the next few days. :)
I like being in Vermont because this is the setting for one of my favorite movies: Irving Berlin's "White Christmas."
This state has some of the hilliest terrain that Mark has yet to ride. He's handling it like a pro though. We're camping tonight in Middlebury, which is a really cute college town. Mark is cooking hamburgers, brats and chicken breasts over the fire right now. He's tired of our sandwich meat and wants lots of leftovers for the next few days. :)
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Day 48
Today was a beautiful one. In the low-80's, the sun shining and a slight breeze. Mark finished his riding for the day in the early afternoon, so we located our campground in Newcomb and found a good spot overlooking a small lake. The bugs aren't as brutal now that the weather is cooler, so it makes sitting in our camping chairs much more enjoyable. It's getting dark earlier now too, which is also good news for us because we can fall asleep quicker. We've both always liked camping, but I think after this trip, we now LOVE it! It's definitely the cheapest way to get away, but there's also something really rewarding about sleeping outside amongst the trees and critters of the earth. Only moments ago we saw a little beaver fishing in the lake just a few feet away. The only exception to all of this loveliness is when it rains all night, in which case I retract these words.:)
Day 47
Poor Marky Boy. The rain got him pretty good as he biked today. This crazy drenching of the earth finally stopped around 3:00 this afternoon. By then he was already finished riding for the day. Things have really cooled down though, which is kind of nice. We can see the beginnings of Autumn here in New York as the leaves are already beginning to change into beautiful shades of Red, Yellow and Orange. I can't wait to see what everything looks like by the first week of September! We're currently making our way through the Adirondack's, which make for some decent climbs and descents for Mark. He welcomes the challenge now that he doesn't have all that extra poundage hanging from his bike.
It's funny to see where the most random touristy towns seem to pop up. Tonight we're staying in one called Old Forge. It's home to little more than 1,000 people, but it sure is a happening place!
It's funny to see where the most random touristy towns seem to pop up. Tonight we're staying in one called Old Forge. It's home to little more than 1,000 people, but it sure is a happening place!
Monday, August 23, 2010
Day 46
Whew! No biking took place today due to monsoon rains!!! We were still sleeping in our tent when it started pouring at 3 a.m. It was still raining when our alarm went off at 8. No big deal, right? We thought we'd just sleep late and wait it out. By the time 11:00 came, it still hadn't let up. We're not just talking about a light sprinkle either. By noon we knew we had to get our tent packed up so that the campground wouldn't charge us for another night. It is not fun packing up in the mud and rain. I'm pretty sure that nothing in our trunk is dry.
So, we called around to find the cheapest motel en route and we checked in. And here we are in Redfield, NY, it's almost 8 p.m. and it's STILL raining!! Hopefully it will stop before tomorrow...otherwise Mark's rain gear is going to get some good use. I'll let you know what happens!
So, we called around to find the cheapest motel en route and we checked in. And here we are in Redfield, NY, it's almost 8 p.m. and it's STILL raining!! Hopefully it will stop before tomorrow...otherwise Mark's rain gear is going to get some good use. I'll let you know what happens!
Day 45
We're very much enjoying the parts of New York that we're traveling through. We aren't big city people, so we're loving these small, historic New England towns. I've never seen so many colonial style homes and beautiful churches. Mark got to bike today along parts of Lake Ontario (I think we've now gotten to see pieces of all of the Great Lakes). The roads took him through lots of apple and peach orchards.
We did have another little hiccup today though. Mark made it 41 miles and as he was ascending a small hill, his rear dérailleur snapped!! I picked him up and we basically had to drive back to where we began the day because that was the closest location with a bike shop. While we were driving, I felt an awful sting on my upper back and then another on my lower back. Yep, a queen bee got me. She was stuck in my t-shirt. We almost ran off the road for trying to kill her! But, I now officially know that I'm not allergic to bee stings and that's always helpful information. :)
Thankfully, the only thing that needed to be replaced on the bike was the hanger and his chain (we had a spare chain with us).
We're camping tonight in a town called Fulton and back on the road again tomorrow.
We did have another little hiccup today though. Mark made it 41 miles and as he was ascending a small hill, his rear dérailleur snapped!! I picked him up and we basically had to drive back to where we began the day because that was the closest location with a bike shop. While we were driving, I felt an awful sting on my upper back and then another on my lower back. Yep, a queen bee got me. She was stuck in my t-shirt. We almost ran off the road for trying to kill her! But, I now officially know that I'm not allergic to bee stings and that's always helpful information. :)
Thankfully, the only thing that needed to be replaced on the bike was the hanger and his chain (we had a spare chain with us).
We're camping tonight in a town called Fulton and back on the road again tomorrow.
Days 37-44
I'm compiling all of these last few days into one entry because I've kind of fallen behind on my daily journaling and can't remember which specific days certain events occurred.
Once we left Ludington someone turned on the furnace in Michigan and we had a stretch of really hot days mixed with good amounts of rain, which has made for some messy camping. Mark has done a good job of biking despite these less than ideal conditions. He cheated a little bit through Michigan and gave in to my tempting offers to give him a ride through certain stretches.:) Besides Ludington and the towns that border Lake Michigan, there's nothing too exciting about biking through this state. Mark was ready to be finished with it for sure.
On our last day in Michigan we noticed that one of the tires on our car was flat. Mark filled it with air at a gas station, but soon it was flat again. (Has this been the tour of flat tires or what??). So we made a stop at Discount Tires and the salesman told us that the tread on our front two tires was right at the borderline of being illegal for driving and we needed to replace them both. So, here we are two new tires later. After that we were even more ready to leave Michigan. (Wisconsin's beauty spoiled us!).
We crossed into Ontario, Canada 5 days ago. It was the first time for both of us being in this country, so that has been exciting! Our first night of camping here (was free!) we camped right next to another couple doing the same bike tour as us. They began in June and then the wife had an accident in eastern Montana and got a concussion, so she had to do the same thing for her husband that I'm doing now for Mark! She recovered midway through Minnesota though and is now biking again. It was fun running into them and swapping war stories from our travels.
The next night we found a campsite located right on Lake Erie. This section of it was cold and muddy and filled with seaweed though so it wasn't as difficult to leave as Lake Michigan was. We also think that we must've unknowingly pitched our tent on Spider Territory. When we awoke the following morning, there were 5 huge brown spiders on Mark's bike and countless other spiders that had spun their webs all throughout our tent poles! Even as we were trying to pack up, small spiders were literally dropping from the trees attaching their webs to any and everything. We sped out of that place and didn't look back.
We ended our Canadian adventure in Niagara Falls where we spent two days resting, looking at all the sights and and celebrating our second anniversary! Our anniversary isn't technically until September 6th, but who knows where we'll be on that day. We got to ride The Maid of the Mist, which took us right into the falls and the Journey Behind the Falls, which allowed us to go into a tunnel under the falls as well as get a closer look from the outside. It really was an amazing time and I can't wait to post the pictures!
This morning we crossed back into the U.S. and Mark picked up his biking in Lockport, New York. We're glad to be back in the country as Canada was very expensive, even in the small towns we rode through. It was a good visit though.
I have to say, once again, that we just feel so very blessed to be on this trip. The Lord continues to walk with us wherever we go and He constantly reveals His goodness and love.
You guys have all been so good to us as well. Thank you for patiently following along our journey with us and praying for us and encouraging us. We still need all of it even as we're nearing our last few weeks. Mark has another set of mountain climbing coming soon and will definitely need prayer for strength in his body and safety through the climbs and descents. Thanks again to RTC!!!!!!! We miss everyone!!!
Once we left Ludington someone turned on the furnace in Michigan and we had a stretch of really hot days mixed with good amounts of rain, which has made for some messy camping. Mark has done a good job of biking despite these less than ideal conditions. He cheated a little bit through Michigan and gave in to my tempting offers to give him a ride through certain stretches.:) Besides Ludington and the towns that border Lake Michigan, there's nothing too exciting about biking through this state. Mark was ready to be finished with it for sure.
On our last day in Michigan we noticed that one of the tires on our car was flat. Mark filled it with air at a gas station, but soon it was flat again. (Has this been the tour of flat tires or what??). So we made a stop at Discount Tires and the salesman told us that the tread on our front two tires was right at the borderline of being illegal for driving and we needed to replace them both. So, here we are two new tires later. After that we were even more ready to leave Michigan. (Wisconsin's beauty spoiled us!).
We crossed into Ontario, Canada 5 days ago. It was the first time for both of us being in this country, so that has been exciting! Our first night of camping here (was free!) we camped right next to another couple doing the same bike tour as us. They began in June and then the wife had an accident in eastern Montana and got a concussion, so she had to do the same thing for her husband that I'm doing now for Mark! She recovered midway through Minnesota though and is now biking again. It was fun running into them and swapping war stories from our travels.
The next night we found a campsite located right on Lake Erie. This section of it was cold and muddy and filled with seaweed though so it wasn't as difficult to leave as Lake Michigan was. We also think that we must've unknowingly pitched our tent on Spider Territory. When we awoke the following morning, there were 5 huge brown spiders on Mark's bike and countless other spiders that had spun their webs all throughout our tent poles! Even as we were trying to pack up, small spiders were literally dropping from the trees attaching their webs to any and everything. We sped out of that place and didn't look back.
We ended our Canadian adventure in Niagara Falls where we spent two days resting, looking at all the sights and and celebrating our second anniversary! Our anniversary isn't technically until September 6th, but who knows where we'll be on that day. We got to ride The Maid of the Mist, which took us right into the falls and the Journey Behind the Falls, which allowed us to go into a tunnel under the falls as well as get a closer look from the outside. It really was an amazing time and I can't wait to post the pictures!
This morning we crossed back into the U.S. and Mark picked up his biking in Lockport, New York. We're glad to be back in the country as Canada was very expensive, even in the small towns we rode through. It was a good visit though.
I have to say, once again, that we just feel so very blessed to be on this trip. The Lord continues to walk with us wherever we go and He constantly reveals His goodness and love.
You guys have all been so good to us as well. Thank you for patiently following along our journey with us and praying for us and encouraging us. We still need all of it even as we're nearing our last few weeks. Mark has another set of mountain climbing coming soon and will definitely need prayer for strength in his body and safety through the climbs and descents. Thanks again to RTC!!!!!!! We miss everyone!!!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Day 36
Alright, we're back on the bike route, which begins in the town of Ludington. However, when we arrived, it was 93 degrees and humid and Lake Michigan was calling out to us. So, we stayed the day in this pretty little town and soaked up some good beach time while we had the chance.
Tomorrow it's back to the grind!
Tomorrow it's back to the grind!
Day 35
Today was another driving day. We were originally planning on taking the Ferry across Lake Michigan, but decided that driving around would save a few bucks and allow us some extra nights in hotels. We made it to Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Day 34
Well, we found out today that we were only a 30-minute drive away from Green Bay. Mark was in need of a rest day, so we decided to go check it out. We found an online deal for a cheap room at Best Western (we later found out that the reason for the low rate was that we accidentally took the Senior Citizen discount. woops).
Now is the time that we must ask our Minnesota friends for your forgiveness...the reason we went to Green Bay was to watch the Packers at training camp! We've jumped on the Vikings bandwagon, but we didn't think it would hurt to go and check out the competition. We wanted the full cultural experience as well, so we even ate dinner at Brett Favre's Steakhouse. Pretty good.
Mark got his rest.
Now is the time that we must ask our Minnesota friends for your forgiveness...the reason we went to Green Bay was to watch the Packers at training camp! We've jumped on the Vikings bandwagon, but we didn't think it would hurt to go and check out the competition. We wanted the full cultural experience as well, so we even ate dinner at Brett Favre's Steakhouse. Pretty good.
Mark got his rest.
Day 33
Today was a hot one, but Mark pedaled it out and we were able to get our tent dried out. We just love Wisconsin. The roads that our maps take us on are almost like bike trails. The trees provide a canopy most of the time and the lakes are just unbelievable!
As I was driving around one of these lakes to catch up to Mark earlier today, a huge bird caught my eye as he swooped down and landed about 10 feet away from me. It turns out it was a Bald Eagle!! I stopped the car and he looked at me and I at him...we shared a sweet little moment. Maybe it's silly, but I was so excited. I've never seen a Bald Eagle outside of a zoo or nature preserve. If the lion is the king of the jungle, then the Bald Eagle is definitely the king of the sky. He was very majestic and classy. :)
We found another nice lake to swim in tonight: Lake Shawano, which also happens to be where we're camping. The bugs here are vicious!!!!!!!
As I was driving around one of these lakes to catch up to Mark earlier today, a huge bird caught my eye as he swooped down and landed about 10 feet away from me. It turns out it was a Bald Eagle!! I stopped the car and he looked at me and I at him...we shared a sweet little moment. Maybe it's silly, but I was so excited. I've never seen a Bald Eagle outside of a zoo or nature preserve. If the lion is the king of the jungle, then the Bald Eagle is definitely the king of the sky. He was very majestic and classy. :)
We found another nice lake to swim in tonight: Lake Shawano, which also happens to be where we're camping. The bugs here are vicious!!!!!!!
Monday, August 9, 2010
A few pictures as promised...
In Anacortes, Washington at the starting point of our journey.
Still the first day...our first and second flat tire changes. This was when it was still cute and funny enough to take a picture of. From here forward, we have no more pics of the flats!
In Washington, riding closer and closer to those Cascades!
Our first night (we were waiting for it to get dark so that we could pitch our tent without being seen since it wasn't an actual campground) and morning as bike tourers!
Some foothills and the sweet little dog that I befriended. He ran alongside my bike for about a mile before he ran out of steam.
This was a pretty bridge to ride across.
Taking a Snickers break. Mark is really good at taking the action shot pictures. I'm not quite so coordinated.
Left: We would've been a lot less happy had we realized that we were on the wrong road! Right: Eating brunch the morning after a really hard downpour.
The entrance to the Cascades. This was the beginning of the HEAVY riding!
Left: Look at that scenery!! Right: That little speck of yellow is Mark hiking down to the creek to get some relief from the heat.
Some of the prettiest riding EVER!! Mark is a great photographer!
There are many more pictures that we'll eventually post on facebook. This is all I have time for right now as I need to go find Mark...he's somewhere down the road ahead of me. Hope you enjoy them!
Still the first day...our first and second flat tire changes. This was when it was still cute and funny enough to take a picture of. From here forward, we have no more pics of the flats!
In Washington, riding closer and closer to those Cascades!
Our first night (we were waiting for it to get dark so that we could pitch our tent without being seen since it wasn't an actual campground) and morning as bike tourers!
Some foothills and the sweet little dog that I befriended. He ran alongside my bike for about a mile before he ran out of steam.
This was a pretty bridge to ride across.
Taking a Snickers break. Mark is really good at taking the action shot pictures. I'm not quite so coordinated.
Left: We would've been a lot less happy had we realized that we were on the wrong road! Right: Eating brunch the morning after a really hard downpour.
The entrance to the Cascades. This was the beginning of the HEAVY riding!
Left: Look at that scenery!! Right: That little speck of yellow is Mark hiking down to the creek to get some relief from the heat.
Some of the prettiest riding EVER!! Mark is a great photographer!
There are many more pictures that we'll eventually post on facebook. This is all I have time for right now as I need to go find Mark...he's somewhere down the road ahead of me. Hope you enjoy them!
Day 32
The rain last night never let up for even a minute until sometime around 7 a.m. this morning. We had a few leaks in our tent, but it was easily fixed with our towels. The problem with that kind of rain is that it takes us twice as long to pack up camp in the morning because everything gets soaked and muddied. The moisture hung heavily in the air for the remainder of today and the sun never made an appearance, so I was unable to dry out our tent and tarp. The forecast was calling for more showers throughout the evening, so when we arrived at our destination, Crandon, we checked into the Best Western for the night. The front desk lady was even nice enough to give us the AAA discount even though we aren't AAA members. I guess we looked pitiable. :)
Mark did some good riding today. He averaged 14.9 mph, which is awesome, especially considering all of the hills and bluffs that he had to ride through. He attributes the keys to his success to the two ginormous pancakes and the biscuits and gravy that he ate this morning for breakfast. Oh yeah, and of course the leftover potatoes that he's still munching on as a snack. That's A LOT of carbs, but he never ran out of energy.
FYI from the support vehicle: I finished the first of my books today, "Till We Have Faces" and here's my review: "It's a MUST READ!"
Mark did some good riding today. He averaged 14.9 mph, which is awesome, especially considering all of the hills and bluffs that he had to ride through. He attributes the keys to his success to the two ginormous pancakes and the biscuits and gravy that he ate this morning for breakfast. Oh yeah, and of course the leftover potatoes that he's still munching on as a snack. That's A LOT of carbs, but he never ran out of energy.
FYI from the support vehicle: I finished the first of my books today, "Till We Have Faces" and here's my review: "It's a MUST READ!"
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Day 31
Wisconsin knows how to work their small towns. All of them seem like small little tourist destinations. The streets are filled with gift shops and coffee shops and putt-putt golf. It makes for some fun distractions.
Mark had a lighter day of riding today. He went 40 miles and we drove some segments in between to give him some good rest. We made it into a sweet town called Boulder Junction, where we walked around for a little while. Then it was off to set up camp and take a cold swim/bathe in Big Lake. Mark decided that he wanted to boil potatoes over our campfire tonight and just as he got them seasoned, the thunder started rumbling in the distance. Then the rain...hard rain came pouring. I quickly dove into the tent and waited for Mark to follow. When he didn't come in, I poked my head out and there he was still cooking his potatoes over the fire while the rain drenched him. He cooked every single potato, while I drifted to sleep in the warm, dry tent.
Mark had a lighter day of riding today. He went 40 miles and we drove some segments in between to give him some good rest. We made it into a sweet town called Boulder Junction, where we walked around for a little while. Then it was off to set up camp and take a cold swim/bathe in Big Lake. Mark decided that he wanted to boil potatoes over our campfire tonight and just as he got them seasoned, the thunder started rumbling in the distance. Then the rain...hard rain came pouring. I quickly dove into the tent and waited for Mark to follow. When he didn't come in, I poked my head out and there he was still cooking his potatoes over the fire while the rain drenched him. He cooked every single potato, while I drifted to sleep in the warm, dry tent.
Day 30
And today was another successful ride. Mark got a flat in his back tire in his last 20 miles or so, but I came riding in on my white horse...er...white car and rescued him. I even pumped his tire for him so that he wouldn't have to waste his energy. It took me twice as long as it takes him, but who's on a clock out here? We have a pretty good system in place. In some spots we don't get the greatest of cell phone service, so I let Mark ride for about an hour ahead of me, which let's him get 15 miles or so down the road, and then I go find him to see what he needs, give him new directions and then we begin the process again. We're camping tonight in a small town called Clam Lake. Mark is busy getting a campfire started so that we can grill some chicken and a 1 lb. sirloin steak that we found at the grocery for only $4.00!! We never would've had the time or energy to do this if we didn't have our car, so it's really nice to be able to enjoy the camping now.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Day 29
Mark's first day back to riding was a really good one. He went almost 80 miles!! I asked him to dictate a message for me (he's not a big blogger) and here's what he said: "it felt good to be on the bike again. The wind was blowing pretty strong. No problems. I like having a support vehicle, it's the way to go.Wisconsin is a pretty state to ride in." There ya have it folks. He's a man of few sentences, but he says them in all sincerity.:)
For my part, I'm really enjoying being the support vehicle...in fact, I think I've found my calling. I write down the directions for Mark, refill his water bottles and bring him food. I also drive past him with my windows down and either cheer him on or make harassing comments. That's the fun of it...he never knows which person I'm gonna be.:) The roads that we were on today were gorgeous. It's almost like being back in Washington again. Everything is really green and fertile and there's definitely no lack of trees. Lakes and rivers await us at every turn and the road terrain is very hilly and winding. That keeps things a lot more interesting and enjoyable.
We're camping tonight in Birchwood, WI and are set up right next to a lake. If anyone on Campbellsville is reading this, this area looks shockingly similar to Green River Lake.
So, definitely a successful first day. Oh yeah, and for anyone wondering how I've spent my free time, my current reading is: "Till We Have Faces" by C.S. Lewis.
For my part, I'm really enjoying being the support vehicle...in fact, I think I've found my calling. I write down the directions for Mark, refill his water bottles and bring him food. I also drive past him with my windows down and either cheer him on or make harassing comments. That's the fun of it...he never knows which person I'm gonna be.:) The roads that we were on today were gorgeous. It's almost like being back in Washington again. Everything is really green and fertile and there's definitely no lack of trees. Lakes and rivers await us at every turn and the road terrain is very hilly and winding. That keeps things a lot more interesting and enjoyable.
We're camping tonight in Birchwood, WI and are set up right next to a lake. If anyone on Campbellsville is reading this, this area looks shockingly similar to Green River Lake.
So, definitely a successful first day. Oh yeah, and for anyone wondering how I've spent my free time, my current reading is: "Till We Have Faces" by C.S. Lewis.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
and the Physical Therapist said...
Thank you all so much for your sweet and encouraging comments and messages! We've recently moved into a new apartment and don't have internet access yet, so today is the first chance we've had to check facebook, e-mail, blog, etc.
I visited the physical therapist on Monday afternoon and she confirmed that it's Tendonitus. The positive side of that is that it's not too serious and I can't really do anything to injure my knees further. The negative side is that the only treatment is rest and ice. She instructed me to ice both knees for 10 minutes, 5 times a day and she also gave me some gentle stretches and exercises to do that will strengthen my quads and keep them from flaring up again in the future. So, that's the diagnosis. :)
Meanwhile, we're staying the night tonight in Osceola, Wisconsin which is located right on the Minnesota/Wisconsin border. Mark will resume biking tomorrow (Thursday) morning. He's excited about our route change that will take us across this state and eventually into Michigan and then Canada! It should be some really beautiful riding. I'm excited about getting to serve him and assist him along the journey. I have 6 books checked out from the library that will keep me occupied while my knees heal. I'd appreciate prayers for a speedy recovery as I really want to be able to ride a little in this part of the country and give Mark some relief when he needs it. All in all, we ended up cutting all but about 20 miles of North Dakota and the whole of Minnesota from our trip (but we've done lots of riding in Minnesota already, so that's not a huge disappointment).
Our little respite in Rochester was a nice distraction. We met up with lots of sweet friends of ours. Mark got to work a few hours, we unpacked and set up our new apartment, we received prayer from some of you and South African chocolate from others, and two friends even blessed us with a gift card to Massage Envy! We want to especially thank Kris Allen for setting up my PT appointment and picking us up from the train station. All of you may not have even realized it, but you were the hands and feet of the Lord to Mark and I, and you showered us with His love simply by spending time with us during a time of hard disappointment. Thank you and bless you!
I visited the physical therapist on Monday afternoon and she confirmed that it's Tendonitus. The positive side of that is that it's not too serious and I can't really do anything to injure my knees further. The negative side is that the only treatment is rest and ice. She instructed me to ice both knees for 10 minutes, 5 times a day and she also gave me some gentle stretches and exercises to do that will strengthen my quads and keep them from flaring up again in the future. So, that's the diagnosis. :)
Meanwhile, we're staying the night tonight in Osceola, Wisconsin which is located right on the Minnesota/Wisconsin border. Mark will resume biking tomorrow (Thursday) morning. He's excited about our route change that will take us across this state and eventually into Michigan and then Canada! It should be some really beautiful riding. I'm excited about getting to serve him and assist him along the journey. I have 6 books checked out from the library that will keep me occupied while my knees heal. I'd appreciate prayers for a speedy recovery as I really want to be able to ride a little in this part of the country and give Mark some relief when he needs it. All in all, we ended up cutting all but about 20 miles of North Dakota and the whole of Minnesota from our trip (but we've done lots of riding in Minnesota already, so that's not a huge disappointment).
Our little respite in Rochester was a nice distraction. We met up with lots of sweet friends of ours. Mark got to work a few hours, we unpacked and set up our new apartment, we received prayer from some of you and South African chocolate from others, and two friends even blessed us with a gift card to Massage Envy! We want to especially thank Kris Allen for setting up my PT appointment and picking us up from the train station. All of you may not have even realized it, but you were the hands and feet of the Lord to Mark and I, and you showered us with His love simply by spending time with us during a time of hard disappointment. Thank you and bless you!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Day 27 & 28
We finally made it into North Dakota today and it was a beautiful thing.
So, about the plans we've been making...it's kind of a long story, but I'll tell it anyway.
For those of you that have been following our blog, you know about the trouble I've had with my knees for the last few weeks. This last week, we decreased our mileage, took extra rest days and ibuprofen in hopes of curing the problem. As we rested yesterday, we devised a plan to hop on the Amtrak and get enough ahead in our mileage that we could take our average daily riding from 70 to 50 miles for the remainder of the trip.
However, when we began riding this morning my knees were in complete agony after only 3 miles. The road was flat, there was no wind and I was having trouble just trying to maintain 7 mph. When we took our first break it was clear that decreasing our mileage wasn't going to solve the problem. With heavy hearts, we reluctantly made the decision to end our trip early and go home to let my knees recover.
I cried for the next 10 miles (partly from pain) grieving the loss of this dream. For the rest of the ride I begged the Lord to redeem the situation. We purchased our train tickets and arranged for some really dear friends to pick us up in Winona, MN and we even called my parents to let them know that we weren't going to be able to finish the trip. Definitely a heartbreaking day.
***************
Day 28
We couldn't sleep last night as thoughts of having to give up plagued our minds. We ate breakfast and as I was in the middle of writing a blog to let everyone know of our regrettable decision, Mark looked at me and said, "I don't think we're making the right choice. I don't feel peace in my heart about it." One thing that both of us have learned over the last few years is that Jesus is the Prince of Peace and if we don't feel His peace in regards to one of our decisions, He most likely has something way better in mind.
My wise husband informed me of his idea and here it is: We'll still take our train to Rochester so that we can get my knees checked out. Then, we're going to drop off my bike and pick up our car. For the rest of the trip I will be Mark's "sagwagon" or support vehicle while he continues our ride. I'll carry his gear and set up our campsites and meet him at 15 mile checkpoints to see if he needs anything. Then, if in a few days or week, my knees have recovered, we will take turns driving and riding Mark's bike (good thing we're similar in height).
This isn't what we originally wanted or had planned, but it's important to us that we stay committed and finish what we started. After a year of planning, preparing and training, we feel that this is a better option than just quitting and giving up the whole dream.
We hope that we haven't let anyone down or disappointed you. This isn't quite as adventurous or extreme as the original plan, but we feel like it's the wisest option available to us. And trust me, no one is as disappointed as I am that I can't finish the trip as planned.
So, we'll arrive in Rochester tomorrow (Saturday) morning and will make the necessary adjustments and get my knees checked out. Then we'll get back on the road Monday or Tuesday to continue along our journey.
After a stressful week of not knowing how to proceed, we finally feel peace and joy and the Lord's blessing. We're excited that having a car will allow us more opportunity to be flexible and possibly even enjoy some of the more touristy things along the way. We'll most likely finish a little earlier than planned as well.
I'll keep the blog updated once we begin again and will even be able to post some pictures from here on out.
Thanks again for your support. We ask again for your continued prayers as we will still possibly encounter our fair share of difficulties along the way.
So, about the plans we've been making...it's kind of a long story, but I'll tell it anyway.
For those of you that have been following our blog, you know about the trouble I've had with my knees for the last few weeks. This last week, we decreased our mileage, took extra rest days and ibuprofen in hopes of curing the problem. As we rested yesterday, we devised a plan to hop on the Amtrak and get enough ahead in our mileage that we could take our average daily riding from 70 to 50 miles for the remainder of the trip.
However, when we began riding this morning my knees were in complete agony after only 3 miles. The road was flat, there was no wind and I was having trouble just trying to maintain 7 mph. When we took our first break it was clear that decreasing our mileage wasn't going to solve the problem. With heavy hearts, we reluctantly made the decision to end our trip early and go home to let my knees recover.
I cried for the next 10 miles (partly from pain) grieving the loss of this dream. For the rest of the ride I begged the Lord to redeem the situation. We purchased our train tickets and arranged for some really dear friends to pick us up in Winona, MN and we even called my parents to let them know that we weren't going to be able to finish the trip. Definitely a heartbreaking day.
***************
Day 28
We couldn't sleep last night as thoughts of having to give up plagued our minds. We ate breakfast and as I was in the middle of writing a blog to let everyone know of our regrettable decision, Mark looked at me and said, "I don't think we're making the right choice. I don't feel peace in my heart about it." One thing that both of us have learned over the last few years is that Jesus is the Prince of Peace and if we don't feel His peace in regards to one of our decisions, He most likely has something way better in mind.
My wise husband informed me of his idea and here it is: We'll still take our train to Rochester so that we can get my knees checked out. Then, we're going to drop off my bike and pick up our car. For the rest of the trip I will be Mark's "sagwagon" or support vehicle while he continues our ride. I'll carry his gear and set up our campsites and meet him at 15 mile checkpoints to see if he needs anything. Then, if in a few days or week, my knees have recovered, we will take turns driving and riding Mark's bike (good thing we're similar in height).
This isn't what we originally wanted or had planned, but it's important to us that we stay committed and finish what we started. After a year of planning, preparing and training, we feel that this is a better option than just quitting and giving up the whole dream.
We hope that we haven't let anyone down or disappointed you. This isn't quite as adventurous or extreme as the original plan, but we feel like it's the wisest option available to us. And trust me, no one is as disappointed as I am that I can't finish the trip as planned.
So, we'll arrive in Rochester tomorrow (Saturday) morning and will make the necessary adjustments and get my knees checked out. Then we'll get back on the road Monday or Tuesday to continue along our journey.
After a stressful week of not knowing how to proceed, we finally feel peace and joy and the Lord's blessing. We're excited that having a car will allow us more opportunity to be flexible and possibly even enjoy some of the more touristy things along the way. We'll most likely finish a little earlier than planned as well.
I'll keep the blog updated once we begin again and will even be able to post some pictures from here on out.
Thanks again for your support. We ask again for your continued prayers as we will still possibly encounter our fair share of difficulties along the way.
Day 25
Thanks so much for everyone's prayers. Today was much more enjoyable riding than the last few have been. Despite the knee pain, the Lord was near and He brought some joy with Him. I knew that people were praying because somewhere around mile 4, my heart suddenly changed from dread of the day's riding to peace and enjoyment. That's one big reason as to why your prayers are so appreciated by us. In the last week, Mark and I have both experienced that point of breaking where we just want to dismount our bikes and start yelling for help, but we were somehow able to press on. Any athlete, no matter what sport, will tell you that mental and emotional states greatly affect performance. It's no different with bike touring, and your prayers help us to win that battle of the mind and heart that is constantly being waged with every push of the pedal. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU.
We faced a lot of wind in the first couple of hours today that was so intense that I felt the need to brace myself every time a car drove past for fear of being blown off the road, but it seemed to die down as we progressed. The knee aches are still very present and worsened when we hit some decent hills in the last 12 miles.
However, we welcomed the rolling hills, as they were a pleasant change of scenery. One stretch of the land reminded me of a really big golf course.
We're in a city park tonight located in Culbertson. It's a cute little town of about 700 people. We're almost through Montana...:) Both of us are dealing with upset stomachs (we think we may have drank some bad water in one of these towns) so, if there's motel space, we're taking yet another rest day tomorrow. Don't worry-we're busy forming a plan as to how to get ahead of schedule here in the next few days.
We faced a lot of wind in the first couple of hours today that was so intense that I felt the need to brace myself every time a car drove past for fear of being blown off the road, but it seemed to die down as we progressed. The knee aches are still very present and worsened when we hit some decent hills in the last 12 miles.
However, we welcomed the rolling hills, as they were a pleasant change of scenery. One stretch of the land reminded me of a really big golf course.
We're in a city park tonight located in Culbertson. It's a cute little town of about 700 people. We're almost through Montana...:) Both of us are dealing with upset stomachs (we think we may have drank some bad water in one of these towns) so, if there's motel space, we're taking yet another rest day tomorrow. Don't worry-we're busy forming a plan as to how to get ahead of schedule here in the next few days.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Day 23
We rode 50 miles today to the town of Wolf Point. The wind was against us and so was the heat. We both just finally had to laugh at how miserable we were. Here we are beginning our fourth week of riding and for some reason our butts were hurting worse today than ever before. We couldn't sit on the saddle for more than 4 miles without having to take a relief break. Mark was feeling a little sick and my left knee of course was aching by the end. We're also feeling the weight of the Montana wilderness. With no trees to be seen for miles, some sort of road kill every few feet and bugs constantly swarming us, all we can do is count down the miles. On a more positive note, we keep meeting really sweet people along the way and the sun is shining.
However, we've decided to take yet another day off tomorrow in hopes of more knee/bottom recovery. Then we'll figure out whether or not we need to hop on the Amtrak to try and get ahead on mileage. We're not too worried, we'd just prefer not to ride if we can't really enjoy it. So, if we have to cheat a little bit to enjoy this tour, that's what we'll do.
Thanks again for your continued prayers and support. We'll keep trusting in our Father and asking for His wisdom throughout our tour.
However, we've decided to take yet another day off tomorrow in hopes of more knee/bottom recovery. Then we'll figure out whether or not we need to hop on the Amtrak to try and get ahead on mileage. We're not too worried, we'd just prefer not to ride if we can't really enjoy it. So, if we have to cheat a little bit to enjoy this tour, that's what we'll do.
Thanks again for your continued prayers and support. We'll keep trusting in our Father and asking for His wisdom throughout our tour.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Day 22
Rest day has been good. We've completely caved ourselves up in our room today, our goal being to see as little sunlight and watch as many movies as possible. The goal was accomplished and we should be good to ride for another week.
I fixed the blog for Day 20. I accidentally posted the same day twice...just in case anyone was confused.:)
I fixed the blog for Day 20. I accidentally posted the same day twice...just in case anyone was confused.:)
Friday, July 23, 2010
Day 21
We made it successfully into Glasgow today. The wind was blowing gently behind us, so we were able to pedal 43 miles in 3.5 hours. We're doing our laundry right now and then we'll take it easy for the remainder of today and tomorrow.
This morning we passed a group of 3 bike tourers from Holland who are doing the same route as us, but in the opposite direction. They were so nice! They stopped to talk to us and ask us how our ride has been. I told them about my knee problems and they said that they went through the same ordeal in their first few weeks of riding. They advised us to take it easy on the mileage (which we are) and to take a good rest day. One of them looked at me with such concern and care in his eyes and he said, "Don't worry. Your knees will get better." I could've cried and thanked him right then and there! It was so encouraging to hear him say that to me with such certainty, after days of seeing people look at my knee braces and shake their heads while saying, "I don't know if you can make it to Maine like that." Yes, I'm definitely treasuring his words in my heart as a prophetic blessing from the Lord.
Glasgow is a sweet little town. We walked in the McDonalds for lunch and immediately 5 different people swarmed us with questions and encouragement regarding the bike trip. One man has traveled 3,000 miles so far on his motorcycle and he also encouraged me to treat my knees with ibuprofen this weekend and I'll be fine.
Just a random FYI: I counted 26 bug bites on my body today and Mark counted 16 on his.
We haven't had any stings yet, but the bees love to swarm around our high vis. yellow shirts...so I'm guessing that it's only a matter of time!
This morning we passed a group of 3 bike tourers from Holland who are doing the same route as us, but in the opposite direction. They were so nice! They stopped to talk to us and ask us how our ride has been. I told them about my knee problems and they said that they went through the same ordeal in their first few weeks of riding. They advised us to take it easy on the mileage (which we are) and to take a good rest day. One of them looked at me with such concern and care in his eyes and he said, "Don't worry. Your knees will get better." I could've cried and thanked him right then and there! It was so encouraging to hear him say that to me with such certainty, after days of seeing people look at my knee braces and shake their heads while saying, "I don't know if you can make it to Maine like that." Yes, I'm definitely treasuring his words in my heart as a prophetic blessing from the Lord.
Glasgow is a sweet little town. We walked in the McDonalds for lunch and immediately 5 different people swarmed us with questions and encouragement regarding the bike trip. One man has traveled 3,000 miles so far on his motorcycle and he also encouraged me to treat my knees with ibuprofen this weekend and I'll be fine.
Just a random FYI: I counted 26 bug bites on my body today and Mark counted 16 on his.
We haven't had any stings yet, but the bees love to swarm around our high vis. yellow shirts...so I'm guessing that it's only a matter of time!
Day 20
Montana is loooooong. We only made 45 miles tonight and are settling in a town called Saco. My knees are killing our riding. They were fine up until the last 3 miles, so we decided that it's best not to push it too much. So, I'm icing and taking ibuprofen. The plan is to try and ride 45 more miles tomorrow and then we'll take our rest day. We realize that this low mileage is putting us behind, but we'll figure out how to fix that later.
We both got flats today...our back tires again. This time we were able to find the causes of the punctures, which makes it less frustrating.
In other news, the snakes in MT seem to be getting thicker and longer the further east we ride. I don't know what that's about. At least the ones we see are either dead or almost dead. If I see a live one, I'm pretty sure I'll puke.
We both got flats today...our back tires again. This time we were able to find the causes of the punctures, which makes it less frustrating.
In other news, the snakes in MT seem to be getting thicker and longer the further east we ride. I don't know what that's about. At least the ones we see are either dead or almost dead. If I see a live one, I'm pretty sure I'll puke.
Day 19
The wind and rain got us today. It took us FOREVER to make it to our destination, which is Dodson, Montana. The last 15 miles were so tough that we were singing worship songs at the top of our lungs to keep our minds off of the riding. There were no buildings to be seen for miles around, so I don't think we disturbed anyone.
We're camping in someone's backyard tonight. The owner makes her yard available to cyclists only throughout the summer. What she doesn't know is that there are millions of Mosquitos making themselves at home here with us also. I've counted 8 bites on my right foot alone. We're now taking refuge in our tent while we eat our dinner that consists of cheese crackers, trail mix, M & M's, and pretzels. We don't eat this bad every night...but there's literally nothing out here with the exception of a really gorgeous sunset.
We're camping in someone's backyard tonight. The owner makes her yard available to cyclists only throughout the summer. What she doesn't know is that there are millions of Mosquitos making themselves at home here with us also. I've counted 8 bites on my right foot alone. We're now taking refuge in our tent while we eat our dinner that consists of cheese crackers, trail mix, M & M's, and pretzels. We don't eat this bad every night...but there's literally nothing out here with the exception of a really gorgeous sunset.
Day 18
The wind was our friend today. We were able to ride 60 miles in 5.5 hours! That's the best time we've made the whole trip. We were laughing today and decided that all of those times in church that we've heard the wind used as an analogy for the Holy Spirit is spot on. We would rather bike through a storm or over a mountain and have the wind behind us than to have the most beautiful day of downhill riding with the wind against us. But, we also decided that on days like this one, when there's not a cloud in the sky and the elevation is dropping from 3,000 feet to 2,000 feet AND the wind is at our backs, that's like the "kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven."
So, we'd selfishly like to enlist each of you to pray that we'd have tailwind everyday! It literally effects everything in regards to riding. It's the difference in time on the saddle, less aches and pains, and in our overall enjoyment of the ride. I read one time in one of C.S. Lewis's books about how we sometimes convince ourselves that our prayers are meaningless or don't make much difference, but that one day we'll see how even the smallest prayers we utter are answered and change the course of history or even... the WEATHER! So, at the risk of possibly sounding like a fool to some, we're begging you to utter those prayers for us! :)
We love you all!! We're in the town of Havre tonight.
So, we'd selfishly like to enlist each of you to pray that we'd have tailwind everyday! It literally effects everything in regards to riding. It's the difference in time on the saddle, less aches and pains, and in our overall enjoyment of the ride. I read one time in one of C.S. Lewis's books about how we sometimes convince ourselves that our prayers are meaningless or don't make much difference, but that one day we'll see how even the smallest prayers we utter are answered and change the course of history or even... the WEATHER! So, at the risk of possibly sounding like a fool to some, we're begging you to utter those prayers for us! :)
We love you all!! We're in the town of Havre tonight.
Day 17
Last night we got to sleep in a Teepee! We made it to the campground and the owner offered us their Teepee for only $15 more for the night. It had a bed and carpet and a fan and no worries of getting hailed on...so we took it.
Montana is really a pretty state even in the monotony of the long, flat highway. All of the fields and prairies are incredibly green and it's contrasted well by the big blue sky!! It's easy to see why they call this the "big sky state". In any direction you look, your eyes can see on for miles. We can always tell when the rain is coming and in which direction it's headed. Lately, it seems as though we're always in a race with the rain. It happened again tonight. We ran into Subway only moments before it poured. Get this though: we missed the rain, but as soon as we set up our tent in the city park, the sprinklers came on and soaked EVERYTHING. Oh well, we survived. :)
Montana is really a pretty state even in the monotony of the long, flat highway. All of the fields and prairies are incredibly green and it's contrasted well by the big blue sky!! It's easy to see why they call this the "big sky state". In any direction you look, your eyes can see on for miles. We can always tell when the rain is coming and in which direction it's headed. Lately, it seems as though we're always in a race with the rain. It happened again tonight. We ran into Subway only moments before it poured. Get this though: we missed the rain, but as soon as we set up our tent in the city park, the sprinklers came on and soaked EVERYTHING. Oh well, we survived. :)
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Day 16
We made it safely through Browning. I don't know what the big deal was about that place. It seemed fine and normal to me.
Anyway, today was another one of those days that just hurt! Neck, butt and knees are all sore. Part of the problem is that we're currently riding on Highway 2 and the surface is really rough, so after awhile the constant vibration takes its toll on the body parts. We're still on this highway for most of the week, so prayers for our endurance and recovery will be much appreciated! Plus, in our last 30 miles of riding,we faced some pretty decent headwind. We averaged about 7.5 mph even though the road was completely flat. We made it to our destination, the town of Cut Bank, and into the McDonalds only 5 minutes before the clouds burst open with hail and heavy rain! We stayed dry, our bikes stayed dry and we saw a rainbow!! We're waiting to make sure it's passed before we head out to make camp for the night.
We're officially done with mountain climbing until we hit the Appalachians in our last week. We already miss the beautiful scenery, but hopefully, if the wind will just settle down or blow at our backs, we'll make some good mileage and time. This part of the ride reminds me of Kansas or Oklahoma. The road is flat and long and there are hardly any trees to be found.
Gotta finish up these apple pies. And then head towards bed...or sleeping bag.:)
Anyway, today was another one of those days that just hurt! Neck, butt and knees are all sore. Part of the problem is that we're currently riding on Highway 2 and the surface is really rough, so after awhile the constant vibration takes its toll on the body parts. We're still on this highway for most of the week, so prayers for our endurance and recovery will be much appreciated! Plus, in our last 30 miles of riding,we faced some pretty decent headwind. We averaged about 7.5 mph even though the road was completely flat. We made it to our destination, the town of Cut Bank, and into the McDonalds only 5 minutes before the clouds burst open with hail and heavy rain! We stayed dry, our bikes stayed dry and we saw a rainbow!! We're waiting to make sure it's passed before we head out to make camp for the night.
We're officially done with mountain climbing until we hit the Appalachians in our last week. We already miss the beautiful scenery, but hopefully, if the wind will just settle down or blow at our backs, we'll make some good mileage and time. This part of the ride reminds me of Kansas or Oklahoma. The road is flat and long and there are hardly any trees to be found.
Gotta finish up these apple pies. And then head towards bed...or sleeping bag.:)
Day 15
We saw our first bear today! As we were pedaling down the highway, a small Black Bear crossed the road in front of us just as naturally as if he were a Deer! It happened so fast that we almost missed it. I thought he may have have been a cub, so you better believe that I was ringing the heck out of my bear bell just in case his momma was was close by.
We changed plans a little today. We had originally planned on taking the alternate route that goes under Glacier rather than through it (it's shorter and the mountain pass isn't as big) but one of our newly found cycling friends told us of another option. Glacier National Park offers free shuttle rides up and down the mountain and they even have bike racks on the front for people like us! We were thrilled to find this out, as it really did kill us to know we were that close to Glacier without going in. Then, we met two people at our camp this morning that had a valid park pass for two that they weren't going to use again, so we were already paid for.
We took the shuttle all along the Going-to-the-sun Road and walked around at the top of Logan's Pass and the continental divide. We're definitely coming back one day to explore some of the cool hiking trails and enjoy all of the touristy things that we just didn't have time for today.
We finally met two more tourers that are doing the exact same "Northern Tier" route that we're doing. It's a good thing
we met them because they warned us about a town that we were planning on camping in, called Browning. It's only 1,000 people, but it's located on the Blackfoot Indian reservation and apparently it's somewhat poverty-stricken and has been notoriously dangerous for bike tourers. So, we've decided to camp here in the town of St. Mary tonight instead. We'll still ride through, but it's only for two miles and we'll be sure and move quickly, be smart and it'll be in the light of day.
We have a pretty heavy day of riding tomorrow, so gotta get some rest. Night!
We changed plans a little today. We had originally planned on taking the alternate route that goes under Glacier rather than through it (it's shorter and the mountain pass isn't as big) but one of our newly found cycling friends told us of another option. Glacier National Park offers free shuttle rides up and down the mountain and they even have bike racks on the front for people like us! We were thrilled to find this out, as it really did kill us to know we were that close to Glacier without going in. Then, we met two people at our camp this morning that had a valid park pass for two that they weren't going to use again, so we were already paid for.
We took the shuttle all along the Going-to-the-sun Road and walked around at the top of Logan's Pass and the continental divide. We're definitely coming back one day to explore some of the cool hiking trails and enjoy all of the touristy things that we just didn't have time for today.
We finally met two more tourers that are doing the exact same "Northern Tier" route that we're doing. It's a good thing
we met them because they warned us about a town that we were planning on camping in, called Browning. It's only 1,000 people, but it's located on the Blackfoot Indian reservation and apparently it's somewhat poverty-stricken and has been notoriously dangerous for bike tourers. So, we've decided to camp here in the town of St. Mary tonight instead. We'll still ride through, but it's only for two miles and we'll be sure and move quickly, be smart and it'll be in the light of day.
We have a pretty heavy day of riding tomorrow, so gotta get some rest. Night!
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Day 14
Once again, the rest day refreshed us. It was a slow start leaving the motel this morning, trying to soak in every last ounce of free coffee (we don't usually get to drink it throughout the riding week, so on our rest days we drink refill after refill!) but once we began pedaling, all felt good and right once again.
We got to witness a most amazing sight today! As we were riding along Highway 93, Dickey Lake came into view. You've probably never heard of it, I sure hadn't, but it was hands-down the most beautiful body of water that I've ever seen!! It was crystal clear all the way to the bottom, yet somehow it reflected a color of deep turquoise. The sun danced upon the ripples so that there appeared to be a layer of diamonds resting on the surface. The edges of the lake were lined with thick, lush, green pine trees and off in the distance, the peaks of some of the Rocky Mountains could be seen. After all of the amazing sights we've already seen, this was the first time on this trip that the absolute brilliance of it all moved me to tears. I kept thinking of Romans 1:20-"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." His beauty and love are revealed in all of creation and it is just lovely.
We've landed tonight in Columbia Falls. We have another big day tomorrow, so it's time for some very welcomed shut-eye!
We got to witness a most amazing sight today! As we were riding along Highway 93, Dickey Lake came into view. You've probably never heard of it, I sure hadn't, but it was hands-down the most beautiful body of water that I've ever seen!! It was crystal clear all the way to the bottom, yet somehow it reflected a color of deep turquoise. The sun danced upon the ripples so that there appeared to be a layer of diamonds resting on the surface. The edges of the lake were lined with thick, lush, green pine trees and off in the distance, the peaks of some of the Rocky Mountains could be seen. After all of the amazing sights we've already seen, this was the first time on this trip that the absolute brilliance of it all moved me to tears. I kept thinking of Romans 1:20-"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." His beauty and love are revealed in all of creation and it is just lovely.
We've landed tonight in Columbia Falls. We have another big day tomorrow, so it's time for some very welcomed shut-eye!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Day 13
We're still in Eureka and will be here through the night because we took our second rest period one day early. It turns out that we've almost made it to Glacier National Park and all of the hotels, both there and in the surrounding areas, are completely booked for the weekend! So we decided that it was better to take rest earlier rather than later.
My right knee is still a little achy, so we bought a brace and have been icing it all day, but please pray for full and swift recovery. It's not bad enough that I can't ride; it's more of an annoyance than anything.
Well, I tell ya what, we've sure met a lot of interesting people on this trip so far. For anyone who thought that Mark and I were crazy for making this trip with just the two of us, I can assure you that there are people out here that are way more adventurous and daring than we could ever dream of being!! Most of the tourers that we've met so far are making their journey alone. We've met a few other couples, like ourselves, but we've seen no groups of more than two, as of yet. They come in all ages and all different builds. A few days ago, we met a retired aerospace engineer doing a 6,000 mile tour by himself while he waits for his wife to retire.
Last week, we met a 65-year-old tourer who only averages 18 miles/day and is riding alone to South Carolina. We asked him when he plans on hitting his destination and he looked at us with tired, lonely eyes and responded, "Well, I thought I'd make it by October, but now it's looking like mid-November. But ask me again next week and I'll have pushed it to December." He was also carrying a pull-behind trailer...it looked heavy.
Two days ago, we passed two guys that have no maps, no destination, and no discernible plans for each day. They just pedal until they're tired and then they camp wherever they happen to be. Last night, the German tourer that we met didn't use a tent! We had gotten our camp spot set up just the way we like it, then we looked over at him and he was stretched out on the picnic table! I think he thought we were really high-maintenance for having a tent, a clean change of clothes and a shower. Ya gotta respect a guy like that, though. He's the type that'll never die of a heart attack or fail a stress test.
On our first mountain climb, we saw a guy who had attached Tupperware boxes to the back of his bike and was riding in khaki pants and a checked, flannel shirt. There we were with our high-visibility, dry-fit biking shirts, padded shorts and reflective panniers! Again, I felt like we were too high-maintenance for this trip.
Some tourers eye's light up when they see us and others just nod at us knowingly, as if to say, "Yup...I know exactly what you're feeling right now." We appreciate both types. Some tourers are traveling 500 miles and others are going 5,000. We hardly catch anyone's name, as that is low on the list of tourer questions. High on the list are: Where did you start? Where are you ending? How many miles have you travelled today? What kind of tires are those? Where are you staying tonight?...etc. Names are rarely mentioned.
Anyway, since our rest days consist of nothing but ice baths and tv watching, I thought I'd give you something more interesting than that to read about today. Grace and peace!!
My right knee is still a little achy, so we bought a brace and have been icing it all day, but please pray for full and swift recovery. It's not bad enough that I can't ride; it's more of an annoyance than anything.
Well, I tell ya what, we've sure met a lot of interesting people on this trip so far. For anyone who thought that Mark and I were crazy for making this trip with just the two of us, I can assure you that there are people out here that are way more adventurous and daring than we could ever dream of being!! Most of the tourers that we've met so far are making their journey alone. We've met a few other couples, like ourselves, but we've seen no groups of more than two, as of yet. They come in all ages and all different builds. A few days ago, we met a retired aerospace engineer doing a 6,000 mile tour by himself while he waits for his wife to retire.
Last week, we met a 65-year-old tourer who only averages 18 miles/day and is riding alone to South Carolina. We asked him when he plans on hitting his destination and he looked at us with tired, lonely eyes and responded, "Well, I thought I'd make it by October, but now it's looking like mid-November. But ask me again next week and I'll have pushed it to December." He was also carrying a pull-behind trailer...it looked heavy.
Two days ago, we passed two guys that have no maps, no destination, and no discernible plans for each day. They just pedal until they're tired and then they camp wherever they happen to be. Last night, the German tourer that we met didn't use a tent! We had gotten our camp spot set up just the way we like it, then we looked over at him and he was stretched out on the picnic table! I think he thought we were really high-maintenance for having a tent, a clean change of clothes and a shower. Ya gotta respect a guy like that, though. He's the type that'll never die of a heart attack or fail a stress test.
On our first mountain climb, we saw a guy who had attached Tupperware boxes to the back of his bike and was riding in khaki pants and a checked, flannel shirt. There we were with our high-visibility, dry-fit biking shirts, padded shorts and reflective panniers! Again, I felt like we were too high-maintenance for this trip.
Some tourers eye's light up when they see us and others just nod at us knowingly, as if to say, "Yup...I know exactly what you're feeling right now." We appreciate both types. Some tourers are traveling 500 miles and others are going 5,000. We hardly catch anyone's name, as that is low on the list of tourer questions. High on the list are: Where did you start? Where are you ending? How many miles have you travelled today? What kind of tires are those? Where are you staying tonight?...etc. Names are rarely mentioned.
Anyway, since our rest days consist of nothing but ice baths and tv watching, I thought I'd give you something more interesting than that to read about today. Grace and peace!!
Day 12
Water just makes everything more beautiful! These Adventure Cycling maps are really awesome about taking us on the most scenic highways. Today we got to ride along Lake Koocanusa, which is so long that I thought for sure it had to be a river. The water is so clear that we could see straight to the bottom, and parts of it were so still that the reflection of the mountains could be seen perfectly.
Today was the first day that I really began to notice a significant improvement in my level of fitness. We had some pretty good climbing to accomplish, lots of 6 and 7 percent gradient. Normally those kinds of climbs take the wind right out of my lungs, but today my heart rate stayed low and I breathed easily. This isn't a big deal for Mark, as he is already a fit athlete, but for me, it's huge because it makes the ride much more enjoyable.
Tonight we're sleeping in Eureka, and as we made our way to the Town Hall to check in for the night at their city park (which allowed us access to showers!!!) we happened to rendezvous with two fellow tourers. They are both taking mountain bike trails through various parts of North America and Canada. One of them is from Germany and is here on "holiday" (he writes for a German mountain biking magazine) and the other is from New Zealand. Mark is from South Africa... So here we are... 4 people from 4 different continents, but all camping buddies for the night thanks to our love of biking. Very cool.
P.S.- thanks so much to everyone for posting comments, both here and on facebook. Your encouragement seriously helps us. We don't have much time or energy to respond to them all, but we really appreciate reading them! It reminds us that we're not all alone out here in the wilderness. Haha! So keep'em coming whenever you have the chance. Thanks!
Today was the first day that I really began to notice a significant improvement in my level of fitness. We had some pretty good climbing to accomplish, lots of 6 and 7 percent gradient. Normally those kinds of climbs take the wind right out of my lungs, but today my heart rate stayed low and I breathed easily. This isn't a big deal for Mark, as he is already a fit athlete, but for me, it's huge because it makes the ride much more enjoyable.
Tonight we're sleeping in Eureka, and as we made our way to the Town Hall to check in for the night at their city park (which allowed us access to showers!!!) we happened to rendezvous with two fellow tourers. They are both taking mountain bike trails through various parts of North America and Canada. One of them is from Germany and is here on "holiday" (he writes for a German mountain biking magazine) and the other is from New Zealand. Mark is from South Africa... So here we are... 4 people from 4 different continents, but all camping buddies for the night thanks to our love of biking. Very cool.
P.S.- thanks so much to everyone for posting comments, both here and on facebook. Your encouragement seriously helps us. We don't have much time or energy to respond to them all, but we really appreciate reading them! It reminds us that we're not all alone out here in the wilderness. Haha! So keep'em coming whenever you have the chance. Thanks!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Day 11
Funny story... So, last night, as I wrote, we found a nice little city park to camp in. I'm not sure if we just didn't notice this or were too tired to care, but it turns out that we set our tent up less than 50 feet from the railroad tracks. An hour after we'd fallen asleep, we were both BLASTED awake by a train that had to be moving at 70 mph. Between the vibrations on the ground and the horrendously loud train whistle, accompanied of course by the "chugachugachuga", we both thought our numbers were up and we were literally going to be taken into Heaven by the glory train!! As we both shot straight up out of our sleeping bags, I momentarily thought that someone had dragged our tent right onto the tracks. Well, it also turns out that a train comes through almost every two hours throughout the night. That was an interesting sleep. Anyway...
Days like this one are why I signed on for this adventure. It was just a perfect day for riding! The temperature never rose above 65 degrees, we had a gentle tailwind that helped to nudge us along, and the scenery was, once again, gorgeous.
We made it through the rest of Idaho and crossed the Montana border around 1 pm. We've also changed timezones now and are currently on "mountain people" time.
Our bodies are still aching, so we would appreciate your prayers for our recovery on a daily and nightly basis, or just whenever we may come to mind.
I had my first flat today. We were 13 miles from our destination when I felt the rim touch the pavement. Thankfully, we're pros at changing tires by now, so it didn't damage our spirits. I think we'll join the one of the NASCAR teams when all of this is over and we'll work in the pit as tire changers.
All is well with us. The Lord is near, creation is beautiful, and we're trying our best to enjoy every blessing that is coming from this once in a lifetime trip! Thanks to everyone for being so incredibly supportive. It really does make the riding easier! We're sleeping tonight in a campground in Libby, Montana.
Days like this one are why I signed on for this adventure. It was just a perfect day for riding! The temperature never rose above 65 degrees, we had a gentle tailwind that helped to nudge us along, and the scenery was, once again, gorgeous.
We made it through the rest of Idaho and crossed the Montana border around 1 pm. We've also changed timezones now and are currently on "mountain people" time.
Our bodies are still aching, so we would appreciate your prayers for our recovery on a daily and nightly basis, or just whenever we may come to mind.
I had my first flat today. We were 13 miles from our destination when I felt the rim touch the pavement. Thankfully, we're pros at changing tires by now, so it didn't damage our spirits. I think we'll join the one of the NASCAR teams when all of this is over and we'll work in the pit as tire changers.
All is well with us. The Lord is near, creation is beautiful, and we're trying our best to enjoy every blessing that is coming from this once in a lifetime trip! Thanks to everyone for being so incredibly supportive. It really does make the riding easier! We're sleeping tonight in a campground in Libby, Montana.
Day 10
Hello Idaho!...but only for a little bit. We trekked our way across Idaho's panhandle today. Neither of us were expecting much, but boy were we surprised!! Our route took us along the Pend Orreille river, which then opened into a beautiful lake! For the last 20 miles that lake was overshadowed by green hills and mountains. It really was a magnificent sight that was made even better by the element of surprise.
We also had really nice tailwind for part of our journey, so we were flying at an average speed of 20 mph at times. That was fun. However, the few times that the road bent and the wind went against us were not fun, as it was hard to pedal at even 4 mph.
We ran into a beautiful town called Hope. It's population is only 200 people, but it's located right on the lake and is really quiet and clean. We loved it and wanted to stay and vacation there!
Tonight we're sleeping in a city park in Clark Fork. There was a misunderstanding on our map in regards to camping spots, so we've ended up here. I'm not complaining though because it has soft ground. :)
We also had really nice tailwind for part of our journey, so we were flying at an average speed of 20 mph at times. That was fun. However, the few times that the road bent and the wind went against us were not fun, as it was hard to pedal at even 4 mph.
We ran into a beautiful town called Hope. It's population is only 200 people, but it's located right on the lake and is really quiet and clean. We loved it and wanted to stay and vacation there!
Tonight we're sleeping in a city park in Clark Fork. There was a misunderstanding on our map in regards to camping spots, so we've ended up here. I'm not complaining though because it has soft ground. :)
Day 9
Today hurt. Nothing went wrong and the riding was relatively easy, but for some reason everything hurt. Our bottoms were in the most pain they've been in the whole trip, our necks were sore and both of my knees hurt. We're praying for some major recovery to take place tonight as we sleep. We've landed at a campground just past Usk and about 20 miles from the Washington/Idaho border. Tomorrow we will bid farewell to this fine state. We met some fellow tourers today, although we've noticed that no one seems to be going as far as we are...
We sincerely hope that all of you're well and are enjoying your summers!
We sincerely hope that all of you're well and are enjoying your summers!
Day 8
We felt really good today. It's amazing what a good day of rest does for the body! And it's a good thing, because we had to climb the Sherman Pass, which is the highest pass in the state of Washington and reaches an elevation of 5,575 feet. We absolutely SCALED this mountain, praise Jesus!! We made it to the top in 3 and a half hours and we're proud to report that we walked our bikes minimally today. These legs must be getting stronger! One thing we have discovered while riding the Cascades is that there are many external components that greatly effect our ability to climb a mountain: i.e.- temperature, road surface, scarcity or abundance of shady patches, freshness of legs, etc. Today, all of the components worked in our favor. We have now successfully completed the Cascades...and on to Glacier.
Tonight, we are staying at a really cool bike hostel that is located just outside of Colville. It is owned by a really sweet family that used to be missionaries to Malawi. It's free of charge, we get a bed and a hot shower. We're sittin' happy. It's refreshing to meet people like these that are just plain generous. The moment that we pulled in the driveway, they greeted us with juicy watermelon and showed us to our room. We're staying here with another bike tourer who is on the same route as us, but is headed in the opposite direction... So we've been giving each other tips on what to expect next along the way.
Well, it's about time to rest these weary legs and close these sleepy eyes for the evening. Night night.
Tonight, we are staying at a really cool bike hostel that is located just outside of Colville. It is owned by a really sweet family that used to be missionaries to Malawi. It's free of charge, we get a bed and a hot shower. We're sittin' happy. It's refreshing to meet people like these that are just plain generous. The moment that we pulled in the driveway, they greeted us with juicy watermelon and showed us to our room. We're staying here with another bike tourer who is on the same route as us, but is headed in the opposite direction... So we've been giving each other tips on what to expect next along the way.
Well, it's about time to rest these weary legs and close these sleepy eyes for the evening. Night night.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Day 7
REST DAY!!!! We're still in Republic recovering from week 1. We've been in bed most of the day icing our legs, except for when we take a break to soak in the jacuzzi. Did some laundry and watched some of the Tour de France. Nothing too noteworthy. Just getting ready for another tough week ahead. Thank you for your prayers...we'll need them again this week!
Day 6
We made it up yet another mountain!...Well, kind of...here's the story:
We began our ascent from a town called Tonasket. Almost immediately the incline shot straight up. Our packs were full in regards to water, but once we began the uphill climb in the 100 degree heat, we were unsure of whether or not it would actually last us to the next town. Our legs couldn't pedal for more than a half-mile before we'd have to hop off of our bikes and do some walking. Also, we've decided to rename that portion of the highway to "Snake Road". I'm not sure if it was the intensity of the heat that brought them out or what, but we saw at least 2 snakes every mile, some dead and some alive. Anyway, we made it 4 miles up and were absolutely wilted! I didn't know what we were going to do. We really wanted to reach our destination so that we could enjoy our rest day, but at that moment it looked like we were going to have to turn around and try again on Day 7. I finally said, "Jesus, you have to help us get up this mountain because we are exhausted". Literally, less than a minute after I uttered the words, a 65-year-old Vietnam War vet, named Denny, pulled over and offered us a ride! "Now, I NEVER do this," He said, "But you two look like decent enough people, so hurry up and get in." without any hesitation, we threw our bikes into the back of his pale-green 1971 Jeep and got in. Once we got settled into the dirt-covered backseat, we became aware of the opened 12-pack of Busch Light on the front seat next to him, but thankfully he was only working on his first one. I still had to hold my breath as he drove us through the curvy mountain road. He proceeded to inform us that we were riding with a "living legend" and that we were very lucky that he picked us up. He also let us know that the snakes we saw were Bull Snakes. Denny took us nine miles before dropping us off, then his parting words to us were, "You all be sure and remember me and my generosity as you continue on your journey." He was interesting, but we certainly do thank the Lord for moving Denny's heart to generosity toward us. I guess now we have to rename our trip to "Mark and Sarah's biking/hiking/hitch-hiking tour..."
The important thing is that we made it safely to our destination, Republic, WA. And tomorrow we can rest. We made it 281 miles in our first week, and if you add the 18-mile mishap from Day 2, and subtract the 9 miles given to us by Denny, the total comes to 290. We feel good about that.
We began our ascent from a town called Tonasket. Almost immediately the incline shot straight up. Our packs were full in regards to water, but once we began the uphill climb in the 100 degree heat, we were unsure of whether or not it would actually last us to the next town. Our legs couldn't pedal for more than a half-mile before we'd have to hop off of our bikes and do some walking. Also, we've decided to rename that portion of the highway to "Snake Road". I'm not sure if it was the intensity of the heat that brought them out or what, but we saw at least 2 snakes every mile, some dead and some alive. Anyway, we made it 4 miles up and were absolutely wilted! I didn't know what we were going to do. We really wanted to reach our destination so that we could enjoy our rest day, but at that moment it looked like we were going to have to turn around and try again on Day 7. I finally said, "Jesus, you have to help us get up this mountain because we are exhausted". Literally, less than a minute after I uttered the words, a 65-year-old Vietnam War vet, named Denny, pulled over and offered us a ride! "Now, I NEVER do this," He said, "But you two look like decent enough people, so hurry up and get in." without any hesitation, we threw our bikes into the back of his pale-green 1971 Jeep and got in. Once we got settled into the dirt-covered backseat, we became aware of the opened 12-pack of Busch Light on the front seat next to him, but thankfully he was only working on his first one. I still had to hold my breath as he drove us through the curvy mountain road. He proceeded to inform us that we were riding with a "living legend" and that we were very lucky that he picked us up. He also let us know that the snakes we saw were Bull Snakes. Denny took us nine miles before dropping us off, then his parting words to us were, "You all be sure and remember me and my generosity as you continue on your journey." He was interesting, but we certainly do thank the Lord for moving Denny's heart to generosity toward us. I guess now we have to rename our trip to "Mark and Sarah's biking/hiking/hitch-hiking tour..."
The important thing is that we made it safely to our destination, Republic, WA. And tomorrow we can rest. We made it 281 miles in our first week, and if you add the 18-mile mishap from Day 2, and subtract the 9 miles given to us by Denny, the total comes to 290. We feel good about that.
Day 5
Whew!! We went over our second Cascade mountain today, the Loop Loop Pass. It's elevation reached 4,020 feet, so it wasn't quite as hectic as yesterday, though it was still pretty dang steep. Once again we did a lot of walking our bikes. We figure that whether we're moving at a speed of 2.5 mph or 35 mph, we're always progressing. Each step is another step closer. Plus, with 220 miles already ridden and no rest day, our legs are pretty cashed right about now! We just have to make it through tomorrow's climb and then day 7 will be a complete day of rest.
The heat certainly cranked up a few notches today. We're probably drinking more water than anyone else in the state of Washington. Just yesterday we were freezing in the 40 degree climate, but today reached a high of 100!!!
For those of you following us on the map (Dad), we're camping tonight in the small town of Omak. It's located just off of Hwy 20.
Mark's tire is still going strong, but we did stop at a bike shop in Winthrop today to pick up some extra tubes...just in case.
Well, we're thinking of everyone back home now. Hope that all is well with the RTC and all of our friends and family in KY and SA! We haven't had much cell service for the last few days, so we haven't been able to keep in touch very well.
Goodnight everyone!
The heat certainly cranked up a few notches today. We're probably drinking more water than anyone else in the state of Washington. Just yesterday we were freezing in the 40 degree climate, but today reached a high of 100!!!
For those of you following us on the map (Dad), we're camping tonight in the small town of Omak. It's located just off of Hwy 20.
Mark's tire is still going strong, but we did stop at a bike shop in Winthrop today to pick up some extra tubes...just in case.
Well, we're thinking of everyone back home now. Hope that all is well with the RTC and all of our friends and family in KY and SA! We haven't had much cell service for the last few days, so we haven't been able to keep in touch very well.
Goodnight everyone!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Day 4
This was the most challenging, as well as rewarding day of biking, that we have ever experienced! We climbed and then descended our first full Cascade mountain today. After today, we're thinking of renaming our trip "Mark and Sarah's bike/ hike tour across America! Yes, we had to lay down our pride and actually PUSH our bikes up many miles of this mountain. Keep in mind that we're both carrying between 30 and 35 pounds of gear on back. To give you an idea of the steepness of this mountain...it took us 7 hours to ascend and only 1 hour to descend!!! I'm sure that cars passing by were wondering what in the heck we were doing! We had a good time though and took frequent breaks. We also had to ration our food and water because, beginning yesterday, there were no services of any kind for 76 miles! We made it though and were well prepared.
I have to say that , despite the grueling climb, I have never had so much fun being on my bike! The 18 mile descent made all of that grinding more than worth it. We never let ourselves speed up to more than 35 mph ( although we easily could've) because there were some pretty hefty drop-offs, seeing as how we were at 5,000 feet.
We had zero bike problems today!!! The electrical tape is doing it's job.
Now we're at a quaint little Inn in Mazama where we're eating dinner and treating ourselves to a night of pooling and hottubbing!
Thanks to everyone for praying for us. When you think of it please pray that we will continue to be thankful to Jesus no matter what our circumstances. We want all of the joy and peace that comes with living life with the Holy Spirit to constantly fill us. Living in His kingdom is so good!! Thanks again...we love and miss you all!!
I have to say that , despite the grueling climb, I have never had so much fun being on my bike! The 18 mile descent made all of that grinding more than worth it. We never let ourselves speed up to more than 35 mph ( although we easily could've) because there were some pretty hefty drop-offs, seeing as how we were at 5,000 feet.
We had zero bike problems today!!! The electrical tape is doing it's job.
Now we're at a quaint little Inn in Mazama where we're eating dinner and treating ourselves to a night of pooling and hottubbing!
Thanks to everyone for praying for us. When you think of it please pray that we will continue to be thankful to Jesus no matter what our circumstances. We want all of the joy and peace that comes with living life with the Holy Spirit to constantly fill us. Living in His kingdom is so good!! Thanks again...we love and miss you all!!
Day 3
Today was WONDERFUL!!! We got a late start because we had to dry everything out from the rain. We also had to do another temporary fix on Mark's bike tire so that we could make it the half-mile into the town of Marblemount for a much needed brunch. When we first woke up Mark prayed and asked the Lord's blessing and favor on us as we rode today. He told the Lord that we trust him, but we really need his help with knowing how to fix this ridiculous bike tire. Wouldn't you know it, while we were eating, Mark came up with a brilliant idea! You see, we are using gatorskin tires which are supposed to be the most durable and puncture-resistant for touring. We think that this tire has a defect in that the inside is too rough and tough for it's own good and the material keeps cutting through the tubes at the slightest bump. So...Mark's idea was to take the electrical tape that we just so happened to bring with us and use it to line the inside of the tire to take away the roughness. We don't want to get too excited yet and spoil it, but it's working!!! Praise the Lord!
We started the ascension of our first Cascade mountain today and will hopefully make it to the top tomorrow...the Washington pass, reaching an elevation of 5,477 feet. It's some tough riding, that's for sure! It's also some of the most beautiful riding! The majesty and splendor of these mountains is indescribable!! We keep taking pictures, but the camera just doesn't capture the awesomeness of the Lord's handiwork. All that we can say when we're riding ( in between gasps for breath) is, "My goodness, my goodness, my goodness!" I've lost count of how many waterfalls we've seen, and the snow-capped mountains lined by the Skagit River is something that I have only before seen in National Geographic's magazine pictures. So, even though it's the hardest riding we've ever encountered, it's offset by some magnificent creation which makes it totally worth it! Yes, today was a good day.
We started the ascension of our first Cascade mountain today and will hopefully make it to the top tomorrow...the Washington pass, reaching an elevation of 5,477 feet. It's some tough riding, that's for sure! It's also some of the most beautiful riding! The majesty and splendor of these mountains is indescribable!! We keep taking pictures, but the camera just doesn't capture the awesomeness of the Lord's handiwork. All that we can say when we're riding ( in between gasps for breath) is, "My goodness, my goodness, my goodness!" I've lost count of how many waterfalls we've seen, and the snow-capped mountains lined by the Skagit River is something that I have only before seen in National Geographic's magazine pictures. So, even though it's the hardest riding we've ever encountered, it's offset by some magnificent creation which makes it totally worth it! Yes, today was a good day.
Day 2
Well, I would love to tell you that day 2 was better, but I would be lying. Thankfully we did make it 50 miles down the road before Mark, of course, got another flat. By this time we're just patching the tubes because we don't want to waste anymore new ones. We plan on visiting a bike shop to find out what is causing all of these flats on one tire, but we won't see another bike shop for another 100 miles or more, so for now we just have to make do.
However, the flats are not all of the craziness that we experienced today...
We missed one of the turns on our map and went out of our way for 9 miles before we realized the mistake. Obviously this isn't a big deal if you're in a car, but on a bike it's a different story! So we ended up adding 18 unneeded miles to our trip. And as we turned around, it rained on us and didn't stop pouring for the remainder of the evening. Thankfully we have good rain gear, but that didn't stop us from a good soak. We were never so glad to finally lay our heads down for the evening.
P.S.-Washington is the most beautiful state I have ever seen!!! Mountains and rivers at every corner. Also, it's really cold here for being July. It averages 50 degrees in the evening and 60 in the day. We're still so glad to be out here!
However, the flats are not all of the craziness that we experienced today...
We missed one of the turns on our map and went out of our way for 9 miles before we realized the mistake. Obviously this isn't a big deal if you're in a car, but on a bike it's a different story! So we ended up adding 18 unneeded miles to our trip. And as we turned around, it rained on us and didn't stop pouring for the remainder of the evening. Thankfully we have good rain gear, but that didn't stop us from a good soak. We were never so glad to finally lay our heads down for the evening.
P.S.-Washington is the most beautiful state I have ever seen!!! Mountains and rivers at every corner. Also, it's really cold here for being July. It averages 50 degrees in the evening and 60 in the day. We're still so glad to be out here!
Day 1 continued...
We'll just call day 1 "disaster day". We finally left the bike shop in Anacortes around noon, then we got not one mile down the road before Mark's sleeping bag fell off the back. We made it another mile and his chain popped off twice while he was trying to shift into "granny gear". Another mile down the road and Mark had his first flat tire. Another 8 miles down the road and Mark had his second flat tire. Yet another 8 miles and he had his third flat.
When we finally made it to our set destination for the day, Sedro Wooley, we had to push our bikes in the last half mile because Mark had, you guessed it, another flat. We were so tired of changing tires by then. We had dinner at Burger King and we set up camp for the night in what we think was a BMX bike course. We would've happily camped somewhere legally but the only campground was unavailable for the night due to a 4th of July carnival. No one bothered us where we were though and we left no evidence behind that we were ever there!
So...our first day went from nervousness to frustration very quickly. But I have to say that I am proud of how we handled things. We forced ourselves to keep our hearts joyful and thankful (although it certainly wasn't easy). Mark keeps saying, "We just have to keep trusting the Lord." And I agree.
When we finally made it to our set destination for the day, Sedro Wooley, we had to push our bikes in the last half mile because Mark had, you guessed it, another flat. We were so tired of changing tires by then. We had dinner at Burger King and we set up camp for the night in what we think was a BMX bike course. We would've happily camped somewhere legally but the only campground was unavailable for the night due to a 4th of July carnival. No one bothered us where we were though and we left no evidence behind that we were ever there!
So...our first day went from nervousness to frustration very quickly. But I have to say that I am proud of how we handled things. We forced ourselves to keep our hearts joyful and thankful (although it certainly wasn't easy). Mark keeps saying, "We just have to keep trusting the Lord." And I agree.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Day 1
We're here!!! Our plane arrived safely in Seattle, Washington yesterday at 2:30. We were greeted at baggage claim by a radically generous South African stranger named Shawn. He packed us up and gave us our first glimpse of Washington state. And what a beautiful place it is!! Shawn and his beautiful leading lady, Eva (from Germany), and their two German Shepherds, welcomed us into their loving home for the evening. They treated us to a meal at a quaint little restaurant and they engaged us for the next few hours in delightful conversation accompanied by tea and the misty Seattle rain! We sure hope to cross paths with them again one day.
This morning at 5:30, another generous stranger,named Sara, along with her dog, Boris, picked us up and drove us the hour and a half to Anacortes. So now, here we sit in the local Starbucks, all of our bags and livelihood in tow, and we're waiting for the bike shop to open!
We'll begin riding around 11:00 and we'll make it as far as we can before setting up camp for the night. Thanks for you prayers. We'll be especially needing them in this first week. I'm not sure when we'll have Internet access again, but I promise to give you updates whenever possible! Grace and peace and blessings to you all!!
This morning at 5:30, another generous stranger,named Sara, along with her dog, Boris, picked us up and drove us the hour and a half to Anacortes. So now, here we sit in the local Starbucks, all of our bags and livelihood in tow, and we're waiting for the bike shop to open!
We'll begin riding around 11:00 and we'll make it as far as we can before setting up camp for the night. Thanks for you prayers. We'll be especially needing them in this first week. I'm not sure when we'll have Internet access again, but I promise to give you updates whenever possible! Grace and peace and blessings to you all!!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
It's time!
Well, tomorrow is the big day. We fly out to Seattle from Minneapolis at 2:30, and then the journey begins!
This week has been a crazy one of tying up loose ends: moving, packing, etc. Tonight, we're relaxing with some good friends here in Rochester, then we're off!!
We once again wanted to offer some thank you's...
Thanks to Nick and Lyndsey for hosting us tonight. It's very sweet of you. :) Thanks to Dave Rider for arranging accommodations and rides for us when we arrive in Seattle! That has taken a load off for us and we're excited to meet these generous strangers. Thanks to Dave & Amanda Asuzu for your prayers, support and generosity in a hundred other ways!
This endeavor has been a group effort and we are so thankful to have so many wonderful people in our lives.
It's time to sign off now, but we'll be updating whenever it's possible! Pray for us whenever we come to mind! The Lord is going to be our strength! Blessings to you all.
This week has been a crazy one of tying up loose ends: moving, packing, etc. Tonight, we're relaxing with some good friends here in Rochester, then we're off!!
We once again wanted to offer some thank you's...
Thanks to Nick and Lyndsey for hosting us tonight. It's very sweet of you. :) Thanks to Dave Rider for arranging accommodations and rides for us when we arrive in Seattle! That has taken a load off for us and we're excited to meet these generous strangers. Thanks to Dave & Amanda Asuzu for your prayers, support and generosity in a hundred other ways!
This endeavor has been a group effort and we are so thankful to have so many wonderful people in our lives.
It's time to sign off now, but we'll be updating whenever it's possible! Pray for us whenever we come to mind! The Lord is going to be our strength! Blessings to you all.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The fundraiser event that was held at the Rochester Tennis Connection on Sunday, June 13th was very successful! More than 50 people were in attendance and their combined contributions helped us to raise more than $1,000 for Kenya Kids Can!!
Mark and I had a lot of fun and were honored that so many people took 3 hours out of their Sunday afternoon to come support us and this cause. We'd especially like to thank Jody Rosedahl who took the initiative to make the event happen. She also collected all of the items for the silent auction--thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! We'd also like to thank Tim and Jan Butorac, our bosses and the owners of RTC, for your time, the lending of the club and the tennis balls (and for letting both of us off of work for 10 weeks!).
And, of course, thanks again to everyone who came out. We're very blessed to call all of you our friends!
Mark and I had a lot of fun and were honored that so many people took 3 hours out of their Sunday afternoon to come support us and this cause. We'd especially like to thank Jody Rosedahl who took the initiative to make the event happen. She also collected all of the items for the silent auction--thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! We'd also like to thank Tim and Jan Butorac, our bosses and the owners of RTC, for your time, the lending of the club and the tennis balls (and for letting both of us off of work for 10 weeks!).
And, of course, thanks again to everyone who came out. We're very blessed to call all of you our friends!
* * *
A quick update... we fly out to Washington on July 2nd and will begin the biking journey on July 3rd or 4th. All of the preparations have pretty much been made: equipment is ready, extra tires and tubes are packed and the camera is in working order. Our bodies are...well...we'll find out soon enough if they're prepared for this challenge. Also, we're now in the process of moving into a new apartment, which throws a whole new element into the mix! Contrary to popular opinion, we're really not gluttons for punishment...there are just certain opportunities that are too good to pass up. :-)
So, this dream is quickly becoming a reality. Whether or not it will be a harsh reality is still yet to be seen! We ask for your continued prayers over the next few months. The Lord has been so good and faithful throughout the entire preparation process, and we know and trust that His goodness and faithfulness will not change, but rather will endure forever. We're just praying that we remain faithful to Him and His will, even as our butts are bruised and sore from many hours in the saddle!!
Love and Blessings!
So, this dream is quickly becoming a reality. Whether or not it will be a harsh reality is still yet to be seen! We ask for your continued prayers over the next few months. The Lord has been so good and faithful throughout the entire preparation process, and we know and trust that His goodness and faithfulness will not change, but rather will endure forever. We're just praying that we remain faithful to Him and His will, even as our butts are bruised and sore from many hours in the saddle!!
Love and Blessings!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Bicycle Tour Across the USA!
Hello to our friends and family and anyone else who happens to stumble upon this blog! You may or may not know that Mark (Chew) and I will be biking across the country beginning on July 5th. We are cycling the "Northern Tier" route of North America, which means our trip will begin in Anacortes, Washington and end in Bar Harbor, Maine. The total distance is approximately 4,100 miles and our goal is to complete our journey in 10 weeks (Lord, help us!), which means our final day of riding is set for September 13th. When we leave, we will be updating this blog with posts and pictures so that you can follow along with us!
I promise you that we are not crazy. This has been a dream of Mark's since he came to the states in 2003. In May of 2009, he shared the dream with me after church one night and we began praying and seeking the Lord about it. Since then, we've felt the Lord guiding us into this adventure, and now we are so excited and determined that there is no turning back!
We are using this once in a lifetime opportunity to raise money and awareness for an organization headed by Steve Peifer called Kenya Kids Can. It is our hope that you will help us raise at least $4,100 (one dollar for every mile that we will be biking) and we are striving to have it raised BEFORE our day of departure (July 5th). Once we are on the road, we will continue these fundraising efforts in the many towns and churches we pass through in hopes of raising double or even triple the amount of our goal.
We first learned of Kenya Kids Can a few years ago when Steve came to visit our church. His words and pictures stirred our hearts for what he is working to accomplish. To give you a summary, his organization basically set up a school lunch program so that the children in one school no longer had to choose between receiving an education or working to eat. Since 2002, the drop-out rate in that school went from 46% to less than 1%!!! They've also expanded to help feed 33 other schools for a total of 18,000 students daily. They have even begun to build computer centers in some of these remote areas so that the students can receive computer education training. Kenya Kids Can mission statement says:
As I previously stated, we want to raise $4,100 (or more!) prior to July 5, 2010. You can make your checks payable to: "AIM for Kenya Kids Can". This is a private, non-profit organization, so your donation is tax-deductible.
NOTE: Please mail your donations to:
Mark & Sarah Tiu
2700 Country Club Road SW
Rochester, MN 55902
This will help us keep record of how much we raise so that we are able to then report back to all of you who help! We will then mail your checks forward to the organization. DO NOT SEND CASH!
I promise you that we are not crazy. This has been a dream of Mark's since he came to the states in 2003. In May of 2009, he shared the dream with me after church one night and we began praying and seeking the Lord about it. Since then, we've felt the Lord guiding us into this adventure, and now we are so excited and determined that there is no turning back!
We are using this once in a lifetime opportunity to raise money and awareness for an organization headed by Steve Peifer called Kenya Kids Can. It is our hope that you will help us raise at least $4,100 (one dollar for every mile that we will be biking) and we are striving to have it raised BEFORE our day of departure (July 5th). Once we are on the road, we will continue these fundraising efforts in the many towns and churches we pass through in hopes of raising double or even triple the amount of our goal.
We first learned of Kenya Kids Can a few years ago when Steve came to visit our church. His words and pictures stirred our hearts for what he is working to accomplish. To give you a summary, his organization basically set up a school lunch program so that the children in one school no longer had to choose between receiving an education or working to eat. Since 2002, the drop-out rate in that school went from 46% to less than 1%!!! They've also expanded to help feed 33 other schools for a total of 18,000 students daily. They have even begun to build computer centers in some of these remote areas so that the students can receive computer education training. Kenya Kids Can mission statement says:
"Our mission is to enhance the education of Kenyan students by providing meals and offering computer training to impoverished schools. Our vision is to see the next generation of leaders grow physically strong, spiritually generous, technically knowledgeable and ready to change the world."So, this is who Mark and I are riding for. Please, help us to raise money and spread the word about Kenya Kids Can. $1.50 is enough to feed one student a nutritious lunch for an entire MONTH! So, even if you feel like you don't have much to offer, it is a literal truth that every little bit helps.
As I previously stated, we want to raise $4,100 (or more!) prior to July 5, 2010. You can make your checks payable to: "AIM for Kenya Kids Can". This is a private, non-profit organization, so your donation is tax-deductible.
NOTE: Please mail your donations to:
Mark & Sarah Tiu
2700 Country Club Road SW
Rochester, MN 55902
This will help us keep record of how much we raise so that we are able to then report back to all of you who help! We will then mail your checks forward to the organization. DO NOT SEND CASH!
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