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.
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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.
Friday, July 30, 2010
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.
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