Ready?

It's getting closer and closer to the estimated time of departure for the 2012 ride across America. Every day I get more excited and ready to load some bikes on the Explorer for the trip to Maine then west to Washington and the Pacific! On Dashboard (for you MAC folks) I just started my Pedal America 2012 Days To Go widget and right now I have 119 days, 7 hours, 31minutes, and 32 seconds to go before Margaret and I head to the Northeast.

I am ready!

I'll have to admit I've been a little slack on my pedaling but that's not a problem. People ask me if I'm training for the next cross-country ride and I always tell them, "If someone really wants to ride across America, I believe he could take his bike to one coast or the other, unload it, and start pedaling. In a week or two, maybe three, he would be in good enough shape for the rest of the ride." It's not a matter of training, it's a matter of the mind. If training was required I would not have made it the first time! I looked in my journals and found that in the one month before the ride in 2009 I pedaled only ninety miles. If my math is correct, that's a whopping three miles a day! I don't believe that qualifies as training! But, after all, it's a ride not a race. It can be done by anyone who is willing to pedal only one mile . . . 4,295 times!

Now I've never been one for New Year's Resolutions but I do plan to get back to my somewhat regular riding schedule on Day One of 2012. That would give me about ninety-something days to ride . . . before I ride! Maybe I can do better than three miles a day!

Unless something unforeseen and unexpected happens, physically, I will be in shape to ride across America again. Going west or going east, when riding in the northern states, the second day is mountainous. Coming from the Pacific, the second day there's the climb up Washington Pass in the Cascade Mountains. Next hilly region is the Rockies.

From the Atlantic, the second day of the ride finds riders in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, then the Green Mountains of Vermont, and to top it off the Adirondack Mountains in New York. Either way, east or west, the first two weeks are like boot camp, preparing riders for the crossing of the good old U.S.A.

I'm really thinking about going back to the gym. I've not been a regular since 2005! That's embarrassing to say the least. (Maybe I should also make that one of those New Year's Resolutions I don't make!) I like the outdoor gym, called a bicycle, with the cool breeze on my face, the warm sun on my back, and the silence of wheels moving along on a smooth, hard surface. The smells on the road are, without a doubt, better than the gym. The smells on a bad day on the road are better than the smells on a good day in the gym. Refreshing . . . especially in the mornings. Another reason I should go to the gym, Margaret goes consistently. Looks bad for me to be a slacker, doesn't it? Anyway, if I go to the gym, I'll let you know.

Mentally, turn me loose! Right now I'm watching the video of the last ride. (Fourth time today.) Jonathan and I are in Minnesota, just out of Red Wing and about to cross the river into Prescott, Wisconsin. I am doing the whole trip in my mind now. I can feel it. I can see between the slides. I can hear the critters in the trees and the fields. I can feel the slight mist of the morning as we pedal out of Fountain City, Wisconsin right along the Mighty Mississippi River. It's a good feeling too.

I am ready!

Socially I'm ready! I love to meet and talk with the grassroots, hard-workin', flag-wavin', gun-tottin', church-goin', patriotic folks who are the backbone of these United States. They don't have time to occupy anything but their homes, jobs, farms, churches, and communities. On the last ride, I talked with restaurant owners, cooks, waitresses, police officers, mechanics, motel clerks, bikers on Harley Davidsons, bikers doing the same thing I was doing but in the other direction, pastors, store owners, a senator, kids, bike mechanics and shop owners, vacationers, truck drivers, cowboys, farmers, retirees, Jonathan, Margaret, myself . . . and the list could go on and on!

I am ready!

Spiritually I'm ready to launch into another revival ride through God's incredible creation! Jonathan's most-used, three-word phrase sums it up, "Oh my goodness!" I'll miss him and hearing "Oh my goodness" three or four time an hour. Oh my goodness is actually an excellent summary of the ride however. Every time I even come close to thinking about the first ride and the next, Psalm 19 comes to mind, "The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies display his marvelous craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or a word; their voice is silent in the skies; yet their message has gone out to all the earth, and their words to all the world" (vv. 1-4).

But how can I think of Psalm 19 without Romans 1:18-20 following on its heals, "But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who push the truth away from themselves. For the truth about God is known to them instinctively. God has put his knowledge in their hearts. From the time this world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God."

I have a cowboy friend in Monticello, Utah who told me, "Most of the cowboys I know out here believe in God. You just can't ride out here in his creation for days on end without believing."

Job speaking to his buddy Zophar in Job 12:7-9 said it like this, "Ask the animals, and they will teach you. Ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you. Speak to the earth, and it will instruct you. Let the fish of the sea speak to you. They all know that the Lord has done this."

The fish know it, the animals too. The birds know, and the sky, and the earth! Seems like we who are created in his image have the most difficulty believing in our Creator: we who have all the degrees and power and knowledge and that other stuff that sets us aside as smart!

Once again I'm reminded of yet another passage in Romans, "Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. The result was that their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they became utter fools instead" ( vv. 21-22).

In the book of Job, God gives Job the ultimate final exam of Job's life. The written exam would have probably been a lot easier but Job had a problem of putting his foot in his mouth and chewing vigorously. The exam dialogue is found in chapters 38 through 42 and it's quite an extensive question and answer session. Finally in chapter 42, verses 2-3, Job responds, "I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. You ask, 'Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?' It is I. And I was talking about things I did not understand, things far too wonderful for me."

Way to go Job!

When I rode across America God gave me the answers to Job's exam. I cheated! I saw the answers in full color, wide screen creation, and with special effects, that were full of things far too wonderful for me. Like Job, I realized the truth of two major things for my life:

1. God is God and I am not.

2. God has all the answers and I do not.

That's it!

I'm ready! Margaret, can we leave tonight?

Some Stray Thoughts!

Some Stray Thoughts from others who also like to turn the crank as a means of transportation, recreation, and adventure:

"The world lies right beyond the handlebars of any bicycle." -Daniel Berhman, The Man Who Loved Bicycles

"I delighted in the supreme sense of freedom that comes with the first mile of a bicycle journey." -Dan Buettner, on beginning his 12,000 mile, 277-day ride across Africa.

"The best rides are the ones where you bite off much more than you can chew, and live through it." -Doug Bradbury

"Movement, on a cross-country ride, it's your lifeblood." -Frosty Woolridge

"Bicycles have no walls." -Paul Cornish

"A raggedy ride beats a dressed-up walk." -Simon Peat

"The only regret I have in my life is never learning to ride a bicycle." -Helen Hayes

"I like riding a bicycle built for two--by myself." -Harry S. Truman

"If the wind is not against you, it is not blowing." -James E. Starrs, The Noiseless Tenor

"There is nothing, absolutely nothing, quite so worthwhile as simply messing about on bicycles." -Tom Kunich

"Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride." -John F. Kennedy

"Never use your face as a brake pad." -Jake Watson

"There are three ways to pedal a bike. With your legs, with your lungs, or with your heart." -Mandible Jones, Carpet Particles

"Dad, if you get to the top of a hill and there are no numbers, stop pedaling, you're dead." -Sarah, one of my daughters, after she gave me a heart monitor.

"You think a Christian is a sissy? meek and mild? less than a man? The young men who rode from ocean to ocean on bicycles--thirty-five hundred miles in seven weeks--will prove you wrong." -Jack Houston, Wandering Wheels, (the book that started it all for me)

"If we can do it, you can do it." -Richard and Barbara Siegert, Bicycle Across America

"Two boys on a bike trip are sure to find adventure. Send them off into the wilds of the American West, and it's a safe bet adventure will find them." -Evelyn McDaniel Gibb, Two Wheels North

"No car rides, no walking hills, and no hangers-on." -Brian Newhouse, A Crossing

"There were big cities, rural towns and great stretches of open land. Heroes and villains are out there too, but mostly it's fine people living day-to-day . . . The weather wasn't left out either. From the first winter storm in the mountains of Washington through the tailwinds in Idaho to the heat and storms of the South, weather kept things from getting boring. Seeing America at ten miles an hour without the protective shell of a car allows all the senses to get to know the country. It was an interesting ride with insights into culture and sore muscles." -T. E. Trimbath, Just Keep Pedaling

"Once you've made it through Kansas you've got it licked." -Phil Shrout, america at twelve miles an hour

"You know, we have had a good time. The weather, as I said, is very hot today, but it was pleasant yesterday. We had some strong wind in our faces and that made it miserable for a while, but cloud cover helped and we really have done pretty well. As the wind turns around and gets to your back, it makes the ride very, very comfortable. So we've had a good time so far." -Mike Trout, The Heart of America

"A man can live ten minutes without air, two days without water, and forty days without food--but not a single second without hope." -Norman Cousins

Some Stray Thoughts of my own:

"There's no such thing as a free downhill."

"It's a ride not a race."

"Pedal smarter not harder!"

"Stop . . . I've gotta take a picture." -to Jonathan about every 15 miles pedaled on the 2009 cross-country ride.

"You don't stop riding because you get old, you get old because you stop riding." -Moab t-shirt

"We're going to Maine." -kind of the Battle Cry of the first ride.

"The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies display his marvelous craftsmanship." -Psalm 19:1

I love quotes. Quotes are like proverbs and proverbs are like billboards: short and to the point. Quotes are also easy to remember. Proverbs 17:27a reminds me, "A truly wise person uses few words . . . " Seven wise words reminding me that I don't have to say a lot to say a lot. In fact, sometimes saying nothing is better than even a few words. Proverbs 17:28 tells it like it is: "Even fools are thought to be wise when they keep silent; when they keep their mouths shut, they seem intelligent."

Now that I'm older and maybe wiser I probably like quotes because something shorter is easier for me to remember. My motto for life has been for several years, "I can read but I can't remember so write it down." That's why I journal, that's why I blog and that's why I will blog for the next ride. Even good memories are worthless if they can't be remembered.

Which reminds me . . . lots of followers sent lots of quotes to 4295miles.blogspot.com. Maybe you've got a favorite quote or two about riding, or life in general, and you'd like to share words of wisdom with someone who can read but can't remember and others just like me. We'd love to hear from you. Billboards, quotes, proverbs, or bumper stickers . . . bring 'em on.

A truly wise person uses few words . . . truly wise people write them down too!

101 Reasons I'm Going Again!

101 REASONS

The real people of America. French fries with tartar sauce. Finishing at the end of each day. Smells. Hole-in-the-wall eateries. Small bike shops. Wide open spaces. Downhills. The anticipation and excitement of riding through places I've always heard about but never been. Showers. Feeling tight and healthy. Riding the back streets of cities and main streets of small towns. Going a little bit faster than the dog. Not understanding how a bike stays upright when I'm on it. My shadow moving next to me. An occasional but incredible tailwind. People saying, "Are you crazy?" I want to ride DOWN Washington Pass! Cleats and clip-in pedals. Songs in my head.

Quiet, nothing but the wind. Early morning fog. Figuring out how to carry one more license plate. The mountain climbs. Experiencing creation at much less than interstate speeds. Beef Jerky, gummy bears, and Carb Boom. Ducks in North Dakota. Riding in the rain. Seeing the brown Explorer parked up the road. Barns. Rest days. Because it was too good to do just one time. Riding Michigan's U.P. Leg warmers, wind breakers, and gloves. Centuries. The Great Lakes. "Where ya headed?" from riders pedaling the other way. Grain elevators from miles away. Wildlife. Smooth road surfaces.

Breakfast subs in Twisp, Washington. The Atlantic and the Pacific. Crossing the halfway mark. Junk stores. Noma in Tonasket. Breaking the speed limit. Bison burgers. Making new friends. Getting better routes from the locals. Stopping to catch great photo shots. Blogging the adventure. Praying with Margaret by the Explorer each morning. Route 2. Historical sites. The mysteries of abandoned farm houses. Surprises. Cold water that doesn't taste like a water bottle. Maps. Root beer. Burning up calories faster than I can put them in.

Encouraging notes on my blog. Snow in the mountains. Bald eagles, bison, moose, and antelope. Cannondale. The challenge of a good ride. The riders who will join me along the way. Riding, no matter what! Discovering more of America. The Coeur d'Alene Bike Trail across Idaho. Downtown Duluth, Minnesota. Ice cream. Ignoring detours. SRAM components. The mixed emotions of getting closer to the Pacific. Riding through an irrigation sprinkler on a hot day. The long talks even when I'm alone. The click of a cleat in a pedal. A perfectly adjusted saddle. A great opportunity to share my faith in Jesus. The unexpected.

Cool and colorful jerseys. Hearing my heartbeat. People in cars looking at me like I'm crazy, especially on rainy or snowy days. No hands! The mist from the Pacific at Neah Bay, Washington. Eugene's Pizza in Glasgow, Montana. Bumper stickers. Lonely roads and little traffic. The mountains of the Northeast. Long trains going my way. A new bike. Sounds of the road under my two tires. Freedom. The wonder of it all. Refreshment, renewal, and revival. Creation bragging about the Creator. Cattle running away from me and horses running with me. Dipping my back tire in the Atlantic Ocean. Dipping that front tire in the Pacific. Packing a treasure chest of memories.

So I can say, "Because it was too good to do just two times."

New Route New Maps

Adventure Cycling Association, in Missoula, Montana is the place to go for maps. Because of our route changes for 2012, I ordered a three map set called North Lakes. These new maps will direct me through parts of Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. They include services, emergency numbers, campgrounds, hostels, motels, hotels, bed and breakfasts, restaurants, law enforcement offices and phone numbers, libraries, local information, road conditions, weather, average temperatures, bike shops, post offices, mile by mile directions, topographical information, tourist hot spots, and more. The only thing I could not find were the locations of dogs that chase bikes! The directions are even provided for travel both ways: east to west and west to east.

The route we will take from Maine to Ohio and Indiana will be much the same as the last ride. In Monroeville, Indiana, I will pedal on a new route toward and through Michigan. Heading north, Margaret and I will go between Kalamazoo and Battle Creek, through Saranac, Traverse City, Petoskey, and into Mackinaw City where we will cross the Mackinac Bridge into the Upper Peninsula (U.P.). There we will ride west on Route 2 out of St. Ignace and across the U.P.

Another option for the State of Michigan is to pedal to Ludington where we could take the S. S. Badger and ferry our way to Manitowoc, Wisconsin. That would eliminate a hefty number of miles and would make the trip a little easier but I really am looking forward to riding the Upper Peninsula. Margaret and I have taken the Badger before, even spent a night on the ship in what seemed like a solitary confinement cell. Sure, we would like to do that again but I really want to go the U.P. route. I especially like the ride from Petoskey to Mackinaw City along Lake Michigan. According to the Adventure Cycling maps, the temperatures in April and May range from 40 to 60 degrees: perfect pedaling temperatures. I'm going for it.

More people have expressed interest in riding part of the cross-country ride with me on the next ride. Maybe someone will take the challenge to ride Michigan. In the future I will post a list of who is planning to ride what part of America. By the time this is finished, perhaps I'll have riders for the entire ride.

Maps are great. We'll even have a GPS or two. I would not want to make the trip without maps and directions. That would be crazy! A lot of people try to live their lives without maps and directions. That's okay if you don't know or don't care where you're going. One of my favorite quotes is, "If you don't know where you're going any road will get you there!" Personally, I want the best route possible from the Atlantic to the Pacific and I want directions from those who have gone before me. That's why I use my Adventure Cycling resources and state road maps. That's also why I use my Bible.

Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path." God's Word is a lamp and a light. It's a lamp so I can see what's close and a light so I can see what's before me in the distance.

When I'm pedaling in the dark, which I don't often do, I want to know what kind of surface my tires and wheels are rolling on and I want to know what's in the road or trail ahead. It makes my ride safer, that's a fact. Last thing I want to do is finish a day with a crash. That's not good. Road rash hurts and and can be very uncomfortable for days ahead.

Same thing with life . . . I don't want to finish a ride with a crash. I want to know what's at my feet and I want to know what's on the roadway ahead. God's Word provides all the light necessary, even when the day is foggy or the night is darker than ever.

Of course, we don't pedal alone. We don't crash alone. And . . if we ride and live with lamps and lights, we won't finish alone either!

1927 Mead Cycle Company Ranger

On my October 7th blog I listed changes Margaret and I would like to make on the next ride. One of those changes is that I would like to be an American Picker. Here's what I wrote:

"Be an 'American Picker' - That is a great TV show. If you haven't seen it yet I suggest you take the time you watch an episode or two. You'll get hooked.

"As an 'American Picker' I plan on stopping at more junk places, bike shops, and antique shops. Just for the record, the difference between junk places and antique shops is junk places buy junk and sell junk while antique shops buy junk and sell antiques. The prices are different too.

"At these junk places, bike shops, and antique shops I plan to look for a few bikes. Bikes that are different, maybe old, used, and in such a shape that they can be restored with little or no work. After all, I have four bike racks on the roof of our Explorer. Should I not put some of them to use if the right deals come along?"

On October 24, a friend of mine, Sharon Reid, posted this comment:

"Barry, I tried posting a couple of days ago and apparently it didn't go through. I have my mom's 1927 Ranger bicycle with the original bill of sale and guarantee if you'd like it. It needs to be sanded and painted."

Tuesday night I went to Hull for two reasons: 1) to give Robert and Molly two hens for their chicken ranch and 2) to pick up the bicycle. And pick up the bike I did: 94 years old, rusty, flat tires, and complete with the original bill of sale and guarantee just as Sharon said. I told Sharon I am going to see if Mead Cycle Company will honor the guarantee! She was right on when she said, "It needs to be sanded and painted." I'm not sure what the colors were in 1927 but in 2011 they are rust and off-white, mostly rust!

Not knowing much at all about Mead Cycles, since I had never even heard of a Mead bicycle, I did some Googling and discovered that Mead Cycle Company was one of at least 68 bicycle manufacturers in Chicago at the turn of the century. Started in 1895 by James R. Mead and his son, James L., the company was producing bicycles in record numbers. An ad for sale on eBay states that Mead Cycle Company had 8,000 bicycles in stock in 1900. Now I've got, maybe, one of those 8,000 bicycles!

As I said above, "At these junk places, bike shops, and antique shops I plan to look for a few bikes. Bikes that are different, maybe old, used, and in such a shape that they can be restored with little or no work." I'm not sure about the "little or no work" part of that statement but the "different, old, and used" is right on target! I didn't even have to ride anywhere for this bike. I've still got four bike racks empty and ready on the Explorer and we haven't left home yet!

I'm not sure whether I'll restore it or not, not sure if I can, but I am sure I'll clean it up and see what's under all the dust. I'll clean and soak every part in oil and put new tires on it. I've already soaked the leather saddle in Neatsfoot oil which does a great job softening, restoring and reconditioning leather. (I learned that from the cowboys in Utah.) I'll most likely do some sanding as well. We'll see what happens after that. Who knows? Maybe you'll see a picture of someone riding the 1927 Mead Cycle Company Ranger in the days ahead.

Thank you Sharon.

Any information you may have about Mead Cycle Company would surely be appreciated.

98 . . . 99 . . . 100! . . 100.64!

It was a long, long, long, loooong day! It could almost qualify as a Murphy's Law Sandwich Day. (Is there such a day?) A Murphy's Law Sandwich Day would be a day with a crazy start and a crazy finish and a somewhat normal middle.

First of all, the weather-guessers did it again! I was somewhat surprised to find frost on the windshield when I went outside to put my bike on the Explorer roof rack. This was not what the guessers said we would experience. Margaret said it was 28 degrees when we started the day!

After loading the bikes, luggage, and people into and onto the Explorer we headed to our well-planned breakfast at Subway. It was closed. Across the street was a McDonald's. Yes, a McDonald's. I saw that they had two chicken biscuits for three dollars: 2 for $3. That's what I got. Was that ever a mistake! I don't ever remember anything tasting that bad since, when I was a kid, I chewed an aspirin. Breakfast for me was two bites for three dollars and that was one bite too many!

At our starting point, the Jesup Fairgrounds, we picked up our registration packets in which we found our ride t-shirts and maps. The maps really were not all that necessary since the route was very well marked with signs and spray-painted arrows on the road surfaces.

At the fairgrounds we somehow missed the call for the hundred mile ride so as we pulled out we were with riders for the shorter routes. Sarah said, "Dad, I think the guy back there said the shorter routes were to the right." At our first turn we checked for the red arrows marking our route and saw only yellow, blue, and orange. No red. Even though we went right, we were wrong. We pushed our bikes back to the fairgrounds and started to the left which was right.

We were finally on the right route, the red route, and were the last of the sixteen riders registered for the century. (We thought we were last but the rider who was last soon passed us to move on down the road.) The crowd for the Ride for the River was smaller this year and we were told it was because nearby Claxton scheduled their ride for this day as well. We wanted to ride on the tail end of the ride so we were just fine where we were.

The Ride for the River was good as far as the weather, route, rest stops, and traffic for most of the ride. I made signs for the ride: 25, 50, 75, 100, and Yipee! At those intervals we stopped to get pictures of Sarah and Amy so they could send them to Barry and Richard who stayed home to attend the Georgia/Auburn game which Georgia soundly won 45 to 7. That was encouraging news for us and may have even increased our speed . . . for a short time.

We knew all day that darkness would be our biggest enemy and could prevent us from finishing the 100 miles. At ninety miles it was getting dark too quickly. Since we were the last three on the hundred mile ride we soon met Jim Tootle, the ride director for the event. He was driving right behind us for a short time and we found out he was picking up the route marker signs as we passed them. I know he was probably wishing we were three faster riders but we weren't and he was more than patient with us. Soon Jim was driving in front of us with his four-way flashers on while Margaret was behind us with the high beams. In a way we had a private escort for the final ten miles. Did I mention, by this point, we started putting jackets, gloves, and scarves back on? It was getting cold.

We finally spotted the lights of the fairgrounds and it was a time of mixed emotions. We were almost finished but . . . we had to ride a little less than a mile on a very busy, fair-traffic highway. We decided that instead of the busy, suicidal highway finish the hundred miles by back-tracking for whatever mileage we needed. Jim even told us that he would go with us until we got our hundred miles. That's when Amy said, "Barry, check your computer to see what our mileage is I think I saw a 100 on there."

I held it up to the light and it was 100.64 miles! When I said, "106.64 miles" Sarah and Amy jumped and screamed and hugged and thanked Jim too. For sure, we could not have made the hundred mile ride had it not been for him. And we certainly can't forget Margaret and her part in this ride because we couldn't have done it without her either.

In a few minutes we were loaded, in the warm car, finding our way out of Jesup. We made a stop at CVS to change clothes, another stop at Waffle House to pig out, and were soon on our way home. Tired and sleepy, we arrived at the house around 12:45 AM.

Yipee for Sarah and Amy . . . and for one hundred pretty crazy miles.

We all know that wasn't the fastest century ever ridden . . . but it was a century nonetheless! And, I am very proud of and happy for Sarah and Amy. They are tough and pedaled with endurance and patience. Congratulations to both.

The whole day reminded me of one of my favorite passages in Scripture. It's found in Hebrews 12:1 and 2: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish."

There's nothing mentioned about winning the race in that passage. Winning has already been done . . . at the cross. The emphasis of that passage is on finishing. We were not very fast but we did finish. We did endure. We were patient.

In a world that's full of starters and quitters and void of finishers, I was honored to ride with two finishers!

On your left!

Century!

Last year around this same weekend I journaled the following information for November 12 and 13:

12 November 2010, Friday

Margaret and I are in Jesup, Georgia at a Ramada Inn. We are in room 221. We just ate at Sybil's Restaurant and I am stuffed. Tomorrow I'll ride a bike ride here . . . it's 100 miles plus one or two. I do have a slight problem since I forgot my bike shoes. Guess I'll pedal with my sneakers. (Do they still call them sneakers?)

13 November 2010, Saturday

Pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal . . . that's what I did for 100.9 miles today. It took me six hours, sixteen minutes, and forty-nine seconds to pedal the Altamaha River Partnership Ride for the River Century.

Bad news: I forgot my bike shoes!

Good news: I hooked up with six guys from Savannah who rode faster than I usually do who allowed me to ride with them. These guys made it possible for me to ride the century in a little over six hours with my sneakers on.

Margaret and I got home at 9:06 PM and I will sleep well tonight.

So today I'm most thankful for home. I had a great home as I grew up in Shrewsbury, New Freedom, and Glen Rock, Pennsylvania. I have a great home right here in Statham, Georgia.

It's always good to get home. I love it here because this is where my family gathers. Really . . . the family is the home. The home is the people and the house is what you put the home in. Of course, when you combine family, home, and holidays a special environment is created. I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. I want my focus to be on Jesus but my second highest priority is my family.

I am blessed that my home is in a log house that is more than I could ever hope for and way more than I deserve. It's my refuge from the world. It's where I can be myself, do what I love, and find a very quiet place to sit, think, read, listen, and hang out with my family, friends, and Father who, for some gracious reason, love me.

Yes, I am blessed. Yes, I am home.

12 November 2011, Saturday

We'll be back in Jesup for another Altamaha River Partnership Ride for the River Century. Margaret will be there and so will our older daughter Sarah and a very good friend, Amy Frierson. Margaret will drive our support wagon while Sarah, Amy, and I pedal the 100+ miles. I've already packed my bike shoes so I am ready for this year. The weather-guessers have forecasted temperatures in the sixties with a high of 69. They have also predicted zero chance of rain. With a forecast like that, having my bike shoes, and riding with Sarah and Amy, I'm ready for a fun and challenging Saturday.

Sarah and Amy have never ridden a Century before so this will be a new adventure for them. I told them to forget about the 100 miles and focus on five twenty mile rides instead. If that's a problem we'll ride ten ten-milers! But we will ride it! We'll rest every chance we get, snack on good stuff every opportunity we get, and take our good old time. We'll stick together and like Col. Hal Moore on "We Were Soldiers" we'll leave no man behind! We will ride smarter, not harder, we'll take time to enjoy the scenery and we'll take a few pictures along the way. We'll enjoy the flat terrain too. This is the day the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it!

I am very thankful that Sarah and Amy are taking the challenge of their first Century this weekend and we get to pedal it together. It is a challenge, but the three of us riding together will make is easier than riding alone. I am reminded of some verses in Ecclesiastes. Remember Ecclesiastes? It's the book right after Proverbs in the Old Testament of the Bible. It's the book every teenager should read many times. It's ten chapters that make the readers think life is really not worth living followed by two chapters that explain why it is and how it's done. In chapter 4 verses 9 through 12, we find this choice chunk of wisdom, "Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble. . . . A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."

Well if "three are even better", four must be incredible!

Margaret, Sarah! Amy! Think 100!

On your left!

Plan, Plan and Plan Some More!

Bike . . . check.

Helmet . . . check.

Gloves . . . check.

Raincoat . . . check.

Wind breaker . . . check.

Maps . . . check.

Snacks . . . check.

Lodging . . . check.

Camera . . . check.

Film . . . don't need that any more!

Computer . . . check.

First Aid kit . . . check.

Phone . . . check.

Bible . . . check.

Chapstick . . . check.

Extra tires and tubes . . . check.

Chamois Butter . . . check.

Biking jerseys and shorts . . . check.

Tools . . . check.

Locks and cable . . . check.

Road ID . . . check.

Margaret . . . check.

Sunglasses . . . check.

Toothbrush & clean-up kind of stuff . . . check.

T-shirts . . . check.

Flashlight . . . check.

Jeans (1 pr.) . . . check.

Shoes . . . check.

Water bottles . . . check.

Oh yes, we're still planning and will be planning until April of next year. Planning is not the same as doing however. Doing is so much more fun, exciting, and all those other words that apply to incredible. But . . . planning is absolutely necessary. Jesus said in Luke 14:28, "But don't begin until you count the cost." That's planning. When Jesus said that, he was speaking to great crowds and speaking about the cost to follow him. He used building a house and going to war as his illustrations. Since planning works for building houses and winning wars I know it will work for pedaling as well. Henceforth we plan.

We are into maps again . . . big time. We will use much of the 2009 route but there will be changes. The first big change will come when we pedal through Michigan. I've pedaled through Michigan, from Lansing to St. Ignace, five times. The ride is DALMAC (Dick Allen Lansing to Mackinaw) and on the fifth and final day riders are allowed to pedal across Michigan's Mackinac Bridge. Up there they call it "Big Mac." Call it what you will, it is a great ride just crossing the bridge! On our 2012 ride we'll not be allowed to cross the five mile long bridge since bikes are not permitted anytime other than the Labor Day weekend when DALMAC riders cross. We will get to the Upper Peninsula though.

Another big change will be riding Route 2 from the Upper Peninsula westward. I'm also thinking about somehow, when we get to Idaho, riding across the state on the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes. Why? Very good reason: last ride Jonathan Wentworth and I rode it and it was all uphill. It wasn't bad since the grade was never greater than three percent but I'm just thinking, downhill for ninety-two miles! How cool is that? After all, I've earned the downhill because I pedaled up the ninety-two mile ride last trip, didn't I? That should count for something.

Our last big change will be to not stop at Anacortes, Washington. Instead we'll board a ferry so we can finish the ride at Neah Bay where a person is almost surrounded by the Pacific Ocean. Can't wait!

Camping again will be the usual, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Fairfield Inn, plus a few of the one-of-a-kind lodges such as Shamrock Inn at Long Lake, New York, Sportsman Motel in Twisp, Washington, and the log Hotel Lincoln in Lincoln, Montana, all of which will be meticulously scoped out by Margaret before any financial transactions are made. I can also guarantee you there will be no tents or sleeping bags in our supplies. As I said before, "Traveling with The Queen has its perks."

Our food philosophy will be the same as before: No chain or franchise food establishments. You just can't beat places like Trixi's near Ovando, Montana, the Sub Shop in Twisp, Washington, The Brass Rail in Grandy, Minnesota, Nauti Hawg near Diamond Bluff, Wisconsin, Rumble Seats in Spring Green, Wisconsin, The Wishing Well in Odell, Illinois, Gullace's Ice Cream & Cafe in Bloomfield, New York, "the good table restaurant" in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, and The Lobster Shack in Cape Elizabeth as well. There are another hundred or more that I could name but room doesn't permit it. And, just so you'll know, my spell-check is going crazy with these restaurant names!

So we are planning. We're buying a few things too. We've purchased a new bike rack that mounts in our hitch receiver and holds two bikes. That leaves the four racks on top of the Explorer for two-wheeled treasures we may find along the way. Margaret has purchased a new Kindle. I don't think you can wear out a Kindle but she's trying. So just in case, a new one is on its way to our home. You wouldn't want your Kindle to burn out midway across Montana now, would you? Tires? Yep, and tough, almost puncture-proof tires too. A new bike? Got that! We also have a new camera to record America's beauty, critters, and down-to-earth citizens. Saving money for the trip is a good plan so we're doing that. I'm bringing my indoor trainer upstairs this week so I can pedal some at home. Being on a trainer is nothing like the real thing but it is exercise. Of course, there's no breeze, no sunshine, no rain, no dogs, no smells, no hills, and other outside stuff but, as I said, it is exercise.

Planning for this ride for me is like saying sic 'em to a dog. The more I plan, the more ready I am. Some days I simply want to load the bikes and other stuff on and in the Explorer and go! I already said it would be fun and exciting but fun and exciting does not mean it will be easy. There will be wind, rain, maybe some snow, hills (some up, some down), traffic, some dogs (I hope just a few), and mountains. We'll get into the White Mountains of New Hampshire and the Green Mountains of Vermont early in the ride. They are tough but the downhills are rewarding and exhilarating, especially when it's cool! It's work that's for sure. It's also a blast because of the people we'll meet, the food we'll eat, the scenery we'll see and photograph, and the memories we'll make. I'm praying that God will allow me to invest this ride in eternity. As I enjoy his handiwork I also want to share him. I know everyday will be another revival in my heart like it was before. I also want to share the goodness and love of God as I pedal. Lord, use me in a great way!

The cost has been counted and the cost is high. But from past experience, I know the dividends will be naturally and supernaturally high as well.

Jesus said, "And you cannot be my disciple if you do not carry your own cross and follow me. But don't begin until you count the cost" (Luke 14:27-28).

Fail to plan, plan to fail!

Apologies & Bicycles!

Apologies, apologies, apologies!

I said I would post something every Friday before we departed for the second ride. It didn't happen the last two or three weeks but I'll try to do better. I'm not sure about this retirement thing. Nobody told me it would be so busy. I'm thinking I may have to get a full-time job to get some rest! Oh well . . . sure beats dying on the couch with the remote in my hand.

So I'm back and I'm thinking about bikes I had as a kid. All of my bikes were used and probably abused but they were bikes. I don't remember when, where, or how I got any of them but they were important in my growing years. I know dad bought them somewhere, brought them home, and from there they went everywhere.

I don't remember training wheels and wouldn't have used them anyway. Training wheels in my town would have been the focus of much ridicule from the other kids so I just toughed it out, pushed off, and have been doing so ever since. I'm still getting road rash from time to time too. I have a t-shirt in my closet with these words of wisdom, "You don't stop riding because you get old. You get old because you stop riding." That sums it all up for me.

As a kid my bike was my key to freedom. On my bike I was on my own, the captain of any ship, the pilot of any aircraft, or the explorer standing on the edge of any adventure I desired. From my hometown of Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania I could venture out to far away places like Railroad, Glen Rock, Hametown, New Freedom, Stewartstown, Loganville, Jacobus, York, Hanover, and even Maryland Line, Maryland. As a kid I never thought about riding across America; I did it all the time!

My first real bike was a Raleigh three-speed and I thought I was the coolest kid in my hometown. I had gears! Not many kids in Shrewsbury had gears on their bikes. I did! I could challenge the greatest and steepest of hills on southern York County. King of the Mountains: that was me! I kind of wish I still had that bike just as a reminder of those wonder years of cycling. Sad to say, that was also my last bike before my driver's license when I began a temporary retirement from cycling. After all, bikes were for kids.

I didn't really get back to pedaling until I moved to Fairfield, Ohio. I was an architecture student at the University of Cincinnati, lived in Fairfield, worked for Steed, Hammond, & Paul Architects in Hamilton and decided I could ride to work everyday, get a little exercise and save a little money. I went to Petricoff's Bicycle Shop in downtown Hamilton and purchased a Nishiki International ten or twelve speed bike and was back on the saddle again. Since then I've ridden in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Virginia, Maryland, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Utah, and Alabama. Freedom!

I'm thankful for the bikes and the adventures I've had on them. Adventure Cycling, a great and helpful biking organization out of Missoula, Montana, has a bike sticker, I Dream on Two Wheels. Well, I do. When I was young and foolish, I did a lot of dreaming on two wheels. Now that I'm just foolish, the dreams never die. Out there in my United States of America are people I want to meet and see again, places I want to go, and adventures I want to discover. As long as God gives me strength to turn the crank on a bicycle, I'll pedal and dream and love every minute of it!

Bikes have been around for a long time. A sketch of a bicycle, or something similar, drawn by a Mr. Caprotti, a student of Leonardo da Vinci was supposedly drawn in 1493. From there the bicycle has evolved through thousands of designs and changes including velocipedes, 3 and 4-wheelers, Boneshakers, high-wheel bicycles, safety bicycles, recumbent bicycles, BMX bikes, mountain bikes, hybrids, commuter bikes, comfort bikes, and road bikes of steel, aluminum or carbon. Some day when you have nothing else to do just Google "History of Bicycles" and look at what you find. Even men like Henry Ford and the Wright Brothers had their hands in the bicycle industry. Like anything else, bikes have come a long, long way.

And once again I am excited about pedaling a long, long way. I can't wait to put that back wheel in the Atlantic Ocean and finish the first block in Ocean Park, Maine. I'm excited about searching for license plates, eating great food at hole-in-the-wall restaurants, discovering miscellaneous items along the roadways, taking thousands of photos, singing to myself, spotting wildlife, seeing the northwest mountains from a distance, riding The Upper Peninsula of Michigan, hanging out in Duluth, and eating a breakfast sub at the Sub Shop/Chevron Station at the foot of Washington Pass in Twisp. I'm looking forward to Eugene's Pizza in Glasgow, Montana, where "The recipe is top secret. The taste isn't." It will be fun surprising some of the friends we made on the last crossing. I wonder if they'll remember us. I'm looking forward to praying with Margaret each morning as I stand at the driver's window and I'm ready to see that brown hail-damaged Ford Explorer waiting up the road at the each of each day. I'm ready to hang out with the Creator as I pedal through His Creation with Psalm 19:1-4 on my mind. Yep, I am ready to pedal! Whether it's mountains, valleys, rain, snow, sunshine, flat tires, wind, wildlife, and even dogs, I am ready! Of course, I'll have to count the number of times I hear, "Are you crazy?"

"The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies display his marvelous craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or a word; their voice is silent in the skies; yet their message has gone out to all the earth, and their words to all the world" (Psalm 19:1-4).

Ready or not America, here I come!

Consistent Changes!

Consistent Changes! That's really not an oxymoron, is it? Without changes we would all stay the same except for getting older! Someone once said, "The only people who really like changes are babies!" You know what, I guess we older folks and babies would certainly have something in common: without changes . . . we'd both stink. With growing and stinking and changes in mind I jotted a few things in one of my journals entitled, "Next Cross-Country Ride!"

East to West - The route for 2012 will take us the other direction. In 2009 I rode west to east primarily for one reason: I've always heard about the winds coming out of the west. Riding west to east was supposed to be a tailwinds adventure. Guess what! North Dakota didn't get the memo! And if the westerly winds are for real they must be at an altitude where I wasn't pedaling. As far as winds go, I have nothing to lose changing direction. I like this change but maybe even that will change when I get to North Dakota if the winds don't cooperate.

Take More Pictures - 4,000 wasn't enough! That's about what Margaret and I snapped with our little Sony digital picture machines. All I can say is, "Thank you Lord for digital cameras." We would have been *BFF with Kodak in 2009. Since a picture is worth a thousand words we're snapping thousands more!

Be an "American Picker" - That is a great TV show. If you haven't seen it yet I suggest you take the time you watch an episode or two. You'll get hooked.

As an "American Picker" I plan on stopping at more junk places, bike shops, and antique shops. Just for the record, the difference between junk places and antique shops is junk places buy junk and sell junk while antique shops buy junk and sell antiques. The prices are different too.

At these junk places, bike shops, and antique shops I plan to look for a few bikes. Bikes that are different, maybe old, used, and in such a shape that they can be restored with little or no work. After all, I have four bike racks on the roof of our Explorer. Should I not put some of them to use if the right deals come along?

Keep The Blog Rolling - That only makes sense. I need to connect with some of my favorite encouragers every day of the ride. In 2009, the comments I received were the fuel for the daily rides. The pedaling tanks were always on full. I am looking forward to hearing from the folks who follow and ride with us online.

Line Up Some Riders to Ride with Me - My list is growing. Right now I may be covered for Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, part of New York, Ohio, maybe some of Michigan, some of the midwest, and Washington.

Set A Date - Done deal! April 9th we plan to leave home, Lord willing. April 13th - 15th, somewhere in there, pedal away from the Atlantic Ocean headed due west.

Do Organized Rides Before The Cross-Country Ride - Sarah (daughter) and I are doing "The Ride For The River" starting in Jesup, Georgia in November. I think we go somewhere near the coast and back to Jesup for a total of 101 miles. That will be Sarah's first Century (100 mile ride). She'll do good.

Some of us also did "The Gambler" the weekend of the Twilight in Athens and "Tame the Lion" in Oconee County. Hopefully I'll pick up a few more organized rides before April of 2012.

Start with Good Tires - There are tires out there that are close to puncture-proof. I'll have a pair on the Cannondale R2000 when I begin. I will, of course, have an extra pair just in case.

Meet and Talk to More People - People are, in case you didn't know, God's most valuable creations: The only part of the universe created in His image! The biggest reason for our choice to ride the same route in 2012 is people! Margaret and I want to visit with old friends along the way. From coast to coast we have stops to make and people to see in every state. In a way it will be a Reunion Ride.

Also, it's very easy to make new friends and begin conversations when you ride to a restaurant, motel, park, or whatever, on a bicycle. There are two major questions and one exclamation I've heard over and over on the first ride:

Question One - "Where are you coming from?"

Question Two - "Where are you headed?"

Exclamation One - "You're craaaazy!"

From that point on any pedaler has someone's undivided attention even though the someone thinks the person with whom he, or she, is speaking is somewhat or altogether insane. But . . .

you've got their attention!

Ride Down Washington Pass - In 2009, the second day out of Anacortes, Washington, I was pedaling up Washington Pass. At the top of The Pass I experienced snow, sleet, and 31 degrees. The climb was tough but was well worth the effort. I am now looking forward to riding DOWN Washington Pass! "There's no such thing as a free downhill" is one of my favorite quotes. It may be original with me because I've never heard it before or from anybody else. If it isn't an original that's no big deal, it's still true and I'll still enjoy the downhill all the way to Anacortes. After all, I earned it two years ago!

While I'm writing about downhills and quotes, "Real Bikers Pedal" is another favorite quote of mine. That one may be original too. I've got a friend with two Harleys who calls himself a biker. I just happen to disagree. When he becomes self-propelled, then he will be a biker.

Back to Washington Pass, the ride down the mountain will be bittersweet because I'll be very close to the Pacific. That means the ride will soon be finished and Margaret and I will be headed home. I guess I'll have to start planning a third ride!

Make the Ride Eternal - I'm expecting a revival on wheels. That's what I experienced as I pedaled in 2009 and I'm expecting the same next time. I want to pray more, sing more (to myself), share more, read more, think more, see more, wonder more, and enjoy God's creation like never before! May all my discussions with new and old friends provide opportunities to share about my greatest Friend of all, Jesus. He certainly has changed my life and what could be a better opportunity to share that friendship than pedaling across America!

" . . . let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think" (Romans 12:2b).

May the changes be consistent . . .

*Best Friends Forever just in case you were wondering.

Wandering Wheels

A bicycle is probably the most important item necessary if a person is to ride one across America. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to determine that, does it?

After riding across America in 2009, I knew I had to do it again. I told Margaret, "That's too good to only do one time." She whole-heartedly agreed. With her on board I added, "If I'm going to do a new ride it only seems logical that I should do it on a new bike. Right?" (C'mon, agree with me.) As you can see, she did give in!

Sometime later my son-in-law, Barry, said to me, "Wouldn't it be fun to buy a frame on eBay and build your own bike?" I thought it was a good idea and started looking. When I spotted a yellow 56 cm Cannondale R2000 frame I knew it should be the next machine to take me on another adventure. The price was right, $350, and it was a Buy It Now so I clicked on the magic button on my Mac keyboard and that yellow frame was mine!

Soon the much-awaited package was on the back porch and the search for parts was on! I found Mavic Cosmic Elite Wheels on Craig's List; Ritchey Logic WCS alloy handlebars, Ritchey carbon seatpost, Selle Italia saddle, and Mavic skewers on eBay; Cateye Strada computer, water bottle cages, SRAM Force groupo (shifters, crank, cables, brakes, and rear cassette), Ritchey carbon fork, a pair of Serfas tires, tubes, some bar tape, a Ritchey headset, all from Jimmy Marbut, owner of Sunshine Cycles in Athens and Watkinsville; and a pair of SPD pedals Barry found at a bike shop in Atlanta. With my Cannondale R2000 frame and all the necessary components to build a really nice bike sitting in my study I suddenly developed a terminal case of let's-build-a-bicycle-itis!

I had already asked Jimmy at Sunshine Cycles to take all the parts and make a bicycle. He agreed to do so. Sunshine Cycles opens at 10:00 AM every day except Sunday but Barry (son-in-law) and I were at the Watkinsville shop at 8:00 AM on a Monday morning to get this project rolling. Jimmy soon had an operating Cannondale on one of his bike racks and it was mine! And . . . I was cranked and ready to ride it.

I've put some good miles on that yellow Cannondale already. It's a good ride, a little different than my red Cannondale that carried me across The United States of America in 2009, and I believe it's ready for the new challenge. Barry said he thinks the new bike is faster too. Sure I like the part about being faster but I'm really a Point A to Point B kind of rider, plus I stop to take lots of pictures, talk to people, venture into junk stores and bike shops, and eat in the fine dining eateries on the backroads of this country. I do think it's an easier ride than my other bike but I'll confirm that somewhere in Michigan or Minnesota early next year. For right now, I am simply thankful that the yellow frame, wheels, and box of miscellaneous parts that was in my study is now a light (18.12 pounds), comfortable, classy-looking machine that is still in my study. You don't think I park it in the garage do you? It might get dusty!

All of that miscellaneous parts becoming a bicycle makes me think about the church and the human body. In the Bible, 1 Corinthians 12:12, the Apostle Paul wrote, "The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up only one body. So it is with the body of Christ." He added in verses 14, 18, 22, and 27 respectively, "Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. . . . But God made our bodies with many parts, and he has put each part just where he wants it. . . . In fact, some of the parts that seem weakest and least important are really the most necessary. . . . Now all of you together are Christ's church, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it."

There you have it, Parts is Parts until someone like Jimmy gets hold of them! Then parts become a 56 cm yellow Cannondale R2000 bicycle capable of carrying someone across the roadways of America from the Atlantic to the Pacific. And each part is a separate and necessary part of the whole machine.

So it is with the church. Parts is Parts until God gets hold of them! Then parts become a living Family of the Father. He puts each part, separate and necessary, just where he wants it and together we are Christ's church and capable of carrying the love of God not only from coast to coast but around the world!

The new bike works because all the parts are separate and necessary and just where they should be. Same thing for the church.

Let's find our places!

You Must Be Crazy!

On May 3rd of 2009 I dipped the rear tire of my Cannondale R600 in the Pacific Ocean at Anacortes, Washington to begin the ride of my life. For years I had a desire in my heart to cross America on my bike. No, not the Harley kind of bike, the pedal kind of bike. As Jonathan Wentworth and I pedaled east to the Atlantic Ocean we were asked almost every day, "Where are you guys going?" When we answered that question, especially in the west, the response we heard most often was, "You must be crazy!"

Maybe we were crazy but it sure was the best crazy I've ever experienced.

We arrived back home on July 4th, greeted by family and friends, the journey of a lifetime completed. We had ridden 51 days, pedaled 4,295 miles, rested a few days, crossed fourteen states, met incredible people, ate way too much great food at hole-in-the-wall eateries in each state, and experienced America as few people do. We pedaled through the Cascade Mountains, the Rockies, the Adirondack Mountains, the Green Mountains, and the White Mountains.

We pedaled over 100 miles on Interstate 90 in Idaho and Montana (It's legal there.) We crossed the high plains where the wind blows all directions, all day, every day. The Mississippi River wasn't so "Mighty" where we crossed but it was our halfway mark so size was not important to us. The only big cities we rode through were Fargo and Cleveland and I'm not sure about Fargo. Maybe our back road route made Fargo seem smaller than it actually is.

We, like the Post Office, rode through sub-freezing temperatures, wind, rain, sleet, snow, and fog. Bugs and dogs were not a real issue. We had a total of five dogs chase us but most were on Montana ranches. By the time they got to the ends of their long, long driveways they were too tired to go any farther.

Our best friends on the roads were truck drivers. Almost all eighteen wheelers gave us plenty of room by moving to the left lanes when possible. They were kind, courteous, safe, and and always friendly.

I could go on and on about the trip. In fact, I will . . . next year, Lord willing. Yes, I must be crazy! But . . . I'm married to a crazy woman who also wants to cross America again. On July 5th, 2009, our first time back at church since April 19th, someone asked Margaret, "Would you do it again?"

Her response, "Oh yes, I would leave tonight if I could!"

OUR PLANS

We are already looking at maps and routes and have decided that we'll ride from Maine to Washington. The only major change in our route is in Ohio. There we will head north through Michigan to the Upper Peninsula where we'll get on Route 2 and head west to somewhere near Spokane. We'll get off of Route 2 onto Route 20 to go over the Cascades through Tonasket, Okanogan, Twisp, Marblemount, Concrete, Anacortes, and to the Pacific coast at Cape Flattery/Neah Bay. All across America we want to look up folks we met in 2009 and make more friends along the way.

Since I don't have a riding buddy this trip I have people who are going to meet Margaret and me and ride portions of the ride: Sarah, our daughter, and her husband Barry want to ride with us either from the Atlantic into New York or across Ohio. My brother-in-law, Johnny, wants to ride across Ohio with me. Phil Jones, a good friend living in Texas, plans to ride for two weeks in the midwest (He wants to ride where it's flat! C'mon Phil!). Patti and Gary Warren are planning to meet us in Spokane and go to the coast with us and, when we finish the ride, hang out in Seattle for a week. What a team!

I have a new bike and I'll tell you about that at another time. I have a list of things I want to do differently. I'll tell you about all those things too . . . later!

So, you ask, when will all this happen? The plan is to leave Statham, Georgia on April 9th, 2012 (The day after our 45th Anniversary) and drive to Maine. Along the way we'll make some visits with family and friends and should arrive in Maine sometime on or around April 12th. The rear tire of the new Cannondale R2000 will meet the waters of the Atlantic on April 15th and the Adventure begins . . . again. As Casey Stengle once said, "It's deja vu all over again!"

I've never been homesick but there is a kind of homesick feeling in my heart that's calling me to get back out there. I am ready and . . . yes, I am crazy.

One of my everyday companions on the 2009 ride was this passage of Scripture:

The heavens tell of the glory of God.

The skies display his marvelous

craftsmanship.

Day after day they continue to speak;

night after night they make him

known.

They speak without a sound or a word;

their voice is silent in the skies;

yet their message has gone out to all

the earth,

and their words to all the world.

-Psalm 19:1-4

I plan to write every Friday before we head north in April of next year. I'll let you know how things are going and what we're up to. Once we head north I'll keep you posted each day. Hope some of you will keep in touch, ride with us, and pray for us.

Enjoy the trip with us.