“Think of a happy place. Think of Hawaii.” –Sue says as I’m climbing up a hill, struggling. My instant thought was “I’m in a happy place. Oregon!!” The exotic land of the coast of Oregon, but at that moment the only thing on my mind was getting to the church. I couldn’t be in the moment sadly, with the sun and the short mileage of 55 miles.
Today was a great ending of a hard week that’s for sure, but in the beginning it was rough start. It all started last night really: 98 miles of wonderful climbing, beautiful scenery and amazing camaraderie. We arrived late to the church at around 6 after getting malts, fries, and burgers at this diner with a rating malt of 7 by the Geezerman Tom. I received a box I had been waiting on for a while now…My tires! After 20 flats on the East Coast ride, a friend of mine bought me brand new tires that he swears by. We installed them, read the letter he wrote me in a British accent and danced with joy over my new tires. I was pretty excited and I believe everyone else was either just as excited to see me happy, or really excited they won’t have to change 20 flats while on this ride. I praised these tires and maybe too much is my point.
What a beautiful day on the Fuller Center for Housing Bicycle Adventure! The sun came out, the sky turned from misty grey to bright blue and the Pacific ocean presented a magnificent panorama as we pedaled 75 miles from Tillamook to Westport, Oregon. The scenery today was truly spectacular!
This is my second trip with the FCBA. I joined the ride last summer for one week starting in Kellogg, Idaho and ending in West Yellowstone, Montana. My son Dan was able to join me for the build day in Smelterville, ID with the Silver Valley Fuller Center. The whole experience was wonderful and made such an impression on me that I wanted to be more involved with the mission to end poverty housing. I talked my friend Dave Sinner, a contractor, into traveling to Americus, Georgia in January to attend the Fuller Center Covenant Partner Conference. We learned a lot on that trip and were able to visit Koinonia Farm and really catch Millard & Linda Fuller's vision for giving people a hand up and into a decent home.
I had the chance to lead the pre-ride morning devotional recently. Since our trip is all about service I chose to lead the FCBA in a children’s primary song: “Give Said the Little Stream”. One verse says:
Give said the little stream, give o give, give o give, give said the little stream as it hurried down the hill. I’m small I know, but wherever I go the grass grows greener still. Singing, singing all the way, give away, o give away. Singing, singing all the way give o give away.
During this first week I have seen a group of strangers come together to become a Zion like people. Serving & caring for each other, it seems someone is always there when you need them. Opening a door, moving luggage bags, preparing a meal, changing a flat tire or just quietly riding together to help another rider get through a rough patch.
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Today was a great ending of a hard week that’s for sure, but in the beginning it was rough start. It all started last night really: 98 miles of wonderful climbing, beautiful scenery and amazing camaraderie. We arrived late to the church at around 6 after getting malts, fries, and burgers at this diner with a rating malt of 7 by the Geezerman Tom. I received a box I had been waiting on for a while now…My tires! After 20 flats on the East Coast ride, a friend of mine bought me brand new tires that he swears by. We installed them, read the letter he wrote me in a British accent and danced with joy over my new tires. I was pretty excited and I believe everyone else was either just as excited to see me happy, or really excited they won’t have to change 20 flats while on this ride. I praised these tires and maybe too much is my point. .jpg)
What a beautiful day on the Fuller Center for Housing Bicycle Adventure! The sun came out, the sky turned from misty grey to bright blue and the Pacific ocean presented a magnificent panorama as we pedaled 75 miles from Tillamook to Westport, Oregon. The scenery today was truly spectacular!
I had the chance to lead the pre-ride morning devotional recently. Since our trip is all about service I chose to lead the FCBA in a children’s primary song: “Give Said the Little Stream”. One verse says: