So Mark and I are home from our Sea to Sea adventure. We decided to go "tech free" and just enjoy the process while we were in it. So here is our story, just a week late.
We started our adventure at Calvin College last Sunday with a short orientation, a celebration service, and a dinner. How humbling to meet all the riders who have been pedaling their way across the country and are now in their seventh week of their adventure! Mark and I went from our home community who were so impressed that we planned to ride for a whole week on our bicycle... to being in a community of strong bikers who lamented that we were only able to ride for a week. We were known as one of the "week-lings."
So did we prepare well? We were about to find out.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Thursday, June 27, 2013
GIrls in Day Care means we can ride together!
It's summer which means Mark isn't working, but Katie still is. You would think that this translates to lots of riding time. Well, dear reader, I must admit it is still a struggle to find all the time. With two little girls it is quite difficult to find the time to ride together, so we are riding separately now.
Today we had the girls in day care so we could go for a longer ride to Lake Michigan together on the tandem. We are still trying to dial in the fit of the tandem. It is quite different than our single bikes.
Check out today's ride HERE.
We were grateful to not be riding in the heat that the Sea to Sea riders are enduring right now. Yesterday the group dealt with 112 degree heat. YOUCH!
I was at Ada Bike shop picking up a helmet for Katie and some gloves for me when fellow Sea to Sea Rider Gary Nederveld walked in. His bike had fallen off the rack on 131 at highway speeds and was pretty banged up. It sounded like he needed a new bike. I am praying he gets a solution in time. Shiprock rolls out on July 8!
Today we had the girls in day care so we could go for a longer ride to Lake Michigan together on the tandem. We are still trying to dial in the fit of the tandem. It is quite different than our single bikes.
Check out today's ride HERE.
We were grateful to not be riding in the heat that the Sea to Sea riders are enduring right now. Yesterday the group dealt with 112 degree heat. YOUCH!
I was at Ada Bike shop picking up a helmet for Katie and some gloves for me when fellow Sea to Sea Rider Gary Nederveld walked in. His bike had fallen off the rack on 131 at highway speeds and was pretty banged up. It sounded like he needed a new bike. I am praying he gets a solution in time. Shiprock rolls out on July 8!
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Surviving the end of the school year.
Sorry readers. I have been neglecting you. The end of the school year has me quite busy with track and field coaching and all of the school work of getting ready for the end.
Katie and I have been out on the tandem a few times. We are ready for the summer break to come and free up training time. We scheduled the training on the calendar and are excited to get on a set schedule that we have both committed to complete together.
Thanks for all of your prayers. I am amazed at who all is obviously supporting us in this effort. One of my teacher friends at school Kristin Dyk was telling me her father in law rode in 08 and he constantly asks how we are doing and that he prays for us! So to all of you who are upholding us in prayer; thank you.
The tour starts soon. Please continue to pray for the health and safety of all involved. We also pray that the tour will be used by God to have a real impact on those in poverty--may this be a kingdom builder.
Katie and I have been out on the tandem a few times. We are ready for the summer break to come and free up training time. We scheduled the training on the calendar and are excited to get on a set schedule that we have both committed to complete together.
Thanks for all of your prayers. I am amazed at who all is obviously supporting us in this effort. One of my teacher friends at school Kristin Dyk was telling me her father in law rode in 08 and he constantly asks how we are doing and that he prays for us! So to all of you who are upholding us in prayer; thank you.
The tour starts soon. Please continue to pray for the health and safety of all involved. We also pray that the tour will be used by God to have a real impact on those in poverty--may this be a kingdom builder.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Rolling with it...
Our house has not been healthy for weeks. Following the fund-raiser and the Barry Roubaix I was pretty wiped out and was sleeping a lot. Both girls have been sick at one time or another, if not both at the same time, Katie has also been sick too.
Over spring break I finally went to the doctor to get some help. I had bronchitis. It felt like an elephant sitting on my chest.
We did ride once over the break on the tandem together. It was about 30 degrees and we went 23 miles. I was spent. I slept the rest of the day.
The anti-biotics have finally run there course and I am feeling better. Sunday, which began with snow on the ground turned into glorious sun by mid-day. James, our friend Mike and I went to Yankee Springs trail and rode a lap on our single speed mountain bikes. I finally felt like the elephant was gone.
Yesterday's short run demonstrated that my cardiovasular capacity has diminished in these few weeks. I know it will come back. Ultimately it is not in my strength that this ride will be completed. I am encouraged by the prayers that so many of my fellow riders are posting.
Stay healthy, keep riding!
Over spring break I finally went to the doctor to get some help. I had bronchitis. It felt like an elephant sitting on my chest.
We did ride once over the break on the tandem together. It was about 30 degrees and we went 23 miles. I was spent. I slept the rest of the day.
The anti-biotics have finally run there course and I am feeling better. Sunday, which began with snow on the ground turned into glorious sun by mid-day. James, our friend Mike and I went to Yankee Springs trail and rode a lap on our single speed mountain bikes. I finally felt like the elephant was gone.
Yesterday's short run demonstrated that my cardiovasular capacity has diminished in these few weeks. I know it will come back. Ultimately it is not in my strength that this ride will be completed. I am encouraged by the prayers that so many of my fellow riders are posting.
Stay healthy, keep riding!
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Thanks to everyone who came out to our Corn Hole Tournament fundraiser!
Katie and I were both overwhelmed Saturday by the community of support that surrounded us. We had a great time and we raised over $2,000 in cash alone!
The Talsma recliner was given away to Dan McAlary who promptly donated it back to be auctioned off! We were amazed by his generosity and were able to raise more money by holding a silent auction for the chair! (God multiplied the blessings!)
Dan and his partner Brian DeRoo were ringers and took 2nd place for the night along with their friends who took first place. Two of my sophomore students formed a team and took 3rd place. I played with Rob Bosma and was out by facing Dan and Brian twice.
We are grateful for our small group for covering the costs of the night. We are grateful for all of the student volunteers who made the evening possible and grateful for the use of Hudsonville Christian Middle School's building.
Signing up for Sea to Sea was a leap of faith for Katie and I and we are so humbled and honored to be supported so graciously by our community! Thanks for all that we have done so far.
Katie and I were both overwhelmed Saturday by the community of support that surrounded us. We had a great time and we raised over $2,000 in cash alone!
The Talsma recliner was given away to Dan McAlary who promptly donated it back to be auctioned off! We were amazed by his generosity and were able to raise more money by holding a silent auction for the chair! (God multiplied the blessings!)
Dan and his partner Brian DeRoo were ringers and took 2nd place for the night along with their friends who took first place. Two of my sophomore students formed a team and took 3rd place. I played with Rob Bosma and was out by facing Dan and Brian twice.
We are grateful for our small group for covering the costs of the night. We are grateful for all of the student volunteers who made the evening possible and grateful for the use of Hudsonville Christian Middle School's building.
Signing up for Sea to Sea was a leap of faith for Katie and I and we are so humbled and honored to be supported so graciously by our community! Thanks for all that we have done so far.
Friday, March 8, 2013
Thoughts on Justice.
To what extent do we identify with those in poverty? Is it about us and them, or we?
Watch this video. A rally call to identify with those in need of Justice and to fight along side them.
Watch this video. A rally call to identify with those in need of Justice and to fight along side them.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Up hill and spinning--downhill and crashing.
James and I rode the Barry Roubaix course again this Sunday. Weather in Michigan this spring has been pretty typically unpredictable. Last weekend saw days in the high 30s and lows in the teens. What this meant for the course was ice and mud. The shaded areas had thawed all week and it would freeze to glaze ice again as temperatures dropped. The sunny areas were soft mud, the kind that make it feel like you are on you resistance trainer. Our typical Barry Roubaix ride is around the 2 hour mark. This day it was over 3. I forgot food and my water bottle froze. Man was that fun!
The good news is that the Sea to Sea rides should be better conditions than this! I cant' wait to be able to ride in the warm sun again. Spring is coming!
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