Christmas Day 2008 in the Florida Keys

THE BRIDGE & THE END!

109 miles is never an easy ride and today was no exception, however, there were several unexpected bonuses to today's ride. I rode 80 of those miles with 15 year-old Eric. He is one the strongest young riders I have ever met. It was an absolute delight to share the day with him. We kept a pace line for most of the day, switching off between leading and following for one-mile intervals. At times we were averaging 23-24 mph.
Then in Cross Village, at the north end of a 22 mile stretch called the Tunnel of Trees, we stopped for a breather and I ran into my good friend Mel from Allegan. Mel and I have shared many rides together and we were very surprised to see each other. His 6'4" frame dwarfs mine but he is gentle and Godly friend. Mel was also doing the DALMAC but traveling a different route.
When we arrived in Mackinaw City, the showers were crammed to capacity at the local high school so our group walked the two blocks to Lake Michigan. There, in full view of the Mackinac Bridge, we swam and bathed. That's an experience I won't quickly forget.
We loaded our bikes and gear onto the bus/RV, shook hands with or hugged our newly made friends and off we went.
We stopped in Lake City to get something to eat and almost immediately, a retired couple came up to me and asked me, "Okay, just how do you pronounce the name on your shirt?" I said, "Well, it's pronounced "wick-cliff" (Wycliffe) but we answer to any pronunciation. The man turned to his wife and said, "See, I told you it was 'wick-cliff'!" They went on to tell me how they had volunteered at our Orlando Center and how they so enjoyed being a part of this great work in the later portion of their lives.
This is the end of my posts for this blog. Thank you to all who have followed my progress and prayed for a successful outcome. Your friendship means everything to me. May God's name be glorified!
Pictures:
The sun is just coming up as we start our century ride.
Mel & me in Cross Village
Celebrating the end of the long ride with new friends from Grace Church in Grand Haven. They were intrigued with the work that Wycliffe is doing around the world.
The 7 mile Mackinac Bridge.

One Fantastic Ride!

Today's 77 mile route was one of the fastest I have ever ridden. We averaged just over 19 mph for the distance, arriving in Gaylord (gay'-lerd) just after the lunch hour. Our small group of 5 has somehow managed to attract a number of the faster riders out of the 350 and they have quickly joined our paceline. Among them is Eric, a 15-year-old from Norton Shores who could well become a future Lance Armstrong! Eric is 6'3", loves to ride faster than the rest of us and has the form and style of a long distance biker. He's pictured on the far right in the top picture. I had thought about introducing him to the idea of Bible Translation but I may wait awhile to see how the Lord leads. Eric is riding with his mother who is also a strong rider.
When we get into camp, the first thing we see are the hundreds of duffle bags and suitcases that the SAG (Support and Gear) has dropped off some hours earlier. When the bikers arrive in camp, they have to find their gear, pitch their tents, take showers and get settled for the evening. Fortunately for us, our RV pulls into the lot and we're all set up. It's been very handy, in that sense, to have the RV be our home away from home.
Tomorrow will be our last day as we bike up to the Bridge. I'm looking forward to the 100 mile ride. After showers tomorrow, we'll turn the RV around and head back to Holland. Thanks for staying in touch and for your prayers.

Are you really with Wycliffe?

The beauty of wearing the Wycliffe biking jersey while I'm riding the DALMAC is that it generates so many conversations and comments. I had many people come up to me today asking me if I'm really with Wycliffe. It's so much fun and so satisfying to tell them about the 20 years we spent in Suriname doing translation and about the recruitment work we've done in west Michigan since then. Inevitably, the conversation goes something like this:
"Are you really with Wycliffe?"
"Yes, I am. Linda and I have been with the organization for 32 years."
"Oh wow! Do you know so-and-so? They served in..."
"Actually, yes. I met them many years ago at a conference in such-and-such place."
"Cool. So are you biking for Wycliffe?"
"Well, sort of but not exactly, however, we hope to be biking more for Wycliffe in the future."
"Hey, great. Our church supports so-and-so with Wycliffe. Do you know them?"
And the conversation continues for a few minutes and within minutes I have a small audience wanting to know more about the wonderful and powerful work of God through Bible Translation. Thanks for praying for me during these four days.
After driving the bus yesterday, it was a pleasure to get back on my trusty steed and bike the 77 miles to Houghton Lake. It's been a good experience biking with almost total strangers but God keeps bringing interesting people into my life who are developing a heart for God and His precious Word. Tomorrow we bike the 70 miles to Gaylord (pronounced "gay-lerd", I'm told by locals) and Sunday to the Bridge at Mackinaw City that joins the upper and lower peninsulas of the Wolverine State.

Too Scared To Think

I got up at 5:00 AM and went to where our bus/RV was parked to load up. We had "hired" a driver to drive the RV but he failed to show. So we decided that each biker would take his turn driving the 42' RV. The thought of it scared me but I knew I would eventually have to take my turn. As we drove to Lansing to the start the bike ride, I decided that I would be the first to volunteer to drive the RV. Our group got all of their bikes ready and took off down the road and I was left holding the keys to vehicle, the size of which absolutely frightened me. I prayed silently, "Lord, you and I have conquered giants before. Now help me to slay this giant." I think I prayed that prayer about a dozen times before I arrived at Bullock Creek High School near Midland where we'll be spending the night.
If you've never driven an RV before or a vehicle that seems to occupy both lanes of the road, you're in for quite a surprise. These beasts demand your constant attention with both hands on the wheel at all times. After what seemed like a very long ride, a few wrong turns, and not the best directions from a few locals, I arrived at the school, prayed a prayer of thanksgiving and settled in for the afternoon. Tomorrow will be a new day with new surprises, I'm sure. Thanks for your prayers.
Pictures: I'm grinning at the prospect of driving the RV but I'm actually shaking in my boots.
The length of this thing makes you think you're driving an 18-wheeler.

It's Wednesday evening and my bags are packed for the DALMAC starting tomorrow. It's looking like the weather will be just about perfect for the ride, which is not exactly what we would say for the people facing the threat of Hurricane Gustav and those who endured Fay. Thanks for your prayers as we drive out to East Lansing tomorrow morning to start riding early in the morning.

DALMAC, Here we Come!

On Thursday through Sunday of this week, I hope to be riding my bike from Lansing, Michigan to the Bridge at Mackinaw City, a distance of just over 300 miles. The weather looks to be promising. It'll be my first DALMAC, so named in 1971 after Dick Allen, a former Michigan State Senator. Check back to see my progress during the days I'm gone.
See http://www.dalmac.org/DALMAC/dframe.html for more info.