Outdoors

I couldn't pass up a sunny day today even though the temperature hovered in the 28-30 degree range with wind chills 18-23. Got a 22 mile ride in this afternoon and stayed remarkably comfortable and warm on my new bike. It is such a nicer ride than my old bike! When factoring in my 10 mile indoor ride tomorrow, I will log over 265 miles in January. That's the most miles I've had in January in 12 years. I'll try to maintain the same mileage in February and then increase it in March with hopefully most of the riding outside.

Saturday, January 29

Today I rode over 30 miles on my trainer in the garage. Nothing seems to be more boring, tedious and monotonous, but essential to conditioning for a cross country ride in lieu of being able to get outside. I find that those physical disciplines in many ways parallel the spiritual disciplines needed to condition a life that really works. The routines of prayer, Bible reading, and solitude (to name a few) are not glitzy, glamorous, or attractive practices to the average Christian. But to the one who is devoted to these routines for the sake of getting to know his creator better, they are precious tools. It reminded me of Hebrews 12:11 when, in college days, I was confronted with the reality that spiritual maturity does not come cheap. "All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness" NASB. I am old enough now to have experienced the truth of this passage. The peaceful fruit of righteousness is worth the discipline.

Danny MacAskill - "Way Back Home"

Trip Details

Be sure you check out the page "Trip Details" in the upper right hand corner of this blog under "Pages". I include some interesting links regarding the trip and have mapped the route using Google Maps, in case you're interested.

It's Official

Last Tuesday our Administrative Board officially approved my two month sabbatical. So, on March 25th I fly out to San Diego to meet up with my Wandering Wheels compatriots, drive out to Carlsbad from the airport and start the following morning on Wandering Wheels' last ever coast to coast trip ending in Brunswick, GA.

This blog is dedicated to the preparations I am making for the trip and hopefully to the daily journaling of the trip: my impressions of each day's ride, how my body is responding to the daily rigors and what God is showing and teaching me throughout the trip.

Some beginning details. Wandering Wheels is the Christian biking organization I had the privilege to bike coast to coast with way back in 1974. That trip was along the northern route of America for 3100 miles from Salem, OR to Rehobeth Beach, DE. This coming trip will be along the southern route of America for 2600 miles. We are planning on averaging 75-80 miles daily on our bikes. I am not sure how many are signed up for the trip. Typically, I am told, the average number of riders ranges from 25-35.

This is Wheels' last coast to coast crossing ever and their 68th overall since 1967. Check out their website for more information http://www.wanderingwheels.org. Coach Bob Davenport, former All American football player at UCLA, is the founding director of WW and has been across America on a bicycle 43 times!!

While I am still learning the blog culture I hope to periodically post updates and progress reports. When we get closer to the trip I hope to download pictures and let you know what I am learning along the way. I also hope to share some personal perspectives in the spiritual adventure of being a Christ follower.