Summary of 2014 FCBA Ride
The
start of the journey, introductions made, sleepless nights on bunk beds, while
hearts flutter
First
build day of spackling and painting on destructed sandy shores of Jersey, whose
casinos make the sky line clutter
Practice
ride down the boardwalk, getting down the Oyee, starting the ride on the
Atlantic by the dipping of our back
tire
Riding
by fields of cranberries, following chalked FC arrows ended our short visit in
New Jersey around a Tabernacle campfire.
An
entrance into Kensington with parks lined with painted hubcap flowers, learning
even more about Shane, Sarah, and Mike’s
community
Breaking
down beds, moving boxes, picking up trash, seeing the true meaning of America’s poverty
Feasts
shared in the Simple Way, singing My Hope Is Built, wheelie escorts by kids,
and an Aqua Garden
This
stop eye opening to a way of life not normally seen – it’s so real, yet so
hidden
From
the murals of Philly, a run up Rocky’s steps, small gravel trails, and
Pittsburgh’s many bridges
To
the foggy climbs up switch backs as we are welcomed to the Appalachian
Mountains and her ridges.
A
Hershey town of chocolate, fields of graves in Gettysburg, to Everett’s own
town
Days
of biking in the rain, passing through cities with populations reaching
millions, yet quiet moments on back
roads we still found.
Next
came the buckeye state – a place of reunions and homecomings
A
drastic change from Kensington, a boat ride from Bob, a build day of superb
organizing.
Spread
out in Aurora, neighbor to neighbor, devotion and lunch shared with the owners of
these homes
Laying
laminate floors, basements that humble, our bodies and family bonds becoming stronger.
A
walk to the Rock-n-roll Hall of Fame and the waterfront to a lake that’s grand.
Archery
lofts, corn home games, huge potlucks, cozy storms, and a night spent in
Cleveland.
Buildings
covered in bugs, getting baptized in the waters of Lake Michigan, biking
parallel to water named Erie
The
excited bundle of Joyce, a zoo, a boat ride through Toledo’s River called
Maumee
An
entire painted home, a radio station, a teary eyed cut of a ribbon
Gifts
of service through laundry, goody bags, meals of BBQ and corn on the cob, and
huge white shirts that were
generously given.
Entering
into a new state of Indiana, days of horse and buggies, more rain and storms
Time
spent in Gary where we saw more brokenness, so empty…leaving my heart torn
A
place where hope is absent, Jackson fans come to see Michael's memorial
Time
spent lopping, sawing, and clearing yards, Katherine Jackson and neighbor’s
hearts so thankful
Illinois
greeted us with a ride along the beach, navy pier, and the Chicago sky line
A
weekend of second halfers, hand clappers, gospel singing, and heroes we did
find.
Gaining
and losing riders, the sadness and joy this weekly process brings
In
Waukegan putting in 17 windows, painting, and scrubbing walls of a basement
clean.
We
entered our hardest week full of long days of accumulating miles…taking us into
Wisconsin
Cheese
curds, and our hardest day facing 20 plus mph headwinds
A
short stay soon found us in Iowa, a new state
Crossing
the Mississippi River, crossroads, and stretches of endless corn became our
daily fate
Where
the mile stretched forever, arriving in a new mid-west region
No
more busy towns, middle of nowhere rest stops, turbines, and a 4th spent
at Spirit Lake with sparklers of
celebration
Fields
of agriculture made up our daily scene
As
lines are quoted from the movie “A Field of Dreams”
Our
shortest stroll was through Minnesota
Greeted
by a hailstorm, Grandpa’s Funny Farm, before crossing into the South of the
Dakotas
Where
the roads turn red and cornfields change into prairies
Arriving
in new towns, worshiping with all denominations, and extra days spent in Rapid
City
Orange
painted nails, malts consumed, a downhill ride past Wounded Knee into the
Indian Reservation
Meeting
David Snell, a climb up on the bluffs for a panoramic view of this broken, but
beautiful nation
Painting
the home of a veteran, pulling weeds, and picking up buried trash that was
covered for years
A
pick up baseball game, an unspoken connection and joy spent with half a dozen
boys brought me to tears
Knowing
we are on sacred ground, families are priorities while living simple lives
A
different culture, living on their time, a delicious traditional meal of grape
juice pudding and bread that was fried
A
ride through the badlands as the sun gives the rocks a colorful blend
Going
through ghost towns, deserted roads, as the stories of the past fill the air
through the cry of haunted wind
We
headed “Forever West” into Wyoming – home of tumble weeds, cowboys, and interstate cycling
Smoke
covered mountains with a faint outline of the snowy peaks showing
Sleeping
in homes in Sundance, Wyoming, amazed at the things we take for granted.
Numerous
home cooked meals, daily showers, pillows, and sleeping in a bed.
Homemade
ice-cream in Gillette as we hear a lot about fracking
Entering
the state of Montana as my heart starts flying
Where
prairies turn to mountain peaks, creeks to cricks, and the sky so big its
vastness swallows you whole
Surreal
postcard views, passing trains, frontage roads, and moments of awe that overwhelmingly feed the soul
Beartooth
pass, Helena’s headwinds, Sovereign Hope picnics, and giving hearts that make smoothies
Biking
through construction, through forests of pines, and winding mountain brooks
with their peaceful melodies
Small
western towns, sunsets that fill the sky, wrestling rooms with orange mats, and
cold mornings
Bodies
stronger, legs toner, confidence and progress of riders so inspiring
Idaho
meets us at the top of Lookout Pass, her downhill leaves us screaming
A
build day in Kellogg, of hanging siding, a trailer becoming a home, and roof
stripping
The
longest gondola ride, open ski lift to a sea of mountains, as the wind makes
the daisies wave
Dips
in cold creeks, diving and swimming in lakes, bike rides off Coeur D’Alenes
Trail – these memories I will save.
Garbanzo
beans and lentils turning the landscape different shades of green
Early
morning departures, colorful sky devotions, riding behind the first light of
the morning sun’s rising.
Changing
time zones, communicating with hand signals, tan lines now permanently ingrained
Moments
you want time to slow down before it slips away, while also wishing miles to
pass because of the ongoing pain
An
adrenaline filled ride down the spiral road into our last build day in the
Lewis and Clark valley
Six
wheelchair ramps renovated and built, landscape down, and sorting eggs at the
food pantry
Meeting
Washington’s triple digit extreme heat, the eastern part of the state dry,
mountains brown and bare
Unforgiving
roads causing flat tire parties as the land changes to green vineyards, apple
picking, orchards of hops,
peaches, and pears.
Strolls
through winding canyons, by Rimrock lake, through tunnels, and 8 miles climbs
up to White Pass
Special
time shared with PCT thru-hikers and a viewing of Mt. Rainer – a moment I
wanted forever to last.
Where
passes turn to grades and mountains turn into cascades
Thinking
over the trip as a whole-the rainy hard days in comparison to the good – seem
to fade
One
last cue sheet, devotion, song, and prayer
Crossing
the Columbia River into Oregon, our last rest stop with thick smoothies made by
the bike blender
The
scenery resembling rides in the east, steeper shorter hills and greener trees
The
smell of the sea, the taste of accomplishment, the feeling of being a part of
something so big, my heart so free
Our
last ten mile ride in this long orange line of family – this I cherish the most
So
many stories, memories, lives touched, and a ride ending as we crest the hill
and can see the Pacific Coast
Tires
dipped, groups dive in, as the cold waters mark the end of our journey
Tears
shed, voices raised in song, one last first raised while shouting “Oyee!”
Nine
weeks of life built into this one moment, bitter sweet of the arrival of this
August 9th day
A
dream achieved, bikes raised above the head, knowing that we can now say,
“We’ve biked across the USA!”
