By Carmen Price
2012 Bicycle Adventurer

“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.

By Jim McCracken
2012 Bicycle Adventurer

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.

Hoyt Robey
2012 Bicycle Adventurer

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.

Jenn Skoda
2012 Bicycle Adventurer

Today was one of my favorite days of the ride so far. It was actually my longest ride ever... to date. Not quite knowing what to expect and having pushed myself fairly well for the first couple days, I resolved to simply enjoy the moments as they came. So instead of hurrying along, monitoring my speed and pace, I stopped to take pictures. A field we passed had bales of hay wrapped in white plastic covering that looked like giant marshmallows... so naturally, we grabbed a graham cracker at the next rest stop and photographed “life-sized” s’mores at the next opportunity. It was a great first tough day-- 90 miles filled with laughs, hills, beautiful scenery, and time to lose oneself in thought. Off to Tillamook tomorrow... tally ho!

By Tom Weber
2012 Bicycle Adventurer

Day 2 riding....

Tacoma, WA to Chehalis, WA
Staying at Faith Baptist Church
58.4 miles today, average pace 15.7 mph
A number of bumps (some are calling hills), really not just flat

We had a very nice day riding with cool temperatures all day, mostly cloudy and now sunny this afternoon as we get showers and relax. There is a Baskin Robbins 2.5 miles from the church, but too far to walk, and I do not want to ride and get sweaty again after my shower. Maybe we will head there after dinner that the church is providing for us. With this larger group it is more difficult to make excursions because it takes gas money and we have three van loads if everybody wants to go.

We did have another fall today, but nothing serious, (not serious means it was not me that fell). But Susan has a sore side, a sore hand, and some road rash. We spent about 10 miles on a very nice trail. Only a few bumps in the blacktop, and some intersections that we only had to slow down for, and we were able to ride side by side and get to know each other a little more. We rode with a very pleasant and a nice pace. Sarah got to ride with her aunt, Sher, for about 4 or 5 miles on this trail. I was riding with Jim a lot today, following him in a nice pace line, and then some on the trail. Turbo Tom was also with this pace line. I also got to ride a lot with Sarah today, because she was nice enough to slow down so I could keep up.

By Luke Zavala
2012 Bicycle Adventurer

Today, we departed Fontleroy Church in Seattle, our host for the last two nights, as we started our adventure down toward San Diego--not before attending a rather interesting church service, though. We had the opportunity to worship with the Fontleroy congregation, as well as participate in a rousing mid-service rendition of the Hokey Pokey…. And no, that’s not a joke. Imagine 80 adults, roughly half of whom are senior citizens, dancing with joy in the middle of a church. I wish I had my camera.

By Susie Nordwall
2012 Bicycle Adventurer

My name is Susie. I pedaled into the last week of the Fuller Center ride with my 27-year-old bicycle ... naive but eager for an adventure. Having turned 50 this year, I thought a week of Fuller Center biking would be a great way to celebrate. My brother, Scott, and his wife, Heidi, were good sports and joined me.

I have enjoyed getting to know my interesting biking team members this week. I am grateful for the gracious ways they have been my instructors, guides, and cycling buddies.

This morning as I was riding, a couple spiritual images came to mind. We bikers rely on vast amounts of air and water throughout the journey. I huffed and puffed pedaling to the tops of bridges, sucking in as much air as my lungs could hold. My muscles craved the oxygen needed to carry on the unusual work load expected of them. In a greater way we need the breath of God blowing His Spirit in us. God's breath gives our lives strength, vitality and purpose for living.