71 Days. That's how long it's been since we arrived at Midland Beach on Staten Island. Since then, life has returned to "normal" and I'm back to the grind of 5-day work weeks, sleeping in my own bed, and seeing all my old friends. Life is good. Just in a different sort of way than it was this summer.
I was asked to share the story of my summer at church tonight. Ten weeks after finishing, I thought I would have processed my thoughts and experiences more than I have. I could blame it on work, but the simple fact is I had no incentive to put to rest the fantastic experience that was Sea to Sea 2013. Being asked to speak tonight forced this time of retrospection and compilation of my closing thoughts.
Work has been extremely busy, and has occupied much of my time and energy since Labour Day. As expected, my company picked up a lot of work doing flood-repair jobs in Calgary. When I left in June, we had 28 electricians working in the field. When I returned, we were up to 48 field staff, and are still maintaining that number. Because of this influx of work, and because I wasn't around to push its importance, my projects were put on the back burner, and when I returned to the office I found myself two months behind with deadlines that hadn't changed.
In some ways it's good to have this busy-ness to throw myself head-long into. But at the same time, being so busy makes me long for the carefree days of riding my bike day in and day out. It was an incredible blessing to have my only responsibilities be to wake up in the morning, pack up camp and ride my bike. It was as though I was a kid again, with parents looking after my food and shelter needs.
This summer wasn't all roses and lollipops, either. I remember tough days riding in the rain - out of Colorado Springs, and Imlay City - wanting only to find a cozy living room with a roaring fire and hot chocolate to warm my freezing bones. But there was heat, too! 45C days in California and Arizona, leaving camp at the crack of dawn to beat the heat wasn't the easiest of days, either. And the constant soreness in the legs after weeks on the bike. There were conflicts with other riders, and differences to be resolved in camp. There were grudges held about breakfast being too early, and noisy neighbors. There was the constant presence of people. And lineups for bathrooms and showers and food.
But that is community. There's tough, dark sides to living with people, but there are blessings, too. I remember having my tent set up when I arrived at camp after one particularly tough day on the road. Loads of laughter. Ice cream cake. More Euchre than one could ever think possible. Company while hanging out in laundromats. Even more laughter. Food. Bowling. Amber beer. #Eleveloing. The quest to find "Breaking Away" (which I found my first day back in Calgary!). So many good memories...
Without a doubt, the people made Sea to Sea the amazing experience it was.
So, was Sea to Sea a success? I was asked this question after the service tonight, and the conclusion from the discussion that followed is undoubtedly yes. The financial goal might not have been reached and the number of riders wasn't as high as expected, but hundreds of people we met on the streets across the continent were given a glimpse into the compassion and caring of the church. They saw in each rider the commitment of average people to this crazy notion that life on earth isn't about us. It's not about money, or diamonds, or high-falooting positions at work. We were commissioned by Jesus Christ to go out and be the hands and feet of God Himself, helping those who cannot help themselves. We are to seek out the poor and the destitute and the lost, and help restore their dignity.
Riding with the Sea to Sea this summer was more than an adventure; it was an opportunity to give people a glimpse of a Christian's way of seeing the world, a chance to make a statement about the importance of this way of thinking, and a means to raise money to provide tangible help to people who need the assistance of God's hands here on earth.
I would like to thank everybody who supported me in this dream, and who supported the Sea to Sea organization in their efforts to end the cycle of poverty. Your contributions and encouragements were essential to the success of this summer's adventure, and were incredibly uplifting to me as I rode.
I would also ask for your continued prayers for the partner organizations, and World Renew in particular, as they have been coordinating volunteer efforts close to my home - in the flood remediation in High River.
Am I done cycling? Never! I've been on the bike at least a dozen times since returning home, took part in the Tour of Alberta Challenge (finishing 15th overall!), and just bought a new full carbon bike with the intent of doing more races next year. I've also joined a power-based spin class here in Calgary to keep me going through the winter, and have been talking up the idea of Friday night movie & spin sessions in a garage or basement with a number of friends here. I probably won't ever log near as many hours on the bike as I did this summer, but the urge to spin is still there.
So, with those final thoughts, I'll close this awesome adventure, and put an end to this blog. Thanks for rolling with me.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Day 62 - Congers, NY to Staten Island, NY
Daily Stats:
Time: 4h32m32s
Distance: 94.15km
Avg Spd: 20.7km/hr
Climbing: 605m
We're done! We made it. The tires are dipped. The journey is complete. And what a ride it has been.
I intend to write a full follow-up in the coming days (once I'm home and unpacked), but for now I'll just recap the day and show some pictures of the ride and festivities.
The ride today was an easy one, and I would love to do it again one day. Our route took us along highway 9W through the Palisades, which is a hugely popular cycling route for the locals. The pavement is new, the hills roll continuously, there's virtually no traffic and the shoulders are wide. We cruised on this road for a while, then took a left and all of a sudden we were on the George Washington bridge... which was absolutely crazy busy with cyclists and runners, but totally amazing with a view of Manhattan.
We all met up at the Staten Island Ferry terminal just after 11am, and boarded the 11:30am ferry across the bay. We saw the Statue of Liberty from the distance, and reflected on our ancestors who arrived at Ellis Island many years ago, and what the statue meant to them at that time.
Offloading from the ferry, we staged behind a police car, and were escorted a few short blocks to Project Hospitality's building and parking lot for a few short words from the folks that would feed us dinner later. We then processed, en-mass, to Midland Beach for the tire dipping ceremony. It was a lengthy enough ride, but pretty cool to see everyone in their jerseys taking up the whole road and running red lights.
At the beach, we had what seemed to be very short periods of time to snap a few photos, pose for the official photographer to get his shots, dip our tires, circle up and pray, and then we were on the road again. Here are a few of my favorite shots from the beach...
Rich, Clement and Luke missed the ferry to get over to Staten Island, so arrived at the beach just as we were about to depart. Clement got a picture with us all on his camera, which I'll have to get later. We quickly piled them into Kaitlyn's parents' truck and they followed the procession to Mt Loretto, where we would clear out our baskets, box our bikes, eat our last banquet together and say our goodbyes.
A few short hours after dipping our tires, my bike was in a box, my baskets were emptied, and my bags were packed.
At 6:30 we had our final meal, followed by a brief presentation of memorable moments, and at 9pm my driver showed up and I had to duck away.
And just like that, the tour is over. 9 weeks. 6,057km. 6 flat tires. 1 fall. 2 laundry baskets. Desert Heat. Colorado mountains. Iowa rain. Ontario food. Memories for life. And friends for life.
Time: 4h32m32s
Distance: 94.15km
Avg Spd: 20.7km/hr
Climbing: 605m
We're done! We made it. The tires are dipped. The journey is complete. And what a ride it has been.
I intend to write a full follow-up in the coming days (once I'm home and unpacked), but for now I'll just recap the day and show some pictures of the ride and festivities.
The ride today was an easy one, and I would love to do it again one day. Our route took us along highway 9W through the Palisades, which is a hugely popular cycling route for the locals. The pavement is new, the hills roll continuously, there's virtually no traffic and the shoulders are wide. We cruised on this road for a while, then took a left and all of a sudden we were on the George Washington bridge... which was absolutely crazy busy with cyclists and runners, but totally amazing with a view of Manhattan.
Offloading from the ferry, we staged behind a police car, and were escorted a few short blocks to Project Hospitality's building and parking lot for a few short words from the folks that would feed us dinner later. We then processed, en-mass, to Midland Beach for the tire dipping ceremony. It was a lengthy enough ride, but pretty cool to see everyone in their jerseys taking up the whole road and running red lights.
At the beach, we had what seemed to be very short periods of time to snap a few photos, pose for the official photographer to get his shots, dip our tires, circle up and pray, and then we were on the road again. Here are a few of my favorite shots from the beach...
A few short hours after dipping our tires, my bike was in a box, my baskets were emptied, and my bags were packed.
At 6:30 we had our final meal, followed by a brief presentation of memorable moments, and at 9pm my driver showed up and I had to duck away.
And just like that, the tour is over. 9 weeks. 6,057km. 6 flat tires. 1 fall. 2 laundry baskets. Desert Heat. Colorado mountains. Iowa rain. Ontario food. Memories for life. And friends for life.
Friday, August 23, 2013
Day 61 - Hyde Park, NY to Congers, NY
Daily Stats:
Time: 4h03m15s
Distance: 92.55km
Avg Spd: 22.8km/hr
Climbing: 1,170m
Today was another rough day for me, and I wasn't in a good mood for most of the day. I could recount all the reasons why, but there's no point in reliving it all.
My legs hurt again, so I rode slowly. The Top Guns stuck with me for a bit, and ended up dropping me from SAG 1 to SAG 3, then we regrouped.
Our route took us over the Hudson River on the Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge. This bridge was built in 1889, and has recently be redone into a great pedestrian walking bridge.
The second half of the ride took us down the 9W highway, along the Hudson River, and through Bear Mountain State Park. It's a beautiful road, but without a shoulder, so it made for some sketchy moments. Here's a view from part-way up the hill.
Camp tonight is at Congers Lake Memorial Park. I've got my tent set up right on the lake. It's gorgeous. Except right across the lake are train tracks... hopefully they don't come through to frequently!
Tomorrow is our big entry into New York. Not sure what to expect, other than a short-ish ride, and a ride on the Staten Island ferry! Luke, Clement and Rich should be meeting me for the tire dipping on the island at 1:30pm, then we'll be packing up, having our farewell dinners. By 8pm tomorrow this tour will be done. Hard to believe. But it's been a riot.
And here's my final plug to ask for a donation. We've made it almost all the way, and tomorrow is the last day to donate. If you haven't made a donation yet, please follow this link and make a donation to help us reach our goal of $2M.
Time: 4h03m15s
Distance: 92.55km
Avg Spd: 22.8km/hr
Climbing: 1,170m
Today was another rough day for me, and I wasn't in a good mood for most of the day. I could recount all the reasons why, but there's no point in reliving it all.
My legs hurt again, so I rode slowly. The Top Guns stuck with me for a bit, and ended up dropping me from SAG 1 to SAG 3, then we regrouped.
Our route took us over the Hudson River on the Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge. This bridge was built in 1889, and has recently be redone into a great pedestrian walking bridge.
The second half of the ride took us down the 9W highway, along the Hudson River, and through Bear Mountain State Park. It's a beautiful road, but without a shoulder, so it made for some sketchy moments. Here's a view from part-way up the hill.
Camp tonight is at Congers Lake Memorial Park. I've got my tent set up right on the lake. It's gorgeous. Except right across the lake are train tracks... hopefully they don't come through to frequently!
Tomorrow is our big entry into New York. Not sure what to expect, other than a short-ish ride, and a ride on the Staten Island ferry! Luke, Clement and Rich should be meeting me for the tire dipping on the island at 1:30pm, then we'll be packing up, having our farewell dinners. By 8pm tomorrow this tour will be done. Hard to believe. But it's been a riot.
And here's my final plug to ask for a donation. We've made it almost all the way, and tomorrow is the last day to donate. If you haven't made a donation yet, please follow this link and make a donation to help us reach our goal of $2M.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Day 60 - Albany, NY to Hyde Park, NY
Daily Stats:
Time: 4h15m12s
Distance: 108.53km
Avg Spd: 25.5km/hr
Climbing: 819m
Today, I am as tired and sore as I have ever been. I rode slow, but had to leave my group at SAG 3 to ride even slower. I am becoming ever more ready to reach our destination, and give my weary legs a rest.
Despite the fatigue, the ride was beautiful today, through lush, treed backroads and many small towns on our way into Hyde Park.
We stopped just outside of Hudson at a McDonalds along the route for some early morning refreshment. It was here that I had perhaps the most awkward conversation with another patron in the men's restroom about the tour. And he didn't make a donation.
At SAG 2, however, Julie and Doug set up at a fruit stand, and the owner gave them a box of peaches for us to enjoy. They were a touch on the hard side, but still delicious.
Not much more to report about the ride today. Brandon was on the road after his chain break yesterday. We rode with Ryan, but didn't see any awesome road-side attractions to get #elevelo shots.
Camp tonight is a bit of a rough one in terms of facilities, but it is at a nice park. We are at Hackett Hill Park. We are again short on restroom facilities, and the showers were ice cold. We actually set up the outdoor showers in the field, as it was hot enough outside to make the ice water almost pleasant. Almost. There is an outdoor pool, but they are out of chlorine, so it was closed for our use.
The good news is we only have two more nights of sleeping in tents! Tonight and tomorrow! Saturday night I'll be in a real bed in a hotel in New York, and hanging out with my good friends Rich, Clement and Luke! After 9 weeks away from home and with minimal contact with friends there, I'm very much looking forward to some holiday time exploring the Big Apple with these guys.
I was thinking today about things that I will miss about life in camp and on the tour once we're done. I'll miss:
* Asking "What time is breakfast?" when it's always posted at 6:30, but served at 5:15
* Setting up and taking down my tent every night
* Clearing all the bugs out of my tent before sleeping every night
* Putting on sunscreen every morning
* Screeching owls singing us to sleep
* Cicadas/spiders/earwigs
* Qwirkle - the best tile/boardgame ever!
* "Sleeping in" until 6:10
* Ice cold showers
* Having my biggest worry be whether I'm on sweep-duty
* Eating as much as I can and want at every sitting
* Chamois butter as part of the morning routine
* And so much more...
Time: 4h15m12s
Distance: 108.53km
Avg Spd: 25.5km/hr
Climbing: 819m
Today, I am as tired and sore as I have ever been. I rode slow, but had to leave my group at SAG 3 to ride even slower. I am becoming ever more ready to reach our destination, and give my weary legs a rest.
Despite the fatigue, the ride was beautiful today, through lush, treed backroads and many small towns on our way into Hyde Park.
We stopped just outside of Hudson at a McDonalds along the route for some early morning refreshment. It was here that I had perhaps the most awkward conversation with another patron in the men's restroom about the tour. And he didn't make a donation.
At SAG 2, however, Julie and Doug set up at a fruit stand, and the owner gave them a box of peaches for us to enjoy. They were a touch on the hard side, but still delicious.
Not much more to report about the ride today. Brandon was on the road after his chain break yesterday. We rode with Ryan, but didn't see any awesome road-side attractions to get #elevelo shots.
Camp tonight is a bit of a rough one in terms of facilities, but it is at a nice park. We are at Hackett Hill Park. We are again short on restroom facilities, and the showers were ice cold. We actually set up the outdoor showers in the field, as it was hot enough outside to make the ice water almost pleasant. Almost. There is an outdoor pool, but they are out of chlorine, so it was closed for our use.
The good news is we only have two more nights of sleeping in tents! Tonight and tomorrow! Saturday night I'll be in a real bed in a hotel in New York, and hanging out with my good friends Rich, Clement and Luke! After 9 weeks away from home and with minimal contact with friends there, I'm very much looking forward to some holiday time exploring the Big Apple with these guys.
I was thinking today about things that I will miss about life in camp and on the tour once we're done. I'll miss:
* Asking "What time is breakfast?" when it's always posted at 6:30, but served at 5:15
* Setting up and taking down my tent every night
* Clearing all the bugs out of my tent before sleeping every night
* Putting on sunscreen every morning
* Screeching owls singing us to sleep
* Cicadas/spiders/earwigs
* Qwirkle - the best tile/boardgame ever!
* "Sleeping in" until 6:10
* Ice cold showers
* Having my biggest worry be whether I'm on sweep-duty
* Eating as much as I can and want at every sitting
* Chamois butter as part of the morning routine
* And so much more...
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Day 59 - Whitehall, NY to Albany, NY
Daily Stats:
Time: 5h10m13s
Distance: 123.17km
Avg Spd: 23.8km/hr
Climbing: 617m
Today was tough for me. I didn't think I went too hard yesterday, but I had nothing left in my legs today. The Top Guns wanted to ride together, but it was tough keeping the pace going.
We stopped for second breakfast at Eli's in Schuylerville, Saratoga for a delicious omelet. Mark blazed on ahead of us, and missed out as a result. Turns out this cafe, as well as the thrift store down the street were run in partnership with the Community Church that was also located on the street. (The thrift store did not have the movie we are searching for... our quest continues).
Most of our day was spent riding alongside the Hudson River, following the Champlain Canals. We started at Lock #12 and almost made it to Lock #1 in Albany.
Crossing the river at Albany was pretty sweet, too.
A bit of excitement came 4km from camp when Brandon snapped his chain going up the second last hill. We tried to break it open and shorten it up, but my tools were insufficient, and we didn't have the muscles to make it work. He ended up walking/scooting his bike up the hills, coasting down them, and I pushed him along on the flats. We made it to camp only a few minutes later than we otherwise would have. I think he's out now trying to find a bike shop to get a replacement.
Camp is at the Albany YMCA, so we had a sweet swim and hot-tub experience, and are now sitting around the building updating our blogs and checking our Facebooks.
Time: 5h10m13s
Distance: 123.17km
Avg Spd: 23.8km/hr
Climbing: 617m
Today was tough for me. I didn't think I went too hard yesterday, but I had nothing left in my legs today. The Top Guns wanted to ride together, but it was tough keeping the pace going.
We stopped for second breakfast at Eli's in Schuylerville, Saratoga for a delicious omelet. Mark blazed on ahead of us, and missed out as a result. Turns out this cafe, as well as the thrift store down the street were run in partnership with the Community Church that was also located on the street. (The thrift store did not have the movie we are searching for... our quest continues).
Most of our day was spent riding alongside the Hudson River, following the Champlain Canals. We started at Lock #12 and almost made it to Lock #1 in Albany.
Crossing the river at Albany was pretty sweet, too.
A bit of excitement came 4km from camp when Brandon snapped his chain going up the second last hill. We tried to break it open and shorten it up, but my tools were insufficient, and we didn't have the muscles to make it work. He ended up walking/scooting his bike up the hills, coasting down them, and I pushed him along on the flats. We made it to camp only a few minutes later than we otherwise would have. I think he's out now trying to find a bike shop to get a replacement.
Camp is at the Albany YMCA, so we had a sweet swim and hot-tub experience, and are now sitting around the building updating our blogs and checking our Facebooks.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Day 58 - Ausable Chasm, NY to Whitehall, NY
Daily Stats:
Time: 5h13m01s
Distance: 133.61km
Avg Spd: 25.6km/hr
Climbing: 1,815m
Today was a tough one. Heat, hills and headwind made the riding tough. But I rode with Ryan, and we took our time. The hills must have scared everyone, because at 7:25am, this was the scene in camp: (no tents, breakfast cleaned up, only a dozen riders kicking around).
Right out of camp, Ryan spotted a run down firetruck, and that started our #elevelo posing for the day. Throughout the day we got him on a bridge, on a wood pile, in an apple orchard, and in the archway of a church. Check out his pictures on his blog (thebicycleatlas.tumblr.com).
I also snapped a picture in the orchard, as it reminded me of hanging out in Grandpa Zwaagstra's orchard back in the day...
Yesterday we stopped for ice cream across the street from the World's Largest Macintosh orchard, and thought of him again, wishing my camera battery wasn't dead.
The riding today was gorgeous, but challenging. We climbed a ton. Over 6,000ft. The roads were fresh pavement with good shoulders, or minimal traffic. It was rolling hills, though, so we would go down one only to turn a corner and face another uphill. The town of Port Henry, in particular, had a nasty 14% grade to get up into town.
All day, we cruised along with Lake Champlain on our distance left, and passed through a new town every 10-20 miles. In Willsboro we stopped at a bakery. In Westport we stopped for a drink at Everybody's Market, and were surprised with a huge selection of VHS' and DVDs that we perused in our ongoing attempt to locate "Breaking Away". We were unsuccessful.
In Moriah, we left town, and I saw a sign on the left of the road that I had to stop to check out. Turns out Lake Champlain, like Okanagan Lake (which my hometown of Kelowna sits beside), has a lake monster named "Champ". He is remarkably similar-looking to Ogopogo, but has a heart on his tail, and could possibly have been sighted more frequently than his Canadian brethren. The sign actually lists all the people who have supposedly spotted him, along with the date. Sightings go back to 1609 when Samuel de Champlain first caught sight of the beast.
Camp tonight is an interesting one... we're at Whitehall Marina RV Park. There's not much room for tenting, and there's not much for facilities. Think three toilets for 150 people... line ups are going to be long in the morning! Contrary to what the name implies, the park is actually a peninsula that juts into a swamp, and the actual marina is right next to the river and lock system another 500m up the road. But there is hookups for our gear and kitchen trailers, and we are finding refuge in the pub/restaurant in the marina.
Time: 5h13m01s
Distance: 133.61km
Avg Spd: 25.6km/hr
Climbing: 1,815m
Today was a tough one. Heat, hills and headwind made the riding tough. But I rode with Ryan, and we took our time. The hills must have scared everyone, because at 7:25am, this was the scene in camp: (no tents, breakfast cleaned up, only a dozen riders kicking around).
Right out of camp, Ryan spotted a run down firetruck, and that started our #elevelo posing for the day. Throughout the day we got him on a bridge, on a wood pile, in an apple orchard, and in the archway of a church. Check out his pictures on his blog (thebicycleatlas.tumblr.com).
I also snapped a picture in the orchard, as it reminded me of hanging out in Grandpa Zwaagstra's orchard back in the day...
Yesterday we stopped for ice cream across the street from the World's Largest Macintosh orchard, and thought of him again, wishing my camera battery wasn't dead.
The riding today was gorgeous, but challenging. We climbed a ton. Over 6,000ft. The roads were fresh pavement with good shoulders, or minimal traffic. It was rolling hills, though, so we would go down one only to turn a corner and face another uphill. The town of Port Henry, in particular, had a nasty 14% grade to get up into town.
All day, we cruised along with Lake Champlain on our distance left, and passed through a new town every 10-20 miles. In Willsboro we stopped at a bakery. In Westport we stopped for a drink at Everybody's Market, and were surprised with a huge selection of VHS' and DVDs that we perused in our ongoing attempt to locate "Breaking Away". We were unsuccessful.
In Moriah, we left town, and I saw a sign on the left of the road that I had to stop to check out. Turns out Lake Champlain, like Okanagan Lake (which my hometown of Kelowna sits beside), has a lake monster named "Champ". He is remarkably similar-looking to Ogopogo, but has a heart on his tail, and could possibly have been sighted more frequently than his Canadian brethren. The sign actually lists all the people who have supposedly spotted him, along with the date. Sightings go back to 1609 when Samuel de Champlain first caught sight of the beast.
Camp tonight is an interesting one... we're at Whitehall Marina RV Park. There's not much room for tenting, and there's not much for facilities. Think three toilets for 150 people... line ups are going to be long in the morning! Contrary to what the name implies, the park is actually a peninsula that juts into a swamp, and the actual marina is right next to the river and lock system another 500m up the road. But there is hookups for our gear and kitchen trailers, and we are finding refuge in the pub/restaurant in the marina.
Monday, August 19, 2013
Day 57 - Montreal, QC to Ausable Chasm, NY
Daily Stats:
Time: 4h30m27s
Distance: 123.02km
Avg Spd: 27.3km/hr
Climbing: 485m
Quick post tonight as we are at a camp ground with mediocre internet that will be shut down soon...
Average ride today - not too long, not too hilly. We rode through some great bike trails before leaving Canada, and had gorgeous pavement through most of the roads into camp on the American side.
We're at Ausable Chasm Campground tonight, right beside this awesome chasm. It is perhaps the most touristy natural spot I've ever seen. You need to pay to walk the trails, pay to tube the river, and pay to get closer than the road over the chasm from where this picture was taken.
Highlights today:
* Sculpture garden, including an iron representation of the Last Supper
* Swimming in the pool at the campground
* Entering back into the USA!
Time: 4h30m27s
Distance: 123.02km
Avg Spd: 27.3km/hr
Climbing: 485m
Quick post tonight as we are at a camp ground with mediocre internet that will be shut down soon...
Average ride today - not too long, not too hilly. We rode through some great bike trails before leaving Canada, and had gorgeous pavement through most of the roads into camp on the American side.
We're at Ausable Chasm Campground tonight, right beside this awesome chasm. It is perhaps the most touristy natural spot I've ever seen. You need to pay to walk the trails, pay to tube the river, and pay to get closer than the road over the chasm from where this picture was taken.
Highlights today:
* Sculpture garden, including an iron representation of the Last Supper
* Swimming in the pool at the campground
* Entering back into the USA!
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