The Big Ride 2006

News from the Team

Still finding sand in our hair... - 8/11/2006

Latest Checkpoint: Finish - Highlands, NJ
Distance: 3560 Miles

Well folks, the Lord brought us through an AMAZING trip, of which the fruit of our labors will hopefully be felt for generations. We're almost at $14,000 on our fundraising page, and know more will continue to come in. Please pray for the use of the money raised so far, and for money to continue to be raised and used to save lives and souls. Read on about our LAST day!

We started off with a great continental breakfast at the Hampton Inn we stayed at. Terry joined us for breakfast, and we talked with a nice family from Michigan for a while, as they were very interested in the trip. We hit the road mid morning, and found the final stretch of New Jersey much easier than the first. The roads we rode on were really quite nice, with moderate traffic and plenty of room to ride on. We hit two different road closings but after asking permission we were allowed to move on through. We took a break 22 miles in and studied a large map in the gas station to finalize our route to Highlands.

Part way into the afternoon we were dumped on. Even with rain gear on the length and amount of rain still managed to get us pretty wet. It let up, and we soon found ourselves cresting a small hill to an amazing site- a large, flat, deep blue horizon- the ATLANTIC!!! After getting our hearts back into normal rhythm, we realized we still had over 2 hours until we were to hit the beach. However this was part of the plan, to get there plenty early since we did not know what to expect with the roads and traffic. So we talked to a very welcoming local named Peter, and he suggested a restaurant right before the bridge to the island called Off the Hook. We had a great meal there and hid the bikes around back so family and friends driving in wouldn't see us yet. It proceeded to rain cats and dogs two more times before we went back out, just to make sure all of our shoes left out to dry were filled with water. We walked up to Twin Lights, a historic site up on the hill with a great view of Gateway Recreation Area Island. The skies looked ominous, and the thunder rolled. Were we going to have to do our ceremonial dip in the rain? Would we have to hide the cameras and miss out on picture opportunities? There was some doubt, but a peace that we'd be fine.

Sure enough, as soon as we hopped on the bikes and started to cross the bridge the skies lightened, and the sun started to fight through. A faint rainbow formed to our right over the ocean as we rode our last two miles up the road to the visitor center where family and friends waited. We formed a line four wide, and suddenly felt a lot of pressure to appear as if we actually knew what we're doing. From a distance the visitor center came into view and a person in an orange shirt stood at the entrance.

Erin's Pap waved us in and an orange World Vision shirt hung waving in the breeze 20 feet above the ground. Soon an eruption of cheers and screams proceeded and through the bushes we saw a cloud of witnesses that brought tears to the eyes. Signs welcomed us and cameras flashed as we pulled into the parking lot, and emotions welled up. Soon we were engulfed with hugs and kisses; we made it!!!

We took the bikes up the ramp and over the dune. Let me tell you- it is hard enough to walk touring bikes loaded down with gear let alone doing it in soft sand for 100 yards! We couldn't let anyone else do it, it was our last duty. We walked them right down to the water’s edge and let out a cheer! Of course the tires started to sink, the waves came up higher than expected and sloshed our bikes in salt water and sand, and we then had an even harder time of trying to get them out of the water! We cringed as the sound of sand on our disc brakes squealed and crunched, but we got the bikes up and laid them on our panniers.

What was next besides going ALL the way in?! The four of us grabbed hands, had a quick count down and plunged into the Atlantic! We whooped and hollered, swam around and soaked it all in. It would be hard to explain the feelings running through our heads, and it almost didn't seem real. We finally realized it may be awkward that no one else was in the water, so we came out and took more pictures.

We headed out and rinsed our bikes off in the outside showers, and everyone gathered for the cake and snacks. Nate's mom made a wonderful cake with images of children holding a thank you banner, and an arrow from the Pacific to the Atlantic. Christie’s parents provided lots of drinks, and of course the Ingram family managed to bring four half gallons of Penn State Creamery ice cream, and we enjoyed the food and festivities until dusk.

It is really hard to believe it is over. In some ways it feels like just yesterday we were preparing for the trip, and in some ways it seems like we've been gone forever. We've oddly enough enjoyed being away from the "real world," stripping down to the basic necessities of life and avoiding the negativity and self-centeredness of our culture.

We truly hope our trip has been an inspiration, and that people have experienced the love of Christ through us and this endeavor. We pray the money raised helps children orphaned by AIDS, and that all of you will lift them up in prayer and seek how you can do more to help those in need. We pray you seek the Lord's purpose and will for your lives in Christ Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, Savior of the world. To Him be the honor and glory!

PLEASE consider coming to our slide show picnic, refer to the most recent postings for details. Special thanks to Jason Lee for keeping an eye on the website and keeping it running smoothly!!!

We will post another page with statistics of the trip, along with an informational list of everything we took along for your interest or reference for those wanting to learn more about touring by bike.

God bless you all, keep in touch, peace to you in Jesus Christ!

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