Teamwork does make life easier! Like getting up and breaking up camp on a cold dark wet morning at 5am if you went to bed at 1:30am making all possible use of the school's wireless internet access,that has become one of the most sought after conveniences on the tour. Kobie is an early bird and I am a night owl, that's why I lived much more of my life being awake than sleeping. But together we achieve more, for sure! Today was to be a shorter hilly ride with two steep 8 to 10% climbs, that turned out to be quad biters but nothing like Rabbit's ears pass was. The odd hill kicked up at 12% but for those we just stood up and buldozed up them.
Kobie, our arrow painter, went out real early, and I had a leisurely breakfast after he left, feeling a bit dim and sleepy. It was cold and most wore jackets. Fall is surely approaching and we can see the leaves are starting to turn on some trees. Upon leaving I realized that the front tire I just inflated had deflated itself when I turned my back. Not sure if the valve was malfunctioning I rather replaced the tube. I left much later with a group of delightful youths like Hans Doef. They were singing and laughing ...keeping a relaxed constant pace that allowed me to enjoy the surroundings while keeping an eye on the road surface as well. Most falls result of distraction or lack of concentration on what is happening in the 24" ahead of one's front tire. The road had huge potholes at times, especially after we entered Pennsylvania. I wondered out loud how many cars may have disappeared down those craters...
The hazy morningscapes later cleared up to reveal some smooth ponds reflecting perfect inverted mirror images of colourful wild flowers and lush vegetation framed by huge trees. We travelled along rivers for long stretches, the road was therefore mostly level. At Julie's SAG stop on the border of Pennsylvania, it was time for Kodak moments again, with cyclists milling around the signboard for photos. There was Dale again, and we rode together for the rest of the ride. Dale is now really fit after almost 9 weeks of intensive training (he signed up one week before the start of the tour, and got his new bike only 3 days before!)...so we cruised mostly at 35km/h or more along the holey roads. Entering a town we came upon a house that was converted into a museum of old Coke memorabilia, old gas pumps, and even Superman in a phone booth! So cute! Later we crossed under two enormous concrete train bridges/aqua ducts built between 1912 and 1915, probably with the big money of the tycoons of that time, as a pride thing for America. They are 240 feet high and really impressive, like the wall in China! At a broad quiet river I photographed a lovely reflection of this exceptional structure with its arches, while two blue King fishers were skimming the water surface looking to catch some fish unawares.
The ride up the steep hills turned out to be fun, but we worked up a good sweat in the process. At some stage we saw the gear truck in the distance behind us, and knowing it won't be able to travel too fast along the winding and steep narrow road, proceeded to try and beat it to the camp! This almost cost me dearly, as the turnoff arrow appeared suddenly while we were tearing down a hill. I braked hard and took the right hand turn way too fast, causing my back tire to skid out wide and I could already feel the ground coming up to meet me like a grater to cheese....! Instinctively I released the brakes, eased my grip on the handlebars and used the momentum and every inch of pavement to let the bike right itself. Wow...close call for sure...
The camp site is way up a hillside with very rough roads leading up to there, which caused Dale to long for his mountain bike like I did. The terrain is awesome, tucked between fantastic trees. As I was the first girl through the shower, fortunate to get hot water, I used it very sparingly, thinking of the many that would follow behind me. It was still early and at 2pm I finished putting up Gayle's and Claire's tents and decided to take a sweet nap while Kobie went out to paint the first stretch of tomorrow's arrows. That sleep was really so awesome and healing! After a nice chilli dinner, peloton started in the fading light. we had a special time and some cyclists shared thoughts about their experience of the tour. Mary Dracht said that she was so aware of God empowering her every day, every step of the way since Seattle. She knew that it was impossible to do in her own strength and just asked for grace for one day at a time...and the Lord was ever faithful! Bill Dracht mentioned that he had a triple bypass some 20years ago in Michigan, which was supposed to last around 12 years....and here he was, pedalling across the continent, defying those odds by the grace of God! Fred Myerink commented on how amazingly adaptable the body is, and how the physical dissipline has transformed us all! The positive "I can" attitudes paid off and this encouraging, caring community nurtured us all along to achieve far more that we ever thought we were able to!! The love and faithful support and prayers of our loved ones at home, and the enthusiastic support of our church friends at home and along the route made all the difference and empowered us to give our best day after day, enduring the hardest parts with a smile despite the dripping perspiration and perhaps a tear at times. We still look forward to getting on that chafing triangle of thorns every morning, knowing that we are an integral part of "doing something beautiful" that is so far bigger than anything we could ever dream to do on our own! We see the world and society now in a much different light and broader scope, with sincere caring concern for those less privileged and hopefully a permanent involvement in making a real tangible difference in future wherever God has placed us to live.
This labour of love has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life! I had the opportunity to put in practice the most valuable life and relational skills taught to me by a most precious friend, and to prove that a positive, faith filled attitude can pull one, and those around one, through the toughest situations imaginable. I can see how my fellow cyclists developed and matured on the tour, and how the fruit of the Spirit grew in their lives...and I hope in mine too. It will be hard to so leave this caring community, with the great friendships we establihed, and the fabulous times of total freedom, tearing holes in the wind! The luxury of being truly happy like a child in enjoying the moment... the rides, the chats, the coffee times, laying one's tired body to rest on the green grass....savouring the simplest pleasures and appreciating what God has blessed us with in a renewed way! No one of us has been left unchanged...and I pray that Jesus through His spirit will continue the work that He has started in each of us. I learned that "I can" make a difference...I can "choose" to make a difference...in my own life, my family life, my church and community life, and in the lives of those who never had even the most basic choices that we take for granted! I can empower myself and I can empower others....attitudes are created. I can choose to be a positive encourager, no matter what!
Right now I'm sitting in the kitchen trailer in Lackawanna State Park, writing this blog at around midnight, for the simple reason that I need a power outlet, and it is warm in here, light in here, dry in here and there are no prowling bears in here...I wonder what was that noise I just heard outside the door....the door leading to our tent a hundred yards away in the dark....?!
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