We had an awesome ride into Jersey City. It is a heavily populated area and so we were required to have police escorts for the final 10 miles. Not just one but 3 different police forces took a part in this adventure. We had our route all mapped out but it rained and one of the roads that we had intended to take was under 6 inches of water. A dangerous situation. It would be slippery, our brakes would not work, our feet would get wet (worse yet for the recumbents)and we would have no idea where the potholes were to enable us to call them out to others so we could avoid them and possible spills. The route was adjusted and off we went.
The state police led us out of the parking lot, stopping all traffic to allow us to proceed as a 1/4 mile long procession of cyclists all dressed in our C2C jerseys. It was quite a sight! We rode right through traffic signals and entered the blocked off highway amidst honks and waving of many who sat in their cars and watched in amazement. Once we got into Jersey City the City police took over. Sirens blared as they leap frogged from street to street to ensure that we remained safe. What a blessing! Many people stood in doorways and bicycles along the way joined in as we continued our way to Liberty State Park where the Liberty State park police took over the procession and led us to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.
Together we offered a prayer and together we walked to the waters edge to dip our tires into the water. We made it. Our journey was over. Praise God.
The ride across North America on our bicycles is finished but not the work nor the purpose of the ride. We will all continue on our quest to help end the cycle of poverty. The tour changes you. We are more aware of all the things we have but do not really 'need', after we all lived out of 2 laundry baskets for 9 full weeks. The vastness of our homes that we once thought were too small (our bed is bigger than our entire tent), the assortment of food we get to chose from, clothes without holes or stains. We are so blessed! We have so much stuff. Why?
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Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
tomorrow is our final ride
I am once again reeling from the after effects of an asthma attack but oddly enough this time I am not as upset. I seem to have resigned myself to the fact that I will need some serious rest (to my lungs) before I can attack these hills. Even the flats have become a great deal of work as I labour at breathing rythmically.
This is very beautiful country to drive and ride through. Every so often as we pass by a cyclist grinding uphill, I get a jealousy pang (I know how odd is that) and feel a loss but for the most part I am happy that Paul, Cynthia and the others are able to enjoy the ride. What will tomorrow bring?
Our welcome into the States was almost magical. You could see God's hand at work in how lanes were opened just for the cyclists as we crossed the Rainbow Bridge and we did not even have to show any ID of any sort. We just rode right across, one by one while border guards counted us. I have never had such an easy crossing before in my lifetime. It was wonderful.
I am partial to the East. I love the trees, hills and most of all, the history and architecture of the area. The vast array of gardens, antebellum and colonial homes of the past, old barns and churches. You can see the care and thought that is put into every detail. Yesterday we were able to see a few of the old bridges in Pennsylvania. Vast, mighty, structures that just take your breath away.
Now we are at the end of our journey. Or are we? Is this just the beginning? Can you ever really know until you step out in faith whether the path you take is the beginning of a journey or the end of one? This tour will change our lives. Permanently. The changes may have already taken place or they may be slow and gradual but change will happen. Please pray for us all, that we will be ready to continue on in our quest to help the poor, that we will see where God is leading us, and that we will answer when he calls, "Who will go?"
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Sunday August 24
We are fed, watered and waiting, just like livestock. We are well cared for and have everything we stand in need of, even more than we need. We have it really good. It makes it rather heart-wrenching at times when we think of all that we are being given - often without any need or even desire - and we are supposed to be raising awareness and funds to help end the cycle of poverty. Why is it so often that those who have much are given more and those who are in need are neglected and overlooked? What can we do? The questions remain...
We do understand that we are being cared for and treated by those who are in support of the cause and want to do what they can to encourage us and enable us to complete our task. And we really appreciate it. We don't have enough words to express our appreciation. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Today is Sunday. We will be going to another celebration this afternoon. It is outdoors and right now it is raining. I wonder how well it will be attended. In essence it doesn't really matter how many attend just that the message goes across to the people who need to hear it and God has a wonderful way of making that happen no matter what the circumstances.
Tomorrow we leave Canada again. This time it will only be for a week and then we will have to make the transition back to our regular everyday lives. This can be really hard (I remember from the last tour). The tour has a way of changing you in ways you never thought possible. Our homes will seem massively large. Being inside will seem oppressive. There will be so much clutter.... Why do have so much stuff? And these are only some of the tangible things.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
end of week update
Hello Everyone,
I haven't had the opportunity to blog since Wednesday. I've been so busy talking with everyone who came out to see us. The welcome into Canada was great! Thank you everyone, you did an awesome job in Sombra and also in Chatham. People are still talking about it. I did get a chance to see many of you but if you came out and we never touched base, I do apologize. Thank you none the less for all your support and for giving it the effort of trying to touch base.
We had a late start on Thursday out of Chatham since we needed to be at the radio station at 8:15. The interview went well and we were only 2 hours behind the main group of cyclists. A special thank you to my brother Tony for having coffee with us before we left and for Bill Visser who treated us to breakfast. It was much appreciated.
Once again we had numerous stops along the way. We met Jack and Crystal Koopman and then a little while later our children, Dave and Sharon VanDuynhoven along with their son Tyler met up with us. We were in no hurry to get anywhere so we just stopped by the side of the road and visited for a while. It was really nice. When we got to London my brother Ron and his 3 children, Sharon (again) and Paul's sister Betty came to visit and we all went out to supper together. It is good to get away from camp every once in a while.
Friday morning was very humid and smoggy. I woke up feeling quite poorly and having difficulty catching my breath. The ride was really hard. I was gulping for air. I knew there was a stop in Woodstock and I wanted to get that far but it was getting more and more difficult as the minutes and kilometers added up. When I got there, I could no longer speak. It takes too much air to project your voice and I just didn't have it. I looked for the nurse immediately and told her I needed to see a doctor. We went to the nearest hospital. I spent almost 4 hours there with her. I had chest X-rays, a nebulizer treatment and have received two additional medications to take. I now have to take 2 puffs of symbicort, 2 puffs of ventolin and 2 puffs of atroven (I think thats what it is called) and prednisone every 4 hours. I feel like a walking drugstore.
Our reception at Redeemer was once again a wonderful event. We were fed well and received well. Canada is doing a great job! I actually met up with Helen Vreugdenhil and Marsha Batterink (sorry I forgot your married name). Its so good to meet all the people you know when we are usually only meeting new people on a daily basis. Supper is ready so I gotta go. I, along with all the other cyclists, like to eat.
Next week is the last week. We are excited. It is our new goal. Dipping our tires in the Ocean and finally, ultimately heading back home to our families.
Teresa.
It is tough to leave Teresa with Betsy, our on the road nurse, and not find out until the end of the ride if she is OK. I am so glad that she is OK.
At Redeemer, I saw a familiar face as well and we spoke for a bit. It was Tim Wolfert, formerly of Chatham and now working at Redeemer. He asked me to say hi to Uncle Joe and Aunt Suzie.
Paul.
I haven't had the opportunity to blog since Wednesday. I've been so busy talking with everyone who came out to see us. The welcome into Canada was great! Thank you everyone, you did an awesome job in Sombra and also in Chatham. People are still talking about it. I did get a chance to see many of you but if you came out and we never touched base, I do apologize. Thank you none the less for all your support and for giving it the effort of trying to touch base.
We had a late start on Thursday out of Chatham since we needed to be at the radio station at 8:15. The interview went well and we were only 2 hours behind the main group of cyclists. A special thank you to my brother Tony for having coffee with us before we left and for Bill Visser who treated us to breakfast. It was much appreciated.
Once again we had numerous stops along the way. We met Jack and Crystal Koopman and then a little while later our children, Dave and Sharon VanDuynhoven along with their son Tyler met up with us. We were in no hurry to get anywhere so we just stopped by the side of the road and visited for a while. It was really nice. When we got to London my brother Ron and his 3 children, Sharon (again) and Paul's sister Betty came to visit and we all went out to supper together. It is good to get away from camp every once in a while.
Friday morning was very humid and smoggy. I woke up feeling quite poorly and having difficulty catching my breath. The ride was really hard. I was gulping for air. I knew there was a stop in Woodstock and I wanted to get that far but it was getting more and more difficult as the minutes and kilometers added up. When I got there, I could no longer speak. It takes too much air to project your voice and I just didn't have it. I looked for the nurse immediately and told her I needed to see a doctor. We went to the nearest hospital. I spent almost 4 hours there with her. I had chest X-rays, a nebulizer treatment and have received two additional medications to take. I now have to take 2 puffs of symbicort, 2 puffs of ventolin and 2 puffs of atroven (I think thats what it is called) and prednisone every 4 hours. I feel like a walking drugstore.
Our reception at Redeemer was once again a wonderful event. We were fed well and received well. Canada is doing a great job! I actually met up with Helen Vreugdenhil and Marsha Batterink (sorry I forgot your married name). Its so good to meet all the people you know when we are usually only meeting new people on a daily basis. Supper is ready so I gotta go. I, along with all the other cyclists, like to eat.
Next week is the last week. We are excited. It is our new goal. Dipping our tires in the Ocean and finally, ultimately heading back home to our families.
Teresa.
It is tough to leave Teresa with Betsy, our on the road nurse, and not find out until the end of the ride if she is OK. I am so glad that she is OK.
At Redeemer, I saw a familiar face as well and we spoke for a bit. It was Tim Wolfert, formerly of Chatham and now working at Redeemer. He asked me to say hi to Uncle Joe and Aunt Suzie.
Paul.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Wednesday
Today we are in Canada! What an exciting and long awaited moment. It seems surreal. We are in our own home, doing laundry, talking on our phone, typing on our computer, and there is a TV in the room but best of all, we have our family around us. God is good. The sad and real part of today is that this is a tour where people can and do get hurt and today was another day when a cyclist was once again injured in a fall. We do have 9 more cycling days and we do need your continued prayers. Thank you for the prayers you have offered on our behalf so far. Thank you for coming out to meet and greet us. For allowing us to shower and sleep in your homes and for feeding us a sumptuous meal.
Regardless of whether you are cycling, praying, financially contributing or supporting in any imaginable way, thank you and may God bless you in your efforts. At the end of the day, in all we do and say, may God be praised.
Goodnight, tonight I sleep in my own bed.
Tuesday
Today we rode another century. There was a stiff breeze blowing from the NE. Perfect for those going in the opposite direction - for us - not so much... I think what spurred us on was the excitement of entering Canada. For many of us this will be the first time to see family in over 7 weeks. We are pumped! We are excited! I hope we can sleep tonight.
Tomorrow we will all meet at the staging area by 9:30 am. Then at 10 we will begin crossing. There will be so many people there. I have my passport already in my hipsack. I'm sleeping in my own bed tomorrow night. Awesome!
The roads today had no shoulders, were really rough and broken and were fairly busy. We were warned that hwy 53 was busy and fast. They were so right, we flew down that section(35 - 40km per hour)!
It was really hilly in Dryden. After numerous big hills and thousands of unmarked potholes we came across a sign that said 'bump' right in front of us was a small hill (like the size of an overpass). It was so perfect. There was no bump in the road but the hill could be dfined as a mere 'bump'.
The last 10 miles were brutal. The wind was fierce and I was pulling, we worked so hard, I was quickly becoming deflated. Then suddenly we were there and it was all over again for another day.
blog update
Monday
We were sweep but we had a nice headwind and only 100km to cover so we were in camp fairly early. We had our first line-up for showers today. I guess the extra 60 riders does make a difference! Two days till Chatham! Woo hoo!
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