I have been reflecting back on the 2009 Michigan-Florida ride alot lately. So.  I wanted to share the post I wrote from the last day of that ride.  I can't believe how close we all got.  I can't wait to see most of these peoples in something like 77 days! :)

 

Today we did not say “good bye”. We said I can’t wait to see you next time and good luck in the adventures of life until we meet again. 

As I look back and recap, its hard to believe that 5 weeks have escaped us already. Everyday was a blessing in itself. I’m not quite sure how to recap it all other than saying: God called, we answered God, we were blessed along the way, and we all know it was right.

The memories and bonds we created are endless. I know I personally will never forget the homeowners we helped, the family we created as a team, the everlasting friendships, and entering every state by bicycle. I know we all thought that biking the distance would be our greatest accomplishment on this trip. But, I think for all of us, it was so much more than biking. It was a step closer to ending poverty housing. Sharing about the ministry and helping first hand.

I don’t think we kept as good of stats as last years riders in who had the most flats, first, last, the amount of water or Gatorade consumed.
Melissa has the best tan lines and the first to receive two flats in one day.

Michael enjoyed getting someone lost daily (Just kidding Papa Bear, thank you for being a great route leader).

Esther was the funniest by far and the only one to get bitten by a 4 legged friend.

Erika and Eric enjoyed spending money on new tubes and are the flat leaders of the trip.

Nick had the police looking for him after he missed all the rests stops for a day, and played every piano he seen.

Dave Steer is always found riding with someone, and sharing about the FC.

Krystal is the caregiver of Millie/Sharky the shark and was our team doctor. ( I visited her for my foot hurting one day and ended up with a ice pack on my neck).

Kristina always made sure we had Sweet Sweet Tea and was the most likely to be found napping.

David Snell pedaled hard the last day and was our most honorable rider.

Emily was the only one on the trip who never got a flat tire.

I, Megan, was the only one who got a broken spoke. 3 one time and 7 two days later. I just gave up and bought a new wheel.

Thad enjoyed playing the guitar and signing worship songs for everyone. He was also our team eye doctor.

Lisa was pretty famous everywhere that had Fuller Centers because of her experience with Fuller Center El Salvador and her bike Aretha enjoyed singing to us daily.

Kyle carried his video recorder regiously for the first two weeks and never complained when he got lost.

Ryan and Esther are most likely to get lost and also most likely to get on the interstate. And Ryan earned the nickname of wrong way Ryan.

Susan was the fastest lady by far and we missed her the last 2 weeks.

Becky was the kindest person and we are Thankful she joined for 2 weeks, we missed the first 3.

Hannah Joy enjoyed taking naps after the ride and enjoyed taking pictures almost as much as Esther.

Tony was the man we wished we never had to say good bye too.

Ivan always wanted to be busy. He never took naps.

Chris was great to have for a few days. It was wonderful to hear about last year, and that he still spreads the word of good faith and works with the Fuller Center.

Tamara’s passion shared to everyone. She was the "most grateful to be here" award.

Until we meet again we will not forget each other, the bonds we created are everlasting. I know we answered god’s calling by participating in as Ryan calls it the new Triathlon: Biking, Building, and Speaking. This is just the start of our next adventure.

See everyone soon.

Oyee!

All photo credits are given to Esther Hyejin Chung

Kansas City Chiefs player endorses Fuller Center bike ride

Every Thursday Allan the director of the Fuller Center Bike Adventure sends out a email with our donation update totals.  And posts on facebook the top fundraisers. Thanks friends and family.  I'm now in the top 5.  5th.  But at least I know I'm making progress and almost 50% the way across country and 50% towards meeting my fundraising goal.  I can make it to town called Craig, CO. (July 5th) CO is a big state.  phew. 

I can't look at the countdown to the trip because its approaching too soon.  Don't get me wrong.  I want the trip to start tommorrow.  But the reality is I need every of these days to be able to afford the trip.  Infact, double the amount of days would be even better.  Not only do I need to be able to pay  my June, July and August bills (student loans, phone, insurance, car insurance, cc debit etc).  But also September.  I also have recieved 11 save the dates for this summer.  11!!  I also have 4 friends who are expecting in September.  The bills and gifts I need to buy keep stacking up.  Yikes.  Plus trip expesnes.  Flight there, Flight to come home a few days early for a wedding that I'm in (dress, gift, hotel, and gas to get there), 1 meal a week, plus spending money (I wont have much) and money for bike maintenace.  Ugh.  So excited, but as the days get closer I just keep praying that it will all work out.  Anyone need there lawn raked? 

78 days... eek.  I need to raise $28.00 a day (I'm perfectly fine with 28 $1.00 donations) in order to meet my fundraising goals.  Please consider helping.  Just click here!

Thank you!

I love shopping local.... I usually shop local.  I don't mind spending the extra money to support local business.  I ALWAYS buy gas from the mom and pop gas station in town versus the Kroger and or other ones that own more than one.  

Yesterday I bought a new bike computer without shopping around. I returned it today.  As much as it hurts me to do this.  I have to save every penny I can.  I still wont be shopping at the Kroger in Milan, Sorry they are just to rude to get my business, I don't care that I'd save a couple of dollars and I'm proud of the fact I have not been there sense they opened the gas station.  The bike computer which I purchased at Two Wheel Tango was double wireless (cadence, speed, distance, time etc) for $99.00.  On Amazon it is $62.00 with free shipping.  I budgeted spending $100.00 on a new bike computer.  My last one was a specialized one, with a mount for 2 bicycles and had a computer doc to upload rides.  I loved it, but unfortunately something happened to a sensor under the computer where it hit the dock station on the bike and for the computer.  But it lasted 3 years.  Cat Eye Adventure which does cadence, speed, distance, time, altitude, speed of descent and highest temp.  Obviously sounds much cooler for a road trip going through the mountains.  It will be cool to see the altitude reached, miles climbed and etc.  Amazon wins again.  Amazon $101 (two whole dollars more than the one I org bought) and Two Wheel Tango at $147.00. 

Well... you would think I'd be sold on the Cat Eye Adventure now.  I can get a great deal, even though I'm ashamed to not be buying it local.  However.... the Sigma Sport Rox 8.0 has better reviews and is in the same price range at most stores as the Cat Eye Adventure.  Amazon has it for $143.00, REI for $200.00.  I have a $30.00 gift cert to Amazon.  Making it seem like its $113.00.  For the $13.00 cash more that I'll be spending on it, I'm pleased with the purchase.  I just don't have it now.  Have to wait for it to come in the mail. But.... it just makes more sense.  Sorry Two Wheel Tango. 

For all you bike nerds here are the specs
 

Esthers bike got stolen :(

My friend Esther recently had her bike stolen. We rode Michigan to Florida together the summer of 2009.  Her bicycle (even though it doesn't have the best seat) is her best friend.  Not only does she use it as her main mode of transportation, she needs it to do a week of the Fuller Center Bike Adventure with me.  Now, I love my bike.  But she is really obsessed with her bike.  Not only that, they are expensive pieces of our life's that we spend hours with.  If my bicycle was stolen today I would be heart broken.  I can't afford a new one and even if I could I'd like to give it the proper goodbye.  And get the yellow smiley guy we got in some town along our route (ugh... I wish i could remember all these names... I will be much better about blogging this time.  I remember it was the town that we slept on cots... and there was that room in the upstairs of the church that had the roaches.. I was so scared of them, I slept with my bag on my cot and really never got any sleep).

Long story short.  I hope Esther's bike gets returned.  I'm sad for her and I want her to do a week of this years ride with me.  Praying for your Bike Esther.

Every dollar donation really matters (that's why I have deleted my honor roll on my fundraising page Some people are embarrassed to make a $5.00 donation. I'm crying of how thankful I'm for $5.00 donation.  From now on.... Don't be shy.   Help me raise $3,600 for the Fuller Center....even if its a dollar from 3,600 individuals.  I'm more than okay with that)

$15 = Box of Nails
$25 = 1 gallon of paint
$50 = 1 box of flooring tiles
$75 = Enough nails to build one house!
$100 = 3 bundles of roofing shingles
$150 = 1 medium size window
$250 = 1 exterior door
$500 = Siding
$1000 = Roof trusses
$2500 = A house in the Congo
$5500 = A house in El Salvador

Also don't forget that the amount on the fundraising page is NOT correct.  I'm actually 1/3 of the of the way.  Almost to Dinosaur, CO.  :)

Please share this with all your friends.  It would mean alot to me. 

Love you all.

$10.00 shy of having raising 25% of our minimum fund raising goal.  :)  I can't' even explain how happy that makes me. I can bike almost 1,000 miles.... Need to submit some of the checks my Dad have collected so the updated totals on next weeks fund raising email will be over $1,000.  All of my friends keep making me smile, I'm getting more generous donations that I thought possible during this finical hardship many people are facing. Donate Here  (Please note this total is not accurate)

Also Sarah and I have 3/5 of the churches for segment 9 figured out now.  I posted the last blog, prayed and within a few hours had a email from a church who wanted to host us in Cambridge, Ohio.  (Thanks to Solid Rock Wesleyan Church in Cambridge, Ohio)  Not only will they be letting use the church as our sleeping headquarters for the evening, they will be providing us a potluck dinner and inviting people from the community so we can do a presentation about the Fuller Center and the Fuller Center Bike trip.  The church does NOT have showers, but we have submitted a request to the YMCA to use there shower facilities.  Things are starting to fall into place.

$2,600 more dollars to raise and 2 more churches for Segment 9.  Things are looking good.  

 

Special thanks to Sarah Doren

On top of participating in the bike trip, I'm helping plan a week with another returning rider Sarah Doren (she is also blogging. Click here to read her blog) Were helping plan the last segment.  

August 6 - 14  Segment 9.  Columbus OH to Washington DC. 

Beginning the week in Columbus, Ohio join us for the final stretch of our great journey as we make our way to our nation's capital: Washington, D.C. You will have the opportunity to ride with us through five different states and through the gorgeous Appalachian Mountains. 

We will have one final build day with our Fuller Center partner in Northern Virginia. Then we'll bike from Leesburg, Va. to Washington, D.C. on the Washington and Old Dominion Trail, so invite all your friends to join in for this final ride and to help us celebrate the completion of the fourth annual Fuller Center Bike Adventure.

One of the things we have to do for each segment is find churches to host us for each night.  Sounds easy right?  I mean we are all passionate about the organization we find it hard to believe someone else would not be. But you have to find the right person at a church to take it to other people to consider having a group of 30 sweaty bicyclist raising money for the fuller center to sleep on the floor, use the kitchen facilities and find showers somewhere in the community.  Most people are scared of the number of us this year 20-30.  Together we have sent out over 75 emails to churches in the communities we will be traveling through, made 5 phone calls per town and have successfully established only 2 churches. 

So... we could use your help.  Do you know anyone who lives in either the Wheeling, WV area or Uniontown, PA area?  The fuller center bike trip is looking for a place to lay our heads down at night.  We don't need much, other than just simply some floor space.  

Wheeling, WV - August 8th (Corpus Christ and Vance Memorial Presbyterian are considering.... has been brought to a board to be voted one.  Praying one of these will come through)

Union Town, PA August 9th (Cheery Tree Alliance has brought it to the elders to vote on.. yes yes please.)

Special thanks goes to First Presbyterian Church of Cumberland,  MD for hosting us on August 10th and to Leesburg Presbyterian Church (http://www.lpcva.org/)  of Leesburg,VA for hosting us August 11th.

Sarah has been GREAT to work with.  Thanks for all your help Sarah.  I know will continue to make this a GREAT week for everyone.  YEAH.  :)  She is the girl on the left!  She will also be biking all 3,600 miles with me.  :)

 

2011 FCBA

98 Days!

98 days and I will be following my heart. Participating in the 2011 Fuller Center Bike Adventure. The trip will be 3,600 miles, going through 14 states starting in Seattle, WA on June 10 and ending in Washington D.C. on August 14th (Although... I will be leaving around the 11th because my Best Friend Forever Lynn Czarnecki will be getting married to the love of her life Jason Makela. I have to thank them for allowing me to be there last minute with some funky (sexy.. I tell you) tan lines.)

The FCBA currently has 21 riders riding the distance (I'll only be missing 70 miles or so,... so... for the moment.. I'm a full way rider). Our goal as a trip is to raise $500,000. Each rider is asked to ride $1.00 a mile. So that equals out to $3,600. I'm passionate about the Fuller Center, volunteering, biking and being a part of the elimination to the poverty housing. I would love to raise $2.00 a mile. But ... I'm going to need every ones help. So please consider giving up a coffee or soda and just donate a few dollars. Seriously.... $1.00 makes a a difference. If I could get 7,200 people to donate just $1.00 http://www.fullercenter.org/civicrm/contribute/pcp/info?reset=1&id=125We could repair 3 roofs here in the USA, or build 3 houses in Haiti. I'm not asking you to donate, just asking you to consider it. If you consider it, your heart will answer if you should or not. I anticipate you will be hitting the donate now button soon.

I'm following my heart on this one, I actually don't know how I'm personally going to afford to not work for 3 months. Well I know how,... Working as much as possible between now and then and not spending any extra money. I have to follow my heart on this. I did not follow it last year and it was the worst mistake of my life. Okay not worse, but a close second.

I will be posting every day or two so please check back. I want you my donors to feel involved. I'm so thank full to have raised around $800.00 so far (the page you see is not right... that's just the money raised through that page). So thankful..... it makes me cry, seriously.