Written by: Ben Rivers
Today’s route took us from Skykomish to Sunnyslope, WA. We started in cool, sunny weather, headed uphill. We experienced a slow climb of nearly 4600 ft., a few deceptive down hills, beautiful scenery, very cold snow-capped mountains, some rain, a long descent from Stevens Pass, a Bavarian village, with a finish on Wenatchee’s own Easy Street. I rate today as one my best cycling experiences.
We are treated well by our fabulous support team. Thank you Jessica, Nicole, and Noori! All of the preparation and facilitation enables us to join this Adventure and advance the mission of the Fuller Center for Housing. We are well fed, hydrated, and have seemingly unlimited access to peanut butter. I am fearful that all of the cycling will be inadequate to offset my consumption of calories.
I am amazed that such a collection of “individuals” can so quickly form a community. We are each incredibly unique with different backgrounds and various religious practices, yet we are drawn together and committed to improve the lives of others with solutions of simple, safe, and practical housing. If you wish gain an appreciation of the important relationship between housing and family stability, I urge you to read All Over but the Shoutin’ by Rick Bragg, a first hand account of the struggles that many face.
As an engineer with a variety of science and technological interests, I am prone to be the penultimate planner with way too much attention to detail. This adventure is teaching me to live in the moment. Most everything is beyond my control. The schedule, weather, terrain, riding conditions, mealtime, proximity and volume of snorers, even my instant physical condition just “are what they are.” God is ultimately in control and I am being taught to live in submission – at least a little more.
In closing, with great humility, I thank my wife, family, and friends that have helped make this trip possible. I am sure that Matt and I are part of an Adventure that is greater than we can imagine. Thank you!!!
