By Neil Mullikin
The day started off with the illusion it was going to be a cool, cloudy, and foggy day, but it turned out to be anything but. The fog was thick and the air dense as we made our way out of Monteagle heading towards Murfreesboro.
By Anna Little
Today we had our longest ride of the trip so far — 94 miles from Tallapoosa to Lafayette, Georgia. It was a beautiful day of riding through the rural Georgia countryside. The thing I love about crossing the country by bicycle is that you slow down enough to take in your surroundings much more than with other modes of transportation, and then you have hours to think about the things you see. For example, today I saw a sign for a farm of some kind named “Not Just Kidding” claiming that they had Great Pyrenees Dogs AND Dwarf Nigerian Goats! Google a picture of a Dwarf Nigerian Goat and you will not be disappointed.
By Jeff Gabriel
After a terrific short ride and great work day in West Point, Georgia, our band of a dozen riders set out for Tallapoosa, Georgia. The day started out pretty foggy, as you can see from the photo in the gallery below.
By Diane Bies
Well we had our first spot of rain today. Actually, we had a huge amount of rain for most of the ride. But thankfully it was warm so I didn’t need my rain jacket. We just got very wet. Then the sun cane out for the last 20 miles or so. Nice!
By Neil Mullikin
Saturday was a remarkable day. As a group we had the opportunity to work on a home and partner with a family here in Americus. As a whole group, we combined our talents with the help of the local Fuller Center to lay hardwood flooring, complete yard work, some drywall, and various other tasks which really ramped up the progression of the house. It’s hard to imagine 20 individuals coming together, clicking, and dedicated to a mission accomplishing as much as was completed.
By Paul Schlimme
Today we let our bicycles have an off day and we split our group of 20 into two work groups of 10 each. Half went to paint the exterior of the local Fuller Center so that they may remain open after an inspection issue. The other half did a major roof repair for an elderly couple in need. The couple was so grateful and excited to have us there.
By Renee’ McCullough
This is my sixth ride with the Fuller Center, and the first in a few
years due to a fractured elbow, COVID-19, and other things. This segment
wasn’t my first choice, but God provided the logistics to do it through
Kert, another FCBA veteran.
By Ryan Iafigliola
With less than a 60 mile ride on flat terrain and surprisingly low heat for southern Georgia in June, many of us finished before noon today. Then the Pastor at our host Nashville United Methodist Church took us on a totally unexpected ‘safari’ at a local lodge that has ostriches, zebras, antelope, buffalo and a huge herd of deer that are skittish, but still had a few that ate out of the hands of many of our riders! What a special experience. And the church is feeding us dinner, and just doing everything to make this visit great. If you’re ever in Nashville, go visit Nashville UMC!
By Dave Ricker
So I could start by describing our route of 63 miles from Folkston, GA to Waycross, GA. It would be easy to paint a picture of the rural roads we traveled. Since the vehicular traffic was light, it was a delightful ride for cyclists, cruising along enjoying the beautiful weather and scenery. I could tell you about the farms we passed along the way, with lush green pastures where cattle and horses dotted the landscape, sometimes relaxed and sometimes acting a bit playful with their mates. Also, I could share an image of the tall, proud forests of southern pine we saw as we rode. Or maybe recount the handsome orchards of pecan trees, slowly developing their delicious fruit, which will be harvested for consumption in pecan pies at Grandmother’s house during a sumptuous Thanksgiving dinner.
While those details are significant today, the real story is somewhere else.
By Kert Emperado
This is my eighth year participating in the Fuller Center Bike Adventure, which has always given me perspective and a refocusing back to simple living. Our possessions are limited to our bikes, a bag of cycling gear and a couple sets of clothes for work/build days. We sleep on floors, cook and eat together and talk mostly about biking and what our lives are like beyond this adventure. For some of us, we come back to reunite with our friends turned family, to reminisce about our past FCBA trips, and the life happenings in between them. And of course, meeting new riders who have dreamt about riding across the country, is always a fresh dose of infectious energy and enthusiasm.
Thanks for reaching out to us, we’ll be in touch with you soon!
