Written by: Bill Black
One of the great rewards for riders on the Fuller Center Bike Adventure is the opportunity to meet the people at the churches that support us along the way. While the level of involvement by the community varies from church to church, we have deep appreciation for everContinue reading
Written by: Kert Emperado
Gallup, NM – Grants, NM
Today’s ride from Gallup to Grants was spectacular. We saw rock formations, caves, mountains, and plateaus, as we paralleled Interstate-40. My riding buddies for most of the day were Dan Sheridan, from Ohio, Stephany Escalante Galindo, from LA, Tom Weber, from Geezerville, CO, and our young trip leader, Joel Derksen from Winnipeg, Ontario. Each one of them have a unique and interesting life, and all of them are wonderful people. Continue reading
Written by: Karl Trimmer
New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment. It surely has been that for the riders of the Ocean to Ocean cross country tour. We have been treated to some spectacular sights: with the bluest skies, red rock, and purple mountains, the landscape of New Mexico continues to amaze me.
Written by: Dan Sheridan
On this Monday morning we had our longest ride to date. After enjoying a Sunday of sightseeing in beautiful Flagstaff, we left behind the friendly Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran church and began a 50 mile downhill, dropping 2,000 feet with a brisk tailwind. We had a snack stop at an intriguing roadside rest, with buildings that perfectly suited the ridges and mesas in the area. Huge red boulders were piled in the rest area, but signs warned us to beware of poisonous snakes and insects. This cycling dream was interrupted only by flat tires, as our tires picked up small pieces of wire from shredded steel belt radial tires. We persevered, stopping to do some “Standin’ on the corner in Winslow, Arizona”, as the line goes in the song “Take It Easy” (written by Jackson Browne and Glenn Frey).
Written by: Stephany Escalante Galindo
Written by: Alice Little Caldwell
We reached the Grand Canyon on Thursday and got the tents set up before a light rain started . . . and stopped. The weather improved and we watched the sunset over the Grand Canyon- a magnificent sight. Friday arrived, and the Bike Adventure team had a day off. Some chose to rest and recuperate while others set out on a different kind of adventure – to explore the Grand Canyon.
Written by: Kim Eisenbarth
Today we rode from Prescott, AZ to Williams, AZ. It was much cooler this morning, which we all
appreciated. I expected the day to be a relatively easier than yesterday. 3,600 feet of climbing
compared to almost 6,000. But, it wasn’t. It was a vivid reminder that most of our challenges
and obstacles are mental, and we can all get through it better with the help of our friends
(thanks, Kert!).
Written by: Dan Sheridan
Today was a relaxing day of desert cycling. We began our long climb out of the Valley of the Sun by pedaling up a steady 1% grade for about 25 miles. We’re about 1,000 feet above Phoenix, so it’s 2 or 3 degrees cooler here. It was a short day, 46 miles, with a tailwind. We started at about 5:30 am, about 10 minutes after sunrise, and the last riders arrived by about 10:15 am.
Tomorrow the climbing gets more serious. We will ride 68 miles and climb 6,250 feet. We will have some downhill too, but will end up about 3,000 feet above our current elevation. I think many of us are a bit nervous about the climb in the heat, but are excited to climb to cooler temperatures.
It’s amazing the hospitality that our church hosts show us. Peace Lutheran church in Peoria offered great hospitality, and today St. Alban’s Church in Wickenberg welcomed us with cool beverages, fruit, and comfortable places to spread our gear in air conditioned comfort.
We will continue our journey north to the Grand Canyon, where we will arrive on Thursday
Thanks for reaching out to us, we’ll be in touch with you soon!
