Leaving Vernon

Packed and ready to go!

It has been a hectic week! After a quiet spring for work it suddenly got very busy this weeks and as a consequence I am not away to Seattle yet. I will leave today or at the latest early tomorrw and i am all packed. It is going to be good to start the ride and meet all the others that are riding. Getting away for 2 1/2 months does require some organization and as I am the sole employee of my company, the buck stops hear. The root of the word 'hectic' in Greek is "consumptive" and trying to get away for this wonderful ride is all consumptive. But I am almost there and the next blog will be form the road!

A great weekend to all!

June 22, 2008

Hi all,

This is my first blog entry as I prepare to go on the Sea to Sea Cycle Tour from Seattle to New York. The ride is an awareness and fundraising ride the help "End the Cycle of Poverty". The Sea to Sea web site (http://www.seatosea.org/) has all the information about the ride. Today we had our commissioning service at church this morning and it was a good event. I feel blessed to have such supporting people (in concern, prayer and donations) in Vernon and Salmon Arm as I set out to ride the continent. I have reached and exceeded the $10,000 goal I was required to raise as my portion of the fund raising activities. As with most riders I just hope we will impact people on the trip and raise awareness for the issues of poverty.

I have been cycling a great deal to get ready for the tour. Sat. I rode north west of Vernon through agricultural areas. A very peaceful ride aside form road construction. Today I tried my ability to climb. I rode up Silver Star Mountain from my home, some 18 Km and all up hill. The grades on this road are steeper than most highway grades so i feel if i can do this i can do the steep rides on the tour. I did accomplish the ride albeit with some mechanical difficulties with my new chain. It took me some 2.5 hours to climb but only 30 minutes to return. It was beautiful sunny weather with light traffic and lots of bird song to accompany the climb. I even startled a coyote as i raced down the mountain. I'm glad i did this ride as a confidence builder and am grateful that i am able to do this type of climbing!

My trike at Silver Star Ski Village with Monashee Mountains in background

Only 3 day to go before i travel down to Seattle for the start of the tour. I am frantically trying to finish of work and other commitments but it will all have to get done some way or other. I approach the tour with excitement but also trepidation as it does demand a great deal from all of us. Riding through the mountains for the first 4 weeks will be a real challenge and i hope i am up to it. I am looking forward to the company of the tour as I really enjoyed the trip in 2005.


That's it for the first instalment. Goodnight and God bless.