Training on track with 1200 miles year to date.

Since the beginning of April I have been able to bike 1200 miles. May 31st and June 1st Hank and I rode for MS with the Easy Rider team from Eastern Ave Christian Reformed Church. Hank finished riding 75 miles each day and I rode 100 miles each day. Both of us were tired but felt good that we finished each day without sores.

Both of us gained confidence that we are ready for our cross country tour. I especially wanted to see if I could do 2 century rides back to back as we will have to do 3 rides of 100 miles of more back to back on the Sea to Sea tour.

the Easy Rider team from Eastern Ave Christian Reformed church.

On Sunday June 1st I rode with Jim Holwerda and Peter Holtrop. It was a beautiful day and we finished 102 miles with 7 hours in the saddle. All of us were very pleased with our time. We left Hope College and biked north along the Lake Shore to Grand Haven. We passed the Christian Reformed Conference grounds. As I was riding, I was thinking the next time I would be on this road with my bike again I would have almost 3000 miles.

Hank and I enjoyed the MS ride very much. It was a well organized and supported bike ride. We raised $500 for MS. The for both days were beautiful and on good roads that had interested scenery. We did have 35 mile an hour winds on Saturday that presented challenges for us , but we still did well.

We will consider doing this ride again.

Last week I ended two training rides in a major down pour and and felt like a "drowned rat". These rides reminded me of the times in 2005 when we had to ride through rain for as much as 4hours. Last week at least the rain was warm and I could take a hot shower followed up with a good glass of wine. I remind myself that this will not happen. I do hope we have warm showers everyday, but Ed has indicated that might not happen everyday. Glass of wine may have to wait each day.

For those of you that will be following my tour, the Sea To Sea devotional Shifting Gears is now available from website seatosea.org. Check it out. You may find it very interesting as it gives the daily elevations for our rides along with directions and mileage. You can also follow the spiritual journey with us as we focus on God's work and words.

As you know our fund raising goal is $20,000. So far we have raised just over $16,000. We know another 1000 is still coming. If you would still like to contribute to the cause of "ending the cycle of poverty" you can go to the Sea to Sea website and make a donation under Hank's name. All donations will be used to assist the poor locally and globally.

Hank and I have 2 and half weeks left before we leave. We are busy getting last minute things and tweaking our riding skills to increase our speed and endurance.