Journey of living life with joy, gratitude and adventure

August 24th Conger Park NY to Staten Island 53 miles

The day started with much excitement as people were looking forward to the final day of the ride.  There was a little anxiety as people were uncertain how the ride would go over the George Washington Bridge and along the Hudson river to Battery Park and the Manhattan-Whitehall ferry terminal. Jan and I rode with Doug MacLeod to the bridge. We entered NJ with Doug MacLeod. Both Jan and I were delighted that the ride over the bridge and along the Hudson was a glorious and delightful ride.

Jan and I on George Washington Bridge

Rich and Carol Rienstra and I on the bridge.

 

view of Manhattan from the bridge.

view of Jersey City from the bridge

 

We had one tense moment as we were coming off the bridge around some narrow turns on which Roger Feenstra had an accident with another cyclist coming on to the bridge. Roger collided with the cyclist and both went down. Roger seemed OK but his bike was not. The cyclist took off not aware Rogers bike was not working properly.  Rogers rear wheel would not rotate and he could not ride. Several Sea to Sea cyclists stopped to try to help him, but had no idea what to do. Suddenly a complete stranger stopped and told us it was OK he was a bike mechanic on his way to work in Paramus and could try to help Roger. He did and managed to get Rogers bike working so he could ride all the way to the ferry terminal to the tire dipping and finally into the camp. What a God moment and an angel this stranger was! On this tour we have seen and experienced so many God moments that to us are not just coincidences but very real moments God is with us showing us His care and protection to us.
We rode along the Hudson River on Riverside Dr. and the bike trail. It was very relaxing and enjoyable. It was hard to believe we were biking downtown Manhattan and one of the largest cities of the world with little fear. To us it was so unbelievable and we were savoring the fantastic sights.  I  took lots of pictures which I hope gives an indication of what we saw and experienced on our ride.

Harold Veldman, Barb Mellema, Jan Quist and Jane Brouwer over looking the Hudson River

Barb on the bike path with the new Trade Center in background

Jane Brouwer and Barb riding on the bike path

stopped at a bike path red light.

Once we got to the ferry terminal we waited to board and were told to walk on the left side of our bikes so we could be searched by a sniffing dog which we assumed was searching for explosives. We then had to wait for a long time to board.  Apparently there was a medical emergency on board the incoming ferry which caused a delay for our boarding the outgoing ferry. 

Once on the ferry, and departing the terminal we had fantastic views of Manhattan and Jersey City as well as Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. In 2008 we rode along the Jersey side opposite to the side we were now seeing from the ferry.  Great memory.

Manhattan-Whitehall Ferry terminal

 

 

 

Once on Staten Island we were led by a police escort to Project Hospitality where we were served some water and snacks. Reverend Terry Troia greeted us and gave a brief over view what Project Hospitality does and recognized Roland Ratmeyer the oldest full tour ride who was instrumental in establishing Project Hospitality a long time ago. 

 

Project Hospitality serves the poor in the area by assisting with housing, education and advocating for other services. Terry is a very powerful force to deal with and was very instrumental is advocating for people displaced by Hurricane Sandy.  There are still over 7000 people who are waiting for permanent housing and are still living in emergency shelters or are in hotels. From Project Hospitality we were again escorted by NYPD 6.5 miles to Middle Beach for our tire dipping ceremony.  Unfortunately my phone camera died and I could not take any pictures so my niece Julie Roossien took pictures which are on Facebook.

After the tire dipping we were again led by police escort for 9.5 miles to Mt. Lorretto Mission of the Immaculate Virgin a Catholic community that serves the area on Staten Island where cyclists could camp for the final night and we would have our dinner and Celebration Service to end the tour. 

Our dinner was prepared by a caterer who makes food for all the executives who serve or attend the Olympics. It was very good food.  He is also on the board of Project Hospitality.

Our Celebration service was held in the dining room of the Catholic school.  We were told by Terry that Sea to Sea was treated very special by the Mission as they had previous denied the Baptist use of their facility, but we were allowed to use it because of our cause and why we were raising funds. Thank you Mt Lorretto for honoring us by allowing us to use your facility.

During the Celebration Service we again heard God stories.  Terry had some of the young people who were serving the food share their stories.  One young black fellow had been abused too many times by the NYPD and had taken them to court as it appeared they were targeting young blacks unjustly.  Terry was very proud that this young fellow was strong and determined enough to pursue his case which he won.

We also had a presentation by one of our volunteers Tara Hiemstra and her daughter Sarah who is a special needs young lady and loves the Lord with her whole heart sign the words to a song for us expressing the love of the Lord. It was very special and Sarah was a joy to have on tour.  She worked with her mom in the kitchen and usually was in the food line making sure we all washed our hands before we got in line and told us we could only take one serving and could come back for more after everyone was served. She had a special role for us for a couple of weeks.

 

We also had representatives from the sponsoring agencies thank us for the work we had done and for the funds raised. Andy Ryskamp, played the role of a rickshaw driver in Bangladesh who started with renting a rickshaw and with the help from World Renew was able to buy a rickshaw to make enough money to buy food for his family and to educate his children. We heard had the money we have raised will make an impact on so many peoples lives and they can be lifted out of servere poverty one person, one family, one community at a time. We were reminded we can make a difference.

 

As the evening was wrapping up we were saying out good byes, never knowing if we would ever see many of the fellow cyclists again, but thankful for being part of a community with them that can make a difference. 

When Hank and I got to our hotel, we met a couple who have been living there for 10 months and was one of the families Terry mentioned who is still looking for permanent housing.

We said more goodbyes Sunday morning at the hotel as many cyclists and their families were staying at the hotel we were in. 

We headed to Sussex NJ to see my sister Anne Kuperus  and her kids who live in the area and my brother Bill Aukema who also lives in Sussex.  It was great to visit with Charles and Marg Kuperus to see their grandchildren, visit with Miles and Lisa and their kids, 2 of whom Miles III and Annemarie, ,will be returning to Calvin College this fall and will come to visit for dinner, John and Helen Kuperus who just returned from their work with YWAM in Hawaii, and Anne Mary and John Amiels.  Most of their kids had grown so much since the last time I saw them, that I barely knew who they were.  Oh to be so young again. Thanks Miles and Lisa for hosting and Anne Mary for organizing it all.

Brother Bill and sister Anne

John Kuperus, Anne myself, Helen Kuperus Anne Mary Amiels Julie Rossien and her 3 daughters

Miles and Lisa Kuperus

Hank Zwaanstra, John Rossien, and Charlie Kuperus sharing their mighty wisdom

 

Miles Kuperus, sister Grace Roossien, Charles JKuperus, John Amiels serious matters need to be discussed over a fire.  

 

 

Bill and Charlie and his grandson

 

I also stopped by the house and farm that I lived in up to age 16 here in NJ.  It was interesting to go through the house and realize it is smaller than I remember it being. We lived in the 4 bedroom house with 12 people for at least 3 years until my oldest sister Nellie married and moved out. The young couple living in the house found it interesting to hear stories about our lives there from 1947 to 1964 when Dad bought a farm in NY state and the 3 younger kids including myself moved with Mom and Dad. I do remember the hard times we had as my Dad and Mom tried to make a new life immigrating from Holland to the  US  after World War II in 1947.  Working with new immigrants here in Grand Rapids, I can appreciate some of their challenges and struggles as I remember some of my family's in the early 50's.

my childhood home

 

 

On Friday night we had our last peloton meeting. Here are some pictures of our last full camp at Conger Park.

Ross Luursema and wife Terry and his sister and her husband sharing some important thoughts

Jay Pruim our chaplain conducting his last pelotom

route leader Phil Quist on way with the final maps for ride into Manhattan

Harry VanBeilen 2005 rider finishing last leg he did not get to do in 05 to complete his cross country,

Jocelyn Veltman with Katie and Paige whose grandmother ended up donating $600+ to tour because of the kindness and care shown to her grandkids who were complete strangers to us. The grandmother was so impressed with who we were as a group. 

Rose Dykstra, Barb and Brian Mellema

John Noorlof and Nancy and Farmer John DeJonge from 2005 ride. Farmer John is picking up his pastor John to take him home after the tire dipping.

My last campsite with my only lakefront property.

 

 

 

 

As my third cross country bike tour comes to an end, I think of what now?  There are still some lose ends to finish with the planning of this tour, but thoughts on another are already starting.  However, my role will not be as active or major as planning and organizing 2 tours is really enough. I may play a supportive and consulting role and will be glad to see someone else champion  the future of Sea to Sea rides.  Hank and I are interested in volunteering with DRS as we have enjoyed are previous 4 times serving on long term recovery sites. We may also consider doing Needs Assessment along with reconstruction work, but it will depend on when the opportunities present themselves.

I will continue to blog periodically  as I have new adventures and experience the joy of serving the Lord wherever he calls me to be.

 

As you my readers read the last posting about this tour, I hope you also may experience the joy and adventure God has in store for you as you seek to see where you may be called serve.  There are many needs in neighborhoods and communities as well as in various parts of this country and the world. God speaks in a small voice and I pray you will listen to his voice as he calls you and shows up in your life. I know he is with me everyday in all the activities I do. Good things do not happen by chance, they are God sightings and experiences. God's angels are everywhere, enjoy and celebrate these events. May you continue to be a blessing where ever you are.