P and M In Tandem

   I might as well get the frustrating item out if the way first. "What frustration?" you may ask? Well, we have been unable to download photos into this blog. We have sought help from others, but no success. Frankly, when you're as busy as we have been the last four days, solving this problem is no longer a priority. So it's written updates only.    Monday's tire dipping in White Rock was a thrill. Approximately 100 supporters cheering us on as we carried our bikes across kelp and tidal pools until we finally reached the actual ocean. That's what happens when you're dealing with low tide. Dad was there, one day before his 93rd birthday, as well as family members on both sides. It was a powerful moment when we said the Lord's Prayer together at the actual white rock after which this seaside town is named. In fact, we routinely say the Lord's Prayer together at the closing of each morning's prayer, and the sound of Jesus' prayer on the lip...

Two days of organized chaos on the beautiful campus of Trinity Western. 90 cyclists assembling their bikes, listening attentively to speakers, swapping names and stories, worshiping together, eating together, and circling the parking lot for almost two hours practicing braking, dodging and group riding. Positive feelings with doses of anxiety. We have cyclists in every age range, including three teenagers, two septuagenarians and an 81 year old. The 50 somethings and 60 somethings have the best respresentation. The oldest female rider is 69. About half have cycled on one of the previous C2C tours. Only four of us were part of the original 2005 bike tour across Canada: Ed Witvoet, our tour director, who also managed the 2005 and 2008 tours, George Vanderkuur (aka known as Curious George in our book "In Tandem") who has completed every Sea to Sea tour except the one that went across Honduras, and Marja and me. You can sense that everyone is now ready to just get going. Th...

We began the day by speaking to 150 kids at Alex Hope Elementary School in Langley. They ooh'd and aah'd about our bike, and some waved Canadian flags as they cheered us on our way at the end of our presentation. In an aside, the principal of the school whispered, "As far as I am concerned, I think you two are crazy!" She meant it as a compliment ... we think. It was a thrill to see the trucks and support vehicles with their colourful Sea to Sea logos parked at Trinity Western University. Along with many others, we spent the day unloading the trucks, firing up generators to make sure that they worked, and registering the volunteers and a few cyclists who showed up early. We're doing our best to remember names and people's stories, but it's already a challenge and most of the cyclists will not arrive until tomorrow. I like what one guy said: "I know my name; you know yours. I'll tell you mine and you can tell me yours as often as we need to....

Intimidated by the idea of cycling Sea to Sea again, Marja and I said No. We had biked across Canada on the first tour in 2005, after all. On our tandem, Big Blue, no less. We had even published a book about our adventure: In Tandem, a Sea to Sea Cycling Adventure. But the prospect of raising $12,000 each and battling all those hills and headwinds again with bodies that are twelve years older was so daunting. And yet .. and yet ... how could we say No to such a worthy cause and exciting adventure in a year when Canada turned 150? So we changed our minds and here we are. In BC. On the longest day of the year. Delighted by this morning's news that we have just reached our combined fundraising goal of $30,000. Thank you, Lord. And thank you, everyone, who encouraged us with your donations. Since all the monies are going to the great poverty fighting work of World Renew and Partners Worldwide, I will not hesitate to ask you to help us exceed our goal by visiting "seatosea.org...