The Final Countdown

We are 7 days out and counting down the days. Time is going fast and since our last update a lot has happened. We continue to feel like we are “running out of daylight” as we prepare for our bicycle journey fundraiser across the United States.  

Kim and I had a phone interview on Friday, May 7^th, with Amy from The Chaska Herald. This is our local paper. The article is supposed to be coming out this Thursday, May 20^th.  We’ll include a link or the article when it comes out.

Kim and I recorded a podcast with Janelle and Justin from the Transformation Club on Sunday, May 9th. The Transformation Club podcast should air around the week of May 24^th. We’ll include a link to the episode once it airs.

Our bikes were shipped out on Wednesday, May 12^th, via Michaels Cycles and they should be arriving today or tomorrow in Astoria to be prepped for our arrival on May 25^th. 

This past Friday, May 14^th, we gathered with the 3^rd Friday gang and my sister Terri had a cake made up for us. The 3^rd Friday is a monthly social gathering of some friends and family at an establishment or someone’s house to catch up. It’s usually a 2–3-hour event in the early evening on the 3^rd Friday of the month. This was the first time the group has gathered since Covid showed up, roughly 15 months ago.    

This Sunday, May 23^rd, Pastor Josh from our church, Family of Christ Lutheran Church, in Chanhassen, invited Kim and I for a blessing and send off during the 10am service.  Since the Covid lockdown and the recent softening of large gathering restrictions, this will be our first time back to attending a live service.  We are really excited to be back with our church community once again and receive their blessings, prayers and support. I’ll post some pictures or video of this event.

And yes, we are finding time between it all to ride and build our stamina. In a perfect world we’d have another month to prepare, but what is perfection anyways and there’s never enough time. May 25^th will be upon us soon and we’ll be ready, at least mentally!

As you can see from the pictures we are still wondering if we can get everything into our saddlebags (panniers) and if we can get our saddlebags into our suitcases, let alone carry it all on our bikes. Today is our test pack day. The suitcases will make a one-way trip and be donated once we arrive in Astoria.

The range of emotions has become more pronounced as we approach D-day, especially with Kim, as she has a tendency to show her emotions more than I. Those old thoughts of not doing what we’ve always done creeps back in our heads every so often. After 34 years of marriage, the roller coaster of emotions hasn’t really changed, we just handle them better. 

From our Checklist, we’ve updated our Wills, found a place for our vehicles with our daughters, updated our financial institutions on our travel plans, got our Covid shots, created folders for the kids of relevant information, found a lift to the airport and generally continue working through the minor details in preparation for being without a home. Without a home seems kind of funny to write, but that’s the reality of where we’ll be upon completing our journey and it has an adventurous ring to it. The idea is to grasp hold of our decision and believe that we are pursuing life and doing something for others. As they say, we’re putting it in God’s hands. I continue to believe terms like “home” and “life” are just realities in your head, they are what you think they are and we get to decide what was the past, what is the here and now and choose our future.    

We’ve had many, many individuals Investing in the LBCA via our blog link to the LCBA and via the Facebook fundraiser. The outpouring of overall support has been fantastic and really exciting. We’ve also added more Corporate, and many personal, supporters. Please check out our Corporate Sponsors via the “Thank You!” tab on the blog. 

Here’s a rundown of our Corporate Supporters – Thank You!

Transformation Club – our Health, Wellness and Fitness group provider in Chanhassen

Michael’s Cycles – our Bike and Gear shop in Chaska

Thrivent – our financial advisors and investment group

Fokus Photography – our photographer and fellow church member in Chanhassen

Eniva Health – our health and wellness supplements provider group in Minneapolis

O2 – our rain gear provider in Minneapolis

Lakewinds – our co-op grocery provider in Chanhassen

Without the help of the many individual Supporters our fundraiser may not have been possible. Kim and I cannot thank you enough for believing in us as we set aside our fears, do something unconventional in our lives in search of a new beginning, raise awareness of Lobular Breast Cancer and support the Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance. 

Please check out the LBCA’s mission and invest in them via your donation. Thank You!