Saturday morning we met Scott & Linda Fletcher at their home to begin our journey to Grand Rapids. It was quickly decided that we needed to change plans and use our van to transport the bikes and bags. The car just would not hold all the gear. We arrived at the border around 9:30 and were on schedule to arrive for our "Bike Training". As we arrived at the border we noticed a lot of cars in line, a line that was not moving. We were starting to be boxed in by highway trailers and we made an executive decision to head to Sombra and take the ferry. We only had to wait 10 minutes for a crossing and while we were there a large line had already started. This detour made us late for the training by about a half and hour. While Scott and I were in for training our girls went shopping. After training we checked into our motel and went our for supper. After supper spent some time in the pool and met a number of cyclist also doing a little R & R.
Sunday morning Scott and I needed to register (Sign in, get our biking jersey, safety vest and shirt). After this we spent two hours be introduced to all the things we would need to know during the tour. The girls went to church and joined us for lunch. After lunch we had a chance to set up our tents and find our spots on the gear trailer for our clothes etc. Then it was off to the ball bark for a celebration service. Cyclists were asked to wear their jerseys and all gather together. Prior to the service we needed to walk to the other end of the ball field and needed to pass by the stands. During this procession we were given a standing ovation and this was awesome. To me it was so emotional, we had not yet even cycled one km and we were being given this ovation. Service was not quite what I had expected but we had a wonderful speaker speak to us about how we are to live out our passion. We are not biking from sea to sea to reach a destination but we are cycling to raise awareness of the cause of poverty. The celebration service was over around 4:30 and we said goodbye to our girls and they headed off home, while we boarded the school bus back to our tented city. Supper was served around 6 and after this we were introduced to our 1st peleton meeting, which basically updates the cyclist of the events of the ride just finished (5 flats, 2 falls), as well as give us the weather forcast for the next day as well as our road map and directions. It has been an awesome weekend, and have met a lot of bikers also joining the tour and starting to bike tomorrow. Each one we have talked to are just pumped and eager to get this tour underway. Both Scott and myself fully agree with this and would be ready to go first thing tomorrow morning (6 a.m.) but we are having a special send off service at 7:45 a.m. tomorrow. Tomorrow will be an exciting day. This week has not yet started and yet we are already thinking that this week will go SO Fast. I am already looking forward to the crossing into Canada knowing that a number of supporters will be there. I believe our entry into Canada will be an emotional one and also when we arrive home in London.
I am not sure what kind of connection I may have tomorrow. I will try to update daily. Till my next post. Mike
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