Bonner Tandem

The final Ride with Police Escort

2008-08-31T04:20:00.000-07:00

Total Mielage: 62
Today we started our ride very early. We slept in a church basement in order to avoid a wet tent in the morning. My dad was kind enough to come and pick up our gear, not an easy feat in this state, as wayfinding can be challenging. The group all needed to head out early enough so that we can meet at 1:30 and have police escort into Liberty State Park. It was a rather wet ride, as the humiditiy was high and it was misting. As we approached the park, it got sunny and the skies cleared!
This is what it looks to ride the highway of NJ as we head to NYC.

We then arrived for the tire dipping. We all said the Lord's prayer and rolled into the Hudson river.

Family Celebration!

A huge THANK YOU to all ouf you who supported us on this tour, with prayer, fundraising, kind comments, and interest. It was great to talk to strangers along the route and share the focus of the tour and how we are striving to have an impact on poverty. As with many mission trips, the biggest impact may be within ourselves. As we shared our stories and talked with people along the road, we experienced a true blessing as well.

8/29/08 Oh Mama!

2008-08-31T04:09:00.000-07:00

Total Mileage:82 miles
Max Speed: 52 mph

Did I mention hills.....well today, we climbed mountains. We started our ascent into the Appalachain, Poccono, and Catskill mountains. While not as high as far as altititude, these mountains specialize in steep grade. This was hard for many of the riders, who come from states that do not have these kind of experiences.
As for us, we rode with Stephanie Webb and trucked along with smiles on our faces. It was actually a great day, because you get the reward of the climb, and the thrill of the down hill, and did we ever go fast! There were a few hills that even were frightening, as in you can't see the bottom for a period of time.
Marijo's view:

Going like the wind!

Welcome to NJ. Us with Stephanie Webb.

A touching sign as we rolled into Sussex NJ.

8/28/08 The Real Hills begin

2008-08-31T04:00:00.000-07:00

Total mileage: 56 miles

While this was a short day with distance, it was the beginning of our climbing experience. We headed into Pennsylvania and the shoulders on the side of the road became much narrower and rougher. This made for interesting riding. About 30 miles we stopped at a little diner for breakfast. There were 3 guys sitting in there eating. We were with David T, the Lutke's, and Rick Gritters (check out his blog and bike he rides, he made it himself). The greeted us and wanted to take our pictures. They had just read the paper that had an article in it about the tour. We all smiled and posed for their photo. As the last guy left, he said, "Oh by the way, I just got your breakfast for you". So Ross from NJ, if you are reading this, Thank You! We also had the chance to see this huge Railroad brige that was built in the early 1900's. It is called the Lackawanan RR. We stayed in Lackawana State Park. Yes, the park is on the top of a mountain. We closed out the night by having a communion service.
Peleton Meeting.

8/27/08 The rolling community

2008-08-27T18:23:00.000-07:00

Mileage 81 miles Maximum Speed 46 mph (hand on tight)
Traveled from Sampson State Park to Binghampton NY

This morning we departed at 7:30 am and enjoyed a very scenic and beautiful ride along Seneca lake and Cayuga lake. We had several long down hills finally rolling into the city of Ithaca, NY, which is home to Cornell University. It is a very diverse and eclectic city. We rolled into the heart of the city and walked around. We had the chance to talk to 6 different people about the tour and the focus of the Church on poverty issues. It was meaningful and easy, as we handed out the business cards with information about the tour on it. Most people were very excited and interested. We enjoyed a cup of coffee and people watched for a while. I spotted one of my favorite bumper stickers about Ithaca which is, "Ithaca, 10 sq miles surrounded by reality". If you have been here you know that it is a bit unique. We then did a monster hill climb back out of the city. If you are going to roll down, you have to roll up (just a little slower). We enjoy the experience of the tour of passing others and being passed. One of the things that is great about it, is that you get a chance to support eachother and pass on a kind word. It is kind of like a rolling church, just spread out over several miles. Everyone rides at different paces, and needs encouragement along the way. We were treated to a great meal at Valley CRC. They even installed wireless internet for us. We are staying at a school across the way. We are off to Pennsylvania Thursday. Pray for safety, as the roads have limited to no shoulder.
Marijo enjoying coffee with a friend. She is not much of a conversationalist,

Is this what it looked like for the Israelites? Tent City

Our laundry out to dry.

His handiwork displayed at the end of the day.

8/26/08 Sampson State Park in the Finger Lakes

2008-08-27T17:37:00.000-07:00

Mileage: 81 miles Avg Speed: 15.9

WE started out with a cold morning with dew all over our tents. We packed up and headed out. Marijo was tired and tried to sleep on the bike briefly. We rode with David Teitsma and had a blast. At one point we were rolling down the hill and heard a loud pop. Dave had a blow out that sliced his tire. In true McGyver effort we used a dollar bill to cover the hole and rode the rest of the way in to the bike store in Geneva. We later meandered down to an ice cream store and enjoyed a large cone.
Along the way we ran into a movie star from Car's. He was kind enough to let us get his picture. Many of you may recognize "Mater"

Drying our clothes as Sampson. Seneca Lake in the background

A great welcome by the East Palmyra CRC gang. What a lunch!

2008-08-25T19:02:00.000-07:00

Me at the American falls on a beautiful sunny morning

A boat going through the locks from Lake Ontario, to Lake Erie. Maybe to Michigan?

Sometimes you need an alternate mode of transportation

2008-08-25T16:00:00.000-07:00

Todays miles: 83.61 Avg Speed: 15.4

Today we crossed back over the border to New York State. We rode with David Teitsma all day. We were able to ride over the border without even stopping due to being precleared. If only it were that simple all the time. Today we rode at a relaxing pace and enjoyed conversations and playing around. At one point Marijo got tired and wanted to try something different.

I prefer to travel in Smarter ways:

Then David and I decided to try a different mode that was more versatile in the mud.

But you can never beat the old motorcycle for getting it done.

All in all a great day. I hope you enjoy the photos and the fun. We are having a great time.

2008-08-25T15:53:00.000-07:00

Us with Jake Prins the 81 year old biker. Fit and Trim!

One of the many hallways filled with bikes at Beacon School

A view from the escarpment or ridge over Hamilton Ontario

8/24 A day of Rest

2008-08-24T16:03:00.001-07:00

Total Mileage today: O

Today we were blessed with a day of rest from riding. We were able to sleep in until 8:00am. We attended a local church and then waited for the arrival of my parents with Keerstyn and Hailey. The arrived about 12:30 with big smiles. We showed them around camp and the different equipment. We also showed them the school hallways lined with bicycles. We then had the opportunity to go our for lunch. We went to Port Dalhousie for a nice meal and time to reconnect. We then headed off to the rally at Queenston Park. We were greeted with rain, which caused everyone to get under the cover and mingle. The rain then cleared and we had a great time of worship and praise. A nice send off for the next week. We then headed back to the school with the family. We said our goodbyes, and reminded them that we would see them in a week in New Jersey.
As for the girls, they are faring well. Grandma has put them to work and they are happy to be earing money. They have had several outings and lots of fun. Specifically they enjoyed the time with the Astifan's who brought them to SeaBreeze amusement park. This rekindled the times that I enjoyed going there in my youth.
Tomorrow we cross back over to the US and into NY state. Looking very much forward to crossing the Rainbow Bridge by the Falls.
More pictures to come.

Beautiful Scenery and Uncomfortable Questions 8/23/08

2008-08-23T19:17:00.001-07:00

Stats for the day: 47 miles
Quote of the day from Mr Oost (a man with a thick dutch brogue), "I have to ask you about your skinny seat, vat do you do with your nutz"
My Reply: "I have a peanut allergy"
We laughed all the way down the road about the look on his face.

We were warned that there would be 5 food stops on the 47 mile route. We decided we needed to hold ourselves to 2 cookies per stop. Our strategy paid off:)
We had the chance to ride down a hill with a 12% grade. We held on tight and braced ourselves for the stop sign right at the bottom. Luckily we were able to stop. We then enjoyed some cake and coffee at the "Dutch Store" in Grimsby.
We eventually rolled into camp and signed up for a massage. Marijo had her feet, calves, and shoulders done. I asked for a leg massage. This transitioned into a leg/buttock massage. I know it sounds ackward, but it was heavenly! A huge thank you to the lady that did this, as I was sweaty and unshowered still! Now that is dedication. (It should be noted that I was especially pungent today. I even asked Marijo, and she validated this fact)
We are camped between the Lutke's and Lou Haveman. We had a nice talk with him about his interest in the tour. He too lamented about the struggle of riding for poverty as we feast on a daily basis. We talked about his work with Partners Worldwide and developing wells in third world countries. We both lamented that sometimes the biggest change you hope to see in the world needs, to start with yourself. Hopefully something that will last beyond the tour.
Tomorrow, the kids come up with my parents for the rally. We are looking forward to seeing them. Monday we will be off for NY.
More pictures to come!

Eating our way across Canada! 8/22/08

2008-08-22T14:55:00.001-07:00

A bad accident after too much Tim Hortons coffee / Our Welcome to camp / Our Home for the trip

Today we slept in until 6:00am. We made the "rookie" mistake of having placed our tent right next to the light from the building last night, but we were so tired, you could have had a spotlight on our faces and it would not matter. Marijo informed me that I had been snoring, I thought this at least helped her to know I was stil alive throughout the night. We headed out on the road by ourselves today which was nice. We were warned that there would be many food stops put on today by the local churches and that it would be rude to just fly by. So we heeded the advice and proceeded to eat cookies, "Tim Bits", fruit, sub sandwiches, and many other goodies. In true fashion, there was no shortage of Tim Hortons Coffee being offered as well. We actually at lunch at 9:30am. This gives you a sense of how early we start.
We later caught up with Cal Hekman, who lives on the NW side of Grand Rapids. He is a distinguished gentleman who can ride like the wind. We had fun connecting all the dots of the people we mutually know. His son is actually a pro mountain biker, and passes on some of his cool swag (equipment) to his dad. He has lived abroad and been involved in different ministries throughout the years.
We also rode with Ad de Blaeij who is a missionary in Haiti. It was quite interesting learning from him about his experience in Haiti and the work that he does for the CRWRC.
After our 5th stop for food and refreshments in 79 miles, we came to Redeemer University. It was a rather hot day of riding, but a good one. One of the treats we got was a sign up for a pedicure. Marijo signed me up as well as herself. This was my first pedicure. It was wonderful. I now can testify to why the disciples washed eachothers feet. This felt very good after a long day. What a blessing. We are now off to dinner with the group.
Thanks to all who read our blog. We love the comments as well. They are very encouraging.

The Welcome Committee in London

2008-08-21T17:56:00.000-07:00

Meal time at St. Brydges with Stephanie Webb

2008-08-21T17:54:00.000-07:00

Riding in the shadows 8/21/08

2008-08-21T17:50:00.000-07:00

8/21/08 The Rolling Buffet and Welcome Mat

2008-08-21T14:19:00.000-07:00

Today we woke up at 5:50am to start the day. We packed up our gear and enjoyed breakfast of eggs and ham along with toast. We headed out for our 75 mile venture. It was a bit brisk in the morning, so we started out in jackets. We rode with Stephanie Webb from Hamilton again, as well as John from Holland and Suzie Wiegers from New Jersey. About 50 miles in we stopped for lunch at Hope CRC for a huge feeding including roast beef sandwiches, salad, fruit, and an assortment of other great things. This was in Mount Brydges, Ontario. The people were very kind and enthusiastic about us coming through. We thne headed off after lunch with a group of about 8 riders. We were really moving, going between 22-25 mph. for about 10 miles. It must have been the great roast beef that got us all fired up.
We arrived into the city of London to again be met by fan fare from the local people. Again the Canadians rolled out the welcome mat. We are being hosted at London Christian School. They are providing us with camping space, showers, dinner, and internet access. They also had a list of families that would allow us to use their homes for laundry. We decided to choose the one with a pool and a hottub. They were wonderful. Their pool had only been in for a week and half, and they were already sharing it with complete strangers.
Tommorrow we head off to the Hamilton area. Our Canadian friends are already warning us that the hospitality will be escalating. I am not sure how much higher it can go, but we are being blessed through their giving hearts.
We also got a "text page" from the girls. They will be going to Seabreeze amusement park with the Astifans on Friday. They too are experiencing the blessing of others.

Nightly Peleton Meeting reviewing upcoming day and developing group cohesion.

2008-08-21T14:17:00.000-07:00

Celebrating the second Canadian Past Time behind Hockey, Eating Tim Bits and Coffee from Tim Hortons

2008-08-21T14:15:00.000-07:00

The official Canadaian Welcome as we crossed the border!

2008-08-21T14:14:00.000-07:00

One of the pitstops we use daily. This is known as Corey's SAG wagon.

2008-08-21T14:12:00.000-07:00

Marijo next to her new riding partner.

2008-08-21T14:10:00.000-07:00

Learning to Sweep and Hospitality Redfined

2008-08-20T18:14:00.000-07:00

Stats for the day: Total Miles 56 miles Avg Speed: 14.9mph
Quote of the day: "We would love to have you over to our house"

Today started at 5:00am with the blast from the train heading through Richomond, Michigan. We woke up to take down our dew filled tent down and proceed to help serve breakfast. We have been on "sweep duty" with a team of about 20 others. This entails serving and cleaning up for dinner and breakfast. The other thing it involves is a portion of the team staying back to ensure everyone makes it in safely. We served on that team. After loading 200 hockey bags onto the truck and helping take down the set up, we proceeded off to Marine City. This is the border crossing into Canada. We took a small ferry over to the town of Sambra. We were greeted by a large contingent of Canadians. Now, these people know how to welcome you! They had vats of Tim Hortons coffee and donuts, as well as pins of the canadian flag. The local churches also baked what looked like 500 cupcakes with little Canadian flags on them. I opted for the Tim Bits and the cups of joe.
We then hung back in town for a hamburger as we waited for the rest of the bikers to get far enough ahead of us. We then began the infamous sweep. We cajoled and encouraged the others to keep up the pace. Kudos goes to our team lead Bob Brouwer. This man is a great leader and encourager. He is riding the entire tour with his daughter Lisa. We rode with him, David Teitsma, and Kyle and Fred (Can't remember their last names). Overall it was a great day. Lot's of sunshine and great company.
Tonight we were treated by 3 local churches who served dinner and dessert. They all came out to cheer us on and encourage us. They had signs and people standing on corners waving. It was great. We attended the "Pellaton" meeting tonight, and I found that we will not have internet access in camp for the rest of the week. I then turned to a gentleman behind me and asked where there would be access in town. He said, "Well that would be my house, and since you do not have a car, I will drive you there and back." So, off we went with the Janssens. What a nice family. They treated us to the olympics, their computer, and cold drinks. We are having a great time visiting with them.
Tomorrow we have a 75 mile ride to London Ontario. We have been prepped that the hospitality is going to only escalate. You have to love the Canadian people!!
More pictures to come when I can get my computer to have access.
Peace, James and Marijo

Day 2 / 100 miles

2008-08-19T14:00:00.000-07:00

Stats for the day: 100 miles Avg Speed 15.9mph
Road kill report: Too many to count
Quote of the day: "Do you mind if we draft behind you?"

What a day! After a nights sleep, we arose at 5:45am to start our morning. We quickly took down our tent in the dark and packed up our gear. We started off with Oatmeal and Yogurt, accompanied by coffee. We made our lunches and hit the road. The two challenges for the day were the distance and the predicted 15mph headwind we would be facing. A little let down after the great tail wind we had. We started off the day riding with David Teitsma a great guy we met from Grand Rapids. He rode with us for some time. We then were approached by two others, Stephanie Webb from Hamilton Ont. and Michael Bruinooge from Grand Rapids (He was one of the individuals who helped organize this). We proceeded to ride together for the next 70 miles. We had a great day drafting and getting to know the others.
Tonight we are staying at Richmond High School in the middle of their football scribbage field. The food has been great and they supply you with all the snacks and energy drinks you need. The only thing we have spent money on were two small ice cream cones.
There have also been people along the tour that wave or stop by and bring food and yummy things like homemade jam. I have to say, I think I ate the best PBJ sandwich in my life today. Of course I did this in about 10 seconds.
We have access to the public library in town so wer are descending upon their wireless internet.
It makes me think of the many blessings we experience each day. While I am sore and tired tonight, I will go to bed with a full stomach and be laying on an airmatress with a pillow. A far cry from the challenges that many struggling people face in their lives. It is important to remember that this is the focus of the tour. It can be summarized by the acronym AIF. Awareness, Invovlement, and Funding. It is our prayer that this is what happens.
By the way, we heard a great speaker by the name of Shane Claiborne at 5/3 ball park. Two books you may want to consider reading are: Irresistable Revolution and Jesus for President.
That is it for now, we need to go serve food tonight.

Wild Chickens running loose in Saranac MI

2008-08-19T13:58:00.000-07:00

Leaving our house Monday morning at 6:00am

2008-08-19T13:57:00.000-07:00

Our rolling Commode

2008-08-19T13:55:00.000-07:00

Working out the Kinks

2008-08-19T13:53:00.001-07:00

8/18/08
Grand Rapids to Lainsburg
Stats for the Day: 81 miles Avg Speed. 18.6mph. # of Gatorades James drank 7.
Quote of the day: “Would you do the coast to coast ride again?”…….”Well it is kind of like having a baby……..lots of anticipation, but intense moments of pain” from Joy

Our day started from home biking from our house to Calvin leaving at 6:00am. It is a little dark that time in the AM, and were glad to see the sun rise. We then ate breakfast at Calvin and were introduced to the mass feeding process. Interesting fact is that they make everyone wash with Purell hand sanitizer before going through the line. Something for my healthcare friends to think about We rode to a church in Lowell, that fed and hydrated us very well. As we rode we got many compliments on the tandem, and people saying, “Wow you are really fast” “Nice to meet you, we are going to call you tandem”. Of course it helped that we had an awesome tailwind. The riders who started in Seattle said that this was the best day of riding yet, and that they had not experienced a tailwind like this before. What a great way to start. The group is very welcoming and interested in getting to know everyone. We are staying at a State Campground called Sleepy Hollow. We rolled in at about 1:30pm and set up camp. We waited for the semi trucks to roll in with our gear. We helped others set up their tents and then took a nap. For dinner we had a killer stew, salad, and Ice Cream. Some large group meetings and then some small group gatherings. In the tent by 9:00pm. The media truck never came tonight, so I am writing this up tonight with the goal of posting later. First day was great!

Leisure Ride

2008-08-06T17:38:00.000-07:00

Tonight we went for one of those rides, when you really are not in the mood. We decided we needed to in order to sustain our "saddle calouses" so we remain conditioned. We decided that today would be our leisure pedal night...not something we will be able to do on the tour.

Stats: Miles= 19 Avg speed= 16.7 mph
Interesting site: Not being chased by the killer dog on the bike trail. He chased us last week at this spot. We armed with open water bottles this time. No chance to get revenge though.

12 more days until the tour.

Golden Toilets and Crazy Drivers

2008-08-03T18:41:00.001-07:00

We are on the 2 week countdown. We spent our weekend in the saddle. We first went to Calvin College for a training session related to bike safety. We started riding at 7:00am and was actually a little cool. Made me think of the riders on the tour who have left before that time in the 100 degree heat. We recieved our trining with a dozen others related to overall safety of road riding. This came in handy as on the way home, several drivers, thought that a one foot clearance was adequate at 45mph.

Saturday 8/2 Stats:
Miles: 26
Interesting sites of the day: Jake Prins tie die socks. He is 81 years old and riding the tour! I too want to be wearing tie die when I am 81.
Quote of the day: "What do you use for butt relief?" (Answer: I concoction of noxzema and neosporin in case you are wondering)

Sunday after church we decided to ride again. We rode down to the 5/3 ball park, home of the Sea to Sea Rally in Grand Rapids! We took a series of detours and rode along the Grand River in the shade. It is a good day when you can ride in the shade.
Sunday stats:
Miles: 40
Interesting sites of the day: An RV with a dog barking incessantly at us as they follwoed us for a mile.
Quote of the day: "I have to use the bathroom."....."No problem, you can use the 5 star potty right here" (We like to frequent the Amway Grand's bathrooms when we are downtown:-)

One Month from sign in

2008-07-16T17:46:00.000-07:00

Well the time is drawing near. We have tried to intensify our training. Last Saturday we rode to down town Ada from our house. Round trip about 38 miles. It felt good, although the headwind we faced on the way home made us glad the tour is riding East and not West.
We are excited with the enthusiasm of the the upcoming celebration at 5/3 ball park. Our church will be participating in this event. This will be a great opportunity to be a part of the larger CRC family.
We also have enjoyed checking the photos and blogs of the many other riders who have begun the tour. We are eager for our turn to join the adventure and community. We have a training day for 4 hours on August 2. I think this is to ensure we know how to ride our bike:). Actually the focus will be on safety and how to live in a mobile community and share responsibility.

Biking and clean water?

2008-05-18T14:43:00.001-07:00

The above picture is from a May 10 group ride that we did with others who will be riding in the Sea to Sea Tour this summer. One question I was asked recently, was, "Where will you get your water each day?" I quickly answered and shared how we can refill our bottles at the campsite and along the route at any park, store, restaraunt, etc..... I thought of my quick response to this question when I was speaking with my Aunt Carolyn about issues related to Nigeria and Kenya. One of the key efforts she has been involved in has been the issue of clean water for the people in this area. She shared stories of how a well can transform a community and save the lives of children. It actually changes the survival rate for these children from 20% survival rate by the age of 5 to 90% survival rate by the age of 10. Those are staggering figures! All from something as simple as clean water. Something you and I take for granted each day. Hopefully the bike tour can not only raise funds for key issues like this, but also awareness of these critical issues.

Buns of Steel and Moments of Discomfort

2008-03-09T10:11:00.001-07:00

When we brought our tandem bicycle to church for our presentation, the main focus of the fellow parishioners was the comfort of the gluteus maximus. This all made sense, considering our church has padded pews. Several individuals were concerned at the narrow features of the saddles, and were offering suggestions about increasing the width, with a queen pillow they would share with us for the tour. I then broke out into an explanation of the high-tech spandex that we wear. I recieved looks of dismay, and likely thankfulness as we chose not to model them for the congregation on Sunday.
So this brings me to my next point about getting uncomfortable. I recently watched the new video put out for Sea to Sea, and in it shares details of the adversity that people around the world face as they live in poverty. It helps me to realize that my relative discomfort, such as tolerating the cold of Michigan, asking people for money, and even sitting on a narrow peice of leather for long hours, is minimal in comparison. Sometimes our culture of seeking comfort (my own included) can lead us to complacency, and to not challenging ourselves to take the risks that God calls us to. Our prayer, is that God will use this tour in our lives to make a difference, and raise awareness in others about God's ordained mission of caring for the poor.

Blessings and Encouragement in the mail

2008-02-12T18:39:00.001-08:00

We have been getting our fair share of snow this winter. This makes for lots of time to dream about sunshine and do the "office work" side of the preparation for Sea to Sea. Over the last few weeks we have sent out over 100 letters to friends and family asking for their support and prayer for the tour. It has been exciting to check the mailbox each day to see notes of encouragement, financial support, and many people excited about the tour. It has been a blessing to see so many people passionate about the issues of poverty and making a difference. We are blessed through this response and feel encouraged. This is especially helpful during the long Michigan Winter nights when the most exciting thing may just be the next weather report. This being said, it makes one grateful for the blessing of shelter and heat, the simple things that many live without on a daily basis. Hopefully Sea to Sea will help raise awareness and make changes for people that may not be so fortunate.

Why we ride.

2008-01-28T16:30:00.000-08:00

I have to admit that when I first signed up for the Sea to Sea tour, I was attracted by the chance to go for a very long bike ride. I enjoy long rides, and specifically touring by bicycle. I was also excited about contributing to the issue of eradicating poverty and raising awareness. After attending a prayer meeting last week with others from the tour, I became even more inspired about the aspect of "Ending the cycle of poverty". Being with others, discussing and praying for issues related to poverty refreshed my enthusiasm for these issues. One person discussed the need to not only "End the cycle of poverty, but also to deal with the cycle of privilege". I thought this was very profound, as I was convicted by the thought that I am likely in the "Haves" side of the "Have's versus Have Not's" relationship. Someone also shared the title of the devotional being produced called "Shifting Gears". The intent is to use the tour as a springboard to increase discussion,self-evaluation, and move people to action towards issues of social justice. Something to pray for.

How long is that thing?

2008-01-15T18:30:00.000-08:00

This is how we used to ride as a family. The girls have outgrown the tandem trail-a-bike now. These were really fun days. We could do 40-50 mile rides as a family with this set up, and average 15-16 mph. We also got lot's of strange stares and big smiles. These were fun times. Since then, we have purchased a second tandem so we can continue to go as a family. During the Sea to Sea ride, the girls will be staying with Grandma and Grandpa in New York.

Do dogs like tandem rides?

2008-01-15T18:26:00.000-08:00

This is a photo of James and Hailey on a tandem ride pulling Josie the dog in the Burley Trailer. Let's just say that Josie is not too fond of the Burley rides. She was glad to have this break. As you can see biking is a family affair in the Bonner household.

2008-01-15T18:15:00.000-08:00

Marijo and Keerstyn on a tandem ride in Petoskey, Michigan. Behind them is the Little Traverse Bay.

2008-01-15T18:01:00.001-08:00

We gave our first presentation to Faith Community CRC today. It went very well. We brought the tandem bike in for the presentation and showed the Sea to Sea video clip (the short version). It was very well recieved. We also put written information in everyone's mailbox so that they could have information to take home as well. The deacons took a collection at the evening service. Overall a very good day. It is easy to talk about something you feel so empassioned about. Will keep you posted on our fundraising efforts.
Pedaling for Christ,
James and Marijo

My first Sea to Sea Blog

2008-01-10T18:08:00.000-08:00

Marijo and I got a postcard last summer asking us " Are You In"?

This is the question that continued to stick in our minds as we thought about what we would do in the summer of 2008 for our summer vacation. The question was about whether we wanted to join the Christian Reformed Church in the Sea to Sea Bike Tour across America. "9 weeks is a long time." This was the halting thought, until the two week section opened up. This sounded just right, allowing us to not be away from our children too long, yet enjoy a wonderful time together. We also have been thrilled about the goal of "ending the cycle of poverty" and the fundraising efforts we have been engaged in.

James