Photos: Steve and crew ride into McKay / Jaycees park to finish the ride

"I'm tired, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat": Steve has completed his ride!

Steve, Pollie, Pete, Mark, & Diane cruised into McKay / Jaycees Park in Grand Rapids yesterday evening for a joyful end-of-the-ride celebration with AJS supporters. More news and photos from the event coming soon, but meanwhile here's a text version of the news story broadcast by WZZM Channel 13 News on Grand Rapids television yesterday: http://www.wzzm13.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=125270&catid=48

The Christian Reformed Church in North America, which recently approved AJS as a recommended organization for its members to support, also covered the completion of Steve's Ride in a press release: http://www.crcna.org/news.cfm?newsid=2093&section=1

Congratulations Just Riders!

Article in the Holland (Mich.) Sentinel

The local paper helped get the word out about Steve's upcoming talk in Holland, Mich., tonight:
http://www.hollandsentinel.com/news/x522015313/Professor-to-talk-about-his-bicycle-journey-for-justice-in-Honduras

Days 32-34 Geneva, IL and Cedar Lake, IN

Hello, again, everyone! Please note that we will be entering Michigan tomorrow. Yes, that's Michigan. I checked my bicycle mileage log and we passed the 2,500 mile mark yesterday. Pete marveled with me just how fast we've seemed to traverse the "skinnier" states like Illinois and Indiana--unlike Iowa, South Dakota and Montana which seemed to be states that required days to pass through west to east (and north to south). It is true but it is also likely that we have become aware that this journey is rapidly winding down to the finish line in Grand Rapids on Tuesday 7/27 and that just seems like it's been too fast in some sense, and then again....

The day before yesterday we rode about 105 miles from Prophetstown, IL to Geneva, IL. It was quite a journey in the heat and humidity and replenishing fluids, taking shade breaks and ice cream breaks were high on the agenda. Not long before arriving I got stung by a bee on my inner left arm (this is bee sting #2-- am I a magnet for these guys?!) which actually just set my adrenalin rush (anger) into overdrive for a strong finish. Our more-than-generous, patient and warm hosts, Jim and Andrea Jerozal had kept pasta and a fantastic salad on the ready for us, not to mention a hot shower and some good fellowship over shared interests in global ministry and sustainable business and living practices. Andrea and the kids posed for some parting photos with us the next morning but our visit was just way too short. We want you all to come back and visit with us in Seattle at your earliest convenience. Please?!!!!

Yesterday, we enjoyed miles of great bicycle trails in the far western and southern suburbs of Chicago as they provided a good break from both the sun and winds while temperatures soared to 96 F along with the humidity (Heat index 105). And, both Pollie and Pete humored me and my cries for pancakes for the past week by stopping at a great little restaurant in Oswego, IL (the Oswego Family Restaurant) where I gorged myself on pancakes and eggs for lunch. We even were given our own can of whipped cream to decorate with smiles and Pollie's hand-crafted "bicycle." I think the staff felt sorry for us and knew that we were a bit delirious from the heat.

With the heat and humidity being as bad as it has been, yesterday we rode from Geneva to Cedar Lake, Indiana far slower than we would have liked and our arrival into Cedar Lake was complicated by a few wrong turns and headwinds late in the day. We also arrived at the outskirts of town literally minutes before a tremendous thunderstorm hit. So, we took shelter beneath the roof of a gas station and waited out the worst of it before our host Harley Verbeek and AJS staff arrival, Jill Van Beek, surprised us by stopping to guide us on the road home.

Harley and his wife Arlene are AJS co-founder Kurt Verbeek's parents and the Verbeeks graciously agreed to host us and Pollie's parents for not just one but two nights which was a late change in our plans largely due to the need for an earlier rest day and, the fact that Pollie's parents' truck which has been hauling our food, water and gear across the U.S., has broken down once again-- this time in Geneva, IL.

It is very clear where Kurt got his sense of community, faith and love of God. Harley and Arlene are very proud of Kurt and all of their children and grandchildren and most certainly cherish the family that God has given them. We have most certainly been "adopted" by the VerBeeks. And, I can also see a bit of Kurt's sense of humor in both of his folks, who are as quick with a gift of laughter as they are with their offers of hospitality.

Today, we had laundry to do, errands to run and Harley took the time to give us a tour around the lake as well as the thrift store ("Second Life") where he volunteers. Second Life is taking in donations of all kinds and turning them into funds to support local Christian schools by offering tuition assistance to students, among other things. It is a great model for sustainability since relatively nothing gets wasted and it is also an example of what can be done when a community examines its consumption/waste patterns and turns them into something beneficial with a lasting impact (helping education grow). Go Harley and Second Life, go!

Arlene has also helped fill us not only with extremely delicious food (apricot chicken last night and homemade oatmeal this morning) but she has lifted our spirits with laughter and good cheer... especially, sharing her light with us when we've needed it most-- when we have all been weary as this journey draws to a close.

Thanks, Verbeeks... thanks for everything. We truly hope that you visit us soon in Seattle too! Our door and our hearts are always open.

"Pedaling for Pledges": Article on the Muscatine (Iowa) Journal about the Ride

Congrats to Steve, Pollie, and Pete for continuing to spread the word about AJS, justice, and Honduras in local media in the towns they pass through! Here's an article about them published by the newspaper in Muscatine, Iowa: http://www.muscatinejournal.com/news/local/article_5715c4ae-9540-11df-a472-001cc4c002e0.html

Steve on the radio in Pella, Iowa

Steve was on the radio again this past Monday, on KCWN. We don't have a copy of the audio yet, bet here are some pictures from the interview:

Who's Who Spotlight Series: Pinch HItter

As you have followed along this blog, you probably already have gotten a sense of who Steve is and the drive behind why he rides. But he will be the first to tell you that a ride like this is not just about the rider- in fact, this ride wouldn't be possible without an entire team of ASJ supporters. The "Just Ride Who's Who" series will periodically highlight just these folks, the people behind the story that are really making it all happen.

Today's "Who's Who" Spotlight: "Pinch Hitter"

A.K.A (Also known as): Pete Schnebele
Random Facts about Pete:
- Born and raised in the Seattle area
- Has 4 kids, and 9 wonderful grandkids
- Will be celebrating his 67th birthday while doing this ride
How he got involved in Steve's Just Ride:

Pete is a fellow church members at Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Kirkland, WA. This past spring, when he heard that Ste had plans to bike across county to benefit ASJ, he said “Gee, that sounds like something I’d be interested in doing.” And without even a twist of the arm, Steve had a pinch hitter to join the ride, at just about the point that it seemed that Montana would go on forever. Pete joined Steve in Billings, MT and has been a wonderful addition to the Just Ride team.


Why he got involved:

Pete’s passion for adventure, runs as deep as his faith. And he didn’t hesitate a bit when given an opportunity to do a ride that was for a worthy cause. And in his own words, ASJ certainly fit the bill for a solid organization.” Pete’s was even further inspired when ASJ co-founder Kurt Ver Beek came and spoke at his church about the amazing work they were doing in Honduras.

The ride has also given Pete a chance to see a part of the U.S. he had never seen before. And he hasn’t been disappointed by the scenery or the people, both of which are at the top of his list of highlights on this ride. “If you want to really experience a part of a country,” Pete said, “there is no better way by bike.”


Keep following the blog and watch for the third installment of the Just Ride Who's Who Series.

To read the Previous Spotlight: "The Folks", click here

Third Rider Joins the Ride

Day 26- Rest Day in Sheldon, Iowa

Today is a day of reminder: a day of rest. I am truly aware of something that I do too infrequently back home and that is to take the time from an increasingly busy life to rest and rejuvenate the soul. And, besides, my legs (and other parts of me) are not wanting to ride. I think I'll listen to them if I want to be able to continue this pace we've set for ourselves.

We have been told that the heat index is about 110 today. My understanding is that the heat index is a combination of the actual temperature (86 degrees F) with the humidity (which is some enormous percentage-- moreso than this Seattlite is used to) to give a more accurate idea of how hot and muggy it actually is.

The night before last and last night I got to see something I haven't seen since I was a kid: lightning bugs. They turn on and off and float and hover in front of me at dusk in some peaceful rhythm that only they understand but with which I am elated. And, in the heat of the afternoon, I get to hear another childhood memory revisited, the buzzing sound of cicadas (locusts) high in the trees above me. As a child, this sound had always been the true indicator to me of a hot and sticky day, above and beyond anything a "heat index" could tell.

We woke to a great breakfast of fresh fruit, cereal and juice, served up by our host Bonnie Van de Brake, and then headed into town to tend to some errands prior to my radio interview with KIWA radio and newspaper interview with Iowa Information. It is so fun to be able to share the good news about AJS and its work in Honduras and how we have been touched and humbled by this journey we've been on.

After an incredible lunch (notice me still talking about food), again, served by our gracious host, Bonnie, we actually snacked at a local bakery we'd been told about in downtown Sheldon, the Prairie Queen Bakery. This bakery is not only overflowing with great baked goods but our guide, Cleo (who happens to know the Van de Brakes quite well), and, the bakery's owner offered us free baked energy bars and a heaping portion of kindness and hospitality. We posed for photos with them and had a real blast.

They were eager to know of AJS and our mission and wholeheartedly supported us in this cause. I am truly humbled, honored and emotional over such moments as I am rarely far from the thoughts and feelings of the cancer I endured a few years back and the blessing that it is to be of service now in even the smallest of ways, on a bicycle.

And, my overflowing gratitude to our incredible hosts, Bonnie and Grant Van de Brake can never be fully expressed. You are dear, dear friends to take in these two vagabonds on a bicycle journey for Christ. Please know that you will always have a special place in my heart. Blessings, much love and peace to you always.

Steve's Interview on KIWA Radio

On Wednesday, Steve was interviewed on KIWA radio in Sheldon, Iowa. He talked about the many challenges he and Pete have faced on the ride so far, the passion for justice that motivates them, and shared a message of inspiration encouraging all listeners to find ways to promote justice locally and globally.

You can listen to Steve's interview by clicking on the link below:
http://www.ajs-us.org/Steveontheradio.mp3

Thanks, Steve, for being a great advocate for AJS and for justice!

Words of Thanks for Steve from the Staff Here in Honduras

Deisy, Edward, Claudia, and Orbelina polished up their English (and Virginia used some new video editing skills) to send this message to Steve, on behalf of all 50 staff people here at Asociación para una Sociedad más Justa and the thousands of people they serve. Thank you Steve! (and Pete, Pollie, Mark, and Diane!!!!!)

Day 26; Day of Rest- Comments on Social Justice

I have spent many days and weeks now on a bicycle riding on all kinds of terrain, through all sorts of weather and a variety of traffic and road conditions. I have had plenty of "alone" time on the road to think about my connection to the people of Honduras, why I am doing this ride and what "social justice" means to me. I have met the elderly, mothers, young men, children and the sick in both the U.S. and Honduras. Everyone has their story. And, these stories must be heard.

This bicycle journey has raised a few issues for me and while I am keenly aware that we are on a mission for AJS and ASJ, I think that discussing the ride today with Kiley Seligman, a staff writer for Iowa Information in Sheldon, Iowa, helped me to better process and hopefully articulate these thoughts.

One thing is certain, my sensitivity to social injustice has clearly risen. Here are just a few examples of social justice concerns I have come across:

Day 18: On our bike ride from Gillette, WY to Newcastle, WY we stopped at Polly’s Pub & Grub in Upton, Wyoming. We made a big fuss here back in 2007 when I was on my bicycle ride from Seattle to Washington, D.C. and my wife Pollie and I took photos out front and we got to meet the owner, Polly, who gave my Pollie a bright pink Polly’s Pub & Grub baseball cap, a bunch of bumper stickers and posed with us for pictures.

This morning though, Mom and Dad had been waiting for Pete and I for quite awhile and were a little worried about our late arrival until we explained our dawdling at the West Texas Trail Museum and how the weather had beaten us up a bit. Spaghetti and meat sauce, extra slices of garlic bread and some corn and we were fully loaded and ready to hit the road again. On the way out though, I had a conversation with Polly about the “for sale” sign I saw posted in her window. Having worked in restaurants much of my adult life I know how hard the work can be so I naively suggested that to Polly as the likely reason for her selling the business.

“Oh no. That’s not it,” she said. “I had a brain tumor that the doctors found a while back and they said that it was benign and treated it with some injections. Apparently, the tumor is back and I’m going to have to have some surgery to take care of it. But I have to sell the business first.”

In my feeble way, of encouragement I mentioned to her that I am a stage IV cancer survivor and how Dad has survived cancer twice in life. And, I mentioned that I would ask all of you reading this blog to pray for Polly of Polly’s Pub & Grub in Upton, Wyoming-- for her healing-- and, the ability to keep her business rather than have to give it up in order to heal.

While I pedal on the rest of the day, I can’t help thinking of Polly and the people of Honduras who struggle against different but powerful forces every day. Where is their justice?

Day 21: Today was a blistering day in the heat: 96 degrees F. and all we could think of as we pedaled from Rapid City to Kadoka, South Dakota through the Badlands was water and sunscreen. Water, even in an insulated water bottle, quickly warms to body temperature not more than a few miles down the road from where we filled it. Yet, I think of how I have water here, even warm water, and how it is clean and how it keeps me alive. I cannot say the same for the kids at the Hogar Tierra Santa orphanage in Villa San Antonio, Honduras near Comayagua or how our friends Arturo and Jolie who have hosted us in Tegucigalpa regularly go for stints of 30 or 40 days until water is delivered to them.

What do I really know of these things? I will meet up with Mom and Dad in the RV somewhere up on the road ahead, sit in the shade and guzzle down clean, cool water; as much as I want to fill up on. I will take a hot shower later this evening and let it spill all over me for as long as my sore muscles demand. Social justice?

And, when we finally arrive in Kadoka, South Dakota, we speak with our hosts, Pastor Gary and his wife, Ruth, at the First Presbyterian Church where they have agreed to let us put up our tents, use the bathrooms and park the RV with electrical hook up. When we discuss the work of AJS and why we are doing the bike ride, Pastor Gary comments on the work his church is doing with youth going in to help in the local Indian reservations. The reservation land in this region encompasses three counties. The Lakota Sioux is the tribe he and the youth serve. The tribe has an 81% unemployment rate. And, these three counties are the poorest counties in the entire U.S.

We had visited the Battle of the Little Bighorn national park earlier in the week, the site of "Custer's Last Stand" and the notion of the Indian "way of life" was expressed in great detail in the land, the rivers, in the air and in the blood of those who fought to preserve these things. I can't get over 81% unemployment and the poorest three counties in the U.S. And, this has been considered sacred land. These statistics are how we measure wholeness or capability or success in the modern era. Certainly, by modern measure we know that justice is lacking here-- and who is fighting for social justice on the reservations today?

I think a lot of the words I have spoken and written in my journal on this trip: "Your courage, your hope, your ability to make a difference is available to you. Your opportunity to serve exists. If you choose to be courageous."

I have chosen to make a tiny dent in the battle against social injustice and I am well aware that bicycling to Grand Rapids for AJS and ASJ is just the beginning. I pray that all of you make your own special dent in the charge against oppression, corruption and the demeaning of the poor and less powerful. God bless...

Una Mensaje de Esperanza Para Mis Amigos ASJ (in Spanish)

Esta es una mensaje de esperanza para mis amigos en ASJ quien estan cambiando el mundo cada dia para muchos Hondurenos. Pero a veces es muy dificil a ver lo que es cambiando, dia por dia. Tambien hay muchas fuerzas que tratan romper nuestros espiritus. Pero la verdad es que esto nunca es posible porque tenemos una mision de Dios.

Gracias a ustedes. Cuando tengo un dia muy dificial en mi bicicleta sobre las montanas or cuando hace mucho frio o hay mucho trafico y construccion, pienso en ustedes y creo en Jesus Cristo que siempre vamos a ganar. Bendigas, siempre, Esteban.

Day 22- Kadoka to Reliance, SD-- 103.7 miles

We have had such a mix of weather on this journey, from heat as high as 96 degrees in the Badlands to cold mornings below 49 degrees, rain, cross-winds, tail winds and the ever-dreaded headwinds (too many of these I might add). Couple this with my first flat tire (at mile 1,152), second flat tire (at mile 1,335) and the absolute nightmare of road construction that seems endless no matter which state we enter (Billings, MT had a sign stating "road construction next 34 miles"), drovews of grasshoppers which fly up from the pavement or the grass at the side of the road in waves, stinging our legs and arms and crashing against our faces, glasses and helmets-- and, I know you might find this hard to believe but, yes, we are still having fun.

Mom and Dad, our incredible support crew, have also endured the breakdown of their Dodge truck which is hauling the camper (never buy a Dodge) for the THIRD time on this trip... transmission, A/C and we believe today's latest mechanical fiasco which has sidelined them until Monday when it can be looked at is related to the fuel line/fuel pump/fuel filter. Stay tuned and please keep praying that they can keep up with us as Pete and I continue on our mission with backpacks full of gear on.

Not to be deterred, Mom and Dad rented a minivan to help keep Pete and I on track with our 103.7 mile ride today from Kadoka, SD to Reliance, SD-- this way, in the 93 degree heat we were still hydrated and fed, happy and in overall good spirits. Thanks Mom and Dad. We love you!!!

Most amazingly to me, now that we have reached over 1,594 miles, when asked if they would do this all over again, without hesitation, Pete, Mom and Dad agreed that they would. And, I thought that I was the only one crazy enough to want to do this sort of thing for AJS and ASJ again.

But the truth is, we believe in what this great organization is doing and we know that it is changing Honduras for the better and making better lives for Hondurans by helping them have hope on their personal issues involving labor rights, land rights and cases where they or their loved ones have been victims of crimes.

Blessings to all of you and thanks so much for your support.

July 6, 2010- In Newcastle, WY

Hi there, everybody. Just a short note to fill you in on how the ride is going and that we have now "landed" in Newcastle, Wy for the evening after a 78 mile ride that began with freezing rain and overcast (more like November than July) and some horrific road construction where the road was "milled' or basically grooved and rutted asphalt no less than for 6 miles. But it didn't dampen our spirits, especially, since God saw to it that we had a great tailwind that made speeds of 20-25 mph regularly possible.

Overall, it is an honor to be part of a journey that in some small way supports the cause of AJS and ASJ (Honduras). I am inspired by all that thes great folks are doing and als all of your support which, believe me, is truly what helps carry us through the hard days.

Blessings always,

Steve

P.S. This is ourt of order from earlier posts but I'll fill in the blanks soon when more internet access is available.

117.4

Fourth of July weekend for Steve and Pete brought a 117.4 mile ride yesterday from Sheridan, WY to Gillette Wy. That marks what will probably be the longest day of any of the days on the ride. Steve and Pete were in good spirits, but tired as they set up camp for the evening in the parking lot of a local church. Even Mark and Diane, the support vehicle crew, seemed a bit worn out from the long day on the road providing water stops and making all the arrangement for camp.

Today brings a bit of a shorter ride at just under 80 miles to Newcastle, Wy.

We are cheering you on Pete and Steve!

Pete's Comments on the Climb Out of Billings, MT

Hi, there, friends of AJS- I know that this skips out of order of the days of our blogging but I wanted to be sure to introduce you all to Pete Schnebele who officially joined Steve's Just Ride for his first full day here in Billings, Montana. Here is a YouTube video clip with Pete commenting on the climb out of Billings and the sounds of the morning here.




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OutVSYh3D9U

Day 3- Part 3

Steve’s Just Ride-

Day 3, Vantage, WA to Wilbur, WA; 98.2 miles

PLEASE NOTE: due to limited Internet access in many of the Western states that I have biked thus far, this blog is being updated as access allows. Sorry for the delay.

Part 3

I rise slowly in the heat from the valley floor to the top of Dry Falls where there is a scenic overlook. I am told by an older gentleman while I scan the terrain that the area was once a waterfall that was more than twice the size of Niagara Falls and that some geologist theorized that it was formed in the Ice Age when an enormous ice dam broke near what is now Missoula, Montana, flooding this area all the way down to Moses Lake and beyond. “Everyone thought he was crazy but it was just proven recently that he was right. You should buy the book,” he said. Somehow I think that he may have worked at the Visitor’s Center.

At any rate, I take the time to take photos and a bathroom break after the long climb. I’m off to Coulee City where I stop to try and make a call ahead to my hosts for the evening, Gil and Gerri Hanson. No cell service. I go into the only local restaurant that appears to be open, Grandpa Joe’s, and am greeted by Darilyn, who gives me some cold water for the last 28 miles to Wilbur where I’ll stop for the evening.

Darilyn and I get to talking. She asks me where I’m headed and why I’m doing the ride. Then she tells me that her husbandis from Tegucigalpa, Honduras. I tell her about our failed attempt at adopting Carmen but how Carmen is still our “daughter” and her baby, Jasmin, our granddaughter. Darilyn tells me of how they are in the process of trying to adopt her husband’s niece and nephew from Honduras. Of all of the places that I could have chosen to stop for water??? And, she wanted my information sheet on AJS. I handed her one and she said that they’ll be sure to donate online. We parted with a handshake but it felt like a hug. Thanks, Darilyn.

I rode on through Hartline then Almira—two towns that are hardly towns except, I am sure, to their inhabitants. Both spots had no cell phone coverage and my hosts for the evening, my wife and my SAG wagon (mom and dad Bohn in the 5^th Wheel) don’t know my status here on highway 2, trodding towards Wilbur.

Mile 70. Mile 71. Hill over rolling hill, then flat, but always in each direction fields and fields of wheat. This is where my bread comes from. Here, and God above. I stop because my bum hurts, because I am exhausted, because my neck and shoulders hurt and simply because the “wall” that I normally hit in a 100 mile ride is at about mile 75 or 80.

Mile 80, will you just arrive? I shift in the saddle and stand on the pedals to break the monotony. I stop again to take photos of the panorama of wheat and sky. I am at sea and I am delirious. It is finally mile 90 and up a cresting hill I slow to about 8.5 mph. The shoulder has narrowed the past few miles or maybe that’s my imagination but in my delirium, my skinny front tire catches the edges of the gravel and slips into cinder and sand and I go down, hitting my left shoulder, knee and calf. Just what I needed. Reinjuring my already multiple-injured shoulder, a nice case of road rash with gravel in the wounds on my leg, which I scrape out to the best of my ability—and the blood flows down and across my left leg.

I am determined now, with about six miles to go and I pedal faster on my mission. Nothing looked so good today as the “Entering Wilbur” sign. I coast up to our friends’ real estate/insurance office and who is walking out the door at that exact moment but no one other than Gerri, my host. I am welcomed with a warm hug (despite my scent of sweat) and follow her to Gil’s father’s home where I am told a few have gathered.

After a hot shower, I rejoin the living and see a spread of food on the kitchen island—fresh fruit, chips and dip, cookies, cheese and crackers—the works—and, I am greeted by about 15 people. Gil and Gerri’s friends are amazing people: incredible reflections of the generosity and kindness and warmth of my hosts.

We have a great party together and Imeet Anita, newly diagnosed with what appears to be cancer that is being further tested by doctors, I see the fear in her eyes and the silence but also hear the faith that she has. I tell her about my stage IV tonsil cancer journey and how I recognized early in my case that it was all about something bigger than me. This is no consolation in times like this, I know, but I remind her that we must never forget to live each day and to love fully. It is all that we truly have.

And, Anita is surrounded by this amazing “extended family” of about 20 dear friends, the same friends who adopted me tonight. I promised her that I would pray for her and put it out to the rest of you who are reading this to pray for healing as well. I am reminded of the bible verse my mom repeated to me so many times during my trials in life: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13)

We went to dinner at the Alibi afterwards and I had some great chicken fettucini alfredo; carbs for the ride tomorrow. Sleep came easily after that. A grueling day with a blessing throughout.

Just Ride Who's Who? Spotlight: Series "The Folks"

As you have followed along this blog, you probably already have gotten a sense of who Stephen McCloskey is and the drive behind why he rides. But he will be the first to tell you that a ride like this is not just about the rider- in fact, this ride wouldn't be possible without an entire team of ASJ supporters. The "Just Ride Who's Who" series will periodically highlight just these folks, the people behind the story that are really making it all happen.

Today's "Who's Who" Spotlight: "The Folks"

A.K.A (Also known as): Pollie's Folks- Mark and Diane Bohn


Random Facts about Mark and Diane:
- Born and raised in North Dakota
- Lived (until recently) in Minnesota on Leech Lake
- Adore their many grandkids
- Have a knack for creating community where ever they go
- View retirement as an opportunity to say "yes" to crazy haired ideas

How they got involved in Steve's Just Ride:

Well, basically, they were asked. They said yes.

As uninteresting of a story as that is, that is pretty much how it works with Mark and Diane. In October, they rented out their home in MN, sold their furniture, packed up the rest into storage, bought a 5th wheel trailer and hit the road in order to help make a difference in whatever way they could. The volunteered in post-Katrina Louisiana for 5 months, before hitting the road once again and serving at a Lutheran camp in WA for two months. And on June 19, they loaded up their truck with peanut butter, trail mix, bike gear, tents, and ventured out to be Steve's support vehicle and pack mule for 38 days on the road. (And Pollie loves the fact that her husband actually looks forward to the idea of being in tight living quarters with his in-laws for that many days!)

Why they got involved:
If you were to ask them, the answer would probably be a humble shrug of the shoulders and the simple answer "Because we can." Mark's dry wit would come through in a response along the lines of "Why not?" or even "We've got nuthin' better to do." But spend a few hours on the road with them along Montana highways, and it is very clear that their reasons why run much deeper.

It is because they can, but it also is because of their faith in a Love that is so much bigger calls them to service. It is because they are able, but it is also because they have known the presence of grace in their own lives time and time again when community has surrounded them. And it is because their definition of "grandkids" is much bigger than the 6 they have in MN. Though they have never been to Honduras, nor spent time at the orphanage that has stolen the hearts of their daughter and son-in-law, these children, the children of Honduras, have also become their grandkids. And the work of ASJ, they will tell you, symbolizes the hope they have for all of these grandkids for a more just world.



Keep following the blog and watch for the second installment of the Just Ride Who's Who Series: Next Spotlight: "Pinch Hitter"

Una Mensaje en YouTube Para Mis Amigos en ASJ

Por favor de usar este link en YouTube para ver una mesaje en espanol para ASJ.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUis_2Ev9FU

Day 3- Part 2

Steve’s Just Ride-

Day 3, Vantage, WA to Wilbur, WA; 98.2 miles

PLEASE NOTE: due to limited Internet access in many of the Western states that I have biked thus far, this blog is being updated as access allows. Sorry for the delay.

Part 2

The rest of the ride up to about mile 40 to Ephrata is fairly uneventful. If seen while traveling in a car it would likely be cause for intense conversation as to solving the world’s problems, superficial chit-chat or a loud radio and cold air just to keep the driver awake. Alone on a bicycle, there are conversations with the occasional red-winged blackbird, the tuning in to the orchestra of crickets or the song of the wheat or wild grasses rushing in the wind. My natural music is infrequently interrupted by a “commercial,” the rubbing, slapping sound of a car or truck whooshing by as it passes over the rumble strip while giving wide berth to “the bicyclist.”

I arrive in Ephrata, a bustling town with seemingly a lot more activity than its 6,275 population would suggest. And, after spotting a hand-painted mural resembling kokopelli or some other type of petroglyphs/pictographs on the side of a second-hand bookstore, I decide to lean my bicycle there and make camp for lunch on the sidewalk. Aah, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, trail mix and a load of water in the warm mid-day sun--- I am so blessed.

I cycle on to Soap Lake and stop at a local grocery store to load up on water before the next 20 miles north on Route 17, known for its remoteness and lack of services. The little grandma in the deli where they sell old-fashioned (deep-fried) glazed donuts for 39 cents a piece smiles and asks where I’m headed. “Oh, be careful, honey. That road winds a lot and there’s a big climb.” I take her ad ice to heart and plod north on the mostly minimal-shouldered road.

About seven miles into this portion of the trek I notice that there is a back-up of campers, cars and pick-ups towing their boats to lake country. All of these folks had flown by me in the past few miles and here I pedal alongside and past them as they are all stopped for the sign that reads “Road Construction—One Lane Road Ahead.” We wait a minimum of 30 minutes before being led by the pilot truck into the zone. I ask the flagger if I could ride alongside these vehicles on the one lane and she just waves me onward and I hear her say into her walkie-talkie, “And there’s a bicyclist coming through too!”

The first part of the construction was like a lot of these types of sites at least to the eye of the layperson, lacking any activity and both lanes of the road looking just the same as the past seven miles: not under construction. But, eventually, I get to see what all of the fuss was about. We bump off of the regular chi-sealed asphalt (which was already a bit bone-jarring) to chip seal minus the seal or, in other words, simple gravel that makes every fifth-wheel or boat-towing vehicle handle in a squirrely fashion, let alone my skinny-tired road bike. At times, I ride the equivalent of the center-line to make room for cars and trucks to my left as we are both now occupying the left lane. I wonder how the construction signage implied that the challenge here was allegedly limited to the “one-lane road” when both lanes are entirely in this quagmire of loose gravel and rock.

Ahead, I see that the workers are spraying oil on the road and dust and spray rises from the gravel. Lovely. I wave to a motor home driver to move in front of him and speed up all the way across to the left-hand edge of the road and up within and arm’s reach and left of the camper in front me. I use the camper as a shield as we pass the spraying and hope that I don’t appear antsy to the camper driver as I surely am within the vision of his left side/rearview mirror.

Amazingly, there are seven miles of this jockeying and gravel riding on shifty terrain and it is more fatiguing than any climb that I’ve endured today. Speaking of climbs, by my mark, I should be getting to the “big climb” that the woman at the deli in Soap Lake referred to by now (mile 58-60). I do. And, while the really loose gravel construction zone is now a few miles behind me in my rear view mirror, the unmarked shoulder is deceptive in its quality because there are numerous spots that look the same as the chip-sealed road but are instead mushy and unstable causing my tires to slip as I ride uphill.

Photos from a friend

A dear friend from long ago, who happens to be a very gifted photographer, asked if she could document Steve's journey as he passed through her hometown of Helena,MT (Midway point on Day 10, this past Tuesday).

Click here to enjoy a few of her photos-

Thanks Stacy for the great photos and for cheering Steve on along the way!

Day 3- Part 1

Steve’s Just Ride-

Day 3, Vantage, WA to Wilbur, WA; 98.2 miles

PLEASE NOTE: due to limited Internet access in many of the Western states that I have biked thus far, this blog is being updated as access allows. Sorry for the delay.

Part 1-

I think that I will have to have one word for each day of this journey. Today’s word was “grueling.” It started out that way as I merged onto I-90 and rode across the narrow-shouldered bridge that spans the Columbia River. Here, I met the first long climb of the day, a 1.8 mile ascent up and beyond the Wild Horse monument. The wind wasn’t bad, traffic was fairly light but I could tell this was going to be a warm day and I was now wearing a backpack filled with the next two days belongings, toothbrush, maps and other necessities, pared down to a minimum for weight.

From the speckled, flat grey sky I got the sense as to why Native Americans used to paint the hind quarters of their horses. Maybe it was so the horses would run like the winds. Yet, while the clouds here look a bit threatening but sufficiently broken up, like pieces of grey slate, to be of too much danger.

I’m also getting the sense as I proceed that this is on of those “are we there yet?” sort of days. I keep looking down at my odometer only to see that I’ve gone far less than my body feels that I have. I look out at the landscape, look warily at farms and dilapidated homes for signs of a charging dog then look down again at the odometer. Ouch. This goes on for awhile as I ride rolling hills on the frontage road that parallels I-90 until I turn Northeast onto the long ribbon of highway that is State Route 283 on the way to Ephrata.

Here, the fields are marked with nice blue and white rectangular signs that must be meant to tell the tourists flying by in their cars or RV’s what is growing out across this horizon of fields. On my bicycle I get the gift of a light sprinkle from the sky and at 19 miles an hour I feel pushed through the scenery. I am also given a familiar scent. I can’t place it exactly but it seems like maybe a tea that I’ve had before, perhaps, lemon grass. I ride further and am convinced that yes, it must be lemongrass. And, I go on this way for maybe a half of a mile with no nice blue and white rectangular sign on either side of the road to validate my suspicions.

Ahead, there is a mammoth watering device stretched out across the fields and, lo and behold, the sign that says that these low green leafy plants that extend as far as I can see, are peppermint. I stop to take a photo and am misted by the watering machine…and, in childlike exuberance, pull out my cell phone to call my wife. If even for a brief moment I can share this with her, to connect our souls over something as joyous and simple as living and breathing and aromatic plants, I will let her know that she rides beside me over every mile for the people who work for and are cared for by AJS and ASJ (the Spanish language equivalent of “AJS”) in Honduras.

Steve's Journal Day 2, June 20 (Part 3 of 3)

To read from the begining of day 2, start with Part 1 and Part 2 of Day 2

Part 3
It’s amazing how the topography has changed out here: some new ranches and small housing developments where land had stood barren a few years ago. But as I approach a curve in this long ribbon of highway, I notice one windmill after another standing as modern energy sentinels, whirling away and guarding the entry to the Columbia River. My brain tells me as heat waves rise from the pavement, that my destination, Vantage, can’t be far off, maybe 15-16 miles. But I have a long climb ahead before the 11-mile descent is possible. In this climb I am truly aware of my aloneness. Even though I was out in front of the team here in 2007, there was a team on the same road with me then. There is no team behind me on the open road, no sign of animal life except occasional road kill or a tiny bird flitting here or there.

The devil talks to long distance cyclists at these times. One hand hurts. Focus there. Then, the other hand or foot hurts. Shift attention. Then, it’s the shoulder, the neck stiffness or bum that hurts most. I look more intensely for signs of life at the side of the road and see only shades of brown and even red sage brush. Nothing. Your neck really hurts, doesn’t it?” the devil says.

I am patient. And, I am rewarded. I notice a hawk alighting upon a telephone pole with a mouse in its talons; dinner for the hawk and its young. It hovers and blends into the horizon, and so do I. The descent arrives and my day’s journey winds down, literally, to the Columbia River where I see mom, dad and the RV. Home away from home, despite the day’s voices. And, I learn that they blew the transmission on the truck traveling over the mountains this afternoon. What will tomorrow bring?