We’ve met some really special people on this trip. Friday morning our lives were enriched by a group of men at Teen Challlenge New Life Ranch in New River, Arizona. If you don’t know about Teen Challenge, it’s a highly effective residential program for men who want to resolve substance abuse issues. We did a […]
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Ever Hugged A Wounded Porcupine?
On this trip I’ve talked a lot about trying to hug a wounded porcupine. It reminded me of this material. adapted from a post that originally appeared April 16, 2010. The basic question is: Why bother? Ever cuddle a puppy? They curl up in your lap and lick your face. Everything about a puppy is […]
Continue readingMore TagWhat Do You Learn?
I learn so much from these rides. I try to share the important stuff here because I hope you’ll learn something as well. In the last couple of days I’ve learned at least three lessons that might serve all of us. # # # Stay open to the opportunities God places in your path. Thursday […]
Continue readingMore TagThe View From Here
This has been a spectacular ride. I thought today might be a good day to share some of the sights. I hope you enjoy the scenery as much as we have. Ever feel like you’re about to ride off the edge of the world? This place is called The Chapel Of The Holy Cross. I […]
Continue readingMore TagIs It A Hill Or A Climb?
In cycling, and in life, there’s a big difference between hills and climbs. Riding an incline is part of nearly every tour. In the long term, there’s no such thing as “flat.” As I’ve said before, a big part of life is just grinding up the hills. Climbs are different. In cycling, a climb is […]
Continue readingMore TagCan You Write A Non-Blog?
Today’s post is sort of a non-post, because yesterday got sort of long. I’m sure there’s a more majestic place to ride than the south rim of the Grand Canyon, but I haven’t been there yet. We got a perfect fall day to enjoy this incredible treasure, though it was just like the rest of […]
Continue readingMore TagAre You Willing To Grind?
This ride involves more hills than I expected. It’s been slow going, which is just part of the deal when you’re touring. The hills have me pondering a metaphor. I’m curious about your reactions. Friday we rode about 52 miles, starting at less than 5000 feet in the desert of Winslow and ending in mountain […]
Continue readingMore TagWho?
Happy Monday! There’s a great story behind today’s word-of-the-week… WHO? We were invited Sunday to Northland Christian Assembly Church in Flagstaff. Last week they did a community outreach event. One of their teams delivered some food to a nearby Hispanic neighborhood. One of the first families they met included an eleven-year-old boy who spoke great […]
Continue readingMore TagDoes Inspiration Change Things?
I have a question. Since we left Taos about a week ago we’ve received at least 100 comments, messages, and texts telling us our efforts are inspiring. I really appreciate that encouragement, and I love the word “inspire.” Inspire means to breathe in life. It’s the opposite of “expire.” As a teacher I sought to […]
Continue readingMore TagAre You Seeking Safe?
“Biking on the road doesn’t seem safe.” I heard it again yesterday. It wasn’t the first time, and it won’t be the last. If I’ve learned anything doing this crazy thing called RICH’S RIDE it’s that bike touring on roads with cars and trucks isn’t entirely safe. It would be great if there were dedicated […]
Continue readingMore TagBiking Without Shoes?
I’ll bet no other cyclist has had this sort of encounter. Like most riders, an occasional motorist objects to me biking on his road. Usually there’s honking, sometimes yelling, and once in a while I see a juvenile hand gesture. But today I got a one-of-a-kind reaction. A twenty-something kid in a pickup pulled up […]
Continue readingMore TagVideo Kicks On Route 66
This is a really nice family we met in Albuquerque. They claimed to be curious about the ride, but it’s pretty clear who attracted them. I’ll tell you about them in this video that shows a bit of what it’s like handcycling on historic Route 66. It’s really not a very good video, because I was […]
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