Category: Rich’s Ride

It’s time to begin seriously ramping up for the next chapter in Rich’s Ride. Our team will converge on Cincinnati in about six weeks for IJM Freedom Tour. I hope you’ll plan to follow the team through the Rich’s Ride blog. I know we’ll meet great people, share inspiring stories, and learn about the people touched by International […]

It’s been a busy week for RICH’S RIDE! First, my handcycle was stolen from my garage on Tuesday (When Someone Steals). So lots of folks looked and prayed, and we attracted a bunch of media attention. On Friday police found and returned it. I’m grateful to have it back, and even more grateful that nobody […]

I’m sharing some excerpts from my in-progress manuscript about Rich’s Ride. You can check out previous posts here. # # # # # I’ll confess to being a bit overwhelmed as the group gathered on Friday evening. It’s one thing to be invited to address a previously scheduled event, but these folks just showed up, […]

Yesterday I gave the wrong date for our presentation at Timberline Church in Fort Collins. The correct date is Wednesday, January 18th, 2011 at 7:00 pm. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Note: as I process my experience from Rich’s Ride I’ve been writing some of my thoughts about accessibility and inclusion. Previous articles include Ain’t No Normal and An Able Bodied World? One of the surprises we encountered during Rich’s Ride was a church with a designated seating area for folks with “special needs.” We weren’t […]

Becky and I have this morbid humor between us about some of the things we say related to disability. We chuckle when she asks me to “run to the store” or tells me “don’t step on Monte’s tail.” The other day I was getting on my bike, using my wheelchair for balance. Becky asked, “Are […]

A few fun things happened on Tuesday. Our good friends Glenn and Judy joined us for the second day. You’ll see Judy and hear Glenn in the video below. Glenn and I did 45 miles from Keokuk, Iowa to Hannibal, Missouri. The first 32 miles followed a wonderful route known by locals as “Bottom Road.” […]

Today I’d like to share an illustration I use when I talk to groups about Rich’s Ride. * * * * * Leonard was the latest in a series of physical therapists who tried to help me adjust to life with paralysis. We had an unspoken agreement: they worked hard while I complained and made […]

As we pulled out of Fort Collins, Pastor Mark Orphan imparted one final bit of wisdom: Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be broken. I don’t think he was quoting the Beatitudes, but we’re discovering it’s great advice for operating on the road. We had a great first week of Rich’s Ride, but […]

Week one’s in the books–195 miles and still going. Here’s a video wrap-up of some thoughts as we pursure this big dream together.. If you can’t see the video, click here.

Some days you get stuff done early. The blog post is complete, the email’s all answered, and you’re just on top of everything. Some days are Friday and you needed some extra sleep and you just need to be honest about it. Today is Friday. Yesterday’s ride was … fine. Long stretches of highway, no […]

It’s time. After months of planning, dreaming, wondering if it could really happen–today the journey begins. We’ll be in Lake Itasca State Park at about 8:00 am. We’ll speak to the press, take some cheesy photos, and make last-minute preparations. At about 9:00 am (CT) we’ll be off. Thanks for joing in, for following along, […]