The Fuller Center Bicycle Adventure

We did it! Before looking ahead, one final look back...

2009-09-08T11:28:00.012-04:00

Seven states and 1400 miles later, our summer’s incredible “service triathlon” - cycling, speaking, and building - has come and gone, but its impact will last for years to come. We built friendships both old and new, biked through days of scorching sun and drenching rain, and spoke to audiences from as young as middle school students to as “mature” as nursing home residents.

It couldn’t have happened without all the notes of encouragement, the prayers for the journey, and donations made in our support. We truly were never riding alone. Thanks to your help, together we raised over $85,000 for housing needs from our ride, even in this difficult economic time: Thank you!

Funds from our trip will impact the lives of families in the U.S. and around the world.

Some other numbers that give a snapshot of the trip:

14 riders went the whole way
140 riders rode at least a mile
1400 miles traveled (longer than expected…)

2 flat tires on my bike (less than I expected!)
7 states covered
16.1 mph personal average speed
25 long-distance riders
84.5 hours I spent pedaling on the bike

The home we worked on in Springfield, KY

12 families’ homes our team worked on (the funds we raised go to help even more families around the world)
30+ media stories
35,000+ views of our trip web sites
650 total donors for the trip
$85,000+ raised for the whole team

One final exciting update: one of our riders, Erika, has committed to bringing The Fuller Center to her local area in Virginia! Oyee, Erika!

As much as we appreciate applause and support, we didn’t do it so that people would stand back and clap. The event is for getting people involved. Grab a hammer or paint brush – or start training on your bike for next year’s ride – and come join us.

You can build with a group in the U.S., overseas in places like El Salvador, Peru, Nigeria, or Armenia, or continue to offer regular financial support. You might even consider helping to start The Fuller Center in your area. Whatever you choose, let’s get started!

Ryan Iafigliola

Trip Leader

P.S. Stay tuned here and at www.FullerCenterBikeTrip.com for announcements about next year's route. We've got some creative ideas in the works...start getting excited.

The sun must set on this year's trip...but it will soon rise again in '10!

The biking might be over (for now) but the building is not!

2009-08-22T13:42:00.018-04:00

Today we did not say “good bye”. We said I can’t wait to see you next time and good luck in the adventures of life until we meet again.

As I look back and recap, its hard to believe that 5 weeks have escaped us already. Everyday was a blessing in itself. I’m not quite sure how to recap it all other than saying: God called, we answered God, we were blessed along the way, and we all know it was right.

The memories and bonds we created are endless. I know I personally will never forget the homeowners we helped, the family we created as a team, the everlasting friendships, and entering every state by bicycle. I know we all thought that biking the distance would be our greatest accomplishment on this trip. But, I think for all of us, it was so much more than biking. It was a step closer to ending poverty housing. Sharing about the ministry and helping first hand.

I don’t think we kept as good of stats as last years riders in who had the most flats, first, last, the amount of water or Gatorade consumed.

Melissa has the best tan lines and the first to receive two flats in one day.

Michael enjoyed getting someone lost daily (Just kidding Papa Bear, thank you for being a great route leader).

Esther was the funniest by far and the only one to get bitten by a 4 legged friend.

Erika and Eric enjoyed spending money on new tubes and are the flat leaders of the trip.

Nick had the police looking for him after he missed all the rests stops for a day, and played every piano he seen.

Dave Steer is always found riding with someone, and sharing about the FC.

Krystal is the caregiver of Millie/Sharky the shark and was our team doctor. ( I visited her for my foot hurting one day and ended up with a ice pack on my neck).

Kristina always made sure we had Sweet Sweet Tea and was the most likely to be found napping.

David Snell pedaled hard the last day and was our most honorable rider.

Emily was the only one on the trip who never got a flat tire.

I, Megan, was the only one who got a broken spoke. 3 one time and 7 two days later. I just gave up and bought a new wheel.

Thad enjoyed playing the guitar and signing worship songs for everyone. He was also our team eye doctor.

Lisa was pretty famous everywhere that had Fuller Centers because of her experience with Fuller Center El Salvador and her bike Aretha enjoyed singing to us daily.

Kyle carried his video recorder regiously for the first two weeks and never complained when he got lost.

Ryan and Esther are most likely to get lost and also most likely to get on the interstate. And Ryan earned the nickname of wrong way Ryan.

Susan was the fastest lady by far and we missed her the last 2 weeks.

Becky was the kindest person and we are Thankful she joined for 2 weeks, we missed the first 3.

Hannah Joy enjoyed taking naps after the ride and enjoyed taking pictures almost as much as Esther.

Tony was the man we wished we never had to say good bye too.

Ivan always wanted to be busy. He never took naps.

Chris was great to have for a few days. It was wonderful to hear about last year, and that he still spreads the word of good faith and works with the Fuller Center.

Tamara’s passion shared to everyone. She was the "most grateful to be here" award.

Until we meet again we will not forget each other, the bonds we created are everlasting. I know we answered god’s calling by participating in as Ryan calls it the new Triathlon: Biking, Building, and Speaking. This is just the start of our next adventure.

See everyone soon.

Oyee!

written by: Megan East

photos by: Esther Hyejin Chung

We FINALLY dipped our front tires in to the Gulf Coast!

2009-08-18T11:00:00.009-04:00

By special guest David Snell, President of The Fuller Center for Housing

Riding in to Shell Point Beach!

"Oye!" fromt the Gulf Coast!

We made it! Here’s to the intrepid 14 who traveled the whole 1400 actual miles from Michigan to Florida. And here’s to the 140 riders who joined the trip for part of the way. And here’s to your reporter, who was privileged to join the Adventure for its last 30 miles. My assignment, apparently, was to slow things down. Turns out my poor little bike isn’t designed for road work, so I could pedal as hard as the best of them and only go half as fast. Who would’ve thought?

A lot of road coverage :)

This was a great event—good people doing outstanding things and having fun along the way. The tour passed through a number of Covenant Partner communities where the riders were able to ‘rest’ by helping build and rehab houses. Local churches and schools put them up, fed them, washed their clothes and made them feel to home. There were no accidents, just a few missed turns and only one or two encounters with the law. By any measure this was a success.

All the riders held hands and dashed in to Shell Point Beach, FL!

The last couple of days in Tallahassee were event filled. The troupe arrived on Thursday—the Baptists put them up and the Catholics fed them dinner. On Friday they worked on the home of Miss Alice Dixon and had dinner with the Presbyterians. Saturday was the big event, the final ride to the sea. A large group of local riders, including Chairman Brian Desloge of the County Commissioners, joined for the 45 mile trip. It was a beautiful day for a ride—a little overcast and just cool enough to make the trip pleasant. None of us realized that a tropical storm was brewing off shore, but it did help keep the temperature down. After a short ride through town we joined at St. Marks Trail, an old rail bed that’s been converted into a bike trail, and rode it for 15 miles—a beautiful trip through live oak woods dripping with Spanish moss. We got on the highway for the last 15 miles, a quiet country road without a lot of traffic.

We dipped our front tires in to the Gulf Coast!

Our destination was Shell Point Beach, and all of the sudden there it was, with the Gulf of Mexico spread out before us like it went on forever. The first order of business was to get to the shore and dip the front wheels of the bikes into the water—completing the ritual that began when the rear wheels were dipped in Lake Michigan.

Riders received a personalized trophy!

It was a bittersweet time for the riders who, after five weeks of close living, had formed themselves into a tribe. The long haul was over, but so too was their time together. They had a little time left—we all got together for dinner at the Barton’s on Saturday night and then spread out to visit as many churches as possible on Sunday. Sunday lunch was at a real, sit-down restaurant—a treat for the weary travelers—and then it was time to say goodbye.

Fuller Center's President David Snell presented Trip Leader Ryan Iafigiola with a trophy!

How do you thank people who share so freely of their time, their energy, their good spirits to spread the word about the Fuller Center and to help families along their way to have a better place to live? It’s hard to find the words, but these folks deserve our gratitude. They are true partners in our effort to make decent housing a reality for all. So thank you, Adventurers. May your memories of this trip bring smiles to your hearts for years to come.

written by: Fuller Center for Housing President David Snell

photos by: Esther Hyejin Chung

8th Build Day in Tallahassee, FL!

2009-08-14T22:34:00.004-04:00

Nick and Emily working hard on Miss Alice's home.

This morning brought us another early start with a hearty breakfast donated by the local Fuller Center affiliate. Thank you for such a kind wake up. We went straight to the work site and were greeted by a few great supervisors, Steve, John, Jim, Mike, and Tom. They took great care of us all day, and provided us an extremely organized work site. We were met by the homeowner (Miss Alice as we came to know her by), who was a sweet woman in need of desperate home repair.

Mike did an awesome job painting!

Miss Alice lived in her home for many years, but had a turn of bad luck this past year when a tree fell through her roof. She then suffered a stroke and her home remained in its dire condition. The Fuller Center was contacted and quickly arrived with help. Our job for the day was painting the home as well as combating gigantic spiders. Fortunately we are all still intact and ready for our last ride tomorrow. Lunch was delivered to the site and was greatly appreciated (thanks so much!). The day ended with a few pictures and all smiles. Miss Alice seemed very pleased with her home makeover and was generous with hugs and kisses for all involved.

David Snell, President of Fuller Center, had dinner with us and will be joining us for the ride tomorrow!

We were all ecstatic over a few hours of rest and relaxation after the morning’s work. Well rested, we piled into the van once again and headed to dinner provided by the Episcopal Church. Thank you for a great meal, and thanks to the Faith Presbyterian Church for having us. Upon our arrival back at the church, new riders joined us in preparation for our last ride. After some late night shenanigans, we headed to sleep. Thanks for reading!

Fuller Center Tallahassee deserves a loud "Oye!" :)

written by: Lisa Corsi

photos by: Esther Hyejin Chung

We have FINALLY arrived to Tallahassee, FL!

2009-08-13T22:45:00.004-04:00

"Oye!" from FL!!!

Thursday was a great day of riding for me personally, as well as the other riders. Ryan says it was because of the tailwind. I thought it was because I was getting stronger, but now that I think about it, I realize I’ve asked plenty of people to pray for our safety and ENDURANCE. So, I’m sure we rode strong for 51 miles because God was answering prayers.

The Biggins made us feel extra welcomed :)

We started from the Chamber of Commerce office in Pelham, Georgia. It was an overcast day which made the weather cooler than Wednesday. There were lots of small hills along the way. Since I’m from Louisiana, those baby hills might as well be mountains. I huffed and puffed on the uphills while Becky and Ryan flew by me, then I shifted into my downhill mojo and passed them up at up to 31mph. FUN!!!! My riding partner, Dave Steere from Panama City, and I averaged 17 mph for the day. Not too bad for the senior most riders of the group!

Erin and Megs

When we got to the Florida state line, we were greeted with enthusiastic cheers of “Oye’e” from the Biggins family. Pat Biggins serves with the Tallahassee Fuller Center and he and wife Donna have 6 of the most beautiful blonde and red-headed children. They were all wearing orange – our theme color – and they were waving homemade welcome posters. They even had fresh oranges for us to eat as we stopped to pose under the “Welcome to Florida” sign – the 7th state in our long journey.


We proceeded to First Baptist Church of Bradfordville where we are sleeping on the floor of their Sunday School rooms for 3 nights. Thank you FBCB for your graciousness! We had supper with the Tallahassee Board and members of Good Shepherd Catholic Church. Thank you to the Biggins family for arranging supper and entertainment for our group! Katelyn, Meghan, Dan, Connor, Erin and Tanner, you are delightful!

Erin, Megs, Erika and Tanner playing at the church :)

We must send a shout-out to Higher Ground Bicycle Company. Several riders had to stop there to look for boxes in which to ship their bikes home . The owners read our t-shirt slogan, which is “Building on Higher Ground”. They were so impressed with our mission and slogan that they gave us some much needed goodies. Thank you Higher Ground! Some of you have asked how I make it through the long days of riding. I will leave you with my mantra of the week. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13.

written by: Tamara Danel

photos by: Esther Hyejin Chung

We have arrived in Pelham, GA!

2009-08-12T22:20:00.003-04:00

Millard Fuller's hanker chief is tied around each of our riders :)

Your blogger today is the old man of the group. Today we rode about 57 miles to the little town of Pelham, GA. You might wonder why we chose this town to stop – several folks in Pelham have expressed an interest in starting up a new Covenant Partner with The Fuller Center for Housing. So we thought we would interact with them and perhaps share a little of the excitement that is building around our Bike Adventure. Perhaps a news article or one of the many folks we talk to might be encouraged to add their time and talent, and perhaps even some of their cash to help get this important project off the ground.

One of the most visible persons who helped roll out the welcome mat for us in Pelham is Billy Davis. Mr Davis is a city commissioner and a dedicated Christian. It just so happens that I have a personal connection with Billy because, like me, is a retired navy man. In his case, he was a Master Chief Petty Officer and for those of you who aren’t familiar with military lingo, that’s just as high as you can go as an enlisted man in the Navy. I learned years ago that the one shipmate you could depend on in every crew was the Master Chief. And now, this Master Chief has made it clear that he depends on Jesus – just the perfect person to help carry on His work with a new Affiliate Partner of the Fuller Center.

During our trip, We have had the most incredible experience and you’re about to hear about some of the things that have happened from the perspective of one of newest members.

Our group has grown very close as you might imagine but the depth of their affection for each other and the level of dedication and commitment is really hard to describe. I’m particularly enjoying the fact that most of our group is less than 25 and yet they have already learned the importance of personal commitment. It’s a spirited group and a funny group . . . just the right kind of personalities to carry on with our mission which is to bring attention to the Fuller Center for Housing and at the same time to raise funds for this wonderful ministry.

Happy Birthday Ryan!

Today we celebrated a birthday with our fearless leader, Ryan Iagfigliola. What a fun time for all of us. He has done a superb job of arranging the myriad of details associated with all of our travels. Many happy returns, Ryan.

No mishaps today, and even the oldest of us made it to the destination ready for another long ride tomorrow. Only two more legs to this journey remain. Soon we will be departing in many different directions but I’m quite sure that many of us have made life long friends and will stay in touch for many years.

written by: Dave Steere

photos by: Esther Hyejin Chung

We have arrived in Warwick, GA!

2009-08-11T21:33:00.000-04:00

Greetings fellow bi-peds!

GA Senator, County Commissioners, the Mayor, Linda Fuller and the riders!

Sharkie here with an update from the road. For the past few days, The Fuller Center for Housing Cyclists (and me) have been camping out in Americus, GA. The Fuller Center home base has kept us quite busy...as I’m sure you’ve read. It seems at every turn there was a new group of faces cheering us on! This morning started with an exceptionally moving devotional, lead by Fuller Center for Housing Co-founder Linda Fuller. She correlated personal experiences with Clarence Jordan teachings to provide our inspirational message for the day. Following the devotional, we were visited by the mayor of Americus, two county commissioners, and a Georgia State Senator. Mrs. Fuller even asked about my whereabouts, knowing that I’ve been losing a lot of air since a hard ride into Atlanta. My view from inside the cycling bag is not quite as picturesque, but at least I remain a part of the action! Between a doctor, an engineer, a navy officer, and a few mathematicians...I hope to be successfully patched up soon!

Linda Fuller led the devotion

After an amazing send off (from what felt like home) the group rode off to Lake Blackshear. Linda Fuller provided us a little leading escort out of town. The road was pretty flat and smooth, we maintained a good pace riding into the Memorial Park on the lake. Several riders were willing to take a dip in the lake, but were a little discouraged by the “Unauthorized swimming, alligators present” signs. Instead, we were escorted to the “blue hole” by Mr. Frank Lott to take a dip. Nick, Eric, and Thad climbed a super tall tree to then jump into a particularly deep area of the lake. We were assured by locals that alligators were “not usually around”. I would have protected the group as best as I could if any other toothed creature decided to cause trouble. What’s a few more holes anyhow? Christina, Krystal, Becky, Michael, Lisa, Kyle, Erica, Ryan, Dave, Emily...and even Esther jumped from the platform or the rope swing into the refreshing nook of the lake. Everyone dried off with a scenic ride to Warwick United Methodist Church, which Tamara and others noticed was a little longer than 10 miles away. Members of the church provided us a warm welcome, offering us a nice place to stay and lunch. Still sweaty from the ride, yet full from the lunch, we were met by a reporter from the local paper near Warwick. I think she wasn’t too interested in photographing a shark covered in patches and duct tape...but everyone else represented the Fuller Center well!

The Fuller Center office was filled with kind hearted politicians who wished us the best :)

Our adventure continued as the group spent some time playing in the pool of another Warwick United Methodist Church member. The boys were getting wild, throwing each other off of the dock into the lake. Emily took the kayak out for a spin, towing Erica, Megs, and Esther. Krystal pretended to be me in an attempt to rock the boat a little, literally. We then took a leisure boat ride to the home of Lisa, Greg, and Lindsey for showers and dinner. A few riders got a massage from a professional neuromuscular therapist, Lindsey. The evening was filled with such treats, and no alligator spotting! I suppose my duct tape scars are intimidating after all.

Ryan was a bit tired during the boat ride

Megs watching the dam from the boat

written by: Krystal Goodwin

photos by: Esther Hyejin Chung

7th Build Day in Americus, GA!

2009-08-10T23:05:00.005-04:00

Julia Tyner's son

Al came out to help us work on the house

We ended our 3-day stay in Americus with scraping and painting Julia Tyner’s house. She is a recipient of a program that the Fuller Center does called the Greater Blessing. There were about 16 of us working on the job so we were just about able to finish scraping all the old paint off her house and we made some good progress on the priming. Al Newkirk and Dave Landis were they’re scraping away along with a couple other volunteers from around town. Some time soon some students from Florida and Georgia universities are going to come down and finish the job.

Bill Harris and the riders

At lunch we got to go to Café Campesino and drink their coffee and Bill Harris even showed us how they brew the beans, which is a secret that I can’t share. He also talked to us about fair trade, which is the only way they purchase their coffee.

Shacks in the Global Village

After our day of work we headed over to the global village center that Millard Fuller had built around 10 years ago. In it there is a row of dilapidated houses that show what is common poverty housing around the world. And then as you head farther into the place you get to see how poverty housing is transformed into decent homes in different countries around the world. So for example if a house is built in Papa New Guinea they will raise the house maybe 5 feet on stilts so when there are floods the house won’t get destroyed.

Thanks William's Road Church of Christ!

For dinner we went to Williams Road Church of Christ. They fed us great food a lot of which was homegrown in one of the church members garden. But also barbequed chicken and pork. Also a personal thank you to Keith Grisham and his wife for opening their home so some of us could take showers.

Jacob Battle & Tamara

The highlight of my day was that I got to meet with an old friend from Americus who I knew from last year when I lived here. I also got to see a lot of other friends here in Americus that I got to know last year. So the last few days in Americus have been some of the best days of the trip for me.

Faith filmed us working hard on the house

written by: Nick Reina

photos by: Esther Hyejin Chung

Our busy "day off" in Americus, GA!

2009-08-09T22:57:00.001-04:00

President Jimmy Carter & First Lady Rosalynn Carter with the riders

Today was a very exciting day. We started off the morning, by going to Maranatha Baptist Church to hear President Jimmy Carter teach Sunday school. It was a great experience getting to hear him speak in person. When we got to the church, we started to go in the back door, and a secret service agent stopped us and made us go to the front to be searched before entering the church. They even had dogs in the parking lot sniffing out the cars to make sure everything was ok. After church, we had the opportunity to take a group photo with President Carter and his wife.

After we left the Baptist Church, we headed to the Mennonite Fellowship Church for lunch. Our trip leader Ryan, who attends this church, had previously told us how great the food would be. We had a pot luck lunch with lots of pastas, salads, and vegetables. It was just as good as Ryan said it would be too. As we ate and fellowshipped, it started to rain, so we all hung out a little longer waiting on the rain to pass over.

Millard Fuller's simple burial site in Koinonia Farm

When we left from lunch, we headed to Koinonia Farm for a tour. If you don’t know what Koinonia Farm is, it was a place where blacks and whites lived together before people accepted that everyone was equal. Mr. Millard Fuller and his family lived on this farm, and he created the concept of no more shacks and ending housing poverty here. When we got to the farm, Mark Benjamin, who lives on the farm and also rode with us for a week, gave us a tour of the farm. We got to see how they collected and shelled pecans, and where and how they made many of the products they sell. They also took us on a tractor tour through the pecan orchard to show us where Mr. Millard Fuller was buried. As the tour came to an end, we went back to the gift shop to browse a little before we headed out.

Beverly

We then headed back to the Presbyterian Church to get our swim suits for a night of swimming and hanging out at Mrs. Linda Fuller’s home. We had such a great time. When we got there, we watched a sort clip from the previous night news, and some raw footage that Faith Fuller had made of our group riding into Americus. After that, we made our way outside for a night of knee boarding and tubing, or some even went for a slow canoe ride down the river. As it got dark, we had a wonderful meal prepared by Mrs. Linda. It was amazing. We all found our way back to her house for a little more time to chat and hang out. As everyone started getting tired we finally decided we should head back to the church for a good nights sleep.

Linda Fuller took some of the riders out for a ride

written by: Kristina Farrow

photos by: Esther Hyejin Chung

Welcome Home: We have arrived in Americus, GA!

2009-08-08T10:41:00.009-04:00

"Oyee!" from Plains, GA

What a day! When (and where) did it even start? After waking up and packing at 4:00 a.m. Central Time, over 100 miles from here in Auburn, we hit the road for an early start on our journey's longest day of cycling into The Fuller Center's central location, Americus, Georgia.

We are so glad to have Dave join us!

While most of the team got off to a fast and smooth start, unfortunately our newest rider Dave Steere, whom we're all so pleased to have with us and is obviously such a great (and fit!) 62 year old guy, missed one of the first turns. Things went from bad to worse, though, when he discovered that somewhere along the way he lost a number of personal items, including his cell phone! Thankfully, being the resourceful man that he is, he was able to catch a ride from a good Samaritan and meet back up with the group to be with us the rest of the day.

Jacob Battle treated us with the most delicious peaches!

Our first stop was compliments of The Fuller Center of Cusseta, Georgia, which we like to call "The little Fuller Center that could," since their small, very rural area raised the money and built and entire home. The rest point was held at the Four Winds Restaurant, which is famous for its Ranger Burger, and since it fell at about mile 52 it made for the perfect midway stopping point to get ourselves fully refreshed and ready to keep on going. Three additional riders, Kirk Lyman-Barner and his two sons, Levi and Luke, joined up with us at that point for the rest of the day - what fun!

Faith captured some awesome footage!

Our next stop of the day was at mile 90 in Plains, Georgia, birthplace of former President Jimmy Carter, where we enjoyed homemade peanut butter ice cream. Other local cyclists joined up with our group, and after posing for some group photos, we were ready to head for the last 10 miles towards The Fuller Center's home base.

While most of us rode, Eric trotted. Oh and we had police cars escort us :)

A police escort took through the city of Americus for yet another photo op before heading on down to The Fuller Center. Perhaps was most memorable was Eric Schweinhart getting a flat tire, which caused me to spontaneously yell, "Just run with your bike!" - and he did! And then it was one of those moments you just always remember: the entire parking lot full of cheering fans yelling "Oyee! Oyee!" and clapping and making a lot of joyful noise as we rode our bikes into The Fuller Center's parking lot. People were so excited you would have thought we had just come back from winning the Super Bowl.

Linda Fuller presented each of us a trophy!

For me personally, since I live here in Americus, it was special to see so many people that have become personal friends, including those from the Mennonite Church (special thanks to Susie, Crystal, and Dave for biking in with us, and to Lewis for driving the support vehicle into town so that every single cyclist could ride in) and so many others. I have trouble finding the words to express the appreciation that I and all the riders feel.

A Georgia Peach is not overrated.

Linda Fuller herself was there to present each of the riders with a personalized trophy, and Fuller Center board member Jacob Battle contributed some world famous Georgia "Alberta" peaches, the best peaches you'll ever eat. Afterwards, the riders headed off to Kirk and Cori Lyman-Barner's home for an incredible refreshing jump into their swimming pool and hearty cookout dinner. Again, we are so grateful.

Mark's last day with us! He will be missed! Ribbit.

Although the ride is NOT over (we still have money we need your help to raise!), if it had ended today we could feel like we've already accomplished enough to have made it a wonderful and fruitful journey. God has truly blessed us and, I believe, allowed us to be a blessing to others.

Welcomed

Today was special. I hope it was one that all the riders will always remember. I know I will.

Riders in front of the Fuller Center Office in Americus, GA!

written by: Trip Leader Ryan Iafigliola

photos by: Scott Umstattd and Esther Hyejin Chung

We have arrived in Auburn, AL!

2009-08-07T10:08:00.005-04:00

Riders with Auburn University's President

There’s nothing quite like going home—at least for me. We started around nine o’clock this morning, and from the beginning, I was overcome with a calm I hadn’t felt in weeks. The familiarity of the ride, the road, and the scenery all contributed to a peace that stayed with me all day. As everyone probably knows by now, I’ve spent the last six years in Auburn, and I’ve lived in Phenix City for twenty years so today was a special day. The best way to describe my mood was calm, anxious, excited, and relieved…silly, huh? Yeah, I know.

Bill, a Auburn Alum, hiked up the University's sign

First, I took Kyle to campus to meet and greet with the folks in my department; I’m trying to convince him to apply to graduate school. We met the secretaries and ran into my advisor, Dr. Chris Rodger. He was able to give Kyle some good advice, and we carried on.

Bill enjoying some ice cream with blue and orange sprinkles

My next stop was Samford Hall where the president of the University has his office. I did some name-dropping, … mine… to get him to take a photo with us outside the building. It’s cool, we had met before, and he remembered me so hold that jealousy in check please.

Thanks Provinos for the amazing food!

Some of my friends, Sean O’Reilly and Abbi Richt, joined us for lunch at Moe’s where I promptly offended them by not introducing them to my mother. You’d figure that they would have met her already so they were ones being rude, right? Everyone met my big brother Scotty as well, but don’t let big confuse you out there—he’s also my younger brother. Just ask my dad how he likes to introduce us to people. I’m the “little one.”

Some of the girls went out for a nice afternoon ride through Downtown Auburn

Everyone did their own thing for a while, and then we watched a film on the Koinonia Farm based in Americus, GA. For dinner we had some amazing Italian food from Provino’s. Thanks to John for donating all that wonderful food to us. Now, a few of my fellow riders were expecting a Chippendale’s show from me when I walked into the church with dinner, but I was sorry to inform them that I’m not that kind of guy. However, I was kind enough to wear a makeshift bowtie behind my ear for dinner.

Riding on Auburn's beautiful campus

My older sister Sonja also made the trip to Auburn to hang out for the evening, and a few of the riders along with some more of my local friends, West Brown and O’Reilly, joined us at the Little Italy pizza parlor. We had an exquisite time!!

I’m afraid I’ve already put my foot in mouth enough, so I had better stop here. I’ll write again later if my fellow riders can bring themselves to let me.

Thanks to the Auburn United Methodist Church for letting us stay in their lovely church!!!

written by: Michael Tiemeyer

photos by: Esther Hyejin Chung

6th Build Day in Lanett,AL!

2009-08-06T23:28:00.006-04:00

Preparing the land for the Blitz Build

I’m writing this blog entry in the midst of a battle between Esther and a frog that our new friend Mark caught and cleverly threw into her lap. Just another indication of how close a family this group has become in such a short amount of time, even as riders join us along the way—we helped Esther overcome her fear of frogs, and found a way to laugh as usual :).

Eric on 100.9 The Bull

Earlier today, before the frog episode, we were on the radio! The morning show on 100.9 The Bull in West Point, GA hosted Ryan’s usual talk on the Fuller Center, released news on Millard Fuller Legacy Build happening in the area soon, and then the host had us all introduce ourselves on the air! He asked us each why we joined the trip, or what our favorite part has been, and after Bill mentioned that his favorite part was the sausage biscuits our current hosts, the Park City United Methodist Church, left for us in the freezer, the radio host decided to provide us with 50 of the local specialty burgers for lunch! So in the middle of our work day, staining kitchen cabinets in preparation for the Legacy Build, we had a feast of “Daniel Burgers”... some of us might have eaten 4. Haha.

Steve patiently taught us how to stain and varnish cabinets and even a playhouse!

After our work day we visited the home of Bill and Martha Scott, founders of the Fuller Center here, for dinner, swimming, and the gracious use of their washers and driers—as a member of the current laundry chore group, I’m always grateful when someone makes laundry a little easier for us :). We always have a good time at the pool, but today was particularly special for me. As some readers may know, I’m sort of notorious for being a nerd... studying engineering does that for you I guess. But today in the pool, Krystal taught me some skills that may someday help me overcome that stigma and move on to a less socially stunted life style! Krystal noticed my also notoriously large calf muscles as potential for my career as a great cheerleader, and taught me to stand on her shoulders in the pool! So, you know, if anyone out there is looking to employ a mechanical engineer who also has experience in the cheerleading field, let me know. I also have pretty good tan lines (voted best in the group!) if that adds any worth to my resume :).

Erika staining the playhouse

As each day of this crazy bicycle adventure passes we meet more and more people who are so grateful for what we’re doing, and yet each day we seem to be having more and more fun—I keep finding it almost impossible thank all the people who’ve welcomed, helped, and appreciated us along the way. I feel more blessed by this journey than I could have imagined, and it almost seems impossible that we’re helping others with our work as much as it’s all benefitted me personally. For example, the cabinets we stained today saved Steve, the Chattahoochee Valley Fuller Center’s resident cabinet maker, more than a month of time. But I feel like the opportunity to meet all the amazing people I’ve met, to learn everything I’ve learned about building, biking, and life, and to just forget about all of life’s usual practical concerns to bike and help out for a while has value that’d be measured by far more than the month we saved Steve. Basically, we’ve raised a lot of money, and helped a lot of people, but as it always seems to do, the time we’ve devoted to this cause we believe in has been personally fulfilling beyond all the good we’ve done outside ourselves.

Mrs. Martha Scott prepared us a yummy meal!

I’m ending my blog entry surrounded by a much calmer serenade courtesy of Mark on guitar and a choir of worship singers/bikers, devoid of Esther’s screams. I guess it shows that although we have a lot of fun, we’re all here focused on the goal of the trip and our personal reasons for joining the journey. And as I think about returning to the real world soon, I’m so excited and proud to take all of these experiences with me.

Millard Fuller's childhood house

written by: Melissa Merrill

photos by: Esther Hyejin Chung

We have arrived in Lanett, AL!

2009-08-05T22:27:00.005-04:00

We made it to AL!

Lanett, Alabama is a special stop on our journey in that it is Millard Fuller’s birth place and hometown, and we are glad to be here.

Our ride to Lanett was just a short 25 miles from La Grange, GA where we stayed at First Presbyterian. We had a restful stay and are very grateful to the folks at First Presbyterian for their hospitality. We were also so glad to have had much needed tune-ups and repairs done on our bikes by Bill Golden and Stan Williamson at Golden's Bicycles. Thanks guys!

On our way to the new Kia Factory

We were joined today by two new riders. Chris Crosby from La Grange will be with us for the next few days. Stan is no rookie to this ride. He pedaled all 3300 miles of last years adventure. Mark Benjamin also joined today and will be with us through to Americus, GA. He and his family are interns at Koinonia Farm outside Americus, this is the place where Millard first captured his vision for to provide simple decent places to live for those in sub-standard housing.

Riding over a beautiful dam.

Our ride went fairly smoothly. We only lost Kristina and Melissa for 30 minutes or so after they missed a turn and pedaled 5 miles in the wrong direction. They blame this misdirection on newcomer (yet veteran rider) Chris Crosby who neglected to chalk a turn. For those of you who don’t know the lead rider will write arrows on the road with sidewalk chalk so riders behind will know which direction to go. Christina and Melissa have decided that they enjoy being the “the sweep”. This is the term we use for the person designated to hang at the back and make sure no rider is alone at the back. However, Christian and Melissa have voluntarily decided that they will both “sweep” together. This all sounds fine in theory, but only time will tell if their “sweeping” isn’t a lame excuse to go shopping.

Kia's Training Center in Georgia

After waiting on our lost shoppers we took some photos in front of the new KIA Motors Manufacturing plant in West Point, GA. KIA has been a strong supporter of the Fuller Center in this region of the country. Somehow we acquired a horrific stench on our van during our stop at KIA. It remains a mystery, but we have narrowed our theories down to road kill or Krystal’s B.O.

Riders satisfied after a delicious meal! Thanks Kia!

We stopped for Lunch in West Point at the Irish Bred Pub. We had a warm welcome from some folks from KIA Motors, the town of West Point, and the local Chattahoochee Fuller Center Project. Many thanks to the Irish Bred Pub for the delicious food, and KIA who graciously picked up the tab for our the entire lunch.

After lunch Erika discovered she had a flat. She had wondered why the last few miles seemed to be getting more difficult. It’s surprising Erika wouldn’t have more of a feel for getting flats, after all she is working on a baker’s dozen :-).

We felt so welcomed :)

We crossed over into Alabama just a few hundred yards from the restaurant and took more pictures – wow do we pose for allot of pictures!! A mile or two latter we arrived at Plant City UMC in Lanett. The folks at Plant City UMC have amazed us with their kindness and hospitality. Pastor Milton Newton shared with us that several months ago the Lord moved on their hearts to renovate a rather large basement space in their church, believing that the Lord was leading them into new ministries. He said they believe the opportunity to host us, and future volunteers during the Legacy Build later this month, are a large part of why God moved them in this direction. It was a true blessing to hear their story, and the way God is moving on this little fellowship to reach out in greater ways. We are so thankful. We have cots to sleep on, loads of space, and enough food and snacks to keep us satisfied for many days. We will spend two nights here and rest.

We had a pretty long table...

As if this day were not full enough, we also had a feast of Mexican food at El Rio Grande with Bill Scott president of the Chattahoochee Fuller Center Project. Bill and his team have built 17 new homes and 4 major renovations in this area in just over 2 years!. They will build 6 more during the Legacy Build at the end of the month where they will have over 200 volunteers from all over the country join them on the build. An inspiring work they are doing here.

We found these awesome cards on our bed when we got back from dinner! Thanks Plant City United Methodist Church!

written by: Mark Benjamin

photos by: Esther Hyejin Chung

We have arrived in LaGrange, GA!

2009-08-04T22:00:00.004-04:00

A lovely couple welcomed Esther, Erika & Emily in to their house when they took a wrong turn for some ice cold beverages!

McDonough, GA to Lagrange, GA. Miles Biked, approximately 80.

Today was a very warm Georgia day. To be honest, I was exhausted by the time we took our second break. At that point, we had completed around 40 miles of our 80-mile total for the day. It was mid afternoon, the temperature was n the 90’s n there were abut 10 or so of us milling around a B.P. parking lot. Finally, we pulled ourselves up, filled our water bottles, and decided to continue on down the highway for another 20 or so miles.

Around that time, two things happened nearly simultaneously that delayed our progress. A local firefighter approached us and asked what we were doing, and two of our riders realized they had flat tires. While both of these things delayed our progress for about the same length of time, one was a minor annoyance that could have sucked away any remaining momentum we had stored inside our legs. The other was a wonderful encounter with a local man and his son, and an opportunity to spread the word about the Fuller Center’s mission, as well as explain why there were several 20-somethings laying around a gas station parking lot like wet rags on a deck rail.

We were so happy to have Nathan and Wei join us :)

The firefighter, Captain Thompson as we would later learn, walked up to us and greeted us as so man southern people do. His tone and voice inflection were that of someone speaking to an old friend or at least a close acquaintance. He spoke loudly and began his conversation with us from nearly 20 feet away. Generally, there are any number of question we are asked when approached by strangers. Are you in a race? Are you training for a race? I saw about a dozen of your friends up the highway there, are you lost? Captain Thompson, upon seeing our van and trailer, asked us very directly, “What is the fuller center bicycle adventure?” Emily, one of our riders, promptly engaged him in conversation and answered all of his questions, and provided him with a brochure. Nearly concurrently, Lisa noticed a flat tire on her bike and began changing it. Captain Thompson was genuinely interested in our bike trip, and several of us were fielding questions about where we were riding and why. Becky also noticed her tire was flat. Her tire tube was filled with a substance that was intended to prevent, or at least mitigate the effects of a puncture. Unfortunately this one did not work as intended and there was a large amount of neon green goo all over her bike tire, wheel, inner tube, the parking lot, and a little on her. I mention this because it was funny, but also because it is probably my fault since I provided her with that particular tube. Sorry Becky.

After chatting with us for a while, Captain Thompson really reached out to us. He offered us the chance to take some pictures in front of the nearby fire station. However almost as he said this a fire truck zoomed past us with lights and sirens blaring. Without missing a beat, he offered us some ice from one of the other nearby fire stations for our coolers. As our two riders nursed their bike tire wounds, Captain Thompson continued to chat with us about how cool he thought this ride was, and even went so far as to encourage his college aged son to participate in it next year. He said if he could get into bicycle shape himself, he would even consider riding for a few days. Captain Thompson was so energetic, and so genuine that I think everyone who spoke to him smiled during their conversations with him. As he drove off, he flagged down Emily once more to give her a fire department t-shirt to thank her for the information. Basically, of the half dozen or so people I met today Captain Thompson Stood out and we would like to thank him, and the LaGrange Fire Department for the generous offer of ice for our cooler. When its in the mid 90’s and you still have 40miles to bike, ice is one of the best things ever.

Thad whipped out his sweet cooking skills for the group!

Also, since its my day to blog and I can say anything I want, here are some random stats that I think are worth sharing:

I drank 210 ounces of water around 50 ounces of sports drink and didn’t have to use the bathroom once in over 8 hours.

Becky and I are racing for the most flat tires. She has had at least three and I have gone through three tubes and one tire, so I feel like I am winning.

Before today the furthest I ever biked in one week was 75 miles. Its only Tuesday and I have already biked 120, and 80 of those were today.

Finally, I would like to thank the people who hosted us and took care of us in McDnough. Wesley Way United Methodist church was a wonderful place to call home for 2 nights. Pastor Greg was a wonderful host. Lisa took great care of us, and fed us some phenomenal meals. As a native Atlantan, I am glad our northern riders got o experience grits. Cheese grits at that. Shane was one of our home repair gurus yesterday and even showed up at the church to se us off this morning. Thanks Shane. Miss Jackie was another kind soul from the Atlanta area who took us under her wing. Although the laser show occurred on a day other than mine to blog, her efforts to take care of us touched me and I would like to thank her too. Also, the showers at Ola High School in McDoough were very much appreciated.

written by: Bill Perdue

photos by: Esther Hyejin Chung

Build Day 5 in McDonough,GA

2009-08-03T22:14:00.002-04:00

"Oyee!" for the Fuller Center conference call

Lillie Miller (right) and her niece

Today was my 4^th day with team FCBA and after a few days of what I thought to be very rigorous riding, I was looking forward to a build day. The rest of the group had been riding for 9 days straight until today and I think everyone was thankful for a day off from pedaling.

Extreme Renovation

We began the day with a wonderful breakfast prepared by Wesley Way United Methodist Church in McDonough, GA. After breakfast was eaten and lunches were packed, we were off to the home of Lillie Miller. Mrs. Miller had been in her house for a number of years while the condition slowly deteriorated as termites set in. The Fuller Center of Atlanta began the project of renovating Mrs. Miller’s house about two months ago and we were blessed today to be part of this work of restoration. Our whole group was able to work on Mrs. Miller’s house together - there was a list of many different jobs to be done. While we were hard at work painting, roofing, dry walling, etc., a few visitors showed up throughout the day including 2 reports from local newspapers, and the Mayor of McDonough!

The Mayor of McDonough stopped by to thank us!

When it began to rain, we packed up and made our way back to the church and were greeted by baskets of clean clothes when we arrived! Thank you Wesley Way United Methodist Church for taking such great care of us. Also, thanks to Jackie Goodman, board member of the Fuller Center in Atlanta, for taking us to Stone Mountain tonight to watch the laser light show. We’ve been blessed with such great hospitality over the past two days.

Best Cook!

One thing from the day that I won’t forget is when Mrs. Lillie Miller said to me “I’m just happy there are still this many good people in the world”. Her comment made me think about our cause – we are called to be a light in dark places, to bring hope, to exemplify the love of Christ and show people that even in our corrupt world, God’s love still prevails and His light conquers the darkness.

Fireworks at Stone Mountain

Riders at Stone Mountain

written by: Becky Acton

photos by: Esther Hyejin Chung

Peace of Mind

2009-08-02T22:00:00.005-04:00

A nice loud "OYE!" in Atlanta, GA

As I lay under the piano, Nick is playing in the sanctuary of Wesley Way United Methodist Church and as I reflect upon today’s events I am overcome by peace. Today was not spectacular in any certain way but it was just one of those days that is pleasing to the heart. I feel as if we have completed our journey, even though we have 2 weeks left. The battery in my bike computer was dead so it was just the road, the fellow riders, and myself trucking through the pouring rain with virtually no idea where we were heading. All we knew was that there was food, shelter, and fellowship waiting for us at our destination.

Jimmy Carter Center

The day started out by attending Sunday school and a service at St. James United Methodist Church. Being back in a United Methodist Church was a little piece of home for me. The sermon was about realizing your sin, confessing it, learning from it, and moving on to become a stronger disciple for God. It is really easy to get caught up in the idea that we are doing a good deed by partaking in this trip and helping a lot of people out. We are reminded of this by gracious people along our journey all the time. Between these reminders and all the fun we are having I feel like we start to forget about the way we are thinking and acting sometimes. We get too caught up in the activities we are enjoying along the way and don’t truly live for the Lord. The sermon this morning made me think about this a little. The more I think about it the more I realize that I do this in my daily life all the time. Everyone does. Whether it’s getting your priorities straightened out in life, cleaning up some of your bad habits, or just trying to think in a more positive and loving manner. I’m not trying to be a Debbie Downer but I think it is important to think about this sometimes and to catch yourself. It is human nature to have a desire to be perfect. Many times we think of this perfection in worldly ways such as being the best at something we do. How about striving for perfection in a holy sense. It is obviously not going to be something that we accomplish but it is certainly a wonderful goal to strive towards. I know it is a goal I could use to improve myself as a person and as one of God’s children.

The Carter Center

I would also like to mention that the passion and enthusiasm shown by the Atlanta Fuller Center and its members is unbelievable. They have done so much to ensure that our stay here is wonderful and fulfilling - it’s unbelievable. They greeted us outside of Atlanta at the “Big Chicken”, provided escorts to guide us through the streets of Atlanta, videotaped us as we rode through the city, and catered to our every need. Myself, along with all of the Fuller Center Cyclists would like to extend a big thank you to everyone from the Atlanta Fuller Center who has made our stay so meaningful. We would also like to thank Kent for a breakfast of champions this morning, Jackie for providing a delicious lunch before we departed on our ride, all of the folks who served as our escorts for our ride today (we would have been completely lost without you), and Wesley Way United Methodist Church for greeting us with open arms, worshiping youth, a delicious dinner, and a place to lay our heads for the night.

Tasty and visually appealing custom made Fuller Center Bike Trip cake! You just cannot beat that...

My understanding of life as of this moment is as clear as the path that was shown to us by the blue Dodge Durango that escorted us along our ride today through the streets of Atlanta. Everything you do well while you are on this planet will be greatly appreciated for a time, everything you don’t do well will eventually be forgotten. Everyone you influence will go onto influence others in a certain way because of how you have influenced them. Be a blessing because you have been blessed and love the Lord because he has and will always love you.

written by: Eric Schweinhart

photos by: Esther Hyejin Chung

We have arrived in Calhoun, GA!

2009-07-31T23:01:00.005-04:00

Sumner prepared an amazing breakfast

I would like to extend a very warm and sincere thank you to Sumner McCallie, the McCallie School, and all the staff thereof, for a wonderful stay last night at their campus. And a double thank you to you, Sumner, for a breakfast that will go down in history, and will be a definitive highlight of the trip. It was fantastic.

Enjoying breakfast

Here’s a snapshot of what happened today: we rode in the rain, we lost Nick for a few hours, and everyone arrived safely at our next destination. Since this is roughly what has happened for the past three days, I’ve decided to skip the details of the ride, and to share a few thoughts I’ve had while pedaling for the past few weeks. I hope you won’t mind the interjection.

Eric and Thad

Spending five hours a day on a bicycle for past three weeks has invariably lead me to draw parallels between cycling and my personal walk with Jesus Christ. Over time, I’ve come to realize, or rediscover, some core truths about my faith. For example, I give you the “pace line”.

We are in Georgia!

For those unfamiliar with the concept of a pace line, let me briefly explain. On days where there exists a strong headwind, or a group of riders simply want to increase their efficiency and speed, they agree to form pace line. Once on the road, the cyclists form a line, each rider tightly tucked behind the one in front, with their wheels about a foot apart. The lead cyclist is tasked with setting a pace, at a speed he or she is comfortable with, and the rest of the riders follow suit. The leader acts as a buffer, creating a wind pocket, and making less wind resistance for the rider behind them. In a correct pace line, cyclists behind the leader may only need to pedal 85% as hard as the lead cyclist. Eventually, the leader falls back to the end of the line, and the rotation continues, each rider taking a turn at leading, and then resting at the rear.

The obvious issue when riding in a pace line is trust. Being so closely packed together at high speeds creates a dangerous situation. One’s view of the road is greatly obstructed by the rider in front of them, and because of this, they must rely on the lead cyclist to navigate them around obstacles, warn them of bumpy terrain, and to set a pace everyone can comfortably ride at. For example, I’ve spent a great deal of time riding in pace lines with Eric and Nick. Three weeks ago, I kept a healthy distance in the line, and I paid for it in calories, needing to compensate for the gap with my own strength. However, over time, I’ve come to trust these two inherently. It’s not uncommon for us to ride with only a few inches of space between our tires at speeds exceeding 20 mph. And it struck me today, how if I could only trust Christ this much with my life, when I so haphazardly trust my friends with it every single day.

There have been other parallels on the road. The seemingly endless climbs, when you’re reduced to staring at the chunk of pavement directly below your front tire, and just keep churning away at the pedals: never give up. There are times when nothing seems fair – when you’re caught in a downpour, and the rain’s soaking you from above and water’s soaking you from the rear tire of the rider in front, and you’re breathing hard, but you can’t keep your mouth open because the spray tastes of oil and antifreeze and the nearest pile of road kill that’s been sloshed free, and a semi passes inches from your bike, enveloping you in a fine mist, and you’re only five miles into the fifty mile ride, and you can’t believe you’re only going eight miles an hour. That’s when you have to laugh. God puts us in these types of situations for a reason.

We’ve crossed landscapes of astounding beauty, but witnessed the sides of roads littered feet deep in trash – images of perfection lost, of a soiled purity. We’ve met individuals of great kindness, humility, and displaying a great passion for servant hood. But yet, everyday, we’re honked at on the road, yelled at, belittled. Even just yesterday, someone in a vehicle threw a piece of metal from their car window and hit me in the back of the head while I was making my way through Chattanooga. It’s all been a reminder that the way we live our lives has numerous and indeterminable consequences, for both the purposes of building up, or for breaking down.

In the end, I feel that “faith in action” has invariably become the de facto motto of this trip. Whether it’s by coming together on a build, by spreading the message of our housing movement to those we meet, or simply by encountering road rage on a daily basis, it’s how we roll. In the end, I believe worldview strengthens us; it’s why I think the Fuller Center will continue to see growth on all fronts of its ministry, and why each one of us will walk away from this trip a better person. Every mile down, every spin of the pedals, is moving us closer to a higher goal. And personally, I can’t wait to see the end result.

Thank you again for allowing me some room to air my thoughts about our trek, and for your continued support and prayers concerning our safety and cause.

God bless.

P.S. I’d also like to extend a welcome and congratulations to our newest rider, Becky Akton, who joined us yesterday in Chattanooga. She weathered her first day of riding through the rain like a pro. Great job Becky!

written by: Thad Wontor

photos by: Esther Hyejin Chung

Pardon me boys, it’s the Chattanooga Choo Choo

2009-07-31T08:40:00.004-04:00

Susan & her rain gear

What a day! So much happened during our journey to Chattanooga, but we all arrived safe and sound. We started off with a fantastic breakfast off baked oatmeal (a Crystal specialty) and eggs. The warm food was the perfect way to start our 56 mile ride in the pouring rain. Nick and I made certain to protect themselves from the rain with hefty bags. Why buy a $50 rain jacket when a hefty bag will do. Oh, and the socks and shoes had to be protected as well, so Nick put on a baggy on each of his feet. He was a splitting image of the Big Fig Newton.

Thank you OCEE Tire & Auto

While on the road, it rained for a while then stopped just long enough to air dry. But then came the downpour. We all managed to eke it out. Thank goodness it wasn’t longer than ten minutes. Esther, however, did not have it so easy. Her crank managed to fall off while she was riding, so she and Megan headed to an automotive repair store to refasten it. Thank you OCEE Tire & Auto for helping Esther out!

Esther heckled the riders while riding in the van. In this case: Krystal

When we arrived in Chattanooga, the skies were clear, but the direction signs weren’t. Ryan and I were at a Walmart corner for at least 45 minutes, trying to figure out which direction to go and to be certain the arrows directing the rest of the group were marked correctly. Basically, all of us ended out riding into Chattanooga together. Michael had given great directions to the group, the streets were just not marked clearly. Perhaps it may be that I am from California and don’t know Tennessee sign age. But, we finally figured it out, with much of Michael’s help. On the way, I had a close call. A car turned in front of me, without using a blinker. Rather than run into the car, I managed to push off the car with me hand and fall backwards, the bike sliding right under the car. No damage and the women who did it apologized profusely.

Becky is riding with us to the coast :)

We arrived at McCallie school around 2:30. WOW! The steep hill we had to climb before reaching our destination was well worth it. Sumner McCallie met us and showed us the facility. We were staying in the dorm rooms of the school, an all male boarding school which is highly regarded in both academics and athletics. A beautiful school….and they have beds! What a treat! Seven of us were invited to go swim in the pool. This was no ordinary pool. It has a high dive and a long slide. Nick, Erik, Thad, Crystal, Thad, Esther and I didn’t hesitate to jump in…and all of us jumped of the high dive at least once….even Esther!

Megs ready to hand out some propaganda

After the swim, we were all invited to a fantastic barbecue at the local Habitat Restore. Many of the board members from the local affiliated were there. This gave us an opportunity to share the Fuller Center’s mission with them. There was much good conversation going on. Everyone walked away fully satisfied and sated.

Habitat for Humanity provided an awesome feast for the Fuller Center riders

From there, Sumner arranged for someone from McCallie School to take us downtown. We walked through the waterfront area. Was I ever impressed with the entire downtown. The planning department has done such a great job of transforming it into the jewel of the city.

Sumner giving us info on the city

Just before we had to go back, a woman stopped us and asked us why we were all wearing orange t-shirts. Kristina proceeded to tell her about the Fuller Center. She was so impressed that she give us all free ice cream from her shop at The Ice Cream Show store. And this wasn’t a small scoop. They make their own ice cream and whip it with as many additions as you please, then put in a waffle cone.

Enjoying The Ice Cream Store's yummy treats

I would recommend this place to anyone who visits Chattanoogs. Now we sit in the dorm, fixing our bikes for tomorrows ride, then heading to bed.

Downtown Chattanooga,TN

written by: Susan Pratt

photos by: Esther Hyejin Chung

Send the riders mail!

2009-07-29T23:04:00.003-04:00

There is nothing better than receiving real mail! Family and friends are invited to send packages and other mail to the riders at the following address before Monday August 10th:

The Fuller Center for Housing

ATTN: (Rider's name OR Bike Adventure)

701 S Martin Luther King Blvd.

Americus, GA 31709

We have arrived in Etowah, TN!

2009-07-29T22:12:00.005-04:00

Banner hanging at Morrison Hill Christian Church

“For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.” Hebrews 3:4

Another day, another 60 miles down! We started the day off with a WONDERFUL french toast breakfast prepared by Steve and other members of the Morrison Hill Christian Church. Ryan led our daily devotion and we learned even more about how the fundamental principles of the Fuller Center have biblical ties and are based on Jesus’s teachings. We talked about some of the responsibilities that come when we are called to be the light of the world, and were reminded that we must let everyone see our light so that they can glorify and praise God.

Michael & Krystal getting ready to ride

The ride to Etowah, TN continued to challenge our bodies, but the mountains are making us stronger! When the miles seem long and the roads feel endless, we have to remind ourselves what we’re riding for and the goal of this ministry. It’s amazing to think that we were all hand selected by God for this trip, and that we were each CALLED BY NAME to carry out His work. Maybe the mountains along our route are here to teach us new ways to grow closer to God—they’re definitely keeping us humble and reminding us we must rely on His strength and not our own! Moses and Elijah climbed mountains to get closer to God; maybe the Appalachians are His way of helping us grow in OUR faith as we strive to carry out the job we’ve been called to do.

Riders with members of Morisson Hill Christian Church

We arrived at North Etowah Baptist Church, and were warmly welcomed by an amazing and friendly congregation. We feasted on BBQ chicken and lasagna (delicious!), and had the opportunity to join the NEBC for a Wednesday evening prayer meeting and Bible study. Thank you to everyone who opened their hearts and church to us and helped ensure we were well taken care of! We sincerely appreciate your generosity.

Best church sign :)

Tomorrow we’re off to Chatanooga! It’s hard to believe we’re almost all the way through Tennessee, and just a few miles away from our next build!

Delicious food and pleasant conversations in North Etowah Baptist Church

written by: Erika McLemore

photos by: Erika McLemore & Esther Hyejin Chung

Half Time: We have arrived in Kingston, TN!

2009-07-28T23:36:00.023-04:00

Lake

We are half way there.

We have pedaled 683.6 miles. We have biked through four states. We have rolled on all sorts of terrain: flat, inclinations, hilly, mountains & the “I’m-going-to-get-a-hernia”. We have endured not because we enjoy biking but because we enjoy biking for a cause: to eliminate poverty housing. In two and a half weeks we will be dipping our front tires in to the Gulf Coast in Florida.

Fog over Norris Lake

There have been days when I just wanted to get off my bike and call it a day but God constantly reminds me that whether I climb what seems like a straight angle hill or descend a terrifying slope He is a l w a y s by my side. I might go through ups and downs on and off the road but as long as my actions are rooted in Him, He will push me forward and towards Him. I know Roman Victor (my bike) and I would not have made it this far if it were not for His strength through my weakness.

I ran in to Nick while taking photos of a beautiful lake

I had been terrified of crossing the Tennessee border because I am riding a fixed gear bike (I cannot switch gears or coast) and several riders have told me Tennessee is extremely hilly. Although my legs have been working a tad bit harder, my eyes have been getting quite the treat.

The road has weaved through rivers, lakes, waterfalls, mountains, plains, cornfields, and tons of towering trees...all in a day! It was been a great reminder that I need to take better care for our Earth because it houses all of us and my individual actions affect the whole environment. Riding my bike while observing the flora and fauna in Tennessee has been a blessing because it has provided such a sensory experience that riding a car would not impart.

We made it though the rain :)

Today's scenic route did bring some challenges. The rubble on the ground pierced at least 7 tubes. Kristina even got 3 flats! I became a little too distracted and marked and took the wrong road for a total of 4 miles. I am also convinced I went up the steepest hill in my little adventure. Melissa slashed her tire and used Ryan's business card to hold things in place until we got to the church. You have got to love the "Adventure" part of the Fuller Center Bicycle Adventure. We also rode through the fog, sun and the rain. Despite the little problems we encountered we all made it safely to Morisson Hill Christian Church in Kingston, TN!

Special thanks to:

Helen and the riders

Helen from Powell Valley Resort for making us a amazing breakfast.

Tracey, Adam and their pup Einstein

Morrison Hill Christian Church for showering us with love! Individuals from the church took two riders each to their house and made us a mouth watering meal, allowed us to take extra long PRIVATE showers and turned our dirty clothes squeaky clean. Thank you so much for your hospitality! Christ's love radiates from Morrison Hill Christian Church :)

Yummy Food

Adam & Tracey for making a delicious meal for Melissa and I and welcoming us in to their home. They even cooked a tasty vegetarian option for me! Oh and they also tried to fatten Melissa and I up with unbelievable amounts for ice cream and cookies! Thanks guys!

Rivers Total Car Care for cleaning our van and trailer for free! Chad Rosenberger offered us a free car wash when he saw how muddy our van was. Rob and Joe washed our van and were able to transform it to the shiniest vehicle on on the road. Oh and not only did they clean our van but they also allowed all the riders to use their restroom. If you are ever in Oak Ridge, TN stop be sure to stop by to get a car wash. Thank you so much for your generosity!

written and photos by: Esther Hyejin Chung

We have arrived in La Follette, TN

2009-07-27T22:42:00.009-04:00

We were thrilled to cross in to TN :)

We had a theme today: mountains.

Finally.

But first, before I mention the 98% humidity, the flat tires, the climbs, the fun, let me first thank Central Baptist Church of Corbin, KY for their hospitality and friendliness. Thank you so much for aiding us in our trip.

The morning started off well – we had a lovely breakfast prepared by Krystal and co, and Ryan led a devotional on Nehemiah, tying the raising of the wall around Jerusalem with work being done by the Fuller Center. We hit the road by 8:30, splitting a dense fog. I’m finally starting to appreciate the orange jerseys.

It wasn’t long till the sun burned the fog away, and started in on us. About the same time, Mr Eric “Flat Tire” Schweinhart got his first of the day (number six of the trip). However, he wasn’t the only one. By the end of the day, almost half the team was reporting flats, myself included.

Pedal Power

As the ride progressed, the landscape began to change from rolling hills to something a bit more mountainous. Kentucky eventually turned into Tennessee, and as we made our way through Jellico, the mountains set in for real. The next thirty miles turned out to be some of the most challenging of the trip, but was inarguably the most beautiful. Our route weaved us through densely wooded valleys, past rock outcroppings, and beside a roaring river that stayed perpetually by our side most of the way. Springs seemed to seep right out of the solid rock cliffs we rode under. The temperature dropped considerably in the shade, and the pavement was some of the best we’d encountered. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your viewpoint), we only had one major accent, perhaps two miles long. However, the descent was simply stunning.

A river kept us company during part of the ride

Our intended route was 65 miles, and we entered La Follette, TN around mile 54. From there, we struck out east, headed for the enormous Norris Lake reservoir. It turned out to be almost completely downhill – a nice break from the previous mornings’ climbs. We pulled into our destination – Powell Valley Resort and Campground, around 3 PM. We held out just long enough to confirm we were in the right spot before we all leapt off the bikes and dove into the lake. It wasn’t the cleanest water, but it would’ve taken nothing less than an oil spill to keep us out. Lisa, Kyle, Eric, Michael, Krystal, Nick, and I swam out across the marina, shore to shore – about 150 yards in all. It felt good to work out the top half of my body, and to have my weight distributed everywhere instead of just my saddle and feet.

Erika carrying her bike towards our cabins

After the swim, we moved our gear into two cabins which sat above the lakeshore. Supper was hotdogs roasted over an open fire (Nick and Kyle got it going). Activities that followed included philosophical conversations on music, swinging on swing sets, attempting to get Melissa to sing some music from her acapella group, and trying to find the most comfortable way to spend the night, sans air conditioning. Some people will be attempting a night out under the stars. I was in that group up until a few minutes ago, when I discovered that the dew has already soaked through my bedding. So I’m off to the cabin to try again. One thing’s for sure – that 11 mile descent this afternoon will be an 11 mile climb in the morning, and I’m going to need sleep for that…

Well, that concludes Monday, July 27th, twenty o’ nine. Please continue to pray for our safety and our ministry. Thank you so much for your continuing support.

written by: Thad Wontor

photos by: Esther Hyejin Chung

We have arrived in Corbin, KY

2009-07-26T22:15:00.011-04:00

Erika speeding through!

Hey everyone! We had another great day of riding today. The day began with a much needed extra hour of sleep. We packed up the trailer and said our goodbyes to a rider who had to leave us today. HannahJoy, we miss you!
The rain from the night before dispersed, giving us nearly perfect weather. The route was beautiful. We rode through part of Daniel Boone National Park. There were some rough up-hills, but each one paid off well with a wonderful downhill. Many of the riders even broke the 40 mph barrier.

Thad bonding with Sprocket

The day was not without its challenges. Lisa got 2 flats, Esther’s chain fell off while she was going 30 mph downhill, Esther also set off an alarm in a random church which made THE Sheriff come around, Thad almost ran out of gas, Kyle missed both designated rest stops. [Luckily, Thad was nice enough to make a custom rest stop just for him]. We also encountered a lost little puppy. We named him Sprocket. Krystal, Eric, Michael and Thad helped clean him up and even found him a home here in Corbin. I’m also told that Emily, Susan, Michael and Krystal each saved a road-crossing turtle.

After church some of us went to get some Chinese food

When we made it to the church, we quickly found out that no one had been expecting us. Apparently, the pastor with whom Ryan made plans had left the church and failed to mention that we’d be stopping by this evening. Thankfully, the Central Baptist Church was very kind and let us stay over anyways. We all got showers, food and we wrapped up another amazing day. Only 7 more days of straight riding before our next build in Americus, Georgia. Thanks for reading!

written by: Kyle McDowell

photos by: Esther Hyejin Chung

We have arrived in Berea, KY

2009-07-25T22:26:00.010-04:00

Complete Turnaround

The morning presented us with extremely ominous clouds and very windy conditions. As we loaded the trailer, the skies darkened and storm arrived. Ryan decided that a rain delay was necessary, and we waited in the church for the skies to clear.

We made the front page in Winchester!

Roller skates were utilized, Fuller-ball was played, and naps were definitely appreciated. We were presented with Winchester’s newspaper, which sported a picture of Kyle and Michael on the front page, working hard on the porch-roof from the day before. Krystal’s interview took up a huge portion of the article as well, and she showed off her people skills for all of Winchester to enjoy.

Krystal, Melissa & Kyle enjoying the article

When 9:30 rolled around, we circled around Pastor Art Beasley, who presented us with a great devotion before our ride. And with that, we were off, the weather having completely turned around. The ride was just over 38 miles, though with the wind fighting against us, it felt much longer.

Emily enjoyed her ice cream

We were all smiles when we pulled into St. Clare Catholic Church, and a ridiculous amount of power bars were consumed. The church’s town, Berea, is a cute, quirky town with gorgeous hills and beautiful brick buildings. We went to the local RV park to take showers and returned to the church with high expectations for our spaghetti dinner (the dinner chore group did a great job). Now our exhausted little bodies are galavanting the streets, some going to mass, others doing the laundry, and some enjoying some down time. Oh yes, and Krystal is working beside me, extra hard. What a gal (wink, wink). To wrap this little session up, thanks to all you readers (or as they say here in the south, y’all) for checking up on us and for your continued support. So until next time, God bless.

Clean jerseys!

written by: Lisa Corsi

photos by: Esther Hyejin Chung

A letter from Winchester, KY

2009-07-25T21:01:00.010-04:00

Entry from: Friday July 24th 2009 Winchester, KY

July 24, 2009

Dear Mom,

We made the front page in Winchester, KY!

We are having quite the adventure! I never imagined that being constantly surrounded by 16 other individuals from all over the country (and Canada) would prove so successful. We each have our own stories and reasons for being here, but are united in interests in helping people and pedaling. We ride together, eat together, build and repair houses together, and do laundry together (ha)!

Mary Jo cooked us a yummy nutritious lunch

Each city that we ride into has welcomed us with amazing graciousness. We stayed at Central Baptist Church in Winchester, Kentucky. The parish provided us with some amazing feasts during our stay. Shannon Cox made us waffles for breakfast, which were a very welcomed surprise…and delicious! Speaking of food, a great joy for today was the grand opening of our “crunchy peanut butter” jar. It was kind of a big deal, and the honor was bestowed upon Lisa, who managed to finger out the last scoops of the creamy jar…with her bare hands.

Sandy from the The Bluegrass Heritage Museum

The Fuller Center Cyclists split into groups for the day to work on three local projects. One group laid brick for a pathway leading to the Bluegrass Museum. From what I hear, it was a lot of shoveling sand and leveling ground. Another group worked on tearing down a porch roof on a rather disheveled house. Thad, Eric, Susan, and myself built a wooden porch for a newly renovated house. Richard Butler was the foreman on our job; he is a retired industrial arts teacher who provided us much insight into the world of carpentry. Most importantly, Richard expressed sincere passion in helping others if he was able. It is quite refreshing to see that philosophy echoed throughout the country! We are all neighbors! Richard was even courteous enough to let Eric and myself take a break from cutting boards to provide some quotes for the Winchester Sun. We found it quite rewarding to step back and see a completed job, another piece of a home done!

Laying bricks at the Bluegrass Heritage Museum

Soon after sweating over our various jobs, we were welcomed to the city’s Park and Recreation public pool. I was so excited about the opportunity to jump into some water, I dove in fully clothed! Speaking of antics, Kristina and myself invented a game during the stay at Central Baptist Church. Let’s just say that it involves roller skates, a kickball, and the game has been documented on video. I hope that Kyle finds some useable footage in that madness on wheels! Dancer’s Pointe opened up their beginner’s ballroom dance class for us later that night. We salsa’ed, did some swing, and learned the fox trot. We all had a blast, and laughed until our bellies hurt. Kyle and Lisa danced so well; they shook the wood floor in fear. Michael asked for help on getting his hips swinging and Eric vowed to be a dynamite dance partner in 2 days…maybe 3.

Melissa enjoying the pool

I expect that this exceptional community is well on their way to growing the seed that has been planted. We encountered so many wonderful souls passionate about providing decent housing for the community. Some of the very special people that helped us with our goals include: Randy Whisman, Richard Butler, Pastor Art Beasley, Mary Jo and Al Bonds, Judy and Larry Crowe, JC and Audra Young, Shannon Cox, Ken Davis, John Rompf, Sandy Stutts, Gardner Wagers.

Michael receiving a scalp massage from Kyle

Thanks for the support along the way, and I’ll keep eating peanut butter! Thanks for watering my plants, tell the dogs I miss them, and I’m having a great time!

After the swim

Sincerely,

Krystal Goodwin

photos by: Esther Hyejin Chung

We have arrived in Winchester, KY!

2009-07-25T20:33:00.009-04:00

Entry from: Thursday July 23rd 2009 Winchester, KY

We made the front page in Springfield!

Today we left Springfield, Kentucky headed to Winchester, Kentucky. We started the morning saying goodbye to Mr. Steve Hale, and taking a few last pictures at the courthouse in Springfield before we hit the road. Today’s adventure was supposed to be 81 miles, but Kyle and Susan took a wrong turn and were over achievers and ended up with a 100 miles.

Michael at a bridge

The land we went through today was very beautiful, but at the same time there were some tough climbs. We rode by so many dogs today, and Esther stopped by everyone to make sure she didn’t get bitten again.

Robbie, Helen & Precious at The Tradin Post

Today we lucked up and found a wonderful rest stop at The Tradin Post, which was about our halfway point. Helen, Robbie, and their dog Precious welcomed us into their store for a bathroom break. After we made it halfway, the ride seemed to go by a lot faster. Michael , Krystal, and I were riding together, and as we were going through the town of Nicholasville, Ryan and Megan passed us going the opposite direction. We all meet up and finally realized that Ryan and Megan had taken the by pass, and they had turned back into town instead of coming through town the first time like they were supposed to. We all headed in the right directions and meet up with the rest of the group.

JC the wonderful cook

We all finally made it to Central Baptist Church in Winchester, where we will be staying tonight and tomorrow night. For dinner, we went to a local grocery store. JC and Aud cooked a nice roast beef with mashed potatoes and gravy dinner. The local Salvation Army paid for our dinner. We thought we were going to get to meet Jared Fogle, the subway guy, but he had already left to catch his plane by the time we made it.

We missed Jared!

written by: Kristina Farrow

photos by: Esther Hyejin Chung

3rd Build Day in Springfield, KY

2009-07-22T23:13:00.013-04:00

Isaiah House, Fuller Center & Mayor of Springfield

We have been blessed in every town that we have stopped in during our bike adventure already. That did not change when we arrived in Springfield, KY a couple nights ago (I have lost all recall of what day of the week it is).

La'Dymon Keys

Today began our third build day (in the drenching downpour), we assisted the Springfield, KY Fuller Center for Housing on two projects. They began the projects on Monday and two families will move in on Friday. On both sites we worked with a group of volunteers from Isaiah House. I personally want to thank each and every one for them volunteering during a stressful time in there life. Congratulations to each and every one of you and thank you for your support on our journey as well.

Matthew Hale & Krystal

A few riders went to the Thompson residence to begin siding, scrubbing linoleum off hard wood floors, painting a layer of primer throughout the house and many other odd jobs. We also spent a few minutes playing with four kittens that were outside. The Thompson family will be moving in on Friday with newly painted walls (blue paint for the boys rooms, green paint for Angela’s room), new siding, a wheel chair ramp, and widen doors to the bedrooms, bathroom and kitchen. These renovations are a rpart of the Fuller Center Greater Blessing Program.

The Key's New Deck

While the rest of the riders went to the Keys soon to be residence and began construction on a new deck and painting of the interior. The crew was working in very muddy conditions thanks to mother nature, but they finished everything that was expected and more. This will be brand new to the Keys. The Fuller Center is partnering with the Habitat for Humanity on this project.

Mayor of Springfield

Today we also had the honor meeting the Mayor of Springfield, KY John W. Ceccioni. He had prepared a special ceremony in our honor thanking us today. He gave us “keys” to the city.

Springfield Baptist Church ladies made us an awesome dinner

We have been blessed during our stay here at Springfield Baptist Church. Thank you to the many people who assisted in the feasts of meals. I have never such a variety of food for lunch and dinner. Thank you. We are so gracious for each and every person who made tonight possible, everyone who prepared dishes for the dinner (and lunch), the singers, the guitar player and every member of the Church.

Stephen Hale

A special thank you to Steve Hale for being our personal chaufer in comfy seats, allowing us to smell pretty by bathing in his showers, for getting his truck very muddy, and for everything he does for the Springfield, KY Fuller Center for Housing.

A second special thank you to Terry McIlvoy for being a additional chaufer and assisting in various ways during our stay while in town. His faith and commiment is a inspiration to us all.

written by: Megan East

photos by: Esther Hyejin Chung

We have arrived in Springfield, KY

2009-07-22T00:08:00.009-04:00

Entry from: Tuesday July 21st 2009 Springfield, KY

Today has probably been one of our busiest days yet, and it had a few new adventures in store for us!

Rest Stop

We had our first experiences with hills... 63 miles of them! I think we all gained a special appreciation for how flat Indiana really is:). And of course the hills are only going to get higher over the next week or two! Everyone did an excellent job tackling the heights, though, despite a few additional obstacles—two flats for Megan and Esther’s alarming, but ultimately unproblematic, incident with a hungry dog that bit her. Congrats to everyone for getting through our first hilly ride!

Krystal & Millie rocking one of the many hills

When we finally rolled into Springfield, KY (the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln!) Steve Hale, the Chairman of the local Fuller Center, had a special treat for us—professional massages from the Springfield Chiropractic Center!! Many of us have never had a massage at all, beside those given by our wonderful resident chiropractor, Krystal, of course. So with that on top of the 400+ miles we have behind us so far on this trip, we were all pretty excited! While we took turns at the chiropractor we were also well fed by the Temple Baptist church and showered in various locations, including the Hale household and the Johnson household—offered by generous members of the Springfield Baptist church where we'll be staying tonight.

Beautiful View

Then, not long after lunch, we were served dinner with some of the volunteers we’ll be working with on the build sites tomorrow. It’s a good thing we’ve all had the opportunity to improve our skills in eating frequent and plentiful meals during our FCBA experience thus far :). After dinner we visited the local nursing home and talked to the residents about the Fuller Center and our adventure—Mr. Hale has asked them to pray for us during our journey, and it’s always wonderful to visit with those who are thinking of us as we make our way across the country.

Local nursing home

Thanks to the many people who’ve helped us on our way so far! Now it’s bed time, before a new day and all its new adventures!

written & photos by: Melissa Merrill

2nd Build Day in Louisville, KY

2009-07-21T23:49:00.006-04:00

Entry from: Monday July 20th 2009 Louisville, KY

Lisa

So today was our second build day on the trip, and we worked on three separate projects around the West Louisville area. Two of the projects consisted of framing some interior walls, and one of them needed some of ceilings lowered. That group was rather ambitious!! Our third group put up vinyl siding on a home that didn’t take to paint very well.

Nick working on the insulation

I worked on the home that just needed some interior framing. With the help of some professional contractors, we were able to put up framing for one of the rooms, clean out the old framing in many of the other rooms, and some of us even found the time to pull up some more stumps. If you followed our first build day, you already know that we have had some interesting experiences with stumps. Fortunately, we had the more experienced folks pulling them out this time!!

House recipient with the Vinyl Siding

Once our project finished, we went over to the vinyl siding project to help them finish up. They had only two ladders and three hammers to put up siding on a house; from the talk of the others, it was so much fun one of them hit themselves in the head with a hammer!

Deacon Perry enjoys scalp massages

Just a couple houses down from that project lived a man, Charles, who was the recipient of a renovated home. Charles was homeless for two years, working by night and riding the bus during the day. The Fuller Center chose him to be the recipient for this home, and it was amazing to meet and talk with him about his change of fortune!

Ivan & gifts

Today was also the last day we got to spend with Ivan. He is returning to Kansas City after riding and building with us for over a week! We are sad to see him leave but excited to see everything he will accomplish once he gets back home. Have a safe trip!

Riders with Pastor French, Deacon Perry and Oak Grove Missionary members after enjoying a fabulous Southern meal

I would like to thank Pastor French and Deacon Perry for the wonderful hospitality that they have showered upon us since our arrival. I cannot put into words the awe I feel for generosity that we have received on our trip.

We get on the road again bright and early in the morning, and it’s time to make the map!!

written by: Michael Tiemeyer

photos by: Esther Hyejin Chung

Getting to know Louisville, KY

2009-07-21T23:11:00.010-04:00

Entry from: Sunday July 19th 2009 Louisville, KY

Right before we rode on the Highway for a mile

Yesterday we finished our 6-day stretch of biking and we are now at a total of about 330 miles, which puts us in Louisville, Kentucky. It’s nice to have a rest and to spend time getting to know each other better. I am amazed at how well we all get along as a group and I really think the next weeks are going to be wonderful.

Don Erler

We are staying at Oakgrove Baptist Church for the next couple nights and they have been great to us so far. We were treated to lunch at a church called Spirit of Love, which is just down the street from where we are staying. They fed us macaroni and cheese, fried chicken and green beans. Excellent. After we ate, Don Erler, the head of the Fuller Center here in Louisville gave us a little overview of tomorrow’s workday and we got to meet Carolyn and Mary, two people who will get their homes fixed tomorrow.

Feast at Spirit of Love

We also got to meet Charles who was the first person who got a home from the Fuller Center here. He used to stay at St.Joseph’s Homeless Shelter because he didn’t make enough money to pay for a home. But the Fuller Center helped him and now he owns his own howse. They also took us on a tour of Louisville and we got to see Churchill Downs and the Louisville bat store, which was pretty cool for me because one of my dad’s favorite things is horse racing and one of my brothers favorite things is baseball so I found a way to appreciate the city because it reminded me of my family.

Charles (in black polo) gave us a tour around his house

Tomorrow will be our 2^nd day of building and it sounds like it’s going to be a pretty busy day, we have siding to do, framing, and painting and we are going to break up into 3 teams to take on the these projects. I am looking forward to a productive day tomorrow and I hope that we all wake up full of energy so we can get as much work done as we can before we get back on our bikes and head for the mountains.

Churchill Downs

written by: Nick Reina

photos by: Esther Hyejin Chung

Goodbye Indiana, Hello Kentucky!

2009-07-18T23:23:00.007-04:00

We aren't beginners anymore.

Six days after starting our ride and entering the state of Indiana, we completed the approximately 250 miles needed to cross the state. Crossing the Ohio River, which at nearly a mile wide here near in Louisville was an impressive site to see, symbolized our passage from "new cyclists" to Bike Adventure team. The only thing missing was a "welcome to Kentucky" sign to welcome us in.

Louisville Fuller Center is on the ground here, and it's already obvious they are a dynamic bunch. Their goal is to do 1,000 homes in 1,000 days by using over 1,000 volunteers - an incredible goal! We were met in the church parking lot of Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church, our gracious host, by Louisville Fuller Center's President Don Erler, members of Louisville Fuller Center's board of directors, and the homeowner of one of the homes with whom we will be working on Monday. As we rode in, we even passed by one of the Fuller Center projects - complete with a Fuller Center sign and Fuller Center orange t-shirts around the site! Of course we couldn't help but yell a few "Oyee's!" at the sight.

What's an "Oyee!" you ask? If we aren't beginner riders anymore, you can't be beginner Fuller Center fans anymore :) It comes from the heart of Africa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where Millard and Linda Fuller were missionaries. We use it to express gratitude, appreciation, and excitement, and we like to yell it...a lot! And it always comes with an arm raised. It's even printed on the collar of our jerseys.

Anyway, after getting settled into life in the big city, we had a little "family game night" with all the riders, playing Psychiatrist and Signs. The highlight was seeing each of us imitate the other riders on the team when playing Psychiatrist. As for me personally, sometimes I think I give these riders too much material...

Aside from a few missed turns by yours truly, this trip is off to a remarkably smooth start. In fact, it's so smooth that if this keeps up we may just have to take the word "Adventure" out of Fuller Center Bicycle Adventure! Everyone has been safe, we've helped plant seeds for The Fuller Center in cities along the way, helped to spread the word to people we've met and through radio, newspaper, and TV coverage, and raised some money - and the trip's just starting!

We're almost at $60,000 towards our $200,000 fundraising goal, which means we have a good start but have a LONG way to go. We're going to need some help. Any ideas anyone? Every dollar helps. A woman at one of the churches the other day just walked up to us and wrote us a check for $750; another man dropped $2 into one of our helmets we had set up on a table. Both helped us move closer to our goal. If you haven't donated yet, would you please? We need all the help we can get!

Lastly, I wanted to leave you with a song I wrote to celebrate our passing from Indiana to Kentucky today. It is to the tune and theme of the traditional Christian hymn "Shall we Gather at the River"

VERSE 1:

Shall we shower in the river,

where the muddy water flows,

with its muck and glass slivers

going right between your toes?

CHORUS:

Yes, we'll shower in the river,

the dirty, the filthy river,

shower with our clothes on in the river

'til the cops come and send us home.

VERSE 2:

Why're we biking through this place,

where the wind is in your face?

If you follow all the road signs,

you'll bike right on the interstate.

[CHORUS]

VERSE 3:

Soon we'll reach Ohio river,

soon we'll wave to Indiana,

mount'ns ahead make me quiver,

no prob - just eat more bananas.

[CHORUS]

Ryan Iafigliola

Trip Leader

Adventures R' Us

2009-07-17T23:41:00.003-04:00

Breakfast

After a lovely breakfast provided by the Grace Assembly of God, Erika said the morning’s devotion, and we set out this morning around 8:30 for Seymour, IN. The weather today was beautiful- the sky stayed cloudy enough to keep us cool without once threatening to rain. Compared to yesterday, today’s »48 miles was a breeze. Not only was it my favorite day so far scenery-wise, because our resident speedsters (Thad and Eric) were doing the sweep, Susan and I were in the lead the entire time (a first for me), getting to the church in Seymour before noon. Due to our swiftness, however, we ended up taking a detour through Columbus, IN -a city with some truly beautiful architecture- as IN-11 wasn’t clearly marked off of US-31. One can’t truly have an adventure without getting lost at least once, right? As our group goes, I suppose us to be quite an adventurous bunch! (Thank you Google Maps ;)

Cornfields

Speaking of adventure, we had a handful of incidents along our day’s journey: Esther fell twice (again- and as usual, while she was stopped); Erika got a flat and later fell; Nick fell when stopping at the 15-mile mark, landing on Megan’s front wheel (which caused two of her spokes to pop down the road, flipping her over her bike), and then had two flats. The action continued even after we’d all arrived safely in Seymour- Emily (the birthday girl!), Krystal, HannahJoy, Eric, Nick and Thad decided to go swim in the local river… and jump off the bridge overlooking it (after they’d determined it was deep enough, of course). As it turns out, jumping off public bridges into rivers is illegal, as the three Indiana State Troopers who showed up informed them. Nick, upon being asked if any of them were wanted back home, stated that he was wanted in Canada, but not in the US, so it was okay. Hilarious- that kid cracks me up! The officers were nice enough to let them off with just a warning…

Megs and her broken spokes

After taking care of showers at the local high school, river-jumping, laundry, grocery shopping and a trip to the local bike shop, we were treated to a dinner and a lovely birthday cake for Emily, all prepared by the dinner team of Eric, Kyle, Nick and Lisa. It never gets old watching someone try to blow out “magic” candles. After the candles were finally out, Emily was presented with a card from all of us and a few gifts, hand-picked by Thad, from the dollar store: a foam saber, a foam mini-bow-and-arrow, and some farting goo.

Emily took SO long to blow out the candles

Sadly, tomorrow is my last ride with this amazing group of people. I’ll be with the trip through the build in Louisville on Monday, but then I catch my Greyhound back to Kansas City. I really wish I were going the whole way, but responsibilities are beckoning me home and I feel blessed to have been able to be on this adventure for as long as I have. I started the trip without any long-distance bicycle experience, and until this morning I’d been sore and tired for the previous couple of days: today I felt amazing. Nobody else agrees with me, but I definitely feel as if we’ve been going generally more downhill than up for the past two days. I hope the others start to feel the same way, and I wish you all the best over the next four weeks! It has really been a privilege for me to ride, share and work alongside all of you, and I hope to see you on future rides, builds or… whatevers ^_^

Ivan in Columbus, IN (little detour)

Lastly, we’d like to give a huge thanks to the First United Methodist Church of Seymour for providing us with quite a lovely shelter for the evening!

written by: Ivan Cunningham

photos by: Esther Hyejin Chung