What includes ACGC CEO Ron Thomas, AC Communications Director Keith Wheaton, three motor homes, one van with trailer, one jeep, three cars, 20 bicycles, 34 people, four children, one pregnant woman, a cat named Boots, a dog named Puppy and Pugsley from the Addams Family? If you answered the Bike4Christ border to border ride, than you go to the head of the class.
From September 22nd to October 13th, 2007 the Bike4Christ crew cycled for charity from Canada to Mexico along the West Coast of the U.S.. (For more information check out www.bike4christ.com). A group of seasoned and not-so-seasoned riders, along with a support crew, was assembled from around the country. Veterans from the first Bike4Christ ride (coast to coast in 2004) included; Dave and Jody Crimi, Christopher and Katherine Blakely, Jesse Stevens, Dutch Mansfield, Craig, Kristi and Josh Libby, Ron Thomas, Keith Wheaton and Tim Behrens. The rookies consisted of; Jeff, Mary and Puppy Schwimer, Kimberly Majerski, Jeremy Rainey, Jim and Jan Crouse, Steve Monks, John Hardy, Brad Neil, Richard, Katie and Cody Fleetwood, Wes, Shirley and Boots Assink, Joey and Diana Collins, Sherry, Josiah and Solomon Stevens, Ken Weatherwax, Pete Mergens and Carl Crouse. The majority of the group did the entire trip while some did the first week and others joined for the last week.
The ride was originally scheduled for 1638.5 miles but that just wasn't enough. We managed to make the actual mileage 1728. (Some even managed to ride more.) We spent each night at a campground, RV park, private home, A.C. church or motel. Some slept in the luxury of motor homes that make the average house look like candidates for a home makeover show. I promised not to mention the names of those who were privileged to have these accommodations so Dave, Jody, Jim, Jan, and Ron -- your secret is safe with me. Others slept in tents, a jeep and the van.
The riders and support crew assembled on September 21st at the A.C. Church in Sumas, Washington, for their journey that would start the next day. We would ride each day until the 13th of October, taking off only on the 5th and 6th of October for the WACA Triennial in Santa Cruz, California.
On the 22nd of September we started the ride by heading north a quarter mile or so to the Canadian border for the official start. After pictures at the border and a heated discussion about the fact that we now needed to turn south and head to Mexico, the ride began in earnest. That first morning we rode to the A.C. Church in Bellingham, Washington, for breakfast in the parking lot and finally to Old Fort Townsend State Park to spend the night. The day included a ferry ride. We spent three days in the state of Washington before crossing the bridge into Astoria, Oregon, where we would spend the better part of four days.
The oldest rider of the bunch was Brad Neil until Ron Thomas joined up and flashed his Social Security card. Brad was known as the “dinosaur on a dinosaur,” since he also rode the oldest bike. It is believed he purchased it off E-Bay from Fred Flinstone. Don't let his age fool you though! He was the first rider to finish almost everyday. Brad is better compared to the Energizer bunny.
The youngest rider was the baby percolating in the tummy of Kristi Libby. Not only did Kristi ride some of the route, she was the cook, banker, nurse, mommy and pretty much backbone of the group. Dave Crimi once again served as the group's Cap'n Dave. His main job was to crack the whip at dawn so we would have the privilege of riding from sunup to sunset.
Each day pretty much followed the same pattern. For the riders this meant rising early, riding two to three hours before breakfast, riding another two to three hours until lunch and then riding to the location where they would have dinner and spend the night. For the support crew this meant providing a snack for the riders at dawn, then packing up the camp and getting the motor homes 20 or 30 miles down the road. Next, find a location on the side of the road to serve breakfast, clean up from breakfast, and find a grocery store and gas station. After leaving the gas station/grocery store, we would pass the riders on the road and find a location for lunch. Then clean up from lunch and head to the campground or RV park where we would spend the night so we could set up camp and prepare dinner. The first real break for the support crew would come on Sunday, October 14th.
Once again we were blessed to have Katherine and Christopher Blakely on road support. Christopher would stay up late each night working on the following day’s route. Then at the break of dawn he would hand out route slips and brief the riders. Many days Jim and Jan, Kimberly and Jody were off riding by this time. These eager beavers couldn't wait to hit the road. Most mornings were wet and cold with temps in the 40's, but by midday the sun would be out with temps pushing 70.
One of the trip highlights was the Tillamook cheese factory where Brad purchased cheese curds to share with the team. Other highlights included riding across the Golden Gate Bridge and thru the redwoods. Kristi's favorite highlight was the night we ordered pizza! Various friends met us along the road for encouragement and in some cases to provide a meal. The trip would not be complete without some lowlights. These mainly consisted of getting bikes repaired when wheels came out of true and servicing other parts. We were usually near a bike shop at least once a day or at worst every other day. Other lowlights included Dutch telling Kenny which wrong road to drive the RV down. Dutch was quite good at this.
On the 28th of September, we entered California where we would remain until the end. It was about this time that Jim and Jan Crouse hatched a plan that was the envy of every tired rider. I'll let Jim tell you in his own words:
"There are some records that you don’t want to have, like the most strikeouts in Major League Baseball, failed attempts at jumping the Grand Canyon on a motorcycle, or the most flat tires on this trip. Jan has the record for the most flats, and today, after flat number two, it got us out of the last 19 miles. She told me tonight that if she gets one flat tomorrow she’s quitting for the day. That’s fine with me because we are “in this together.” Hopefully I solved the tire problem, but only time will tell."
Nice try!
Well, speaking of records, on the ride into Crescent City, California Jesse Stevens reached 43.3 M.P.H. on his bicycle. I believe that was the fastest speed reached during the trip. With the way the roads serpentine along the coast, we were lucky to hit that in the RV's.
So what’s it like being a rider on a trip like this? Well, sitting on a bicycle seat for six to ten hours a day, day after day begins to feel like you're sitting on a brick. Among other things, your shoulders ache and your neck gets stiff. And yes there are other problems. Here's Jody to explain:
“Have had a number of times on this trip when I've been desperate to find a bathroom. I could write a lot on these experiences but will refrain".
Ask Jody or Jan and they can tell you the location of every outhouse on the West Coast between Canada and Mexico!
It was in California at the WACA Triennial that Ron Thomas and Keith Wheaton joined the team. Their first day of riding was only 50 miles from Santa Cruz to Pacific Grove. But the next day we would make them pay, as the ride was 107 miles long! It was also in California that Mary was pulled over by a sheriff’s deputy. What was Mary's crime? Riding too fast? Riding too slow? No. It was riding with a dog on her back! Mary had a backpack she would strap Puppy into where Puppy rode each day. The deputy was concerned about Puppy's safety but, when she saw how Puppy was strapped in, she was, like most, quite amazed. Boots, the cat, on the other hand chose to ride each day in the comfort of a luxurious motor home. Proving yet again that felines are smarter.
Surprisingly we got the most rain in Central and Southern California. At one campground we had to give the bikes a good hosing down! We kidded Brad about having a bike with fenders on it but came to appreciate how much cleaner he was than the rest of us after spending a few days riding in muck.
What was the most valuable commodity on the trip? Quarters! At each campground and RV Park it took quarters to operate the showers and washers and dryers. I believe by the end of the trip the going rate was four quarters for a 20-dollar bill! One day, after riding 80 miles, Dave walked a couple of miles to a store just to get some quarters! You could have made a lot of money if you had the quarter concession on this trip.
Finally, on Saturday, October 13th we arrived at Border Field State Park on the U.S./ Mexico border. Members of the North Park and Chatsworth A.C. churches met us. We were provided with a wonderful BBQ and then hurried out of the park by Border Patrol Agents. (It closed after dark.)
Here are some trip statistics; the trip was 22 days long of which 20 were riding days. Ron Thomas and Keith Wheaton came from the furthest away (East Coast). A couple came from Texas, one from Canada/Mexico, two from Oregon, a handful from Washington and the majority from Southern California. There were four days where the riders rode over 100 miles (the longest was 110 miles). Five days were over 90 miles a day and five more were over 80. The shortest day was 50 miles. There were two days of non-riding (October 5 and 6). We stayed at seven campgrounds, eight RV parks, three A.C. Churches, one private home, and at least two motels. But the most important statistic of all was that we raised over $23,000 for charity! Since 2004, Bike4Christ has raised nearly $40,000 for various charities! For more information on the ride please visit: www.bike4christ.com.
Charities/amounts supported by Bike4Christ riders:
Academy Schools = $1,110
A.C. Village = $100
ACGC = $9,640.42
Compassion International = $230
CTFC (Quaqua Mission) = $230
Camp Maranatha = $125
Chatsworth Lake Community Church = $1,695
Iglesia de Cristo Nuevo Pacto = $200
Lincoln Heights Tutorial Program = $1,590
Mexican Medical Ministries = $5,595
Western Advent Christian Association = $325
Mount Baker Dental Hygienist' Society = $500
North Park Community Church Youth Ministry - $1,703
99+1 - $195