Right now we are driving to Itasca, the headwaters of the Mississippi River! We are so pumped despite the dreary weather. Today we had a pleasant surprise send-off from close family friends Dan & Kay McCarthy and Mark & Michael Nelson! Stay tuned for an update following our first day of biking on Monday!!
The truth is, if you asked me to choose between winning the Tour de France and cancer, I would choose cancer. Odd as it sounds, I would rather have the title of cancer survivor than winner of the Tour, because of what it has done for me as a human being, a man, a husband, a son, and a father. Some things are too big, too epic, to let detours, however severe, keep you from the goal.
That's how I feel about the TORCH Tour - Riding the Mississippi River has been on my bucket list for a while. Well, you can probably imagine the discouragement I felt when diagnosed with cancer just 3 weeks before we were to leave on this epic journey. But nevertheless, God is good and life continues on. The good news is that the doctor said I could resume riding a bike. The post-surgery pathology report indicates the cancer was contained to the location of the tumor, putting me at Stage 1. This means I don't have to undergo chemo or radiation at this time. That is GREAT news! As you may know, our trip to the Gulf of Mexico is an awareness and fund raiser for orphans in China. We're not going to let cancer or anything else keep us from moving forward. And so we're excited to announce that we'll be leaving on June 9th. We will just go as far as good health, good weather, and time allow. With the help & support of family and friends, we're going to continue our plans, although getting to the Gulf now seems like a major feat. We'll take it one day at a time and hold things loosely - something you learn real quick when bigger, life and death issues arise. Mariah and I have been riding some and packing some. We finally have the panniers and B.O.B. set up. It's just a week away now! Please pray with us for good health (and good weather ;-). It's just a few weeks before Mariah and I are to leave on the TORCH Tour. Normally at this time, I would be sharing about route maps, equipment lists and the people we were looking forward to meeting.
Unfortunately, our big adventure has taken a humbling twist. On May 2nd, I was diagnosed with cancer. The same kind Lance Armstrong faced and LiveStrong organization is formed from. Although I admire his cycling accomplishments, I'm glad the similarities end there. ;-) We weren't prepared to hear news like this, let alone finding out just 3 weeks before leaving on the TORCH tour. But we've learned a lot in a short amount of time, and after talking to more doctors and specialists, we decided to move forward with surgery. Surgery was Friday, May 10th. The doctor said it went well and they got everything they needed. I've been at home recovering and don't know when I'll be able to return to work. The pathology results will come Tuesday or Wednesday and then the urologist and other specialists will "stage me." The good news is that even though this type of cancer is rare, it is the most curable, treatable type for men. During the entire week and surgery, Marsha and I have been comforted and uplifted by people's prayers and their display of great faith, love and hope. This has meant so much to us! It's funny, but in the doctor's office I remember saying (or at least thinking), "I can't afford to get that now, I have a major bike trip coming up! What's going to happen to riding the length of the Mississippi this summer?" Well, the doctor said it would take some time to heal before I could hop back on a bike, much less ride 60 miles a day for 40 days. Besides, at this time, we don't know what a treatment plan will look like. Needless to say, I'm pretty discouraged. Not only about my state of health, but also about how and when a modified TORCH tour would be possible. We have been planning and preparing for this tour for so long. The unique window of opportunity might not be as open later on. But somehow this will all work for the good because our faith is in a good God. With His help, maybe this will turn into a life-celebrating, hope-giving, recovery tour. We just don't know the details or timing yet. We covet your prayers for discernment and wisdom, for healing and health as we trek down uncharted territory. Watch for health updates and plans for a future TORCH tour right here on this blog. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful ride! On Sunday, April 28th, Mariah and I joined 3,500 other crazy cyclists in Stillwater, MN for the annual MIBR. We went from 6" of snow just one week ago, to sunny, July-like weather with temps in the low 80's the day of the ride. It was really fun being part of a big group of people converging on the Washington County Fairgrounds for the start, then tearing up the roads between Stillwater, Scandia and Lake Elmo. Such a diverse group of people and bikes! Young and old, recreational riders, campers and racers. We saw unicycles, tandems, road bikes, mountain bikes, bikes looking like they came from last year's garage sale, and lightweight, carbon-fiber racing bikes, the kind you take out a small mortgage for. We were riding our spiffy new bikes from Tonka Cycle and Ski. It was a great pre-tour run. The bikes held up great, and even after 50+ miles, the 'ol kiester isn't feeling too much pain. :-) We rode up and down hills, endured the stiff cross winds, and got a sense of what a typical TORCH tour day of riding might be like. (Ok, minus the thousands of other road companions ;-). This was also a good practice day for map and GPS skills. We've been experimenting with various ways to use social media to update you all while we're on the road. One APP we'll likely use is called "Track My Tour." It allows you to use a combination of waypoints, photos, comments and geotags to update one's whereabouts on a tour. Here are a few photos from our ride today! Thursday's commute home from work According to the calendar, by this time of year we should be riding our bikes around the lakes, dodging strollers and runners, and watching the trees leaf out. <--------- Instead, we get THIS on April 18th! According to the weatherman, this is the coldest April since the 1880s and the second snowiest since that time too. :-( Bummer. Well, that can't stop us from making preparations for the TORCH tour. We just have to be more diligent and creative. Instead of biking outside, Mariah and I have frequented LA Fitness and hooked up with their indoor spin cycling class. It's amazing how full these classes are well into April! ;-) And, we just completed a 7 - 10 day master cleanse, drinking only a mixture of lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper. Mariah lasted longer than I did but we both feel healthier and lighter (which means we can carry more on the bikes) Yay!? In addition, I've been pouring over maps and planning the route in detail using GPS software. Once the route is in place, I'll use a combination of campground sites and WarmShowers.org to locate lodging possibilities every 60 miles or so along the route. Also, next week we are both riding the MN Ironman Annual Bike Ride. This is the longest running, and earliest bike event of the season. This year, some 3,400 people (I was about to use the 'crazy' descriptor here) will ride between 14 and 100 miles near Stillwater. This has been on our calendars since February, but we weren't actually thinking of riding in the snow! We'll post more details about some of these preparations in upcoming blog posts. Finally, our fund-raising efforts have been in full swing. It's super exciting and humbling to see so many friends and family members show their support of the TORCH tour and our work on behalf of Hope Station. We are really feeling the sense of connection with everyone who's following our blog and facebook page. And we haven't even left yet! So - THANK YOU for your support and prayers and financial donations. We couldn't do this without YOU! This picture is from last year's Hope Station Bike-a-Thon. Can't wait to get the shirt out and start riding in warm weather! But the snow has to clear first. Today was especially exciting, because we picked up our bikes! Picture this - It's April 5th and by now, most of the snow on the ground has finally melted. We've been waiting to find a nice, sunny day for a test-ride. But of all the days, it had to start snowing again; not just a light snow, but wet, heavy snow and it's cold outside. So here Mariah is, riding around the parking lot in the snow and rain. Sad, really. But it makes for great video. ;-) Luckily, that didn't stop us and we were able to get set up with these bikes by our good friends at Tonka Cycle and Ski. Mariah picked out a Civia Prospect and I chose the Salsa Casseroll. Both bikes are made by QBP right here in Bloomington, MN. These are touring bikes and meant for riding long distances. We're hoping these bikes will take us all the way to the Gulf of Mexico with little problems or fatigue. As you could imagine, we're anxious warm up those saddles and start riding outside. But I guess we'll just have to wait and take it as it comes. We live in Minnesota, after all. :-) Wheels up! Here in Minnesota, spring is taking it's sweet time to arrive. Last year at this time, people were outside playing golf, biking around the lakes, and thinking about mowing the lawn. Even though there's still lots of snow on the ground, Mariah and I are gearing up our plans and training for the upcoming TORCH tour. For one thing, we've been taking a spin (cycle) class at LA Fitness. If you've never had the privilege of indoor cycle spinning, it can be likened to basic military training with the benefit of loud, pounding music. It's a great way to strengthen spirit, mind and body. ;-) We're also shopping for bikes. The idea is to get a bicycle that will carry us and our gear the 2,200 miles down the road with little repairs and minimal fatique. It's not for the faint at heart because there are lots of decisions like frame material, body geometry and color (Mariah, of course). ;-) Then there's a regular consumption of books and journals and reviews and discussion forums where people share their story of bicycle touring. One of my favorites is Over the Hills: A Midlife Escape Across America by Bicycle, by David Lamb. Written by a LA Times columnist, the book tells the charming story of the author, who in his mid-fifties set out to cross the country by bicycle by himself. It's a good read. |
We're using TrackMyTour to give updates via waypoints along the Torch Tour. Click on the direct link here or search for the Torch Tour at TrackMyTour.com.
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