Jared has a couple of friends that are touring the US on bikes. Aaron is like a brother to Jared and Les is a good friend. They will be leaving Saturday the 14th. I wish I could be there to see them off but I will be in SLO at my nephews graduation. Jared will be there to hug them for me and pray for a safe, awesome, life changing, and blessed adventure!
Read the letter below to understand what their objectives are regarding their trip and for information on how you can follow them on their journey.
May 20, 2008
To Our Dear Friends and Dear Family:
This summer, Aaron and Les “Tour the US” from Huntington Beach, California to New York City, New York, on their bicycles. What started as a radical proposal to cycle from coast to coast, just for the adventure of it, has become an estimated 40 day, 3,600 mile reality that begins on June 14th, 2008 at the Huntington Beach Pier. We are writing this letter to share our plans and invite you to “Tour the US” with us, because you love us, and we love you.
Wait, wait, wait − Aaron and Les are doing WHAT?!
You heard us right. On the second Saturday in June at 10am, we are dipping our back tires in the Pacific Ocean, heading east for forty days, until we reach the Atlantic Coast in New York and submersing our front tires (or, likely the entire bike), signifying the beginning and end of our cross county journey. We will ride 100 miles or 8 hours every day, whichever comes first. The projected route includes the Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountains, a straight shot from Kansas to Virginia and a coastal ride up to New York.
Once we get to New York City and spend a few days enjoying the culture, food and history, we will fly home and check our bikes as normal luggage. “Where will you stay?” We’re camping in a tent and staying with people we meet along the way, who will hopefully offer us a warm shower. For food, we are relying on a camping stove and lots of PB&J sandwiches. As plans change, we will flex. For us, the journey supersedes the destination.
And WHY are Aaron and Les doing this?
Above all, we are biking this summer to participate in God’s delight. We are going for the adventure, the journey, for spiritual growth, to be “alone” with God, to rest and take a sabbatical from life thus far, and not to mention, to explore God’s grandeur in the amber waves of grain.
Many have asked us if we are riding to support a cause or charity. The short answer is, not really. Rather, we are going simply to enjoy God, His creation and the gracious gift of human freedom. God delights in our service and in our rest—pleased when we pursue Him in work, and pleased when we seek His face in leisure. Our objective is to take a joy ride across the nation, scattering encouragement from state to state and at the same time admiring the beauty of God's green earth.
Obviously, pedaling our way through eleven of the United States for eight hours a day will be physically and mentally demanding. More significantly, however, we are anticipating the trip to be highly spiritual as well. We are eager to allow time and space for God to work on our souls and hearts, slowing down long enough to let Him be our guide, taking us where He wants us to go and in the fashion that would please Him most. This fundamental Christ-inspired attitude is not something we are limiting to trans-nation cycling trips. Yet, we have both admitted that we do not practice this discipline as regularly as we ought and are pleased to have the opportunity to cultivate this deeply spiritual habit.
In short, this summer is a bit of a spiritual pilgrimage, quest for adventure, search for beauty and truth, rite of passage and season of renewal all rolled into one.
HOW can our friends and family join us?
Because you are dear to us, we want to invite you to participate in this journey. Here are at least three ways you can join us on our trip.
Pray ahead of us. We both sincerely believe in an infinite, benevolent and providential God who loves and responds to His children and their requests. Asking God to aid us and grow us will be the greatest asset we can receive.
Follow us (on our blog). We will be keeping an on-line log of our travels and adventures, complete with photographs, perhaps videos and daily highlights. You can find our blog at:
www.AaronAndLesTourTheUS.blogspot.com
Send us off.
The “West Coast/Pacific Ocean Tire-Dip Ceremony”
Saturday, June 14th, 2008
Huntington Beach Pier from 9 to 10 am
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1 comment:
Mrs. Mandell! Thank you so much for your comment on our blog as well as your latest blog asking for prayer for les and I! It is so cool to see/hear that people are praying and thinking about us. We are having a great time, just so you know, and we're learning many many things. Anyway, just thought we'd send you a thank you.
Aaron & Les
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