Things I'm looking forward to

I was visiting with my lovely cousin, Janina, in Vancouver a few weeks ago, and she asked me what I was looking forward to about the Sea to Sea tour.  I hemmed and hawed for a few minutes, only having fears and worries come into my mind (what if I get sick while I'm riding...I don't want to ride in the rain...what if my knee hurts...what will I do when I get saddle sores...what if i get tired of my sleeping mat...).  So, in the spirit of thinking positive, here are a few of the things I'm looking forward to about the tour (I'm sure there are more, but this is what I can come up with right now!)

1. Riding with my dad

I love my dad.  He's the best.  I'm so excited to get to spend 9 whole weeks with him on our bikes.  I'm excited that when I feel frustrated or anxious, he will be there to give me a hug and tell me to go to bed.  I think it will be so amazing to share this adventure with him.

2. Having my mom along

I love my mom.  She's the best.  I'm so excited to get to spend 9 whole weeks with her as a support driver.  I haven't lived at home since I was 18, so to get to be close to my mom for this challenge will be awesome.  I also think she will be an awesome support driver and since she's been giving my snacks my whole life, I'm looking forward to her giving me snacks again.

3. Camping

Yes, I'm a bit apprehensive about having to sleep on an air mattress for 9 weeks and for setting up/taking down in the rain, but I didn't get to camp at all last summer, and I have an awesome tent, and I just love camping, so I'm very excited to get to sleep in the great outdoors ALL summer!

4. The people

I am excited about meeting all the cyclists from all over Canada and the US.  I'm excited to get to ride with them and hang out with them and fellowship with them.  To share the struggles on the climbs and the speed on the downhills.  Because I move a lot for work, I don't always get to be in community, and I'm looking forward to 9 weeks of being with family in Christ!

5. The scenery

There's a LOT I haven't seen in the USA in terms of geography, and I'm excited to get to see some more of a beautiful country.  I haven't been to most of the places in California we are going to, and while I was in Pheonix with my brother Jared on our road trip 3 years ago, I loved Arizona and am excited to get to see it again!  New Mexico is not a place I've visited and I'm psyched to get to scope out some future ski vacations in Colorado.  I've not spent much time in the middle of the US, either, and I've never even been to New York State besides to drive in it (shameful, considering I grew up in Ontario, I know).

6. Seeing old friends

I've met a lot of Americans through travels etc, and I'm hoping to get to meet up with some of them during the tour!  I am also very excited that the tour will run right through Southern Ontario, so I can meet up with some old friends there (warm beds and laundry facilities would be appreciated...hint, hint...)!!

7. The riding

I have really developed a love for being on my bike.  I'm not fast, I'm not particularly graceful, but I do love to go zooming around on my bicyclette!!!  I'm sure there will be sore times and hard times, but I hope this ride helps develop my love of riding even more!

8. The sleep

9-whole-weeks-without-call.  Full stop.

9. The spiritual retreat

I get so busy in my day to day life that I frequently forget to be close to God, to dedicate myself to prayer and to seek His will first.  I'm excited about taking this time to ride my bike and rededicate myself to the practice of prayer and reading my Bible

Well, that list didn't take me very long to come up with....guess I'm pretty psyched about the whole tour!