I am all packed for the 2000 mile bicycle trip to Fairbanks, Alaska. My brother Cliff is going with me on his bicycle and his wife Kathy is driving along with us in their car. She is carrying most of the camping stuff with her in the car. Our goal is to start at Williams Lake, British Colombia. We will be driving up to that spot in the next two days. We will leave tomorrow after church at about 2 pm, stay overnight with Cliff and Kathy's son Eric, his wife Penny and their two little sons in Seattle and then camp at Williams Lake the next evening. The reason we decided to start here is because the Frazier River Canyon and the 7 tunnels along that drive are not very bicycle friendly. Very windy, lots of truck traffic, and the 7 tunnels that do not have a side walk in them or much curb space.

I am planning on being very sore and very tired at the end of each day for the first week until I get in shape. My goal for the trip is to lose 30 lbs. You won't recognize me when I get back. I will be eating oat meal for breakfast, protein bar and trail mix as I ride along for lunch, and freeze dried dinner. I probably will be hungry a lot!!

Another goal is to spend 5 hours each evening reading and writing and to come home with 30 sermons outlined. My theme this year on the sermon series is "if you knew you had 30 days to live, what would change in your life for sure". I got the idea from reading the book, "One Month to Live" by Kerry and Chris Shook. I will think most of the day about the topic and then write what has come into my head during the day in the evening as I sit in my camp chair or in my tent if it is raining.

Don't pray for a safe trip for me but an adventurous one. Love ya all. Dee