So, the plan to bike to The Haft all started out with some talk. Then some planning. And then when the word got out to some local bikers, they all started training to do this big bike route! Thanks to Sam and Allen for all the details and planning that it took to get the 12 bikers there safe and sound!
The weather was so rainy and yucky all week that by Wednesday there was lots of decisions to make as to do they bike or stay home? The forecast was saying rain for some parts of Thursday and then mostly rain on Friday. Would the guys be that determined to make it work? Mike had his opinion and even though he was training all Spring, it seemed best to stay home. BUT, some of the others really wanted it to work and so after the decision was to ride it out ... rain or shine, Mike was excited! He made a quick stop out at Under Armour and grabbed a few rain gear and on Wednesday night he was packing up his biking gear, energy bars, water bottles, extra clothes to help stay dry and udder balm to keep him from getting sore!
Thursday morning, all twelve bikers met at 200 Spaces right in town and headed north! Their ride on Thrusday went really good. The weather stayed dry until towards the end of day one riding. They did have JR Fisher follow them with a van that held snacks, water, dry clothes and emergency transportation if the weather got too nasty! They biked 100 miles the first day which took them to a cabin to sleep for the night. There they went out for supper, got regrouped, slept and tried to rest for day two. Mike's legs were restless and tired. He was hoping that by morning his legs would loosen up and be ready to ride again. And that's exactly what happened.
Friday morning, he woke up and ate some breakfast and his legs did feel a lot better even though he didn't sleep the best. Restless legs are so not fun! I can't imagine how my legs would have felt afer all those miles in one day!!! :) They had to make another decision to else stay at the cabin for the day or ride out the rain.
Meanwhile, I was at home finishing up the laundry and packing for our stay at The Haft. Hadassah was up and getting for school. She's been dealing with some allergies and runny nose and so we decided to just let her stay home and work on algebra homework. I had plans to pick her up before lunch at school anyway and head for The Haft. This gave her an opportunity to catch up on homework and eliminate picking her up at school. Matthew had left early, by 6:40 AM, for a class field trip to Gettysburg. He was so excited and the rain sure didn't dampin his mode at all! I loaded up the Yukon with our weekend things and we were off to Chickfila for a quick grab and go lunch. That's where I put in the GPS our address and we were off! There's was a point in time when I remember asking myself if this was the right route but I was following the GPS!!! We were on the road for about an hour when Marlene texted me and said she just went past Clark's Ferry. WHAT??? I was ahead of her but we didn't go that way! I did a quick panic and called her right away! Then I called Mike! The guys had decided to go with the rain and ride the rest of their route! I tried to tell him where I was and if that route was OK. It was. But by now, teenager was trying to take a nap while I was juggling with the phone directions and the Yukon GPS. Baby was screaming and sick of the travels. Ashlyn was crying and missing her daddy. :((( I took a deep breath and decided to make the best of our scenic route the GPS was taking us. We saw beautiful trees. Lots of ponds and lakes. Railroad tracks and even drove on roads with 25 mile an hour signs on them. We had about 30 minutes do travel yet, when I said, "Oh look, there are bikers!" By now, there was a steady rain and I thought "could it be the guys?" As we drove closer, I saw Mikes red helmet and I got all excited! It was awesome to see them biking! It helped with toddlers crying too! We rolled down the window and she got to say hi to Mike was we drove past!!! They were cold and wet but determined to finish the course. There are so many spiritual analogies that could be made with something like this! Striving to finish the race! Going strong to the very end!!! Mike was super excited to see us too!
Here I was trying to enjoy the view when I saw the bikers!!!
Then we blew the horn and passed Mike!!!
We arrived at The Haft minutes before Marlene and her children. The GPS directions seemed to be so off the beaten path but still got us there in good timing! I pulled up to the barn at The Haft and she was right behind me. :) We all jumped out and unloaded our luggage and then went to the end of the lane to watch the bikers arrive! It was still misting but we didn't care. We were so excited to see them come down the road!!! They were so happy to see us too!!!
Here they come!!!
So thrilling to arrive with their families there cheering them to the finish line!!!
She missed her daddy so much!!!
All the bikers!
He was happy to see his daddy too!
Hadassah was so proud to have Mike finish strong!
My heart was burst with love and happiness too! Mike is a good biker and I knew with out a doubt that he would finish this ride well! Good job Mike!!!
Biking in The Haft lane.
Matthew joined us late that night. Calvin brought up James and Matthew after their field trip. It was late till we got to bed. Our children never sleep well the first night of being somewhere new over night. We were up a few times with Ashlyn wanting a drink or crying because she didn't remember where she was. Austin was up a few times too. Mike and I both ended up on couches and out of our over heated room! Hadassah gladly took our bed and sack it out. Matthew always sleeps soundly and was in a room with the boys!
Saturday was such a fun day chattering to the bikers and their families. Many of them we knew from attending Spring Garden church. It was also great seeing Dutch and Rosa and Jason and Carolyn at the Haft. The weather was good enough for the kids to be outside. They canoed. Fished. Played football. Roamed the woods. Tried to escape a mad goose. Marveled at the baby turtles Ashlyn discovered in the grass. Watched Fire Proof. And just enjoyed time with other children their ages!
Boys playing football.
Boat rides.
Ashlyn and Colson had a blast together all weekend!
Baby turtles that Ashlyn found in the grass. Four of them!
Hadassah had a fun weekend too. She always loves time with ShaLyn!
For Mike and I, we enjoyed the adult conversations! Spiritual talk. Family life. Marriage strengths and weaknesses. Biking talk was constantly on the table! :) With that many bikers all in one place for a whole weekend, lots of bike talk was conversed! We ate great food! Drank lots of coffee. Took a few pictures and enjoyed being at The Haft!
On Sunday, it was Mother's Day. The guys made it special for us ladies by doing the breakfast dishes while we sat and relaxed!!! Thanks Babe!!
Ready to head back home!!! Many thanks to Dutch and Rosa for hosting us at The Haft!!!
