Riding For Rwanda pt.8
Doris & Marlene’s Big Ride - July 4, 2024
RACE TO THE FINISH
At the end of the day (or beginning or middle) wherever we find ourselves in any given circumstance it will always be affected and influenced by “the people” that we have the had opportunity to meet - some of those happenstance meetings end up shaping our next step or season of life. If we are willing to put ourselves out there.
When Marlene and I started to think about our next big ride we did our homework and considered our options We started hearing more about bike n’ barge trips and we thought given our age, skill and capacity it might just be a fit. And it was. Hilarious moment today when our seatmate in flight from Paris - a neuroscience Phd candidate from New Brunswick heading home from a science conference in Japan, asked us if we had been “racing” in Europe. We both burst out laughing but thanked him for his kind question.
But it got me thinking - maybe we were.
Racing.
Obviously not on our bikes. A top speed in all the riding we did over the last 10 days was probably 27km - hardly going to have us qualify for any “Tours” @Alison Jackson no fear of competition from us! But maybe we were racing (maybe we all are) and it is a marathon not a 100 metre dash. If you subscribe to Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper you will have read her essay on life as a marathon this past Sunday.
We have been astounded and blessed by so many brilliant beautiful people that we have met on this trip. And we have been inspired by those that have gone before us. Personally & historically. Both Marlene and I have been challenged to go home and learn more about our own ancestral past as well as consider how we want to spend the “time” that is before us.
Ray, long before he was sick would often say at the turn of the season, ”I wonder how many more I will have.” And then. He would plough in and live everyday as if he would live forever and at the same time as if it might be his last. He knew who he was living for and he fully embraced his why.
As we made our way through so many historic moments in the Netherlands and France we were overwhelmed all over again how rich and deep and blessed we are to be the beneficiaries of lives well lived. We also bore witness to the heartache and sorrow that has also shaped the history that hasn't always gone well. We reflected on our own personal family stories and how they had and continue to shape each of us and our children, grandchildren, and extended families. We reflected on cultural nuances whether you are in Rwanda, Canada, Holland or France...and how each culture has its own identity and it is in the DNA of the people that call that place “home.” We thought about individuals, organizations, communities that have influence each of us and how that influence shaped our own thinking.
But it always comes back to that one person or a community of people that live out their idea, solution, passion, calling.
Life lived on purpose for a purpose greater than ourselves.
We are tired. We rode and walked (there was no running) but we have now collectively passed 1009 km since we started. We set a goal to cover 2000 km by Sept 1 to turn the volume up and raise awareness and funding for Wellspring and Umoja Rwanda - but what we didn't anticipate was the transformational impact of this trip.
Personally.
For our families and some of our friends who have been inspired.
For new friends who were strangers a few weeks ago.
For the children and families in Rwanda.
Somehow I think this was exactly what Ray intended when he dreamed up Joyful Living Joyful Giving.
There was a “lot” of thinking. Considering, chatting, recalling, and imagining. Being on a bike in solitude for hours on end really does lend time to think, process, pray and ponder.
We hope that our journey will have piqued your curiosity and maybe encouraged you to do that one thing whatever it might be that you have dreamed of or that you haven’t yet dared. Our blogs were written for ourselves, our families and for each of you – with this in mind. We did not want to waste this opportunity. This was so much more than a typical fundraising opportunity, or a holiday or an adventure. This was a moment to consider.
Some final random facts as we land back in BC:
We know where we fall in the biking order – and are both pretty set on buying e-bikes, “look at how much father and faster you can go” and you are still biking!
My PTSD from my PEI crash was dealt with on this trip
While not in a race, time is definitely still of the essence
The Tour de France is 3498 km and for the first time in history it will not complete in France due to the Olympics and Paralympics
While we won’t be participating in the tour 😊 we can be part of the 4300km Cycle 5 to Survive Great Divide Challenge that PL & Kristen Meinderstma have initiated – you can cycle, walk, or run anywhere and all the while being part of something bigger and meaningful
Street cycling in Paris is not as user friendly as it is in Holland - wowza we learned that one the hard way
Paris security is intense right now - that said we never felt unsafe in the return trip - we stayed in the Latin Quarter
Coffee time in Europe is meant to be meaningful and done in community or with that friend or loved one...very rarely do you see anyone walking around with a coffee or for that matter even a water bottle...that was a foreign concept
We were reminded that dinner should be long and leisurely and should include great people, conversation and of course some wonderful wine
Graffitti art in Europe is really quite a beautiful thing
We are grateful for the fact that we are at: Doris – 528.9 – Marlene 485.1 - and $24,900 raised so far for The Wellspring Foundation and UMOJA: EJO Youth Project Rwanda
We aren’t finished – we might be back in Canada but we are going to keep on keeping on...we have to reach our goals of 1000km each by September 1 and we want to raise as much money as possible for our of those doing the heavy lifting in Rwanda...
You have honestly been wind beneath our “legs” 😊
Now to him who can do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine and as we wonder how many more summers, how many more opportunities we will have. We will do this with him, for him and through him. Making Jesus famous and being true to Ray’s call to Live & Give Joyfully...
Onward!
