Sea2Sea

The End of Week 1...

2008-07-06T14:19:00.000-07:00

Before telling about the last few days of this trip, I just want to thank you all for your support...it has meant a lot to me :)
I miss you and love you all back home!

July 4 (Yakima to Sunnyside)...Happy Independence Day America

We had a short ride...it rained most of the morning and we were covered in mud. I should have taken some photos, but I was covered in mud.

July 5 (Sunnyside to Kennewick)

Our last day of the first full week of riding...

Mr. Bacon and I get free cherries from some nice men at an orchard :) When they heard about the Sea to Sea cause, they said "we want to help the poor too" so they decided to feed us :) I ate so much I could hardly bike the rest of the way.

Getting closer and closer to Kennewick...our destination for the next few days.

Mr. Bacon and I resting on the side of the road. There's so much sky out here...I can't wait until the plains :)

More resting...

The End of the Cascades and Into the Desert

2008-07-03T22:31:00.000-07:00

July 2 (Leavenworth to Ellensberg)

[Our trip out of the Cascade Mountains and into the desert-land of Eastern Washington]

Beautiful view on the way up our first of two mountain passes for the day.

Mr. Bacon, celebrating the victory of climbing yet another 4,000+ foot climb.

Mr. Bacon, celebrating the end of another big climb.

Resting on top of the day's second pass...it looks like we're out of the mountains :(

July 3 (Ellensberg to Yakima)

Some of the most unique and beautiful country I have seen yet. Barren hills and giant cliffs.

Mr. Bacon: enjoying the scenery.

It was so hot, even Mr. Bacon was starting to sweat.

Before our descent into Yakima...

Adventures of Mr. Bacon and I (Part: Seattle to Leavenworth)

2008-07-01T22:36:00.000-07:00

I have decided to do a photo-blog of my stuffed pig, Mr. Bacon. I will be taking him along on my bike daily and photographing him in important places along the ride. I thought this would add a bit of much needed goofiness to my days :)
Here are the photo's from my first two days of the trip:

June 30 (Seattle to Sultan)

June 30 (AM): Mr. Bacon...shaking in his boots before the first day of the ride.

June 30 (9 AM): Mr. Bacon and my bike at the edge of the Pacific...ready to go.

July 1 (Canada Day): Sultan to Leavenworth

July 1 (AM): Mr. Bacon sitting on a random bike at the feet of the Cascade mountains...ready for the 20+ mile 4,000 ft climb.

Taking a break in the middle of our 4,000 ft climb.

Enjoying the scenery...the Cascade's are gorgeous!

July 1 (1 PM): Mr. Bacon at the top of Steven's Pass (at 4061 ft)...my accomplishment of the day :)

I appreciate all of you who read this blog and have kept me in your thoughts and prayers so far...thank you.

On a serious note... Before we left, one of the ladies in the group reminded us of the statistic that every 3 seconds a child (somewhere in the world) dies of poverty related causes--thats about one child for every one of my 5 (or so) pedal strokes. I keep being reminded of that while biking. We are biking to raise money to help fight poverty...so please, if you are at all able...contribute, it's fora good cause. Every three seconds...that's frequent.

I send my love to you all...take care!

"Mad Farmer Liberation Front"

2008-05-09T11:01:00.000-07:00

Love the quick profit, the annual raise,
vacation with pay. Want more
of everything ready-made. Be afraid
to know your neighbors and to die.
And you will have a window in your head.
Not even your future will be a mystery
any more. Your mind will be punched in a card
and shut away in a little drawer.
When they want you to buy something
they will call you. When they want you
to die for profit they will let you know.

So, friends, every day do something
that won't compute. Love the Lord.
Love the world. Work for nothing.
Take all that you have and be poor.
Love someone who does not deserve it.
Denounce the government and embrace
the flag. Hope to live in that free
republic for which it stands.
Give your approval to all you cannot
understand. Praise ignorance, for what man
has not encountered he has not destroyed.

Ask the questions that have no answers.
Invest in the millennium. Plant sequoias.
Say that your main crop is the forest
that you did not plant,
that you will not live to harvest.
Say that the leaves are harvested
when they have rotted into the mold.
Call that profit. Prophesy such returns.

Put your faith in the two inches of humus
that will build under the trees
every thousand years.
Listen to carrion - put your ear
close, and hear the faint chattering
of the songs that are to come.
Expect the end of the world. Laugh.
Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful
though you have considered all the facts.
So long as women do not go cheap
for power, please women more than men.
Ask yourself: Will this satisfy
a woman satisfied to bear a child?
Will this disturb the sleep
of a woman near to giving birth?

Go with your love to the fields.
Lie down in the shade. Rest your head
in her lap. Swear allegiance
to what is nighest your thoughts.
As soon as the generals and the politicos
can predict the motions of your mind,
lose it. Leave it as a sign
to mark the false trail, the way
you didn't go. Be like the fox
who makes more tracks than necessary,
some in the wrong direction.
Practice resurrection.

by Wendell Berry

Women Are Heroes

2008-04-01T18:05:00.001-07:00

"Women are Heroes" is the latest project of one of my favorite artists, a French photographer by the name of JR. He took photos of women in Kenya, Southern Sudan, Liberia, and Sierra Leone and asked them to tell their stories. While many of these women live in hopeless situations, he asks them to make goofy faces at the camera, which sparks some life into the women and the photographs. "The expressiveness of their faces testifies to their strength, their courage, and their will to fight, which keeps them going, keeps them alive." These photos are printed in giant format and posted in cities around the world. They create a sense of awareness for the struggles of women in the third world and a reminder of the integral part these women play in their communities.
This project (as well as JR's other work) is really inspiring to me because he uses a medium I love (photography) to create awareness of the needs of this world. His projects build bridges between communities and work for peace and justice. He reminds us of our own humanity and the humanity of those we are taught by the world to deny and ignore. His work gives people integrity, it gives these women a voice with which to tell the world about their experiences.
If you want to see the entire "Women Are Heroes" project and read the womens' stories, visit the following website: http://www.womenareheroes.be/
JR's other work can be found at:
"Portrait of a Generation"http://28millimetres.com
"Face2Face"http://face2faceproject.com

fund-raising slump

2008-03-27T19:51:00.000-07:00

To be completely honest, fund-raising hasn't been going as well as I would have hoped. At this point I still have tons and tons of funds to raise and just cannot seem to find much time to spend on fund-raising. I trust that God will help me raise all the funds needed but I also know that I need to start being more active in my fund-raising because God won't work through me if I'm not doing anything. Please pray for me--that God may give me the strength to intentionally set aside the time needed for this fund-raising campaign.

Finally Finally...

2008-03-08T00:44:00.000-08:00

My hunt for a bicycle has finally ended. After a great deal of searching, debating, measuring, and researching I finally decided on a Mercier Elle. It's not a big name bike but a good one with decent components. I'm very happy with it. I am still researching and on the hunt for other bicycle related things such as cli-ess shoes (which, confusingly, are the kind of shoes that clip into the pedals) and pedals. I'm also debating on whether I will need a more comfortable seat and trying to create a list of other useful items such as biking shorts and gloves etc...let me know if any of you have ideas for anything else I may need.
Here's a picture of my new bike, except its white...and the picture doesn't do justice to its absolute fantastic-ness...

beginning thoughts...

2008-02-10T15:53:00.000-08:00

I have taken on a new challenge...a new adventure. I have decided to participate in the Sea to Sea Bike Tour 2008 where bikers (and those of us bikers to be) bicycle from Seattle to Jersey City (thats right, all the way across the country) to raise awareness and funds to help fight the cycle of poverty around the world. As a Sea to Sea cyclist I am expected first to raise $10,000 in donations (all of which goes to organizations that help the plight of the poor) and then to bike across the country.
To learn more, visit the Sea to Sea website: http://seatosea.org/
Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers these next few months as I begin to dive into the wonderful world of biking and attempt to raise much more money than I can even imagine. Through the Lord, all things are possible...
Donations are welcome and appreciated--every dollar counts! To make a donation in my name, follow this link: http://www.crcna.org/pages/sea_profile_borgyosk.cfm
I will update this site regularly in regards to my training haps and mishaps and will also keep all of you updated regarding my fund raising efforts. Please feel free to share any thoughts, advice, info, jokes, stories, etc...I would love to hear your input (especially those of you who actually know about bikes).
Adios and much love...