JadeRider Journeys +++

Fighting Human Trafficking

2011-08-23T16:37:00.001-05:00

Chains Breaking Chains: Fundraiser against Human Trafficking

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Help Raise Hope
for 27 million enslaved

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Fighting Human Trafficking
Bikers Breaking The Chains of Modern Day Slavery

Dear ,

On September 3th of this year, I will leave on a 5,000 mile solo motorcycle trip from Houston to Key West, to Washington, D.C. and back. The impetus behind this trip is to raise funds to combat Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery in the United States and around the globe. My goal this year is to raise $5,400.00, my goal this year is to raise $5,400.00, for the Not For Sale Campaign, and Houston's Redeemed Ministries, which are non-profits engaged in spreading awareness about slavery and human trafficking. They also work closely with local organizations in rescuing victims, along with sheltering and education initiatives that allow them to rebuild their lives.

During the trip I will blog daily, post photos of the trip, and you will be able to track my progress via a satellite link up through my blog.

Today I am asking you to consider joining my efforts to raise funds and awareness to help the 27,000,000 victims of Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery, and to keep this number from growing. You can do so in a couple of ways:

[ NOTE: none of the funds raised are used to pay for my trip. All donations are made directly through the recipients web sites ]

i) you can become a ride supporter by making a donation to the Not For Sale Campaign or Redeemed Ministries in Houston;
ii) you can also support the trip and its purpose with your prayers.
iii) you can spread the word, and share this message with 27 of your closest friends, getting them to commit support and tell 27 more

If you choose help me raise funds for the Not For Sale Campaign or Redeemed Ministries of Houston, or support me in prayer during this trip, please click on this Donation Link

While my goal this year is to raise $5,400.00, smashing this target into 27,000,000 pieces would be a dream come true.

Thank you for considering helping in this effort. - Carlos

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Copyright © 2011 Chains Breaking Chains, All rights reserved. You are receiving this e-mail as part of the anti-slavery efforts that you have expressed interest in. Our mailing address is: Chains Breaking Chains 309 Drew St Houston, Texas 77006 Add us to your address book
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JadeRider Blog has a new home!

2009-09-27T18:21:00.000-05:00

Check it out here

The Bolivar Peninsula: Tribute to Old Friends

2009-04-12T17:32:00.003-05:00

I had had this ride in mind for a good while. I have forgotten when the last time was that I had been to Galveston and to the Bolivar peninsula. All I know is that it was before hurricane Ike struck the Texas gulf coast. It was before those images of waves crashing against the Galveston seawall were broadcast on TV, rising like mythical water giants reaching for the sky. It was before the day I rode in my car to work and listened to a woman on the radio, as she called in from Bolivar peninsula, saying that she could no longer leave her home because Rollover pass was under water, but that she trusted God to keep her safe on the second floor of the home. It was after so many hours were spent in front of the television, watching the aftermath of Ike unfold before our eyes and wondering, what it was that we were not seeing. [more ...]

Bucefalo: A New Begining

2009-03-27T12:19:00.002-05:00

I have been away from serious riding for a few months. But now I am back. To Him be all the praise. He has seen me through another season. Click on the Title so read the story.

The Mississippi Journey : Days 1-3

2008-09-05T11:56:00.003-05:00

Finally, after weeks of editing photos and getting my notes from my journal, the first 3 days of this journey are now on my website.

RedBull

2008-07-26T20:57:00.001-05:00

RedBull, originally uploaded by JadeRider.

One of the many great pieces shown at the Houston Galleria as past of Art of the Can Expo

Day 1: The Memphis Ride

2008-07-16T20:26:00.000-05:00

Day 1
Its about five pm and I am in Natchitoches eating meat pie and dirty
rice at Papa's Bar & Grill. This is almost the end of a 260 mile ride
and while Fleetwood Mac blares in the baxk I reflect on a day that
started at 7 am. After breakfast I loaded up Hidalgo and waited for
Joe and Adelina to come by the house to see me off, along with Sandra.
I left just before nine and traveled east first and then North. Part
of the trip took me near Vidor and Jasper, and as I avoided those spot
I reflected on the long legacy of the sins of a few.
Two of the highlights of the day have to be the 40 mile ride through
the forests that lead to Hemphill, and the rookerie on the Louisiana
side of the Sabine river. What a testament to God's creative hands.
I am blessed today whith Him riding along, providing unforeseen
surprises and feeling His love in my life.

+ The Road Ahead

2008-07-01T21:32:00.009-05:00

As I prepare to ride off tomorrow, I am filled with excitement and a bit of anxiety. Yep, with as much preparation and thought, I still feel that more can be done. Yet, we can never prepare for it all and life is indeed enriched by the experiences that we did not anticipate. Like an afternoon storm that blows over tents and flags for a brief moment, just before a birthday party at the beach on a 4th of July. Or like an old biology professor of mine used to say. You learn the most form the experiments that do not yield the results you expected. So, on the day before departure, I am taking a moment to share with you how thankful I am to God for bringing me this far. For providing me with the moment, the materials goods, and the flame that keeps driving me to travel this road.

The routes have been laid down. They will take me from Houston to Memphis and back in 12 days. Seems quite a bit of time for an estimated 1,400 miles, but truth be said, besides allowing myself to rest, I also want to experience the life in some of these places I will stop by. True to my ecology roots, I have laid down the projected temperatures as a function of distance traveled, and it seems like things will remain balmy along the way.

Day 1
July 7
Houston to Natchitoches, Louisiana
259 mi – about 5 hours 18 mins
This day will see my first state crossing
I will visit the city and surrounding areas, and will hunt for venison meat pie or fried alligator.

Day Two, July 8
Natchitoches, Louisiana to Lake Village, Arkansas
241 mi – about 5 hours 56 mins

I will spend a day here, July 9th, and use some of the time to explore Arkansas, but also to rest, read, and seek His word.

Day 4, July 10
Lake Village, Arkansas to Memphis, Tennessee
184 Miles

The day will start with the crossing of the Mississippi river at Greenville, MS, and then I will ride north, following the river in to Memphis.

This day, and the following one will be spent with family, and in pursuit of the famous Memphis BBQ, and the music, including Graceland, of course.

Day 6, July 12
Memphis, Tennessee to French Camp, Mississippi
via Corinth and Tupelo
227 mi – about 4 hours 29 mins

This day marks the beginning of the return trip. I will travels East first, to Corinth, where I will then start travelling south on the Natchez Trace, until I reach French Camp, where I will spend the night. This stop was inspired by my friend Joe, who recently completed a bicycle trip from Houston to Tennessee.

Day 7, July 13
French Camp, Mississippi, to Monroe, Louisiana
221 mi – about 4 hours 52 mins

This day I return to Louisiana, and will arrive at the house of Dot, Cindy's mother, and a very faithful friend to SO. SO and I will meet there, along with Cindy and Dot, and spend this day, and the following one in the area. Chilling and hanging with fellow believers.

Day 10, July 15
Monroe, Lousiana, to Nacogdoches, TX
191 mi – about 4 hours 22 mins.

I will use this day, and the following one to visit what is called, the oldest town in Texas.

Day 12, July 17
Nacogdoches, TX to Houston, TX
via Center
253 mi – about 4 hours 44 mins.

This is the final stretch. Home bound.

During this time, dear friends, I covet you prayers for safe journey and divine appointments. Blessings to all.

+ Getting ready for the road

2008-06-29T14:05:00.006-05:00

With the focus set on the journey and the road to travel, and recognizing that being able to hit the road would be best served by Hidalgo, I had to set a new goal for myself in terms of a place and a time to do it. While my original intention as I recovered from back surgery was to ride to the Bonneville Salt Flats this summer, I have come to accept that it is to soon to try to reach that far. It was hard to give up on this goal. I also realized, in one of those moments of brilliance [i.e. what took ya so long?], that giving up on that one, did not mean I could not do something else. So I turned my eyes East and focused on the Mississippi. After some consideration, I decided to follow the river from Louisiana to Memphis, where I will hang with one of my cousins before turning back via the Natchez Trace.

The estimated length of this trip is a minimum of 1,400 miles, and while Hidalgo is indeed a fine motorcycle it was not designed as a touring machine, so some work had to be done to make it more touring capable. Work has been ongoing, and now Hidalgo has been fitted with a new wind screen, saddle bag holders, and a GPS mounting ball. Along the way I re-routed electrical wiring to power the GPS.

Systems are now installed and a road test remains to be taken to check on the operational capabilities of my transformed ride. Basic routes have been laid, even though they will like change, even during the ride, and weather projections have been consulted. At this point just time remains until departure, and my prayers center around safe travel, and Divine appointments, asking to have people placed on my way, with whom I can share God's word

+ Riding again, one more time: its not the bike!

2008-05-30T18:35:00.011-05:00

I have now about three entries in draft mode, just sitting in a true digital limbo. Unlike to old days when drafts sat waiting for the author to do something with them on a piece of paper, and unlike the not so old days when drafts sat in one's computer or hard drive waiting to be printed or published somehow, these days online drafts sit in a computer we have actually never seen, waiting for the publish bit to be flipped by someone with the proper user name and password. So there are 3 pieces of writing sitting out there, waiting for me to flip that bit and make them public to those that happen to drift into the space called my blog.

Those drafts try to convey and relate my struggle with health and mechanics, which has kept me from riding and writing since November of last year. More appropriately, since September of last year. At the end of the day though, they all these writings have felt somewhat empty, somewhat shallow, somewhat self-centered. During this time off, a lot of thought, reflection, and conversation has taken place. One seemingly important stimulus came from my church friend Steve B., who happened to mention to me the Lance Armstrong book "It's not the bike" (or really, "Its not about the bike", the actual title). This happened in a casual manner after service many Sundays ago, and while I have yet to read the book, the title itself has generated a lot of cogitation. For a while I have been struggling with the fact that as I was hoping to develop a deeper relationship with God through riding. Many years ago, the seed of developing a motorcycle ministry at our church also began to take shape. Even the thought of exploring a carrier in motorcycle travel journaling has been entertained in my mind. All of this has been accompanied by setting goals for myself as I continue to recover from back surgery. And yet, it seems that the longer I entertain these ideas, the farther away I move from them, as the focus of my attention has shifted and affixed itself on the actual motorcycles. The situation goes even more out of whack, when I see two motorcycles in my garage, and my mind becomes filled with anger because one of them has developed mechanical problems, and also challenges me more physically. While the Hidalgo, my Kawasaki cruiser, sits faithfully waiting for my attention, Luke, the Aprilia sport tourer, challenges my patience and sense of faith and trust with its faults and nuances. Hidalgo is this steel hearted machine that has carried me around for thousands of miles. Luke has this unique body style designed in Italy, and stands out in a crowd because of its unique shape. I have tinkered with, and heavily modified Hidalgo, fearlessly taking out parts, replaced and customized the body, and this faithful steed remains strong, barely needing a battery replacement, or an oil change. Luke I dare not touch, besides adding gas to the tank, as I have no idea, in this complex body, what anything does, besides the standard mechanisms that operate all motorcycles. So the sensible thing would be to say, why do you bother with Luke? Is it just the looks? There are days when I think that it is indeed about the looks, but somewhere I also believe that there is a lesson in faithfulness here, but then again, I may just be stubborn and fixated on the wrong issues.

As I started riding again a few weeks ago, I was able to get on Hidalgo first, and my body has been able to take it. It felt indeed like a blessing to feel the wind, the heat of the sun, and the power of the engine responding to wrist flicks and body leans. A couple of weeks later I was able to ride Luke, but for shorter distances, mechanics getting in the way of the joy of riding. Indeed, each of these motorcycles translate their characteristics into something that leads one to say that each has a different personality and style. Each of these styles offer a different experience, and even provides the rider with some personality traits by association. Hidalgo is well planted, has plenty of chrome, a loud engine with plenty of muscle. Luke is dark, more nimble, fast and quiet. Even for the casual observer of motorcycles, you may tell yourself upon sighting each of these, that you have seen a number of bikes like Hidalgo, but rarely will you have seen one like Luke. In my pursuit of individuality I long for the unique in Luke, but in my need to reliability, I find comfort in Hidalgo.

But at the end of the day I need to continue to remind myself that it is not the bike. It is rather the moment, the slice of time that repeats itself thousands of times while riding, in which the segments of tire, infinite according to calculus, touches the road and creates an analogy of what life and prayer could be. As I ride down roads, taking in the beauty of creation, the smells, the shifts in temperature, the ever changing landscape, my mind remains focused in the moment, and some thought get placed into taking in what is ahead of me, allowing me to both take in the richness of the experience, and arrive at my destination, being filled with the experiences of the journey.

If I can approach prayer, and coming in to the presence of God in the same manner, how sweet it will be when I arrive at my destination.

Indeed, at the end of our journey, it is not about the bike.

Red Spokes

2008-03-04T22:34:00.005-06:00

Red Spokes, originally uploaded by JadeRider.

Red spokes, calipers, discs, rubber
Steal and rain forests, fossil fuel and men in a forest
Glory and misery
Praise, glory, sin and exploitation
Men sweating for no money, women crying for a call
Prayers to God for a small child
Ice house chatter, cold beers, immigrant bus boy scrapping in the back

duc-banner

2008-03-04T22:24:00.002-06:00

duc-banner, originally uploaded by JadeRider.

Riding Again!

2008-02-23T17:34:00.005-06:00

Finally today! I indeed got to ride again today. After the disappointment of almost two weeks ago, today was they the day. A new battery, and waiting for almost two weeks was a small wait after all. The day started foggy, cold and cloudy. However, by 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the sun was up and bright, and with the new battery in the holder, I had strapped my new helmet on, and was riding down the road. The ride was not exhilarating, but rather one that brought a sense of inner peace and thankfulness to God for being next to me and taking me this far.
But between the start of the day and the ride during the late afternoon, God had called me to do something else. It seems delays were in His mind for a purpose, and before engaging into my own goals, I was to attend the funeral services for a young biker who got killed in a traffic accident earlier in the week. During the services held for this young man, the youth pastor related the story of having, just a few weeks earlier, asked a funeral home to lend him a casket. He had taken the casket to the church and asked the youth to think what it would be like to see themselves, or their best friend, in that casket, knowing that they had not heeded Gods call to serve Him. Comfort was found in the fact that the young man in that casket today, had indeed committed his life to our Creator.

For me the search continues. As I look forward to more riding. As I look forward to achieving my goal of riding to Bonneville this summer. As I look forward to life, I continue to ask myself how am I really serving God? How do I make my passion for motorcycling translate into actions that glorify God and indeed bring His Love to those that have yet to know Him?

When Things Do Not Go As Planned

2008-02-15T13:33:00.003-06:00

Last weekend was the weekend I had been waiting for for a long time. It was to be the weekend when I would get back on a motorcycle. For several weeks I had been working on getting my back in shape and I felt physically ready for it. Knowing that my bike had been sitting in the garage for a long time, having only started it occasionally since September of last year, and knowing how cold days and nights can really wreck havoc on batteries, I even ran the battery through the charger the day before. I wanted to make sure I was ready. In my mind I getting ready for a big moment and I had said to myself, "What a better way to get back on the saddle than making your first ride one to church on Sunday and praise the Lord on that day. I had just received a new helmet and took it out that morning, peeling off the protective plastic sheet from the face shield. The helmet itself I chose making sure that the paint job would allow for the inscription on it of some of my favorite Bible verses, namely John 1:4-5 and Luke 17:24.

As you probably already guessed by the tone and structure of the story it seems like the Lord had other things in mind. All the power that had been stored in the battery the day before had been drained off the battery overnight. A few days later I jokingly said to my friends, I seemd like God had decided He needed some lightning Saturday night and He had borroed the power from my motorcycle. At that time though, I did not see the humor in this. Deeply disappointed I made my way to church, and what in the back of my mind was to be a public celebration of Go's healing power, and in the secret crevasses of my mind, a celebration of my own 'awesomeness', ended up in a series of 'My bike did not start this morning' answers when friends asked how come they had not heard the thunder of the Mean Streak.

Dejected and upset, but still with a thankful spirit, I sat in midst of our community to worship God. Half way through the service a visiting lady and her daughters got on to the stage. They had come to our church to sign and praise with us. For the next few minutes, the sound technicians struggled with the music sound track and equipment while the singers patiently waited. Nothing the sound crew did seemed to be working. Not letting the circumstance phase her, and while I was sure that these singers had been rehearsing to the sound track in preparation for this event, the mother led the group in an a-capella performance that filled the halls of our church with a wonderful, soulful, and celestial sound. It became clear to me at that moment how ever present our relationship with God is. We always have an opportunity to be with Him. We always have an opportunity to praise Him. And while it is great to always prepare our hearts and souls when we will be joining others to worship Him, we should not let life's circumstances separate us from Him and take every chance we have to celebrate this, the ultimate of relationships. The thought of God should be with us at all times, and yes, when we stop to think about, we should not be able to help ourselves and just say: 'Dude!' with a wide grin on our face.

I will still get on my motorcycle, just a bit later than what I had planned, and maybe the circumstances will not be the ones I had envisioned, but still His is the road, and I will be praising Him while I rumble down the high way, pistons pumping, chrome and paint shining, and the air He placed all around us whistling by. In the end, even when things do not go our way, He is still with us.

Small steps

2007-10-27T22:19:00.000-05:00

I am starting to edit this entry on October 27, 2007. I am putting the date at the beginning of the entry because it will get time stamped when I finally post it, but this one should take some time to complete. You see, I do want to take my time here, and not just post something half b-baked.

After riding the Futura down from Denver to Houston, the Lord has been steering my life in some expected and some unexpected ways. A couple of weeks after the Denver-Houston ride, I put in another 500 miler as I visited my buddy Don P in Wimberley by really going the long way around. From then, I was off from riding getting ready for, and finally driving my daughter, my friend, the most important job that God has entrusted me to California. The round trip was a bit over 4,000 miles. With all the riding and driving I was able to do this summer, I logged over 7,000 miles constantly amazed by His creation.

In September ny life took an unexpected turn. My back started complaining and then one morning, as I got out of bed, pain shot down my whole leg so badly, I could barely breath. During the time it has taken to be treated and recovery, I have not ridden much, or at all. Still I managed to take a couple of demo rides at the Houston International Motorcycle Show. I must say that the crown jewel of the experience was the Kawaski ZX-14.

After that all the time has been spent in recovery, resting, watching a lot of motorcycle movies, and reading. I have found Ted Simmons' Jupiter Travels especially inspirational.

Getting Home

2007-07-11T12:45:00.000-05:00

It seems like a long time since my last entry. I am now back in Houston and able to write again. It is certainly a strange feeling for me to be disconnected from the digital universe, the e-world, for such a long time. I need to collect my thoughts in a more thorough way in the days to come, but I felt I needed to put something down and share it before I get into the longer chronicle of this trip.

When I initially departed from Houston, I picked up the Voice translation of the Gospel according to Luke. One of the things that immediately struck me was the quote from Luke 10:4 "Do not take a purse or bag or sandals" which stood in great contrast with they way I was traveling. Not only was I carrying me regular stuff with me, but I was also carrying over 40 pounds of stuff for the ride back home. This included, besides my helmet, gloves, jacket and boots, all sorts of tools, cable ties, tape, flat kit, and gps. While on the ride back I really wondered, "If something happens here, I may be able to fix a flat, but anything else?" I was really weighing down my ride, but there was some level of comfort in having all that with me. But I try to think about the way I conduct my life, always loading up on things, just in case, when at the end of the day, God will care for us more lovingly than He cares for the birds and the flowers (Luke 12:22-34). There is still a long way for me to go, in order to absorb all this into my life, and find the discernment necessary to differentiate between putting my trust in God's grace, and using the judgment and reasoning skills that He gave me to appropriately set up and prepare for an event.

Throughout the trip, I was able to contemplate the magnificence of God's continuing work, and, on a daily basis was spared the constant and menacing rains that had been plaguing the areas that I was traveling through. As planned, my first stop was at Garden of the Gods, in Colorado Springs. There I had time to take a quick breakfast and to read more of Luke's Gospel. During this meditation time, I was struck by the story of Zaccheous. Not only did I wonder how he had made it through first grade knowing how to spell his name, but I was also made to think how often I have failed to climb up a tree to talk to Jesus, especially when He is passing by every moment of my life.

Mas later!

Change is always part of the road

2007-06-18T17:01:00.000-05:00

Day 2 will see me departing from Amarillo early in the morning. I will take a detour as I leave Amarillo, to explore one of Ride Texas Magazine recommended routes. This should add about 60 miles to the day's ride, but from what I hear, it is well worth it. The rest of the day shall remain unplanned, except for the late afternoon arrival in Albany, TX.

A few days ago I started looking at the preparation that will be needed to deal with changing temperatures along the way. Thanks to the great variety of online weather information systems, I was able to plot the changes in maximum and minimum temperatures as a function of distance from Denver, the starting point.

With temperatures dipping into the 50s and 40s in the Denver and New Mexico areas, I am looking forward to the desert and to Texas after the first day.

While things feel pretty nice and balmy, for people like me, but more like really hot and humid for others, here in Houston, temperature will not be as nice at night or during early morning, at the beginning of the trip.

The ongoing preparation for this journey makes me continue to reflect on God's promise as He spoke to His people through Joshua: "It was the LORD our God himself who brought us and our fathers up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled "(Joshua, 24:17). I know I have moved through life, always wanting to do things myself and my way. I have always been a planner and contemplated things from all angles, trying to predict all the pitfalls and all the bends on the road. I have always tried to be the owner of the journey. And the harder I worked at that, the harder my journey has become. In those times when I have now come to the realization that I can only be the project executor for Him, and not the project manager, I must confess that I have found great relief. I am to constantly be reminded that He has brought me so far; that He has reached down for me and did not concern Himself with where I was; that I all needed to do was reach for His hand. And while the temperatures may fluctuate wildly, the sun may shine, or the cross winds may hit us unpredictably, His hand is always there. What better fairing can we ask for. We have one that fits us better than any Italian engineered machine.

Counting the days

2007-06-17T16:55:00.000-05:00

This week brings me closer to boarding the plane that will take me to Colorado. As I count the days I reflect on how this trip, how this adventure, how this dream, is just another facet of how we should face charted routes and the uncharted days of our lives. In Philippians 4, God continues to reassure us of His Loving care when, through Paul's letter, He tells us: "The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

As I approach this trip, I am thankful to Him for the support of family and friends, not just in this endeavor. He has listened to my prayers, even at times when I could not tell what was coming around the corner, and the current stretch of highway seemed like a never ending deluge, even though it was actually like a South Texas early afternoon shower. Knowing He is always near; knowing that He is my Savior, knowing that He will answer my prayers, should always give me the trust that I need to approach Him in prayer, especially when I need His loving hand to guard my heart and my mind. However, I often fail to do so.

Today I charted the first day, Denver to Amarillo. This time, using Google Earth, I identified an interesting stop outside of Colorado Springs. About five miles west of Colorado Springs is the Garden of the Gods. It looks like a good number of rock formations and a good place to stop, have breakfast on the side of the road, and take a moment to read the Scripture. This should be a fairly short ride before the stop, since Colorado Springs is only 70 miles south of Denver.

From here is will be another shot down to Raton, NM, just 148 miles, where I can take another brief detour through the curvy roads of Climax Canyon. I swear, I wish some of these names were more Godly. This should put me here around noon time. And from here it will be another 4 hours or so to Amarillo, TX, where I will spend my first night.

Most of the supplies are in. There are only a few odds and ends to be completed. Thanks to Sandra, who added a great number of goodies I am almost ready to roll. Still need to print a couple of maps, even though this time, I am traveling with a GPS unit. Still, I need to figure out the wiring, and be mindful since one of the big principles of motorcycle riding is "No Big Changes Before A Big Ride".

In the coming week I need to pack it all, and finalize the second and third day of the trip. At the end of the week I depart for Boulder. It still will be one more week before I pick the Futura up, and another week before lift off. In the meantime. Please pray for me, but more importantly, that the success of this journey, not just the trip, be all a reflection of His Glory, His Mercy, His Love.

Mas Later.

El C

Be Still in the storm

2007-06-07T09:30:00.000-05:00

Preparing for a trip like this is a great experience. A very dear friend asked me last night if I felt anxious, afraid, or angry, in dealing with the different aspects of this trip, such as dealing with reservations, dealers, route mapping and so on. I had to honestly respond that I felt all of those, but also a great level of excitement. Throw anxiety management in this mix and you will know that you have a potentially explosive cocktail in your hands.

However, I also have come to realize in the last few days that riding a motorcycle can in so many ways be summed up by verse 10 in Psalm 46, "Be still, and know that I am God;"
When you ride, your mind can not afford to wander. You are fully enveloped in the environment. No barriers exist between you and the wind, the sun, the smells, the rain, the asphalt. All your senses and thoughts have to work together to keep you on two wheels and out of trouble, but you also experience it all. Your thoughts may not wander; you can not worry about tomorrow. Not at that particular moment. You have to be in it fully. And my aim is to reach a similar state in my relationship with God. Being fully in His environment, with all my senses, thoughts and feelings focused on Him. Knowing the He is God and experiencing the luxury of being still because He will take care of me. If God told Jeremiah: 8 "Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you", why do we afford ourselves the thought that He will not do the same for all of us?

So, as I continue the preparations for this trip, I keep thinking of His Love, Knowing the He is God.

As of yesterday, I have finalized my route. It has changed some, to take into account some lodging concerns. The route is now 1,100 miles, with the first leg going from Denver, to Amarillo, via Raton, DesMoines and Clayton, NM. The Second leg will take take to Albany, TX, instead of Abilene. I will pass Canyon, Lubbock and Snyder. On the final day, I will still go through Temple, but I will now hit Cisco and Comanche (sounds like a good western to me) before I that. From there it will be down to Houston.

Equipment has started to get here and hopefully the whole packing list will be complete by next week.

Mas Later

Knowing the truth

2007-06-05T12:48:00.000-05:00

This was posted this morning by my friend Janet. She lost her son in a tragic accident in Colorado, after he came back from serving in Iraq. Her walk with God is inspirational to me.

June 4, 2006
Twice in a Blue Moon

The first time I rode a motorcycle it was on the back of my brother’s dirt bike. Neil was barely 13, full of sullen anger, the tinny sound of the engine a high whine, he would put the bike through its gears, skirting trees as he traversed woody paths. Who knows why, but when I asked, he shared the biking experience with his 6 year older sister. On the back, scared and yet enthralled, I learned to lean into the curves and trusted the strength of his young body and mind to safely navigate our trips. This kind of bike riding was addictive and over the next several years, as Neil's taste in bikes changed and his sullen nature matured, he shared them with me. Riding on a motorcycle is a strange kind of freedom. It’s moving through space, fast, with nothing between you and the world around you. That’s why it’s so dangerous and that is why it’s addictive. Over the years I have shared a ride or two with Neil and more occasionally with my brother-in-law, almost always riding in the passenger seat. I have had my share of muffler burns and the few times I attempted to drive it was more scary than freeing.

At the beginning of May, for reasons that are probably complex and about temporary freedom of his own, Neil borrowed a bike and drove from Ft Worth to Houston to visit. After dinner, right at dusk, I asked. “Yeah, get on. We won’t wear helmets tonight. I will be careful. Watch out for the muffler.” I sat behind him, my hands placed gently at his waist and noticed his shoulders and back were still strong but older and thought about the past. The moon was just leaving full and I talked loud directly into ear over his shoulder as the engine whined. ‘That’s a blue moon, Neil.” “Yeah, he says, “the first of two full moons in a single month.” I relaxed into the seat, trusted his ability and his care, and for a moment was free. Free not to worry or doubt or be sad or think anything other than hear the loud wind rush past my face and feel as my body reacted to the acceleration on whatever straight-aways the road provided. When we got back from our ride I wanted to tell Neil what it meant to me. All I said was thanks. Over the years I have come to appreciate men for their use of economy of words. Mind you, sometimes it’s annoying, but many times, its all that is appropriate.

At about this time, a friend of mine fulfilled his lifelong dream with the purchase of a street bike. Nothing fancy, but a good first starter and I suspect the indulgence of freedoms of his own that he needed. It had been a while since I had seen David, a lot can happen in people’s lives in a month and so at the end of May we planned to hit some tennis balls. Finally the evening came, after postponements and delays for Houston summer rains. Coaching me through some bad habits and laughing and talking a bit we got ready to call it a night. “You want a ride?” he said, “I finished my safety course.” We packed up the tennis balls, he had me strap on his lone helmet, and right at dusk, with the second full moon in May, we set out. We rode on quiet roads east of Houston, where the flat lay of the land allows you to feel the sunset long after the light is gone. “It’s a pretty night,” I yell across his shoulder, hearing the familiar scream of wind and beginning to lean into the acceleration of the bike. There is a special kind of thinking you do when you are that close to the world around you. “Yeah, he says, a blue moon”. I let myself, for the second time in a single month, feel the freedom of a motorcycle ride. I know that Jake’s last moments on this earth were about this freedom on a full-moon lit night a year and half ago. A small tear rides the wind and a heartfelt prayer is sent skyward. The ride winding down, back in David’s neighborhood, David says “watch the muffler” as we pull into his garage. David’s been one of those friends who continue to find ways to shoulder the burden of loss with me. He says, “I got you something. I had some decals made of Jake’s crede. I thought you might want to put one on your car.” I look at him. “Let’s put one on my bike.” In companionable silence, we do just that, and it looks right, like it was painted on the tank. “Thanks, for the ride and the decals, David," I say as I wave and get in my car. Only for a moment do I hope he knows how much I tried to tell him in those few words. He does. “Anytime Janet,” he says. On the way home I think how good, how much I cherish the freedoms I have, the temporary ones and the ones that are more permanent. Like the freedom that God grants me to question and mull things over in my mind and the steadfastness that He shows me of His love while I do so, through friends and bikes and blue moon months.

Happy Monday. I wish you a few temporary freedoms, but most of all I wish you real freedom.

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32

Trip preparation update

2007-05-31T15:52:00.000-05:00

I have started refining the trip details. Initially I planned to travel from Denver to Albuquerque on the first day, and from there to Abilene, Texas, on the second. I have now decided to avoid Albuquerque and stop in Las Vegas, NM, instead. This will save me about 180 miles of travel, plus it will place me in a less urban setting, which I prefer.

I also know now that my brother in Christ, Don Taylor, will join me in Temple, Texas, on the third leg of the trip, and ride into Houston with me. This is such a great piece of news. I am looking forward to sharing this part of the experience with such a great friend.

I continue to chip away on the packing list, even though some delays have already become apparent. The GPS I had chosen has become unavailable, but I trust it will hit the shelves in the next week or so.

Negotiations with the bike vendor continue but we are making good progress and I trust we can button it all down by the middle of next week. Here is a picture of the bike at the shop. As it is tradition amongst many, I am looking for a name of this bike. I have considered Lucas. Luke in English, in honor of the Evangelist, as the dark color makes me think of the sky in one of my favorite bible verses written by Luke:

"24 For like the lightning, that flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other, so will the Son of Man be in His [own] day.
Luke 17:24 "

Mas Later

Planning starts

2007-05-24T16:57:00.000-05:00

Today the planning starts. Got pictures of the Futura last night and it looks immaculate.

I am putting together a packing list and have gotten several important planning tips from the Two Wheeled Texans and the the Adventure Riders group. Tops on that list are:

Cell phone
GPS
Camel back, not pack
maps
Water

I am hoping I will he able to hook up with my brother Don Taylor and make part of the journey back together. I have also gotten letters out to friends along the route looking for lodging and help along the way.

While I wait for the day to come, I continue to put my trust on our Lord to guide me through. As dedicated a planner as I can be, I know I can only do so much.

This is a tremendously exciting time, since riding the south west was there at the onset of the dream. Making it through Colorado and New Mexico is the best way to get this whole new leg of my life going.

More to come

The Journey Will Start

2007-05-23T16:25:00.000-05:00

This is a refocusing on my life and process. I had lost sight of the dream and given it to the machine. Now I am reclaiming the dream.

In a few weeks I will take a motorcycle trip from the Denver area to Houston. More than 1200 miles will be covered in 3 days.

During this trip I am placing myself in the hands of God, my Savior and Creator. I am stepping away from my need to control all that surrounds me and letting Him be my guide, my guard and my traveling companion.

Many details are to be worked on at this point. Lodging, travel stops, supplies, and maps are just a few.

The excitement is great; the anticipation enormous. More will follow during the next few weeks, but two verses in the bible guide this journey:

Jeremiah 12:
5If you have run with footmen and they have tired you out,
Then how can you compete with horses?
If you fall down in a land of peace,
How will you do in the thicket of the Jordan?

and

John 1:4
Life itself was in Him, and this life gives light to everyone.
5The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

At the end of the day

2007-05-21T09:10:00.000-05:00

At the end of the day this is just another entry. Keep this in mind. Do not let the machine steal the dream.