Riders Work, Rest and Play in Boise

July 14, 2008—The Sea to Sea Bike Tour’s weekend in Boise, Idaho may be considered the calm before the storm. Cyclists head out for 55-mile, 89-km ride to Mountain Home Monday morning, the start of Week 3 when the average daily distance will jump by 20 miles from the previous two weeks.

During an outdoor worship service in Boise’s Julia Davis Park on Sunday, Rev. Tom Katsma spoke on the third fruit of the Spirit as listed in Galations 5: peace. The tour’s third celebration rally was co-hosted by Boise Rescue Mission and Valley Life Community Church in neighboring Meridian, Idaho, a 100-member congregation from the Reformed Church in America (RCA).

Many of the Sea to Sea participants rode from their campsite to the service, where they celebrated their faith, listened to stories of personal struggle and prayed for a safe journey.

In his message, Katsma “shared with us the story of Jesus and his disciples in the boat and how Jesus calmed the sea when the waves threaten to overcome the boat,” wrote Claire Elgersma, in her blog. “He reminded us that we are never alone and God the Father is always with us no matter where we are and his angels surround us at all times. We do not need to worry or be afraid.”

The service included the testimony of a man named John who spoke about "Christ redeeming his life after 15 years of heavy methadone use. He shared with us about the benefits of Celebrate Recovery Program and encouraged people to get involved in their own communities with this program as it has a powerful affect," said Elgersma.

Louis Bosma, of Aylmer, Ont., wrote that he spoke to several people in the park about why he and others are riding in the tour, which is sponsored by the Christian Reformed Church in North America in partnership with the RCA. Among those he met was Simon, a homeless man who had bloodshot eyes and a backpack slung over his shoulder.

“What a sad story. He has so much to offer but alcohol has been tearing his life apart. We invited him to stay for the service and for lunch afterward. He did, though he did not want to sit with us during the service.”

The tour’s weekend stop in Boise had two other special events on its schedule: a volunteer service project and a time to distribute mail from home.

Following their 65-mile, 105-km ride on Saturday, a few dozen cyclists volunteered their time and skills with Boise Rescue Mission and the Boise Bicycle Project fixing up bicycles that would later be donated to those in need.

In her blog, Marti du Plessis, of Newmarket, Ont., wrote that the Boise Bicycle Project donated 270 bikes in the past year, all fixed by only a handful volunteers who work there on Saturdays.

“We helped them by stripping bikes that are irreparable for usable parts,” wrote du Plessis. “They use a condemned building that they have been given permission to use for some time, and have about a 1,000 bikes waiting for repairs. We had great fun and I found out I can be a bike mechanic in reverse, since stripping bikes is easy! We did in two hours what would have taken the staff there a couple of months to do.”

Boise served as the first of four cities on the tour set to receive letters and packages from family and friends. The mail was delivered to tour participants on Saturday evening.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” Bob and Lisa Brouwer, of Grand Rapids, Mich., wrote in their blog. “We had so much fun opening up all of our letters and packages. It was very encouraging to know that you are thinking about us and supporting us.”

“As wonderful as the Sea To Sea group is, I am missing my friends, family and church community,” wrote Gayle Harrison, of London, Ont., who received a lot of mail from home. “Being reminded that they are still with me was what I needed, especially with such tough routes the next two weeks as we traverse the Rockies.”

Monday’s relatively short ride starts a 444-mile, 715-km week through Idaho and Utah. It culminates with a 95-mile, 153-km trek on Saturday through Salt Lake City that includes almost 6,000 feet of climbing.

“The ride starts to get serious from here on in,” Bill Wybenga, of Brampton, Ont., wrote in his blog. “We have to pay for the short distances we have had the last two weeks.”

“Everyone is tanned or burnt because of the constant sun,” Wybenga continued. “This is most evident when we change into clothes other than cycling attire such as bathing suits. Stripes of brown and white are revealed everywhere.”

The journey is rugged, but it has been fun. At the same time, though, people might wonder what does the tour have to do with fighting poverty, asked Lou Haveman, of Grand Rapids, Mich., in his blog.

“There were two people to whom I gave cards and one who said they would contribute to the cause. Who knows? It does make a huge impression with 140 bicyclists riding into these small towns.”

--Sea to Sea Communications, CRC Communications