this is the life

i need an adventure like this:

//================================================================

FROM DANIEL

Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2004 17:22:12 -0400
From: danlins
Subject: Va bike trip update

Bonjour!
Today is the fourth day of our bike trip across the country. We are in
Sandston,
Virginia, a little east of Richmond. I rode ten miles to the nearest public
library, just to send off this email, while Chris is back at a hostel
(methodist church letting us use their kitchen and lawn for camping) making
bread like a good housewife. I've got to get out of here before it starts
raining, though. We are well and taking a break today. We rode 40 miles today
and found this awesome place to hang for a while to dry out our gear and just
relax after a 65, 100, and 85 mile day the last three days. Our goal is 60
miles a day, and the days with much more are from sunup to sundown, almost. Our
average mph is around 13, but we try to keep a 15 mph pace (it doesn't happen
towards the end of th day). We hope to be in KY in about a week. Some
highlights:

We left from Rehoboth Beach on June 4th, around 7:30 am and rode to Snow Hill
Maryland to sleep in a state park. $25 fee that we weren't willing to pay. So
we prayed a lot and then asked the Park Ranger, who let us stay there for free!
God has kept us safe from cars and everything else so far. Thanks for your
prayers! We need them! Also, let us know your prayer requests so we can keep in
touch and (mainly) because we have so much time to pray while we are cycling.

The second night, we crossed the cheasepeake bay bridge tunnel in a truck,
cause
they don't allow bikes in the tunnels. Stayed in First Landing state park with
money from a local pastor who didn't want us sleeping on his church lawn. Third
day we crossed into Jamestown on a Ferry and stayed on the lawn of the
Wiliamsburg Unitarian Universalists (club)? Now, we're here.

Met some TransAm cyclists who told us about the hostel. Went to church on Sun
and got some food for breakfast. We haven't been eating enough, we realized.
Yesterday, we ate only ~ 2500 calories, while we probably burned 4000-6000.
There are sites online that tell calories burned per activiy and interesting
things like that. We get sore, but our bodies are beginning to acclimate to the
stresses we put on them. The second day (though it is revealing Chris's current
physical unfitness, I have to tell you about this, cause it is hilarious),
Chris said to me, "Daniel, if we have to make it to the Bay Bridge Tunnel, I
will die." when we were 55 miles away from it. That night, while sitting around
the campfire eating hot dogs and instant oatmeal packets, he said, "this is the
life!" Crazy kid.

Live it up!
Daniel (& Chris, in spirit)

//================================================================

FROM CHRIS:

Serac: sheryl!
FF PaLaDiN UD: yo!
FF PaLaDiN UD: how are you feelin?
Serac: tired
FF PaLaDiN UD: where are u sleeping tonight?
Serac: i messed my knee up, we are in UVA now...
FF PaLaDiN UD: how bad is it?
Serac: Daniel got a hold of some IV people here, someones apartment
Serac: potluck dinner to!
FF PaLaDiN UD: sweeeeeet
Serac: i know
FF PaLaDiN UD: ull be well enough to ride tomorrow?
Serac: um, yeah, we are taking a break tommorow
FF PaLaDiN UD: did u read the last email daniel sent?
Serac: we were at this nice hostel at a church 2 days ago and the spirit told daniel we should stay...but we left...
Serac: ya
FF PaLaDiN UD: haha
Serac: about me being a woman
Serac: that was 2 days ago...we should have stayed there
FF PaLaDiN UD: get me a souvineer
FF PaLaDiN UD: it can be anything
FF PaLaDiN UD: a piece of paper
FF PaLaDiN UD: a stick
Serac: haha
Serac: from where?
Serac: anywhere?
FF PaLaDiN UD: well the condition is that it has to have a story along with it
Serac: haha, ok
FF PaLaDiN UD: i'll keep you guys in my prayers
Serac: ok, good
Serac: we really need them
Serac: dude....it's awesome
Serac: everynight, god gives us a place to stay
FF PaLaDiN UD: i would love to do something like that
Serac: it's scary sometimes...because it's getting dark and you don't know where your going to stay, then all of the sudden God provides
Serac: it's soo cool
FF PaLaDiN UD: i bet
FF PaLaDiN UD: tell daniel to pray for me too...he knows what i need prayer for
Serac: ok
Serac: i will
FF PaLaDiN UD: i love you guys
Serac: we love you too sheryl
FF PaLaDiN UD: have u guys shaved?
Serac: were in the library...i'm covered in grease from my chain...and smell awfull...i wouldn't be suprised if they kicked us out
Serac: no
FF PaLaDiN UD: haha
Serac: well...we shaved before we left
FF PaLaDiN UD: you should try to take some pictures somehow
Serac: yeah, we have a digital camera, but left the cord at home....so it is being mailed to my grandparents in Ky.
FF PaLaDiN UD: and put together a survival guide when u get back...im serious...i bet u two could write a great christian novel
Serac: and we have a disposable camera....and a 35 mm camera someone gave us, but it doesn't work
Serac: well...i've learned more in 5 days than a whole year at college
Serac: more important things too
FF PaLaDiN UD: w00000000000000000t
Serac: Like...I was about to quit earlier today....just a whole host of problems and despair....and this guy pulls up and offers us a ride to a bike shop
FF PaLaDiN UD: is ur bike not making it?
Serac: no, it's fine....i thought my bearings were getting tore up, but my crank arm was just loose....it was no big deal but it sounded bad
FF PaLaDiN UD: do u get a lot of fan mail?
Serac: some....not a whole bunch
Serac: like...usually 4 or 5 people respond when we send something out...but we've only sent out like....2 mails
FF PaLaDiN UD: what would you guys appreciate from us, besides our prayers?
Serac: i guess fan mail is cool...there isn't a whole lot else you can do....our route has been pretty on the fly so far
FF PaLaDiN UD: where could i send a letter to that you guys will hit next?
FF PaLaDiN UD: real main
FF PaLaDiN UD: mail*
Serac: um, maybe my grandparents in kentucky
FF PaLaDiN UD: do u have an address and a deadline?
FF PaLaDiN UD: i'll send you guys something
FF PaLaDiN UD: (u guys have bibles with you?)
Serac: yeah
Serac: we have bibles
FF PaLaDiN UD: do u know the address for ur grandparents and an estimate to how far you guys are?
FF PaLaDiN UD: (how far, measured in days)
Serac: yeah
Serac: um....Don & Bretta Aukerman
75 Mockingbird Lane
Grayson, KY 41143
FF PaLaDiN UD: k
Serac: should be there in 1 1/2 weeks - 2 weeks
FF PaLaDiN UD: ok
FF PaLaDiN UD: u guys are an inspiration
Serac: well...if you heard me earlier today....you might think otherwise...trust me, it's all God
FF PaLaDiN UD: well
FF PaLaDiN UD: "The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen."
FF PaLaDiN UD: 1 peter 4:7-11
FF PaLaDiN UD: have u guys had any opportunities to serve anyone?
FF PaLaDiN UD: im sure God has provided plenty of people who have served you guys with much hospitality
Serac: not yet...i witnessed to a lady at a gas station thismorning
FF PaLaDiN UD: i'll pray that God gives you guys amazing opportunities
Serac: yeah, we were talking about that earlier....
Serac: ok, good, we need those
FF PaLaDiN UD: ok...i gtg...i have research and FUN stuff like that
FF PaLaDiN UD: i cant wait to hear from you again
Serac: ok, it was reall nice talking to you

//================================================================

FROM DANIEL

FF PaLaDiN UD: ;-)
danlins: hey sherol.

Auto response from FF PaLaDiN UD: but with that a side, i believe that the question i do not ask myself often enough is: am i loving this person? i dont think W.W.J.D.? cuts it anymore. we already know a great deal about what Jesus would do, it's more a question of whether we are doing it.

danlins: good to imagine your smile!