The last two days were doozies. Yesterday was a 116 mile trek – all up hill with a strong headwind. In August heat! But it was flat. The biggest hill we’d seen since leaving Savannah Sunday morning was a bridge. Coming up to it, it looked as though the road was pregnant. Here’s the thing about flat roads: you have to peddle constantly. Not only is it monotonous, but it also tires your legs, not so much from exertion but from repetition.

Well, the flat lands ended officially yesterday. After riding nearly the entire bike ride on literally flat roads, the hills today were a wake-up call. At first, I thought it’d be nice to have a little change. Then I longed for the flatness. Don’t get me wrong: these weren’t Ft. Mountain hills. Still, a hilly 100 miles following up a 116 mile day is not exactly a cake walk.

But we made it. The boys did great. So did the staff and volunteers, I might say.

And let me interject this: I have been on six bike rides, this being the first that I biked the entire trip. Typically I am in the van shooting and editing video and pictures to keep the blog update and interesting. Having biked this year’s 600 mile route, and being the only person who has actually done both jobs (except Cody), I am the only person who can fairly make the following statement: the road crew has the harder job. Biking is easy in the sense that you get on a bike and roll till someone tells you to stop. The work of the road crew is never ending. And what would us bikers eat or drink if not for them? So a huge thank you to Sam, Ray and Nick for their hard work in the van. They are often unsung heroes, and usually I am in the ranks. So let me take a moment to give credit where it is due.

And speaking of credit, thanks to all of you who followed us along the way, whether in a car (Billie was back today!) or online. We wouldn’t want to do this without you. I know the updates have been sparse the last two days, but never fear: bike ride lives on for a little while longer. Keep checking back next week for some videos that we just couldn’t get up until then. Also, pictures are on the way!

Lastly, thanks to our sponsors and everyone who gave money or fed and housed us on the ride. You guys are awesome!

And thank God it’s Friday night, and I’m home.

Peace to all.

But before I do, a great big thanks to three riders who spent the first half of the trip with us, volunteers Mac and Kay and alumni Patrick. Patrick rode with us all the way to Ponte Vedra yesterday. Mac and Kay split from us on Day 3 – they are continuing to ride all the way to KEY WEST! (So pray for them.)

Thanks to Hibernia Baptist church for feeding and housing us.

The Paul Anderson Cycling Challenge supports Truett, Dan & Bubba! We love and appreciate you!

We biked to the Chic-fil-A store in St. Augustine today to show our support!

An additional bonus, we had a couple extra riders today. John Hattfield, you will remember John and Connie are Reef’s parents (a PACC 2011 rider), rode with us the last two days and today, Billie – Paris’s dad – rode with us part way.

Afterward, Lita Hart and friends prepared an amazing meal for us. Daniel Hart razzle-dazzled us with snacks after that. (It seems we are never quite full.) Support Wisdom Sunblockers – Daniel supports us!

Because we didn’t actually capture many great pics today (Connie and John Hatfield did capture plenty, but I failed to collect them before our parting… give me a break! I’m riding a bike!), I am uploading a few pics from the beach and a couple others from today or yesterday. So enjoy.

Then our brilliant day was cut abruptly short by a swift and powerful thunder storm with rumored hail. So we packed up in record speed and showered at the YMCA (speaking of showers, I forgot to mention yesterday we showered at a bath house on St. Simons Island, only it wasn’t a bath house when we arrived… so we compromised. We showered at the outdoor showers. You know, the ones where people wash the salt water and sand off themselves after a day at the beech? Yeah, those showers. I feel sure there are some folks who were minding their own business, just spending the day with the fam at the beech, who will never be the same.).

No wrecks today. We did have another flat and, yes, it was me. But it turns out I have a faulty tire. And I rode all day with a swollen wrist and hand. I say that not to garner sympathy but to prove just how diligent I am.

Thanks for the prayers and support. Keep it up!

We had a fairly eventful day today. 70 miles, 2 flats, 2 wrecks and 1 police escort.

Okay, so yes. I (Eric) did have two flats today. But that was not intentional. (Jake also had two flats today. That was not intentional either.) The police escort was prearranged, although things got a bit iffy when the officers got a good look at Sam. Anyway, they escorted us over some narrow bridges in Macintosh County.

Coming into Brunswick, we traveled through some pretty narrow streets. I would like to pause here and say “thank you” to the thoughtful man who took time out of his busy day to explain to us our proper place and how it was not, in fact, on the edge of the highway. Though you did not have a lot of time to expound on your theories, I feel confident that in those brief moments of you flying past us, you conveyed so much through your words and, yes, your honking horn, that I believe we all learned a little something. However, I would encourage you to do a little more research. The road belongs to us, too.

As for the wrecks. The first wreck took place in two parts, which is to say David wrecked twice. Nothing serious, although he has a raspberry on his elbow the size of the Florida panhandle. The second wreck involved me, Taylor, a highway full of cars and a sneaky set of railroad tracks. Taylor came out unhurt (I attribute this to the fact that he used my bike and body to buffer his landing). I on the other hand sustained a scraped elbow and knee and a swollen wrist.

But all’s well that ends well, and this will all end Friday night sometime (Jesus, bring on Friday evening!).

Spirit’s are up and the boys are riding great! Thanks for all the comments (Taylor is particularly thrilled with his happy band of followers… the family members of the other riders might need to step it up a bit!). And a big thank you to Billie, Paris’s dad, who rode with us all day yesterday – leaving Savannah at 5 a.m. to meet us before we left PAYH and then driving all the way back to Savannah at approximately 20 mph to provide us with an additional sag vehicle, David’s family who spent some time with us last night and today, Patrick’s family and Mark’s dad who fed us and so many other people who’ve been kind along the way (Savannah Christian, Reidsville United Methodist, Redeemer Presbyterian, Judge Bolin).

Keep following along. We have had technical difficulties, but I promise videos and pictures are coming!

It was a good ride. Our average group speed was around 17 mph, not bad considering how far we rode. Usually, on a normal bike ride, we save the century for the last day – kind of like going out with a bang. But clearly this isn’t normal. We rode a century on our first day. And we have two more planned, and they are back to back! The heat is clearly getting to someone. (Drew)

Everyone rode well and all our riders came in safe. Thanks for the prayers and support! Look for videos and pictures from each day posted the following morning. For some of you Paul Anderson Cycling Challenge blog fiends, that’s going to be a bit of a challenging change from year’s past. Well, that’s because you’re favorite video editor and blogger (that’s me) is riding a bike this year. Thats right, ladies and gentlemen. Eric Love rode a century on a bike today (and he wishes he never had to do it again). Because of the change, our good friend Nick, along with his trusty sidekick Ray, is taking care of videos and pictures and what not. So look for neww posts every morning!

This has been a hot summer in most places across the country. Glasses of water have been in great demand lately. In recent days the heat has contributed to the ripe conditions for forest fires in the West, drought conditions and scorched crops in the Midwest, along with power outages and deaths due to extreme heat in the east with air conditioning on the blitz. In most places except the Pacific Northwest water was scarce. And to top it all off the annual Paul Anderson Cycling Challenge begins Saturday with a 600 mile version this year in contrast to last year’s 50th Anniversary 1500 mile trek to Omaha. (Follow the bike ride starting Saturday at: www.payhbikeride.com.) Last year the conditions were also extremely hot with some of the young men’s bike tires melting on the pavement as they crossed Southern Illinois. Talk about frying an egg on the sidewalk. In such heat, water is even more essential and treasured to avoid disaster. It not only hydrates the body, but cools and refreshes. The bikers from the Youth Home carry several bottles at all times to both drink and douse their heads, and the accompanying van transports many cases of bottled spring water. Can’t live or bike without it!

When our country spends billions to research outer space and distant planets like Mars you never hear of a search for gold or precious metals. They are always looking for signs of water etched in the surface; for water indicates the possibility of life in outer space. Water has transformed the earth into the only known habitable planet in this galaxy. For those who have lived in a desert or partial desert environment, they have seen firsthand how water causes the dry ground to blossom and come to life in glorious manifestation. Such are the contrasts drawn in Scripture between a scorched and parched landscape brought to life when the Creator and Lord of the Universe sends rain and streams of water to refresh the earth. It is this dramatic contrast which the Spirit of God uses to contrast the dry wilderness of a soul with a soul that is like a tree planted by streams of water whose leaf does not wither and whose fruit is always producing in season.

Jeremiah says, God’s people strangely prefer the brackish water in stagnant cisterns which they have carved for themselves, to the living water from inextinguishable springs. The cisterns eventually crack and what water is left seeps away, while the springs provide cool water from the deep that keeps bubbling forth day after day. You can picture from many experiences the image the Spirit paints of the physical reality of parched conditions versus cool spring water and its miraculous effects; but the spiritual contrast is oblivious to far too many who languish in the parched wilderness when the fountain of living water is close at hand. The eyes of faith must pursue exposing the personal cisterns each one has carved out for himself to substitute for the spring of living water. Jeremiah, speaking for God says, “My people have committed [these] two errors……” Does the shoe fit? Judgment needs to begin at home. What cisterns have you carved? What have you preferred for your resources to the springs of living water God offers in Christ, the fountain of life? This is best answered in the recesses of your own soul. That we have forsaken the spring and dug our own cisterns is undeniable. What you do about it is a matter of your faith.

After a long hike on a hot day this week my wife and I stopped at the top of a big red sandstone rock and surveyed the scene far below and all around us. We drank cool water we had brought with us in a bottle. Nothing could have been more refreshing in the moment. You drink water many times a day without thinking. Obviously, the moment on this hot hike was more dramatic and memorable. But just as you pray a prayer of thanksgiving before eating your daily bread, should you not think of the Fountain of Living Water every time you drink a glass or bottle of water? Consistency in this may well help you answer the question of the cisterns you have carved for yourself. Far better and more powerful to come from the Spirit bearing witness with your spirit as to what they are, than coming from anyone else. This is what it means to follow the Apostle Paul’s encouragement, “Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25) Now, go grab some glasses of water!

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The Youth Home to me personally means a lot.  While being here for eight months, I have learned a lot about me and my tendencies.  I have learned self-control over my emotions as well as when to speak and not to speak.  My relationship with my mother has gotten better to the point where she feels more like my mother.  I have also grown so much more spiritual in the way that I want everything I do and say to reflect Christ.  I thank God and my parents for allowing me to come to the Youth Home and receive a second chance at life.

Being at the Youth Home has totally changed my perspective on life.  Since I arrived, I gave my life to Christ and have grown in my relationship with Him.  I am so thankful that the Home has given me a second chance to succeed in life.  I believe that this program will work for anyone who is trying to change their life and does not resist the program and its rules.  I hope to learn and grow more spiritually during the remainder of my stay.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Youth Bike Across Southeast to Raise Awareness of Dangerous Trends in Youth Culture

Paul Anderson Youth Home: Students and Staff Challenge the Cycle of Negative Youth Issues and Offer Practical Parenting Solutions

Vidalia, GA —July 1, 2012—Six teenagers from the Paul Anderson Youth Home (PAYH) will complete a 550-mile bike ride throughout the Southeast this summer, but finishing the cycling challenge is just one of their goals. They hope to make parents more aware of the struggles youth face every day through a campaign called familySTRONG, a proactive parenting movement that challenges parents to “make parent a verb.” In addition to bringing awareness of the dangerous trends facing today’s youth, the group is raising funds to support the ongoing rehabilitative work at the Paul Anderson Youth Home.  Drew Read, C.O.O. and rider, says, “One of the most rewarding facets of these bike rides is seeing many young men accomplish something they never thought possible. This gives them a context for hope, and I have seen these events help a struggling young man turn a corner toward positive change.”

The tour will hit the road on July 28 and make stops in several cities, including Savannah, GA and Jacksonville, FL, before returning to Vidalia, GA on August 3. In addition to cycling up to 100 miles a day, the team will be speaking on current and projected youth trends at different locations and will provide blogs, stories, and videos along the way.  You can follow them at www.payhbikeride.com.

Participants in the ride will include six youth, three PAYH staff, three volunteers, and several extra riders. Dillon, 19, one of the young men who will complete the cycling challenge, says, “I consider it a privilege to ride as part of this team and be able to speak as a representative of my generation. I’ve received a lot of help for the problems in my life, and helping to raise funds and awareness of the issues youth face is a great way for me to give back.”

Since 1961 the PAYH has provided an alternative to incarceration and a “home” to over 1200 young men while nurturing and encouraging their families. The PAYH continues to shape young men of character and launch them back into society with 90 percent of graduates never seeing the inside of a jail cell again. As part of the rehabilitation process, PAYH offers opportunities for young men to participate in events such as the Paul Anderson Cycling Challenge. This 550-mile awareness and fundraising bike ride throughout the Southeast teaches perseverance, discipline, teamwork, and endurance.

“I think it’s pretty cool to do this long a ride, to take on a challenge this big,” says 17-year-old Paris, one of the other riders. “When we finish the ride, I’m going to be able to look back on this as a huge accomplishment in my life.”

Inspiring youth to tackle significant challenges is just one aspect of the rehabilitative work done by the Paul Anderson Youth Home. Through their research, the PAYH staff is able to identify the dangerous trends on the horizon that will affect today’s children and youth. Although more than 90,000 teenagers are incarcerated each night in the U.S. and children are starting to use drugs as early as elementary school, many parents believe their families are exempt from these dangerous trends. Paul Anderson Ministries offers resources and information to help parents spot warning signs, develop authentic relationships with their children and ask for help when the need arises.

Locals can meet the young men biking the historic route by visiting www.payhbikeride.com/meet-the-riders/ or by attending one of the tour stops in a nearby city. To sponsor a rider on the 550-mile cycling challenge, visit http://www.payhbikeride.com/. While online, visitors may also register for a chance to win a Motobecane road bike. Entries will be received through August 16, 2012.

Blogs, video and audio coverage can be found at www.payhbikeride.com. For more information on Paul Anderson Ministries or the Paul Anderson Youth Home, please visit www.payh.org.

2012 Corporate Sponsors include:

Dewberry Foundation, Monavie, Onions Etc., Shuman Produce, Sikes Farms, and Team R3 Global

Caption: Youth and staff from the Paul Anderson Youth Home will tackle a 550-mile bike ride across the Southeast to raise funds and awareness of youth issues (www.payhbikeride.com).  2012 Corporate Sponsors include:  Dewberry Foundation, Monavie, Onions Etc., Shuman Produce, Sikes Farms, and Team R3 Global

Leave a comment below to share an encouraging word with Taylor!

We are all excited about joining our young men on this journey that will surely be a changing point in their lives.

Drew Read	Eric Love	Rebecca Timberlake

Training is going alright.  I rode the wrong way once, but it’s ok.  We rode a different route the other day.  I think the most we’ve ridden is 30 miles, but that’s nothing compared to the 600 that we’re going to be riding at the end of this month!  Everything is going well.  I’m just really excited and anxious about the ride.

WHAT HAS THE YOUTH HOME MEANT TO YOU?

The PAYH is probably the best thing that’s happened to me!  There are a lot of ways to look at it…for me, I’d say it’s an opportunity.  If I hadn’t come here, I don’t know where my life would be.  The best part is that my relationship with my family has improved!  It used to be a wreck.

Thanks to all of the staff for helping me and to everyone for supporting me.  I love you all!

Get a look at the riders of the 2012 Paul Anderson Cycling Challenge!