Read more about our 8,840 mile bike ride around america HERE
To view the active links and read more about each program or event click here
Thanks for all your hard work Living Water Staff! Looking forward to 2012 and watching the number of the thirsty shrink! www.water.cc
As the Sierra Nevada Mountain range came into view I knew that our days in the desert were coming to an end. Still caped with snow they rose before us like an impassable fortress. Pleased to leave my 23mm tread marks in Nevada I welcomed the change in scenery with wide eyes. Our routine of constant cycling, constant forward motion, had put the past month into a blur. The natural obstacles of wind, heat, and elevation seem to be a relentless presence and any attempt at escape proves to be only momentary.
Upper Yosemite Falls
A view of distant waterfall in Yosemite National Park
A red waterless wash leading into Lake Powell
Thursday, July 7th we crossed yet another boarder, rolling past the great Lake Powell and into what is now known as southern Utah. We sleep in Kanab for the night before continuing on to the Canyons of Zion. Upon entering Zion I must admit that in all my travels have seen anything quite like this place. The red sandstone canyon walls tower above, sometimes so narrow that the road is shaded by a noonday sun. What amazes me the most is the green. Its contrast with the red sandstone saturates the landscape with dense color. It is a rare place, where there is no horizon only sky. As we descended down the flawlessly paved switchback road to the canyon floor, I thought the place heaven. The Virgin River speed along the canyon floor, carving and having its way with the soft yet firm sandstone. Dropping an average of 72 feet per mile its current is swift and its course, like ours, already decided.
Zion land of green canyons and waterfalls
We camped in this pure beauty for a full three nights time. I occupied my spare time by lounging in my hammock in the evenings, writing and reading between unexpected naps. On occasion when the canyon swelled with too much heat and I could bare it no more I made my way down to the river to swim. The river was cold yet pleasant and refreshing after spending an adequate amount of time in its company. One could spend weeks here hiking to waterfalls and deferent lookouts. I had my fill of views for the week and was quite content to spend the weekend analyzing the view from my hammock. However, Zion having much more then just view’s offered waterfalls that fell hundreds of feet off the canyon walls. A waterfall always intrigues me and is quite possibly the only natural, or unnatural occurrence that could pry my worn body from its stat of leisure.
A rising moon from a hammock view
This being said, I went with the others on a small morning excursion to find what they called the emerald pools. The hike was short in length and two miles later we came across the first of the three pools. Do to it being the dry season only a trickle of water fell from the cliff that jetted out so far that the hiking path actually went under the waterfall. The path of the water intrigued me more then the common hiking path and so I veered off it with every intention of finding streams source. A mile later the riverbed dried up completely, the last of the water bubbling out from under a large rock. I returned to the path and joined the others at the upper pool and quickly became content with simply walking around the area, climbing rocks and searching for the best view of the canyon and the turquoise pool.
The upper emerald pool from the view of the cliff wall. In the spring a waterfall crashes down onto the foreground rocks from hundreds of feet above.
The sun illuminated half the canyon shinning its ray’s on a single side leaving the other in shadow. However by evening it would completely switch sides illuminating the other in an equally impressive manor. I observed this pattern during our stay and by the sixth illumination we were packed and on the road again.
The miles that brought us away form the enchanted land where wet. It rained, not for long but long enough to watch it trickle off the end of my noise and turn cycling clothes from dry to wet. The following miles through Nevada remained quite uneventful. And although I always try my best to find beauty in a place, I found none. Only the sky intrigued me but the sky cannot be owned or confined. Therefore I find it hard to give Nevada credit for its beautiful sunset. Nevada has the most mountain ranges of any other state and when not climbing to anther summit we were flying down the other side or crawling across another twenty-mile blank valley floor. Conversation, influenced by the myths of area 51 and the extraterrestrial highway revolved around alien. However for a vast majority of the endless stretch I occupied my self by listening to “Around the world in 80 days” and “Pride and Prejudice” in there entirety. I am quite aware of the lack of safety this brings to a cyclist nevertheless the lack of cars and miles of infinite straight drove me to disregard the recommendation. Besides there were times I would have very much enjoyed being hit by a car thus putting me out of my current state of misery.
A setting sun over the endless road west
When we did find people they were kind and overly generous, intrigued by our mission and unable to fathom such a journey possible. We summated boundary pass, which skirts around the edge of the tallest point in Nevada, Boundary point 13,145 feet in elevation, and shot down the other side into California. From the state boarder we will go straight west over the White Mountains to the foot of the Sierra Nevada Range. The white caped mountains fascinate me and I anxiously wait being consumed by there overwhelming power and beauty. 28 days and 1,800 miles have brought us from the flat of Texas to within reach of the breathtaking Pacific Ocean. Only mountains and miles stand between us, both of which patience and persistence will erase completely.
Hello from the road.
The hot Utah sun sucked a bead of sweat out from his burnt dried skin but the strong cross wind carried it off before it had a chance to roll down his spine. I followed close, within inches of his spinning tires that were propelled by his pumping quads and steady cadence. Caught in a daze of watching the pavement streak by and listening to the hum of a chain, miles passed. The hum occasionally interrupted when he dropped his right hand and with the slightest movement he changed gears, I changed gears. The ground rose slightly adding to the drag. My eyes rolled down to the odometer that read 18.2 mph, 58.4 miles. He stopped pedaling, I stopped pedaling, he reached for a water bottle, I reached for a water bottle, when his hand connected his legs began pumping once again. My shoulder blades and neck begged for a new position. I lifted my head, my eyes with it and saw the towering red rock formations, blue sky, and waving grass that covers southern Utah. He must have been feeling the same discomfort because he rose out of his saddle pressing, pulling, pressing, and pulling his bike rocking side to side like a pendulum. The music stagnate noise, wind, cars, gears. 17.2mph, 60.5 miles. He settled back into his saddle, looked over his shoulder and veered out into the lane and dropped back. His work was done for the time being. I looked over mine as well, half expecting to see open road, half expecting to see three others. They were their hiding in the tunnel of nonexistent wind. His absence left me with a new view; the cost hit my face and then my chest. My quads picked up the workload and I put my head back down.
Leaving Lake Powell during a late sunrise.
The hot Utah sun sucked a bead of sweat out from his burnt dried skin but the strong cross wind carried it off before it had a chance to roll down his spine. I followed close, within inches of his spinning tires that were propelled by his pumping quads and steady cadence. Caught in a daze of watching the pavement streak by and listening to the hum of a chain, miles passed. The hum occasionally interrupted when he dropped his right hand and with the slightest movement he changed gears, I changed gears. The ground rose slightly adding to the drag. My eyes rolled down to the odometer that read 18.2 mph, 58.4 miles. He stopped pedaling, I stopped pedaling, he reached for a water bottle, I reached for a water bottle, when his hand connected his legs began pumping once again. My shoulder blades and neck begged for a new position. I lifted my head, my eyes with it and saw the towering red rock formations, blue sky, and waving grass that covers southern Utah. He must have been feeling the same discomfort because he rose out of his saddle pressing, pulling, pressing, and pulling his bike rocking side to side like a pendulum. The music stagnate noise, wind, cars, gears. 17.2mph, 60.5 miles. He settled back into his saddle, looked over his shoulder and veered out into the lane and dropped back. His work was done for the time being. I looked over mine as well, half expecting to see open road, half expecting to see three others. They were their hiding in the tunnel of nonexistent wind. His absence left me with a new view; the cost hit my face and then my chest. My quads picked up the workload and I put my head back down.
Leaving Lake Powell during a late sunrise.
Lighting bolted across the open sky as a black cloud the size of Texas attempted to chase us down. Pelting rain drops and out of control tumbles weeds added to the intensity. I had been pressing the pace for a good ten miles now attempting to out run the storm front and reach high way 98 which would take us north. Troves caught up to me and I attempted to draft off him. It was pointless the cross wind was too strong. Even though the road was straight as an arrow both of us leaned to the left as if rounding a tight curve, searching for the fine balance that would allow us to keep our bikes on the narrow shoulder and not get blown off. Reaching 98 we turned north and began to sore like an eagle catching an up draft. The road was freshly paved, smooth like a freshly sanded piece of oak. We felt the front breathing down our neck and then exhale letting out a guest of wind on our backs that accelerated our self propelling two wheel frames to a sustained 40 plus mph on the flat. The sand swirled on the black top resembling the way freshly fallen snow dances on the frozen roads of the north. Snow and sand the difference, color and the taste on your tongue. Lizards came out to the black top to check out the action, most of them darting into the ditch at the last possible moment. Only one out of the fifty or more got a taste of my new gator hard shell tires.
Troves snapped this picture on his first try as we attempted to out run the front.
Monument Valley
A kayaker hits some rapids through Durango Colorado.
An early morning sun sparkled in the spokes of our ten spinning bike wheels. The five of us still readjusting our chamois, putting on sunglasses, and settling in for the 109 mile ride. Although it was the coolest part of the day the Texas town had still not come to life and the roads remained desolate. We rode out of formation over the bridge that led out of town, taking up half of the road. Along side a glistening irrigation ditch lay several lines of sleeping trains that filled the tracks below the bridge. Even I, who had not been in Texas more then a week, knew that the clear gradient cloudless sky meant we where in for another hot day.
Its was fun riding with everyone from the home team! Thanks for all your hard work back in Austin!
Our hubs hummed at slightly different tones as we assembled into a double pace line with the prayer rider in the back. During this first week of the ride I have found that I really enjoy going fast. The distance and speed we are able to cover in a single day on bikes compared to running continues to amaze me. Most of the highway roads we have been riding on are made of a bumpy chip seal. But today’s stretch was smooth like warm butter and with the wind at our back life was good. On one stretch Breckinridge and I were cruising between 25 and 29 mph for at least twenty miles. The day’s average for the first hundred miles was 18 mph, an average that we could only dream about the following day.
photo by Joel Farris
On day six, one hundred miles stood between us and our first day off. By the end of it we would have kicked the last of the Texas dirt off our boots and entered New Mexico. New Mexico will be our second state of the thirty-six we will be riding through. As fun and fast as the 109 miles was the day before, the route to Clovis, New Mexico was quite the opposite. Large plowed fields along side the road will sometimes cause clouds of dust to kick up, the hot head wind carrying the fine particles across the open planes. I rode with my lips sealed but still found myself crunching dirt between my teeth.
A much needed rest stop on a hot late june Texas Highway. photo by Michael Way
Coloring on some down time with Audrey, I have enjoyed getting to know Audrey during my first few weeks on the team. She has an amazing imagination! We can literally just sit on the couch and talk about imaginary friends and scenario for an hour straight. I also enjoy her pickled ice cream that is always for sale (or donated) out of the RV window at rest stops.
Tomorrow we depart! Ready or not here we come. It has been a great week down here in Austin getting to know the team and finalizing pre ride preparation. The biggest blessing for me personally was that I was able get a bike, small detail right. We got a great deal on the bike thanks to Jon, a friend who has been saving us a ton of money with his bike shop in. In spite of being very busy he managed to find time to drive all the way across town in rush hour traffic to locate and build the bike and then meet me us at one in the morning in his garage to fit me. The guy knows bikes like the back of his hand. Anyway he did a remarkable job and the bike rides like a dream.
I have been staying with the Way’s during my Austin stay and Michael took me out for a 29-mile ride at about 7:30 am. The temperature has been well above 100 degree’s and it is taking me a little while to adjust to heat. Besides some uncomfortable heat rash, which can hopefully be avoided in future rides; it was fun to see Austin by bike. The Austin skyline has changed dramatically in the last few years do to a restriction being lifted that preserved the view of the Texas State Capitol building from various locations around Austin. No building could be higher then the star held by the Goddess of Liberty, the statue on top of the Capitol building until recent.
Yesterday was Junteenth, the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. June 19th 1865 was the day that Texas finally heard the news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. This was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation! Communication has sure changed. I am not sure I have even heard of the Holliday. Ether way the event brought out many live bands to help celebrate the occasion. Which make’s sense since Austin is nick named the “Live Music Capital of the World”
Photo by Eric B. Lee go to www.ericblee.com to order pictures from him God has answered so many prayers in the remaining days before we take off; it is exciting to see him in this. The rider’s fund is complete! The buy a mile link is live for LWI! Team Bio’s are just about done on the team web site www.h2oride.org I think we are all ready to put the talk and planning behind us and get the 8,840 mile journey underway!
I believe adventure is a personal term. The meaning “engage in hazardous and exciting activity, the exploration of unknown territory.” Some times we look for it, seeking it out like a lost love. Other times it finds us, catching us off guard and tossing us into a series of unpredictable events. The H2O Ride falls some where in the middle for me. While running water felt like a complete story at the time, it now seems to be shrinking into a single chapter making room for a second. It makes me wonder if our story is ever really over or if it just continues on forever. Even after we are dead and gone the legacy and things that we put into motion while we where here will fill the empty space that we leave behind. We are here and life will notice no mater what actions we take to get through it. Every choice we make will cause a string of events to accrue. If we decide to spend a dollar to get a movie at the red box, the movie will be gone for the night. The person behind us will rent another or perhaps find something else to do for the night, changing their branch of the unwritten story. The dollar will go to a large company that is doing well and maybe they will install another red box even closer to your house. This will make it less of a walk therefore you will watch three movies a week instead of just the two because you are no longer are faced with the Sunday evening decision to walk the whole six blocks to get your third movie of the week. I am hoping my decision to join H2O Ride will help put numerous positive strings of events into motion. Red box will have to look elsewhere for the two dollars a week that they will no longer get from me.
The members of H20 Ride have many reasons for wanting to take on the ride and it is hard to track each individual’s string of events that lead us to the start of an 8,840 mile bike tour. As I talked with Joel for the first few times over the phone about his plan to ride clock wise around the country his ambition and excitement for the ride sounded all to familiar. It was a trait I wondered if I was loosing or maybe have just slowly suppressed in a failing attempt to live life as others do. He talked about the Texas 4,000 that he participated in during the summer of 2009, a bike tour from Texas to Alaska. After following my 2010 run across America he began to contemplate the possibility of doing a similar venture for Living Water International on bikes. There is no doubt that inspiration comes from numerous avenues and that my run was probably just a small unconscious part in the complex ambition of the ride. However it got me thinking about the decisions we make in life and how our actions can affect others in ways we may never know. They branch out like a tree and fall like dominoes propelling us through life. As I soar above the clouds in an Airplane bound for Texas having dropping all other present life plans in less then a week, I realize that what changes the world for the better is not an idea, or thought or even a dream, it is a positive action. View Th
On June 20th, 2011 I will be teaming up with H2O Ride for an 8,840 mile bike ride around America. The journey has similar goals as Running Water did. I am excited to continue helping Living Water International through endurance adventures. The ride is scheduled to take 145 days and I invite you to follow along on my web site abrahamlouis.com and enjoy the random stories that will inevitably unfold. If you would like to find out way’s you can help support the riders visit http://h2oride.org/support/
An 8,840 mile Bike Tour around America!
Ruby for sale on Ebay! Hurry and place your bid! The money that Ruby raises will go towards buying a road bike that is suitable for an 8,840 mile ride as well as 10% going to Living Water International. (Ruby’s dying wishes). Place your Bid HERE
Ruby in her first snow fall in Flagstaff, AZ.
Below are a few details about H2O Ride
- from Austin TX to Austin TX, clockwise
- 8,840 miles, 1 for every 100k people drinking dirty water
- encircling our nation, passing through every border state
- every mile ridden by every rider, giving it our all
View The Route
- sharing the truth about Jesus with every person who will listen:
- that Jesus is the ultimate well-builder.
- when He died for us he dug deeper than we can to draw for us living water:
- the only thing that quenches our thirst and gives us eternal life—knowing God.RAISING money for wells.
- supporting the work of Living Water International
- seeking $20 per mile: $176,8008
- enough money to bring clean water to 8,840 people for a generation
Give Clean Water
- at least one rider is praying while we ride every single mile
- encircling our nation in prayer
- that the knowledge of the glory of the Lord would fill our land