deCycles Southeast America 2014
Journal Entry
Day 16 ... Friday, July 6

Start: Asheville, NC

End: Asheville, NC

Distance: 0-miles.  Rest day.

Terrain: Rolling hills.  

Climate: High 82-degrees  Sunny.

This trip is the usual, the unusual, and in some ways.....one-of-a-kind.  This morning we had the latest wakeup at 8:00am.  Jeff Grissom and Paul Farmer got things going with preparing a hot breakfast with scrambled eggs, sausage, juice, etc.  That got everyone buzzed for a big day of whitewater rafting and ziplining.  But first things first.  The morning church service was on the agenda since the host minister Reverend Jones was giving the entire service to the deCycles.  After some beginning announcements, we were introduced to the congregation and sang the deCycles theme song.  Then a special moment occurred once again on this trip.  Cricket asked Pastor Jones to approach the group in the front of the sanctuary.  She took his hand and brought him into the center to surround him with a big group hug.  While introducing this fine gentleman to the riders, Cricket revealed Pastor Jones escaping a deadly heart attack just weeks before our arrival.  She wanted the youthful energy of the deCycles to surround Pastor Jones with loving healing thoughts and prayers for his recovery.  This brought him and many riders to tears.  It was a touching moment we will remember for a long time.  In the process of his church's hospitality, the deCycles would give back in such a loving and powerful way.  This is just one of those instances about deCycles being more than a bike trip.   

After church it was off to Marshall, NC for a whitewater rafting trip down the French Broad River.  This is an old river that flows north and is excellent for a calmer whitewater experience.  We had to spend some extra money to transport the riders to the outpost and to pay for tips for the rafting guides, but it was worth it.  Immediately following the rafting trip, the group did a zipline excursion at the same location. There were 10-lines over 1-mile long.  The riders had a blast.  Wow, this trip has been loaded with interesting things to do.  These students are going to be bored when they return home.  Every moment in the past 2-weeks has been filled to the top with fun, sweat, & gears.  It has been intense.  Every excursion or movement away from the road has test our ability of crowd control ... or more appropriately teenage crowd control.  They have short memories.  And things have to be repeated over and over and over again.  It is difficult for them to think past themselves.  But they are doing it. Unbelievable to think that tiny girls like rookies Gracie Saccone, Gretchen Lieffers, Carmen La Belle, and Abbey Guidry are powering themselves down the road from Key West to Indiana.  The boys ... they are incredible machines.  They are getting stronger by the day.  

The day ended with a meeting to plan the following day.  It was a fun and restful weekend and we were fortunate to be guests at Morningside Baptist Church here in Asheville.

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