Global Agents For Change 007

aoc-1-424, originally uploaded by globalagent007.

After a restful night at the Stanwood United Methodist Church, we woke up to an amazing hot breakfast made for us by Sir Robert and Bob, including waffles, eggs, a potato and cheese casserole, sausages, and coffee! It was delicious and just the boost we needed, because when we woke up and looked outside we realized it had been pouring rain for hours with no signs of stopping. So after breakfast we packed up our backs, put on our rain gear and set off for Seattle.

During the ride, many of us discovered that we enjoyed riding in the rain, and multiple pods were singing along the way. After riding out of Stanwood for a while, our direction led us to a great 18 mile bike path called the Snohomesh County Trailhead- no traffic, lined with trees, and wide enough for three people to ride side by side. Shortly after the trail ended, we met up with the support van to grab a quick lunch before we continued on our way.

As the rain continued to pour, we rode along Highway 9 next to the semi trucks and school buses spraying us with waves of water. We spinned our way up some long hills and then down again, through the town of Bothel and then took the Burke-Gilman Trail into Seattle. Hours later and with the help of some locals, we all eventually found our way to the house where half of us will be staying for the next two days. All in all we ended up biking 74 miles, or 119 kilometres!

Tomorrow is our first day off, and we’re all excited to sleep in, explore Seattle and give our legs a rest.

Laura – 2008 rider

Our day started at 7 am in Bellingham. We ate breakfast, pumped tires, loaded the support van and headed on our way. We scratched the original directions and it was well worth it.. our amazing host Kyle from the night before and Thomas from Bellingham lead us along a bike path along the coast and through forests and farmland to lunch. Per Kyle’s suggestion, we stopped at a bakery that had amazing bread and coconut macaroons.

We stopped for lunch at Bay View Park where we also relaxed, stretched and played frisbee. Then we continued on our way through flat wind swept farmland. Along the flat straights we got practice in drafting (riding close to one another so the person in front of you breaks the wind and you take turns in front).

By 6 pm everyone arrived in Stanwood to our welcoming hosts at Stanwood United Methodist Church after a 80 kilometer ride. We are staying at this church because last years riders needed a place to stay at the last minute and they opened their doors, and we are thankful to be back again! Members of the congregation provided us with a delicious potluck dinner and then we gave a presentation about Riding to Break the Cycle, Global Agents for Change and microcredit.

We ended the night with a group gathering about logistics and responsibilities that was filled with many laughs. Soon thereafter everyone was feeling very tired and headed to bed. So on that note, I too will say goodbye and head to bed. Check back in tomorrow to read about our ride to Seattle!

-Jackie, 2008 Rider

We filled ourselves with bananas for breakfast in a Safeway parking lot. We had to eat up all the fruits we had before crossing the U.S. border (Ben ate 8 bananas for the cause!). The border was a breeze. It was the first time I’ve crossed an international border by bike, I think that’s why it hasn’t hit me, or many of the riders that we are no longer in Canada! The ride was great, Kamila and I were sweepers (we stay at the end of the pack, making sure that no one gets left behind.

The 50 km ride was even cheered on by a herd of cows who seemed to be gathering by a fence, all their heads raised as we passed by.

We arrived at the Community Bike Shop in South Bellingham to find a small one-storey building, which seemed to be full of hidden corners. The place was littered with used bikes. All of them donated. They get repaired here, then are sold off. It’s a pretty sweet place! Complete with a “suicide machine” (a kind of homemade unicycle that many of the riders tried to balance on), and a barbecue (where our wonderful cooks made beans, potatoes, salad).

We showered at a nearby YMCA, used their sauna and steam room! So good! We found ourselves a documentary-guitarist-song-writer dude who came and interviewed some of us! Keep your eyes peeled for a mini-documentary on YouTube!

Although, South Bellingham seemed pretty slow on a Sunday night, our team got the party started. We hooked up some speakers to a laptop, got some bike lights (our strobe lights) and created our own club in one of the rooms in the bike shop! Dancing the night away, everyone was busting out some pretty sweet moves! Definite good times (hopefully we can link up some footage from it!)! We even turned many cycling terms into crazy dance moves! No need to look for a party, the Global AFC team is ALWAYS a party!

-Phillipe Murphy, 2008 Rider

Riding to Break the Cycle is an annual cycling trip from Vancouver, Canada to Tijuana, Mexico, bringing 25 incredible young people together each year in a mobile youth leadership camp. Riders raise $3000 each in support of microcredit initiatives in the developing world, and spread awareness about global issues all the way down the Pacific Coast.

Stay posted here to get updates, pics and videos from the ride!

This epic 7 week journey departed May 31st, 2008 and we will be on the road for most of the next SEVEN WEEKS. Stay tuned for updates to come,

Shawn  – Global Agents for Change