• The Crash


    The Crash.

    As you know, I do a lot of road biking. I do it for a few reasons. First, it keeps me healthy and fit. Second, I get to spend time with my sweet hubby. Third, I get to hash out lots of plot ideas for the novels I write.

    Helmet 1So, you can imagine my frustration when I crashed just over a week ago and was sidelined for a week. Conveniently I managed to crash after we’d just passed a fire station, so the rescue squad was there immediately and took excellent care of me. They’ve come to my rescue several times over the last decade, but that’s another post ☺

    Helmet 2Anyway, I got banged up pretty good, but sympathy is not why I’m sharing this story and these pictures with you. My main reason is to get it out there that please, please, please wear your helmets when active. Skating, biking, skateboarding, anything. They can save you.

    Helmet 3

    I’m living proof! Unfortunately I’ve tested the limits of helmet effectiveness a few times.

    While they saved me from major injuries each time, I still received concussions-so you can imagine what would have happened had I not been wearing one.

    So, spread the word! Be safe out there.

  • The Hill


    The HILL....tough ride up one side, but look at this view going down....
    The HILL....tough ride up one side, but look at this view going down....

    ~~~

    This past weekend I fell into a mood of contemplation. It doesn’t happen often, but it started with a hill, a song, and this sign.

    I know, you might be, like, “Jeez, does Lynn ever not relate something to sports?”

    I’d have to say, “Rarely.”

    I grew up in an athlete’s home (Dad was a marathon runner/Mom tennis player), sports helped pay for my college, I married a sports nut and athlete . . . So, yeah, pretty much most of my ‘insights’ if you call them that, relate to or are triggered by sports.

    This past weekend, we went to Sedona to do a monster bike ride. Mega hills out there.

    Sufficient, by Adie Camp was playing while I tried to get up this one hill. I didn’t think I’d make it to tell you the truth. I was totally empty, I am only so strong, right? My abilities can only take me so far. Maybe this hill was just too big for me.

    Then these words came rattling over the earphones:

    Be my strength lord when my strength fades away.

    When I am weak, your strength is complete.

    It’s perfectly, completely all I need.

    Well, I made it up the hill and at the top took the picture you see to show the curves and a little bit about how much it goes down. I think I hit 35 MPH on that downhill.

    But more than the excitement of hitting such a top speed on a road bike, and even more than the thrill of having made it up the other side of that hill, was the gentle reminder of knowing I can’t do it on my own. Because I am weak but HE is strong.

    I needed that reminder.

  • LANCE ARMSTRONG


    Lance Armstrong

    Anyone watching Lance Armstrong in the Tour de France?

    I’ve been watching in a little bit with my husband in the mornings as we’re getting ready for work. It’s taken on a new meeting in our household due to the amount of road biking we have started doing this past year or so.

    Since I love trivia . . . I thought it only appropriate to dig up a little about Lance…Do you know these??

    1. Lance Armstrong first gained notoriety as a cyclist in 1991, by winning which event?

    2. Lance won the Iron Kids Triathlon at 13, and became a professional triathlete by what age?

    3. How many times has Lance won the Tour De France?

    4. What year did Lance win the ESPY award for Best Male Athlete?

    5. How tall is Lance?

    **Give it a guess in the comments, I’ll stop by later to see how you did**

  • WIND AT YOUR BACK


    I was out biking this past weekend (I know, surprise surprise, right?) Well, I came across something that got me thinking.

    Flag blowing“A flag?” you ask?

    I tried to get the picture during the gust of wind

    so you could see how strong the wind was.

    When I saw that think flapping in the wind, I got to thinking, “Holy crap, I have to ride straight into that – – oh man, that’s gonna suck.”

    Pedaling so hard, but moving so slow, getting nowhere . . .

    I’d had mouth surgery that was pretty uncomfortable for almost two weeks, then, my Grams passed away.

    So, like the stiff wind in my face, I felt like I was working so hard and getting nowhere. Couldn’t get happy.

    I rarely feel that way. Ask anyone close to me. I’m never down in the dumps. But, I had been the past few weeks.

    Then, God reminded me by showing me this flag. Yes, sometimes you’ll have to ride into the wind, working hard, but seeming to get nowhere. But, you’ll turn a corner and the wind will suddenly be at your back, pushing you forward, helping you coast ahead.

    So, here’s to the wind at your back. I feel it behind me now, ready to have a great week!

    ~~~

    Have a fantastic day, everyone.

    ~~~

    This was another picture on a bike ride...rising sun.
    This was another picture on a bike ride...rising sun.

  • 3,100 MILE BIKE RIDE–Part 1


    img_0353“A 3,100 mile bike ride,” you ask? “Did I read that right?”

    Yep you did.

    Three thousand, one hundred miles!

    I’ve written about my dad on this blog before when I’ve talked about his mountain-climbing excursions and other adventures.

    Well, here is another adventure on which he’s about to embark. A 3,100 mile ride from California to Florida over a six week time period. It’s a fund raiser for Young Life.

    ***
    A letter from my dad:

    On March 29, 2009, I will begin a solo, coast-to-coast bike ride from the Pacific Ocean at San Diego, California to the Atlantic Ocean at St. Augustine, Florida, a distance of approximately 3,110 miles. The purpose of this trip is to raise funds in support of Young Life in the Verde Valley, a nondenominational youth ministry reaching out to high school aged kids in Sedona, Cottonwood, and Camp Verde, Arizona.

    Young Life is an international Christian organization, serving kids in 58 countries with over 3,700 ministries in the United States. One hundred percent of all donations will go directly to support this very effective and worthwhile organization.

    I am inviting you to become involved in this event by sponsoring me, with a monetary contribution per mile pedaled or a fixed sum amount. Even “One Penny” per mile would go a long way to reach my goal of $10,000.

    Please note that all donations are tax deductible. Young Life is a registered 501(c)(3)
    non-profit organization.

    ***

    If you’re interested in donating, send me an email, and I’ll send you a form: sheriboeyink {at} cox {dot} net

    Be sure to check back periodically, I’ll have a page on my sidebar that will have updates on his six week adventure. Keep him in your prayers.

    ***

    Part 2 will be next Saturday. I ask my dad a couple questions…come see what his answers are.

    ***