48 States in Three Summers

I can't remember what inspired the idea. It might have been a picture. Or an article in a magazine for motorcycle enthusiasts. Perhaps it was the AAA travel magazine we receive. Really… I can't remember what started it all. But the vision remains crystal clear: to ride to every one of the 48 contiguous United States and the District of Columbia in three summers.

The idea was presented to Annette first, of course. I was surprised at how readily she embraced the idea. We've been blessed to have some dear friends share the journey with us.

The summer of 2012 took us from Florida to California, then to Las Vegas. From Vegas, we visited Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, the north and south rims of The Grand Canyon, and so much more. We were joined by our wives for part of the adventure and enjoyed the company of more friends for our ride through some of the most beautiful national parks in all of America. In 15 days, through 15 states, we rode more than 6,000 miles and shared experiences none of us will ever forget. I called this first adventure Journey 2012.

The road of life twists and turns and no two direction are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination.  Don Williams, Jr.

A year later, we set out to ride the northeastern United States. Our route took us north of the border to experience the grandeur of Niagara Falls. We endured rain and cold, abbreviating the route at times to navigate around late-season snows, but achieved our goal. In riding some 5,000 miles, Adventure 2013 took us through 18 states, and the District of Columbia, and even included a couple of days in Ontario. We were able to recall meaningful moments in American history as we visited Gettysburg and other Civil War sites, and conquered some of the most challenging roads in the land.

           Be careful going in search of adventure - it's ridiculously easy to find.                   William Least Heat-Moon 

In Experience 2014, we set out to finish the course. Fifteen states remain. These are the most challenging, simply because this Floridian must make his way to the Great Northwest. That's a long way from home!

We will experience so much more of the beauty and grandeur of this great land we call America. If all goes well, we will ride hundreds of miles of the Pacific Coast Highway. We will visit the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone National Park, Mount Rushmore, and so much more. This summer represents, by far, the most aggressive challenge of the three… more than 8,000 miles compressed into twenty days or so.

The ride begins in just a few short weeks. We will chronicle the experience here… the journey… the adventure… the challenges… the sights. I invite you to live vicariously through us as we ride.

People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built.  Eleanor Roosevelt

The Great Adventure

This image - as well as the background image for this page - were both captured somewhere in Arizona, on our way to The Grand Canyon.  These are the kinds of roads I spend months searching for prior to beginning one of our great adventures.  Far from the interstates that crisscross our great nation, roads like these are indeed roads less traveled.

I love the solitude.  Away from the clamor of 21st-century connectivity, it seems so much easier to see the hand and hear the voice of The Almighty.

I love the simplicity and purity.  With the exception of the seemingly endless ribbon of asphalt (the adventure stops for me where the pavement ends), this feels like creation the way The Creator fashioned it… unspoiled by "development" of man… as if the Creator needs the created to help with design and development…

And I love the adventure. These words, attributed to Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of India, resonate with me: We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm, and adventure. There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.  I want to experience this beauty, charm, and adventure.  I want to live life with eyes wide open.  For me, this happens best when I leave the familiarity of well-worn paths in search of those roads less traveled… in search of a great adventure.

So I ride a motorcycle thousands of miles a year pursuing solitude, simplicity, purity, adventure, and more, always navigating these roads less traveled.  Dangerous?  Perhaps. British adventurer Edward Michael "Bear" Grylls says, "Adventure should be 80 percent 'I think this is manageable,' but it's good to have that last 20 percent where you're right outside your comfort zone.  Still safe, but outside your comfort zone."  This, too, resonates with me.

More than a motorcyclist, I am a Christ-follower - and I have found this to be true:  The adventures experienced in years of exploring roads like the one pictured above, as exhilarating as they may be, pale in comparison to the experience of following Jesus.  In a choice that is now considered counter-cultural, I suppose, I choose the narrow gate Jesus spoke of, as recorded in Matthew 7:14.  Oh, it is the road less traveled.  But it is the road that leads to life… real life… life that is rich, abundant, and free.

If you find yourself in search of adventure, or wanting to be liberated from the mundane, consider leaving "the beaten path."  First, consider the claims of Christ and the call of The One who throughout history has challenged men and women to a extraordinary experiences - almost always along an unfamiliar course.  And then consider finding your great adventure - whatever that might be.  In the words of Christian music singer-songwriter, record producer, author, and orphan-care advocate Steven Curtis Chapman...

Saddle up your horses we've got a trail to blaze
Through the wild blue yonder of God's amazing grace
Let's follow our leader into the glorious unknown
This is a life like no other - this is The Great Adventure

Words and music by Steven Curtis Chapman and Geoff Moore

Copyright 1992 Sparrow Song, Peach Hill Songs, and Songs of the Forefront
Administered by EMI Christian Music Publishing
Al rights reserved

On This Mothers' Day

We celebrated Mothers' Day in worship today.  And then enjoyed a pleasant lunch together. Our family - Annette, my mom, and me (Jaimee is in Nashville), along with Lindsey, her husband Bryan, Bryan's parents, and his mom's parents.  Generations.  All together.  Two families now one, celebrating a rich heritage.

No doubt, the moms who were gathered around that table are worthy of honor.  The love of their children - those present and those absent today - is evident.  These women have served well, passing along a heritage of faith and family tradition that will impact generations to come.

Reflecting on the day, this thought comes to mind:  In an age when relationships are broken for so many reasons and in the face of so many challenges, we enjoyed lunch today with families that have persevered… choosing to stay together for the long haul.  One man and one woman joined together in covenant relationship, holding fast to commitments made - no matter what.

For the wives / moms around the table, celebration is in order.  I watched my mom hang in there for decades, praying for her husband to come to Christ.  He did!  I am a product of her pointing me to Jesus, and I recognize her as the single greatest influence in my life other than Him.

I know my Annette has put up with a lot of nonsense from me.  She is best friend, mom, homemaker, and partner in ministry.  Through it all, she has been a mentor to our children, exemplifying Godliness, enduring love, selflessness, submission, patience, grace, a servant's heart… a list that could go on and on and on.  She, too, by the way, is a product of parents who have stayed together for the long haul, providing yet another example for us of steadfast love.  Our heritage is rich, and is to be cherished.

So in August, we - Annette and I - will celebrate 30 years of marriage.  Our celebration is one of the adventures we will chronicle in the days to come.  We are celebrating together.  My mom - going with us.  Because I value the example she has been for us.  Our kids - going with us.  Because this heritage of hanging in there no matter what is something we want to pass on.

Yes, in an age when relationships are broken for so many reasons and in the face of so many challenges… we choose the road less traveled.

Lord, help us to stay the course, traveling this road together forever, hand in hand, family to family… In Jesus name… Amen.

This Blogging Thing

I've never been a blogger. Neither has Annette. We're Facebookers. I tweet occasionally. But I've never attempted to create a web log… a blog.

One of the reasons I've never ventured down this particular road is I get a bit irritated with people who blog - but don't.  With good intention, I'm sure, they create their own little corner of the internet, and then never post anything new.  I've bookmarked some of those pages, checked for updates, and get… nothing.  I've never wanted to take up perfectly good space on the internet, and then fail to contribute anything of substance.  The likelihood of that happening:  HIGH.  But I thought this might be the time to try my hand at being a blogger.

If now is indeed the time, it's really not about now. It's about an exciting summer to come. We are planning an adventure-packed 2014. The experiences we anticipate should be chronicled in order to allow us to record and savor every experience… to not just record, but to reflect on those very experiences… and to share those experiences with those we are blessed to call family and friends.

So here we go.  jonandannette.blogspot.com is up and running!