Here we are at last… the World Tour begins. Our train left the station in Atlanta about 30 minutes ago*, and only a few tears were shed (all mine) as we waved our final farewells. We’re headed north to begin pedaling in just a couple of days.

My aunt gave me a book at our leaving party last month, The Glorious Adventure (circa 1927) by Richard Halliburton. It opens with a quote from the Odyssey, which seemed fitting upon our departure:

“Come, my friends,
‘Tis not too late to seek a newer world.
Push off, and sitting well in order smite
The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds
To sail beyond the sunset… till I die…
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”

So here we are, pushing off. It’s exciting and unnerving, wonderful and scary, all at once. I am consistently required to face my fears. For example, this morning we made a final run to REI to buy socks, and my fear of bears resurfaced. I know, I know, probably not the most practical thing to be afraid of on this trip. I deeply wanted to buy Counter Assault bear repellant spray, in case I am ever separated from Dave in the woods (unlikely scenario #1) and happen to come upon a rogue, vicious bear (unlikely scenario #2).  Much to my dismay, it was $45—OUCH. I think Dave was trying to console me, and was even willing to cave and buy it just to make me feel better. But I decided I was being silly. We honestly do not need bear spray for the harmless black bears that scatter the Eastern US (although I did buy a bear bell for a mere $3, offering some level of bear counter-measure).  I know that fear, whether reasonable or irrational, is a part of this trip that might not ever go away. And in and of itself, it is not wrong or bad. But I must face it head on, and most of all, not let it rule over me or our decisions.

Thanks to all of you who have shown such tremendous support and love as we’ve been in the process of leaving these past few months. As we seek a newer world in this season of life, we pray that more than anything, our adventure will help us find God in a deeper and richer way. We pray that our faith in Him is built as we have opportunity to exercise it regularly.

Please keep us in your prayers as we begin!

*Note: this is being published about 48 hours after it was authored… as we have said many times, we’ll simply be updating our site as we have internet.

 

Dave's parents took us to the station for our official departure.

At the Amtrak Station in Atlanta

Friends and family waving us off at the station.

Our train arrived in the Boston Back Bay Station late Tuesday night.