The support I've gotten for the ride has been overwhelming. I might very well cry. I'm just amazed and grateful that folks think so much of the work to give me more contacts than I know what to do with, ideas/resources to pursue, and even their hard-earned money. It's a different manifestation of "Do what you love and the money will come."

My favorite phrase lately is "busier than a one-armed paperhanger". I'm trying to become a biblical scholar, fundraising superstar, and networker extraordinaire in the course of about 3 months, from the time I applied for the ride to when we enter our final phase of training and actually hit the road. It's thrilling and exhausting and I couldn't see myself doing anything else right now.

I'm so awed and inspired at the bigness of all of this, as well as excited about getting to know my fellow riders better on those very long drives.