More Than A Bike Ride

Richard Webster
Jul 1
3 min read

Last night, Ken and Richard sat down together and started turning a big dream into a real plan.

Ken’s Lake Michigan bike trip has always been about more than miles. There will be long roads, early mornings, changing weather, tired legs, and plenty of hills. But at the heart of this ride is a simple purpose: to raise money for Operation Christmas Child and help ship shoebox gifts to children around the world.

Every $10 helps ship one shoebox. The goal is $6,000, enough to help ship 600 shoeboxes. And if the goal is passed, that just means even more children can be reached.

Turning The Route Into A Real Plan

As the trip gets closer, the planning has become more real. Richard and Ken spent the evening walking through what it will actually take to make this ride happen.

The current route is about 545 miles, starting from Cartier Park Campground in Ludington, Michigan, and making its way around the top of Lake Michigan before heading back toward Hartford, Wisconsin.

They talked through the route, daily mileage, campgrounds, safer roads, weather, food, gear, and backup plans. First, they looked at campgrounds within 15 miles of the route. Then they narrowed it to 5 miles. Then they narrowed it again to 1 mile from the road. That gave them a much clearer picture of where they might realistically stop each night.

This trip will not be run like a rigid race. It will be a flexible, supported ride. Some days may be 60 to 80 miles. Other days may need to be shorter because of weather, safety, traffic, hills, or campground spacing. The goal is not just to finish. The goal is to finish wisely.

A Father And Son Team

Ken will be on the bike. Richard will be driving support, leapfrogging ahead, helping with food, water, camp setup, route decisions, and daily updates.

At the end of each day, Ken will mark exactly where he stopped. The next morning, Richard can drive him back to that same spot so the ride continues from where it left off.

They also talked about food. Ken plans to fuel mostly by snacking throughout the day instead of starting with a heavy breakfast. Things like hard-boiled eggs, apples, cheese, sardines, buttered pecans, water, and electrolytes will help keep him going. At night, the plan is simple, practical meals with plenty of protein.

Preparing For The Road Ahead

They talked through the gear too. Ken has been working on his bike setup, including a better phone mount, charging options, rain gear, and backup equipment. He is bringing two bikes, one as the main bike and one as a backup.

They also talked through lights, tools, tubes, EpiPens, first aid supplies, and everything that needs to be carried in the support van.

And because this trip is meant to be shared, they planned how to keep everyone updated. Each day, Ken and Richard hope to share where the ride started, where it ended, how many miles were covered, what happened along the way, and how people can continue to pray, share, and support the fundraiser.

There will be photos. There will be short videos. There will be daily blog updates when possible. Some updates may be funny. Some may be tiring. Some may be encouraging. Some may simply show the road ahead.

But together, they will tell the story.

Every Mile Has A Purpose

That is what made last night meaningful. It was not just a planning session. It was a father and son sitting together, thinking through the road ahead, working through the details, and preparing for something bigger than themselves.

Ken will be doing the pedaling, but this ride is becoming a team effort. Family, friends, supporters, donors, and people praying along the way will all be part of it.

The journey starts August 6.

Please follow along, share the updates, pray for safety, and consider donating to help ship shoebox gifts to children around the world.

Every $10 helps ship one Operation Christmas Child shoebox. No gift is too big or too small, and every gift helps move another box closer to a child.

Donate through Samaritan’s Purse here:https://fundraise.samaritanspurse.org/fundraiser/7346307

Every mile has a purpose. Every gift helps.