The Rocking Chair Goes Nowhere
- Richard Webster
- Jul 21
- 4 min read
Ken woke up stiff this morning.
That was not surprising after yesterday's long training ride. A few minutes of stretching helped loosen everything up, and soon he was looking at another full day on the bicycle. It was 71 degrees, the air quality was a much better 44, and the mask could stay packed as a precaution instead of covering his face.
There were only 16 training days left before the Lake Michigan journey begins.
Ken's plan sounded simple enough: ride through Allenton, continue into West Bend, get his glasses fixed, stop at Richard's house, then work his way through Jackson and home. On paper, it looked like about 35 miles.
Ken looked into the camera and said, "Let's get her done."
Headwind and Hills to Allenton
The first stretch quickly reminded Ken that the map never tells the whole story. A headwind blowing at roughly 15 miles per hour turned every exposed section of road into extra resistance.
Ken made an important distinction while riding. He was not complaining about the wind. He was describing it so the people following along could experience the ride with him.
The route toward Allenton then gave him hill after hill, followed by the welcome reward of a downhill run into town. By the time Ken reached Allenton, he had traveled about 10 miles and was still roughly 10 miles from Richard's house.
A Warning From His Brother Mike
Somewhere between Allenton and West Bend, the day became about more than mileage.
Ken spoke about his older brother Mike, who has repeatedly warned him about the danger of distracted drivers. Mike is not trying to discourage him. He loves him, and after the family has already lost their brother Don, he does not want to lose another brother.
Ken understands the concern. He wears high visibility gear, watches traffic carefully, studies his routes and makes decisions with safety in mind. But he also believes fear cannot be allowed to make every decision.
"You can't live your life in a bubble," Ken said. "You can't sit in a rocking chair and worry about everything. You're moving back and forth, but you're not going anywhere."
For Ken, the answer is not carelessness. It is faith, preparation and continuing to live with purpose. He knows where he is going when the Lord eventually calls him home. Until then, he wants to keep doing what he loves and encourage other people to keep moving forward too.
Then, almost on cue, another hill appeared in front of him.
Into West Bend
Ken reached West Bend after roughly 16 miles and an hour and a half of riding. Richard's house was still ahead, so the workout was far from over.
Twenty Miles to Richard's House
About two hours and 20 miles after leaving home, Ken reached Richard's house. It was a natural checkpoint in the day's loop and another chance to show how the support team will work once the Lake Michigan trip begins.
Richard will be driving the support van, leapfrogging ahead, checking routes, setting up camp and helping Ken return to the previous day's stopping point each morning. Today's stop was smaller, but it was another rehearsal for the partnership the full journey will require.
New Glasses and the Ride Home
One practical reason for the West Bend stop was Advanced Focus Eyecare. Ken needed to exchange his glasses after a lens problem on the previous ride, and today he was able to pick up the corrected pair.
He also stopped at Mountain Outfitters to discuss the possibility of support for the Lake Michigan journey. Nothing is being announced yet, but Ken appreciated the conversation and the interest in what the ride is trying to accomplish for Operation Christmas Child.
Leaving West Bend on Highway 33, Ken still had about 13 miles to ride. The wind was strong enough to move him around on the bicycle, so he eventually chose quieter back roads for the final stretch home.
Nearly 41 Miles Complete
Ken finished the day smiling. The temperature had climbed to 77 degrees, the route had delivered plenty of hills and wind, and the final number was higher than the 35 miles he expected that morning.
By the Numbers
Distance: 40.97 miles
Climbing: 1,673 feet
Moving time: 4 hours, 16 minutes
Elapsed time: 5 hours, 52 minutes
Calories burned: 2,178
The biggest number may be the one that is not shown on the screen: 16 days left.
Every ride is helping Ken prepare for nearly 600 miles around Lake Michigan. The journey honors the ride he shared with Don about 20 years ago and supports a new purpose today: helping cover the shipping and handling costs for Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts.
Your Encouragement Matters
If you are following Ken's training, please leave a comment on this post and like or comment on the Facebook post that brought you here. Ken reads that encouragement, and it genuinely helps on the mornings when his legs are stiff and another hill is waiting.
You can also help send shoebox gifts to children around the world by supporting Ken's Samaritan's Purse fundraiser. Every gift moves the campaign closer to its $6,000 goal, which would help cover the $10 shipping and handling cost for 600 shoebox gifts.
No gift is too big or too small. Every mile, every comment and every act of encouragement helps carry this journey forward.
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