Thirty Miles With Duncan

Ken started the morning of July 10 with a simple countdown in mind.

Twenty-seven days.

That is how long he has before he starts his bike ride around Lake Michigan for Operation Christmas Child. The temperature was around 60 degrees, the road was calling, and this time he was not riding alone.

He had Duncan with him.

A Riding Buddy Changes The Ride

There is something different about a training ride when someone else is beside you. The miles still count. The hills still burn. The wind still pushes back. But the conversation changes the rhythm of the day.

For Ken, this ride was not just another loop on the calendar. It became a ride through some of Duncan's old neighborhood, with stories coming out along the way.

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Duncan pointed out places where he used to ride his bike and play as a kid. Ken took it all in from the seat of his own bike, training for a much bigger road ahead.

Hogsback Road

Then came Hogsback Road.

Ken had just climbed the hill and made it to the top. He remembered hearing stories from years ago about old junk cars that used to get pushed down the hill, rolling and flipping until they landed at the bottom.

He laughed about it, but there was also a little truth in what came next.

I just gotta be strong.

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That line probably says more about this trip than anything else. The Lake Michigan ride is not just about covering miles. It is about getting stronger before the trip begins: stronger in the legs, stronger in endurance, stronger in patience, and stronger mentally when the road gets long.

What Goes Up

Of course, every climb has another side.

Ken said it best: whatever goes up must come down.

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After the work of climbing, there was the fun of the descent. One stretch even had a sharp hairpin turn, but Ken handled it and came out smiling.

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Oh, that was fun.

That is the kind of moment that makes training feel less like a checklist and more like a story.

Duncan Made The Hills Look Easy

At one point, Ken asked Duncan what he thought of the hills. Duncan's answer was calm: they were not so bad.

Ken noticed.

You make it look easy.

Duncan gave the real answer: a lot of practice.

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That is the part people do not always see. The ride around Lake Michigan will happen in August, but the work is happening now. These training rides are where the trip is being built one climb, one mile, and one decision at a time.

Thirty Miles Finished

By the end, Ken and Duncan had finished a 30-mile ride together.

Ken called it good. Duncan called it awesome. That sounds about right.

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Help Encourage Ken

If you are following along, one of the best ways to encourage Ken is simple: like the posts, leave a comment, and let him know you are watching the journey.

Those little notes matter. When the miles get long, encouragement from friends and family can make a real difference.

You can comment here on the blog, and if you saw this shared on Facebook, it would also mean a lot if you went back and liked or commented there too.

Why He Is Riding

Ken is riding to raise money for Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan's Purse. The goal is to help cover the shipping and handling cost for shoebox gifts that are sent to children around the world.

Each shoebox costs $10 to ship. The goal is to raise $6,000, enough to help send 600 shoeboxes.

No gift is too big or too small. Small gifts add up, and every bit helps move the mission forward.

Donate here: Samaritan's Purse fundraiser