It's a long road - not just for a bike

Two days to go and the Red Shield Ride Tasmania will be setting off for its 3rd Edition.

I've just get back from an easy spin for the last couple of hours.  The body feel's good at the moment; I'm happy with the bike; I'm pretty sure that all the logistics of being away from home for five days of cycling is all in hand, but hey!  It's a long road ahead; 660km of it.

Two years ago today, the Red Shield Riders were pedalling eastward from George Town in the States north to Bridport.  On that stretch of road we passed a photographer who was willing to good to great lengths to get the picture he wanted to accompany an article in the Examiner newspaper.  We knew he'd be there, somewhere along the road; we'd passed him once already.  On the second ride by we passed him lying in a ditch, beyond the shoulder of the road ready to capture the moment we went by.

The Perfect Photo?!

Yesterday I spent over fives hours sitting with a friend of mine (we'll call this friend Sam), who it's fair to say sometimes doesn't find life easy at all.  I'd been called by another friend who knew Sam wasn't travelling too well and had gone to find them.  Once found, I sat with Sam with one goal in mind: Keep Sam alive; restore hope.  We talked, we laughed, we growled at each other, Sam slept.  Hour after hour I sat there watching.  Eventually our other friend came and exchanged places with me - there to do just the same as I had been doing.

Will Sam remember or recognise what we did yesterday?  I think, or perhaps I hope so.  But in the end that doesn't matter.  Every minute I sat there was worth it.  It was worth it because I love Sam and want nothing but the best.  Yesterday, the best we could conjure, was to see Sam through to today.

Tomorrow, I'll begin five days of sitting with friends, albeit in different surroundings and with different outcomes in mind.  Everyday The Salvation Army sit with, listen to and seek to bring some measure of salvation - any measure we possibly can - into the lives of people with love, but who we also may never have met before.  

I'll be sitting on my bike pedalling away for the next five days; up and down the hills of beautiful Tasmania to raise money so that The Salvation Army continues to have the resources - be it people, material or financial - to be able to come alongside people like Sam.

Please sponsor me or make a donation here?  There often isn't much 'flash' or 'show' about the work the Salvos do, but in some way, and sometimes only in the smallest of ways, Salvos are able to bring hope where it's needed most and save a life - even if only for today.

Please Give?

Getting the perfect photo!