Karina & Britta Schindler/Swanson

The days after: final thoughts and reflections

By Britta

Some stats from the trip:

Total mileage: 1,450

Number of days biking: 17 (and 3 rest days)

Daily average mileage: 85

Number of states biked through: 7 (and 1 Canadian province)

Great Lakes we biked by: 5

Number of people who joined us biking along the way: 9

Number of donors so far: 92

Money raised thus far: $13,892

I’ve sat down many times in the last week or so since getting back to the Midwest to try and write this final reflection on the cycling fundraising trip. At first I felt like I had nothing to say. Many people have been asking me how I feel about being done, and mostly it all feels surreal that it has even happened. Now, after having some time to fully rejuvenate and reflect, all that comes forth is an immense amount of joy and gratitude. 

Looking back on the whole trip, I remember often thinking, “Who is letting me do this?” Less than a year ago Karina and I had this idea, and now it’s finally happened. Along the way there were many beautiful roads and crummy roads, blue skies and ones that looked like the gray went on forever, times when we were so excited to get back on the bike and days when it was the last thing we wanted to do. It’s funny how time both trudged by so slowly during certain days and whizzed by at others.

Through it all was the steadiness of our mission to raise support for World Bicycle Relief and the steadiness of the two lovely women who were my teammates. I swear at every rest single stop my mom, Erin, was bouncing up and down, cheering us on, and always ready to help with tasty snacks, an encouraging word, and even joining to bike for many, many miles. For those of you who don’t know Karina, she is one of the most prepared individuals I’ve ever met. Not just for herself, mind you, but for every single person she’s with. I’m a chronic under-packer, so when I needed earplugs and an eye mask, guess who brought me an extra set? When I lost my earbuds, guess who had an extra pair she lent me graciously? When I needed an extra boost of energy, where would I go but Karina’s coffee cup (oops!). This readiness to help and constant demonstrations of a servant’s heart are things I truly admire about my dear cousin Karina. She is the goofiest of people (at all times, even in public), incredibly loving, so patient with all my coffee stealing and a kickass biker. Even when she faces an enormous hill that seemingly has no end, she just puts her head down and jams to Les Mis (of course!).

That I got to go on a 3 week long trip with these two amazing gals (and friends and family who joined along the way), I sit here now, in awe of the time we had and the support we helped raise. There was a HUGE amount of support from our friends, family, news stations, and local businesses. For all this, we are incredibly grateful.

With this money raised, World Bicycle Relief is able to give out over 80 of their super sturdy, easy to maintain, Buffalo Bikes. 70% of these bikes will be given to women and girls as in many places globally they “face cultural obstacles that limit their access to quality education, well-paid employment, quality reproductive healthcare, and property rights.” It’s not just the individual who receives a bike that is impacted, but also their family and surrounding community. 

Karina, Mom, and I were all blown away at the feelings of freedom and empowerment that come with biking. My hope and prayer is that the people receiving these bikes will feel the same amount of joy, empowerment, and ease that a bicycle ensues as both a means of speedy transportation as well as excitement. 

Though Karina and I will still be biking much in the days to come, we have other new adventures that lay ahead. For Karina, she started summer school this week and will be taking Calculus and Chemistry for the next few months. On the side, she’ll be training for a half marathon in the fall, hanging out with her kitty, and biking too (of course!). This fall she will begin her last year at the U of M, studying Biology, Society, and Environment.

Luckily my beautiful bike will be able to be repaired by Deke from Oneota River Cycles–hooray! I have started my job search in the Twin Cities to hopefully put my degree in Cultural Entrepreneurship to good use in positions involving community outreach, business development, or perhaps even fundraising for a nonprofit! If anyone has any recommendations, I’d love to hear them. Karina and I will be living together this year, so the adventures never really will end!

Any donations to WBR are still much appreciated. Now we pray that these bikes donated will truly be as WBR says, “catalysts for change”.

Who knows what else is in store for Karina and I… after all, there is still the western half of the country :)

Day #20: The ride to the Atlantic

Belmont, NH to Biddeford, ME

Total Mileage: 83

By Britta

One last morning of hastily stuffing sleeping bags, pumping tires, and filling up waters. Then coffee and oats, like usual. We said our morning prayer one last time, and I was struck by the line asking to be “mindful of the accomplishment that was done with Your help, guidance, and strength; give us a joyful reunion at home”. We started our watches and rolled out of camp before 7.

As the vibrant green trees whizzed by our view, we were blessed with another beautiful blue sky day. Lots of good ups and downs today, though it seemed to all feel more purposeful as we were only a few dozen miles from the Atlantic. 

After Mom’s delicious spread for lunch consisting of fresh bread from a farmer’s market, tasty watermelon, loads of cheese, chicken, globs of peanut butter, and sour patch kids, Dad and I continued on. Then, for the last 15 miles, Dad and Karina swapped out so she and I could bring it home at the end. We dipped in and out of conversations, still in awe that we had less than an hour left on these bikes we had learned to love (and sometimes dislike). I was surprised by my wonderful brother, Peter, who biked alongside us until we reached the coast.

When we got to the beach, Mom, Dad, and Zoe (my sister-in-law) were standing there cheering. Karina and I wildly ran our bikes to the edge of the water before whipping off our glasses, helmets, and gloves (but not socks). Bounding excitedly into the Atlantic, I looked at Karina in disbelief–we had done it! The trip that had been in the works for the past year had been finished. All the fundraising letters written and addressed, the countless hours on the stationary trainer, the numerous Zoom calls to coordinate the route and packing list, and all the doubts and fears that the Lord continued to ease and overcome. We had finished the almost 1,500-mile journey to fundraise for the amazing organization, World Bicycle Relief.

Mom and Dad joined our celebrations in the salty water with a big group hug. In awe that this was the end of the trip we spent the rest of the evening reflecting, napping (of course), feasting, and being with family. We will take the next few days to hang out in Maine and be with family, so more reflections on that to come in the next few days…

Day #19: “This is SO beautiful”

Killington, VT to Belmont, NH

By Britta

Today’s Stats:

Total Mileage: 96

Number of times Mom said “This is SO beautiful”: 17

Elevation gain: 4,004 feet

Dad had the “brilliant” idea of waking up around 5:45 to beat the heat and start biking by 6:30. The morning was a bit chilly especially since we got to fly down the steep hills of Vermont next to the river. Karina joined us a bit later in the morning to help us climb back up the said hills. She must’ve loved it as she later claimed and I quote, “Kurt, if you would’ve passed me singing Hakuna Matata one more time, I’d have chopped you to bits!” 

After lunch, Karina decided she had enough of the hills, so she drove while Mom finished out the day biking with Dad and I.  As the three of us climbed up yet another hill, my chain fell off. After pulling over to quickly put it back on, I downshifted and POW! my derailleur decided to jam itself into a spoke on my wheel. When I pulled over to fix it, I tragically discovered the derailleur had ripped off and broken my frame in the process. My beautiful All City frame was now dead and I was really bummed. With only 100 miles or so from our final destination of the trip, I couldn’t believe my bike had betrayed me at the last moment(!). She was only 4 years old, but she was the only biked I ever loved (haha). She was a patchwork of parts from my dad’s old bikes and I learned how to put her together with the shared knowledge from Deke, owner of Oneota River Cycles.

I took Mom’s bike and reluctantly finished the last 10 miles of the day with Dad by my side. It’s possible the bike will be able to be welded, but I don't know enough about bikes to tell. If nothing else, I will salvage the other parts and find a new frame.

That evening, we camped next to a group of noisy neighbors. For some reason they weren’t wanting to respect our quiet hours when we were heading to bed at 7:50 pm. The audacity! 

Day #16: Cruuuuuising downhill

Day #15: The Century Ride

Port Byron to Frankford

By Britta

Today's Stats:

Total mileage: 102

Temperature: 88 and SO HUMID

Today's snacks: cherry Twizzlers, hard-boiled eggs, and stroop waffles

Knowing today would be more mileage than most I bid Liesl and Karina goodbye and took off before 7:30 after reading the daily prayer. On the Empire State Trail again, spent the time taking in the lovely New York scenery and listening to some interesting podcasts on a Catholics take on how to embody Love.

Lunch was an assortment of leftovers and fresh watermelon. I had my daily dose of ibuprofen and cherry twizlers and was off again.

Liesl "casually" joined for almost 30 miles in the afternoon, so I had the joy of my aunt for a few hours today! At one point we got stuck behind a gaggle of geese who would not leave the trail. We weren't able to pass on either side as it was a drop off. Those fellas sure are goobers.

The last 10 miles were so steep it must be taken me about an hour and a half. I popped in an earbud an jammed to some contemporary gospel music.

Slimy with sweat I arrived at tonight's abode with shaky quads. I was met with a popsicle from Karina and wowee it was delicious! My mom and Dad will join us tomorrow, so it should be a stellar day! That's all for now.

Day #14: What day is today?

By Karina

Today's Stats

Holley, NY to Port Byron, NY

Today's Stats:

Total mileage: 89

Annoying bikes: 2

Cups of coffee: 5

Mg of ibuprofen: 1200

Tim bits consumed: 6

An assortment of today's thoughts:

- Bike problems today. We are done with bikes. Let’s rollerblade the rest of the way. 

- Britta fell again. WHY? Can she not bike at this point? This is a problem 

- I purposely rode over bumps in attempt to break my bike so didn’t have to ride. It was too strong. Rats

- There were many funny bumble bees

- Saw so many folks on the empire state trail

- Fun campground. Met another fellow biker. We gave him stroop waffles

- Lots of farmland today. Britta must’ve felt so at home since she's from Iowa. Boring in my opinion. Slightly stinky. Too many hills. 

- Too tired for full sentences. Brain farts here you go. 

- Liesl makes such delicious meals. So tasty!  We may need to hire her full time as our cook

NEW LISTING: 

2 Mint condition bikes for $2,000,000 OBO

Day #13: Death by Goose

By: Karina

Niagara Falls, NY to Holley, NY

(To be read in a British accent)

Today’s Stats:

Total mileage: 65

Animals seen: Lots of geese, a red fox, and 1 wild New Yorker

Seat Adjustments: 12

Quick equation to sum up the day:

+2 goose + 1 lost waterbottle + 2 moldy waterbottles = today

The day started by sleeping in until a WHOPPING 6:30 am. With a short day ahead, we slowly made our way out of our soggy abode to only discover that the interesting flavor I had been tasting in my water bottle over the past few days was in fact MOLD. How dare my trusty water bottle betray me! Nevertheless, I braved the day with a replacement from my dear Aunt Erin. 

Today, we began our trek in the mist, perfect pillaging weather some may say, and it was our first-day biking in what some would call an… interesting state. To elaborate, let me paint a picture. We were strolling about a lovely trail along the Erie Canal, exchanging friendly glances and greetings with our fellow early-morning activists. When all of a sudden… WHAM. GEESE. Let it be known, that it is gosling season. Take it as your warning to STAY AWAY from MOTHER GOOSE. As we try to avert the crisis ahead, I try to call out a caution to my dear teammate but alas, too late. Britta got confused and indecisive and met the ground with much regard right in front of the matriarch. But then, as Britta got up swiftly, she took the higher road, and I decided to go around on the soggy grass. But a bad idea that was. With my tiny tires, I was slipping and sliding. With my legs clipped out for balance, my speed started to dwindle, and Mother Goose took that as her opportunity to strike. With only my will propelling me forward, the progenitor ran forth to clear me of her dear baby fuzzballs.  Mother Goose won the battle at hand. And as I regained my composure, I continued onward. 

Miles later, we were devastated to find that amid Britta’s fall, she had lost her glorious, insulated water bottle. Laughing to ourselves at the occurrences that have transpired, we meet Liesl for a snack break. As we work to solve our growing water reservoir problem, we strap in for the rest of the day ahead. And let it be known… we were only 15 miles in. Praying for a tranquil rest of the day, we come to find that my other water bottle has also been ravaged by mold. Bollocks! 

A small diner and two water refills later, we are set for the remaining time until lunch. As we take a road detour, we are shadowed by a less-than-welcoming New York driver, not once, but twice. Shaking off the frigid encounter, we pedal on seamlessly until our wrong turn that added 3.5 miles to the tally. Fret not, as spirits were still high. 

We roll until lunch with hungry bellies and a craving for a slow afternoon and evening. Liesl had graciously prepped everything for us and all we needed to do was fill our stomachs with food to fuel the remaining 16 miles. And with satiated bodies, we set out for the remainder of the ride. 

On our turn off to head to the campsite, we come across a lovely man standing in his yard. But what he was doing had us speechless. From the safety of his patio, he was operating a remote-control lawn mower! Absolutely remarkable! And with praise given his way, we roll into our dwelling for the night, an RV park with both rambunctious kids and adults. As the sun is shining down, we lay our wet gear out to dry. And with a slow afternoon and evening, we sit down to supper with quieted minds and feast upon sausages, corn on the cob, and refreshingly cold watermelon. A meal for queens it was indeed. The sun is slowly dissolving into the horizon with the frogs croaking and as I sit here fresh out of the shower, it is hard not to be grateful for the journey thus far, the people we are embarking upon it with, and the people and communities who’s lives we are impacting through the Power of Bicycles. 

All for now folks. Cheers, Karina.

Day #12: Stoked about our new ponchos

Hello friends, Karina here. 

We are back stateside hanging out in New York. Our aunt, Liesl has joined us for the next few days as Erin flies out to Maine to be with Britta’s brother, Peter, as he graduates. It’s going to be a fun few days as we continue throughout NY. 

We are lucky enough to spend our rest day in Niagara and this morning, we boarded the Maid of the Mist. Or as Erin likes to say, “the Lady in the Midst”. We were swallowed in a sea of blue ponchos and as we boated over to the falls we waved at the Canadian boats in their red ponchos. It was quite a funny sight.

Here’s your fun fact of the day; Niagara Falls is not one specific fall, but rather a collection of three falls that are named Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls.

We are also fortunate enough to be staying at a place with both laundry AND showers. Luxury. So Britta and I packed up our stinky clothes, coated in a layer of chamois butter and were able to wash them clean. And now, we are sitting in a small Tim Hortons just down the road from our campground sipping on coffee and munching on donuts as there is a steady rain outside. Hopefully, our tent and sleeping bags will stay dry. But for now, we are feeling blessed at the feeling of being rested, warm, dry, and wearing clean clothes. 

Find ways to put life into different perspectives. Find ways to appreciate the little things. 

We are halfway through and time seems to be flying by.

Day #11: Comfort from Tolkien’s words and cherry garcia

By: Britta

Tilsonburg, ON to Niagara, NY

Today’s Stats:

Total mileage: 70

Tired brains: 1 (mine)

Beautiful, smooth roads: the whole day (!!!)

Delightful ice cream breaks: 1

Today was a tough start. My quads were cramping up when I walked upstairs, my knee had felt creaky for the past few days, and I wasn’t “in it” mentally. I jotted a quick prayer in my journal asking the Lord for the strength that I didn’t have by myself. The fact that we are just over halfway through the total mileage of the trip felt both exciting when looking at how far we’ve gone, but also daunting knowing that there was still many a miles to get done in the last part of the trip.

Groaning onto my bike that often feels like an extension of myself at this point, I grumbled to my mom about how terribly tired I was and how biking felt repetitive and annoying. Trying to remember who let me go through with this dumb idea, I let my sour mood consume me for a bit as the miles slowly dragged on.

Once I was done sulking, I popped in an earbud and handed the other to my mom. Together we listened to Return of the King, and I was whisked away into the world of Middle Earth. Momentarily forgetting about my bad mood and cramping calves, I was transported beside Legolas as he told his crew about his trials saying, “Oft hope is born when all is forlorn.”

This perspective of optimism from Tolkien’s writings along with Mom’s idea to buy cherry garcia ice cream, brought sunlight through the clouds in my mind. Sure my body was tired and my mind ready for a rest, but I wasn’t planning for this trip to be a breeze. The goal of this trip is not to have fun and enjoy EVERY SINGLE moment. The purpose is to raise funds to provide others with bicycles to help empower communities and improve transportation. If I’m not having “the time of my life” at all moments in these three weeks who cares?! Though the majority of the trip has been a blast, moments of fatigue and burnout are okay. 

We pushed on through the afternoon with the excitement of seeing our aunt in the evening and rejoiced in the knowledge that we had a rest day tomorrow. 

DAY #10: The vortex of Semis

By Britta

Port Huron, ON to Tilsonburg, ON

Today’s Stats:

Total mileage: 86

Falls: 1 (Britta for the third time)

Hills: 0

Musicals listened to: 6

Inches of Jimmy John’s bread eaten: 32

Dead raccoons spotted: 7

Best wishes sent out with us from some lovely people at Lakewood Christian Campground. I accidentally added a fun little 4 extra miles of gravel roads to put a smile on Karina’s face. The rest of the morning was extremely flat farmland through our first glimpses of Ontario. On the side of busy roads with too many speedy semis and chungus trucks that sucked us into their vortex, Karina and I were EXTREMELY ready to pop off to the quiet side roads.

For lunch, Mom decided to knock on a little country Baptist Church to see if we could plop down for a picnic on their land. They kindly agreed and chatted with us while we chomped on beef jerky and stuffed our faces with Sour Patch Kids. 

In the afternoon, Mom joined me for the last miles before reaching the Shuurman’s delightful farm. After a delicious meal and scrubbing off our weekly grime, we enjoyed the evening spent with their grandiose pup and reading books on the back porch.

DAY #9: Exhaustion finally hits

(Britta)

Saint Johns, MI to Port Huron, MI

Today’s Stats:

Total Mileage: 92 (I think)

Falls: 1 (me again)

Flat Tires: 1 (Karina’s bike, of course)

The rain and wind met us this morning with a punch to the face. Karina and I set out into the soggy day with glum faces. After an hour or so Mom joined the biking team for the day. With cold feet and hands all morning, getting a flat mid-morning seemed disheartening but also added an almost comical touch.

The afternoon was filled with gravel roads with many potholes. We felt like we were being tossed in a shaker, though the beautiful scenery lifted our spirits despite the exhaustion from being on the road for over a week. For the last 15 miles of the day, our brains and bodies felt numb. 

This was the longest day Mom had biked in many, many years. So by the time we made it to the truck, she was in a cheery, goofy mood. Karina was spunky as ever and ready to drive. It’s times like this I am especially amazed at my two teammates (?). I feel incredibly blessed to be doing a fundraising trip like this with such incredible women.

With a long day of biking behind us and a border crossing yet ahead, Jimmy Johns stood as our beacon of hope. After what may have been the most satisfying meal, we headed into Canada with tummies full and eyes tired. Pulling late into Lakewood Christian Campground, we were greeted by the hospitable Ed and Jenny and then headed to bed.

Day #8: Into Michigan

(Britta)

Milwaukee, WI to Saint Johns, MI

Today's stats:

Total mileage: 70

Crazy Shih Tzu herd: 1

Brain cells: maybe 2

The morning came bright and early at 4:45 am to make our way to the Lake Express high-speed ferry at 515 from Milwaukee to Muskegon. A few months ago I wrote a letter to Lake Express and asked if they wanted to partner with WBR by granting us free passage across Lake Michigan and then eagerly agreed! They also gave us premier seats (aka first class on a boat), so as we stepped aboard the ferry that morning we handed out cookies to some workers to say thank you. After tripping into the luxurious premier seats, Mom was bold enough to ask if we could see the captain to thank him personally, so the kind stewardess brought us to the bridge of the ferry to shake Captain John's hand. We spewed a multitude of questions at him while gawking at the complex navigation systems. 

Once off the ferry, Mom trucked Karina and I through the busiest part of Mukegon and brought us to the start of the Musketawa trail. It was a late start due to the ferry across the lake, so we were only able to get 30 miles in before lunch on the edge of a random farm. Though our bodies protested, we rolled through the last 40 miles of the day.

Some fun and funny events from the afternoon:

1. A random lady with seven Shih Tzus handed us giant glasses of water from the side of the road

2. I ate a hard-boiled guinea egg as a mid-bike snack

3. Karina got a flat tire and needed four old biker guys to help her put the fresh one back on

We got to our campsite around 6 pm and then cooked a filling meal of onions, peppers, beef, noodles, and red sauce. The rain started pouring shortly after we finished up dinner, so the rest of the evening was spent in the tent reading out loud from Boys in the Boat. Normal bedtime around 8:30/9.

Day #7: Mother's Day

Madison, WI to Milwaukee, WI

(Britta and Karina)

Stats: 

Total Mileage: 77

Turtles Seen: 1 Snapper 

Squirrels *almost hit: 1

Go-cart races seen: 1

Badass fast bikers (that lapped us): LOTS

What initially drew us to World Bicycle Relief is that about 70% of the bikes distributed go to females. WBR emphasizes giving the Buffalo Bikes to women and girls as they “in particular, face significant cultural barriers to accessing education, healthcare and employment.” 

As today is the day of mothers, we would like to take the time to appreciate the powerful women around us. To begin, of course, our dear moms, Erin and Julie, who taught us how to love others fully and be goofy while doing so. Another wonderful role model is our beautiful Grandmother Beltia who has shown us how to dream big. The multitude of lovely aunts, great aunts, and family friends have been marvelous examples of strong, caring, and hardworking women as well.

Today we’re sending some extra love to Erin as she is on this journey with us and supporting us at all hours of the day. Between the tasty food, love, cheer, and emotional support she has given us, we would not be here without her. 

We had a speedy day today starting off at 7:30 and kept up speeds of 15 mph– the rest day surely did us good. With our abundant time on hand, we decided to write a rap to our dear moms to say thank you. After a quick stop for lunch by the side of a gas station, we finished up our final 30 miles of the day on a lovely paved bike trail. Another blessing to stay with friends of friends this evening at their beautiful abode. Ferry ride across Lake Michigan tomorrow morning.

Day #6: First Rest Day

Rest day in Madison

(Both Britta and Karina!)

Day 6 Stats: 

Hours Slept: 9 

Total Mileage: 0 

Pounds of cheese eaten: 10 (probably)

As Katie and Blake kindly let us crash at their place, we were able to sleep in until a whopping 6 am on comfortable pillows and cushy mattresses. A magnificent spread of tasty breakfast treats and coffee were already waiting for us in the kitchen thanks to our gracious hosts. We had a lot on the agenda today (not really). We had to go to the farmer’s market (of course) and we had another news interview with Channel 3 Wisconsin. We rested up for the days ahead and saw old friends and then met new ones. Fabulous. A very wholesome day indeed.

Day #5: Misty Morning

Wilton, WI to Madison, WI

By Britta

Today's Mileage: 96.16

Misty morning today with our classic breakfast of oats with peanuts and raisins (and coffee of course!). Linnea graciously spent some time tending to the bikes in the parking lot before heading out at 7:45. The damp morning resulted in some squishy crushed gravel trails (the 400 trail) which worked fine for Linnea and I with the thick tires, but Karina’s derailleur was still bent from yesterday’s fall, so she had to turn around after a few miles. (Thanks to Drew at Trek Bicycles in Waterloo who fixed it up later).

Linnea and I continued on the mucky trails until we couldn’t bear going 11 mph any longer, so we jumped on the side of the highway where the smooth pavement made us feel as though we were flying. The rest of the morning was spent chatting and taking in the beautiful farmland along the way. 

At 50 miles, we met Mom and Karina for a smorgasbord lunch on the side of a country road. Chowing down on cheese, tortillas, and whatever other strange food combinations we could muster (pickles and peanut butter, honey and cucumber, spam and old noodles), we hit the road again for the last 45 miles or so.

Linnea’s energetic mind made the hours pass by quickly. While there’s not much to do sitting on a bike for 7 hours, Linnea made sure to keep the time entertaining by asking inquisitive questions such as, “What’s your favorite letter of the alphabet?” Though I had no response to that silly question, I am so grateful she was able to join for a few days. She certainly did make the miles pass by quickly.

Staying at a friend’s house tonight seems luxurious with indoor plumbing, hot showers, and fresh chili ready when we arrived. A bed will seem extra fancy tonight! The first rest day for me is tomorrow. With about 430 miles in the past five days, my legs sure are ready for a change.

Day #4: The Joy of Biking

Alma, WI to Wilton, WI

By Britta

Today’s Stats:

• Total mileage: 84.3

• Crazy bunnies: so many

• Animals spotted: emu, llama, and black squirrel

• Disney songs sung: too many

After a noisy night near the train tracks, we rolled out of our sleeping bags and packed up the campsite. My friend, Linnea, was kind (and crazy?) enough to agree to join the trip for a few days, so she and I headed out for the morning around 8 am. 

My prayers this morning drifted to what WBR calls “the power of the bicycle”.  What a blessing it is to spend so many hours on a bike, touring through two states (so far) and taking in the luscious green bluffs. As we bike, my mind goes to who these buffalo bikes will be given to.

For me, biking brings feelings of strength and freedom, so the fact that there will be over 73 bikes given out (so far) gives me immense gratitude. I know the Lord will use these bikes to encourage and empower others as he has done in my life.

After many miles and a few hard-boiled eggs as mid-ride snacks later, Karina joined the biking gang for the afternoon. We got to ride through a 3,810-foot-long tunnel which required headlamps and gripping the handlebars so as not to slip on the damp tunnel floor. Once leaving the tunnel, we were met with rain and chilly winds. To improve our spirits, I tried to add my own cringy lyrics on top of Disney tunes. Just when I thought it was finally working, I tried to pull on a long sleeve while temporarily handing my helmet to Karina, and WHAM! she hit the ground hard. After a bike assessment and a ton of “I’m so sorry!” from me, we decided the scrapes and bruises could not stop us. 

After 30 minutes of frigid rain and low spirits, we decided to call it for the night once we could find a spot with service. My dear mother must’ve read my mind, for at an opening on the trail there stood the 4 foot 11 inch wonder of my mom. The shining blue Subaru stood as our beacon of hope through the mucky rains. We were safe.

Warm hot chocolate and minute rice to soak Karina’s damp phone helped improve our spirits immensely. Though we got to camp late, we all slept well.

Our Prayer

As many of you know, our faith is very important to us. As it was our Grandpa. One of the special parts about this trip is that we are reading the same prayer that our Grandpa and his team read every day on their trip. If anyone would like to continue to praying for us and with us, here is the prayer: 

Most Gracious and Merciful Heavenly Father, 

We give thanks to you and rejoice in this new day You’ve given. You alone know what’s in store for us in this new day. To that end, guide and protect us. Give us strength and courage to meet the day ahead. Keep us safe from all harm and danger. Protect us from every evil. We entrust ourselves to Your merciful and loving hands. Give us joy together. Help us to seek Your forgiveness when we do wrong and give us forgiving hearts and voices as we deal with each other. As we journey, help us to do good when opportunity presents itself, and to receive good with much thanksgiving. At the end of each day give us peace to rest. And finally, at the end of our journey, make us mindful of the accomplishment that was done with Your help, guidance, and strength; give us a joyful reunion at home. 

We ask this all in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. 

Amen!

Day 3: The Gangs all here

Hudson, WI to Alma, WI

By Karina

Twas the third day for Britta and the first day for me with my flabby little legs. 

The morning started off by trying to coax parents out of bed with coffee and running around like chickens with their heads cut off.  I, as always, overpacked and had to try to shove my crap into an already full car with everyone’s stuff. But alas, we made it work. 

My parents sent us all off to the Rocky theme song and the day began. There were five of us total and needless to say, we took up quite a large chunk of the road. But we made everyone move over for us. And then Carson basically almost died cutting across two lanes of traffic in front of about 12 cars, but he survived!

Around 10 miles in, we said goodbye to the crew and then it was just Britta and I. 

We rode some hills that got the lungs and legs burning and then rode through some of the most beautiful terrain, but with the sun beating down and the water supply dwindling, it was time for lunch. Erin brought us in for the first half of the day and the smorgasbord of food was laid out upon us and the feasting ensued. Too much food and some lying around later… it was time to set out again. Feeling like a bloated chihuahua with some cramping legs, we trudged on until Erin picked me up in Pepin and Britta met up with her friend Linnea. And 13 miles later, they rolled into the campsite after I had been lounging around with my feet up like a load. I won’t complain though hehe. And now, after some organizing of the car, the stink bugs will shower and we shall make some supper consisting of spam, rice, eggs, and beans. Living the life! Anyway, tune in tomorrow to see how our butts will fair as we head further east chipping away the miles to the Atlantic Ocean. Bean out. 

Day #2L A Soggy day

Hinckley, MN to North Hudson, WI

By Britta

Today's Stats:

Total Miles: 88

Turtles sighted: 3

Birds seen: yellow warbler, sandhill crane, eastern bluebird, rose-breasted grosbeak, ruffed grouse, and goldfinch

The rain was steady all morning but brought blue skies and sun in the afternoon. 

Getting back on the bikes after lunch brought sore butts and tired legs, but a pick-me-up of caffeine and sour patch kids helped us push on.

Cruised the rest of the afternoon and FINALLY met up with Karina in the evening. Pizza and beer followed. Likely will fall asleep before our heads hit the pillow. Energy is high and bellies are full.

Day 1 in the Wraps!

Day#1 Duluth, MN to Hinckley, MN

By Britta

Today's Stats: 

Miles biked: 81.27

Stationary falls: 1

Pounds of Mike and Ike's consumed: 1.8 

Flat tires: 1

Beautiful first day. Lots of family and friends there to send us off. Had the joy of biking to Jay Cooke with Syd, KC and Nat then Jonny and I for the rest. Cruised on the flat Willard Munger State Trail. Jonny rolled over some broken glass and got a flat, but mom was quick to our rescue.

We arrived in the early evening at our peaceful stay just outside of Hinckley. Kevin and Donna have provided a sweet spot where we get to stay in a tipi for the night. Gabeshiwinn Tipi & Campground.

A Mountain of Gratitude

Hello lovely supporters, this is Britta.

As we are just a few days away from the start of the trip (!!!), I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude. Throughout this whole process, both Karina and I have been astounded by the support everyone has given.

To start, thank you to all the donors who have contributed over $12,100 so far to World Bicycle Relief. Karina and I really believe in WBR’s mission, so the fact that even before the trip has started there have been 70 buffalo bikes given out is truly fantastic!

As Karina and I are funding our own trip, there’s a mountain of gear that we needed. That being said, prior to a few months ago, we were extremely underprepared gear and knowledge-wise.  Before this spring, I didn’t have the correct tires, had no bike shoes, only one pair of bike shorts, and most importantly no SNACKS to fuel us along the way. Naturally Karina and I sent a few letters and emails to ask around if there was anyone who had gear they could donate. And let me tell you, the responses we received from bike shops blew us away!

I wanted to take a moment in this blog post to recognize some of the businesses who have graciously gifted us with granola bars, tires, jerseys, bike shorts, socks, and many other miscellaneous items we didn’t realize we’d need. To begin with, the Ridgedale Lululemon generously gave us some super comfy outfits to wear on and off the bike. From my hometown Decorah, IA, Deke, at Oneota River Cycles along with Travis and Josie at Decorah Bicycles have supported this trip immensely by giving us much needed gear and supplies. Duluth Ski Hut, Continental Ski & Bike, and Duluth Gear Exchange have also generously donated some sweet gear. Furthermore, to help us get the message out, Cydney at Decorah News and Beret Leonne at WCCO took the time to interview us to help share the message of World Bicycle Relief. This weekend, KBJR the Duluth News Tribune will also be helping share our story.

In addition to donation of gear, there has been a monumental amount of support and love from friends and family who have given us confidence, been stellar training buddies, and gifted us with yummy snacks for the road. We wanted to say a special thanks to some specific individuals like Julie Thomsen, who graciously shared her knowledge and stories from the cycling trip Karina and I’s grandpa took with his buddies in 2011. Liesl, Karina and I’s aunt, who has lent us out some gear and will be subbing out my mother as the support vehicle driver for a few days. Our great-uncle, Gareth, has let us borrow a giant kit of all the tools we could ever dream of and has given us novice cyclists some solid advice from an expert in the field. Also, a big shout out to the lovely friends and family who will be biking with us along the way and keeping us sane! We are thankful for Karina’s parents, Erik and Julie, who have been a big support throughout the whole process. To Kurt, my Dad, who helped me train and who will be joining us for the last week of the trip. Finally, a special thanks to my dear mother, Erin, who will be our main support vehicle driver, help cook food, join us biking, and surely will bring a mountain of laughter and joy along the way.

As we prepare to leave this next week, we hold all these people dear in our hearts. We cannot have done all this without you all. 

We are stoked to begin in just three days from now (May 6th!). 

See you on the road!

The Route

Hi everyone, Britta here!

Recently I’ve been getting a lot of questions about the route we’ll be taking. With the trip less than two weeks away, I thought now would be a great time to share where we’re heading. 

I’ll be starting in Duluth, MN a few days after I graduate then I’ll head down to Hudson to meet Karina. From there we’ll head through Wisconsin and take the ferry across Lake Michigan into the state of Michigan before heading through Ontario. We’ll then go to Niagara Falls, just like our Grandpa did before crossing through the treacherous hills of New York. Following this, we’ll bike through Vermont, New Hampshire, and at last to our final destination of Maine and the Atlantic Ocean! (Take a look at the top of this post to see the route that takes us through 7 states and 1 province).

For those of you who love looking at the numbers as much as I do, HERE THEY ARE! Our whole trip should be somewhere between 1,500 and 1,600 miles which means we’ll be doing somewhere between 75 and 100 miles of cycling each day. We also plan to incorporate a few rest days/bad weather days which will bring our trip to about 3 weeks in total.

Neither of us would describe ourselves as avid bikers before this, so this will certainly be a good challenge physically and mentally. To prepare for the mileage, Karina and I have been doing what we can training-wise. It’s tricky to make time for adequate training being busy with school, internships, and work. Much of my training has taken place on a stationary bike inside, so it’s been great to have nice weather in Duluth these past few weeks and get outside! We are hoping the hours upon hours and miles upon miles of training will pay off.

Though the trip is sure to bring some grueling moments of anger, frustration, tiredness, annoyance, etc. Karina and I know that we’re doing this for something bigger than ourselves.

For anyone interested the news station, Decorah News, from my hometown wrote a story on what we’re up to! https://decorahnews.com/news/11518/local-cousins-to-bike-to-portland-maine/ 

Also this Sunday (4/28) at 7 am, WCCO will have a little clip on what Karina and I are up to.

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The King of Bikes; Our Inspiration

Hello Loyal Supporters, 

 Karina here, coming to you today with a blog post. While it may be the most difficult one to write due to the personal nature of the topic, it might also be one of the most important ones we write. Today, I would like to share with you part of the inspiration behind this trip by introducing you to our Grandpa. To do this we will have to go back a few years. So now I invite you to join me in some sweet memories and laughs... 

Growing up, as the youngest in both of our families, Britta and I were thrust into the ever-so-chaotic lifestyle that is our family. It didn’t matter if it was hockey, soccer, running, biking, canoeing, or whatever else you can even think of, if it was active and outdoors, there was always a Schindler or a Swanson involved. Eventually, once Britta and I could stand up, we were right there keeping up with everyone else. At the head of the pack, stood our Grandpa, Richard “Dick” Schindler—the mastermind of the whole operation- towering in at a whopping 5’ 6”. 

For those of you who don’t know this man, he was invincible. He faced every challenge head-on. It didn’t matter what type of obstacle it was; fitness, family, or his work at the hospital. Somehow, he always came out of it with even more shredded calves than when he started. (I like to say that I have his legs, but then again, I am also just as short as he was.)

Almost 13 years ago, he and a team of 5 others embarked on the 3000-plus mile journey from Portland, Oregon to Portland, Maine. They rode to honor one of their dear friends, Dan Ulwelling and to raise money for the Hormel Institute of Austin. And our own journey will serve as a tribute to not only him but the rest of the team as well and the feat that they accomplished. 

For as far back as I can remember, if you thought of Grandpa, you thought of bikes too. It was his passion in his life, other than his family and being a physician. It was one of his true loves. He passed that love down from generation to generation. My dad, Erik, is the oldest offspring of the dynasty. My dad shared his intense passion for cycling and eventually, the lines started to blur between father/son and training buddies between them. They were as much friends as they were father and son when they were clipped in. 

His love of bikes origin story starts on a farm in Barnesville, Minnesota. He came from a farming family. So he had that natural, functional strength that comes from farm chores. And one day, he decided he needed a bike. And what does one do when one needs a bike but can’t afford to buy a new one? Well, he started to collect a ton of parts and an old frame that he found somewhere and built his first bike. A rickety old, single-speed bike. But it got the job done. Back then nobody locked their bikes up at all, especially a bike patched together like his was. But sure enough, there came a time when someone stole that pieced-together old bike. He always said that the person who took it needed it a lot more than him if that's the bike they stole! But really, this all just shaped him into being the compassionate human that he was. 

Our Grandpa’s impact stretched much farther than on two wheels. He was a doctor within the Mayo Clinic Health System for many years. He was described as having an impressive and unique ability to make all of his patients feel special. He always had a curiosity for learning and his brain was never satisfied. He craved knowledge and experience. Again, a quality that seemed to be passed down to his kids and grandchildren. 

There are 9 of us grandchildren in total. All of us share his passions and drive in life. And now, Britta and I hope to honor his legacy of unwavering strength and braveness as we trek from Minneapolis to Maine. And as we drink chocolate milk after every ride as they did, we will know that he is smiling as big as the country, with his warm crinkle around his eyes and crushing us in his signature bear hug.