Time to Ride

I just tucked in the boys and kissed Maria goodbye.  I'll see them in less than a week, but I'll miss them the entire time.  I always do.  We start the ride, in fact I feel the constricting tightness of the spandex on my body and the warmth of the menthol rub that I lathered onto my legs.  I'm ready to ride. I wanted to share with you the prayer that I'll be saying in Quantico in a few short hours:

"Dear God, we thank your for the merciful love and we ask you to be with the friends and families of all those who have laid down their lives in the performance of their duties.  We ask of you to give the friends, the families and those of us who ride, the strength to continue on; and the courage to accept your will. Please also watch over our friends who started their ride from Georgia.


Lord we ask of you, your blessing on this journey, we pray for safety on the roads and we ask that you grant all the drivers we may encounter a sense of etiquette and responsibility. Lastly Lord, we thank you for this time you have given each of us, who stand here today.  We ask you for a continued safe passage to our friends and loved ones.  Refresh our hearts, our minds and out souls.  Grant us happy memories of this journey and please flatten out the hills between here and Fredricksburg.  We pray in your son's name.  Amen."