I’m Courtney, a first-time Fuller Center rider from St. Louis, MO, and I’m tickled pink to be sharing this beautiful trek with extraordinary people, both in our group and in the church communities we’ve met along the way.
Teamwork and communication took center stage today as our route required a long detour off the Trace. We began with a joyful send-off from our friends at Parkway Baptist Church, who hosted us for two days (Ride Day 4 and our community service day on Trip Day 5) and shared many wonderful meals and moments with us. As we rolled out together, our bright orange Fuller Center shirts blended into a sea of fire, a powerful metaphor of how the Bike Adventure unites us in service. Each of us adds our own flame of faith to brighten the darkness and help others’ embers glow.
Our very long cue sheet and winding hills spread us out fairly quickly, and I enjoyed some meditative solo ride time, reflecting on our connections, the communities we’ve engaged with, and the Fuller Center’s mission to put faith into action. But solitude didn’t last long… 50 miles into the longest ride day of the trip, we encountered a surprise 5-mile stretch of deep gravel. Another metaphor inbound: seeing it as a call to slow down and look around, we downshifted. Some worked together as a team to make small pedaling passes, maneuvering the path carefully and encouraging each other. For others who preferred to bypass it, our support team sprang to action to coordinate rides while keeping the rest stops humming, fixing flat tires (mine, oops!), and staying in touch with our hosts. Meticulously, all together and in a low gear that distributed the power, we made it through and enjoyed a beautiful reunion with the Trace for the last 20 miles.
Today’s challenge reminded me that sometimes slowing down in the hard moments, rather than sinking into frustration or disappointment, helps us stay safe and connected, leading to a positive outcome for everyone involved. Tackling that stretch as a team (even though we were spread out) turned it into a shared memory of patience, perseverance, and joy. Enter metaphor #3… our post-gravel hugs, high fives, and vent seshes felt a bit like a church service: coming to God as a community, celebrating salvation and experiencing God’s love in action together.
The detour proved to be an adventure, even for seasoned Natchez Trace veterans, some of whom have done this particular ride 10 times! But we all arrived safely at Redbud Springs Cornerstone Church in Kosciusko, MS, and ended the day with an epic dinner of pasta, salad, and Ding Dongs topped with ice cream (as delicious as it sounds).
With somehow only one ride day left, I’m in awe of our group and deeply grateful for this experience. My first Fuller Center ride has infused my spirit with a sense of community and service I’ve been seeking for a long time, and I can’t wait to see what joys tomorrow and future Bike Adventures will bring!
