Day Zero: Travel Day 6:52 AM.

We should've been pulling into the office. Instead, we're still waiting on Julissa's street. By the time Julissa and Joshua are in the van, we're 37 minutes behind schedule. Not a disaster, but enough to remind us that even the best plans leave room for the unexpected. Kinney had spent the night in the r-pod so we could get an early start. The ice run went smoothly. The pickups took longer than expected. That's how these days work—you control what you can, and the rest unfolds on its own. Sam was waiting when we arrived. By 8:15, we were loaded up and headed for Nashville, Tennessee. Something happens on long drives. The nerves start to settle. Questions get asked. Conversations start. Joshua wanted to know more about the route ahead. Julissa watched the world pass by her window, taking it all in. Kevin bounced between music and conversation. The miles gradually turned a van full of anticipation into a team. That evening, Sam's sister and brother-in-law welcomed us into their home for dinner. Real food. Real chairs. A table full of conversation. The World Cup played in the background while we debated teams and predictions. For a few hours, we weren't preparing for a ride—we were just people sharing a meal together. I keep thinking about those 37 minutes. Not because they mattered. We still made it. We still arrived in Nashville by dinner. They mattered because they feel like a metaphor for the whole journey. You plan carefully. You lose time you didn't expect to lose. And you keep going anyway. Tomorrow brings the riding, the miles, and the challenges waiting down the road. Today was simply about getting there. Three young people climbed into a van and headed somewhere they've never been, trusting the adults beside them and the community behind them. That trust was built over every ride, every conversation, and every supporter who believed they were worth investing in. If you've ever supported Triangle Bikeworks, you're part of this journey. You helped put Joshua, Julissa, and Kevin in that van this morning. And there's a lot more road ahead. 🚲 Join us: trianglebikeworks.org #YouthDevelopment #BikeTour #CyclingChangesLives