Getting Busy

The actual days of bikeweek are going by so quickly now!  It seems like an unending pattern of waking up, setting up, taking pictures, preparing the show, completing the show and tearing down.  This year, I have really enjoyed being with everyone after the workday at dinner.  It has been a lot of fun getting to know people better and then working with them the next day.

The weather has been pretty good.  Clouds come in every day jest when it looks like we should close down they pass us by and we are fine.  Yesterday, however, we had a tornado watch.  We were just in time to finish the kids show and we tore down, also rolling up the bounce houses just in case.  It got real sunny just after we finished all that.  I was tempted to say that it was all for nothing, but the tornado watch continued on into the evening.

I got to go to Mount Rushmore a couple days ago, which is always a fun experience.  I love taking pictures up there, especially at night.  We also went to the Crazy Horse monument, but it just isn't as impressive to me as Rushmore.  We went to Dairy Queen on the way back.

In all, I am having a good time serving here at Sturgis.  The event ends (for us at least) on Friday, so it is already almost over!  But I have had a good time and look forward to what is left.

Sunday--Setup

It is about midway through Sturgis now.  We have had a pretty good week so far. 

On Sunday we had to wake up early to drive to Rapid City an hour before church started as Dad was speaking there.  We had a fun time opening the doors so he could ride his bike into the church as they played bad to the bone--it was a little dramatic, but everyone loved it.  He preached, in my opinion, a really good sermon, and afterward the pastor had lunch with us at a buffalo wings joint.


We had to leave for Sturgis again to set up, but hail stopped us for a while.  It got golf ball sized, but I saw a few that looked like baseballs.  They must have been more slush or snow, but it was still alarming.

When we did get to Sturgis, setup went well.  It wasn't as hard as I was expecting, but was still difficult.

After that, we ate dinner at the church in Sturgis and enjoyed the evening.  We all went to bed in anticipation of the next week...

Sturgis, 2011

The much anticipated event has finally arrived: Sturgis Bike Week. Although I never feel like it during the actual week, it is one of my favorite times of year. I always come away from the event with incredible memories, but, as always, I am apprehensive about the event.

We left by this time several days ago. Dad had to stay behind along with Mr. Richie Perko to receive a reward for our church--Excellence in Church Planning, or, as deemed by Dad, his "churchee." This was pretty exciting and important to him as this was to happen at the General Council of the Assemblies of God. Pretty big award...

So we went ahead, with Mr. Bulldog driving the RV. The trip from Pueblo to Sturgis isn't very easy. We're covering several hundred miles and crossing two states--all in one day.

The trip went well at first. We got up at some early hour in the morning that I can't remember and set off. We got through most of the trip, but just before we hit Alliance, Nebraska, we had to stop. Our brakes were locking up and we could barely stop the RV by the time we got to the nearest gas station. Mom and Mrs. Tami were on the phone instantly, calling insurance people and tow trucks. Despite all their efforts, it was over three hours before someone finally came by with a tow truck. When we did get towed, things went more smoothly. We got the RV into an auto shop and the technicians started working on the brakes immediately. We walked to a burrito shop and got dinner and by the time we were done eating the RV was ready to go! So after all the delay we did get to the church in Rapid City.

We stayed there for a few days, waiting for the other trailer of equipment to arrive. We worked on the curriculum and on flyers while we were there.

When Dad came with the other trailer, we headed to Sturgis.  We had dinner at the church in Sturgis, then went to the park to sleep before the first day of Kidz Zone started…

By the way, I will try to post videos to our YouTube channel.  Hope you like them!

April

Now I'm looking at the other side of a major family change--Josh and Emily Duke's marriage (now Emily Hubbell.  Yes, it has become very difficult to keep them straight now).  The wedding was a whole lot of work and thousands of little details kept us busy until it was all over.  With the help of my Uncle Arnie and Tim, who worked on the 168 Project, I got pictures and videos that I am now trying to edit.  I also took pictures during the ceremony with a remote control on my camera that I hid.  No one noticed!

The Easter Bash is coming up quick!  Just like the wedding, details stack up and things get busier and busier every day.

Spring 2011

Sorry it has been so long since the last post besides cell phone posts, which are not nearly as tidy as posts from a laptop, no matter how hard I try to type neatly on a cell phone keyboard.

Let me list off just a few of the things that have happened recently:  The biker church has swelled into a good 40-60 people coming weekly.  Videos of the sermons and events are being posted weekly at http://www.youtube.com/user/Steelcitybikerchurch/.

Josh and Emily Duke are getting married the day after tomorrow, April 2nd.  Wedding plans are being put through completion, but even so, stress is an annoying little bug that keeps trying to get at us.  Everyone is getting excited.  Emily's family has come up to Colorado and are amazed at...well, pretty much everything.  As the wedding photographer and Best Man, I have had to search for help to photograph the wedding and, after calling everyone I could think of, I finally found someone who was available to help.  I met him at the 168 Film Project.

The 168 Film Project is where a bunch of people get together and volunteer to try and make a ten minute short film in one week.  We were very understaffed but I helped the crew out with slating all of the shots (think of a black clapper with chalk all over it, except I had an ipad with a slate app that made things a lot easier).  Also I helped them edit the video.  I met a lot of intiresting people and learned a lot as well.

Just a week or two ago the Colorado Springs Super Show and Swap came and went.  We had to work with less space than ever but managed.  We could not set up any bounce-houses, but we did have shows and Bibles and all of the other good stuff we usually put out.  I even had to lead the first day's show, which was exciting and intimidating at the same time.  But I did it and was glad afterwards.

The Easter Bash also approaches faster than I would like.  We have made it shorter, only four hours long, but are trying make it more worthwhile to go to.  This year we plan on hiding 10,000 eggs.

I am also going on Run For The Wall again this year after skipping one year so that Mom could have a shot at it.  And of course being fifteen I am riding on the back of Dad's bike, for those who were wondering.

Life keeps moving!

The bikerchurch has been growing alot. We expected christian bikers but ended up getting regular bikers. We're meeting at the Pueblo Christian Activity Center.

Life seems to zoom by without the courtesy of letting me take a breath. Here are a few things that have been going on:

dry out the bouncehouses from severe rain at Sturgis, but now it has become an annual event created by Dad. I hope it goes well as it did last year.

On my way to our next event, just about a week after Sturgis. We call it Fowler Fun Day. Last year we did it just to (continued in next message)...

Sturgis, 2010

According to my dad, this year was one of the most productive we've had in Sturgis, South Dakota.  I know now how fun it was and wish I could replay it a few times.  But I wasn't looking forward to it at the beginning.

Coming up to it I learned the Florida team couldn't come up this year, meaning we would all have to work longer and harder.  But We got new help from more local sources.

The drive was long but the scenery and people I was with made it not so bad.  We had to stop breifly for rain, but besides that it was problem-free.

We stayed at the Rapid City church for a few days, about a half-hour out of Sturgis.  Then we moved the RV to the Sturgis City Park, where we stayed for the rest of the week.

Setup was harder than usual it seemed, but we persevered through it.

The week stayed fairly busy.  We had crafts, bouncehouses, Bible lessons, free stuff, a store, food, drinks, coloring contests, and more.  We introduced our 24-foot slide for the first time in Sturgis as well.

 

We got media coverage from the newspaper again this year.

During the shows we had our regular activities plus a few more:  puppets, memory verses, games, characters, lessons, songs, prizes, candy, the list goes on.  We had several days when the kids shows were packed and had a special guest, Pro Street Racer Rich Vreeland, come to the show, sign autographs and take pictures with the kids on his bike.  We had Josh fill in for Dad for a whole show and he did very well.  And almost every day after the show, we would have a wet down for the kids (or, in other words, we threw water baloons at the kids and dumped a bucket of water on top of them).  In addition, we had a contest.  Whoever had done the most Bible lessons or brought the most friends at the end of the week would get one of two ipods!  That really got kids to do the lessons.

I spent much of my time printing and editing the show schedule, filling water baloons, taking photos and being soundman for the shows.  Breakfast, lunch and dinner were all provided by Mrs. Tami and the other kitchen helpers.  In the evening we would go to the church to eat, take showers and rest before the next day.  There was one day I got to go to Mount Rushmore.  We walked around and watched the evening show.  It was fun, but took a toll on our legs.

I noticed throughout the week what a difference a large camera made.  Last year with my point-and-shoot, no one asked me for photos.  This year, I had at least seven photo/video requests, from helpers and random people.  I'm still trying to get them all sent out!

As always, about Thursday the week seemed like it was too short.  Things were wrapping up.  Saturday was coming, and with it the end of Sturgis Bikeweek.

Then it did come.  We had picked up some additional help by now, so teardown wasn't so hard.  Dad had to preach at the Sturgis church on Sunday, so we went there in the morning and then spent the night at the Rapid City church.  After that it was a long and depressing drive home, broken only by the gas stops and a stop at Cabella's.

Now, once again, Sturgis seems to be just a memory of good times and friends.  I remember all the kids we helped, all the new friends we made, all the work that was done.

And when I think of those things, I can't wait until next year.

By the way, we stopped at Cabella's for a little while. Had fun looking at things and taking pictures.

The rain has cleared up now as we drive Southward in the Eastern plains of Colorado which are very repetetive. It makes for slow and tedious driving.

In extremely heavy rain right now as we drive down the road. We might be in the eye of the storm now. Hope we don't have to stop.

On the road again. It's been a long trip so far. Had bad rain earlier, but it cleared up. Will try to get a Sturgis summary written soon. Really tired...

Phone Testing

Okay, I think I worked out the glitches for now.  These posts will have to be short and I don't think they will have titles, but it will still be nice to say a little bit throughout the day.

Phoneblog

Please bear with me while I try to set up blogging on my phone;  there are a few things to work out, but when I'm done I hope it will bring you more up-to-date information.  Thanks!

Midway

I only have a little bit to type.  It is Thursday and I have not been able to post anything as I had predicted until now with my mom's computer.  It has been really busy all week, even though I have not had to watch the bounce houses as much this year as I have in previous years.  Usually, the daily routine is to wake up, take care of the dogs, eat a short breakfast, and start setting up.  First I help set up the sound equipment, then I upload the mp3 player with all the songs needed for the day if I missed any before, Then I print out the show schedule, then probably fill up water balloons and regular balloons, depending on what we need.  I have a little time then to check on the dogs or help with the bounce houses before lunch.  Then it's the kids show and I have to be sound man for that.  In all of this I find a little time to take photos, but not much.

We are all feeling tired but still go on and are finishing strong.  Dad bought a new mp3 player for the shows and it is under my care.  Had Rich Vreeland here, a pro street racer champion or something like that.  He came to the show and signed autographs and talked in the show.  It was really special and he had to skip an important event for it, but he said it was worth it.  I took photos of the kids with him yesterday.  It was fun.

Went to Mt. Rushmore, wish I could post photos.  Will try to post them on my photoshop account.

I'd love to keep going, but I have to work now.  Sorry for any misspellings, thanks for reading!

Almost Started

It is the last day before any of the real work begins.  I am kind of nervous since we set up tomorrow and then keep working for a week.  Today, Josh will be working on scripts and materials to get ready for eight days of kids shows.  Unlike the previous four years in the City Park, Josh will be hosting the kids shows instead of Dad.  I think he is nervous, too, but I know he can do it.

Mom and Mrs. Tami plan on doing some more shopping, as it will probably be the last time they can do so without already being worn out from work for a week.

I'm not sure what Dad will be doing; he has lots of friends here, so he might be getting some fun time in before Bikeweek.

Although the Florida team is not coming this year, we have gained much more help from nearby places in Colorado and other states.  It won't be as easy or as fun (since I had lots of friends around my age in that group), but we will get by.  The team as a whole has changed, getting new people in and others not being able to come this year.  It will be interesting to see how this year turns out because it is so different from previous years.  And yet it somehow all feels the same...

Well, as of tomorrow we will be staying at Sturgis City Park, so I will not have internet connection and will not be able to blog.  Just keep in mind that at 5 AM the working days start, so please keep us in prayer.  There is a lot to do, but I hope we keep the main goal in our minds the whole time--doing what God has called us to do, no matter what it is or how crazy it gets.

Getting Ready for Sturgis

I'd like to say that after two busy months, things are slowing down. But I only got a week to rest a bit, then we had to leave for Sturgis in South Dakota.

It took a while, but everyone got packed and we loaded the trailers. We Made arrangements for people to take care of our livestock.  We picked up Emily Duke, a volunteer from Florida, at the Denver airport.  Since my birthday was the day before we left, we had a small party, then went to bed to get ready for the next day.  Yesterday we got up at 5 AM.  Mr. Bulldog and Mrs. Tami were at our house almost before the sun was up, along with another friend, Mr. Richie.  We set off with our little RV carrying a small trailer, our large truck carrying a large trailer, and I rode with Mr. Richie in his car.
 
It was a very long trip.  There wasn't much to look at for a while, either because we were in Eastern Colorado, which is pretty much just flat plain after flat plane.  But I had fun talking and was able to relax for a while.
 
We had a bad storm just before crossing into South Dakota that forced us to stop at a Walmart until it passed.  Luckily, we were only delayed a half hour or so.
 
We finished the rest of the trip without trouble.  We got to the South Dakota church and got parked.  Most of us took our sleeping bags and mattresses into some of the church's rooms and slept there after a good dinner.
 
Today was pretty relaxed.  There is not much of a schedule and we have a day to get ready for the actual beginning of Sturgis.  I expect good things from this year and think we will have lots of kids.  It will be hard to keep going n our hardest event for a week, but I know it will be worth it.

Spring Sumarry

It's been a really busy year.  The Biker Church took up lots of time, whether it was working at the shop or passing out fliers or doing an event, We have kept busy!

Well, since I never got around to it earlier, I'll have to make a simple summary of the Spring and part of Summer.

It wasn't long after the Sunrise Service that we had an "open house" at the biker church.  We set up a table and made food for everyone who wanted to come.  We had one of the helpers play music on a guitar and sing live.  We set up two bounce houses for the kids to play in as well.  After everyone had eaten for a while, Dad started a program.  We had bunches of prizes to give away and had several challenges.  In one we put a motorcycle part in a bag and whoever guessed it first got a T-shirt.  Another one was something that seems easy but is surprisingly difficult.  The five cracker challenge.  Five crackers.  One minute.  No water.  Nobody finished, but we gave the closest winner another T-shirt.

After that we had an event at the Pueblo Steel Mill.  It was difficult as always to get things going, but we did and had many kids come to bounce in the bounce houses and take some of the free books.  It wasn't a huge event, so we weren't overflowing with kids.  It was a calm but productive event, and I was glad to help with it.  In addition, at the end we gave away some prizes including an ipod.

Throughout the months we had several events at the Harley Davidson Outpost dealership, one of which was ruined by bad winds.  A few minutes after we had set up, the wind started and we had to tear down.  The other times were usually more successful, although slow.

We had many meetings, discussing upcoming events and long term goals of the ministry.

  Then the Summer came, and with it a never-ending schedule.  June was busy, but July was totally booked!  County Fair, VBS and other activities filled the month.  In the last month, things slowed down just a bit, allowing us to prepare for Sturgis.