August… what a month.

The challenges continue as we move through the year. Each step forward seems to pull up old feelings, metaphorical demons, lessons, and unforeseen challenges. But with every challenge comes more information—and August certainly gave us plenty of that.

Alice had a bit of a scare with Scarlett, her motorcycle. During the trial run, Scarlett was found to be using/losing oil and developed a ticking sound. After a full fluid change, some research, and a little bit of love, it appears Scarlett may need a new oil pump—an issue known to occur with some 2019 models. So, Scarlett will officially become one of Alice’s winter projects.

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Chick continues to figure out all the little nuances of her new bike, “The Silver Tongue Devil,” which she got shortly after the trial run when she learned that Tripp, her previous bike, was going to need an overhaul due to engine issues. Chick has been learning how her new ride handles through corners, on the straightaways, and all those little things you only discover by putting miles beneath the tires.

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Alice and Chick also attended Clearview Works’ final farm stay of the year.

They worked alongside the farmers harvesting a variety of crops and produce, including beans, squash, tomatoes, kale, and chokecherries. Chick collected eggs and learned how to candle them, along with tackling some of the general tasks that come with farm life, including weeding.

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Alice’s highlight was getting a much more well-rounded education on honeybees. She learned more about rebuilding hives, working with wax frames, and even checking bees for mites using powdered sugar.

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All of that information comes back to Clearview Works.

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The farms this year were never simply about volunteering or getting our hands dirty. They have been opportunities to learn, observe, ask questions, discover what works—and sometimes what doesn’t—and bring that information home. Clearview Works continues to gather, organize, and file what we’ve learned as we develop the greenhouse portion of what lies ahead.

Behind the scenes, the media team continues to post, build, and monitor the social-media side of things. They are planning for future video blogs, looking at additional platforms, and preparing to start combing through the website for some much-needed updates.

They quietly keep things moving and keep Clearview Works visible for all of you out there.

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Alice and Kevin continue working, organizing, planning, and preparing for everything still to come. The 50-State Ride is getting closer, and route planning continues. Over the coming months, they will begin reaching out to additional farms and narrowing down which ones can provide the most useful experience and information for the future greenhouse project.

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But the planning hasn’t stopped with the ride or the greenhouse.

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As we have gathered more information, gained real-world experience, and taken a harder look at where help is lacking, the vision for Clearview Works has continued to evolve. Alice and Kevin have spent considerable time this month redesigning, discussing, and narrowing the future healing-center concept.

Instead of trying to become everything for everyone, we are beginning to identify where Clearview Works may be able to do something truly different.

There is still research to complete, details to work through, and plenty that isn’t ready to be announced yet. But the picture is becoming clearer.

Even the trial run continues to teach us long after the motorcycles came home. What worked, what didn’t, what we packed, what we didn’t need, how we handled mechanical problems, physical limitations, long days, unexpected changes, and team logistics are all being incorporated into planning for the road ahead.

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That was the purpose of doing it.

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Test. Learn. Adjust. Keep moving.

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August brought mechanical, physical, mental, and emotional challenges unlike many we have faced before. Some were expected. Others most certainly were not.

But the team continues to move forward through all of it.

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Maybe with a few more scars than we had at the beginning of the month.

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Maybe a little wiser.

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Definitely with more information.

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And still hopping along.

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Until next month.