I did my wash and met Tony L. at the bus station. The van finally arrived at 3:30. We had a nice drive to Lincoln City and got all situated. It was really cold on the coast! The people are nice and I think we'll have a great time! After supper we had an orientation, shower & bed at 10:15.
Our first day on the road. What can I say? Honestly, it was a pain in the rear! I am so sore behind! The hard leather seats are new and not broken in yet. Ouch! Oregon is humongous trees (on trucks and in the stand), green fields, cattle, wildflowers, roadside fruit stands the cheapest you can imagine, low hills with gentle slopes, cars and trucks, clouds and sea breezes, haze . . . It really looks like fields of Virginia and PA, even with low mountains similar to the Blue Ridge, but lower. I really liked it! Well, with sore bottom and sore neck and hay fever I made it through the first day. Even though I wore a mask half the day, the ash got to me. By day's end I was really tired and miserable, but we had made it. PTL! Dipped our tires in the Pacific, eastward thru rolling hills, huge forests, on we went. We had a lot of impromptu rest breaks caused by two problems with Tracy's bike, but also due to slow clusters ahead. Stopped in Tigard, Oregon at a church, ate, slept on the floor. Z Z Z's!
Ah, a much better day! Today I didn't have hay fever. PTL! The cluster put me at the front because things seemed to go well then. It did work well today. We are really beginning to get together as a cluster - pace, gears used, getting along together, etc. It was a fun day. We went through Portland with lots of grates, gravel, bumps and ash, but the latter didn't bother me. PTL! The Columbia River Gorge was really great. It looks so much like Virginia - lush, green, tall trees, clouds. There were several waterfalls but we stopped only at Multnomah. We arrived at Ainsworth (State Park) at just before 6 PM. It was right next to the road on the slopes below the cliffs. Ah, such beautiful cliffs! It looks similar to Zion (National Park), except these cliffs are greener and not made of sandstone. Well, after tenting up and supper, we showered and had a time of sharing. We discussed Christian community and how we could achieve it together on this trip. I hope it happens; I believe we'll get together and have a great experience.
The Lord's day! Hallelujah! It was an early one. Breakfast at 6:15 although I didn't make it until nearly 6:30. It had drizzled during the night, but today it was dry, but cloudy. We had a strong westerly wind all day. It really made the miles pass!
Peggy did not ride today except the last 14 miles, but we stayed together and worked well. They like me being leader! PTL! I try to keep a steady, even pace that all can handle. Consistently though, we are passing clusters that stop, or gaining on the ones ahead. I really like my cluster. Well, we rode along and entered Washington quite early. By noon we were out of the green, forested gorge and riding through dry cattle country or wasteland. It looked like Arizona indeed!
For lunch we stopped at Horsethief Lake State Park (Ed. Note: now Columbia Hill State Park). I rode down to see if it was the place. While gone, the others waved a cluster on, then they had to be chased down and brought back up a hill against a strong wind. But they were still smiling! Late in the day we waited about an hour because another cluster had a breakdown. Some played a mouse game. I messed around & worked on my seat. My rear felt better today, but is still somewhat tender. My left Achilles tendon got sore though! We stayed the night at Sundale Orchards, an oasis midst dry wasteland.
We had a later breakfast this morning - 6:30 AM. My tendon felt better, but my mosquito bites are certainly bothering me. Nevertheless, PTL!, my seat feels better and I'm having fun! We set out early and covered miles fast. The strong tailwind was a real blessing. Peggy rode with us again today. We really had a good time. As the miles rolled away we reentered Oregon near a town, Civilization! There were some greener fields for awhile, but it's still rather dry here in eastern Washington. We stopped at Hat Rock State Park to have a little late Sunday service. Four people shared testimony of their conversion and faith. Barb Johnson shared her ecumenical background and her change to Lutheranism after her marriage. It was neat to hear her testimony. She wants to write her book and show how much fun Christians can have working & traveling together. We spent the night in a primitive campground at Wallula, Washington. We got in early - 6:01! I had time to work on my seat and study Calculus. The weather has been really nice this trip. Today was the first sunny day, but it was very pleasant. At 3:30 when we stopped for devotions at Hat Rock State Park it was 71 degrees. We found a really grassy spot and had a great time. This desert can truly blossom when watered!
This evening I got some hay fever from the dusty campground. It will be nice to get to greener, wetter areas!
I suppose every day can't be the same or we'd all get bored. As I write at lunchtime on the 25th, it's hard to remember yesterday, but it was rough. We left the Columbia Gorge and westerly winds. Today we fought wind all day, especially I did! It wasn't so strong against us, but there was some, along with some climbing. We stopped in Walla Walla at beautiful Pioneer Park. It was super nice with huge old trees, green watered grass and lots of flowers. We had a taco salad for lunch - it was all so nice. Some of us played Frisbee football after lunch. It was so much fun! Got some mail, letters from Mom and Tim. On to the K-Mart. The last two or three stretches were really tough, especially the last - 10 miles of almost all uphill against the breeze. Oooh! I was tired. We had a school in which to stay in Dayton, WA. It was so nice! We even had cold showers. PTL! At devotion time we made a life-graph, then shared them and about our families in our cluster. It was neat.
Like I said before, every day can't be the same or we'd get bored. Today was rain-from above and below -, soggy shoes, wet bottom, mud, tailwinds, downhills, sunshine, cool air, laundromating and spaghetti. It was a really great day. I enjoyed it a whole lot. I got dressed all psyched for sun in my JMU shirt and red shorts. Before long I had donned flannel shirt, jeans, socks, and my poncho. We began in the rain and had it intermittently all day. Several times it would dry off, then we'd hit a wet road, then rain from above. Also we lost a lot of altitude today. There were perhaps 2 or 3 hills up, but our joy were two long downhill stretches of about 10 and 11 miles apiece. Both were wet - it was a great time to get a soggy upper thigh. I was warm above, but cold & wet below. The second hill was after lunch. At the top we took a quick hot chocolate break, then got sprayed and soaked for 11 glorious miles. We dropped from about 2785' to 800' in altitude. At the bottom the sun was out and the road dry. I have really been impressed by the wildflowers along the rivers and in the fields. The Columbia Gorge had lots of blue, yellow, white & red flowers. Then here in eastern Washington the wheat fields and pastures are surrounded and covered with blue flowers, intermixed with yellows and whites. They're so pretty - members of the pea family (blue ones), colorful and intricately designed. PTL! We got to Lewiston (Idaho) before 5 but had to wait 45 minutes for a flat-tired cluster behind us. Then to the laundromat! Clean clothes & some munchies for days to come. It felt good to have warm, clean clothes again. After supper we had a time for airing grievances and making suggestions. Net result - we'll try to keep rest breaks and lunch shorter and we'll have organized devotions only on MWFSu, with free time the other nights. Then Doug led us in a web of rope trick, tying us together, giving thanks as we went. It was neat. We want to be interdependent here.
This was a day for giving thanks! A day of flats (along the river), clouds, tailwinds, rain, friendly people, Calculus, (oh boy!), Rook, warm insides, laughter, and drying my jeans with my hair dryer as I write this. We set out at 8:15 amid colorful skies of clouds. I really enjoy our mornings - up with the sun, good breakfast, quiet time with the Lord - great way to start the day! Off we rolled and at the bottom of the first hill, pow! My back tire shot me. It exploded. No problem, Conrad was soon there. Peg and Helen went shopping so we ended up traveling 26 miles before the first official rest break. But it was easy - flat river riding with a tailwind. Another stretch to Orofino lunch. We found a park, but it was so chilly! I was quite cold! Then we took one more stretch to Kamiah. About 8 miles out - rain! We were all soaked and chilled by the time we arrived at the United Pentecostal Church who were gracious enough to take us in. Dry clothes, warm air, lights, PTL! Before supper I studied Calculus. Some slept, some played cards. After supper I had a nice chat with Helen, then Rook, a short humorous gathering, journal & cards. It was a nice day. Climbing tomorrow!
Another day to praise the Lord with thanksgiving! Although it was overcast, there was no more rain today, PTL! We even had a little sunshine and by lunch it was getting warm enough to take off my jeans. But in general it was cold. Brr! At 10:30 at our first rest break it was 57 degrees. At 8PM, 54 degrees. Thank God for my warm sleeping bag! This morning it was nice to be in a church sanctuary for devotions. I really appreciate being able to spend time with Him every morning. Well, we set out and were in Lowell, our last civilized outpost for 80 miles, at 12 noon. Then we had lunch at a nice picnic spot along the Lochsa R. It was great getting into National Forest (Clearwater). It's mostly evergreens, but undergrowth is fairly lush. The river is neat! It's quite shallow - looks like a lot of fun for rafting! The road follows it climbing so slowly it's really imperceptible. The 35 miles after Lowell we climbed 1000'. It was very hard to believe. Tonight we're camping at a fisherman's camping spot near Green Flat State Park which was 'Closed for the season.' June 17! Ha! The day was mostly cloudy, but tonight it seems to be breaking a little. The wildflowers are gorgeous! All types of blue, yellow & white flowers. Lots of moch orange, state flower of Idaho. I love it!
Let me add some comments about the group. I really appreciate Mim, a nurse. She's so sweet, friendly, patient and in love with the Lord. She's a warm fuzzy!
Barb is so alive and full of zest & energy for life. She's neat too. My cluster is great. We ride fast like 1 & 3. 2 & 4 are generally slower. We often have to stop & wait for cluster 4 to get farther ahead. Peg is a great cook and neat cluster member. She's right on.
--- Today I'm a little sore behind again after having it soften for 2 days. It hardened after the rain. My Achilles are still sore; the left is swollen.
Montana! Whoopee! Lolo, day off, hot springs. PTL! It started off cold (50 degrees) and cloudy, but after we set out it began warming by degrees with the sun breaking through. We were riding a constant slope up, gaining maybe 55' per mile. We hit a neat grove of Western red cedar with some trunks 6 or more feet across. They were huge! The climb to Lolo Pass was really easy - nothing compared to Shenandoah Mountain! We hit the summit about 1:30 PDT, had lunch, walked to the fields of corn lilies and learned about Lewis and Clark at the Visitor Center. It was nice up there, but getting quite warm! We had a nice 7-mile downhill to Lolo Hot Springs, arriving at 5 MDT. We set up, then showered (!) - first time in 4 days. Oh, what a relief! After supper there was a square dance going on, started by a family reunion. It was neat, except my stomach was so full. I felt like I was going to get sick, but by Sunday AM I felt almost normal. PTL! After dancing I watched some pool, chatted with Conrad, and played one game with Dave. It was a nice evening!
Thank the Lord for a day of rest! Hallelujah!
It was a lazy day. I didn't get as much done as I wanted, but productivity isn't everything. Rest is important. I got up just before 9 & loafed around. Chatted a little with the family who were having a reunion here and started the square dance. Brunch at 10 - my stomach felt better, but I was cautious. After 1 1/2 hrs. of hard bike cleaning I went to the Hot Springs. The hot pool was about 107 degrees. It was nice after you got in it, but it really drained the energy away. So relaxing! The effort to get out of the pool exceeded the effort climbing Lolo Pass. The pool is like sin, so enticing but it leaves you weak and powerless. Then I swam some in the regular heated pool - about 80 degrees. It was built right over the rocks with the hot water. Kinda rough, but neat. In the afternoon I had a burger at the cafe. It was great! Delicious food at these homey places! We had supper at 5:30 - roasted hot dogs over a hot fire. Then for devotions Doug had us get in 2 groups and share what Jesus means to us right now, and what we're thankful for. Jesus is my best friend and I always want it so. It was neat to be honest. Some of the guys are still searching. I pray that I can help show the joy of Christ and the fun of living for Him as I bike along. PTL! After that more hot springs, a shower, cinnamon roll - great, but tough as leather - and a warm campfire with marshmallows. Even a few rain sprinkles didn't spoil the nice restful day & evening. Bed at 11:30 - late!
Today was a really great day and a thoroughly miserable one. First off we set out and did a quick 25.9 miles in 1 1/4 hours - all downhill to Lolo. Then on to Missoula, a really quaint, pretty Western town. I was favorably impressed by it. It should have some culture too, considering the U. of Montana is there. Well, lunch stop about 1:30 and the bug hit. As the afternoon progressed I felt progressively worse. Like a fool I bought some ice cream at Drummond. That didn't feel so good. Fortunately, many of us were tired so we stayed there at a Catholic church rather than go on 20 miles to Garrison. Thank God! I hit the sack for a couple of hours, skipping supper and sending my wash out with Todd, but I don't think I slept much. I got up briefly to take some vitamins and some aspirin. Finally got to sleep about 10:45 when the guys got the lights out. Boy, Montana is beautiful though! Lots of mountains similar to home, with green cow pastures, horses, & split rail fences. Beautiful! Mosquitoes were murderous though. The pastor said they were bad because it had rained about 40 days in a row, abnormally.
Peggy's birthday! I woke up still sleepy, but without the fever and feeling considerably better. Still I ate a cautious, half-size breakfast. We took off in good time and went to Garrison. At Deer Lodge we got mail and visited a restored ranch operated by the Park Service. Pretty neat! Another 16 miles to lunch. I was really feeling weak all day, but I ate a full lunch. (Ham!) Then I felt full! I hardly made it to Butte, but I hung on, tired and weak though I was. It was rough, but God is my strength and my fortress; in Him will I trust. PTL! I had a piece of pizza for supper and still feel awful, but better than last nite!
Those nasty VW's! The bug struck again. A whole bunch of us got sick in various forms of the flu. Personally, I started today rather early with a 1:30 diarrhea visit to the john. Back at 3:30 and at 6:30. Well, we couldn't go on, so we stayed all day in Butte. I rested & slept till 12:30 then had soup and 7-up. During the afternoon I wrote some cards & had a nice chat with Mim. She was telling me about her friends and her personal life up to this point. She's a really sweet & nice girl with a missionary vision. PTL, I'm glad she's along on this trip. Then I even cracked the Calculus book for awhile! I had eggs & bread for supper, it went down OK. Then I had a nice Rook game to round out the evening and went to bed at 9:30.
Today restored my excitement about biking coast to coast. We got into some really neat country. I felt relatively good this morning so I had a moderate breakfast, slowly regaining strength from it. We pulled out at 8:30 and rode up Pipestone Pass, 6,418' to the Continental Divide. True to its description, it rained while we were there and got harder down the 8-mile hill on the East side. I was rather wet and cool; my hands got very numb. Then we turned south on MT 41, climbed a dry hill, and entered another planet, so it seemed. There was a broad valley of sage and grass rimmed by dark mountains covered with foreboding clouds. Rumbles of thunder issued from the black and grey to our left while sunshine tinted the white fluffy clouds decorating the mountains to our right. The air was sweetly scented with wildflowers which grew profusely along the road. We were the only creatures alive on this deserted plain. Only the wooden fences decried man's visitation. It was ethereal, just the setting for a close encounter (of the third kind!). Of course, biking was at hand. I was too numb from cold to care, but I did hate the very rough road - the perfect thing for my newly-healed stomach. On we went, getting closer to signs of mankind - and more rain. It stopped during our lunch break just before Twin Bridges and the sun came out. PTL! Just the thing to save us from over-chilling again. As the day went on I got quite tired, but my stomach was doing fine. Evening brought us to chaparral country and gold-rush land. Alder Gulch was a big area, netting $8 - 9 million 60-80 years ago. We stopped in Nevada City, a real ghost town. All the stores were clapboard; there was a music store with old drums, calliopes, etc. Across the road were some neat old railroad cars. I loved it, but missed out on pictures. Shucks! Went to Virginia City - restored even more. Looked too touristy; I bought some candy for souvenirs. We stayed outside of town at a campground. I had a real meal for once, hot shower, and hit the sack! Beautiful sunset here!
For this Independence Day the order called for gorgeous mountains, a great state park, a strong tailwind (at the end), some very wet rain, diarrhea, and a very nasty headwind. It really was a very tiring and discouraging day. It started out early, cool (45 degrees app.) and beautiful! The mountains west of Va. City were really rugged and beautiful. Our campground was located nestled in the hills above the town. The mountains covered the gap between the hills. Beautiful clouds were above where the beautiful sunset was last night. There also was heavy dew. Well, off not-too-vigorously up a 3-mile steep grade. Just the way to ruin me for the day. We had a great 10-mile downhill to Ennis on the other side. Ennis was a real western town with wooden-sided stores & shops, men in cowboy hats and a saloon with swinging doors. The men were standing along the bar in the dim lighting while signs of 20th century gadgetry were evident across the room - a computerized electronic poker game. We passed through before the 10:30 parade, then went on to Cameron which consisted of a store, cafe, bar and one or two houses. We stayed nearly 2 hours because it was rainy and dark clouds were ahead. The cafe was so warm and the coffee was tremendous! Best cup I've had for weeks. I even broke down and bought a pair of gloves. PTL! Well, back on the road it soon cleared off and became hot and sunny. We were amazed at the quick change - today was the second day in a row! Delayed by a flat tire - Dave had three today - and on to lunch along a ranch road. We were riding along a valley with flat-topped plateaus, ranges of Rockies on the left and some on the right. It was fairly dry though, with sweet-smelling flowers left & right. But the headwind! Aaugh! At a rest stop I got the runs and had to head behind a huge grading machine. Thank God for that! To end our ride we entered a neat gorge along the Madison River & had great tailwinds. Beaver Creek is beautiful having birches, evergreens, lake, people, fire. I had a big supper of roasted hot dogs and am hoping I'll be OK now. To cap off the evening we had a nice time sharing what we were thankful for on this July 4th around a roarin' campfire.
What a fabulous day! That's an apt description considering that I generally try to look at the bright side of the day (about 3 o'clock, usually). I had breakfast - went down OK. Quiet time was super! I had a really quiet, relaxing walk in the park, gazing at the huge mountains looming all around, listening to the birds, cool but warmed by intermittent sunshine, praising God for his beauty and creative might. It was great to be alone with Him in the stillness. Praise God. Then off in a flash through nice, scenic mountains and lakes, to West Yellowstone by 10:30. I walked around lots of great leather, fishing, and craft stores by myself. Again it was nice to be alone. In the basement of one store was a quaint little art gallery of native Montanan art. Such a nature-loving state - really a blessing. I bought Angie a nice leather pouch with rabbit hair for $2.50. I know she'll love it. Well, off to Yellowstone! A new state! We entered Wyoming about noon - so good to be here after a week of Montana! We saw elk twice along the road. They are big noble beasts - quite a sight. We lunched along the Madison River, clear and gentle. Then on to the campground for a gathering and on to the Fountain Paint Pots for a tour of the wonders. Several of us rode a little further to Great Fountain Geyser and saw quite a neat show. It was terrific to ride faster than normal for once too! Back to camp for supper. I'm hungry - good sign! Hey, I also saw a coyote today. Tonight we saw Ray, our biker friend again. He'd been in Yellowstone since Thursday, having attached himself to several other riders. Doug was talking about friendship tonight. We all said what we appreciated about the person on our right. I had Tony - loved his zest & joy of living!
Today was a really glorious day! Despite the early chill (mid 30's probably), I had a great morning. We set out riding through pine forests steaming and smelling of sulfur. Norris Geyser Basin was a real trip. Bare ground with dozens of steaming springs, geysers, and fumaroles. I really enjoyed riding this morning - the Park was beautiful and quiet and I could sense God's presence. Although I was 2500 miles away, I found myself thinking of my church back home at 8:30 as they started their service. I was there in spirit. We also saw a large meadow with dozens & dozens of noble elk. I loved it! Yellowstone Falls were neat and likewise the Canyon, although I doubt that it was any bigger than the inner gorge of the Colorado at Grand Canyon. Riding was tough as we went south to Yellowstone Lake. We had headwinds, rough roads and traffic. At lunch I crept close to two moose with racks. They laid down just as the camera was getting ready. Oh well, I got their tops. We hit Sylvan Pass late in the afternoon and had fun throwing snowballs. The mountains at the east entrance are volcanic and really great. We stayed in the National Forest at the foot of a 6-mile mountain descent. Even I got a little frightened on that one!
Today was a lot of miles but it was a breeze. I had a great time! We dropped from about 6500' to 3800' elevation. It's so nice to be warm here after sunset for once! We were all set to leave at 7:30 this morning, but Todd had run away. At 5 till 8 we left, leaving Peggy and Doug to find him. Even a flat tire delaying us another half hour didn't discourage us. After that we covered 14 miles in a mere 40 minutes to the first store outside Shoshone Nat. Forest. The countryside was great - cliffs & forest giving way to odd-shaped hills and rock formations. We waited at the store until Doug and Peggy came with Todd. He had tried to run away to go back to South Bend. He felt unfairly mistreated & misunderstood. Doug talked with him, convincing him to stay. It really helped to make us more sensitive to him as a cluster and to bring us together. Thank God for that! We had a neat time praying about it just before pulling out at 8. The stretch to Cody was tough with fatigue, headwinds, and the runs plaguing me. But I felt better after lunch, enjoying a great ride 47 miles mostly in 11th to Lovell. We passed through some country that was the most homey (or Eastern) that we've hit since western Oregon. There were hay fields (& cut hay - sweet-smelling!), corn fields, dairy cows and nice country houses. Rather flat though. Still loved it! We even saw some oil fields nearing Lovell. Here at the park I've been listening to some kids playing ball nearby. Makes me feel so summery for once! It's great to be in a warm town on a summer's evening. Praise the Lord!
We're finally getting somewhere! We've reached the backbone of our trip, although not necessarily the backbone of America. The Big Horn Mtns! Bald Mountain! We're camped out here at 8900' elevation after a grueling climb, for some. But first a word about Lovell - the evening there was a most refreshing and relaxing time. Last night after singing, several of us went to the A & W. I spent over $2 there, but it was worth it to get out, away from the group, and eat and drink something else. The three girls working there were a lot of fun too. We really had a great evening. This morning was very warm. I only had to use a sheet last night. After all our freezing weather that was such a relief! Then my quiet time was neat - a little walk in the fields, seeing the cows, mountains, pretty clouds. My quiet times are really precious. I love to spend time with the Lord. Lovell was mail and showers too. Thoroughly delightful! Well, we started off 10 miles downhill to the river, then 10 miles of slope, then 17 miles of switchbacks, and steep slopes. We had a little downhill near the top, but more up right after. I really didn't get very tired at all. We stopped so often waiting for other clusters, and a couple times for Barb. The pace was so slow I hardly had to breathe hard either. I don't know - either I'm in shape, the Big Horns are not so steep, or the pace made the difference because I got much tireder on Shenandoah Mountain with only 4 steep miles. But, we're here. It feels great to be out of the Western mountains, Yellowstone, etc. and heading for the prairies and the green East. Yahoo! At lunch I saw a neat waterfall. God really blesses in special ways. There are quite a few wildflowers here at the top. PTL! Mosquitoes too! God has really been helping me be patient with other riders & clusters. I don't get so uptight about seeming wastes of time anymore. PTL! Todd was back to normal today - even led a stretch and did very well. Also, my seat and tendons and neck have stopped paining me several days ago. PTL! After supper Tony, Dave, Craig and I went for a climb to the top of Bald Mountain. The wildflowers were terrific - at least a dozen different kinds of red, blue, yellow, and white. Wow! It was 10,031' up there and rather chilly. At 9:30 I went to bed just as the big thunderstorm was hitting. It sounded great although the tent and bag got wet by morning. I must listen to Mussorgsky's 'Night on Bald Mountain' when I get home.
This morning was sunny and very nice - much warmer than I had expected. It was really beautiful & quiet. We set out and had several miles on the top, gaining another 500' elevation. Then there were 20 miles to Burgess Junction at 8300'; we were coming down, but not fast. Then down more followed by a climb to an 8500' ridge. Whew! Then it was a long 17-mile descent to Dayton. Oh, I could have kicked myself for not having my camera! The road was built like our roads to Skyline Drive. Really beautiful! Neat descent!
Now its evening and I look back upon today as a long and rather tiring one. 110 miles is nothing to sneer at, even if 20 of it were downhill on a mountain. That left 90 miles of climbing and rolling hills. At lunch about 1 PM it was 94 degrees in a little town. I didn't really mind the heat because the air was very dry. Nevertheless, it got hotter and hillier. We had a stretch of I-90 after lunch, then lots of hills after Sheridan on US 14. We began to get away from the mountains, the hills becoming very 'bumpy' and then mesa-like. Parts of this Wyoming desert look very much like the Painted Desert. There is so much uninhabited wilderness here! The land is really empty, like northern Idaho and southwestern Montana. Dry too! The top of the Big Horns was nice having green grass & evergreens - good grazing land. The high country was great. Descending, the views of the valley reminded me of Skyline Drive, but the valley surely didn't, dry & empty - far fewer farms than in my precious Shenandoah. We had a late afternoon break at a ranch having cool shade trees and cold well water. Was great! Todd seemed to be having it rough - complaining about the heat and dying on the hills. Surely he expected some heat and hard work! Well, here I am in Clearmont, pop. 141, elev. 3931 in the school gym. That's fine except for the excessive heat. I'd sleep outside but the dive-bomb mosquitoes are more miserable. Ah, for the cool mountains of Idaho and Mont. . . . No, I prefer it warm. I hate to be cold all the time.
Long, hot, tiring are the adjectives for this scorcher. It was an early morning - breakfast at 5:30. My cluster hit the road at 6:40, slightly cool but with warm sunshine to bask in. It was beautiful with birds singing, fields smelling of hay and wild antelope galloping about. But it was warming fast. We rolled along at a good pace over hills with a small tailwind, arriving in Spotted Horse by 9:30, 32 miles out. The 'town' was run by two bachelors and consisted of a store, gas pump and pool table in one. Then the road turned south. For 36 miles we had strong cross and headwinds from the WSW. The temperature was rising by degrees . . . Home on the Range . . . where the skies are not cloudy all day. Really! It was just empty, rolling grassland. Almost completely shade less and blazing hot. We managed to make it to a trailer park 8 miles from Gillette for lunch. We used a new facility having plush carpet and sofas, nice rest rooms, a table for lunch, etc. Very nice! A lot of us crashed on the floor after lunch. I had a nice chat with the Johnson's, Barb, and Clare. It felt normal and luxurious all at once. The girl there said it was 103 degrees at 3:30. Very hot, but not humid. To Gillette we had crummy road construction and wind. Once there we breaked until 7:30. I spent over $1 on Popsicle, ice cream, fruit pie, and soda. Trying all day to quench the thirst! It was a chore - hot water in the bottles, only 12 oz. in a soda can!
We had devotions, then pulled out at 7:35 with a nice strong tailwind. Boy, we booked. Felt terrific! Arrived in Moorcroft about 9:30, supper at 10:30, up tomorrow at 5 AM. Saturday is a day off, hallelujah, praise the Lord!
Thank God for a much better day than yesterday in several respects. It was cooler because a cold front from Canada brought some cooler air down. The high at Spearfish at 3 as we rolled in was only 90 degrees compared to the 106 degrees that we heard for yesterday. The front also brought some north winds for part of the day. That created some headwinds since we were heading east and northeast. Yet, it was cool and not too bad. Also, we covered less miles, finishing by 3:15 despite taking over 2 hours for our lunch break. I didn't get nearly as thirsty as yesterday. Lastly, we arrived at Spearfish - hallelujah! Laundromat, town, night off, day off, rest, etc. PTL! We really need the time off to recuperate and prepare for hard, hot biking ahead. We crossed into South Dakota at 2:20; now I've brought my total to 44 states that I've been in. That's all the new ones for this trip.
After we got here and did laundry, it was supper, shower, then Ted & Babs, Barb and I went to a joint to hear a band. Girls got free beer till 9. It was really an 18-age hangout. The music was amateurish and loud. We stayed for half a dozen songs, then got some pie and ice cream at the Village Restaurant. It was great to go out and to relate more intellectually rather than around biking all the time. I hope we can do more. Today Todd did very well at keeping up. We have been prodding him and praising him when he does better. Hope he keeps it up - no relief from the heat for awhile, I'm afraid.
Again we enjoyed a day off and again we had to work hard for nearly 2 hours cleaning our bikes. That was over by 1 o'clock. The afternoon did not net me a lot of produce, but I enjoyed the rest. I studied Calculus, then called my brother and chatted awhile. Then Mom called and I talked to her for a half hour. By then it was 4, so I showered and cleaned up for our big night out. We went to the Village Restaurant and ate and ate and drank. Several of us weighed before and after. I couldn't believe it - I gained from 153 to 159 after supper! It was great sitting there watching Doug try to stuff down his final bites. He was getting very lethargic in his motions, decorated with groans. But it was great to be out and eat some real, solid beef and etc. Mim did a good job stuffing it down also. What a riot! We all sat around as if bolted to our chairs for an hour after finishing.
For the evening Barb, Ted & Babs, and Todd and I went to see 'The Phantom of Matthew's Opera House', a play of local color and history. The acting was fairly good, but mostly I just enjoyed getting out. PTL! I love plays! This was a real western melodrama with villain, hero and all. It made for a relaxing finish to a nice day off.
The Lord's day again! It even felt somewhat like last Sunday in Yellowstone. We entered Black Hills Nat. Forest before very long, climbing all the time. We spent the day riding through pine forests, meadows, hills and other wild things. It was green and quite beautiful! I really enjoyed it.
We made slow progress because Dave M. had missed breakfast and really got killed on the hills. We had a 5:30 breakfast, then lunch at 2 - very late. We enjoyed a few rain sprinkles to cool us off during the day. The last one wasn't too great. We rode up a steep 10% grade, then 8% to Mt. Rushmore. I loved seeing the monument and reading famous quotes of trust in God and faith in liberty and freedom. Our nation is truly great because of our godly founders & heritage. May God restore us to the faith of our fathers! Well, the sprinkle of Rushmore made the hill very slick. Barb and Peggy wiped out on the hill; Barb broke her two front teeth. Poor girl - what a reward for biking to a famous monument! The rest of us rode on. For about 8 - 10 miles we really pushed it out, riding hard, getting our lungs & hearts worked up. It was great! I was so surprised at Todd's enthusiasm for pushing it. Wow! We stayed at a nice place near Rapid City. The campground was quite open, but had nice showers and a nice store. PTL! It was a good day.
Getting up early and hitting the bikes again seemed almost like the normal Monday blues of going back to school after the weekend. During the night a terrific wind arose and threatened to blow us clear back to Wyoming (I guess that was the direction of it). Fortunately all it did was halfway blow our rain fly off. It was breakfast at 6 and moving out by 7:30. We rode on a neat Skyline Drive above Rapid City. Very beautiful, reminded me of home far away. To the northwest were forested ridges and green valley - city. To the east was a nice, tree-lined city with prairie beyond. That part was not like my Eastern hometown. We stopped to look at a bunch of concrete dinosaurs - big thrill - then at the Dahl Fine Arts Center. We saw a mural, 360 degrees around, depicting our U.S. history and heard a taped presentation of it. It always makes my heart move to see things like that. I love the USA and all the ways God has blessed it, but we must return to Him if we are to survive and retain our freedoms. There are lots of good people I've met out here. The West is still alive though, with saloons and bars, cowboys, hardy ranchers, and pokes. Well, I called Annie and had a nice chat. She likes it in Rapid City. On we went. Oh yes, there was a lot of art at the Dahl Center and a nice auditorium. I'd love to hear one of their chamber music concerts. Woe is me - I'm missing the SVM Festival again! PTLA, I know I'll have many things to enjoy when I get home. The Lord gave us beautiful weather in the morning - slight tailwinds and only 77 degrees at 10 AM. But in the afternoon it got very hot with headwinds. The final 10 miles to Wall were about the hardest of the trip for me. Wind, sun, short nights and uphill got me. I was so glad to be in! Mail was there and Wall Drug. I liked the store, but it was quite expensive so I didn't buy anything. I met a fellow hitchhiking and broke, so I offered him room to set up at our site. He was a Catholic, long-haired, OK but seemed a little odd. Why did he run out of $ - didn't he plan ahead? In the night, about 2, we got a tremendous light show. Too bad for the hour! It rained and thundered heavily. Very windy too! Some of the lightning was right overhead. I was prayin' for protection! Also, I saw a beautiful sunset that night. The clouds were heavy, but broken in the west, turning a strange orange sheen as the sun lowered. Neat colors. I see why Kansans claim to have such nice sunsets on the plains. The country is rolling plains here.
It was an early 'shake-the-tent-good-morning' this morning. Awake and up at 4:40. It was a really cool, pleasant morning with sunshine. We set off in third position for the Badlands. Promptly both Todd and Barb got flats. Fun, fun. Well, Conrad fixed us up and on to the Park up several hills. The Badlands were pretty neat, being composed of weirdly eroded shapes of hard mud surrounded by higher prairie. It was cool and very pleasant riding except for my sleepiness. A bank of clouds came up from the west along with a stiff breeze, obscuring the sun by soon after 10. Thank God! The clouds remained until about 2 PM - after lunch as we rode north against the wind. The last 15 miles were long, but tolerable. Here tonight in Philip we are enjoying cold showers and banana splits on the town. After supper I walked down to the pool, but ended up watching a baseball game instead. I was welcomed by our official welcoming committee to Philip. This guy Frank was an elementary school teacher and very nice. It was great to be at a ballpark, hearing the sounds, smelling the food, and chatting with a local resident. He told me all about the town economy, weather, etc. I really loved getting some local color. Small town America is still alive and well. Frank just really loved working and living in this dry, rolling land and in the small town without tourists. He wouldn't live in bigger places, L.A., N.Y., Rapid City, Shenandoah Valley. He was happy right there.
The day dawned early with a 5:10 wakeup. Beautiful morning out and cool too! Used my jacket at breakfast for once. We set out east with a tailwind already behind us. The first stretch of 26 went very well. Peggy was riding for the first time since her fall Sunday. She was still sore so we had to cool it somewhat all day. Good enough; it helped keep us from catching Cluster 4 all the time. The next 22 miles were north, but the SW wind didn't hurt us much. We made good time. Then east to lunch at a ranch 64 miles out. Good morning ride! By then it was getting quite hot, being sunny all day. The final 24 were fast (tailwind) although we had to stop and wait for all the clusters to gather after 15 miles. I hated it because it was hot and I wanted to roll in, but it's just another way I can learn patience. Tony was joshing about stopping too. We always joke about who's the toughest, fastest rider, where are the hills, etc. Have a great time to the chagrin of the girls. Helen just endures us, I guess. Beautiful prairie country today - checkerboard fields, rolling hills, few people. Real prairie. We arrived in Pierre & CDT at 4:55 CDT. Hot (97 degrees) but tolerable. Better than 110 degrees! July can be expected to be hot. Tonight I had a real neat time getting more small town color and flavor. We had a terrific devotional tonight. Doug had us write letters to God. That was a great experience for me and I hope for the others who don't seem to regard prayer as very important. Then we shared in two groups. It was rather disappointing because as usual, not many people shared, but I used the opportunity to confess my selfish riding habits and my hope to do better, having more patience, etc. It was good to share. Well, then we went swimming for a short time. Cooled off - felt great. Then I went alone to hear a brass band playing in the park. They finished with the Star-Spangled Banner. All the folk stood, some with hand over the heart. South Dakotans seem really patriotic, and all-American, small-townish, friendly, etc. I just love 'em! I've truly enjoyed my visit to this state. I walked over to watch a baseball game - (Am. Legion) after the band. The lights weren't working. The game was called after an inning I saw. I chatted with a couple of guys. Really friendly. They like S.D. and the small town life. PTL, restores my faith in America.
Hallelujah for a bitter-sweet day. Riding today was not easy. Thank God it was cloudy most of the day. Only in the late afternoon did the sun come out and it get hot. Really quite pleasant (maybe upper 80's). But we also felt some of these infamous S.D. winds. We left Pierre and quickly got into some really flat land, fighting a NE wind as we headed NE. A storm was moving in, the sky growing very black in the west. At our 23-mile rest stop it began to sprinkle and blow hard. From then on, all day, we fought strong S, SE, and E winds. In the afternoon they were very strong southerly winds. We pushed hard to go even 9 - 10 MPH. It wasn't so hot, but it was very difficult. PTLA! Our final 14 mile stretch was just about all we could take. Even Tony admitted to getting tired today. It took some real work to get Todd to finish, but he made it. He's doing OK most of the time. But in St. Lawrence a huge feast awaited us - chicken, baked beans, salad, pies, and lots of cold drink served by several formerly Mennonite families. We ate and ate, but I avoided over-stuffing for once. Thank God! I enjoyed a great chat with the folk - still love those friendly South Dakotans. I decided to sleep out for the night but it was not too successful. I was barraged by buzzing mosquitoes & flies (I guess), dreams & light sleep, ants (?), and by wind and sprinkles at 3 AM. That was enough! To the garage I went, enjoying a fairly restful night after that. The flies have been really terrible here in S. Dakota. They bite & swarm, never leaving you alone. PTLA, the people make up for it.
Breakfast on the house was a real treat - eggs, toast, cinnamon roll, cereal and coffee. I was filled, but not stuffed again. It sat really well all morning. PTL! We had fairly nice winds today from the NW. Our north stretches took work, but the east stretches were great. We were riding across nice flat land covered by corn, sunflower, wheat and lots of hay fields. I was smelling hay all day and loved it so much! I just truly enjoy all these gorgeous farms, sweetly scented with hay. The hay is baled very interestingly - sometimes in round 'Twinkie' loaves, or big bread loaves, or in large and small bales, or even in big haystacks. I love the sight of fields covered with bales of hay scattered about. The last seven miles of the day were hilly again as we neared Clark. Thus ended the flat land. We got there in good time, about 6. In the evening we ate, laundered, played some Rook and hit the sack. It was a nice day. Not too hot, either.
5:40 came too soon. I just had to sleep in, but no chance. Reminded me of my efforts in getting up for school all winter! We got an early start at 7AM. The winds were not too cooperative - always seems to happen when Dave leads! We kept rolling with a moderate wind from the S or SE. It wasn't bad riding, but we could feel it. It was cloudy, becoming overcast and dark. Lunchtime came at a pull-over 9 miles from the state line. Drizzle began, then rain. PTLA, we set off and crossed the line about 2:30. Hallelujah for Minnesota! Just before the line a strong headwind began to beat us furiously, along with rain. We worked hard to make decent progress, but it was tiring. We chatted with some nice people at a country store. Really nice - I love Minnesota and its people. Fighting hard we were able to grind our way to Dawson and Dairy Queen. Munch out again. After a generous rest we set out for the last 16 miles. After 6 easier (?) miles, rain! I had been enjoying a terrific lightning show off to our left until the rain hit. Then I got drenched, with sharp pains on my nose from huge raindrops. We stopped at a farm, just as it slowed and stopped. I really was cold and wet, but survived. The wind got drier and slightly warmer. Montevideo came finally at 7:30. We rinsed our bikes, ate, wrote a little, and hit the sack. PTL!
Today was a day for covering ground. The Lord's Day! Hallelujah! I awoke at 5:35 and sleepily crawled myself out of the sleeping bag. Amazingly enough, I had not been eaten alive by mosquitoes! The day was chilly, overcast and dreary. Reminded me of days gone by in Idaho! First time for jeans in the morning since Montana. We set off and made excellent time. Lunch came 67 miles later in a little roadside park. I just love Minnesota! It was wonderful to ride through green fields of corn, hay, soybeans, pasture and even wheat and sunflowers left over from S.D. I thought it was very interesting to see corn fields and wheat fields across the road from each other since they require such different amounts of moisture. The fields were tree-lined with stands of woods here and there. Also there were people! Finally we're back in the more populous East, seeing pretty houses with large shade trees in green, manicured, flower-lined lawns. I just ate it up! Well, on to St. Cloud after a Dairy Queen stop - our gang's favorite. Dave L. is a trip; he will eat a shake and a large cone at one DQ stop. Growing boy! We all like DQ, ice cream is a favorite. We rolled into St. Cloud at 5:20, very early! I called Patty, but alas! She was in Indiana, living with Susie and Dick for the summer. I was rather disappointed, but it's OK. I spent the evening studying Calc, and in devotions. Went to Mister Donut, although I wasn't really hungry. Bed at 9:55 tonight.
Another fast, wonderful day of lush cornfields, trees and beautiful small towns. We rode a 30-mile stretch to Princeton where we sat down and chatted with the residents in a bakery. Very nice people; I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am more and more convinced that Minnesotans are a friendly bunch. I love em! We had our pictures shot for the local paper too. Then on to Cambridge - I was wondering if maybe we were already in New England! Lunch came at a little roadside park in Braham, MN. The tall spruces and firs reaching for the sky stood so proud and noble. These Minnesota towns with their well-kept, neat houses, green lawns, and numerous shade trees and conifers are quite a blessing. I enjoy the towns and the people so much! PTL, hallelujah! The final stretches of Minnesota turned more and more forested to the St. Croix River and Wisconsin. More forest turned to cornfields again in spots. So heavenly! Grantsburg (WI) held mail from Angela for me. PTL - a blessing! I wrote some cards, then took a walk. It was so lovely outside, seeing a few small houses with green, prosperous gardens. The neighbor had a huge garden with all kinds of vegetables and raspberries. He was a very nice chap too, showing me around and exhibiting his work. Great people, great state. America is still good at home. The next neighbor had a picturesque back yard, green and brimming over with flowers, guarded by tall trees. These evergreens carry me away - so tall and noble. PTL! There was a lush cornfield across the road. Quite the spot for a stop! We had a meeting to discuss a few changes, then played a nice game of prisoner's base. Very enjoyable; hope we can do it again. After that Tony, Ed, Chip, and I munched out on some pizza and sodas we had bought. What a treat!
Another fast day of wonderful, enjoyable riding. The early morning brought fog and clouds, but as the day rolled on, it got warm and very pleasant. The sun came out in the late afternoon. We made great time today as we began to get into more and more woods. We rode past several beautiful lakes with tree-lined banks, rowboats, houses along the shore, ducks, etc. There were lots of marshy creeks full of cattails, water lilies, and other green things. The whole area is so cool and clean and refreshing. A few farms had corn and oats, but forest and lake predominated. It's a fisherman's paradise! I sure enjoy it too, following the sizzling days in S.D. Mosquitoes are not so bad here either, surprising enough. Glad to be in the East! We got in by 4:30 or before to a roadside campground, Ojibwa State Park. It had no nice facilities, but it was very green, shady, had nice picnic tables, and a beautiful creek. I really liked it. It was Calculus before supper then talent show after it. The show was great; Marv E. was a real favorite with his Dr. Seuss story. Cluster One's news show was terrific - Tony was pardoned from the draft because 'he just wasn't tough enough.' Ha! Ed made a great announcer. Sherm, Marv, Linda and Mim did a little skit called 'Play Practice.' That was the greatest - we nearly died laughing! Linda was dying of a stomach ache, Mim called the doctor, and he came to see it. They did slow, fast, humorous, musical, and sad versions. It was a riot! Really quite the show! Dave & Peg did a funny little skit and I did the man in the desert one where he finds water and combs his hair. We had a good time, then hit the sack by 9:30 or so.
It was a really cool morning at Ojibwa State Park, reminiscent of points west. In fact, I believe it was the coolest morning since East Yellowstone, well down in the 40's, I'd say. I had to walk to the road for some warm sunshine! Across the road was a river, flowing quietly and peacefully with an early morning mist rising from the waters. Very nice, actually, despite the chill. Back at camp we drew names out of containers to form 5 new clusters for the morning. I became part of 'Cluster D', composed of Helen, Ruth, Mike, Marv E. , Tony (!) and myself. I took the rear position, thoroughly enjoying myself, bulling with Tony about our clusters' habits, having a good ole time. We all had the adrenalin flowin' and really burned the second stretch of 23. We were workin' hard up those hills! It was a lot of fun! Lunch came after about 57 miles. Then we took a detour of maybe 10 extra miles to avoid some road construction. That was pretty neat; we rode thru thick National Forest, lush and green like Virginia. Only difference was; we don't have all these white birches. Lac du Flambeau was a great town, and fabulous lake, surrounded by green pines. It was really nice, but again my camera was not with me. I miss all the best pictures! We got to our Woodruff campground at about 5:40. It had 2 lakes, but I was too tired to look at them until this morning. Bratwurst sausage was our supper. It was good; I'd never had it before. After supper we had a meeting. Since Bible study is now optional, only half of us came - the serious ones. Looks like we'll get into the word some now. Can't wait! Hope God really does a job on us! PTL!
This morning was much warmer than yesterday. I wore shorts and even shed my jacket just before riding off. For quiet time I walked down to the two lakes. They were pretty, but not gorgeous. It got quite windy from the west, quite a boost to us! Tracy led the first half-stretch today, but she didn't like it. Then Peg led until Eagle River, a tourist town. Being sleepy, I bought some coffee at a little restaurant - best cup of coffee I've ever had perhaps. Really great! Todd led the rest of the day through lots of National Forest over very badly patched and bumpy roads. He did pretty good, but was getting ahead of Peg on the hills. She really has to work on all these hills; missing every other day doesn't help her any either. We were up and down all day - northern Wisconsin certainly isn't flat! It's flattish, though. When we arrived in Iron Mountain, the cluster chatted about the day. Peg felt offended by my having to call coasting all the time. Truly, I was coasting probably half the day, as was Dave, but I really didn't want Peg to feel like I was pushing her. I know she's working. Still, I am still getting used to going at everyone's pace. God is still working on me. PTL! I'm beginning to look forward to days she doesn't ride and that's not right. Help me to be more sensitive, Lord. Thanks! Todd has been doing great lately. No problem there. At our campsite on Lake Antoine, it was swimming (warm!), showers, and a good supper with ice cream.
Drizzle, drizzle, drip, drip, joy is like the rain. At 5:30 AM I felt like sleeping, hearing a light rain falling on my tent. The call was at 5:40, however and up we rose. We ate, then took down the tents, an unprecedented move. Out on the road, Barb was wanting us to go slow on the hills, fearing the wet road. It was quite warm and overcast today (69 degrees at 9 AM). We made it to Rapid River, 66 miles, for lunch. As we turned north in Escanaba we hit wind and were really working right before lunch. After lunch it was a little easier but still quite a job. I led all day - that was work! By Manistique I was quite tired and even getting shaky. I barely made it. The Manistique Mennonite Church is rather plain and bare. Was it worth 114 miles of torture to get here? Actually, we were booking today. Everyone just dug in and worked hard; so we made 114 miles in 11 hours.
We had a short meeting, then I played some Rook and hit the sack. Devotions last night consisted of a discussion of knowing God's will. Linda, Mim, Peg and I all shared a good bit along with some others. I loved it - God is answering my prayer to bring us together. Hallelujah!
The morning was damp and quite chilly, like the night before. For quiet time I walked across the road midst dirt piles to a pond. I believe a muskrat was there because I heard him, but he didn't even come into plain sight. We set off biking along narrow US 2 again. The morning passed and we were finished our day's work by noon. PTL! We had lunch, then the Wyses' did our laundry for us free, all afternoon. What a tremendous gesture! I took off and called Arden, Mom & Dad, and then my brother. It was neat to call and talk to my friends and family. It felt just like a day off, having the whole afternoon free. I also walked down to a local bar to watch some baseball. Pepsi for 60 cents but it was good! Supper was a fish fry c/o Wyses' & the church. We ate twice our fill. I got so stuffed, I felt miserable all evening and had heartburn half the night. It was not pleasant. Some of the kids played volleyball and a few played Flinch with Frisbees. I went to bed feeling very uncomfortable.
Rejoicing at the opportunity to sleep in, we arose at 6 for breakfast. For quiet time I walked down to the Lake for a few minutes. It was quiet so early on Sunday morning, with birds singing as water lapped the shore. The shore itself was rocky and weedy, covered with cattails. I have such deep appreciation for these opportunities to be alone with the Lord in the quiet of these mornings. PTL! Instead of busy US 2, we took an inland road, adding about 16 miles to the route. Our first rest came at Trout Lake, surrounded by lush woods, including tall stands of big old white birches. The scene was simply terrific! As we neared St. Ignace, disaster struck again. Mim took a tumble, skinning up her knee rather badly and bruising the whole area. What's more, a little farther on they came upon a head-on collision with people lying on the road. Mim, the injured, took it upon herself to help out, calming and soothing the dazed and injured men. God had put her there at the right time! Well, into town, L. broke a spoke, so Cluster Five did not make it in first. We were rather late, arriving about 1:45. Another late lunch, as usual, but no more riding. PTL! We were camping at Straits State Park on the beach with a terrific view of Mackinac Bridge. The day was quite hazy. For the afternoon, I took a nap; time to catch up on some lost ZZZ's. After supper 6 of us went to a local Baptist church service. The singing was very slow and boring, but the preacher was fiery, stepping on a few toes, talking about personal commitment to the Lord and spending time with Him. Doug really enjoyed it. It was the first non-Catholic service Mike had ever been to. It was OK by me - reminded me a lot of the Pentecostal Holiness church at home. Not for me all the time! After the service Mike, Dave L., Doug, Linda, Sherm, and I went out for pizza. It was good, but relieved me of $5. PTLA. The fellowship was good. Ice cream afterwards.
Rest day encore une fois! PTL, hallelujah! These rest days are so refreshing, they really do help prepare us for more days of biking - physically and mentally. After an 8:30 breakfast we all walked downtown to catch the 10:30 ferry to Mackinac Island. It was foggy, but clearing over the land as we arrived 30 minutes later. The island was a joy to behold - without cars, bicycles and with fudge shops galore, green forest, old houses, lush and bounteous. The big Fort cost $3 to see so I didn't, but I did take in some of the other sights such as an old British fortress, Arch Rock, old houses and churches, etc. Lastly, I walked up to the huge old Grand Hotel. Looked like a fine example of Colonial-style Southern hospitality, transplanted to the North. The exterior was decorated with a huge porch lined with pillars and other artwork, including lounge chairs. The interior was lavishly ornamented with carpets, hangings, chandeliers, banquet settings in fancy style, gifts, a flower shop, etc. (old piano). I loved it! Todd said it cost $60/night including meals. Not bad, really. The town itself was alive with bicycles and horse carriages, shops selling fudge, ice cream, souvenirs, etc. and even 'normal' business such as banking. I took a long walk with Marv E,, enjoying it all very much. We went back at 4; I bought a pair of Adidas. Then I called Diane and enjoyed a nice chat. She's staying with some guy in Silver Spring till this weekend yet (still house-sitting). She's becoming a mediator - seems to be having a great time. I'm tempted to be jealous of her time spent with this unchristian fellow, but that's futile. I'm sure she's OK, and wouldn't throw her affections around loosely. I may get to see her on the way home, anyway. Back at camp, the infamous peanut butter and jelly eating contest was warming up. 15 slices of bread with both of the above between each had to be eaten within half an hour. The contestants were: Dave L., Dave, Ruth, Craig, Chip, Doug, Mike, and Sherm. All finished except Mike. Dave L. set a record time of 11:45. Wow! It was exciting - another example of what 5 1/2 weeks of biking can do to your senses! The rest of the evening went by with the usual bike-cleaning and bed at 10:00. Up early tomorrow.
Back on the bikes this morning for the final two weeks of riding. Thank God. Oh, I still enjoy riding, but after 5 1/2 weeks of it daily, I'm beginning to get ready for a change. Seems like a bunch of us are kind of 'bottoming out'. Here we are in Michigan, certainly in the East, but still 900 miles from our goal, with some long days ahead. Just 3 more nights in Michigan, then a new province and country even! That's encouraging! I know I'll enjoy this Eastern riding, yet I will be glad to arrive on the Coast, yessir. Tony & Ed & Chip are really getting psyched to be there too. I guess most of us are. We've been joking about dipping our tires in Lake Huron or Michigan, snapping the photo looking out to sea, and heading home - all in jest, of course.
We were awakened early (5:10) by Helen, packed up our tents and headed for Mackinac Bridge. There we received a pickup truck and police escort, as we rode across in double file. The bridge was quite a sight, huge pillars and cables! The pipes holding the suspension cables were probably 24" across. It was much bigger than it looked from shore. To the right was Lake Michigan with Huron on the left. There were a bunch of sailboats coming in from the annual race from Chicago to Mackinac Island. They had been sailing for 3 days! It was a real sight, but I didn't have my camera as usual for the best shots. We had breakfast at a visitor center on the other side. Then we set out riding through lots of thick forest of white birch, beeches, and many maples. I can imagine the pioneer days as Indians stalked the dense forest seeking game and scalps, riding water in their birch bark canoes. Very beautiful! The area would be so tremendously colorful in the fall. Wish I could come sometime - woods alive, ablaze with orange, red and yellow leaves. God's country! We passed some farms and homes in the country. Nice area - sparsely settled, to be sure, but more populous than S.D. or Wyoming! At Fairview we rode on to Marv E's house, farm & food. We enjoyed a bounteous supply of ham, homemade baked beans, delicious salads, brownies, and ice cream. It was certainly a treat! I got full, but not so much so as at Naubinway, which was a bad scene for me. I also enjoyed pool with Tony, and Brian. We had a nice meeting in the living room on soft carpet and plush furniture. What luxury - enough to spoil a man if he's not careful. Marv enjoyed his bed, sharing it with Chip, a real whimp. Someone might as well enjoy it!
I enjoyed sleeping in until 6:05 this morning. Then up to enjoy even more so the breakfast on the house. We had a casserole containing eggs, sausage, cheese and wonderful seasonings. Really hit the spot! Plus some cereal. Really delicious! Being Wednesday, it was again time for clusters A-E to be formed. I was selected first of all, joined by Sherm, Brian, Barbie L., and Tracy. Of course I couldn't pick up the rear then, so I was appointed leader. We moved well all day despite slight westerly winds at times, opposing our southerly riding. After lunch at a roadside park we encountered some other riders who were also from a Christian group in Indiana. They were riding a loop tour in Mich. and Indiana. There were over 40 of them - guys and girls. We pushed on to Bay City, finally arriving, hot and sweaty. We stayed in a Baptist Church. After supper was a meeting which we attended. They were having a Bible study on Hosea; the pastor was very good. Afterwards I was writing in the journal when I heard a McDonald's call. Off I went in a van with a young girl driver with a dozen other folk, hearing rock music. Felt really great to ride, covering ground without pedaling and legwork. That was the first real ride I've had since Oregon and Greyhound. Tremendous! After the Mac we went to this girl's house and played cards, watched TV, munched on lemonade and popcorn, and sat on the soft furniture. Was a neat evening! Then some of us guys went upstairs to sleep on the carpet. Didn't get in trouble though. (Chip, Ed, Marv, Tony & I).
Thank God for friendly people! We ran into them today. Thank God also for headwinds 'cause they make us tough. And that's part of the great experience Coast-to-Coast is. We set out at 7:30 with Dave leading. Headwinds beset us from a gray, cloudy sky. We turned southeast, fighting winds from both directions. The country was flatter south of Bay City with lots of farms, corn and bean fields, and scattered houses. The roads were pretty bad. We took some county roads to avoid heavily traveled routes, and they also saved us miles. I love getting out on these country roads so close to nature and green things. Such a contrast to the Interstate system! After lunch (of ham & cheese sandwiches!) we let Todd lead a while. Boy, he avoided the wind somehow, pedaling like greased lightning. I had to work to keep up and Peggy was faltering some. He really did not do so well this time. We made it to Imlay City at about 4:30 where Kirk's mother treated us to ice cream. Wow, what a treat! On to Ritgar's, whose church treated us to a delicious potluck of barbeque, vegetables, fresh berries, ice cream, brownies & cake & drink. We had a great time sharing in a program. Each cluster had a subject and we took turns presenting the trips parts: Lots of fun! We also enjoyed swimming in their private pool before supper, including such fun as chicken fights (Barbie L. & I), and races. Perhaps the best part of the evening for me was an opportunity to play their piano. Such a joy to sit down with a bunch of classical books they had. I haven't hardly played since the end of April, and the pleasure it brought was tremendous. I must take opportunity at home and play undisturbed for several hours when I return. Music I miss, among other things. I've not been able to listen to any classical music for 2 months now. I can't wait to hear a good symphony or concerto in all its glory, loud & undisturbed. PTL! I miss driving a car, steak, beds, and the possibility of sleeping in. Biking does get tiring sometimes, especially after day after day. Anyway, it'll be good to finish and get back to a normal life. Still, the trip is better here in the East, having more people, churches, potlucks & rain. It's quite humid here in Michigan, but not so hot - 80's or cooler, it's been.
PS Barb & Tracy came to hear me play. That was a blessing to me. Both like classical music a lot, concerts, etc. Tracy said it "soothes the animal in her." Barb was speaking of how enjoyable it was to have it live.
Again, thank God for friendly people! We had a delicious breakfast of eggs, toast, bacon (!), cereal, and OJ. Wonderful! The Ritgar's were so nice; I thoroughly enjoyed the visit. I even got to play a tune this morning while the line grew smaller. For quiet time I walked down by a neat little pond they had and listened to the birds and a frog (I think). That was nice. Here in the humid East the dew is really thick - my feet got wet but it wasn't bad. We set off with a nice tailwind which we enjoyed most of the day. Halfway thru the morning we were delayed 45 minutes or more because Marv fell off his bike and broke his wrist. We waited and waited at a corner we were marking. It was a good opportunity to just talk together. Then we began to amuse ourselves by throwing little rocks at the holes in Barb's helmet. Quite hard to get them through, actually! Well, the day grew hotter and more humid. We reached the bridge to Canada (Ontario) at about 11 and had to walk them over which was probably a mile or more. The view up top was neat - Lake Huron left, grain elevators and factories right, ore ships and lots of trees. The border crossing was easy, but took some time. We lunched in Sarnia at a park with some gorgeous flower gardens. Really terrific! With 57 miles to go, we had to book. So we did; flat land, tailwind, and a nice road helped us along. We made it to London by 6:45, but the park was farther on. We finally made it (after getting lost because 4's didn't mark the last corner) at 7:45. Food, c/o London Mennonite Church, awaited us. Yum, yum. We shared a little after supper, showered (PTL! - hot & sticky day!) and hit the sack.
Another long day. Thank God the next two will be short. The dew was heavy again this AM, but it was pretty warm. We had little wind in the morning, but picked up some later in the day. We took a lot of county roads today through many beautiful, well-kept farms and towns. So many houses were decorated with flowers, green, trimmed lawns, huge old trees, ivy, etc. The ride today was certainly a refreshing sight. Quite enjoyable! After a late lunch the overcast sky finally began to drip at 3:45. Until 6 it was rain again - drenched, soaked, soggy, cold, etc. We made good time today, but the rain was not a nice conclusion. However, God provided a nice Brethren in Christ Church at Wainfleet - spacious, warm, carpeted, dry. We truly enjoyed it. We had a long time of singing, then a devotional of sharing our dreams and visions for ourselves. It was pretty neat. Surprises me that Ruth would like to be a Bible teacher some day!
I slept on a wonderfully soft couch in the fellowship room of the church - probably the softest bed since Zion National Park. I awoke during the night, listening to rain. Still, at 6:00, we got our wake-up call. No sleeping in again. The rain stopped by 7 or so and by 8:45 when we left, the sun was almost breaking through. There was still a heavy overcast though. We biked across flat land toward the Niagara River. Being last in line, we had a flat after Doug had already passed. Great - lots of waiting. More flats to come - it took a long time to reach the river. Then the last 12 miles along the scenic Niagara were great. Very beautiful and easy. Along the Falls is Queen Victoria Park, a green wonderland of shade and flowers. We biked past it all, missing our turn. After we finally arrived at the church, ate & cleaned up, most of us trekked off to see the gigantic cascades. Very nice; loved it a lot. I walked all along the Falls area, then headed for the museums. I ended up getting in a chat with a girl working in one. She was a 'non-practicing Mormon'. Sounds very useful to God in that state. Anyway, I enjoyed it. Then I went through the Ripley's museum, had a steak supper, and through the Guinness Museum. Pretty neat, but I'm not sure it was worth the $2.50. By then it was 11:30 so I took a quick hike down to see the Falls with lights, then headed back on foot. Ran into Todd so we went back together, arriving at 1:00. Late! I wish I'd been able to spend the evening with Cluster One and a few others who ate out, rode the Ferris wheel, and apparently had a real riot. But I had a nice time alone; that's always good for the soul.
Today was a terrific day. We biked north along the river to see a floral clock, passing some very beautiful gardens. Then to New York, and the USA again. We got over and Peg started singing our national anthem. So patriotic. We made it to Ken F's by 1:15. They have a really nice place - green lawn, shrubbery, swimming pool, and a nice house. Before lunch I went in to call Twila. Mrs. Frey asked me who I knew in Marilla. When I told her, she said Twila had just been killed in a car accident about 2 - 3 weeks ago. Wow, it nearly floored me! I sat down and asked questions, in a state of semi-stunnedness. Seems she was hit on the left by a truck that ran a red light and she wasn't able to avoid it. Well, it left me quiet thru lunch. In the afternoon we cleaned bikes, then had supper and a time of singing and sharing. Following that was the M & M contest - seeing how many of the peanut variety would fit in a person's mouth at once. 76 was our record - Dave L. had 73, Brian won. Well, after that I went to see Sherry B. at Darien Center at her restaurant. We shared some about Twila's death - how it seemed to fit so in God's plan. Twila had had a nervous breakdown and recovered, and also she never seemed to be able to see God's plan for her life. Her parents & Sherry & others seemed to see it as being in God's plan. Wow! I hope & pray people she knew & worked with were touched by God through it. Well, we went to Sherry's house where she told me about her year with YWAM. Says God used it all to show her 'the pride in her heart'. Really? Sherry B? Guess we all have weaknesses and I know pride is one I have problems with sometimes. We shared frustrations in our walks - also talked about my trip and also a lot about old high school days. I truly enjoyed it. I shared my testimony, and how I ended up so excited about talking about the Lord so much as a senior. That's what she said always bugged her so much. But now she's not offended at all by it - she's right on in the Spirit. PTL! It was after 2 when we went outside to sing a few songs, sharing in that way. Had a great time - prayed together & hit the sack at 2:45. Wow - latest for a long time!
I got up at 5:35 to help Sherry make donuts at 6 AM. Down at the restaurant I watched, then helped peel some potatoes, then left with her Dad at 6:50. He drove me back to Frey's so Sherry wouldn't have to late last night. I felt really great despite having only 8 hrs. sleep in the last two nights. We got packed up and left about 7:40 heading east again. The day grew hotter and hotter and got very humid. By 10 AM the sun was blazing and I was beginning to swelter. Off came the shirt as we left Batavia (actually it came off 5 miles out!). We encountered 2 accidents today; both partially our fault. The first was a man on a bicycle who was hit as he entered the road without looking because he was probably waving at us. (3's) In the second a car braked to avoid hitting a dog who was coming to chase Cluster 1. The dog got hit anyway, but a big tanker ran up into a yard to avoid the car, luckily keeping upright. Biking can be hazardous, especially in a very populated and busy state. We had lunch in a small town under some shade trees. I felt amazingly good despite my little sleep and hot weather. Still, it was kind of hard to get going after breaks. We finally rolled in at about 7:30 to a Waterloo campground. It was very much infested with mosquitoes and damp. A cold shower helped me feel better, but I got lots of bites and still was very tired. I hit the sack about 9:45.
Morning came too early at 5:35. Another 6 o'clock breakfast. I hate 'em! We didn't have morning quiet time because of the mosquitoes. On the road at 7, we covered 61 by lunch at a church. It began to rain just as we set out. What a joy! I just really dig riding in the rain, you know. Fortunately it wasn't cold; also it stopped after 45 minutes. Eventually most of me dried off, except for my feet and shoes. Hate that soggy feeling all the time. In the church I enjoyed a nap on a very soft couch in the cool basement. Real luxury, for sure. The final stretch was hot, but only about 15-20 miles. We got in before 4. That was great, but I felt awfully drained & wiped out! I think the short nights caught up to me! We had our meeting, then I rested, then supper. Then we all walked down to the town pool to enjoy a cool swim & an icy shower. I had a good time talking to Ed about the trip. Also chatted with Chip & Tony & Craig. We five went to a bar then & stayed until 11:15. Ed convinced me to stay 2 hours longer than I wanted so they wouldn't get in trouble. Ed & Chip had 13 or 14 beers! Wowzee, wowzee, wowzee! Ed held it pretty well but Chip got too free. Both were a little loose as we walked back. Tony acted drunk, altho he didn't touch it. I had one beer and a Tequila Sunrise. Felt fine, but tired. Anyway, we were locked out so we had to bang & yell at the window of the Community Center to get in. Ed tried calling without getting a response, so then he yelled 'Fire!' It was funny! Bunch of guys woke up; Mike had the key & let us in.
Thank God! It was an interesting evening. I seem to relate well to them, but I don't know how much witness they're receiving. I hope some good is rubbing off. Mim has been trying too. Together, I think the Lord has been able to make some impression of other ways of living on them. Only He can bring the seed to sprout and fruit. For that end, I pray. As for Mim, she's a really sweet, lovely & loving Christian. I wish I could date her. She really is a girl I could see marrying, but for us only God could do it. Soon she'll be back in Indiana. Only God could make anything happen - I'll leave it all to Him. Sherry also impressed me as a prospect. God only knows.
Another short day, PTL! We had a warm morning which turned into a hot day as we left Oneida, a beautiful town with old buildings, churches, parks, etc. Lots of these NY towns are very beautiful and old. Upstate New York would be a nice place to live, and it's not so far from Va. so maybe after college . . . God only knows. We took one stretch arriving in Utica where we spent an extra 2 hrs. just walking around to see the old historic buildings, art gallery or whatever. I went off to take a local brewery tour with Chip, Tony, Ed, Craig & Todd. It was a nice tour, and we had a super-nice and sweet guide. At the end we enjoyed free beer or root beer. I took the root beer. It was good. We had 20 - 25 miles to go after lunch. It went fairly fast, but it sure was hot! Oh, we also enjoyed 2 cold cellars during our brewery tour (about 40 degrees). Nice! We hit the YMCA by 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Mail from Lois and Charlotte was nice, then a cool shower really refreshed me. It was 91 degrees at that time (4 o'clock). Wow, humid too! I did some writing, had a fruit salad supper, then played some basketball alone. I also played Doug 3 games of ping pong. The first 2 were bad news (like 21-8) but the last one later was 21-15. I think I could beat him with a little more work & concentration. Hope I get a chance. I studied some Calculus, then we had a meeting, enjoying some games. Lots of fun. Hit the sack at 10:15 for another short night.
The early bird girls got us up for a 6 AM breakfast again. It was OK though. After eating, I called the PO about my special delivery letter. They weren't sure if it was in yet. Peg checked at 7:40, but didn't work hard enough to get in, so I had to call at 9 and make sure they would forward it to Hampton Beach. Contains $, I'm sure. Much needed. This morning we were riding through the Mohawk Valley. It was pretty, but not really mountainous. Amsterdam was a nice town, but Ballston Spa where we had lunch was the tops! Lots of trees, neat houses trimmed and clean, big green yards, and a nice downtown. I really enjoyed the area. In mid-afternoon we broke down to having waterfignts as has become common in these hot afternoons. Brian & Doug got me soaked. I got Helen right down her back. Boy, did she jump! It was a lot of fun. We went on to another beautiful town, Hoosick Falls, where we spent the night in a private school dorm. We each had beds with mattresses. What a luxury! Another luxury was real hamburgers for supper. That was a first for this trip too. For devotions we sang, then Doug had us share with one other person how we've grown & changed & learned about ourselves this summer. I shared with Doug. Had a neat time. He shared about the challenge of being an effective leader & about his dreams - e.g. biking around the world. I shared how I've had to learn patience & leadership this summer. Also, how I've experienced 'friendship evangelism' with Chip & Ed. I've been able to relate rather well with them, and I hope & pray that my spiritual convictions have rubbed off, at least to some degree. It's been neat relating to guys with such different lifestyles from my own. I hope I can return to college and be more open & friendly to those who need Christ.
After I went to sleep, a bunch of guys got me with shaving cream. Chip & Mad Dog put big globs on me, but I didn't awake until Chip tickled me with a feather. What was all that slippery, smelly stuff on my chest? Did I sweat that much? I went to wash it off with a crowd of guys laughing & cutting up. Sherm says, "Welcome to Out-Spokin' !"
This morning it seemed hard to get up for a compromised 6:15 breakfast. As I walked through the hall, I saw several guys just sitting with that blank, dazed early - morning stare on their face. Guess there was too much excitement the night before. After breakfast Ed enjoyed his first water fight (drenching, really). Todd took a bucket to the landing above the dormitory entrance and drenched Ed as he walked out. He really didn't look too happy about the deal. Ed's a nice guy, but he is too fleshly, not being a Christian. He gets irritated at the staff, slow waitresses, waits, etc. too quickly. He can have a cold gleam in his eye too, but he's not violent. Just likes to drink beer, have fun, run around, etc. Yet he respects Mim a lot, despite his talk. I just hope he's seen the Lord on this trip. I guess I'll get to talk and share with him on the way home to Pa. I must carry this friendship evangelism to its fitting conclusion. Well, off we went to Vermont, arriving at a hillside 4 miles away. Bennington was a beautiful town and a great example of New England architecture. Wouldn't mind living here! Then we hit mountains, climbing first to 2700 feet. There was a neat Vt. information billboard at the top describing all the neat restaurants, motels, shops & attractions in the area. Sounded so delightfully delicious! On we went, down and up to 2400 ft. on Hogback Mtn. We had lunch and enjoyed a tremendous view of ridges to the east in Vt., Massachusetts, and N. H. Lots of flowers too. God made New England so pretty - I'd just love to live here! Many more hills and hot sunny weather finally brought us to Keene (NH) where we stayed at Wheelock City Park & campground. But first we had a break in Prattleboro, VT to see the town. The old churches so exquisitely designed caught my fancy, although one of them was turned into an energy store. Too bad, buildings don't make a church - it's composed of people who love the Lord. I was impressed also by the old downtown buildings that were so well kept up that they were very attractive - much more so than the older ones in my hometown. Well, in Keene we didn't have any special time. Took a shower after supper, wrote in my journal, and shared as a group what we liked or had impressed us on this trip. Then to bed - no excitement tonight. I hope I get a chance to share with Mim before the trip ends. It seems like she has lost some confidence in me since I've been spending so much time with Chip and Ed, especially since the night out at the bar in Oneida. I know Ed & Tony's cutting up & talk have made her withdrawn, quiet, & kind of "dried-up" spiritually. I hope she still realizes I love the Lord and want Him first. God will heal & bless, I know.
Our next to last day, Hallelujah! I had a decent quiet time this morning - something I've been slack on the past few days. I went off to get rejuvenated, trying to discern how I can best relate to Chip & Ed, and to recover Mim's confidence in me. I needed to be alone with the Lord again and it was good. So then off we went for another long day's ride. We quickly ran into lots of uphill outside of Keene. As usual, we had to stop some to wait for slower clusters ahead. Again we rode thru lots of beautiful, small New England towns with nice architecture and hills. We had lunch at a pull-over just outside Amherst. The afternoon proved to be a long one. We got off from lunch late because a small committee was planning our 'awards ceremony' for that evening. We ended up taking some really back, bumpy roads over lots of hills. It was fun, but got to be a long time on the road. Cluster One was yelling, Ed blowing his whistle, making lots of noise. In our cluster, they told me I could go faster on the uphills because they were always catching up. What a riot, because I was so trained from out West when I was always leaving people behind. Well, we finally got to Kingston at 7:30 and rode thru a beautiful residential area to a YMCA camp back in the woods. It was not a good place for our last night. I would have preferred a town, and indoor lodging. Why do they do it to us? Well, we first had to set up and clean our bikes in the dark. Finally after that, we got to eat. Typical beef stroganoff & watermelon. I enjoyed seeing a few meteors from the Perseia shower before heading to the dining hall for awards. We sang some of our typical songs: Lord of the Dance, Four Strong Winds, This Land is Your Land, etc. before the awards. Helen read off our mileages, then the awards. They couldn't think of a good one for me so I got one for being good at numbers & figures. Some of the others were:
After the awards we goofed off a little & got yelled at by a local resident. Went to bed after trying to call Arden without success. The evening really was a bummer - certainly not very exciting for being our last night on a continental ride.
Ah yes, the big day at last arrived! I awoke at 5 or 5:15 to the sound of rain. How delightful and exciting for our final day. Oh well, I said it would only make the trip more memorable. We had breakfast, then wrote evaluations, then took down the tents and hit the road. Helen got her roads confused and we ended up going about 2 miles down the wrong road and having to backtrack. Lots of fun. I suppose that mistake was really our biggest one of the whole trip! It didn't take long to get thoroughly soaked from the thighs down this morning. Thank God for the Poncho. It was rather cold too - maybe 55 - 60 degrees, we could see our breath. Well, on to the coast on N.H. 107, south on US 1, east on 28L to the ocean. Yeeha! We could smell the salt and fish 3 - 4 miles away. It was so terrific despite the rain. We all stopped 1 mile from the Hampton Beach State Park. Then we got a police escort to ride in double-file with siren blaring, whistles & air horns blowing (c/o Ed), and lots of shouting. Wow, we had a terrific time - really loved it! We walked thru the beach house, carried our bikes to the ocean and wetted the tires. We had lots of parents snapping pictures. It was great - I was so glad to be there! After that we gathered for one last goodbye, including one more "Alice the Camel." Thank God, no more silly songs. Also, no more Tracy screaming "car, traffic, passing, get in line, etc.". We had some cluster pictures, then some of us had champagne, and goodbyes. Then off I went with Ed & Chip. Got to Lansdale (PA) at 8:45, and saw some slides of the trip. I just can't believe I did it, and now it's over. I thought it would never end. PTL, what a memorable summer.