Four Days In....

It's July 31st, I'm sitting in the air conditioned comfort of the Public Library in Minden, Nebraska. I'll try to quickly update from Denver on since I have only 1/2 hour before the library closes.

Denver's hospitality was awesome - they treated the riders absolutely wonderful - from greeting us all, from the supper on Saturday night, the great service which we all cycled 2 miles too, lunch again, supper, etc. etc. Free haircuts, billeting, you name it, they supplied it. We met up with nephew Phil, Kim and their girls for a short visit on Sunday. I had to do orientation and they have a very busy schedule so they came out to the high school to see us.

Monday morning early I was on the road with Rita and 2 other 2005 veterens and started off to Fort Morgan. We left town along a bike path for 27 km and then got out on the Interstate. I managed to cycle 110 km before the heat became too much for me and Peter and Adrian picked me up and took me to camp. Joe cycled on Adrian's bike that day and did make it into town but he also found it a very tough day with the extreme heat. I also knew I had to be in early to start by duties on the sweep team - once every 10 days all cyclists have to help get supper on the tables for everyone. This also meant that I had duties the next morning to leave after all the cyclists and come into camp last. I did get excused from that because I had just started.

Tuesday morning was another early start to beat the heat. We were on the road before 7:00 again - today with Rita and Rita. I made the whole day and felt just so wonderful to come into camp with Joe, Adri and Peter to welcome us in. It was a 140 km day and was mostly along a rural highway with excellent paved shoulders - a lot better road than on Monday.
Adrian cycled on Tuesday - he had to celebrate his birthday with a ride. The guys decided on Monday that they would stick around for one more day which was wonderful for us - one more sleep in comfort. It did become a late night because we had to celebrate Adri's birthday and he had to say goodbye.

Wednesday morning bright and early reality set in for me - all my stuff had to go into the gear truck and we had to say goodbye. Joe and Peter promised they would set up our tents for us in McCook if they could and lo and behold we came into town and there were our tents, under a tree all set up with chocolates on our pillows, red roses from Adrian...... this did bring tears to my eyes when I saw it.



It was a tough day and we went well until km 108 when I just couldn't take the heat anymore. All of a sudden there were rolling hills and I did 3 of them before my chain came off on an uphill and I had to stop and put it back on in the over 100 degree hot sunshine. I lost my momentum and got to the top and couldn't get the energy to go further. The van was filled with others who also had to call it quits. I was exhausted to say the least.

In talking with other cyclists on Wednesday night I made up my mind that I was going to take the day off on Thursday because the weather forecast was for over 100 again and it was going to be a 153 km day. This was Friday and Saturday's ride will be doable for me. I also have some issues with numbness in my hands which makes it a little difficult to change gears and I wanted to give my hands a rest as well. I got up Thursday morning while it was still dark (we did have time change again yesterday) and started packing up my stuff. I did for a short minute wonder what I was in for but the feeling passed quickly enough again. I had a good day riding with others who weren't cycling and got into camp just after 2:00 and then I set up my tent and Rita's - this is what friends do for each other.

I'm going to sign off before I get told that the library is shutting down.....thanks to all those who are reading and leave comments. Not sure when I will be on again.....keep praying that we will be kept safe, a few serious accidents have happened that I'm sure you have read about. Pray that we will get some cooler weather - today's humidity was 90%.

Arrival in Denver

We arrived safely on Thursday night and camped in a State Park on the edge of Denver. Friday morning we took the bikes off the trailer and Joe led Rita and I on a 40 km bike ride through the park and surroundings. The park had excellent bike paths for the serious cyclists of Denver all within very easy access to the city. This way Rita and I could acclimatize to the higher altitude - I did notice the difference and it took a bit longer to catch my breath after a climb. Mind you it wasn't as tough a ride as the cyclists had but it was good to get back on our bikes after a week away. My odometer turned over 2800 km so this was all training kilometres for the tour.

This should have me ready to start on Monday morning. Tomorrow morning we will be cycling for 2 miles to get to where the church service will be held so we get to ride a bit tomorrow.

Today Rita and I changed a tire on my bike while Peter and Joe sat in their lawnchairs and gave instructions. They watched closely and did have to get their hands dirty as well. I wore gloves so stayed clean but they weren't going to do that. It was the rear tire so was a bit more work than a front one - involved taking the chain off, etc. There was a crack in the tire so it was advised to change it before it gave me problems on the road.

We did arrive at the Chritian High School by 11:00 this morning thinking the cyclists would be arriving by noon but it was a tough ride and the first cyclists didn't get in until 2:00. It was very exciting to meet up with those we knew. The church and school community in Denver did very well in welcoming everyone to their city. It feels wonderful to be part of this whole adventure now.

The temperature here in Denver has broken records - 13 days of over 95 degrees and it is going to be dropping a bit this coming week. Should be more comfortable cycling next week. The scenery here is awesome - mountains all around us.

It's time to call it a day - it's been a long one. The school computer lab is open for us which is great - it's easier to type on regular computers than a laptop and I am taking advantage of it.

Next post will be after a day of cycling.....

Ready or not....Denver, here we come...

It's Sunday evening, it's been a full day. Attended my local church, said goodbye to friends there and to my family who came for supper and to wish me well on my adventure. The rain yesterday and today got rid of the heat and humidity in this area of Ontario but did spoil plans for outdoor activities today.

Friday afternoon Joe and I left Waterdown to travel to Dorchester to meet up with Peter and Rita Beerda who will be travelling to Denver with us. We were up bright and early on Saturday morning to do a round trip from Dorchester to Port Burwell - a 130 km ride. We were on the road just after 8:00 a.m. and it was hot already and only got hotter as the morning progessed. We were in Port Burwell just before 11:00 with 64 km on our bikes and a few short stops along the way. Lunch was on the beach and we made it quick because we could see storm clouds forming in the distance.

For a change of scenery we took a different route home - which would give us another big hill to climb in Eden - and it wasn't the Garden of Eden. This ascent was in the heat of the day and it was steep - I did have to stop once to catch my breath before making it to the top. From reading Saturday's blogs, I shouldn't complain because the bike tour's ride was a lot more difficult and it was much hotter than what we experienced. We made one more stop in Brownsville for icecream and Gatorade before the home stretch. No sooner were we back on the road and the heavens opened and we were drenched. Mind you at first it felt really good to cool off but we soon realized this was not a quick little shower. We stopped after 15 minutes of this and Joe found a machine shed where we could get in out of the rain. Half an hour later, the rain stopped, the sky still looked ominous but we decide to start out again. No sooner were we cycling again and the next shower came upon us - and once again we looked for shelter. This time an empty cow barn became our place of refuge. It still smelled like cows had been there, little kittens were making their home in it and lots of hay was stored there as well - and we were out of the rain.

Since Peter had been smart to pack a rain coat, he suggested that he ride home from there and pick up a van and come pick us up. We were still 25 km from home at this point and we urged him on. Twenty minutes after he left, the rain stopped and the sun tried to break through the clouds. The suggestion was made that maybe we should start cycling again to warm up because by this time, we were chilled right through. We figured we would get to Ingersoll and would get a ride home from there. Peter, in his wisdom, decided to hop on the 401 and come get us that way since it would be a lot quicker. But we were cycling on the country roads and didn't meet up with him at all. We made it all the way back to Dorchester by bike with 131 kilometers on our odometers just before the next downpour hits. It felt so good to have accomplished this - my longest ride to date - just a foretaste of what is to come once I start cycling next week Monday. Lesson learned - always have rain gear with you, you just never know when you may need it.

In preparing the the ride, I have been reading and journaling from Max Lucado's book, "It's Not About Me" - a book all about God's glory. To seek God's glory is to pray, "Thicken the air with your presence; make it misty with your majesty. Part Heaven's drapes, and let your nature spill forth. God, show us God." to quote from Lucado. To this end may we have no higher goal than to see someone think more highly of our Father, our King. So evident from reading the blogs.....to God be the Glory!!

Very early on Tuesday morning we plan to leave for our 30 hour drive to Denver. By this time next week we will be part of the group that will be cycling east from Denver to Jersey City. Pray for safety for all of us as we travel whether by car or by bike. We know that God will take care of all of us....go with God.

The "Granny Ride".....

Sleepovers at Grandma's house are always fun but they also come with doing something exciting with the grandchild. Julia, who will be 10 in October had her turn this week and what were we going to do to make it exciting. Julia lives with her brothers and parents in Branchton - this is a 35 km ride from Waterdown and her older brothers have done the trip with Grandpa so now it's her turn. Wednesday we just cycled around town, doing the lunch thing and shopping which is what little girls like to do best. Thursday morning comes and it's a great day out - blue sky, not too hot and just Julia and Grandma with their bikes ready to do a ride. We pack peanut butter sandwiches in case people along the route aren't home to have lunch with. Julia is going to take the lead so Grandma doesn't go too fast and to protect her from the vehicles that will pass us. Once we get away from the busy section we can ride side by side and can have a conversation. This will be the farthest that Julia has ever biked and we talk about this - we have done the school bikeathon together and that is only 20 kms. We talk about grandparents and that they are usually old and don't do this type of activity with their grandchildren. She knows of only one other classmate whose grandparents cycle with him and Julia is impressed with this. There are 50 years between Julia and myself - she can't wrap her mind around this age difference and tells me she is proud of the fact that her grandmother is doing 5 weeks of the seatosea bike trip. Her grandpa did 8 weeks of the 2005 tour but he can do everything in her eyes - he is so active. We make frequent stops - Julia is riding a mountain bike with only a few gears while I'm on my TREK so there is no fair comparison between the equipment and we are heading into the wind. None of the people we had hoped to stop in at were home so that was a disappointment. We used the bathroom at her aunt and uncles home and ate our sandwich there just making ourselves at home. No sooner had we arrived at her home, Julia was all set to go swimming with her dad and brothers and she was scheduled to play soccer at night. Julia was proud of herself and still had energy to burn...

I am comparing this ride for me to the stories I have read on the blogs where cyclists are relating how others have come alongside them and urged them on, riding a lot slower than they normally do just to offer moral support for the slower cyclist. It's wonderful to read of the community that has formed among the group and that many have chosen to ride "intergenerational" - a wonderful way to meet people all with a similar goal.

My workout happened on the way home - made it home in record time, a steady tailwind and knowing that we were going out for supper and I had to be ready. A great day spent with a grand-daughter. Later tonight the grandchildren who live at the house were we have been living for the last two weeks arrive home from holidays so next week grandma gets to spend time with them before heading out to Denver. How blessed I am!

I may be remiss for labelling this a "granny ride" but I am speaking only for myself. I realize there are many grandmas on tour who are excellent cyclists.

Day off...

Just like the official SeatoSea cyclists today, I took a day off and was downright lazy - from my horizonal perch on the back yard hammock, I observed a clear blue sky, no winds, just a wonderful day to be outdoors enjoying creation. Just like the cyclists, we too are without a home right now - since we were going to be away for more than half of the summer, we have given our home to the Span family to live in this summer. They are with CRWM and are home on furlough. We made the same arrangement in 2005 when Joe did the SeatoSea.

I've read all the blogs posted on the website so have a sense of what the last week has been like - all kinds of adventures, very, very warm weather, mountains to climb and mountains to descend. When I read of the speeds downhill, I shudder...so far I haven't reached that speed on my downhill rides and not sure that I want to. It's wonderful to read of the community that has formed on the road, how everyone is there for each other at all times helping out where needed.

Last Friday Joe and I did a 110 km ride from the town of Branchton, where our son lives with his family, to Port Burwell on Lake Erie where they were camped. It was a fairly easy ride - tail winds most of the way and not too many hills to climb. Felt good to get there after spending 5 1/2 hours on the road which included all our breaks as well as a lunch stop. They had an extra vehicle with them that we used to get back - we would have biked back if only we did not have a Saturday a.m. family wedding to attend.

Two more weeks of training before we head off to Denver to join the tour......I'm "fearfully excited" - quoting my brother-in-law, Adrian who used this comment when interviewed by his local newspaper - this describes me right now as well.