Week Six
Fennimore, Wisconsin, August 8

Endless corn Fields, Iowa!

The week started with the heat of Nebraska as we cycled towards Iowa it was a relief to had the cooler weather by Tuesday night. I am in Wisconsin now and over the past week I am impressed by the amount of corn and soya beans growing in this country! The fields of either spreads from horizon to horizon. It is a green carpet that refreshed the eyes after the dryer landscapes of the first 5 weeks. Along with the green field we are seeing more trees planted by farms and greater abundance of wildflowers. The flora is changing to the eastern continental species as we move across the prairies to the edge of the eastern hardwood forest region. Underlying the landscape is limestone and its availability as the raw material for cement is evidenced by the fact that many roads are cement rather than asphalt.

Iowa Roads, no shoulders!

This week I have had to cope with a migraine while riding and this did take its toll. I did not do the full ride for two days this week due to the pain. But I am fully recovered and am thankful to be able to do the full days again.
We were hosted by Dordt College, Sioux Centre, on Tuesday and this was great. Dorm bed slept very well as the alternative to the tent. We had a celebration event that evening and focused on the reason for the ride in its efforts to make a difference in poverty issues around the world. We have also been informed that the Sea to Sea ride has raised 1.9 million to date. Thank you all who have made this such a success in the fund raising and in all aspects of the venture.
Again this week we have been taking to lots of people along the ride. I was interviewed by a local TV station along the road on Thursday as I had just had my 3rd flat that day and was waiting for the SAG vehicle to offer support. The interview went well but the front tire could not be repaired and as it is an unusual size (20inch) I had to ride in the SAG vehicle the rest of the way (my spare tire was on the gear truck but is now with the SAG drivers).

Corn Kernels on Road, Iowa

Lou, our small group leader reflected the other night on the amazing abundance of food that Iowa can produce. He contrasted this with his work some 8 years earlier in Rwanda where he witnessed a father and his children gathering corn seed from the dirt and the mud for their supper. The corn had spilled from relief supplies that Lou had unloaded that day. Such poverty, that even the few spilled grains are gathered for food. As we ride along the road we frequently see corn kernels on the shoulder spilled from the grain trucks that move grain to storage or ethanol plants. How do we deal with this disparity? We have so much we do not worry about spilled grain while others a few spilled kernels may be their only supper. This is why we are riding to make a difference in this disparity; I hope and pray that it will make a difference!

Week Five
Fremont, Nebraska, Sunday , August 3, 2008

Soya bean fields under irrigation, Nebraska

We have definitely left the mountains and the desert behind. We have come into corn country more and varied trees and birds. And we have hit the humid air! Yesterdays ride was a real challenge with the heat and humidity taking its toll. It was hard to ride and we had head winds most of the way. But I am always encouraged by the support from fellow rides and support staff, the contacts we make and large glasses of cold water. Ice cream of course is always welcome!
We had a great service this morning with the Lutheran congregation adjacent to the YMCA grounds we are tented at in Fremont. The church has been most welcoming and has graciously opened it’s new fellowship hall to us this afternoon so we can go somewhere cool. The temp today is 38°C and the air conditioned church is great. A beautiful building that was just dedicated in June. The good people here have also provided food and drink for us as well as the cool space. It is truly amazing at the hospitality of people we meet.

Coffee Shared with local towns folk, Arapahoe, Nebraska

This coming week will be the longest rides of the tour. Wed, Thur., and Fri. will all be over 160 Km long and if we have wind against us it could make for very long days. But we have already covered over half the distance and time of the tour and despite difficult days have been able to meet the challenges. I trust God will be gracious this week as well as we cycle trough the rolling prairie landscape of Iowa. We have had some riders that have had to cut short their rides due to accidents. This is very sad for all of us but we are heartened by the reports that they are doing well and recovering.

My trike is doing well and despite some adjustments is still carrying me across the continent. I will have to replace tires before I reach the Atlantic but have not had any other major concerns to this point. I have brought to much stuff again on this ride but it is hard to predict the weather. I have not used any cool weather clothes yet and the forecast still holds for hot weather into the future. Hope all is well with all who read this and I will write again later in the week.

Week Five
July 29, 2008, Fort Morgan to Wray

Sunrise, July 31

Denver and the great hospitality of the folks there is behind us. Denver is a city with many accommodations made for bicycles and we left on one of their beautiful bike paths along the South Plate River. We spoke to some of the other users of the path and after some confusion because of construction on the bike path (complete with flag people for cyclists)we left the city and on to the plains.
I just want to say to you who visit this blog that last week I could not blog as I had altitude sickness. To my knowledge I have never had this before but it does take its toll on health and energy. Head ache, stomach ache and fatigue are the most common symptoms. So I did not blog last week and will likely only blog tonight this week as we are doing 150km rides for the rest of the week and the weather is again very hot. (40°C). When I have finished the days ride at 4 or 5 in the afternoon little time is left for blogging. So I am excusing myself form filling this blog in more frequently but this is the reality of the life I am leading now. Some other more speedy riders are able to blog regularly so please check the other blogs.

Windmill for water, a scarce commodity in in the sage brush country

Tonight we are in Wray in eastern Colorado. The ride today was enjoyable and only 140 km long. We did have a head wind for the last 20 km but I was able to get in by 3:00 pm. These rides are easier than the mountains but longer and we are all very tired at the end of the day. Tomorrow will be longer and hotter so early rising and riding to try and beat the heat.