June 2, 2011

Today's report from Mike's Ride for Make-A-Wish:

Ice Cream at Trinity LC!

-          Today: Today was a hard day.  I felt I had to keep pushing to get to Fremont in time for the Ice Cream Social.  I didn't stop at any courthouses which felt odd as I didn't connect with anyone while riding.  That's why the IC Social at church tonight was wonderful!  It was a great opportunity to meet new friends and get to see some old ones again. 

-          Final Stats for today:

           Started at 3:30 am and completed it at 4:00 pm. (Ugh!!)

           Covered 144 miles, average speed of 13.8 mph.  Max speed - 38.5 mph

           Riding time - 10 hours and 40 minutes.  Feet of elevation climbed - 2601'. 

           Wind - out of the SSE.  On the "Hurt/Help" Wind scale, today was a +0.5.  Sometimes really helped and other times really hurt!

The "Hurt/Help" Wind Scale is my way of saying "this is how much the wind hurt/helped me over the course of the day".  It can Hurt me up to a -5, or help me up to a +5. 

      So, -2.5 was not very helpful.  Hopefully, tomorrow will be better!

-         Thank-yous for today: Thank you to EVERYONE who came out to Trinity Lutheran Church for the ice cream social tonight.  It was nice to meet so many new folks and see some old friends again.  Thank you to Eric Gerken, and to Thrivant members from Trinity LC and First LC and to anyone else who helped.  A total of $1060 was raised for Make-A-Wish Foundation of Nebraska!!

-          Bible verses dealing with Jesus and “wishes”.               A WISH…

     By Mary for Jesus to help some newlyweds – John 2:1-11

-          Quote of the Day: 

When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.  Here was a machine of precision and balance for the convenience of man.  And (unlike subsequent inventions for man's convenience) the more he used it, the fitter his body became.  Here, for once, was a product of man's brain that was entirely beneficial to those who used it, and of no harm or irritation to others.  Progress should have stopped when man invented the bicycle. - Elizabeth West, Hovel in the Hills

“The bicycle is the most civilized conveyance known to man. Other forms of transport grow daily more nightmarish. Only the bicycle remains pure in heart.” - Iris Murdoch

“Whoever invented the bicycle deserves the thanks of humanity.”  - Lord Charles Beresford

      -           Spin Home Wisdom for today:
      Check the Spin Home Wisdom page for my story, "Life from the Back of a Bike". 

        I will have a new SHW story for you tomorrow.   One of my stories is going to talk about how swallows come out to "say hi" when you cross over a bridge.  Here are two pictures I took today that shows dozens of them swirling around making me feel welcome! 



      -          Closing thoughts for the day:
           This was a long day, but a very satisfying day.  It is interesting to ride in the dark.  I basically jotted down thoughts for another Spin Home Wisdom story on that topic.  But I'll have to write it another time.  Too last tonight  Thank you for all your prayers.  I look forward to have Jeanie Holtmeier and Denise Hummel driving support for me tomorrow.  Days 1 and 2 were unsupported and worked fine.  But, it's always nice to have a SAG out on the road! 

-          Forecast for the next day:

      Decent. (-:)   (I'm tired and need to get to bed!) 

 

          Route/Towns for June 3:

        Fremont to Arlington to Kennard to Blair to Herman to Tekamah to Oakland

to West Point to Aloys to Stanton