June 26, 2011

Today's report from my Ride for Make-A-Wish Foundation of Nebraska

Started at 8:00 am in Hastings and finished at 3:30 pm in Hebron.

Covered 66 miles, 13.6 mph ave speed, 25.6 - max speed

Riding time - 4 hrs, 52 minutes

Wind - Hurt at the beginning of the day, helped when I rode 28 miles of the route "backwards", and then hurt a bit the rest of the day. 
"Hurt/Help" Wind scale - -1.0.

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.

About today:

Well folks, I think my body is getting tired.  This is the second day in a row that I literally pushed to the very last mile I could do before dropping.  When you keep panting even though you're not riding hard, when everything hurts after 2 revolutions and you have to coast for another rest, when the thought of the last 21 miles from Hebron to Fairbury makes you feel sick to your stomach, it's probably time to quit early for the day.  

I can understand it yesterday.  It was very hot and I covered 130 miles.  But today was not hot and yet after 66 miles I was absolutely, completely cooked.  Hmmm...  I told Char that very seldom have I ever ridden so long that I absolutely have reached the last mile I can do, but that has happened two days in a row.  The only two days in this entire month as a matter of fact.  So, I don't know what to expect tomorrow.  But, all I can do it get up, get on, get going and see what happens.

Things started downhill from the moment I left Hastings (even though it's level around there!).  I headed east into a 25 mph ESE wind and for the first 18 miles I averaged 10.4 mph.  That's about as exciting as getting a tooth pulled.  Then my knight in a brown Chevy pickup showed up (Emil) and he drove me to Geneva so I could ride the 28 miles back to Clay Center and then up to Hwy 6 with the wind.  Much more enjoyable!  By the time I reached Hwy 6 though the wind was down to about 10 mph out of the SE.  So, when I rode from Geneva south to Hebron, the wind from the SE wasn't nearly as bad.  Plus, the traffic going by helped break a lot of it, but still my strength just faded away and was gone by Hebron.  So, Emil picked me up, stuffed me in the truck and took me to Fairbury. 

Gloria, Mike and Bill

There were several bright spots though.  When I reached Hwy 6, Bill and Gloria Schlauchter (friends from GI) were visiting with Emil and waiting for me.  They had three pieces of meat lovers pizza and two cinnamon breadsticks from Valentinos!!  Now, if THAT doesn't revive the flagging spirits of a tired cyclist NOTHING will!  (-:)  Man, oh man did they taste delicious!  Thank you for thinking of me!! 

Mike and Kevin

     Also, as I neared the end of the day another friend from GI stopped by to say hi, Kevin Wiersig.  He was just out for a road trip and wanted to see how I was doing.  I was five miles from Hebron, so I was frank with him and said, "Not very good".  (The smile on my face was very forced.)  But, it was really cool that he took the time to drive out to say hi.  It gave me some much needed encouragement!!  Thank you Kevin.

Chuck and Brenda

My host family is awesome!  Chuck and Brenda Schmidt have been friends for over 20 years.  Chuck is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Fairbury.  Brenda is a teacher and also works part time at church.  They are a delightful, very interesting couple to visit with.  Supper was delicious and I am right at home in their home.  Great feeling!  Thank you for your hospitality. 

bike, pickup, Emil and Kevin

     And finally, thank you Emil (Stichka) for sagging me the last two days.  You have the dubious distinction of seeing me at my nadir!!  The two "worst" days of the ride for me and you lived through them with me.  Thank you for your support and your patience as I labored slowly down the road!  Slowly cresting a rise and seeing your 1994 Chevy sitting beside the road always filled me with hope!  (-:)  

      I deeply appreciate your help and your friendship.   

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

     To grant forgiveness by paying for our sins on the Cross – Luke 23:44-49

Quote of the Day:

“Consider a man riding a bicycle.  Whoever he is, we can say three things about him. We know he got on the bicycle and started to move.  We know that at some point he will stop and get off. Most important of all, we know that if at any point between the beginning and the end of his journey he stops moving and does not get off the bicycle he will fall off it.  That is a metaphor for the journey through life of any living thing, and I think of any society of living things.” - William Golding

Closing thoughts for the day: 

Another couple of friends are sagging for me the next two days, Doug and Carolyn Wetzel.  Doug was my sag driver about 6 years ago when I wanted to see how far I could ride in a 24 hour period.  He drove me out to western NE, drove 24 hours straight while I rode, then drove me home from Arnold where I ended up.  I was impressed!!!  So, he's an old pro who won't need any training.  (-:)  

I'm hoping that a good night's sleep tonight will refill my tank to be able to cover all 90 miles tomorrow.  However things go though, I have God's promise of a new day filled with His blessings to me so that I can be a blessing to others.  And when it's all said and done, that's all I need to know.  Talk with you tomorrow from Tecumseh. 

Forecast for the next day:

A straight north wind up to 15 mph (weird!).  I'll go north first while it's a big calmer so that will help.  Temps won't be too bad. 

Route/Towns for the next day:

June 27 - Fairbury to Western to Wilber to Clatonia to Beatrice to Filley to Orchard

to Tecumseh

June 25, 2011

Today's report from my Ride for Make-A-Wish Foundation of Nebraska

Started at 5:15 am in Kearney and finished at 5:30 pm in Clay Center.

Covered 130 miles, 13.8 mph ave speed, 30.4 - max speed

Riding time - 9 hrs, 21 minutes

Wind - Hurt at the beginning of the day and never really helped at all. 
"Hurt/Help" Wind scale - -1.5.

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.

About today:

Today started with lots of bangs, flashes and dripping water.  I was going to leave at 4:00 am, but there was thunder, lightening and rain going on outside.  What to do?  Well, let's pour another bowl of Cheerios and think about it.  After some more thinking, the box of Cheerios was empty.  Now what?  Let's nap on the couch for 30 minutes and see if it lets up.  After 15 minutes, my phone rings and it's Emil Stichka, my sag driver, calling from the front driveway!  Really??  You drove from GI and got here at 5:00 am??

Cory and Mike

Well, now there was no choice but to start.  Fortunately, the worst of it was past and things went ok.  It's just hard to start in the dark when it's raining, thundering and lightening!  Emil brought along my secret weapon for the day: Cory "Quick start and keep it going" Schutte!  This friend and riding buddy from GI gave up his Saturday for the sole purpose of coming out and pulling for me (riding in front to reduce wind resistance for me) for over 50 miles!  To have someone care enough about me to do that is quite humbling.  He spent his energy to help me save mine, and I am deeply grateful, especially since the wind REALLY hurt us on the run south to Franklin.  It was out of the SE at 15-25 mph.  Ouch!  Once we turned east it died down and wasn't so bad.  Thank you Cory!!!

Cory pulling for Mike

 

A beautiful sight!!  Cory between me and the wind!

Some friends met us along the way.  Don and Lewellyn Peterson, from Smith Center, KS, met us in Franklin.  I had the privilege of performing their wedding ceremony earlier this year.

Rick, Kay and Jared

Then just west of Red Cloud, who should show up but Rick and Kay Rathje and their son Jared!  They "were just out for a drive" to see if they could find me.  (-:)  They live not too far north of there, SW of Hastings and are members at Peace Lutheran Church in GI, where I am a pastor. 





The run east and then north to Nelson, and then further north to Clay Center was tough.  It grew very hot and humid.  The wind was a little bit against me, and it just sapped my strength.  I shudder to think what would've become of me without the help that Cory gave me earlier in the day!  To make a long day short, I struggled into Clay Center and called it a day.  I do not think I could've gone one single mile further!!!  So, tomorrow, I will ride from Hastings back to Clay Center and then east to Geneva.  We went ahead and took a picture of the courthouse in Hastings.  There were some really neat courthouses today.  I hope you take a look at them and the county histories on that page of my blog.

Josh getting ready to lead worship the next morning.

My host for tonight was Josh Davis, one of the pastor's at Faith Lutheran Church.  Josh is from Michigan originally and has served at FLC for 10 months.  He graduated from the seminary in St. Louis.  He was a VERY gracious and helpful host.  He and I are in total agreement that mint chip ice cream and Oreo cookies are meant to be eaten together!
We had a nice visit during supper, then I laid down at 7:45 for a "brief nap" before updating my blog.  I woke up at 10:45!!  Wow was I tired!!  So, this update is really late tonight.  Sorry to keep you waiting. 


Thank-yous for today:

To Cory, and Emil (I'll get a picture of him tomorrow), and the Petersons and the Rathjes and Josh!

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

    To grant eternal life in Heaven – Luke 23:32-43

Quote of the Day: 

“If we all, mountain bikers, cyclists, multinational companies, Jo Public, respected the land like old civilizations we wouldn’t get so many punctures (flat tires).  They are earth’s revenge.” - Jo Burt

Closing thoughts for the day: 
Very long day!  Glad tomorrow is more reasonable (only 97 miles!). 

Forecast for the next day:

Argg!  My gas tank is empty and I was hoping for a bit of help from the wind, but not going to happen.  From the SE (which just happens to be the direction I'm going all day long), temps in the upper 70's to low 80's and high humidity.  Ah well, a long, slow grind it out day...

Route/Towns for the next day:

June 26 - Hastings to Clay Center to Geneva to Strang to Bruning to Belvidere to

Hebron to Gilead to Gladstone to Fairbury