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

June 24, 2011

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

Started at 7:00 am in Arapahoe and finished at 4:00 pm in Kearney.

Covered 97 miles, 14.4 mph ave speed, 28.5 - max speed

Riding time - 6 hrs, 43 minutes

Wind - Helped at the end of the day which is ideal 
"Hurt/Help" Wind scale - +0.5.

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.

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GREAT NEWS!  Based on donations I know are "coming in" but not yet recorded, I have surpassed the $15,000 mark!  Thank you for your generosity.  This means that I am now riding for my third Make-A-Wish child.  So, I'd like to give you information on her. 

Izabella is a darling 4 year old girl who has Medullablastoma.  Izie wishes to see Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Cinderella at Disney World.  She wants to get her own blue (her favorite color) princess dress and tiara just like Cinderella. Izie lives with her parents and siblings in Central NE.

Please help me make it possible for Make-A-Wish Foundation of Nebraska to grant Izie's wish! 
Thank you. 
Mike

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About today:

Doug and JoAnn

Well, the countryside wasn't particularly pretty today, but the
people I met certainly were friendly.  It started out not too
long after I left Arapahoe when I was flagged down by
JoAnn Becker and Doug Garey.  We had a very nice visit.


Then about 2 miles down the road, I came across this sign. 
To think that someone took the time to make a sign for the
sole purpose of encouraging you is really humbling. 
Thank you!!



    There was also a group of folks waiting for me in Beaver City.  They are Lee Krewson, Karen Flanagen, Alice Hinkle and JoAnn Becker. 

Karen, Lee, Alice and JoAnn

      From there it was just hard pedaling east to Alma.  Had a headwind that gradually turned to come out of the SE.  So, when I turned north to go to Holdrege it was a LOT more fun!!  Just east of Alma, I met a group of cyclists who rode out from Kearney to ride back to town with me.  That was really cool!!  We stopped by the NTV station on the way by and I did a quick interview.  It was on the news tonight.  Char saw it.  Perhaps a few of you did as well.  Here are the friends who rode out to ride back with me. 


They are from l to r: Doug Peterson, Tim Norwood, Nancy Norwood, Ben Anderson, Hannah Stone, Paul Talbert, and myself.  Thank you SOOOO much!!  It was nice to have you along. 

When I arrived in Kearney, there were some more folks waiting to greet us.  I didn't get your names, but I thank you for coming out and waiting.   

One other cool thing also happened.  On behalf of the Mayor of Kearney, Mayor Stanley Clouse, Tim Norwood awarded me a Key to the City of Kearney.   I was both surprised and honored by this gift.  It also made me wonder, "Ok, what does this mean?"  So, I googled it and here's the best answer I could find.  

What does getting a key to the city mean?

I live in California and the pilot of the plane that went down in the Hudson river was given a key to the city of Danville. I was wondering what that meant.

• Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

Of course, the person receiving the key is always free to enter the city at will, but this is a ceremonial gesture of welcome and appreciation to someone.  It's a symbolic gift from the city's administration.  An ornamental key is presented to esteemed visitors, residents, or others the city wishes to honour. Evoking medieval walled cities whose gates were guarded during the day and locked at night, the key symbolises the freedom of the recipient to enter and leave the city at will as a trusted friend of city residents.

My Key to the City of Kearney!

Thank-yous for today:

Thank you to my sister and brother-in-law, Jackie and Don Liess, for letting me stay with them tonight!  But, then when you're family, what are you going to say, huh?  (-:)

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

     To let Peter know he was forgiven and accepted – John 21:15-19

Quote of the Day:
“Marriage is a wonderful invention; but then again, so is a bicycle repair kit.” - Lord Charles Beresford

Closing thoughts for the day: 

My ankles are very tender tonight.  I think going through the gravel yesterday irritated them.  I didn't want to clip in so I basically put my toes on the pedals, which increased the torque on my ankles.  Cranking up the hills on the gravel really made my calves burn.  So, my nephew, Adam Liess, is going to tape both of my ankles to help me get through tomorrow.  That will help keep them stable when I'm pedaling tomorrow, reducing the strain and therefore the pain.  This will be good because tomorrow is a very long day.  I am going to leave quite early and just keep cranking.  I'll let you know how it goes.  Blessings!!!

Forecast for the next day:

Low 80's for the high.  Partly cloudy with chance of some thunderstorms.  Wind out of the E at first, gradually shifting to the SE.  But nothing more than 12 mph or so for the max.  Not a big factor. 

Route/Towns for the next day:

June 25 - Kearney to Minden to Macon to Franklin to Riverton to Inavale to Red Cloud

to Nelson to Lawrence to Pauline to Hastings

June 23, 2011

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


Started at 5:45 am in McCook and finished at 4:30 pm in Arapahoe.

                Covered 128 miles, 14.0 mph ave speed, 35.8 - max speed 

Riding time - 9 hrs, 8 minutes

Wind - really wasn't any today.  Kind of odd...  
"Hurt/Help" Wind scale - +0.0.

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.

beautiful morning!!!

north of McCook

  It was absolutely beautiful today, no wind at all.  Once I left McCook, anytime I would stop I could hear pheasants crowing all around me, cattle, just all the morning sounds from every direction.  It was so peaceful! 

WW II hangers on the horizon

     What do Alliance, Ainsworth, Scottsbluff, McCook, Kearney, Grand Island, Harvard, Bruning, Fairmont, Lincoln and Scribner all have in common?  They were all the sites of Army Air Bases in WW II. 

      See the following links for some great WW II history!  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebraska_World_War_II_army_airfields http://www.nebraskaaircrash.com/aaf.html 

      http://www.nebraskastudies.org/0800/stories/0801_0108.html 

One of several corn and wheat fields shredded by hail a few days ago.  Sad sight!

Nebraska state Highway 18 is 39 miles long from Curtis to highway 283.  The west 15 miles or so is gravel!  There are only two state highways that are gravel and this is one of them.  So, I had to ride on gravel for about 1 1/2 hours of my ride today.  Having navigated the longest gravel highway in Nebraska is a dubious distinction for someone on a road bike with 700X23 size tires!

What!?!?  This is a highway??

Yup!  There's the Hwy 18 sign.

Mike kissing the pavement! 
I was VERY glad to see it again!!

After this it was just doing to work to go north to Lexington and then back south to Arapahoe.

Lexington in the distance from the top of the
hill on the south side of town. 

The Chapel by Lake Johnson

Kerry Scott and Mike

      We had two unexpected meetings today.  The first was Kerry Scott.  He works for the Nebraska Department of Roads (with my brother Rick) and was a classmate/friend with another brother, Greg.  He also joined Rick, me and another guy in cycling around Lake McConaughy many years ago.    He was just out checking Hwy 18, saw us, knew it was me and what I was doing, so stopped to visit.  Cool!  Thank you for your donation Kerry!

Mark Bales and mike

The other visitor was Mark Bales from Grand Island.  He "installs and maintains" pacemakers and was working out in this part of the state.  He knew about where we would be and was able to find us.  He had a gift bag for me: 2 Gatorades and a bottle of water!  Greatly appreciated!!!  Thanks Mark. 

Thank-yous for today:

Emily, Mike and Mary

First of all, thank yous go to Mary Shirkey and Emily Lashley for organizing the wonderful pancake feed last night in McCook!   Thank you to the Boy Scouts and their leaders who made the pancakes, served them and then cleaned up.  And finally thank you to all the generous people who came and ate.  The total raised for MAW was $1862!!!!!  Super night!

Thanks also go to my support driver today, Jennifer Blake from the Grand Island area, and to my host home person, Janice Breinig (Jennifer's mother).  Thank you for your help!

Jennifer, Janice and Rico

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

     To warn Peter goes unheeded – Matthew 26:69-75

Quote of the Day:

“Cycling to work is an important issue for business – the more who do it, the more our communities will support it. Healthy and green, cycling is worthy of the support of every business in the land.” - Sir Digby Jones

Closing thoughts for the day: 

Very long day today.  Thankfully tomorrow will not be so far.  Plus, Nancy Norwood, from Kearney, is getting a group together to meet me in Axtell and ride with me into Kearney.  That will be a LOT of fun!  Riding in a group is a blast.  Looking forward to meeting whomever can make it.  (-:)  See you all tomorrow night.

Forecast for the next day:

Wind out of the SE around 15 mph, chance of thunderstorms, sometimes sunny, other times cloudy, mid to upper 70s for the high.  Decent day.

Route/Towns for the next day:

June 24 - Arapahoe to Beaver City to Stamford to Orleans to Alma to Holdrege to

Funk to Axtell to Kearney

June 22, 2011

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



Sorry for confusion that may've been caused by the update from yesterday that posted automatically last night at 10pm.  I forgot that it would to that.  Since it was a rest day today, I did not update anything last night.  Plus, we don't have internet out at the farm where my host family (my Mom and Dad!) live. 


So, here's my report from June 21, posted on my rest day, June 22 (from the McDonalds in McCook which has free wi-fi.  Pretty cool!)

Started at 6:00 am in Benkelman and finished at 12:00 noon in McCook.

                Covered 73 miles, 18.6 mph ave speed, 46.1 - max speed 

Riding time - 3 hrs, 53 minutes

Wind - out of the NW between 30-35 mph, gusts over 50 mph!!  
"Hurt/Help" Wind scale - +3.5.

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 yesterday:

I had a very nice run from Benkelman to Trenton.  I love it when there is a shoulder and it's even SMOOTH!!  I know why "joints" in the road are necessary, but they sure beat up someone on a bicycle (bump-bump...bump-bump....bump-bump...ouch!).  If you've ever ridden a bicycle through them you know what I mean.  

looking back west toward Stratton

looking south at the west end of Swanson Resevoir

The wind today was crazy strong.  It mostly helped, but even then as a bit of a cross wind it really knocked me around.  Wow!  You really had to be careful going down big hills.  It was hard to even stand up when I stopped.  I'm not kidding you.  Between the wind resistance of my body and the bike there were gusts that almost put me over.  Ridiculous!  I was supposed to ride from Trenton 24 miles north up to Hayes Center.  Here's reality folks.  It would've been grinding it out at about 6-8 mph, taking 4 hours or more when you count in rests.  Just not possible.  So, I rode with my sag driver up to Hayes Center and then cycled back to Hwy 6 and then east to McCook.  I lost those miles, but sometimes that's life out on a bike in the wind.  

flat grass from the wind!

there are some HUGE canyons south of Hayes Center!

It was a pretty quick trip to McCook, and after lunch at the venerable Mac's Drive In, it was time to head out to my host home, the farm I grew up on and on which my parents and one of my brother's still live and farm.  Char, my wife, also drove out there from Grand Island (bringing our dog, Toby, a Yorkshire Terrier) so there were all kinds of folks/critters I was eager to see again!  I forgot to get a picture of them so will have to add them after tomorrow's ride to Arapahoe.

I will also be adding pictures from a Pancake Feed that is planned as a fun/fundraiser tonight for MAW.  I look forward to meeting the two ladies primarily responsible for organizing it, Emily Lashley and Mary Shirkey.   I'll make sure to get a picture of them with me tonight for you.  I'm really looking forward to it and deeply appreciate their work to plan it.  Thank you!!

I'm hoping that with donations already in the mail and the ones from the Pancake Feed tonight, we can push the amount up to there I'll be riding for my third MAW child, IZZA.  More information and a picture to come on Izza.  Thank you for your continued generosity and support! 

Thank-yous for today:

Thank you to my sag drivers today: They are my soon-to-be nephew Christian Amack, my niece Jane Reiners, and my soon-go-be sister-in-law, Friday Amack.  And thank you Dad for letting us use your pickup.  THAT is a sweet ride!!!!!!

Christian, Jane and Friday

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

     To warn Peter that he would deny Jesus – John 13:31-38

           For His followers to stay connected to Him and produce the fruit of good deeds 

           by loving others – John 15:1-17


Quote of the Day: 

“As a social revolutionizer, the bicycle has never had an equal. It has put the human race on wheels, and thus changed completely many of the most ordinary processes and methods of social life. It is the great leveler, for not till all Americans got on bicycles was the great American principle that every man is just as good as any other man fully realized. All are on equal terms, all are happier than ever before.” - New York Evening Post

Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever. - Lance ArmstrongIf you worried about falling off the bike, you'd never get on. - Lance Armstrong

I now only have good days and great days. - Lance Armstrong (Cancer survivor and seven times winner of the Tour de France.)

“I relax by taking my bicycle apart and putting it back together again.” - Lance Armstrong

Closing thoughts for the day: 

It is so very nice to have a rest day and such a wonderful host family (-:)!  There are some long days ahead, but I am way past the halfway point and that really helps.  There are a group of cyclists (being organized by Nancy Norwood) that are going to meet me at Axtell and ride with me into Kearney on Friday.  I look forward to that.  

Then there are two gentlemen from Omaha (Damon Wagner and a friend of his) who are going to ride with me from Nebraska City to Omaha to Lincoln on June 29.  They will be guiding me through the maze of streets, paths and byways known as Omaha (and suburbs)!  They will also be riding in front of me to reduce wind resistance, which has the overall effect of making a very happy guy. 



Forecast for the next day:

Sweet!!  Sunny, NW wind 10-15 mph, mid 80's, as good as it gets!!

Route/Towns for the next day:

June 23 - McCook to Maywood, to Curtis to Stockville to Elwood to Lexington to Elwood to Arapahoe