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
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.
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.
"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??
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!!!
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.
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.
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:
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| Cory and Mike |
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| Cory pulling for Mike |
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Josh getting ready to lead worship the next morning. |
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…
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:
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:
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
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