Day 44 August 12 Woodstock to Palos Heights ILLINOIS

The windmill, in Batavia, originally from Holland, disassembled and shipped here.

ERIC...we finally have the son of Larry on our biking team...Larry, and his two sons, Eric and Mark are riding the whole tour, and we have stolen Eric, he goes back to his dad every evening so he is getting the name 'prodigal son'...we are trying to entice Mark to come to our side as well.

These guys are so much fun.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 12/08

We left Woodstock 7:30 this morning, will all intentions of staying together as a group, and just having a good time....as well making sure we did our part handing out Seatosea cards, and letting people know why massive amounts of people are biking in the same direction.





Today's route took us to a lovely bike path, called the Fox River trail, this trail went on for just under 60k...in all it was a nice path, through foliage and brush and trees (trees, we haven't seen much trees in the past while so they provide is with thoughts of home...and well, shade).

We came upon this coffee shop just off the cycling path, which had us all going in. Pretty soon, the place was overloaded with us, and our bikes....good business for them, probably more than they see in a week!
Gave them cards, and a shifting gears book so they can follow with the rest of our tour.

Us, outside the coffee shop, literally feet away from the bike path.

Jonathan, on someone....The Fox River trail was following the Fox river (of all things), and was for the most part a pretty relaxing ride. Although we averaged this day over 28k/hr....i never started my bike computer... so i am going by Jenna's comp.

We also were greeted by some people from Wheaton CRC at the dutch mill in Batavia who served us fresh baked cookies and cold water. Whereupon, I needed to get a photo of Bill, Jim and Dick, (left to right) three of the oldest men on our tour, and boy do they ever cycle well...for their age-and just in general, they can definitely put some young people to shame!

Today was also the VERY FIRST DAY we encountered a train. WE had to stop and wait, while waiting we handed out seatosea cards and let those around us know what we were cycling for.

As well, at any stop lights through towns, we would talk to those who had there car windows down...and were looking at us...maybe a little frightening...but hey, we have the time...and especially at red lights, they look at us, we look at them, and once eye contact is made, there is no turning back!

Tomorrow we will be biking south of Chicago. Please pray for safety of all the cyclists and crew. We know it can be very dangerous on busy roads especially when shoulders are none existent or in poor condition. As well, one of the cyclists did have an encounter with a collision with a moving vehicle....please continue to keep us all in your prayers as we cycle, and pray for those around us to be aware of us as vehicles on the road as well (we really aren't that hard to miss, what with glowing safety vests and all).

Theo, on the gear truck....looks a little scary in there tonight.

Tonight, I have been billeted, with Renata, our gracious hosts, the Slagter's, have opened their home to us, let us do laundry, and just enjoy the life in a home...not a tent....it's magnificent! A bathroom, two steps from the bedroom, WHAT WILL I DO?!