CANADA --- CANADA

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 20-08

Welcome to Canada, home for many of the cyclists...land of kilomerters and Tim Horton's.

RIDING PARTNERS: Jonathan, Marc, Brad, Jeff and I rode together, and then Kaitlyn joined us at the end.

HEADWIND? of course, we wouldn't have it any other way...why make cycling easy when it can all be training weather!

GOOD TIMEs: always...

We were required this morning, to have breakfast done by 7, and everyone packed up and ready to go. We had to get to Marine city, for the ferry crossing by 10....I don't know about you, but it being 30 k away, really was a generous amount of time to give us to get there. So, 3 hours, to get in 30k when by QUICKLY, we arrived and went into a coffee shop, overwhelmed the place with hords of cyclists.

Crossing over into Canada was momentous for some...it was quite the hype for many, coming back to home soil after 8 weeks away. Our greeting on the other side was AMAZING, there were trays of goodies, Tim's coffee and timbits, and all sorts of other things. Many people were there to cheer us on and meet family, or church memebers who are on the ride.

The rest of the ride, the next 60 k was a battle of the wind, we took turns, and had some conversations (as always) right into town. Upon reaching the outskirts of town, we arrived at some tracks, where we had to wait, 2nd time of this tour....then at the next set of lights...a newbie couldn't get his shoes unclipped and tipped over...he's okay, but it was funny.

There are no showers at the facility we are staying at so many drivers were circling the parking lot and taking us to there homes...Kaitly, Theo, Jeff, Jonathan, Marc, Bradley and I lucked out, we got a hot tub with the deal. Very nice, we hung out in the backyard, had some cake, FOR ITS ZINGERS BIRTHDAY... hopefully by now he can say he's had a pretty good b-day....he didn't have to take down a tent this morning, was sung to 4 times, and now cake!! tonight we will celebrate a little more after peleton.

I am really looking forward to this weekend!! Thanks in advance mom and dad for coming down to St Catherines....this should be a lot of fun...and oh sister, brother in law...RIDE WITH ME SATURDAY!!! COME ON!

Talk to you all soon, those of you who I know who read this, and thanks for everything that you have done, past present and soon my future!!

GEAR TRUCK RAMP FUN

Sorry, please rotate your head so you can see the video...

Sleepy Hollow - Richmond Michigan

Tuesday August 19 2008

Today, changing up the scenes...
I rode with Sarah and her brother Bob, a new glory rider, Brian (PEI), Matt and Jeff. We had talked with each other outside the gear truck last night and thought it would be fun to ride together. We enjoyed each others company and battled a headwind the whole way - 155 k of headwind, i wonder what the newbies are thinking now, after yesterdays easy ride...and whamo today the wind hits them...

In this pic, Bob, Eritia, Sarah. Eritia and Josh rode with us for a while to battle the wind together. Heading down the road, and up the road...and all over the country side...looks like a good paceline to me!
Who knew ... I like trees. Two of the recumbent bikes on tour...having a good ride together.

Today was a good ride, although, again, there was a lot of roadkill out there. EW - could we not aim for the furry creatures that cross the road at night, its hazardous the next day for cyclists...and then if its old road kill, STINKA! Sometimes it's an amuzing site, when all thats left is fluff and bones...or teeth, thats a site, a jaw bone full of teeth and then fur on the road.

(Just thought i would let you in on that one.)

MONDAY - Grand Rapids to Sleep Hollow State Park

Crossing the covered bridge.


RIDE WITH : Jonathan, Jeff, and Ryan.
in that order, in this photo

WE had a FABULOUS RIDE. We managed to 113k in 3 hours and 20 minutes...we absolutely FLEW. Thanks to a lovely tailwind. I believe this is the second time on this tour we have had a tailwind. So we used it for all it was worth.

Our first rest stop was at a CRC church, and they had some lovely treats for us and drinks as well. It was a very nice ride through the countryside. AT one of the SAG stops there was this little kitten that I played with for a few minutes...it was very cute.

I was contemplating making it my riding partner, but didn't know how much I would enjoy a kitten in the pocket of my jersey for the next 50+ k. I don't think it would be that lovely.

When we got to Sleepy Hollow State park, we arrived prior to the gear trucks arrival. So we went ahead in. I took a nap on a picnic table, as did many others, when the truck came in we all went to help unload. This was the first time for the 'newbies' (the 60 new cyclists that joined in GR) to see what really goes on. The truck was emptied in record time, I don't think that many people will show up again. After that, set up of tents and getting stuff organized for tomorrows ride is what happened, and then a bunch of us headed to the BEACH. I love the beach. We spent a good three hours there. (there is nothing to else to do at sleep hollow park, and the nearest town was 10 or more k away, roundtrip over 20 and we didn't feel like having that much bonus mileage for the day).

Went back to our camp sites and had supper and then a lovely fire, and celebratory time for Karen, it was her birthday. Very enjoyable time at Sleepy Hollow, although....at peleton we were told that we were going to have a huge headwind 16-22km/h and that put some people in a frenzie...

Waited by a telephone til 11:15, then I gave up trying to make a phone call...thought I should go to bed, then hang out by a payphone getting bitten by mosquitoes...

SUNDAY IN G.R.

Sunday...in Grand Rapids = no cycling...oh yeah.
Finally a lot of us got to sleep in, there was breakfast offered by a local church, but it's window of serving us was from 7:30-8am, and well, it was the first chance for many of us to sleep in, as well, the 10 minute plus walk was a deterrent. I decided to sleep in, and then get some of my stuff organized as well as clean my bike. I think this will be the last time for the tour, unless it rains, which is quite like since Ontario ,has nothing but liquid falling in the shape of drops, from the sky.
At noon, we had lunch across from the seminary and then were shuttled to the Fifth Third Park stadium...quite the turnout of people...maybe because our numbers have increased by 40-60 more cyclists.....more names to learn and people to trip over in the gear truck, (I think we are nearly at 200 now...)
This us waitung (above) and below, we are waiting in one huge arc along the fance line and rounding all the way past third. We are a large group.


The sun going down over camp...while we were heading out for the evening.Sundays service in the park was another huge rally. It was a nice service and what put the icing on the cake for many, was Kyle Meyerink sang a song he composed and wrote the words. It was absolutely beautiful....

Sunday night, I billeted out and had a good evening, relaxing and watching olympics...I LOVE THE OLYMPICS!

DAY 48 - Grand Haven to Grand Rapids....or G. R-usalem.

Today, Saturday, and a glorious cool one at that, had to pull out some arm warmers...1st time for everything....who knew that out of the mountains would have cooler weather than in the mountains.
We, Zinger, Jeff and I rode like machines through the streets of Grand Haven and into Grand Rapids....it was a good ride, although some of the roads were very rough. I am learning to take it in the seat, as well as through the arms...everyone has to ride through it....

'WE passed by this cemetary and the sun was shining so nicely throught the trees so i cylcloto'd a photo, above.

Below: a shot of Dirk and Pieter, waiting at a stop like, and then we were off!

Arnie and his wife...at the stop TYLER's house, thanks Tyler for opening up your place, and making it such a nice stop.
When we gathered, to enter as a group to Calvin College, we were all hanging out together, and just waiting for the go ahead. 12:30 and almost everyone was in to get going. Above: Heidi, Kaitlyn and Jody.

Below: Pieter, and his tongue.

The shark mobile, imagine riding this in crosswinds. Riding into Calvin college.The Gear truck and all our stuff exploding out of it...today, clean the gear truck day, and make Bill happy.
LOVELY time at the SEA TO SEA spa, they had massages: hand, feet, back...neck, foot baths, hand baths...haircuts..absolutely positively amazing!

South Haven to Grand Haven DAY 47

Last night we went out to do some Kareoke, and combined that effort with Lawrence's birthday. He is the one in the pink t-shirt, he received that as a complimentary gift from Jake's lakehouse, where we went last night. Great fun had around the mike and at the table, we were watching alot of the olympics...TV fantastic TV, our eyes were glued to PHELPS swimming...and winning.

me This morning for breakfast, cyclists lined the curb, eating, for most of there stuff was all packed up. Today was my teams sweep day again, and we finished packing up the gear truck around 9, and headed out soon there after...quick eye sweep of the grounds. We made super good time, and were at Cory's stop, 35 k in in just a little over an hour, and this was with a headwind. It was crazy windy all day. Had some lovely fresh blueberries...so tasty, great lakes blueberries...how fitting for when we are cycling along the coastline of Lake Michigan.
Stopped in Grafshap, the first CRC historical site, toured the inside of the church, they had an historical musuem set up in the basement of the church which was lovely to look at the dutch heritage, and the ways we have developed as a church and how far we have come as well as where we have come from, the founders and what went on to get here.
The peanut shop, very close to a candy mountain back in Ottawa. Purchased some Dropjes...oh yum

Here is a really cool bike rack, outside the bike shop in Holland MI, Kaitlyn and Jody are just getting there stuff together here.

We also had coffee in Holland Michigan and had a lovely time in the bike shop, i fell asleep in the front window thats how long we were in there, and i didn't neet anything...soo...i rested.This is the crew leaving, we are losing 10, but gaining 50 riders for the next two weeks, the number of cyclists is going to be ut to 210. And tomorrows ride is going to be crazy, Grand Rapids, the mecca of CRC, we are riding with over 300 people...all in the name of poverty. It will be quite the site, and alot of people we will witness to.

KM's today: supposed to be 77, but we did 89
I rode with Kaitlyn, Theo, Jody, Lawrence, and Jeff. We battled wind and rolling hills, but loved the last bike path into the CRC conference grounds, on the shore of Lake Michigan.

We took a few detours, first to Holland MI, and then to the beach where there was this lighthouse, we were going to stick around there but we decided we should get into camp, arrived close to 4, and then Jody and I went to the beach, but the wind made us feel freezing cold so we just sunned ourselves instead of swimming...another day for swimming...

Day 46 - Chesterton, Indiana to Grand Haven Michigan

OKAY--here is the signage for Indiana, although we were leaving the state and entering Michigan...

WAIT -- ANOTHER STATE

KAITLYN, JENNA, JEFF, JONATHAN and I...rode today, 130k.

IT was windy, and beautiful along the shores of lake Michigan

DAY 45 -Palos Heights, Illinois- Chesterton, Indiana

ANOTHER DAY- ANOTHER STATE

Kaitlyn, Theo, Doug, Kevin, Jody and I rode together. It was an awesome ride. Here's a photo of our group as we just crossed into Indianna....just a few more states and then it's ova! I can't believe how fast it is going.

From left to right, Kevin, Jody, Doug, Theo, Kaitlyn, and I.

We had a couple of stops today, the first one was at Bethel CRC, and they had some refreshments for us. The next one was Highlands CRC where they had full out lunch for us....SUBWAY...oh yeah! Lovely eats, and then we were on our way. Today we didn't encounter many times where we could hand out the sea to sea business cards with facts and information on them, nor a shifting gears book...I did manage to hand out two cards to two vehicles when we were stopped at red lights....

Along the way, we went through an area of Indiana, where a tornado had gone through last week Monday, the streets were littered with debris, and chipper trucks were running in full force. It was not a pleasant sight, but an interesting site, to see all this damage done by one force of nature. Alot of work now needs to be done to repair damaged homes, and clean up all the trees that had blown over.

We are camping at Indiana Dunes Park (very much like Sandbanks-oh baby, I can't wait), just outside of Chesterton. Indiana. It is a lovely campground...and I got to go swimming in Lake Michigan, for the first time. As well, upon arrival, another local crc had 43 types of baked goods spread out under the pavillion for us to appease our appetites with. It was a lovely spread, and again, thanks to all those who support us in every way that they do. We are all very grateful and thankful.

this is a photo of Billy and I, where Randy also felt the need to stick his head in there...Billy is in charge of the gear truck and keeps us on our toes. He also rides his harley up and down the roads we bycle on, in support of us, and making sure that all is well, sometimes he even has water for us on very hot days...today, was not so hot only mid 20's, and we also rode along a good stretch of bike path, and a not so good stretch too... see photos...we were pretending we were interior canoeing and we had to portage to the next lake.

Dismounting bikes, and on our way portaging.Finding the bike path...it's out there somewhere...Billy and I

interesting things of the day: we went to a bead store, kaitlyn, jody and i, and we loved every minute of it. then we also stopped at another shop along the way and got a few items...the boys had left us at this point for we were taking a while at the bead store...oh well, there loss.

roadkill: there is still large amounts of animals, creatures and insects that we see dead along every ride, today, i guess the best was dead chipmunks....yesterday, Jonathan nearly hit one, i am afraid though, that if we accidently hit one, we will not really and totally kill it, and then what are we to do?!

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?!