Day 40: Chesteron, ID to South Haven, MI

WE ARE IN MICHIGAN! LAST STATE UNTIL CANADA!!!!

Actual kms: 138 kms

Overkill: 5 or so. There was a short detour and I headed into South Haven right after my shower so I could catch up on blogging and hopefully get some work done.

Quote: "Michigan! Michigan! I like to ride my bicycle, I like to ride to Michigan!" -Me singing to the "I Like to Ride My Bicycle" song by Queen...with varied lyrics of course. I was really excited to get to Michigan today. As you can tell.

Road Things: Dead fox, racoon and a live great blue heron.

Money Spent: $2 Taco Bell potatoes/soft taco, $7 Frappalatte and Chocolate Eclairs. How long has it been since you ate an éclair? I forgot that they were that delicious.

Most Interesting Person Pick: Jim. His name is easy to remember because it is my Dad's name. He is from N.Y and I think is one of the only people who did the Denver to G.R leg. He is heading back home because he has to work but he's a great cyclist with a beautiful black Cannondale bike. He looks like a dutch immigrant straight from the boat, but he's actually a long time New Yorker. Great accent. He always says hi and is encouraging on the road.

Favourite Part of the Day: Getting into Michigan. It made me realize that the weekend and having Bob on the ride is almost here. I really think the last two weeks with Bob are going to be the most enjoyable and memorable. I loved having him at the same college as me because you get to reflect on that experience for the rest of your lives. Same for Sea to Sea hopefully.

Worst Part of the Day: Today, getting up. Especially with not talking to Tim last night and having a "longer" day today with headwind. Tomorrow and Saturday are short so that is exciting.

Today I started off with not wanting to get out of bed. Then I thought to myself "It's less than a week until you get to see Tim and only a few days until you are in Grand Rapids and get to see Kelly and Jesi and Bob." And that convinced me to get up even though I couldn't find my clock to see what time it was. Later I found out it was before 6 am and I thought to myself "Next time, don't try to convince yourself." :)

I started off the ride with Josh (the "new" guy), Nathan B and Jim from N.Y. I asked them if I could be in their groups as they were leaving and I was heading to the washroom. I told them that I would catch up but Jim said he would be embarrassed if I did, so they would wait. :)

We set a good pace and were racing along some bigger/busier roads. We had a wind, so we took turns pulling in a pace line. They wanted to stop at the first SAG, so I left them and kept going until Michigan, where I took this picture...and one of Indiana (since I didn't have an official one).

We drove by many amazing homes along Lake MI today. I thought that you would really like that drive Mom. I could just imagine hearing you say "Oh Jim, look at that!"

Then after biking by myself for about 20 k, Reuben, Nathan, Jim, Josh, Josh Crabbe, and Pieter caught me and kinda scared me just as I was turning at a stop sign. Nathan invited me to join them and as I did, I realized that these guys were going full tilt. We were doing 35-45 kms up and down these windy, wooded roads and it was a lot of fun. I had to push myself to keep up in the pace line, but it was a beautiful 10 k. Plus, keeping up with the boys is pretty much expected of me now. Alas.

Lake Michigan.

We stopped at Julie's SAG and Eritia showed up so I decided to bike with her. We did the next 80 kms at a decent pace (averaging around 30 k) and were pretty quite as we went up and down the black topped empty road. It was pretty windy (welcome to Lake Michigan I guess) and so we pulled for each other the rest of the way. We got into camp just before the gear truck around 1 pm, but with the time change today that was 2 pm. The middle school we are staying at is nice but the showers were not great you had to press this button constantly to shower and it was really stiff. :( Probably should have taken a swim in the lake. I set up the tent and took off to find wireless and here I am.

Here are two pictures from Brian last Saturday in Madison. This is when we all drove into the church in one big peleton (group of bikers). There is Bill (who is excited to meet you and your bikes Mom and Dad) on the motorcycle. Can you spot me? Look for a red helmet.

Day 39: Palos Heights, IL to Chesterton, ID

Actual Kms: 98 kms

Overkill: Really 3 or so driving to the beach to call people. The map was a little off because of the bike path again. So this week is a “short week” technically but everyone seems to be putting on extra kms.

Quote: "What! THIS is our sign to Indiana?" -Me after seeing that once again, there was no state sign. Rethinking my words now, it was nice of the Sea to Sea people (namely Art and Coby who mark the roads) to put a sign to Indiana.

Road Things: Lots of ducks, small birds, chipmunks and squirrels again.

Money Spent: $20 on phone card…I think. I’m still not sure because my phone card didn’t work after I called Mom and Dad and the service guys hung up on me three times as I was trying to figure it out.

Most Interesting Person Pick: Brian. "What a friend I have in Brian, all my moods and griefs to bear (singing)"...but seriously, Brian is a great guy. When I'm tired and I go slower than I should, he just bikes with me patiently. When I'm moody because I'd rather be biking with my boyfriend, he just shuts up and gives me space. Brian is an all around good guy.

Favourite Part of the Day: Breakfast at Janessa’s house. We had bacon, eggs, English muffins, and freshly pressed coffee. Also, we got to just sit there and chill….fold some laundry, talk to Greg, before we had to get on our bikes.





Worst Part of the Day: Not being able to call Tim and driving back to the campsite in the pitch dark.

Breakfast with the Ferrell's. Janessa had to leave before the picture.

Today Brian and I got to camp around 8:30 after a long drive through rush hour Chicago traffic with Greg. We decided to visit the Ghetto with an alternate group. We wanted to visit Roseland Christian Ministries which houses women/children and feeds about 250 people each day in the south side of Chicago. Since we were heading into the ghetto, we were told to travel in a group. The picture above is my group. Today was a lot of starting, stopping and shouting, "Slowing" or "Stopping" or "Car back" or "Green, go, go!"

We stood in a circle, and did some introductions and prayed for the ministry. Then a lot of rich, white bikers left the ghetto feeling a little bit uncomfortable that not one of our riders is a shade darker than "cream".

Our sign into Indiana. I think the Sea to Sea people felt badly about having no Illinois sign.

Stuffing my face with Pieter, minister of First CRC in London. He's doing really well (he just started in Madison) and complimented me on my pace today.

This picture is finally getting to the park. We left at 9, had a long lunch in the middle so it was later rather than sooner getting there. I think it was around 2 or 3. I had a shower, set up camp after unloading the gear truck and had some delicious treats from some CRC ladies who set up over 45 plates of goodies and lemonade. Mmm. The beach at the state park was beautiful so a lot of people went swimming but I was good and did some planning for school and encouragment note writing. I just need some postcards so I can finish sending those.

Day 38: Woodstock IL to Palos Heights, IL

Actual Kms: 155 kms

Overkill Kms: 25 kms. Brian and I got lost (as most people did) on the 60 km Fox Run Bike path today. It wasn’t exactly the most pleasant experience, but it was early in the day so it wasn’t horrible.

Road Things: A bunny that ran right in front of Brian. Lots of small birds and squirrels, a toad, ducks, Canadian Geese and a crane along the water.

Money Spent: Notta. :)

Quote: “I heard that there is a certain CRC in Chicago that hasn’t promoted the amazing Sea to Sea tour Pastor Fred….” –Me to Fred. He sheepishly agreed that he forgot.

Most Interesting Person Pick: Janessa Vankampen. Her face was like a ray of sunshine after the difficult day. She also waited for us because we got in late (close to 5!).

Favourite Part of the Day: Eating Tostitos and cheese dip in the car as Janessa took us to her Uncle Fred’s while we had dinner. It was good catch up time and then we got to eat a delicious meal.

Worst Part of the Day: In the middle of the day, about 15 kms left on the bike path, we didn’t know where we were and there was no markings because the SAGs couldn’t get on the path. It was frustrating because often we were like “Where do we go now?”

Today I rode with Brian for the entire day. We were on a bike path for 60 kms and we got lost. By the end of the path, we were both frustrated and ready to hit a road with road signs and those lovely orange arrows that Art and Coby mark out for us.
The tricky but beautiful bike path.

We stopped at this amazing library so that we could check my email and see if Janessa was picking us up. When one of the librarian's heard what we were doing, she called down the public relations library lady and she interviewed us and took this picture.

We did get to stop for lunch at a local CRC that provided lunch for us and that was wonderful! Here is me stopping to stuff my face. Mmmm.
This picture is for Kelly O'Brien. :) Up for a road trip?

Waiting for the train.

When we finally got to Trinity Christian College, Janessa and Renita and a couple from Frederiction (along with a painted van) were waiting there for us. That was an awesome sight. We drove to Janessa's (a good friend from PEI) uncle's house and we ate and ate. Then we showered, did some laundry, had a beer and enjoyed some very humiliating games of ping pong with Greg. I like playing people I can beat better....like Brian and Matt and Peter (well almost). :) I slept like a baby in the guest room. It was nice to have clean sheets.