Week 2- 125 mile this week 789 to go and first flat tire

Yeh the weather was much more pleasant this week and I was able to get in some longer rides.
 Monday was a great day and I biked 26 miles.
On Tuesday I thought I would beat the rain but in less than 3 miles into it, it started to rain.  I stopped under a bridge twice and stopped at a MacDonals once hoping it would stop. I finally "sucked it up" and pushed hard to ride home and finished the 27 miles with iced cold toes, had not thought to put on my bike booties. Next time will remember, but I hope will need them in the future. 
Friday and Saturday were beautiful sunny days. I rode 39 miles from Hope in Holland to Calvin in Grand Rapids, riding the planned route with Phil and Jan Quist. We found some areas that needed tweaking so Phil is revising the route a little.  On Saturday I rode 33 miles with Dale Mowry, riding part of the route we are planning to ride on May 18th as a fun(draiser training ride).

I had my fiirst flat tire for the season.  Dale, the kind gentleman he was, took out his camera and videotaped me changing the tire. He did help take it off and put it back on as it was the back tire which I always find a little harder to put back on. A kind neighbor came over to see if we needed any help , but I was in pretty well done by then.
 
You can watch this at https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=447790835310830

I found what made the tire go flat so I would not get another one soon. 

Dale tells me he does not carry a spare tire or pump.  He calls 911, his wife or has a kind stranger take him home.

Funny I can't imagine riding without a spare tube and pump. These are always on my bike as I am often out in the country somewhere and would hate to get stuck out there, depending on some else to come to my aid. A little scary thought, being a woman, but I have been fortunate thus far.

Reminds me of the need to check my tires everytime  I go out to ensure my tires do not have something stuck on that might work into making a tire flat.  On the 2008 bike ride, John VanderSteen (who did not have a flat)  was very particular with his bike everynight and would take air out of his tires to check them to ensure there was not something stuck on the tires that would work in to make a flat. Maybe I should have double checked after riding in the rain on Tuesday. I recalled we had twice as many flats on both 2005 and 2008 bike tours when it rained as things stuck and work into tires on wet roads. 

Weather for the next week looks very promising for some good riding.

Please pray that all the riders trainging for the Sea to Sea continue to be safe, have no injuries, are able to get in their training miles so they are ready for an adventure of a life time.