Monday morning ride
I thought I would get a quick ride in before the rain today. I managed to
raise my average speed to 14.6 mph Temperature 72 sunny winds SSE 10mph. I have
been working hard to improve my average speed to where I was last fall. Wonder
if I would get there. Average speed does depend on the quality of the road,
rough pavement makes me work a lot harder and slows me down considerably. Of
course having a nice downhill helps when I racing at 32 mph. Love it but pay for it on the up hill. The joys of biking.
Tuesday morning ride
I had a little more hill climbing this morning so it brought
down my average and had two head winds as the wind shifted from SE to SW as I
was switching my directions going out and coming home. Started out sunny with 73 degrees winds from
SE at 6mph and ended up 72 degrees cloudy with winds from SW 9mph. Ran into a cyclist I knew who winters in Florida
and watch him almost get hit by a truck as he was pulling out in front of truck
to cross the street. He was on a bike
path that did not have a stop sign and he thought the truck had a stop sign
which the truck did not. When I came up
beside him not knowing who he was I spoke loudly to him saying he just about
got himself killed by pulling out in front of that truck. Scary.
The cyclist told me this was the first time he had been on this trail
and was still trying to figure out how it went.
Wednesday it was raining off and on all day so did not go
for a bike ride. In the evening we went
to a reception being held for volunteers involved with Prison Ministry at
Bellemy Creek Correctional Facility. Hank
and I visit the facility once a month to attend Bible Study and participate in
a worship service with the men. We were
blown away by the testimonies of the inmates who also attended and what the
volunteers meant to them. For many, they very much appreciated the time and
love that the volunteers have given and this has provided hope and meaning in
their lives. They feel valued and comforted knowing people care for them and
are praying for them. One fellow shared
how he never imagined himself be in prison and certainly never would associate
with any returning prisoners or spend time visiting them, yet at age 56 he
finds himself “one of them” and is deeply grateful that volunteers do not shun
him, but take time to visit and care for people in prison. He was very grateful and thankful.
It was again raining on Thursday so no bike riding. In the evening, Immanuel Reformed Church had
organized a Commissioning and Blessing service for the bikes and riders for the
Sea to Sea 2013 bike tour. It was a
great opportunity to meet other cyclists and share stories. We also were able
to pick up our new jerseys and shorts.
They are very cool. Terry Barnes has done a fantastic job of getting
very nice clothing for us. On the shirts
we have pictures of the mountains, Dutch windmill, CN tower, Statue of
Liberty. You cannot see it on pictures
but on the pant cuffs is written “Poverty has a face” and” Four pedal strokes”
meaning every 4 pedal strokes a child dies from poverty related issues. So when we look down we are reminded of why
we are riding each day.
Audrey (my sister) and Frank Berkenpas and Hank with me at
the blessing of the bikes and prayer time
Pete and Julie Wiersma having friends pray for them and
their journey
Luanne Barnes Administrative Assistant for the tour busy
talking and handling out jerseys and devotionals to the cyclist and volunteers.
People were very excited to receive both.
The devotional is a very thoughtful and inspiring booklet with beautiful
pictures of Edgar Boeve’s Beatitudes collection and the jersey’s design and
appearance are very well done thanks to Terry Barnes.
Friday I rode 56 miles with Carol Rienstra, and Phil and Jan
Quist. It was a very cool riding day even though it was sunny. We started out
at 7:45 and finished at 2:30. The wind was from the north with 40 degree
temperatures. I wore 2 light jackets, full
gloves, booties for my feet, and arm warmers and leg warmers. The leg and arm warmers never came off. The booties came off at first coffee break,
the first jacket and full gloves came off at lunch, and the second jacket came
off at 1:30. We biked on a bike path
along the Grand River heading up north to Knapp. We knew heading north we would have lots of
hills, but beautiful scenery. For those
of you familiar with Grand Rapids area we rode Honey Creek Rd which everyone in
the area knows has many rolling hills. Some hills we were able to get down with
great speed and get a good run at the next one, while others were too steep and
we had to shift down quite a bit in order to get to the top. Carol’s chain came off once on a steep hill,
which I had happen many times in the first couple of years of riding. We made a stop at Fritz and Carol Rottman’s
country paradise where they have transformed farm fields into native Michigan
prairie fields that are cover in vast array of color in the summer. We saw a
pair of Sand Hill Cranes with a baby crane feeding at a wetland on the
property. A special treat. I have seen
thousands of these cranes on their migration north In Grand Island NB on our
way to go spring skiing in Colorado. But
I have never seen a baby crane. The parents were not happy we were there and
let us know by their honking that we were not welcomed. Unfortunately, I could not get a picture as
they took off. The Rottman’s have
donated this property to Calvin College which will be a great classroom for
biology students to use and observe. Even
though the day was cold it was a great ride and we thoroughly enjoyed the
scenery and the fellowship. Felt
refreshed and warm after I took a hot shower and an hour nap. I think this may
happen often when I am on the tour after a long hard day of biking.
We were all very impressed with our new jerseys and
shorts. On the left sleeve there are
pictures of the mountains we will be riding over, a Dutch Windmill, the CN
Tower and the Statue of Liberty. On the
right sleeve has the RCA emblem. On the back we have Partners Worldwide and
World Renew along with our other sponsors.
Both Canadian and American flags are place on the front reminding us it
is an American and Canadian ride. On the cuffs of the shorts we will read on
one cuff “Poverty had a Face and the other “Four Peddle Strokes” reminding us
that every four seconds a child dies in the world of poverty related
issues. We will not forget the purpose
of our ride when we wear our shorts and jersey’s.
Dogwood in bloom 
