And We're Off....

This blog may be short. I am sitting in a library in Richmond, Mi. after a 95 mile ride with strong headwinds. Dinner is in less than 30minutes and as you can imagine, I will not be missing that! Sandy and I started on our journey yesterday at 8:00am with a royal sendoff from both my family and Sandy's Mom and Uncle. Upon seeing my bike gear assembled, Jimmy, who is 2, asked if Mommy was taking a bike ride with Sandy. I said "yes". He is used to my 3-4 hour bike rides with Sandy as we trained. My girls threw in a few words about missing me despite their glee about how much fun they would have with Dad in charge (can you tell which one of us parents tows the line?) (I found out later Dad had fun being in charge - he stopped at both the Michigan store in Ann Arbor and Cabella's on the way back to New Jersey. I didn't ask how much these detours had set us back.)

Back to our bike trip - Sandy and I had a great time ticking off 67 miles. I don't know if I should mention our wonderful tailwind and the very flat roads - we thought we were in biking heaven. We had a wonderful reception froma Calvary CRC in Lowell - lots of food and smiles. Many people in the towns we pass through ask about what we are doing and we are having fun explaining ourselves and the Bike Tour's goal of raising awareness and funds to end the cycle of poverty. In some of these little towns I wonder if we outnumber the inhabitants.

Today (Tuesday) was not quite as joyous as yesterday. After getting up at 4:45am and getting on the road at 7:15 we rode through a headwind all day. Thankfully, there were only a few steeper hills helping us reminisce about biking in New Jersey. Now tired, achy, and hungry, we have yet to take a shower, set up our tent, and attend meetings tonight. I have a better idea - a back rub and a nap!

I have to go, someone else needs the computer and I can't miss dinner, at least I don't have to cook. Love to my family and friends.