Day 47: Columbus, MS to Demopolis, ALABAMA

Day 47 My campground neighbor got back home at 12:51am. I know that because the noise of his motorcycle woke me up. An ambitious bird woke me up at 4am with his singing. I fell back to sleep till 5am. At that point I decided to go to the store to clean up, grab a sausage biscuit and coffee and look over my map and route for the day.

I packed up and pulled out. I had to ride through a lot of Columbus to head south to Aliceville. Before getting out of town I pulled into a store to make sure I was still on route. I met Roger who also bikes and is the Publisher and Editor of The Columbus Packet. We talked about biking and my trip. He then introduced me to Ed who works for Coke and he told him about my ride. Before I left Roger gave me one of his papers. I will read over it. As I was almost out of town I spotted Shipley's Donuts. I had to stop. If you ever watch the Food Network they clue you in to watching out for unique local places. This seemed to be one of those places, so I stopped. Awesome donuts! I figured the carbs would be good for the long day ahead.

I was finally out of town and heading toward Pickensville and Aliceville. For the first time I can remember I was yawning quite a bit as I rode. I guess the previous long days of riding and the lack of sleep the night before was getting to me. I passed on through Pickensville but stopped for lunch in Aliceville. I went to Piggly Wiggly to get some watermelon chunks. After picking out some good looking watermelon the smell of the deli lured me that way. I had to get some of their good southern cooking so I got two pieces of chicken with some creamed corn, green beans and cornbread. I went outside to eat. As I was eating a lady stopped to ask about my trip.

She introduced herself as Poncho and she said, "no I'm not Mexican". Poncho actually is a sweet African American woman. We had a good chat. She was excited about my trip. She went inside to shop and I continued to eat. She finished her shopping and before she pulled out of the parking lot she rolled down her window and asked how long I would be in Aliceville. I told her once I finished lunch I was heading to Demopolis. She said she was going home to fry up some fish and would love for me to have some but she understood that I needed to go. Poncho is just one of so many hospitable people God has introduced me to.

The ride to Aliceville wasn't bad and the rest of the day to Demopolis wasn't too bad but the hills were back. The nice thing about these hills is that they included some long flat stretches after a good downhill. This allowed me to be reintroduced to my large gear on the front. I stopped in Eutaw for some ice and a cold drink. I took my time to avoid some of the muggy weather that had been climbing all over me the hours prior to Eutaw. After Eutaw it was a bit cooler and I hit a 12 mile stretch of rode that was new asphalt. Awesome!

I made it to Demopolis in good time but I could tell that the pushing I did to get there took a toll on my quads. Celeste booked me in a Holiday Inn Express so I could do laundry and have access to a desktop computer. It was a nice place in a good location. There was a plaza next door that had a Chinese Restaurant. I was craving Chinese so I decided to go get some and bring it back to the room. When I came out of the hotel it was raining lightly. This was a surprise but not a problem. I went and got my food then came back to the room to eat and check on the weather for tomorrow. For the most part I have been blessed with good weather so I wondered if rain was in the forecast for my ride tomorrow. I finished my awesome dinner and then checked the weather. It might rain tomorrow afternoon.

I got my laundry done and a lot of my computer work. I also got some good reading done. Hebrews 13 was very encouraging. I think I will camp out there for a bit. Tomorrow the plan is to ride to Jackson, AL. After Jackson it is on to Daphne, AL and then PENSACOLA FLORIDA!

I can't believe I am this close to Florida. As I ride I think back to the days in Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri...and think to myself, "how in the world did I get all the way here to Mississippi and Alabama?" The obvious answer is God and consistency. I testify to everyone I meet that the prayers of the saints daily have gotten me to this point. I just pedal. Prayers are the power so thank you, thank you, thank you!

As always, keep on praying!

bob g

STATS - Mileage Today 95, Pace 14, Riding Time 6:58
Total GTD cumulative miles: 2,862

Day 46: Iuka to Columbus, MS

Day 46 I got up and going today because of the potential for an Ironman distance (112 mile) ride. The flat ride my new friends talked about didn't materialize till after arriving in Fulton. Fulton was about 43 miles down the road so I stopped in Belmont for a cold drink. It wasn't hot but there was a small amount of humidity that kept me sweating.

Kandi works at the convenience store in Belmont. She asked all about my ride and why. When she found out what it was for, she wanted to donate toward the ride but I was one day early, she gets paid tomorrow. I told her a daily prayer would be worth a lot so she said she would do that. While in the store I met a tall young man who was wearing a golf shirt. I asked him if he golfed. He said not really but he was related to PGA golfer David Toms. Very cool I said. Robert was there as well and he shared with me all his biking exploits from his kid years. I had a great time with these folks but I needed to get going toward Fulton.

Just before Fulton the road went to a four lane and it was nice. I was making good time through that section. I came upon a sign for Fulton. I had to turn right off the four lane on to a hilly two lane road. I went for a couple of miles and stopped to ask how much farther and was I going out of the way. A nice man said I had to "fall off the next hill" and then turn left at the light. After a mile I would see eating places and be right where I need to be. I was relieved because the hills I would have to back track over were big. I stopped at McDonalds and met Ricky. He was from down the road but was going to the Community College for Respiratory Therapy. His wife is a nurse and they have two kids. His sister and her husband do mission work in China. We had a great visit.

After McDonalds I had to head toward Amory then on to Aberdeen. In Aberdeen I would make the decision to stay there or go on to Columbus. I stopped in Amory to fill my Camelbak up with ice. I met a young man who just got out of jail. He had been there for two days and nights. I encouraged him to make right decisions so he could enjoy what life has to offer and not go back there. He nodded. He asked for a dollar for something to drink. I gave him one. Later I got some popcorn chicken and ate some and then offered him the rest. He took them and ate them up. Before I was leaving Elton hollered over to me, "how far you going?" I went over to where he was pumping his gas and talked with him about where I was going, where I had come from and why. He said, "so you're a Man of God." I said by God's Grace YES. After that we had some good Man of God talk. Elton was cool to talk with. He was on his way to his daughters softball game so I encouraged him to be a Man of God for her.

Since Fulton the ride had been fairly flat so I was making good time with little stress on the legs. When I got to the road that went to Columbus I decided to keep going instead of riding into Aberdeen. For the next 25 miles I put on some music to help the time pass. I listened to some Audio Adrenaline and Code of Ethics. With good terrain, good road, good temperatures and good music I made it to Columbus in good time. As I approached Columbus I began to hear and see planes.

I stopped to take a picture of the Columbus Air Force Base sign. After that my mission was to find the RV Park I would be camping at. It was just down the road at the third stop light. I had to turn left and go a mile and a half. I found the Park and site number 15. After checking it out I went to the store next to the Park. I asked about eating places close by. The girls pointed across the street to a Plaza and said that a Subway was there. I thanked them and headed that way.

A few doors down from Subway was Beans and Cream. I suspected that it was a coffee and ice cream shop. It was and it was good. I had a frozen white mocha and a taste of some chocolate covered cherries whip cream. Yummy! The lady and girl who were working were super nice and interested in my ride. The lady had gone to the Women's College in Columbus and was involved with the Baptist Student Union. Through BSU she was able to do some mission work. We had a good talk. They closed at 8pm so I went next door to Subway which was open till 9pm. By this time I was getting a bit hungry so I got a six inch roast beef and pepper jack. Delicious! I charged my phone and worked on my receipts till they closed.

I returned to my site and set up camp. I didn't do much else because I was tired. I was glad that I rode the 111 miles to Columbus and I was on schedule. Tomorrow I am to cross over into Alabama and go to Epes. I am looking forward to riding in another State and getting closer and closer to Gainesville.

As always, your prayers are appreciated!

bob g

STATS - Mileage Today 111, Pace 14, Riding Time 7:51
Total GTD cumulative miles: 2,767

Day 45: Perryville, TN to Iuka, MISSISSIPPI

Day 45 I must have been tired from the 100 miles of pedaling because I slept all through the night. The birds were singing with all their might. I got cleaned up, packed up and boiled some water for oatmeal and coffee.

The ride to Burnsville was foggy so I turned on all my flashers to be safe. The ride was up and down but good. When I got to Burnsville I stopped to fill my Camelbak with ice. Two locals began to talk with me about my ride and route. They suggested I take main roads across the Tennessee River down to Savannah, TN.

One of the guys had to head off to work but James stayed. He and I talked more about my ride and then quite a bit about sports. James knows his sports. As I was starting to get my stuff together to leave James said he wanted to give me $20 for my trip. I was blown away. He was such a nice man to talk with. He said he was a disabled Vet from the Korean war. Not totally though because I could tell he had some talents when it came to repairing certain types of machines.

The route they suggested was a really nice ride but it had quite a few challenging climbs. Crossing the Tennessee River was beautiful. It has been fun to cross the Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers over the past few days. The bridges (and ferry) have been good. I turned right for the last 5 miles into Savannah. I spotted a Wal*Mart as I was going into town so I stopped for some more Propel powder. I also took some time to look at my maps so I determine the best route to Fulton, MISSISSIPPI.

I decided to head toward Crump and get back on route. This took me to Shiloh and lots of Civil War history. From there I was to hit back roads for awhile. I started down Bark Dr. and encountered a few dogs (go figure). The bad road and dogs convinced me to return to the main road. I rode it to the end and turned left. Within two miles I would turn right on Damon Rd. and be back on route. The road was country and narrow but good. The only problem was the number of dog encounters. At one point I stopped, got off and grabbed a stick. The dog didn't want to mess with me.

At some point on this road I entered into Mississippi. The road ended and put me back on a main road. This lasted only for a few miles. To get to Burnsville the route put me on a bumpy country road that included more dogs. The first 100 yards on this road was very steep. It was barren at the top. After a bit I began to see some houses. Not totally convinced I was on the right I stopped and asked. I was to my surprise. I pressed on this bumpy road with dogs. I stopped a couple of more times to let a dog know that I was mad at their advances and was not going to take it any more. I triumphed over the dogs! \o/

I finally got back on a main road that took me to Burnsville. At this point it was getting late in the day. I stopped to get a drink and local info. There wasn't any place to camp in Burnsville but Three Sisters Restaurant was local and good. I decided it was a good time to eat make a decision to find some place to pitch my tent or continue on. I decided to continue on till I found a place to stay.

I decided to stick with the main road which was more direct. When I got to Iuka, MS the Victorian Inn advertised a decent price. I checked to see if they had a room. They did so I got checked in. I then called Celeste and mom to give them an update. The Inn had Wi-Fi (internet) so I have been able to catch up on my blog.

Tomorrow I will continue on main roads to Columbus, MS. Some nice folks staying at the Inn said it should be a flat ride. They were interested and excited about my ride. The ride to Columbus should be close to Ironman distance which is 112 miles. The road, terrain and temperatures should be good so I am excited.

I appreciate your prayers!

bob g

STATS - Mileage Today 90, Pace 13, Riding Time 6:46
Total GTD cumulative miles: 2,656

Day 44: Dover to Perryville, TN

Day 44 Today was a welcomed change in the weather. The mid 90's were gone and the low 80's were here for the next few days. Yesterday's short day allowed my legs and bottom to get some extra rest and today both felt much better.

The terrain was now very fair and the hills were rideable (not sure if this is a word but it is in the bg vocabulary) and followed by great downhills. I don't mind this type of terrain. It is a good workout. As much as the Ozarks terrorized my legs I can tell they are stronger.

The ride on 49 and 13 to Waverly was enjoyable. It did get a bit challenging the final 6 miles going into Waverly. Once in Waverly I took some time at McDonald's to work on my blog and eat an early lunch.

After lunch I decided to continue south on 13 to Linden, TN. What a beautiful ride on good roads. Before getting to Linden I stopped at Cissie Lynn's Country Store to refill my Camelbak with ice and get a cold drink. Cissie and I got talking about my ride, she was real excited. I began to ask her about her store, the Loretta Lynn Campground across the way and her relation to Loretta. She said, "she's my mom". I said,"cool". I asked her how mom was doing and she said great. She had just returned from a show. Cissie was great to talk with and she didn't charge me for the ice I put in my Camelbak!

After we talked about what I've learned/experienced along the way she shared a story with me about her dad and her ride on her horse from I 40 to home. Both had to do with taking things slow and noticing the little things along the way. I took Cissie's picture for the blog and gave her my card with the address on it. Now it was time to head to Linden.

Once in Linden I had to decide which way to go from there. After checking out the map my decision was easy. I needed to take 412 to Perryville, TN so I could camp at Beech Bend State Park. I stopped at the store before the Park for a few supplies, I was sure the State Park wouldn't have a store. The Park was very nice and the Manager let me camp for FREE. What a blessing! \o/

A short time later as I set up my site a couple of guys came around with some free firewood. Another blessing! I cooked up some Mac and Cheese that was delicious. For dessert I popped up my first batch of Jiffy Pop. I need more practice. I charged up my phone in the bathroom as I cleaned up and got ready to climb in my tent for the night. It was great that the temperature had fallen. I actually had to get in my sleeping bag right away.

Tomorrow I am heading toward Fulton, MS. Not sure I can get that far but I will do my best as I deal with the terrain, weather, dogs, bike stuff....

It will be exciting to enter another State. Only two more after that PTL!

Keep the prayers coming.

bob g

STATS - Mileage Today 100, Pace 13, Riding Time 7:26
Total GTD cumulative miles: 2,566

Day 43: Grand Rivers, KY (Land between the Lakes) to Dover, TENNESSEE

Day 43 Today was tough! After three long days in the heat and hills it was tough to get going. The main motivation was to get to TENNESSEE. The rest of the ride through The Land Between the Lakes was nice. After entering Tennessee I got to see bison. Very cool. I also got to see the historic Great Western Furnace.

It did flatten out a bit for a while then before Dover, TN there were some hills. Fortunately it was downhill to Dover and at the bottom was McDonald's. I couldn't get enough to eat and drink. Some time later I started feeling bad. I attributed that to temperatures in the mid 90's. I soaked up some AC and talked with a family whose dad/husband is currently serving oversees. They can't wait for him to come home.

I decided I better make headway so I pedaled toward Old SR 76. About a half mile down the road I decided it was too hot so I went inside a grocery store for a bit. When I resumed pedaling I was climbing out of town toward 76. I got to 76 and it looked a bit shady. Bad road and lots of gravel. I started down it slowly. It started to curve left and the next thing I knew was that I was back to the main road. A guy stopped at the stop sign. I asked him about 76. He didn't know any more about it other than it was a short loop off the main road. He asked where I was heading and I told him Waverly. He said I should go back down the hill into town and take 49 to 13. I thanked him for the info.

By this time it was closing in on 4pm and I was still feeling bad so I decided to find a place to stay and hit it again early in the morning. It was so hot I decided to stay in AC at the Dover Inn. It was nice. I returned to McDonald's for dinner then went to BP for some batteries. I checked a TN map and talked with the attendant. Both confirmed what the man had suggested re: getting to Waverly so I decided that was the way I was going in the morning.

I returned to my room to take care of my blog and e-mail then I fell off to sleep.

Tomorrow it is off to Waverly first then to Saltillo if possible.

Thanks for your prayers and encouragement in these final weeks!

bob g

STATS - Mileage Today 50, Pace 11, Riding Time 4:25
Total GTD cumulative miles: 2,466

Day 42: Vienna, IL to Grand Rivers, (Land between the Lakes) KENTUCKY

Day 42 I got to sleep in today because the storage room my bike was in wouldn't be opened till 7am. I enjoyed the rest.

For the first twenty miles it was cool and foggy. As I got to Golconda the sun burned off the fog and it got hot. I stopped to get ice for my Camelbak. There had been a Motor Bike Rally somewhere in the region over the weekend so many bikers were at the station and on the road. The ride from Golconda to Cave in Rock was good. Just before Cave in Rock I got some lunch. After lunch I only had two miles to catch the ferry across the Ohio River. I got in line behind five bikers.

The ferry was on the other side of the river so we had to wait 20 minutes. I got to talking with one of the bikers, he and his friends were from a church north of Cave in Rock. They were out for a Sunday afternoon ride. Their destination was a restaurant in Kentucky. We loaded the ferry. He took a picture of me with my bike. When we got to the other side and unloaded I let the traffic go. I entered into Kentucky and began a nice ride through the country and small, small towns. Thankfully each small town had a coke machine so I could get a cold drink and cold bottle of water for my Camelbak.

After Joy, KY I was to go straight but I turned left and stayed on 145. It was fine though, I would take it to Burna and then turn south on 60 to Smithland. At Smithland I went to the scenic overlook where the Cumberland and Ohio Rivers merged. Several locals were there talking. They wanted to know all about my ride and WHY?? They were excited that I was riding for a cause. I asked about getting to Land Between the Lakes and the campgrounds. They said it was a good, hilly ride and there were several campgrounds. They were right about both.

When I got to I 24 I was hungry and right at 100 miles.

The sign said 5 more miles to LBL. It was a quick ride to the Welcome Center. I asked a lady about a good campground, she said Hillman Ferry was good. She was right! I got there and secured sight #79. Before going there I stopped at the store for dinner stuff and laundry supplies. Next I stopped at the facility that had the showers, bathroom, washer and dryer. I got my clothes going and jumped into the shower. When I got out of the shower I put my laundry in the dryer. It would take 45 minutes for them to dry so I rode toward my site.

When I got to the lake I got reception so I called Celeste to say goodnight. Then I rode to my site and set up my tent. I was right on the lake and only had one other family camping out there. I returned to get my laundry. It felt good to have clean clothes! By now it was closing in on 11pm so I was more than ready to go to bed. I had one A T & T cell bar so I checked on some sports news before going to sleep. I also spent a moment with my map program looking at the day to come.

After three long days I was sore and tired and unsure of the day to come. The plan is to go to Waverly, TN but to do so I would have to pull off another 90 plus mile day. We'll see.

As always, your prayers are appreciated!

bob g

STATS - Mileage Today 109, Pace 12, Riding Time 8:44
Total GTD cumulative miles: 2,416

Day 41: Marble Hill, MO to Vienna, ILLINOIS

Day 41 Today I started the day with three scrambled eggs and orange juice at the hotel restaurant. I then pedaled to the store to fill my Camelbak with ice. With the temperatures climbing cool fluids are important. The ride from Marble Hill to Jackson was up and down. Once I got to Jackson I checked my phone GPS to see if there was a McDonald's.

There was up the road so I pedaled on. When I pulled into the parking lot a girl said to me " you ride fast". She had seen me and my Gator flag before I got into Jackson and now I was there. She use to live in Jacksonville, FL and loves the Gators. After an iced coffee I was ready to get to Cape Girardeau and then into Illinois.

As I rode through the Cape as the locals say, I saw three different car washes. Of course each one said they would wash my bike. Just before I was to turn left to cross over the Mississippi River into Illinois I saw a guy biking north. I waived and continued on. A few minutes later I realized that he had turned around and was now coming up next to me.

His name was Greg. He is a local who was out for a ride. He asked about my ride as we rode on. He then said the next light is where we needed to turn left so we got over in the turn lane. He said he had some time so he would ride with me across the river. We stopped to take Mississippi River pictures and then Welcome to Illinois pictures. We talked a bit about the flood waters that covered the fields to the east of the Mississippi. He said that the Cape had closed its flood gates. A few minutes later Greg said he needed to head back. I thanked him for riding with me and gave him my blog address.

The rest of today's ride was in the country till Vienna. That was nice but the cool thing was the people I met along the way, close animal encounters and God's amazing provision. Three miles before Karnak, IL I stopped for a cold drink. That's when I met Heather and Virginia. They had stopped for some snacks. They asked about my ride and then I asked them about the camping in Karnak. They said it was non existent but Heather offered me space in her yard to camp. It still was early and I felt good so I asked them about other options.

They said Vienna wasn't far but they weren't sure about camping. Virginia drew me a map of the most direct route. Before leaving Heather said she would have my name added to their prayer list at church. I let her know I appreciated that. I then went in to get a cold drink. There I met Chris who plays in a Christian rock band. They are getting ready to record in Nashville. We exchanged information. I also met Mary who will be 85 years young in August. She is a sweet lady who loves the Lord.

It was time to pedal so I followed Virginia's directions to Vienna. For a short bit I rode on the Tunnel State Trail which is a hard packed cinder trail. It was a beautiful ride. After a while I got off the trail and on to the road. About a mile before I was to make a left turn to go into Vienna I noticed a deer running in the field to my right. Nice I thought. Then, as I watched him more, I thought he might just come my way. He did! I was watching him closely so as I saw him heading toward the road I slowed down. Good thing I did because he flew across the road about ten feet in front of me. Too close!

As I got to Vienna I searched for a place to pitch my tent. The state park was too far so I headed east toward I-24 where there was a couple of hotels. I went into the first one and the price was too much for me. I explained the purpose of my ride. She called the hotel on the east side of the interstate to see if they had a room. Their rates were a bit cheaper. They did have a room so she told Kathy I would be riding over.

I got to The Gambit Hotel and met Kathy. As I filled out the info card I was telling her about my ride and the purpose of it. I gave her my credit card and before she ran it she gave it back to me and said I was riding for a good reason so she was going to comp my room (free kingsize bed). I was overwhelmed and thankful. I told her I wanted to give her my card with my blog address but I would do that after I got cleaned up and before I went to McDonald's to get a bite to eat. She said to wait a minute.

She got on the phone and called Theresa who, along with her husband, own the Gambit Inn as well as The Gambit Steakhouse. Kathy got off the phone and said that my dinner at the Steakhouse would be comped (free steak dinner) as well. Another blessing! I thanked Kathy for caring about my ride. God is so AMAZING ! \o/

I got cleaned up and headed over to the Steakhouse. I immediately met Theresa and thanked her for this blessing. She was very gracious and showed me to a table. The restaurant was very nice inside. Theresa suggested what steak I should get so I said okay. The whole meal was awesome! If you are ever near Vienna, IL stop and stay at the Gambit Inn and eat at the Gambit Steakhouse. If you golf you can play 18 on the Gambit Golf course. Tell Theresa I sent you.

What a blessed day! Tomorrow, I hope to get to Great Rivers, KY. To do so I will need to put in a 100 mile ride at least. Needless to say, your prayers are appreciated!

bob g

STATS - Mileage Today 92, Pace 13, Riding Time 8:59
Total GTD cumulative miles: 2,307

Day 40: Owls River to Marble Hill, MO

Day 40 I slept till 5am this morning. It was a good night in the tent. I think the sound of the river helped. I got dressed and packed up and set out after 6am. The first twenty minutes was tough, tough, tough! After that it was up and down for 14 miles till I arrived in Ellington. At Ellington I stopped at the gas station and met Riley and Andy. I asked Riley what he thought the best route was to Cape Girardeau, MO. Riley said 21 south to the double H to 34 east. I looked at the Missouri map that a kind lady in Summersville gave me and agreed with Riley.

Ellington is in a bowl so to get out of it you have to climb.

As I set out two west bound cyclists were coming into Ellington. We exchanged greetings and went on. The climb wasn't bad. At the top was H and then the double H. The ride down the double H was great. After a while it got hilly. Then I crossed the Clearwater Dam. The lake and State Park were beautiful. After the Dam was the Clearwater Cafe. I didn't eat before starting out so I was hungry. They had a great Grilled Chicken Salad! The Server told me about the climbs I would encounter between the Cafe and Piedmont. She was right on with her information. The three climbs were challenging but not bad.

I arrived in Piedmont and stopped at Wal*Mart for more Propel powder. I chatted with a few folks about my ride then I set off for Marble Hill. In order to get to the Cape I would have to ride in excess of 120 miles. With legs that were a bit sore from the Ozarks I knew that would be hard to do. The rest of the day was up, down, flat, up, down, flat.... It threatened to rain several times and I could hear thunder off in the distance. That all seemed to dissipate. After a quick cold drink break 11 miles outside of Marble Hill I was ready to get there.

There were a few climbs but the downhills helped the final 11 miles click off. As they were clicking off though I heard thunder behind me. I looked back and saw some wicked looking black clouds moving quickly. I made a quick stop to take a picture of the Marble Hill sign then hurried in to town. As I rode by a house the folks outside hollered to me that a storm was coming. I knew there wasn't any camping in Marble Hill but there was one local hotel. I found it and got all my equipment moved in just as the storm let loose PTL! \o/

The guy at the counter was super helpful. He helped me get everything inside the hotel and inside my room. He said we could settle up later. A restaurant was attached to the hotel so I went to check on the hours and menu. Laura, the Server, provided me with the info I needed. I got cleaned up and returned to the restaurant. The meal was great. It was also great to talk with Laura about my ride and Celeste.

When she found out how long I had been riding and how little Celeste and I had seen each other she expressed pain for both of us. I asked her about her family and she told me about her three kids. She shared with me that she married young and was now divorced. I got the sense from talking to her that she is a great mom to her kids. She said she knows God has a plan. I gave her my card with my blog address. She said she would pray for me.

I went back to the room to blog and go to bed. I was tired after waking up early and pedaling 94 miles.

Tomorrow I am going to try to make it to Golcanda, IL.

As always, prayers appreciated!

bob g

STATS - Mileage Today 94, Pace 13, Riding Time 7:58

Total GTD cumulative miles: 2,215

Day 39: Houston to Owls Bend River, MO

Day 39 Today I woke up 4am. Didn't plan to, just did. Did some reading and a blog message. After running the spell checker on my message it disappeared into cyber world somewhere never to be read. Bummer! At 5:55am I mounted my bike and pedaled to McDonald's for an iced coffee. A few minutes later I began my ride to Ellington.

The ride was super tough! It was hot, humid and hilly!

When they built the roads through the Ozark Mountains they just went up and over, never through. There were many walk breaks and shade breaks. There was even a swim break in Alley Springs. The water was crystal clear and cool. It was at the top of a hill in Alley Springs that I met Jerry, Peggy and Charlene. Jerry and Peggy are from California. They are riding west on the Transamerica Route. Great folks with nice equipment.

Charlene owned the piece of property we were standing on. She was on her John Deer riding mower cutting her yard. She shut it down when she got close to where we were chatting. After a few minutes we figured we should move on and let Charlene continue mowing. Before we did though, we took pictures of each other and then of Charlene. She shared with us that she had lived there in beautiful Alley Springs for many years.

By now I was just miles out of Eminence, MO. I couldn't wait to get there. I was hungry and needed a fluid refill. Eminence is a tiny tourist town in the middle of the Ozarks. Nice people. Great lunch specials and lots of cold fluids. They know their roads are extremely hilly so they enjoyed talking about where I had come from and laughed about where I was intending to go. They described the hills to come by name. One they said went up, flattened out for a minute then continued to go up and up with a few more flat spots. Not what I wanted to hear but it was the truth.

The ride from Eminence to Ellington was listed as 27 miles. I figured I could take the rest of the day and do 27 miles. I could have but I chose not to. Over the next two to three hours I rode 13 miles in the heat and humidity up those hills. There were very few places where momentum helped me out but fortunately there quite a few places that were great for shade breaks. During one shade and fluid break two of the English cyclists stopped to chat for a moment. They said the other two should be coming shortly and they all would be stopping at Owls Bend for lunch. They rode on and I set out as well.

After a few more miles of climbing we had a nice downhill to the river. Just after the bridge was the turn into Owls Bend River where there was camping and swimming and fishing. The Eye Care America Support Crew was parked on the corner serving up lunch to their cyclists. I stopped and chatted for a bit. We talked about the nasty hills, America's big cars and cheap gas prices. Cheap? They informed me that they were paying the equivalent of $10.00/gallon for petrol in England. They were shocked at how big our vehicles were and how big and wasteful our engines are. They were also shocked that so many of these big vehicles that passed by only had one person in them. Culture shock!

They shared some water and a banana with me then I decided to check out Owls Bend. I found great camping on the river and great bathrooms so I decided to camp there instead of the city park in Ellington. I set up camp next to a great family from Wisconsin. They fed me and gave me cold drinks. I also had some swim time, how refreshing! As evening set in I became quite sleepy. We had been sitting around the fire talking about all kinds of things. I thanked them for the dinner, cold drinks and good conversation then said good night.

Tomorrow the plan is to push through the final bit of the Ozarks to Ellington and then plan the rest of the day.

As always, your prayers are appreciated and keep me going.

bob g

STATS - Mileage Today 59, Pace 11, Riding Time 5:19

Total GTD cumulative miles: 2,121

Day 38: Springfield to Houston, MO, ** Finished 2,000 MILES today !

Day 38 I slept okay in my tent but not great. I woke up at 5am and decided to walk to Starbucks in hope that it would open at 5:30am. It did! I had a coffee and a muffin before doing my reading and e-mail. At 8am I returned to Josh's to pack up my tent and get my cycling clothes on. Josh and Annabelle got up and then we headed to the shop.

Kay, the owner, was already at the shop when we got there. When I walked in she suggested that she transport me and my equipment to Fair Grove instead of me riding 65 North. She said it wasn't a good road and there have been some deaths on that stretch of road. Josh agreed with Kay so I agreed to Kay's request.

As we drove north on 65 I was glad I wasn't biking it. Terrible shoulder and the four lane turned into a two lane.

We got to Fair Grove and Kay helped me get everything put back together. She said she would be praying for me daily and then departed. Since it was 10:20am and I decided to get a six inch roast beef sandwich from Subway. It was great! I finished and began pedaling toward Marshfield. It was a quick and easy ride. I saw a Super Wal*Mart so I decided to stop and reload my stock of Propel powder sticks. When I pulled up to park my bike I met Tiffany, Whitney, Debbie and Tom.

Whitney saw my Gator hat and flag and was excited because she use to live in Florida and is a Gator. Tiffany was very interested in my ride so I shared where I was going and why. Tom and Debbie are recovering alcoholics so they know about God and his Power. Tiffany shared with me her hopes of becoming the "Rodeo Princess" and everything she had to do to accomplish that. I was impressed with what she shared with me so I felt compelled to donate toward her cause. We all said good bye and God bless and then I began my ride to Hartville. I rode through beautiful country and saw lots of ponds, cows and horses. I also noticed that the hills of the Ozarks were becoming more frequent and steeper.

As I rode into Hartville I was surprised at how many kids were coming out of summer school. I went downhill to downtown and saw Subway . It looked to be the only place to eat so I grabbed a sandwich and ice cold fountain drink.

I took some time to look at my map and concluded that I needed to get to Bendavis and then take stock of how I was feeling and how much daylight I had left. The ride to Bendavis was challenging. I got there and the store was already closed. Fortunately there was a drink machine out front and I had change. After two cold Diet Dr. Peppers I decided that I had enough energy and daylight to get to Houston, MO so I pressed on.

It took an hour and a half to ride the 18 miles to Houston, MO. The ride to Houston had a lot more downhill than the ride to Bendavis so I was pleased. What I was pleased about was the dog in Fairview that came running after me. Fortunately I had great terrain so my speed was up and I left the dog behind.

When I got to Houston I came upon a Lodge that advertised cyclist discounts. I pulled in and met a group of cyclists from England who were riding cross country for Eye Care for America. We talked a bit about our rides and then I asked about local camping. They said it was at the city park but they chose to stay at the Lodge because of reports that some cyclists had been bothered while camping at the park. They said the cyclist discount was good as was their room. I decided to check on a room. I got a great deal on a great room so I moved all my stuff in room number 4.

After giving Celeste and mom a call I got cleaned up and then heated up some Mac and Cheese in the microwave. After dinner I read some and looked at my map some. Tomorrow I hope to get to Ellington, MO.

As always, your prayers are appreciated.

bob g

STATS - Mileage Today 82, Pace 11, Riding Time 7:09
Total GTD cumulative miles: 2,062

Day 37: Joplin to Springfield, MO

Day 37 Back to pedaling! I woke up at 6:15am ready to get packed up and get back out on the road. It took awhile to organize everything once again. When I started taking stuff outside I noticed the fog, skies and the cool of the air. I got all my gear out, wrote Jeremy and Megan a thank you note and started to pedal north toward Jasper so I could get back on route. It was nice to pedal past Ozark Christian College and CIY before departing Joplin.

43 was a good road to leave on. Nice shoulder with lots of room. The turn east toward Carthage put me on a nice country road but there wasn't much of a shoulder, reminded me of my rides in the country in E. TN. When I got Carthage I stopped at McDonald's for a Southern Style Chicken Biscuit and an iced coffee. I also wanted to confirm I was on the most direct route to Jasper. The Manager confirmed that I was.

I finished and started up 71 which is a four lane with a good shoulder. By Jasper I noticed my new rear wheel had a tiny wobble. This is common with a new wheel. My map said there was a bike shop in Willard so I called the number and got the answering machine at a home. I left a message that included my number. I never got a return call so I assumed the shop was no longer open.

After Jasper I was heading east toward Everton on older but decent country roads that had names like K or A or Z. After a bit the roads began to roll and include some decent climbs. I guessed I had entered the Ozarks. By this time the wobble was a bit worse so I stopped. Several spokes had come unscrewed. I was going to try to nurse it to Everton and then figure out what to do then.

That didn't work. Four miles outside of Everton it got worse. I was out in farm country with only one AT & T bar on my cell phone. I called Celeste and then the bike shop in Joplin. Steve gave me some suggestions. One was to find a house and borrow some needle nose pliers. I had unloaded everything to try to work on the spokes so I loaded back up and began to walk.

After about a mile I saw a nice home at the top of the hill so I decided to stop. I leaned my bike against a tree and walked to the carport. I heard banging so I knew someone was home. I met Arron. He had needle nose pliers. I unloaded everything and began to work on the spokes. I got one screwed back in. I was optimistic. Then the second, third and fourth ones I worked on didn't cooperate. Arron came out to see how it was going. He helped me some but we couldn't get the spokes to screw in.

When I had talked with Steve he did suggest I try to find a ride to one of the many shops in Springfield. As Arron and I concluded that we weren't having any luck he said, "I live in Springfield and could give you a ride". I asked what he was driving and he pointed to his pickup truck. Once again God provided!

Here I was out in the country in need of bike repairs, a ride to Springfield and a pickup truck and God provided all that. Arron just happened to be working at his cousins house because it just happens to be the week of his wedding and he isn't working his usual job out of town. After I explained my situation to Arron he concluded it was meant to be. We had a nice talk on the way to the shop. He and his fiancé had had a few church issues so they didn't have a church to go to that they agreed upon. I encouraged him to get that worked out so they could begin their married life with a church home.

Arron dropped me off at "Sunshine Bikes". The young man took me to Greg. I explained my problem to him and he had a solution. A 36 spoke rim that was super sturdy. He said he would having it done that night so I could leave in the morning! I let him get to work. I then met Kay the owner. She asked if I was taken care of. I explained to her what Greg was doing for me. She wanted to know all about my ride and why. She got excited about my ride. She just happens to be a Christian. She wanted my contact info so she could send a donation. God is so good! She shared with me that the shop had belonged to her son then he passed away. She took it over and now God was providing for the shop everything it needed.

The Manager, Josh, heard my earlier conversation with Greg about having to stay over somewhere. He asked me, "do you have a tent?" I said yes. He said I could camp in his yard if I wanted. I said yes! After a while we loaded up and went to his house. I had met his daughter Annabelle at the shop. At the house I met Micah and Donnie G. (a chocolate lab). They said I could use the shower and then the computer if needed. They also told me to join them for dinner. God is so good!

Josh asked me I had anything to say before dinner so I gave thanks to God for friends who showed hospitality to strangers and for the food. The food and our time together was great. They are outdoorsy folks so we talked about biking, hiking and paddling. Then I went out and set up my tent. Before calling it a night I took pictures of Josh, Micah, Annabelle and Donnie G.
Tomorrow I will go with Josh to the shop, load up and then head north on 65 to Fair Grove. Once there I will be back on route heading east toward Marshfield. Once in Marshfield I will plan for the rest of the day knowing that ultimately my plans are subject to change if God so desires to change them.

As always, your prayers are appreciated!

bob g

STATS - Mileage Today 65, Pace 13, Riding Time 4:48
Total GTD cumulative miles: 1,980

Day 36: Kingsport, TN fly back to Joplin, MO

Day 36 Today we got up early and had breakfast at the hotel. After that it was time for me to leave. It was hard to do. Neither of us really wanted to say goodbye for three more weeks but that is what we had to do so I could finish what I started in Flagstaff, AZ, on May 5th.
I had good flights to Atlanta and Springfield. I got to talk to Celeste off and on today. Jeremy picked me up and took me to Lambert's Cafe which is "The Home of the Throwed Roll". It was awesome!

We got back to Joplin and now I am taking care of bike and internet stuff so I can resume pedaling tomorrow morning early. I am going to shoot for a long day tomorrow, I will need your prayers!

I am excited about the next three weeks. I know that God is going to do some awesome things and introduce me to some awesome people. At the end of it I look forward to spending some great time with Celeste and then jumping into Summer B at CCH.

I covet your prayers as I finish up this ride.

bob g

Day 35: Kingsport, TN

Day 35 On Sunday, I took breakfast up to the room for Celeste for her 50th birthday!

Then went to church. Once again it was great to see dear friends that we ministered to and with for over ten years. We were excited that Drexie and Jeff were going to join us at church and then lunch. It was great to see them. Drexie we knew from our time at Boones Creek Christian Church and we got to know Jeff well in Gainesville at Harvest Christian Church. Our time together was a blast.

As soon as we left lunch we went to the Wexford House in Kingsport to visit, Wilmer Jones, a friend who was there after a couple of strokes. We took her communion. We shared that with her and talked with her awhile. It was hard to know if she actually knew it was us. Nonetheless it was good to see and share with her.

After our visit we returned to the hotel to work on bike trip business. We had to look at the second half of the trip and map out days and mileage. I had to make a phone call to Daphne, AL to see if I would be able to stop at the John and Holly Peterson's house in late June. John said they would be there so come on. I can't wait to visit with John and Holly, they are awesome! I also called my brother, David to give him a better feel for when he could meet up with me in Pensacola, FL. He, and maybe my other brother, Donald will ride with me from Pensacola to Gainesville. All the bike ride work helped to turn my focus back to what was going to take place the next three weeks.

Once we finished we went to get me a haircut and then spend some time with friends before calling it a night. We had a great visit with Haynes and Carolyn Phillips and their daughter Anna Lisa and family. Anna Lisa was in the youth group at Oakwood when I was there. She and her husband Cole and kids live in Edmond, OK and have been following my ride closely. I was so excited when Carolyn told me that Cole and Anna Lisa and kids would be arriving in Kingsport on Sunday. After a great time of sharing we returned to our hotel to settle in.

Before doing so though the room phone rang. A long time friend of ours, Randy, was downstairs in the lobby with his wife Cheryl. They had found out from some friends that we were there so they stopped by. It was great to see them. Randy works in South Carolina so it was a great surprise that they were in Kingsport. After our time with them our night came to a close.

Love to you all,

bob g

Day 34: Kingsport, TN - Brad & Laura Jones

Day 34 On Saturday morning, I took care of wording the Ceremony then we went out to a late lunch. After that we relaxed a bit then headed over to Oakwood Forest Christian Church for the wedding. We got there an hour before the wedding so we got to visit with folks beforehand. The church was packed and the ceremony went well. Brad and Laura Jones are married!

After some pictures we all headed to Meadowbrook Conference Center for the Reception. Before going though we learned that a friend of ours fell after the wedding and broke her nose and a couple that attended the wedding was in a car accident right there by the church. Our thoughts and prayers turned to them before we left for the Reception.

The Reception was very nice. Great food. Great time with friends. Great to see Brad, Laura, family and friends having so much fun. We stayed till 9pm then went to the hotel to get some rest before a busy Sunday.

In Christ,

bob g

Day 33: Kingsport, TN

Day 33 On Friday, I went for a short run at Bays Mountain before we went to pick up the suit I was going to wear for the wedding. I had to get a smaller jacket and adjust the pants a bit to fit.

After that a good friend of ours, Rita, who is a licensed massage therapist came over to the hotel and took care of my aches and pains. After the massage we took Rita out to lunch.

The rest of the afternoon we took care of other wedding stuff in order to get ready for the Rehearsal. The Rehearsal went well and the Dinner afterwards included great barbecue and fellowship.

More later,

bob g

Day 32: Joplin, MO fly to Kingsport, TN to see Celeste, Brad's wedding, etc...

Day 32 The 6 day break (Days 31-36) has been great! Last Thursday Jeremy took me to Springfield, MO to catch a flight to Atlanta. We got to the airport early so I had time to take care of e-mail and talk with Celeste before boarding the plane.

The flight to Atlanta was smooth. When I arrived in the D concourse/gate I sought out a Delta agent to ask if I could change from my 3pm flight to the 6pm flight Celeste would be taking to Tennessee. The first one said there were seats left but there would be a change fee of $50. Celeste and I decided that it would be best for me to go on. As I thought about it a bit more I decided that it would be worth it to pay the fee and wait on her in Atlanta. I went to a "different agent" who booked me on the flight and waived the fee PTL! \o/

I watched TV for a bit and took care of some more internet stuff and then moved toward the gate Celeste would be arriving at. I sat across from the gate and watched for her. I saw her coming but she didn't spot me right away. It was a bit funny. Especially when she finally saw me and we both smiled and laughed. It was great to see each other after 32 days. She had lost weight and had short hair. I had lost some weight, was very tan and had longer hair than when she last saw me. It was great!

We got our car and went to the hotel. We unloaded then decided to run around Kingsport. She had not been in Kingsport for 5 years and quite a bit had changed. We stopped downtown for some dinner. After that we called it a night.

Nite,

bob g

Day 31 Joplin, MO

Day 31 I slept so soundly that I didn't know that we were under a tornado watch last night after I went to bed. Jeremy said that he was in and out the front door several times and checking the weather on TV. I heard nothing. I was really surprised to hear that a tornado touched down in Chetopa, KS, the town in which I stayed the night before.

I woke up around 6:30am and decided to go for a short run, my first in a month. It felt good. After my run I cleaned up and got some reading and e-mail work done. At 8:15am Jeremy said it was time to depart for Starbucks and church. I loaded my bike in his truck so I could clean it at church before dropping it off at the bike shop.

The guys at the shop were great. Mark replaced two cables and one cable housing. He also greased the front hub. My rear wheel had a slight wobble so he turned some spokes to eliminate the wobble. All this for a really cheap price. I got back to the house and went to unload my bike and heard a loud ping. I was hoping it wasn't what I thought it was but it was. A broken spoke on the rear wheel. I called the shop immediately and they said to bring it back. I met the owner and as he learned of my situation he said he personally would deal with my wheel and Jeremy could pick it up next Monday. Once again, the best of a bad situation. God is cool like that.

Now I am with Jeremy and the youth group at the bowling alley. After this it is bed time.

Tomorrow the plan is to get up early so I can run and read before heading to the Springfield airport. It is going to be exciting to see Celeste for the first time in over four weeks. (32 days) I am also looking forward to seeing E. TN friends and sharing in Brad and Laura's wedding.

As always, prayers appreciated!

bob g


Schedule for the next few days:

June 4 - In Joplin today. Enjoying CIY (did many many mission trips with CIY in the past) and Ozark CC, laundry, Bike shop, etc...

June 5-9 - Flying out of Springfield,MO to the Tri-Cities, TN to see Celeste !

Visit friends, UFCCH supporters, Wedding of Brad and Laura on Saturday

Church at Oakwood Forest CC in Kingsport, TN on Sunday.

Fly back to MO on Monday.

June 4, 2008 thoughts shared with our UFCCH Students...

EXPECTATIONS Earlier this year I was planning for and praying about my upcoming bike trip from Flagstaff, AZ to Gainesville, FL. It is so hard to believe that I am 4 weeks and 1900 plus miles into the trip. Expectation has become partial reality.

As I got into the second week of my bike trip/struggle I was looking forward to Joplin, MO and the break I would have to go to TN to get Brad and Laura married and spend great time with Celeste. It seems that tomorrow that will become reality! Lord willing.

We have earthly expectations that are okay. As God's children our earthly expectations should never overshadow the expectation we have for our heavenly home and everlasting audience with God our Father.

This has been impressed on me more and more as I ride each day. I have lots of time to pray and think and sing and....

As I hear about storms and deaths and all the tragedy's taking place in people's lives, our country and around the world I have been reminded that my greatest expectation has to be for eternity because in this world there will be storms and hail and tornado's and death and crushed expectations.

I am thankful that the bike ride is underway. I am thankful that tomorrow's trip to TN and to Celeste is on the verge of happening. I fully understand that other things in my life in the future may not go as planned or as desired but that is a great reminder to me that this is not my home, I'm just passing through.

Scripture reminds us not to love this world or the things of this world because it and they will perish. I truly want to live like that daily so that I do not become to attached to that which will be gone.

How about you? Have a great today.

PREP DAY Today is not just a day off from riding but a day of preparation for the journey to TN and the resumption of the ride next Tuesday. I woke up around 6:30am and decided to go for a short run. I then did some reading and e-mail. Then Jeremy and I went to Starbucks and on to the church he ministers at. There I cleaned my bike and then took it over to the bike shop. I then stopped at another bike shop in Joplin to pick up a spare tire for the second half of the trip.

Now my laundry is getting done. I have started to look at my map for the next week of riding. In a bit after my laundry is done I will pack for the trip to TN. Not only will I take some clean clothes with me but also some winter clothing that I no longer need. Celeste will take that home for me.

Today is great and I expect tomorrow to be even better.

Lord willing,

bob g

P.S. Thanks also to my amazing wife who keeps me encouraged to ride on a daily basis. I have told many that during the hard days I had in the mountains and in the desert it would have been easy to pack it in and call it a ride if not for the encouragement of Celeste first then the rest of you.

God has used her and you to fuel me each and every day. Thank You so much !!

More news later...