I made it!!
We woke to thunderstorms and rode the first 20 miles in the rain but Joe escorted me 52 miles to the great Mississippi River to dip my tire. It is 2500 miles from the Pacific Ocean to the Mississippi River finally finished!
All the players at the tournament gave me a great reception and we have a celebration dinner planned after Friday's round at the golf course.
Though I did ride every mile I must admit my crash with the car door in Baker City, OR almost caused me to quit the bike tour. But the feeling of joy and accomplishment I feel now makes the crash, altitude headaches, sunburn, hemorrhoids, saddle sores, and sore ribs a reasonable price to pay for the grand experience and adventure. I gained a new appreciation of my creator's imagination, increased my love for the Saviour, illuminated my need to depend on faith, and confirmed His power in my weakness!
Sharing this with fellow riders, staff, tourists, our orphans, tour players, and supporters and friends gave me the feeling I never rode alone. I still feel this was a dream I was destined to fail at unless God intervened and though I cannot prove His participation to others it is undeniable to me. I makes me love Him more and want to serve Him better.
I must agree with David in I Chronicles 29:11,12. "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. Riches and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and it is at your discretion that people are made great and given strength."
My prayer is that God will become more real to all of you and I thank you for being a part of my adventure.
Gratefully,
Tom
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Day 31, Mankato, MN to Rochester, MN, 100 miles
Karen was waiting for me to finish with a big smile and it was sure good to see her after being apart for a month!
We rode 100 miles yesterday in 4 hours 36 minutes and 100 miles today in 5 hours and we were ecstatic! The best part of the day is when you finish and just sit around and smile at each other because you finished another days’ long ride.
My last day with the America by Bicycle tour meant saying a sad good bye to my riding mates for the past month over five states. Tomorrow Karen will be our support vehicle and Joe Coffey and I will ride to the finish line of 2500 miles at the PGA Champions Tour tournament north of Minneapolis. Joe has been a tremendous encouragement by joining me for the final four days causing me to ride even faster and easier because of his incredible pulls. He had one staggering pace line pull of eight miles yesterday, and watches over me like a mother hen day and night. Our friendship is a good picture of what the Lord can do in two lives. Joe told two riders the story of when we ran from kidnappers in the Philippines four years ago and the look on their faces was priceless. Joe has sacrificed five days as pastor of a huge church in Hudson, Ohio to make sure I finish my 2500 mile adventure.
I am so blessed to have friends like Joe, a wife like Karen, and a Savior like Jesus! Tomorrow is the last ride of a wonderful adventure of 2500 miles across five states and some really beautiful country! I made it Tracy!
With Joy,
Tom
“A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.”
Proverbs 17:17
“Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is really faithful?” Proverbs 20:6
“There are ‘friends’ who destroy each other but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24
We rode 100 miles yesterday in 4 hours 36 minutes and 100 miles today in 5 hours and we were ecstatic! The best part of the day is when you finish and just sit around and smile at each other because you finished another days’ long ride.
My last day with the America by Bicycle tour meant saying a sad good bye to my riding mates for the past month over five states. Tomorrow Karen will be our support vehicle and Joe Coffey and I will ride to the finish line of 2500 miles at the PGA Champions Tour tournament north of Minneapolis. Joe has been a tremendous encouragement by joining me for the final four days causing me to ride even faster and easier because of his incredible pulls. He had one staggering pace line pull of eight miles yesterday, and watches over me like a mother hen day and night. Our friendship is a good picture of what the Lord can do in two lives. Joe told two riders the story of when we ran from kidnappers in the Philippines four years ago and the look on their faces was priceless. Joe has sacrificed five days as pastor of a huge church in Hudson, Ohio to make sure I finish my 2500 mile adventure.
I am so blessed to have friends like Joe, a wife like Karen, and a Savior like Jesus! Tomorrow is the last ride of a wonderful adventure of 2500 miles across five states and some really beautiful country! I made it Tracy!
With Joy,
Tom
“A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.”
Proverbs 17:17
“Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is really faithful?” Proverbs 20:6
“There are ‘friends’ who destroy each other but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24
Monday, July 14, 2008
Day 29, Sioux Falls, SD to Worthington, MN, 70 miles
Joe’s bike was delivered to our hotel around 10:30 by the airlines. But we still had to put it together which took awhile. By 11:45 we were finally on the road which meant that we caught some big winds and the heat of the day. We got into Worthington around 4:00 tired and hot. The one good thing was that Joe pulled all day so I forgave him for all the trouble!
We have a couple of long days ahead of us. Both are at least 100 miles. But I am getting close to the end. It’s hard to believe that this ride is almost over for me! I can’t thank everyone enough for their prayers because I am sure that is what got me all this way. Keep praying until the end on Thursday though! I still need you!
Love, Tom
“I pray to you, O Lord, my rock. Do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you are silent, I might as well give up and die.” Psalm 28:1
“Praise the Lord! For He has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving!” Psalm 28:6,7
We have a couple of long days ahead of us. Both are at least 100 miles. But I am getting close to the end. It’s hard to believe that this ride is almost over for me! I can’t thank everyone enough for their prayers because I am sure that is what got me all this way. Keep praying until the end on Thursday though! I still need you!
Love, Tom
“I pray to you, O Lord, my rock. Do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you are silent, I might as well give up and die.” Psalm 28:1
“Praise the Lord! For He has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving!” Psalm 28:6,7
Day 28, Rest Day in Sioux Falls, SD
I really needed a rest day so it was great to be able to do just that! Rest! I had been asked to attend a banquet which finished a fund raising tournament that eight Champions Tour pros had played in today. They used the funds raised to help at risk kids in South Dakota so it was great to be able to go and share the invocation and to hear more about all they were doing to help kids. It seemed like such perfect timing!
Late in the evening my friend, Joe Coffey, arrived. He had good news and bad news for me. The bad news was that his bike had not arrived on his same flight. But the good news was that they knew where it was…. which led to more bad news. The bike was not in Sioux Falls, SD but in Albany, NY. I told Joe that if he helped me any more I might not make it to Minneapolis!
Late in the evening my friend, Joe Coffey, arrived. He had good news and bad news for me. The bad news was that his bike had not arrived on his same flight. But the good news was that they knew where it was…. which led to more bad news. The bike was not in Sioux Falls, SD but in Albany, NY. I told Joe that if he helped me any more I might not make it to Minneapolis!
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Day 27, Mitchell, SD to Sioux Falls, SD, 70 miles
Thank you Jesus! The winds turned from the east to the northwest and at our backs! We went what seemed like a short 70 miles with temperatures in the 70’s. It was sunny and we had a beautiful blue sky all day! The roads were smooth and we didn’t have hardly any traffic. We’ve had so many tough days in a row that we needed a breakthrough!
One big treat today… I got a massage! Angie Quigley’s mom, Marlene, lives in Sioux Falls. She arranged for a great massage which I really needed. Thank you ladies!
Tomorrow we have a rest day. Ahhhh! I found a nice church to go to in the morning and then it just so happens that some of the guys from the Champions Tour are going to be here in Sioux Falls for a fundraising tournament. I’m going to the banquet in the evening with the guys to see them. It will be great to see Dave Stockton, Morris Hatalsky, Jim Colbert, and Don Pooley!
Then tomorrow night a good friend is flying in to join me on the ride. Joe Coffey is a pastor in Hudson, Ohio and is the one that got me going in biking! He is going to ride the last four days with me and it will be great to have him by my side! Thanks, Joe!
My spirits are high today. I’m tired but really happy! And don’t worry. Even though it is a day off tomorrow you will still get prayed for!
II Corinthians 9:8 says, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”
One big treat today… I got a massage! Angie Quigley’s mom, Marlene, lives in Sioux Falls. She arranged for a great massage which I really needed. Thank you ladies!
Tomorrow we have a rest day. Ahhhh! I found a nice church to go to in the morning and then it just so happens that some of the guys from the Champions Tour are going to be here in Sioux Falls for a fundraising tournament. I’m going to the banquet in the evening with the guys to see them. It will be great to see Dave Stockton, Morris Hatalsky, Jim Colbert, and Don Pooley!
Then tomorrow night a good friend is flying in to join me on the ride. Joe Coffey is a pastor in Hudson, Ohio and is the one that got me going in biking! He is going to ride the last four days with me and it will be great to have him by my side! Thanks, Joe!
My spirits are high today. I’m tired but really happy! And don’t worry. Even though it is a day off tomorrow you will still get prayed for!
II Corinthians 9:8 says, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”
Friday, July 11, 2008
Day 26, Chamberlain, SD to Mitchell, SD, 70 miles
Yesterday's devotions from James was good timing because today the 25 mph cross-wind was against us for the whole 70 miles. And the temperatures were in the 90's. We passed through Pawtucket(known for their annual lawn mower races) and then on to Mitchell (known for the Corn Palace which is decorated with huge murals of corn and grass) with everyone praying for the winds to change soon! To forget about the wind I thought about some of my favorite things. Things like riding unicycles with the kids at Sankey, or when Dr. Gil Morgan, Dana Quigley, and D.A. Weibring are in the same threesome, or going to church and then out to lunch with Karen, etc.
After I checked into my hotel today I got down on the floor to do some stretching and woke up 2 hours later still on the floor!
At about the 50 mile mark today my little bag that holds my spare tube, repair tools, wallet (with my licence and credit card), and phone inexplicably fell off the back of my bike without me knowing it. But one of the riders coming along behind me somewhere saw it and decided to stop and bring it in. A catastrophe was alerted because of grace and Ted's alertness!
It would be easy to give into the temptation to curse the wind, get foul of mood, complain about less than ideal roads, weather, rude car and truck drivers, and any number of annoying things. Today I found my encouragement in I Corinthians 10:12 and 13. "If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure." It got me through a rough day without giving into a number of temptations.
One last story: Someone made a comment about bugs in my teeth yesterday. Yes, there have been a few but I have found they go right down with a big swig of water!
After I checked into my hotel today I got down on the floor to do some stretching and woke up 2 hours later still on the floor!
At about the 50 mile mark today my little bag that holds my spare tube, repair tools, wallet (with my licence and credit card), and phone inexplicably fell off the back of my bike without me knowing it. But one of the riders coming along behind me somewhere saw it and decided to stop and bring it in. A catastrophe was alerted because of grace and Ted's alertness!
It would be easy to give into the temptation to curse the wind, get foul of mood, complain about less than ideal roads, weather, rude car and truck drivers, and any number of annoying things. Today I found my encouragement in I Corinthians 10:12 and 13. "If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure." It got me through a rough day without giving into a number of temptations.
One last story: Someone made a comment about bugs in my teeth yesterday. Yes, there have been a few but I have found they go right down with a big swig of water!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Day 25, Pierre, SD to Chamberlain, SD, 84 miles
The winds turned into our faces at 20 to 25 mph the last 35 miles. The temperatures reached 97% making it a very difficult day. Two big climbs in the last 7 miles also grabbed our legs but the big problem in my group of three men were our feet! The heat from the pavement was so terrific our feet were burning! I gave foot rubs when we arrived!
What started as a fairly easy ride became a hot death march. I tried to ignore the heat and wind by thinking of the kids at the orphanage. Somehow tonight Toto got his call through and reminded me of all the difficulties we have already been through. He kept saying, "Kaya kaya" which means "you are able". The fact that we did many of those things 20 years ago does enter my mind.
But the Word of God doesn't change over time. James 1:2-4 still applies. "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing."
The Christian life is not predictable nor are we entitled to tailwinds and mild temperatures! Tomorrow I'm ready for anything including the heat!
Tom
What started as a fairly easy ride became a hot death march. I tried to ignore the heat and wind by thinking of the kids at the orphanage. Somehow tonight Toto got his call through and reminded me of all the difficulties we have already been through. He kept saying, "Kaya kaya" which means "you are able". The fact that we did many of those things 20 years ago does enter my mind.
But the Word of God doesn't change over time. James 1:2-4 still applies. "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing."
The Christian life is not predictable nor are we entitled to tailwinds and mild temperatures! Tomorrow I'm ready for anything including the heat!
Tom
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