Day 39 - Burton, OH

- Text Message and Pictures From Patty -




More pictures posted in the album section.

After the sag stop yesterday, we rode onto Fremont. In Fremont, we stopped by the house that I sent you a picture of.



We talked to the man who owned the house (he was sitting on the porch with his dog and cat). He told us a little bit about the house's history.

The house was build in 1824. He and his wife painted the house near to the original colors.

The house had dormer windows. Over one of the windows was a Quaker Hex Sign to ward off evil spirits.

Chuck was afraid that the man was going to ask us in for a tour because he knew that I would have gone.

He kept envisioning us getting into camp at 6 pm. Ha! he is usually the first one in to camp. We went on though and were amongest the first in.

I even got to help unload the truck which was a first and probably the last for me. We are headed for the hills and Mountains of Pennsylvania.

We had dinner at TGI Fridays last night Our waiter was so funny. We asked how to get out to see Lake Erie, and he said that there were no bike paths there.

We just laughed and didn't even try to explain to him that we have pedaled several thousand miles on all types of roads and freeways.

I din;t think he would have believed us. Sandusky is definitely not a biker friendly town. The drivers are just plain scary.

I wonde what it will be like riding thru Cleveland? We hit Cleveland about mile 50 today. Well gotta roll. ttyl.

Burton Weather Forecast, OH

Day 38 - Sandusky, OH

- Morning Text Messages and Evening Pictures From Patty -


Me drinking a beer at the end of the day today. I actually made it in in time to unload the truck


Grounds for thought in Bowling Green. Cool coffee shop and used book store. Talking to a few of the locals


Chuck enjoying a cup of Joe

This is what you call a big ride congested sag stop. We have a tail wind and flat roads. Everyone is in a hurry to get done. People are going to Cedar Park tonight. Its a huge amusement park

I'm laying here on my air mattress and it is rainin outside. It's around 5 am and all I want to do is to sleep in. Chuck is already up.

Thanks Erich for reminding me about the silicone earplugs. Those and a good dose of benadryl got me to sleep last night.

We're riding only 90 miles today. It's so funny to hear me say that, but it's true. After doing over a 100 miles for several days in a row, anything under 100 - text cut off -

Well, I can hear everyone else's tent zippers. Gotta quit being a slug. I'm up and moving.....

Oh, by the way with the time change it's completely dark out... Any wise person would stay in bed. ttyl.

Just got back from the bathroom and had the struggle of a lifetime to pull on biking shorts onto my sticky humidity drenched body.

Oh, great mosquitoes just found me!

Nice easy flat 27 miles this morning. I feel good. Riding with Chuck this morning and we are averaging 17 mph. Stopped now for coffee and tea.

Sandusky Weather Forecast, OH

Day 37 - Napoleon, OH

- Pictures In Album Updated -


This truck and what looks like a man leaning over an engine was beside Larry' shop yesterday, Wyatt, Indiana


I told Moriah to look for her picture on my blog. I bought cucumbers from her at her Gandparent's home in Millersburg yesterday. Kathy (my sis), I wanted to make your vinegar cuc's but the bottle of vinegar at the convenient store was to big to carry on my bike. I bought a small bottle of zesty Italian and marinated them in that instead. we had them with dinner tonight.


Em, yesterday I sent you a frog pic from Indiana. This is an Ohio frog. love you

Napoleon Weather Forecast, OH

Day 36 - Kendallville, IN

- Pictures From Patty -


The souped up engine on Larry's 1930 Ford


An Edsel...This was Larry's grand father's car


A 1953 ford pick up at Larry's shop


Steph sittin in a 1930 Ford Coupe

This is Larry Martin, who is a brick layer by trade, but his passion is restoring old cars

I stopped to take a picture of this old car and Gulf Sign, when all of a sudden the owner popped his head out of his shop

Sun flower crop North Liberty

Kendallville Weather Forecast, IN

Day 35: Rest day in Valpariso, Indiana

No pictures to share with you today. Got in to Valparaiso yesterday about 2:30 after a 93 mile ride. I am feeling so much better after being on prednisone for about 5 days now. Plus good hydration with electrolyte supplementation (pill form and tablets in my water) has helped tremendously. I have also increased my salt intake, since I am waisting it so much. I salt everything I eat, but draw the line at dessert. Ha!

I rode five days in a row with 3 of them being centuries, which is huge for me. On the day we rode from Owatanna to Winona and I had to sag after only 25 miles due to extreme fatigue, nausea, cramping, lightheartedness, and overall body aches (due to my adrenal glands not producing enough cortisol) I was ready to quit and go home when we got to Chicago. So now I know I can make it to the end of the ride. Thanks so much to everyone who has been sending well wishes and prayers my way... I think they helped as much as the roids... Ha! and no I wont bulk up like Arnold, but I may get a little moon faced and may need to shave my face before we get to DC, but it will be worth it.

Well, as most of you have guessed, I have met a really nice man on this ride, Chuck Field. I am so lucky to be sharing this experience with him. Granted it may be difficult keeping things going after the ride is over as he lives in Fredrick, Maryland and I live in Puyallup, WA.... Lets see that makes it what 3,300 miles that we live apart. I guess we could each ride half way and meet in the middle of the country.

I am going to stay in the DC area for a few days after the ride with him and then he is going to fly back to the Seattle area with me for 5 days. It will extend both of our vacations a little. I am looking forward to spending time in DC as the last time I was there was about 25 years ago.

We have been pampering ourselves for the past day and a half. Chuck got us a hotel room at the Courtyard Marriott, and I sprung for two great meals at Kelsey's restaurant. Both of our meals were awesome (seafood last night for both of us and fillet Mignon and prime rib tonight). Jason (our waiter) if you read this, you gave us such great service and really made our stay here in Valparaiso so much more enjoyable, thanks so much... If those of you who are reading this blog, i ever get to Valparaiso, eat at Kelsey's and ask to sit in Jason's section, he'll take great care of you.

Also today, we went to Walmart to pick up some things... seems like we are always running out of snacks and toiletries and now bug spray... ha! We did laundry at the University where we are keeping our gear and cleaned our bikes. I even changed out my tire on the back (had a couple of weak spots on the tread) and changed my chain.. (thanks Ephiony and Jim at Spoke and Sprocket, you'd be so proud of how I am taking care of my bike).

Chuck and I even got to soak in the hot tub this morning before a full complimentary breakfast in the hotel. It was so funny watching us put various body parts up to the jets ( the ball of his foot and his calves, my knees and a part of my body I don't want to admit to putting up next to the jets). We just would sigh and make these funny faces. Good thing no one else was in the pool area or they may have gotten grossed out.

Well, I really need to get some sleep... Chuck went to bed hours ago. A side effect of prednisone (especially the dose that I am on) is insomnia.... so I guess I will go and try and catch some zzz's. It may be DC before I have internet access, but I will keep sending pictures from my camera phone and txt messages to Akira to post. Take care all... Arnie, safe travels back to NZ.. stay in touch. I have your email address and will write when I get done with my great adventure.. I am sure blessed to be able to finish it.

Day 34 - Coal City, Illinois to Valparaiso, Indiana

- Text Message From Patty -


My Nebraska boys, Greg and Chad, thanks for the beefcake this morning. You started my day with a smile

In Valparaiso resting. I feel great. Did five days of riding and even had to change two flats at the same time today. I will update my blog tomorrow.

Valparaiso Weather Forecast, IN

Day 33- Morris, IL

Stopped for a train in Malta


Mural on the side of a pizza place in Kirkland


For my family


Bikes ready to go and bikers eating breakfast

- En Route Text Message From Patty -

101 miles today. Riding from Belvidere to Coal City, Illinois. Very close to Chicago. Rural ride along corn and bean fields. The scenery is way different from Montana.

Cleaning up after breakfast and then I am on my way. Mosquitoes are terrible, but it is cool and overcast today. Heat is affecting me a lot less now. ttyl.

In Kirkland, Illinois. Riding with Sam this morning since both of us had breakfast duty. We are the last ones on the ride today.

We are rolllin through corn fields and bean fields. Looks a lot like Iowa. I stopped to get rid of my morning tea in a corn field. Ha! brought back a lot of memories.

We saw free range chickens and even heard a few roosters crow. It may rain today. Sam's here. He wouldn't go in a corn field (city boy). ttyl.

Morris Weather Forecast, IL

Day 31 and 32 - Madison, WI and Belvidere, IL

Contour farming in the hills near Viroqua from yesterday

- Text Message From Patty -

Just a few quick notes. First I am doing great. I started taking prednisone 3 days ago and have increased my salt intake.

I did 112 miles yesterday and 98 today. I feel better today than on any of our short millage days. It's amazing what prayers, good thoughts from others and a.... - text cut 0ff -

ttyl...I'm off to bed. I'm on breakfast duty tomorrow. Oh, thank you, thank you Dotty for the off wipes. We are in mosquitoville...

I will try to write more tomorrow. We have two more riding days and then finally a day off.

Belvidere Weather Forecast, IL

Day 30 - Viroqua, WI

Some of the hill country I rode in today


Me and Chuck crossing over into Wisconsin

- Updated Text Message From Patty -

Today was a beautiful ride along the Mississippi and then on back, very hilly roads up out of the Mississippi Vally to Viroqua, Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin countryside is as picturesque as I thought it would be. Saw many Amish families working in the fields.

We're camping in the county fairground tonight. TTY tomorrow. Wish me luck and say a few prayers for a good century tomorrow.

- En Route Text Message From Patty -

Good Morning. Slept hard for about 4 hours, after it finally cooled down.

I am so happy this morning riding along the Mississippi. Stopped now at the Meyers House.

It's cooler right now than it was in my room last night. Everyone else is putting on their coats.... Not me... ha!

Viroqua Weather Forecast, WI

Day 29 - Winona, MN

Pictures updated in the album

- Text Message From Patty -

Can't sleep due to the heat and humidity. There is no air conditioning or fans. I have been in.the shower three time tonight.

Thank you Dotty Jaeger for all the goodies. You did good! Everything was or will be put to use.

Thank you to Kelly, Vicki's cousin for the comments too.

Thank you to my wonderful sis and brother in law, Pam and Vlad. FOR EVERYTHING...

Thank you for Arnie for visiting my page. I am sure struggling with the heat. How are you doing? When do you head back to New Zealand?

To Kathy, Bill, Pat and Trina: Thanks for the wonderful visit and for everything that you did for me and my adopted family. AMLP

Thank you to Wes and Annette for the wonderful food, the lunch and snack makings, doing laundry, and for running us around in Sheridan.

Thanks to Lenise Brennan for taking me and my neice Trina's picture in the laundromat in New Ulm. Picture will be posted later.

Thank you again so much Mark Otero for helping me get connected to the wireless system at Cariboo Coffe in Minneapolis. They have great tea .

Thank you Dr. Zenger for doing resarch into steroid use and the stress I have been under. Maybe you can help solve what's going on with me.

For those of you that don't know, I have been on prednisone off and on for over 10 years for ulcerative colitis. I finished over two month taper just in May.

Part of the difficulties that I have been having may be due to my body's inablility to produce enough cortisol in the constant stress it is under.

Hopefully Dr. Zenger will be able to find something in the medical literature for me. Dr. Field, Chuck's brother, if you read this and have any info please contact me.

Thank you to John, Debbie, and Nancy, our wonderful anesthesia techs at MAMC, for the nice comment. I miss you guys.

Well it is finally cooling off now. Maybe I can get some sleep. We are only riding 66 miles today but the first 10 to 12 are out of the Mississippi Valley.

If I missed anyone to say thank you to, I apologize.

Oh, check out the American Wind Energy Association (www.awea.org) to lean something abut Wind Energy. Those turbines are fricking huge...

Winona Weather Forecast, MN

Day 27 and 28 - Rest Days

- Email From Patty -

I am at Cariboo Coffee in Minneapolis. My niece and her husband are at his son's pee wee ball game. They will drop me off in Owatonna this evening on the way back to Iowa Falls.

I am feeling SO MUCH BETTER. Being out of the heat for 3 days has helped tremendously, and resting has helped. I plan on rejoining the group and continuing the ride tomorrow. I may only be able to ride in the mornings when it is cool. I really wanted to ride the entire length of the US but it is not worth it at the risk of permanent injury to my health.

The doctor in New Ulm said that coming into the ride recovering from pneumonia was one thing, but then suffering from bronchitis 5 days into the ride, and then getting food poisoning, coupled with the heat, he said it was amazing that I didn't end up in the hospital.

I have promised my family (real and adopted) to take care of myself.

Well you can post this to our web page, because I may not have time as I have to go and pick Trina and Pat up in about a half hour. I had a wonderful time in New Ulm with my family. I bought some 1919 root beer from the Schell Brewery and plan on picking up ice cream in Owatonna before rejoining the group tonight. I will make everyone root beer floats. By the way if Schell has a web page can you make a link to it. It has an awesome history. They made it through prohibition by making the 1919 root beer.

Talk to you soon, Patty

Owatonna Weather Forecast, MN

Day 25 and 26 - Tyler, MN and New Ulm, MN

Wind Mill Farm near Tyler, Minn. I stopped into one of the maintenance shops and talked to the guys that work on these monsters. I guess the local farmers consider them another crop.

- Text Message From Patty -

I'm at New Ulm, Mn. Spending some time with my family.

Last time I txt'd you was the night before last. We got some rain, thunder and lightening, but it wasn't too bad.

Yesterday morning we got up late (5:30). It was so dark out because another storm front was coming in.

Chuck and I got our tents down, packed and he threw them onto the gear truck before the rain started to come down in buckets.

Good thing Steph had her tent up still because Kevin and James dove into her tent to avoid the downpour.

Kevin and James had got their stuff on the truck too, but Steph was still in her tent when the deluge hit.

We had breakfast at the church and finally the rain let up enough to give us enough light to take off. It was a fairly cool day and we only did 78 miles.

We stayed at Tyler, MN last night. My stomach was quite upset all evening. Come to find out several people had upset stomachs.. probably the food from the church.

We ate at pizza place in Tyler. I started to get uncontrollable chills which spiked into a full blown burning up fever.

Chuck was ready to call 911 he was so worried about me.

Chuck convinced me that it was finally time for me to go to the doctor. Besides Chuck probably would have taken my bike and locked it up if I didn't go

I took a cool shower, took some Tylenol and sweated it out all night.

So I sagged today. Daniel took me into New Ulm and dropped me off at the clinic.


Crossing over into Minnesota


Kath helping Bill put up his huge Kelty tent


My niece Trina and her husband Pat relaxing at our camp site in New Ulm


My sis Kath and me at Oakhaven Campground in New Ulm


My brother Bill chopping wood at our campsite in New Ulm

New Ulm Weather Forecast, MN

Day 24 - De Smet, SD

Updated with pictures. More pics are posted here.


This is Bill


Bill... he graciously gave me and Chuck a tour of his place. this is an.all leather horse.


This is Frontier Park.. Bill who is a local Huron native who is retired is working on his place to make it into a club casino. He's doing all the work himself.


Me at the half way point


Breakfast this morning


Outside the restaurant we ate at last night. My family will understand me taking a picture of these cans. Love you Mom...


James and Steph on arrival to Miller HS


Lunch yesterday


Rosie the Rivitor playing pool at Bob's Thunderbird pool and bowling hall at lunch yesterday

- Text Message From Patty -

Well made it to De Smet. Home of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Not as hot today. Very nice ride. Flat with only a small headwind.

Yesterday, I was getting so hot and tired that Chuck Field, one of our strongest riders, let me draft behind him for most of the afternoon.

Chuck could easily finish before noon on most days but rode with me the last two. i think that by being pushed a little that i will become a better rider.

We are staying in a very nice park tonight. I'll send some pictures of the flower outside my.tent.

I was so happy this morning riding by corn fields. Plus it was cool and cloudy this morning. my happiness would have been complete if it had rained... lol

Tomorrow, we cross over into Minnesota. Day after tomorrow we will be in New Ulm and I will get to see my family.

Severe storm heading our way. Folks in SD are so nice. The ladies at the episcopal church made us such an awesome meal. I ate so much and o did everyone else.

Chuck in the morning yesterday, prior to leaving Pierre. SD has Casino's everywhere


SD State capitol

Tony, Chuck. and Jim at SD State Capitol

De Smet Weather Forecast, SD

Day 23 - Miller, SD

- Text Message From Patty -

Good morning, beautiful morning here in Miller, SD. 74 mile ride today to De Smet. We cross the half way point today

90+ temps again today, with thunderstorms predicted for this afternoon.

yesterday had a flat ride but with a 20mph headwind and temps in the 90's it took a lot out of everyone

spirits are still as a whole good. i don't think any of us were ready for the physical toll this ride can take on a body.

plus we are on a 6 day stretch. bottoms breakin' down, lips chapped, webs of hands calloused, and some bikes are breaking down

people are trying to eat well, sleep well as possible, and pretty much everyone is taking vitamins and lysine to prevent blistered lips

we stopped at a little roadside park about 5 miles out of town yesterday and this man asked where we were coming from

he just very nonchalantly said well your almost half way... we almost cried we laughed so hard. outta here its time to leave.ttyl

Miller Weather Forecast, SD

Day 22 - Pierre, SD

Updated with pictures

- Text Message From Patty -

hey, were in pierre, sd. the lung association has us staying at steamboat park on the Missouri river, but i got a room in a hotel.

it was so hot today, and we did 95 miles. the heat and long miles is taking its toll on all the riders

we got in to the park and there were signs everywhere to be aware of vagrants... needless to say most who can afford it are getting rooms

i have been needed to be iced down almost everyday of riding. it is getting a little better as i have learned to use electrolyte replacements and vitamins

you can't believe what the food and drink of choice is at the end of the ride. Pepsi and salt and vinegar potato chips. ha...

Kelly, you asked about water. i drink 2 24 oz bottles of an electrolyte solution every 20 miles and take 3 electrolyte pills every hour.

Em. this is our campsite at Kadoka, SD. stupid, doo doo, dumb birds woke us up at 3am


You know how boring the scenery is when a girl from Iowa is excited to see a cornfield. My family will get a kick out of this.


This is a SD roadside restroom! James got caught peeing in a ditch by a SD state trooper on the day of the head wind. we now all try to use the SD restrooms to avoid getting a ticket.


We saw wheat field after wheat field after wheat field and oh yet another wheat field today


Crossed the great MO today... we reach the half way point this week. Yea, 1650 miles... WOW.

Pierre Weather Forecast, SD

Day 21 - Kadoka, SD

- Text Message From Patty -

Hey, computer access has been a real problem. I may just have to send you a short text each day.

Forgot to tell you about the 50mph head winds we had for 16 miles coming into Rapid City the other day. It was brutal.

Everyone learned how to do pace lines real fast. A lot of iced knees that night.

Went through the badlands today on our 101 mile day. had a great dinner at a local restaurant here at Kodoka...i.think.that.is.ri

Have a 95 miler tomorrow and probably 95+ heat. Tty tomorrow goodnight.


Me by a statue of Ronald Regan in down town Rapid City yesterday


Entering the Badlands

Badlands


Steph and James by the world's largest prairie dog near the Badlands

Kadoka Weather Forecast, SD