Today was another century mileage day. It was also a hot day
with the temps right around 100 degrees. Adam and I rode together at our own
pace today to make sure we did not over-extend and to make sure we could finish
the day. We left at about 6:30 a.m. and arrived in camp about 3:00 p.m. That is
a long time sitting on a bike seat.
Our 1st SAG stop for the day was a Prairie View
Reformed Church…..about 22 miles out of camp. It is a small town church in a
rural area. They had a great spread of baked goods and fruit for us. That was a
very enjoyable stop. Besides our own SAGs, at about 66 miles, a cousin of one
or our bikers offered all the bikers free ice cream at her diner in Smithfield,
KS. I really needed that as I was so hot. The air-conditioning and the treat
really revived me.
Late in the day we crossed into Nebraska, our 6th
state. By the time Adam and I reached camp, I was again very hot and
immediately stepped under our outdoor shower with my bike clothes on, to cool
down. No sooner did I finish that, than we heard kind of weird thunder rumbling
overhead. Within a couple minutes, it started to pour and blow really hard. The
bikers that had arrived in camp were all huddled with their bikes under the
city park picnic shelter. While Adam and I were standing there, a young robin
kind of flew in with us. I picked it up and held it to get it warm as it was
really shivering. Adam took out an old Calvin cheer rag he uses for cleaning
his bike and we wrapped it in there. When the rain had almost stopped, Adam was
showing the robin to someone and it hopped out and flew into the park lawn. It
left a deposit in Adam’s Calvin rag. Dan Kiel, a Hope grad, commented about why
the robin left the deposit…..being that is was a Calvin rag!
Many of the bikers arrived very wet and tired. Most of the
gear had been unloaded and was not covered from the rain and the rest of the
gear was already set up as tents. Everything got just soaked. The city let
anyone who wanted to, could camp in the gym of the adjoining community center.
That was very much appreciated.
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