183.9-Every Fabulous Inch

Here it was...the longest day on the tour. My sleep was less than restful with the fretting over the camera. So when the 5am alarm sounded it was tough to roll out of bed. Marti and I had shared a room at Dordt College and we quickly packed up to get an early start. As we headed out into the dark of morning, the ground was wet from a rain during the night. Just as the lunch stuff had been set out and gear bags were piling up, another downpour started. As people scrambled into the truck and to get the lunch supplies back to the kitchen Barb and I unfurled the tarp to cover the gear bags as Bert, Paul and some of the guys gathered them underneath.
We headed to breakfast in the rain. I was feeling OK as this was the best case scenario for me to finish today. Another sign that it was going to be a good day was that for breakfast at the college they had ICE cold Coke available. This was my type place!
I hit the road at 6:40, determined to finish before sunset even if it meant sleeping in a funeral home afterwards. The roads were smooth, the air cool and the rain steady.
We were greeted by the church in Hospers with fresh donuts and water then the next town of Primghar had power bars and Gatorade. In Hospers, a lady stood on the corner directing us in the rain, joining in the weather and in Primghar, a lady was cycling along the road holding an umbrella. This is where a camera would have been handy.
The rolling hills were lower and the route was easy and smooth though there were no shoulders. I was biking with the Meyers, Dave and Liz and Larry on his recumbent when we passed this farm with 2 Bassett hounds standing guard at the driveway watching the cyclists and howling occasionally. That was until they spotted Larry who was just their height so they gave chase. It was hilarious watching these pathetic animals, ears flapping and howling as Larry was soundly rebuking them. We came across a lady on her lawn with a table and refreshments. She had seen some cyclists fixing a tire earlier so decided that she would offer an oasis even though she had no idea about Sea To Sea or what was happening. People can be very kind.
I also stopped to wave at the Iowa Mom, Lorraine as she was waving 100miles south of our route as we passed by. Hey Lorraine! It was good to see you! I was the one in the neon green rain jacket!
On our last turn, I was reclipping in when I missed my second foot and had a nasty fall. Damage to my basket and a bent derailer, skinned knee and elbow, a few repairs and first aid at the SAG and I was on the road again.
Sure enough, the end was in sight. It was only as I entered into Algona, our destination town did the sweep team catch up. Nick even said that they had spotted me 10kms back and REALLY had to work to catch me. It was the FIRST time his team had caught up to me! Finished at the gear truck at 7:15pm.
Soon after arriving and trying to grab a quick dinner, they announced that they were doing a group photo in our Sea To Sea shirts. I hadn’t even showered yet but pulled myself together and got over. Of course instead of just being able to slip into the side, Jonathon said I needed to move to the front. Yeah, let put the dishelved and dirty right up front!
At the evening peleton meeting, volunteers were asked to participate in this weekend’s service in Madison. Len asked if anyone would like to ride into church on their bike. No one spoke up so I said I would. To which there was a chorus of “No”s from some people and one person near by said that it should be Reuben or Eritia as they really knew how to ride and handle their bike. That was a little offensive. First, there has been a real push to remind us that this is NOT about cycling so wouldn’t I be a good representation of an every day cyclist? Reuben and Eritia are AMAZING cyclists but aren’t we trying to down play this. Also I didn’t like the tone and I felt that I should clarify this with the person. When the meeting was finishing, I went up to the guy and said. “I know that we haven’t actually cycled much together on this tour (actually only when he was passing me) so you might not know this, but I am actually very good at handling my bike. I have rode down the aisle at church before and without any incidents. I think that with our focus trying to move away from cycling and more towards the cause that I might actually be a very good representation of an every day cyclist. Maybe that should be considered too.” I didn’t get a response.
If there is someone else who really feels called to ride into church on Sunday, I would step aside but I don’t think it should be because I don’t fit the Sea To Sea image.
Tomorrow, another 181km day.
As for the camera, a call was made back to the site where it was left behind and no one has found it. I think I have to accept that it is gone. Whether I can replace it is still in debate but that it is missed sure isn’t. Pray that I am clear about what I should do.