Tuesday, September 22, 2009

2009 Habitat 500 Ride

Day 1 Saturday, July 11, 2009 - Arrival
Megan and I arrived in Faribault, MN. We met some friends from last year's ride. What great people! Tim D. (this is the guy the actually bikes across the entire USA) arrived from Colorado (Megan and Me 0 miles...Tim D. already 1200) It is more than humbling to do this ride with such giants. Even so, this ride is not about the riders, but the people with inadequate housing. On the way to Faribault (our first evening's lodging), Megan noticed a Habitat for Humanity House. It was a great reminder of why we do this ride. It was also great to reacquaint myself with and introduce Megan to the "Ride Support Team." What an awesome group of servants. As a side note. It was too bad that we did not have video of me relearning how to put up my sister's tent. Thank you guy next to me with a hammer...boy was the ground hard! Back to the ride, I am so excited to share this year's ride with my wonderful daughter Megan. It is fun to introduce her to all of these awesome servants. I think she can already see why I love this week: great people, great experience and an even greater cause! Thank you to all you friends and family who made this week possible with your generous donations. Thank you and God bless you all!


Day 2 Sunday, July 12 Faribault to Rochester
First day riding. Perfect Day! 80 degrees and next no wind. Partly cloudy, rolling hills with smooth roads. What a dream! Megan did great! We did not ride super fast (14 mph average, finishing in the middle of the pack) A great start. Thanks for the prayers. Keep them coming! P.S. Thanks to our friends Paul and Jill from Rochester, MN (it was great to spend at least one night of the ride in a real bed!)

Day 3 Monday July 13 Rochester to Rushford
Today was an up and down day...that is we went up some hills and down some hills. The first half of the day we had to climb two very large hills between Rochester and Fountain, MN. After Fountain, we jumped on the Root River Trail. (the RR Trail is one of the former railroad lines converted to bike trail) The RRT was simply gorgeous. It winds its way through Minnesota's "No Drift Zone." That is, a place where ancient glaciers did not drift across the land like most of MN and the Dakotas, but left the ground hilly/semi-mountainous in SE MN, SW WI and NE IA. From Fountain to Lanesboro we rode downhill for literally 15 miles. I have not gone down hill for that long since my days in California in the mountains. I kept giggling to myself thinking, "maybe this is what it will be like in Heaven." Our final destination was Rushford, MN where we treated like kings and queens by the loving people of Rushford. Some of you may remember Rushford being in the news 2-3 years ago for a devastating flood...it was an Aberdeen, SD sort of flood. (citywide) After dinner, one of the of the residents shared her story about the flood and about how the whole community rallied around the town's flood victims. Tomorrow we will be working on one of those houses that is in the process of being refurbished. Please keep the prayers coming. Tomorrow we will ride up what some are calling "the mountain." (as if there are mountains in MN...but it is a 2 mile curving uphill climb @ a 6-8 percent grade Tour de France stuff) So keep praying, we feel your prayers and we need them! Give 'em Heaven!

Day 4 Rushford to Rushford (a loop through the no-drift zone)
Megan and I survived "the hill/mountain." We went up slow and steady, certainly not at Lance Armstrong speed, but we did make it to the top without stopping. After today's ride, Megan and I went over to the Habitat for Humanity home in Rushford and helped shingle the roof. After working on the home, we were treated once again by the beautiful people of Rushford for an evening BBQ, with bluegrass music, corn on the cob and lots of great deserts. The new home owner addressed the crowd with tears of gratitude in her eyes for her new home...and...new bikes provided for her whole family from the H500 riders. It was a very touching evening. Tomorrow is the 100 mile ride, so we will definitely need your prayers tomorrow...so keep the prayers coming! Give 'em Heaven!

Day 5 Rushford to Grand Meadow
Today was the 100 mile day. It was both beautiful and challenging. The first 60 miles were along a different section of the Root River Trail that was again beautiful. The last 40 miles were a 40 mile gradual uphill climb into 20-25 mph wind...brutal! Megan learned the biking art of "drafting" (out of necesity) and we completed the ride with teamwork and tenacity. You all should be very proud of Megan. She did great! Tomorrow Austin MN and the "Spam Museum" (no foolin') and then later Albert Lea. Keep the prayers coming. Give 'em Heaven!

Day 6 Grand Meadow to Albert Lea
Today's ride was a lot like a ride out in the country around Sioux Falls...uphill both ways into the wind. But seriously, we again battled 20-30 mph wind the whole 80 miles through corn fields and soy bean fields offering little to no wind break. Only on the last 5 miles did we turn back west to come back to Albert Lea and finally the wind was at our back. After a much needed shower, we rode over to First Lutheran: Albert Lea for a huge, wonderful potluck. God bless the Lutherans! It was feast...and...yes there was tater-tot casserole and green jello, plus thankfully no lutefiske. Tomorrow we ride from Albert Lea to Lake Crystal (10 miles west of Mankato). The weather calls for surprize "stong winds" again, plus cold! Keep the prayers coming! Give 'em Heaven!

Day 7 Albert Lea to Lake Crystal
Although today was not the longest day of the week, it sure felt like it! Many 10-15 year Habitat 500 riders said that today was in the top 1 to 2 hardest rides in memory. Brian from Sheboygan, WI said, "Tim, I have been doing this ride for 8 years now and this year's ride is the hardest ride that I have ever done!" So I am very proud to share that Megan completed the hardest 440 miles in recent memory. Megan and I definitely want to thank you for your prayers along the way, we have so needed every prayer! We have been totally tested this week physically, mentally and even spiritually. Keep the prayers coming. Tomorrow our trek finally turns west and we should finally have the wind at our back for part of the ride. Give 'em Heaven!

Day 8 Lake Crystal back to Faribault
The Finish Line! Today we travelled from Lake Crystal back to Faribault where we started. Gratefully the wind was either diminished or at our side and/or on some rare occassions even at our backs. Thankfully today was an easier ride because our spirits and our legs were nearly broken by the last 3 1/2 days of brutal headwinds. Maybe I should say today was less difficult rather than easier. Today we had our steepest climb of the entire ride. We turned into a hill near Mankato that was 1/2 mile up at a 13 percent grade...eek! In addition, the trail from Mankato to Faribault was a bit bumpy. This did not help that our backsides were quite sore from 6 days of steady riding...and my 44 year old wrists, neck and back was in pain after every bump. Nonetheless today was shorter (68 miles) and the wind was diminished (compared to the previous 3 days). The highlight of the day was coasting across the finish line holding the hand of my awesome daughter above our heads in victory/accomplishment. Great memories! I could not be prouder of my daughter than I am right now. Megan is definitely a loving, strong woman with a wonderful heart and determined, unbreakable spirit. Praise God for this Vision Quest of sorts. And praise God for each of you and your prayers! We could not have done it without your prayers! Our love to you all! Give 'em Heaven!