Days 41-45, Milwaukee

DAYS 41-45, MILWAUKEE, WI

Five days off from riding has been good for some recovery, but we're going to pay for it tomorrow (Wednesday) when we settle back on those seats. We're both anxious to get going again as it seems we've developed a slight case of "Nomad Syndrome." ;o)

The whole family worked on Friday in preparation for Mom's 80th birthday celebration on Saturday. There was painting to be done, some shopping, food prep, etc., etc. It was a busy day, but fun to be with family. We ended the day with a nice dinner out together, then walked down the street to enjoy the fireworks being launched from Jackson Park.

Saturday was the big day and Dad and Mom seemed to thoroughly enjoy the festivities with extended family and life-long friends. We couldn't have asked for better weather: warm, but not as humid, with the breeze from the lake. The day ended with Mom's "sparkler candle" that grandson, Eric, brought from Madison.

After church and lunch on Sunday, I pooped out and had to lie down for a while. Afterwards, Gerry put new tires and tubes on the bike and I did a thorough cleaning.

Have you ever had a brain freeze over the simplest thing? That happened to us today. Lest we become proud in this adventure, God let us experience a little lesson in humility today. When it was time to put the rear wheel back on, our minds were “confounded” and we could not get it on with the derailleur configured correctly. (With all the rear flats we've had, we've never had this happen.) Finally, after several wrong attempts and a good 20 minutes later, we asked the neighbor - who was sitting there watching us - go bring his bike over so we could use it as a pattern. Sheesh, here we are, these so-called “real bicyclists”, riding over 3000 miles across the country, and we can’t even get our wheel back on!!

Thanks, Lord, for Your humor and for reminding us in such a small way instead of something more serious.

Yesterday (Monday), we found a library for computer use, did some food shopping and picked up tubes, lube and tire levers.

Then Gerry made the 'mistake' of mentioning that the Rockies are in town playing the Brewers. OF COURSE, I wanted to go! Miller Park is only two and a half miles from the house so it took very little time to get there. I think it took longer to walk from the parking lot to the stadium than it did to drive to the lot.

We got cheap seats - in the nose-bleed section - but I had a great time. Gerry....mmm, not so much. (Rockies won!!)

During the game, another thunderstorm rolled in so they closed the roof over the stadium.The rest of today, Tuesday, will be dedicated to laundry and packing.

We'll be taking the ferry across Lake Michigan to Muskegon at 6:00 tomorrow morning, then will start riding across Michigan. We're leaning toward going south around Lake Erie instead of north through Canada to Niagra Falls. We have plenty of time and it's hard to pass up Cedar Point Amusement Park at Sandusky! (They have great roller coaster rides!) So, as we pray through where God wants us to go, it will be an adventure either way.

Prayer requests: 1) continued protection, especially as we get closer to more populated and high traffic areas, 2) physical: Gerry's shoulder, my ankle, my knees; my "DVT leg" has also been a bit more swollen than usual, 3) God's appointments to talk with people.

Thank you again so much for your faithfulness to lift us up; we are experiencing God's grace and mercy in great ways every day. Hopefully, next time I'll be able to share a bit about our study on hope and power from Ephesians.

Rarin' to ride,

Gerry and Pat