WooooHoooo!!!! We’ve completed our first day of riding. 1 down….20 something to go. For the first day, feeling as I have the past 3 days I’m feeling pretty good about our day. I didn’t know I would make it 30 miles let alone almost 60. My appetite has been 0. My stomach has been gurgling for three straight days and I’ve had (pardon the thought) diarrhea for 4 days now. With all that in perspective I’ve got to feel good about where we are at.

Our goal was Brevort, MI. I had estimated it to be 60 miles from Manistique. It ended up being more like 68 miles. We stopped in Epaphette, MI at the Skyline Hotel overlooking Lake Michigan. There is a detour on the highway we are traveling on right here at Epiphette. We were hoping we might be able to sneak through the bridge work that has caused the detour but the waitress at our restaurant tonight didn’t think there would be any way. It’s about a mile and a half to the bridge to find out. We’d have to backtrack and then take the detour if we couldn’t get through. The detour itself is a couple of miles out of the way, hilly, windy, and very narrow. We’d love to avoid it if we could but we have to make a decision. My guess is we’ll play it safe and take the detour. Although the detour isn’t the safest route with how narrow and winding it is.

This morning was really cool. During the drive to Manistique we heard my mom’s description of the hours leading up to my delivery. Then we listened as my parent’s described the events that led to their move away from Engadine, away from Fairview, and eventually ending up with my Father getting a certificate from Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary and a Bachelors Degree from Goshen College. God’s hand was undeniably at work. Even in the midst of some pretty challenging circumstances. Hearing their story continues to give me hope in my own experience.

Before we took off we took some pictures and then we all gathered around and Dad offered a prayer, tears were shed and we took off. It all seemed surreal and I was trying to think through what all I would want to remember and take pictures of and see and…. .

The ride was challenging. Mostly flat, although there we some lengthy slow climbs along the way and not nearly as many downhills. Jan and I decided to switch back and forth between leading every five miles. The monotony was probably the biggest challenge. The road led through miles and miles of pine forest. Nothing much to look at. Long stretches of flat or gently rising roads where we could see for miles what was ahead. We had to continue to do things to break up the monotony.

What to think about, the more fatigue I felt the more difficult it was to keep my mind from focusing on the feeling in my legs and stomach. I was concerned that my illness would make my legs cramp up and it was a challenge to not focus on that too much.

Jan and I talked a bit about whether it was better to know what was coming up or not. I think we both would have preferred to see less of what was ahead. I couldn’t help but make the connection with the place I am at in my life. In some ways I wish I could see farther into the future. To know that there is something out there for me. To have a sense of what that is. To begin preparing myself for what’s ahead. But then I think about the monotony of our ride. I’m o.k. with some curves ahead to break the view, some inclines and steady down-hills as well.

The other thing we talked about along the way were the semis that flew by. We came to enjoy the ones moving in our direction. They provided a respite from the steady headwind and almost seemed to pull us along. But I do have to say that several of the ones traveling in the opposite direction seemed to offer us a wall of wind that hit pretty hard.