Ride 4 Habitat

Bar Harbor, ME July 2 and 3

2008-08-03T11:14:00.000-07:00

We got an early start to climb six miles to the summit of Cadillac Mountain. This is the traditional road to run, hike, bicycle or drive up in order to get a 360 degree view of Acadia National Park. Unfortunately we only saw fog, but we had to do it to complete our trip which was 4,223 miles on my odometer. Luckily we were able to buy postcards to show us what we would be able to see on a clear day.

Then we rode to the bike shop to turn our bicycles in to be shipped home. As Carol's friend, Donna Ikenberry said, "You've just shipped away your identity." Not so fast. We were having lunch when a young couple approached us to ask if we had bicycled across the country. They had seen our bicycles at the bike shop and identified us by our grease stained yellow rain gear and bicycling shoes. We felt like celebrities as we answered their questions about our trip. They told us they have three months and are contemplating buying bicycles to make the same trip themselves. We wished them luck and exchanged addresses in case they have questions.

Our last day in Bar Harbor we toured Acadia National Park by bus and foot. We dipped our feet in the Atlantic, took photos of the coastal rocks and trees coming down to the Atlantic and even enjoyed watching a seal frolicking in the surf.

Our great adventure is behind us and maybe not too soon. Our tires are wearing thin and our hair is bushy. Our bicycling clothes are looking tired from daily use and many washings. Our bicycles have been well used and beat up through rain, mud, grit and gravel. And we are more than ready to return home to reconnect with the people whom we love and who have enthusiastically supported us along the way. But we are especially grateful for the moving memories of all the people along the way who started out as strangers and became our inspiring, supportive friends.

Searsport, ME to Bar Harbor, ME 60 Miles

2008-08-01T16:30:00.001-07:00

Carol and I were excited to know this was our day to ride into Bar Harbor, our goal since we started pedaling in Anacortes, WA on May 16th. The people we have met in Maine have treated us beautifully and given us fond memories. But, the Maine Coast has not been a supportive fan of bicyclists.

We started off today in fog, but the temperature was warm enough not to need any jackets. We experienced some slight drizzles early but nothing alarming, though the skies looked threatening. We did continue climbing up and down hills like we have for the past two days. About 30 miles into our ride we stopped to eat in Ellsworth. We found a park in front of the public library, but since the benches were wet, we sat under the porch steps in front of the library, where we met Cliff Skinner. He was spending the day with his children and noticed all our bicycling gear. We talked a while and told him about our journey. He was so impressed he pulled out his wallet and handed us a donation on the spot. This is so touching to me when people do this.

After our stop in Ellsworth we had only 28 miles left to arrive in Bar Harbor. The first 14 miles took us around a bay where it began to pour heavily. I began to feel discouraged at the narrow roads and the difficulty of seeing through fogged up glasses. But, after five miles the rain stopped and I saw glimpses of the beautiful ocean as trees opened onto meadows. I also passed an old cemetery where I was reminded, again, how fortunate I am to Be Here Now and be able to live my dream. I will be resting soon enough. I was able to continue in high spirits all the way into Trenton, where we stopped in the Bar Harbor information center. There we were met by an enthusiastic woman who couldn't wait to share her own cross country cycling adventures with us and encourage us on our way. We were only 14 miles from our goal and we were excited to continue.

As I said, the Maine Coast threw all it had at us. We never had a moment when we could say, "It's all downhill from here." The rain began again, and the hills kept on coming one after the other. The rain poured harder and as I was pushing uphill, I was watching the water flow down the hills in sheets. There was never any thought of stopping, there was nowhere to stop anyway, but I was questioning my sanity when we finally arrived at the entrance to Acadia State Park. where we did not stop for photos.

We finally arrived in the town of Bar Harbor where we found a dry spot under the gazebo on the town green with all the other tourists looking for refuge from the downpour. We found the First Baptist Church where we were met by Pastor Scott Records and his wife Joanne. They were so gracious when we stood in the doorway dripping all over everything. I literally poured water out of my gortex rain socks.

Pastor Scott and Joanne quickly helped us with our bicycles into the church basement, brought us dry towels and showed us where we could settle in. They were doing this in the midst of completing church duties, preparing for their own vacation getaway as well as preparing for house guests. They just kept asking, "what can we do for you?"

Carol and I still can barely believe we have arrived at our destination. We cleaned up, got warm and dry and went out to see Bah Habah and eat Lobstah. It has finally stopped raining.

Damariscotta, ME to Searsport, ME 55 Miles July 31

2008-07-31T13:21:00.000-07:00

We are only 65 miles from our destination of Bar Harbor and feeling more excited and giddy each day. But, the adventure continues to the last. We stayed on Highway 1 today to avoid the worn, torn, hilly Highway 52 which our route suggested. We had gentler hills than the last two days, but more traffic than we are used to. Carol was especially unnerved when our nice wide shoulder completely disappeared, and the trucks kept coming. Being from LA, I am used to traffic, besides we did have forest on the side of the road as opposed to the cliffs of Highway 1 in California.

One especially beautiful town we passed through today was Camden. With its compact center and narrow streets it felt quite European. We had a picnic lunch on the lovely "Green". As we rode through and out of town we couldn't help noticing that the curbs lining the blacktop sidewalks and streets were actually made of granite. We have enjoyed seeing granite everywhere in New Hampshire and Maine. People use granite posts as decoration in their yards and gardens. Today we passed a business which carves granite memorial stones and they even had one that was shaped like a shiney black motorcycle.

We were able to see the beach in Lincolnville and celebrate the fact we have ridden "from sea to shining sea". Our last ten miles today were in light rain, but we still arrived in Searsport in good spirits. We were met by Pastor Stephen McCloud of the United Methodist Church. He and his fiance are both pastors and seminary students. But he took time out of his busy schedule to make sure we had everything we need. We were offered a shower in his home, and given a warm dry place to sleep upstairs in the sanctuary because it is the one part of the church that has carpeting. The only drawback is that the beautiful stained glass window facing the street is lit up at night from the inside. But, we are prepared to cope with anything. I try to pack items which will be used in more than one way and I could never take a trip without my bandanna. This keeps the sun off of my neck, can be soaked in water to keep me cool, can be used as a washcloth or a towel and will be used tonight to keep the light out of my eyes in the sanctuary of the United Methodist Church.

We are ready for our ride into Bar Harbor tomorrow.

Buckfield, ME to Damariscotta, ME 62 Miles July 29

2008-07-30T10:14:00.000-07:00

Carol and I left Buckfield feeling strong and positive after being over the ¨big" climbs which show on our map elevation profile. Our first stop was in Turner Center at Nezinscot Farm. This is a working organic farm where they have a herd of about 300 dairy cows and make their own cheese. I had to sample and buy the GreGarian, amazingly delicious. They also had low bush organic Maine blueberries, the sweetest I have ever had. Carol and I also drooled over their beautiful hand spun, loom woven woolen goods. We tore ourselves away because we were expected to arrive in Damariscotta to stay with Marjorie Swett and I had given her an estimated arrival time of 3:00 PM, thinking we would arrive by 2:00 PM.

At 11:00 AM we still have 35 miles to ride and the climbing began in earnest. We planned to take a break in Litchfield five miles down the road, but we came to one steep hill after the next and in Litchfield I needed a bathroom urgently. Unfortunately the small store answered my request with ¨itś broken¨. I went across the street to be told, amidst three hysterical poodles, ¨Itś flooded¨. Finally at the hardware store, they told me they did have a Ladies room, but no one ever used it, but I was welcome to. It did work.

Back on the road we had a flatter section of road before the climbs came back with a vengeance. I was so tired, I would see a hill up ahead and just begin laughing hysterically, all the way in to Damariscotta where we arrived at 3:35 PM. Marjorie Swett met us at the Baptist Church, where we locked our bicycles inside and Marjorie drove us to her home at Round Pond. Round Pond is a salt water harbor 11 miles off of our route which is used by commercial lobster fishermen as well as recreational boaters.

Marjorie welcomed us to her beautiful home that her husband designed and built for their retirement. Carol and I enjoyed the huge windows overlooking the harbor with its resident Loon, Great Blue Herons, and undeveloped tree covered islands. After a delicious dinner, Carol and I talked and felt that after such a tough ride and looking at two more tough riding days, we would like a day off. Marjorie generously welcomed us for a second day.

We woke up to see the sun rise over the harbor and hear the loons calling. We had a lovely picnic after touring the Pemaquid Lighthouse. This is such an icon of Maine, that it was chosen as the symbol to grace the back of the Maine quarter coin. This is our first rest day since Niagara Falls and we are thoroughly pleased with our decision.

After resting and being hypnotised by the beautiful shore view, Marjorie prepared another lovely dinner for us, before driving us back to the church in Damariscotta to spend the night. We did not want to impose on Marjorie to drive us back to town before dawn to start our ride to Searsport.

The church was quiet, except for the chiming of a clock every hour and half hour. At 9:00 PM after nine chimes, I decided to see what I could do about the clock. I was able to stop the pendulum, and sleep uninterrupted. However, in the morning the fear and guilt began. I was sure someone would see the clock stopped at 9:00 PM and know those bicyclists had done damage to the clock. But after a little bit of examining, I was able to reset the clock correctly and continue on with a clear conscience.

Center Conway, NH to Buckfield, ME 46 Miles

2008-07-28T14:06:00.001-07:00

Carol and I enjoyed Sue's company early this morning as we ate breakfast and organized all our possessions in plastic bags. This is how we deal with life on the road. Plastic bags keep us organized as well as protecting our STUFF from the elements.

We celebrated again as we crossed the border into Freyburg, Maine. Even though our route today did not involve mountain climbs, we still had ominous hills. One hill forced us to get off and walk. I wanted so badly to keep pedaling, but when I looked up and saw how far it was to the top, I just put my foot down and said, "It's not worth it, I'll walk." Even the trucks were straining getting up Waterford Hill Rd. We knew there was an even bigger climb ahead so when we reached the town of South Paris at the foot of the climb, Carol and I debated whether or not to continue on, or quit for the day and save the climb for when we would be fresh and cool tomorrow morning. Also, we had no idea where we would stay in the tiny town of Buckfield as people we spoke to were not encouraging about us finding any accommodations.

In the meantime I had made calls from the contacts Sue Davidson had given me. Reverend Stephen McCloud offered us a place in his church in Searsport. When I asked if he had any contacts in Buckfield he said he would get back to me. While Carol and I were discussing "The Climb", I heard back from Reverend Eva K. Thompson of the Buckfield Community Church. She enthusiastically offered the church to us for the night and we decided to push on up Streaked Mountain Road.

We did approximately six miles of climbing and never had to walk, though we did have to make a good effort. We arrived in town just before 1:30 PM feeling thrilled to have the climb behind us and a place to stay for the night. Reverend Eva drove the half hour from her home to open up the church and give us fresh towels and soap so we could enjoy a hot shower in the church. We were ecstatic. Eva told us to make ourselves at home and enjoy Buckfield. We are. There is a little grocery store across the street, a library with a fast Internet connection and a lovely river which flows through the center of town.

Reverend Eva even went back home and set up a contact for us for tomorrow night in Damariscotta.

Life is good in Maine.

North woodstock, NH to Center Conway, NH 45 Miles July 27

2008-07-27T14:16:00.000-07:00

Looking out of our motel room window we could see Kancamagus Mountain. This is the last mountain pass we needed to cross on our transcontinental bicycle tour. We needed to gain 2,000 feet of elevation to get over what the locals refer to as The Kanc. The climbing began almost from our motel door. It was ever so slight, but just enough for my legs to feel heavy. I kept looking down to see if I had a flat tire. I finally asked Carol, "Are we climbing?" She replied, "Yep, we sure are."

I soon fell behind as I stopped to take pictures and enjoy the roaring river views. The climbing never felt too steep and I found myself at the top with a beautiful overlook facing the 4,000 foot peaks of the White Mountains. I celebrated by asking another traveler to snap my picture to commemorate the last climb on our journey. We had a nice conversation and I got back on the bike, pedaled down and around the corner to see the REAL climb. I pushed up another three and a half miles before I found Carol at the real top of THE KANC. Kancamagus is a Native American name which means, "fearless one". We did feel fearless standing at the top of the pass, especially when we saw the sign which told us we had climbed the last three and a half miles at a 9% grade with fully loaded bicycles. This time we celebrated with garlic hummus and garlic cheese. Doesn't it sound delicious? It was.

Coming downhill I was grinning from ear to ear. We took our time coming down to enjoy the many overlooks of the White Mountains, which are especially rewarding on the downhill side.
Our route took us through Dugway Road, a back way into town which took us across the Albany Covered Bridge and meandered through cool shady trees as it hugged the river.

In Conway we called Sue Davidson to open the door for us to the United Methodist Church. When she and her husband Tom arrived to meet us, they informed us that we would be staying at their home. We were thrilled to ride five more miles, along our route, to arrive at their lovely farm house in Center Conway. We visited with Tom, Sue and Tom's 90 year old mother Mauren. Tom owns the UPS Center in Conway, Sue is a full time nurse and the Pastor at two United Methodist Churches.

Tom's mother Mauren entertained us with stories about how life used to be up here in New Hampshire when she was a young bride of 21. She got married and moved here from the big city of Boston, Massachusettes. Life took a lot of getting used to in the New Hampshire country side, but she successfully raised her family in this same home which has been in the family for 100 years. Mauren has two children, five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren who refer to her as Gigi, (great grandma). Mauren still plays the piano at church services on Sundays as well as the organ at a local retirement home. She is a devoted Red Sox fan. She's been following the team since her young days when Babe Ruth was playing and a ticket cost 10 cents.

Sue took Carol and me on a town tour on a trip to the grocery store. We also picked up Tom and Sue's three year old granddaughter, Jordan who entertained us with her renditions of "ABC's, Itsy Bitsy Spider and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". Jordan has big blue eyes and blond curls and I can tell there is never a dull moment around her.

Before we went to bed, Sue got onto the computer to look up contacts for us further along our route. She helped us by giving us phone numbers and sending e-mails to her fellow United Methodist Pastors. This was a lot of energy to put out for us after her long day of leading church services, attending a church meeting, taking care of us and her three year old grandchild and preparing a dinner party for seven.

Carol and I are tired but gratefully clean, dry, well fed and tickled to be so close to Bar Harbor, ME.

We were able to get in touch with Pam and she did get a ride to Portland, ME and flew back to Missouri on July 25th where she is happy to be back home with her family.

Fairlee, VT to North Woodstock, NH 40 Miles, July 26

2008-07-26T12:59:00.000-07:00

Scott, from the Silver Maple Lodge, got up extra early to make sure we had breakfast before we began our third day of climbing. After riding a mile, we celebrated with photos as we crossed the Connecticut River into New Hampshire. Carol and I were concerned about our climbs today because our map guide read, "after you reach the White Mountains in New Hampshire, the route steepens." Yikes!! We had already walked the 15% grades on Middlebury Gap.

Well, we never had to walk today. We had long climbs with some respite with flats or even downhill sections so we worried for nothing. I did take more frequent breaks today to rest and snap some photos, so Carol kept plodding on ahead, not wanting to break her stride.

As I was riding I was passed by many fast weekend cyclists. One couple who rode with me was Dave and Holly of Maine. They are vacationing in New Hampshire to celebrate Holly's birthday. When they heard about our journey, Dave didn't even have to slow down his riding to slip me a donation for Habitat. I was so surprised, but I didn't break my stride either as I reached over to grab the money.

At the top of the pass was lovely Beaver Pond. I decided to sit and enjoy the water and have a bite of lunch. I couldn't believe I was already at the top of the pass. After feeling revived, I got back on my bike and around one curve, there was Carol waiting for me. We had a great downhill ride into North Woodstock where we are enjoying a busy tourist town on a sunny summer weekend.

We are grateful to have a room at the Autumn Breeze Motel, which we were told is the last in town. We have one more big pass tomorrow, the Kancamagas. We had been shaking in our beds at night thinking about it, but after our experience today, we feel ready to tackle our last major climb between us and the coast.

Rochester, VT to Fairlee, VT 55 Miles, July 25

2008-07-25T12:36:00.000-07:00

What a treat to wake up to a sunny day in Vermont. We knew it was beautiful even in the rain, but we are grateful to experience this beautiful state in sunny weather. Ginny and Eric got up early with us for breakfast. We had fresh picked blueberries and gooseberries along with fresh brewed coffee and Vermont yogurt. We were fortified for our second day of climbing in the Green Mountains.

Carol and I started with a fun ride along the White River. Lots of rolling, mostly down hills. I stopped in South Royalton to get photos of the lovely green they had there. A green is the town square, which is a beautiful grass area in the center of town. This one had its own gazebo.

Our real climbing began at Sharon, about 30 miles down the road. We stopped to rest and eat before the climb. Again, it was horrendously steep at the bottom, but I gritted my teeth and did not have to walk today. Like yesterday, after a few tough sections, the mountain leveled off and we came to a long 13% downhill. This was much better than yesterday's experience in the rain. Every few miles we came to a little New England town. Usually we would see a general store, a tall white church and maybe a post office, then we would be in the country again.

We had been trying, with no luck to arrange lodging for tonight, but our cell phones do not work in the Green Mountains. We were looking for a land line where we could use a calling card, when Nancy Schindler just happened to see us outside her home and asked if she could help us. She invited us in and encouraged us to use the phone without using the calling card. She helped us look up names and addresses in the phone book and gave us the scoop on the different lodgings in Orford, NH. We called one place and were told, "You picked a bad weekend, because it is a Dartmouth Parent's weekend and a Children's Camp Parent's Weekend. Everything is booked, everywhere." We called another place, right across the river in Fairlee, VT. The owner, Scott, was so excited to hear from us. He told us he had been moaning, because he just received a last minute cancellation and would be thrilled to let us have the room. He had done a cross country bicycle trip himself, in 1972.

Nancy, continued to help us, by explaining to us a different route to our destination. This involved a beautiful ride around Lake Fairlee, as opposed to the dreaded Thetford Hill climb. We were thrilled to opt for the Fairlee Lake ride and enjoyed a fast beautiful ride into Fairlee where we are enjoying one more night in Vermont.

Middlebury, VT to Rochester, VT 30 Miles, July 24

2008-07-24T14:56:00.000-07:00

We woke up early ready to leave Middlebury at 6:00 AM under dry but cloudy skies. We had an easy 10 mile ride to East Middlebury where we started serious climbing over the Green Mountains. Serious climbing meant serious walking. But, after the initial shock at the bottom, our hills leveled out a bit and we were able to ride most of the way. It felt great to be back in the mountains. We had thundering creeks tumbling beside the road, with all the leafy green foliage Vermont is famous for.

I stopped in the lovely little town of Ripton to take some pictures of a Community Building that dates from 1781. People here cherish their history. Breadloaf was the last community before the serious climb to Middlebury Gap. This section involved a little bit of walking as the rain began. We pushed hard for the last three miles to the top and congratulated ourselves as the rain became heavier. It was thrilling to reach the top of the Green Mountains, even with the rain. We have survived our first steep climb in the Green Mountains of Vermont. We saw a sign that warned us of a 12% grade for two miles of our downhill, as the rain came even harder. I was nervous as I squeezed wet brakes with not very secure results. After six miles of downhill we arrived in Hancock, a small town with a store where we were able to wring ourselves out before the last four miles into Rochester.

We met Reverend Gregory Homan who gave us permission to stay in the Federated Church of Rochester for the night. We took care of drying out all our possessions before going to use the computer at the public library. When I told the librarian about our trip she called another bicyclist in town, Ginny Bowman, who immediately spoke to me on the phone and invited us to her home for the night. Ginny and her 15 year old son, Montana have done a coast to coast cycling trip to raise funds for juvenile diabetes and wanted to share their home with other cyclists. We jumped at the chance to join Ginny and her family.

Ginny met us after work and walked us to her home. Her home was originally a church built in the 1827, then a school. Ginny and her husband, Eric bought the building and ran it as a youth hostel. Now, they have turned the building into a home for themselves and two children, Montana and Ada. As I said, these Vermonters do cherish their history.

Ginny prepared a delicious dinner with fresh vegetables from the garden. We certainly are in Vermont at the right time of year. Our clothes are hanging on the drying racks, Eric is drying our shoes on a special boot drying rack and we are promised a sunny day for tomorrow.

Ticonderoga, NY to Middlebury, VT 20 Miles, July 23

2008-07-23T09:28:00.000-07:00

We left our warm motel today in what was predicted and was pouring rain. We rode the short distance to the ferry to cross Lake Champlain. At the ferry dock, Pam decided to hitch a ride over the mountains in order to arrive in Portland, ME to catch an airplane home by July 29. Carol and I decided to brave the elements and make it a short day into Middlebury, VT.

Immediately upon arriving in Vermont, we felt the difference between New York. We were out of the forests and into the green rolling hills, small dairies and fruit orchards. The pouring rain continued and upon arriving in Middlebury, Carol and I decided to have some maintenance done on our bikes before we cross the last two steep mountain ranges of our journey.

While Dave at the Bike Center competently and efficiently took care of our bikes, Carol and I went to have coffee. We found a wonderful local hangout and enjoyed schmoozing about the awful weather with Sandra Murphy. After hearing about our trip, she spontaneously made a generous contribution to our cause. I love Vermont.

We were invited to stay with Peter and Margaret Carothers, who have done much work for Habitat in this area. They opened up their 1830's farmhouse to us. They live on the 175 acre Nash Farm which General Nash started in 1830. The farm has a long history, including several years when it was used as a hippy commune. It has since been refurbished and Carol and I were given a lovely bedroom.

We enjoyed a delicious dinner which included fresh picked vegetables from the organic garden. When I say fresh, I mean Peter literally picked the lettuce and broccoli, during the rainstorm, just as Margaret was ready to prepare them for dinner. We had quite a treat.

After dinner Margaret needed to run to a meeting. Peter's job was to haul the kayak, possibly an emergency escape vehicle, to higher ground. When the rain let up I offered to help him haul the kayak up, but I didn't want to get my one pair of shoes wet to do it. I asked Peter if I could just put on a pair of his shoes. I grabbed a big muddy pair from the porch and clomped around trying to keep my shoes on and hold up my end of the kayak. We relocated the kayak and were ready to prepare ourselves for tomorrow's ride.

The weather continued to be the topic of conversation. Ten years ago Peter and Margaret had been flooded out of their home when the river overflowed. So Peter was monitoring it constantly during this rainstorm. We were told as we went upstairs for bed that we would be notified if there was any need to evacuate during the night. We slept well in spite of these warnings.

Long Lake, NY to Ticonderoga, NY 64 Miles July 22

2008-07-23T09:07:00.000-07:00

Mary Ellen got up at 4:30 AM to visit with us while we ate breakfast. Then we pedaled off into a foggy day. We continued the hills, but the most dreaded steep ones did not materialize. We had a celebratory moment when we crossed the Hudson River, we are getting so close to our goal now.

After much climbing Carol and I stopped at Jellystone Park Camp to take a lunch break. We met a delivery truck driver who described our road to Ticonderoga, with a big grin as "hilly, windy and steep". He enthusiastically asked many questions about our trip and even offered to transport our bikes in the truck because he had finished his delivery. It was tempting, but we are too close to cut corners now.

We had a beautiful ride into Ticonderoga, our last town in New York. Again, the climbs were overrated and we completed 64 miles feeling great. We stopped at the store to replace some run down batteries. As I was sitting outside I talked to 85 year old "Little Pat", visiting Ticonderoga from Long Island, NY. She was so touched by our journey that she gave us a cash donation on the spot. I was touched too. She wouldn't have her picture taken, but did ask us to put her name on the blog.

Ticonderoga is the end of the Adirondacks on the border of New York and Vermont. It is the first of what I would describe as a New England town. It is built in the middle of green hills and from above you see the view of the central town with church steeples.

We rode into Ticonderoga and called St. Mary's Catholic Church. Pastor Scott Tyler from the United Methodist Church returned our call and offered us a donated room at the Circle Court Motel. These are the gifts that materialize for us every day.

We had the most delicious dinner at Gourmet Gal Restaurant. As I said, another example of typical New York high style. This is our last night in New York. We have met and been taken care of by such special people as well as being able to ride on well maintained roads. Thank you again, New York.

Old Forge, NY to Long Lake, NY 49 Miles July 21

2008-07-23T08:49:00.000-07:00

We were able to sort out all of our gear and plastic bags and we still be packed and on the road by 5:30 AM. We did have plenty of hills today, but we only had to deal with some short periods of drizzle toady. We are riding along the Fulton Chain of Lakes and when Carol and I arrived in Blue Mountain Lake we stopped to eat at a Lakeside Park. We were approached by Jerry and Diane McIntyre who had just heard about us from Sheila, a woman Pam had just received a donation from. Jerry and Diane invited us to stay with them when we are in New Hampshire, so we are always well taken care of.

Just leaving Blue Mountain Lake was a long STEEP hill. I found out later, that this was part of the old road from the 1880s; in the old days the roads just followed the contour of the land. Half way up the hill, when we were huffing and puffing, we saw the Adirondacks Museum and decided it was worth a stop. It was done in typical New York high style. There were several exhibit halls, including one on Adirondack design. I learned that the most prevalent thing I see in the Adirondacks, the Adirondack Chairs, have nothing whatsoever to do with this region. We also saw an exhibit of boats. We saw one old Guide boat that weighed in at 53 pounds, but was able to port 1,000 pounds.

With only ten miles to go to Long Lake, mostly downhill, we arrived to find Pam's orange flag at the Wesleyan Church. We were staying next door with Pastor Chris Humby and his wife Mary Ellen. They generously took us into their home, even though they've only been in town for three weeks and have a two sons; five year old Patrick and two year old Micah, and Mary Ellen is expecting her third in November. I had forgotten how much energy it takes to keep up with young children. But, the boys were sharp and quite sweet. Patrick said Grace for us before dinner and Micah wanted to add his own with "Amen". Mary Ellen put the boys to bed with a story and asked them questions about what she read and Patrick could answer every question. The world will be in good hands with the next generation. This is the first home we have stayed in with young children and it was such a refreshing change. We all miss our families so this was special.

Redfield, NY to Old Forge, NY 57 Miles July 20

2008-07-20T16:21:00.000-07:00

After breakfast Cliff Gilbert drove us back to town to retrieve our bicycles and get back on the road. We were prepared for more hills today as we were heading to the Adirondack Mountains. We were not prepared for the deluge of rain today. It began in the morning and only rained harder as the day wore on. Unfortunately, this was the worst day for Pam's tire to blow out. This happened in front of a home. Pam didn't know what to do without a spare and she knocked on the door. The family thought of who they knew who could help out and called their friends. Steve and Craig who have been cyclists for many years and cheerfully came to help out. In the meantime Carol showed up with her spare tire, which the fellows mounted on Pam's bicycle. What luck!

We continued on through rain, which inhibited our vision when our water spotted glasses became foggy. We were saved by the wide shoulder and well maintained roads. Thank you New York! Our way was also made a little easier because the air temperature was not too cold, so though we were soaking, we never did have to bundle up in our rain gear. I believed it when told, they had about 6-7 inches of rain today! If this continues tomorrow this will be grounds for a day off.

In Old Forge we were donated a room at the Country Club Motel. The owner, Bill Wengert, is an avid cyclist and when we showed up literally soaked through, we were cheerfully given the room key and told not to worry about a thing. I have never ridden in rain this strong. It got to the point where I felt like I was actually sitting in a puddle of water.

Later, Charlie Swanton, a friend of Burt Goodnough from Redfield, picked us up and took us to his home for dinner. Charlie entertained us by giving us a tour of the home he has built from the ground up. He has put many unique decorative touches, such as moldings made of trees which still have on the bark. Charlie also has allowed us to wash and dry our clothes, so at least we will be starting off dry in the morning. Charlie reminded us that "there is never a bad day in the Adirondacks, even when it rains." I'd have to agree that today was beautiful, even with the rain.

We can see the end of our journey. We have about 500 more miles and only three mountain ranges between us and Bar Harbor.

Sterling, NY to Redfield, NY 58 Miles July 19

2008-07-19T13:23:00.000-07:00

We continue to get an early start to beat the predicted 92 degree heat and humidity on a hilly ride. Pam's cell phone rebelled again and she needed to find a new charger. She tried the 24 Hour Wal Mart a few miles down the road, with no luck. Then Carol and I caught up with her the next town where the T Mobile store would not be open for two more hours. Pam sped ahead to see what she would find.

Carol and I pedaled up and down many hills through woods today around more of Lake Ontario before turning East away from the lake. At 42 miles we rode into Pulaski where we found a happy Pam. She had found Burt Goodnough to take her to a store off route where she purchased a new charger. We found her enjoying barbecued chicken at a fundraiser given by the Masons. They all insisted Carol and I accept chicken and refused to take our money. They replied, "we help people." What a refreshing attitude. Actually we've experienced this along our whole trip.

We had been led to expect gut busting hills the last 16 miles into Redfield. Either we are stronger or the hills are just not as steep. When we arrived in Redfield at the unbelievable early hour of 12:30 we stopped at the corner of town and someone yelled "She went that away". We went that away too, where we were stopped by a car on the road when someone yelled, "She's at the Methodist Church." We arrived in time for lunch because there was a work party doing service on the lovely 1827 Church.

After a delightful lunch we were given a lift to Cliff and Candy Gilbert's home on Salmon River Reservoir. This is in a Cross Country Ski Resort Area. We arrived at this lovely cabin where Pam and I immediately took a dip in the lake off the front of the home. This is a quiet protected shore where much of the area is owned by the state, so it will stay in its natural state. Most of the residents here have been coming here for vacations for generations. We feel like we have been able to share a special haven in Upstate New York. Cliff and Candy are the only permanent residents here in the winter. They use a snowmobile to get in and out of their driveway to get to their car parked above.

Cliff will drive us back into town tomorrow at dawn where our bicycles are parked at the church. They only live four miles back down our route and you would think after riding over 3200 miles an extra four miles would not be a big deal. But, at the end of every day, every extra inch is a big deal to us.

Fair Port, NY to Sterling, NY 64 Miles July 18

2008-07-19T12:58:00.000-07:00

Shirley and Kristine got up this morning to see us off with coffee and breakfast. Of course they were sleeping downstairs next to the kitchen because they had given up their bedrooms for us upstairs.

We finished our tour along the Erie Canal in Palmyra and immediately ran into a long steep hill that put our quads into shock. We continued with these hills all day, though not as steep. Today we rode through the New York fruit basket. We passed miles of orchards; cherries, apples, raspberries, blackberries all giving the air a delicious scent.

It was exciting to arrive in Pultneyville where we were on the coast of Lake Ontario. There were no services here as the local grocery had just closed. We sat down to eat in the park when we were approached by Kathy. She had spoken to Pam earlier and taken her home to replenish her with water and ice to combat the 92 degree heat and humidity. Kathy was on the lookout for me and Carol and extended the invitation to both of us. We accepted her gracious offer and went to her home where we met her husband, Tim who wondered where all the strays were coming from. After filling our bottles with ice and water we were ready to continue, using the facilities and even releasing our trash, we were ready to continue.

Our maps showed several stretches on our route today with no services. But, when we arrived we found many fruit stands with local produce. We found one where we reinvigorated ourselves with ice cold blackberries and watermelon. Again, I am passing through an area which does not coincide with the image I had in mind. Upstate New York is lush, green, humid and filled with lovely curious people who enthusiastically support us.

When Carol and I arrived in Fair Haven, we discovered Pam had found lodging for us three miles down the road at Sterling Christian Church. After stocking up on groceries in town, Carol and I rode on and met Pastor JD. He was young and enthusiastic about our endeavor. He made sure we were well taken care of before enjoying the rest of what was supposed to be his day off.

We enjoyed an early quiet night.

Medina, NY to Fair Port, NY 63 Miles July 17

2008-07-17T17:29:00.000-07:00

We left Maureen Hungerford's at first light after a lovely, peaceful night's sleep. We still have the Erie Canal Trail to follow today. I love it because it is flat, hugs the water and is separated from traffic. The only drawback is that the trail is not paved, so with today's downpour our nice clean bikes and clean clothes became coated with a muddy soup.

When we arrived in Fair Port, Pam had gotten us adopted by Shirley Stickles from Assumption Catholic Church. Shirley took us home after work where we were able to scrub off all the muck from our bikes and our tired bodies. Then we were entertained by her daughter Kristine Rodriguez and her 12 year old son Tyler. Tyler was so proud to show off his four blue ribbons for being on his school honor role every semester he has been in middle school.

After making ourselves somewhat presentable Shirley, Kristine and Tyler took us out to dinner at the most upscale grocery store I've seen; Wegman's. Tyler was especially proud because his uncle is a District Manager for the store in Virginia. All of us were able to choose exactly what we wanted. I chose the Lentil Chili, while Carol and Pam chose pizza. We were also joined by Trish Fuchs, another friend who adopted Pam this afternoon. Trish had to do some last minute juggling of her schedule but she honored us by making such a heroic effort to be a part of our evening in Fair Port.

Shirley drove us home, making sure we knew the route to take us out of town at 5:30 AM tomorrow morning. Upon arriving home, we were all especially touched when Tyler dipped into his savings to make his own donation to our Ride4Habitat.

Niagara Falls, Ont. to Medina, NY 52 Miles July 16

2008-07-16T17:20:00.000-07:00

Glenn, from Clarkson Bicycles showed up with Carol's bicycle at 7:10 AM and we left with a full breakfast from Quality Inn. We continued on the Niagara Parkway and saw the Whirlpool Bridge and the Horticultural Clock. I saw two women working on the clock and asked if I could snap a photo as they were setting the clock. They informed me, "We are not setting the clock, we are clipping it." I smiled, snapped a photo and we all scattered just as the rain came. Actually, there was not much rain, but much lightning and thunder.

We had a lot of confusion getting to the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge leading back into the US. It turned out we missed the turn, because the sign which said "Bicyclists to US" was not facing our direction. We followed the arrow on our return, and were directed by the Canadian officials to merge into the truck lane. We followed instructions. Then the American official directed us to merge into the car lane. We followed instructions and made some drivers quite angry. The official did protect us by threatening the driver with jail if he hurt us. We cleared customs quickly, then found ourselves in the midst of some confusing highways and had to backtrack a little to get onto our route.

After a few miles we were on the Erie Canal Towpath. This was refreshingly quiet with calm water and no traffic and we were able to unwind from the previous stress of getting across the bridge. Pam and I stopped at a tall bridge to watch some boys who were ignoring the no trespassing signs to climb up to the top and jump into the canal. We warned them that we didn't think this is what they should be doing, as we stood there with our cameras to capture the moment they jumped in. Were we encouraging their delinquent behavior?

In Medina (MeDYna) we were met by Dave Miller who led us on his bicycle through the old downtown which dates from 1823, along with the Erie Canal. Dave treated us to cold drinks at the renovated Shirt Factory Cafe. Maureen Hungerford also joined us in town. Maureen opened her lovely home to us for the night. We are being treated royally, each with our own room.

Dave Miller and his wife Gail prepared a lovely dinner for us with other guests who are active in the local Habitat for Humanity Affiliate. Dave is president and Maureen is the Volunteer Coordinator.

Dave took us in the car to the local grocery store and helped us clean our bicycle chains. Maureen helped us to do our laundry and made sure we are all taken care of for breakfast tomorrow.

Dave and Maureen informed us that their local Habitat Affiliate would be making a donation to our cause.

Every day we lay our heads down and feel grateful.

Port Colbourne, Ont. to Niagara Falls, Ont. 39 Miles July 14

2008-07-16T16:52:00.000-07:00

Richard and Loretta Vanderhoek sent us off with breakfast, a packed a lunch and Loretta even pinned us with three guardian angels to protect us on our journey. Our road was a flat beautiful bike path leading us right to thundering glorious Niagara Falls. It was magnificent to arrive here on bicycles, but a little overwhelming with all the tourists.

Pam had to do some fast talking but she did find us a donated room at the Thrift Lodge in the heart of the Clifton Hill Tourist District. It wasn't until we were settled in that she let on there was a "catch". They had karaoke going on right outside our room until 2:00 AM. Luckily we had a day off to tour the falls and we accepted the terms.

Our day off found us touring the falls on the Maid of the Mist tour. We climbed on board a boat packed in with many other tourists wearing blue plastic rain ponchos. Then we rode right up to the falls where the water was flying up so hard and fast, that the falls disappeared from view, only the noise reminded us of the overwhelming presence of the falls. That and all the water sloshing around inside my shoes.

After our tour we decided to vacate our room beside the karaoke stage. We had been ready to pay for a second night, but not after a night of listening to karaoke which got louder as the night wore on. I think as people drink more, the singing gets less inhibited; louder, but not better. So we packed up and the hunt was on for another room. This time it took Pam four tries. Just as Carol and I were about to give up and ride away from the area, Pam struck it rich at the Quality Inn. We had a lovely room, breakfast and even a swimming pool at our disposal.

Next, Carol and Pam rode to the bike shop to investigate Carol's rear brake rubbing on the rim. The bike mechanic discovered a cracked rim. This was serious and all the mechanic would do was true the wheel and charge $30. Pam then asked the mechanic to oil her chain and was charged $15. Wow, this is not how they expected to be treated.

Carol was now stressed, with good reason. A cracked rim can lead to a minimum of a flat tire and maximum to serious injury. I found another bike shop in the phone book, but it was about 12 miles off of our route. After much investigation, Carol hired a taxi to take herself and bicycle to the shop. She had to show the courteous taxi driver how to fold down the back seats in order to fit the bike into the trunk and he was pleased to learn something new. He then drove her to the shop, where he waited for her. Glen, the owner promised to rebuild the wheel overnight and deliver it to the hotel by 7:00 AM. The taxi driver told Carol he had to return to town anyway and offered to not charge her, she insisted and he said "OK, half price."

Once the bicycle problem was under control, Pam wanted to find the dish everyone in Canada had told her was the best, Putine (PooTEEN). This is french fries covered with gravy and cheese. I rode with her for moral support, not to indulge. We found "Potato Heads" which was a little red trailer parked by the side of the road. Robert, the owner ended up giving her the Putine for free after finding out all about our ride. Pam ate it but did not swoon the way she expected to. But, Robert was so generous. He even made a $10. donation to Habitat.

We are so happy to go to sleep in our comfortable, quiet room.

Port Dover, Ont. to Port Colbourne, Ont. 70 Miles, July 13

2008-07-13T16:08:00.000-07:00

Pam took off quickly this morning, Sunday, to make it into town for church services. Carol and I had a lovely 40 mile ride which took us around Lake Erie along the lake shore. Unfortunately when we reached the town of Dunville we stopped for coffee. Upon leaving the cafe we were approached by a well meaning man who wanted to guide us out of town on Highway 3. He said, "I'm a bicyclist too and I know the most direct way to Port Colbourne." We knew we wanted Highway 3 and followed him. Several miles along the route we realized we had wanted "Old" Highway 3 and now we were going to miss the rest of the route along the lake shore. Carol also asked me if I had noticed the beer bottle stuck in his rear pocket. Oops! We should have known better than to trust someone who was probably somewhat tipsy.

Because we were off our map we entered Port Colbourne by a different route than Pam had. We then tried to backtrack and cover the town by Pam's route but were getting frustrated, tired and were about to give up and find a motel. Then we were approached by Richard Vanderhoek, who asked us if we were looking for a third cyclist. I said, "Yes, do you know where she is?" I almost cried when he said, "Yes, she's at my house." Richard led us to his home where we met his lovely wife Loretta.

Loretta led us to the shower, which is always the first order of business then they both prepared food for us. After a delicious lunch, Richard took us on a tour to see the Locks in Port Colbourne. We saw a 200 foot ship going through the canal between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. To Richard it was all so passe, but to us, it was quite dramatic. That huge ship seemed to take forever to slide inside and fill that canal side to side.

The Canada leg of our trip is quickly coming to a close, but we cannot thank the Canadians enough for the warm, generous hospitality they have shown us.

Port Stanley, Ont. to Port Dover, Ont. 69 Miles July 12

2008-07-13T15:52:00.000-07:00

We are traveling through Canada's banana belt, which is actually south of Detroit, the same latitude as Northern California and it receives the same weather systems as North Carolina. It is hard for me to realize I am in Canada because the weather feels so tropical. We have warm humid days with warm rain. We're seeing a great variety of crops: corn, wheat, soybeans, asparagus, apples, cherries, blueberries and even tobacco. This is not how I pictured Canada. As we ride closer to Lake Erie, the breezes are keeping us comfortably cool as well as propelling the many wind turbines which are in this area.

Our route was mostly flat until we ran into a steep spooky hill just as we turned the corner onto "Spooky Hollow Road". We then had two more steep hills to climb out of the tiny hamlets our road was winding through.

When Carol and I arrived in Dover we again had no idea where to find Pam. Carol tried "Tourist Information" while I tried the church across the street. I got lucky as Pam had left a very large note informing us of our location for the night. We had two rooms at the lovely Wilson Family B and B donated to us by Melanie Wilson. It was a short two blocks to the beach on Lake Erie and Pam and I enjoyed a lovely dip in the mid 70 degree water. It was heaven after a long ride.

After exploring the town, where we got caught in a rainstorm, we found dinner, bought food for breakfast and turned in for the night, ready for another long day tomorrow.

Dresden, Ont. to Port Stanley, Ont. 71 Miles (115 K)

2008-07-11T13:56:00.000-07:00

We left our home for the night, Heritage Court, early this morning after being served a lovely breakfast. Mike Pilon was even awake to join us for coffee and see us off. We were primed to do the first Century of our trip, a metric century, we are in Canada after all.

As Pam pedaled ahead quickly Carol and I went at our normal slow pace. Our favorite stop was at New Glasgow Orchards. We had cold fresh fruit, from California. They did have delicious looking local veggies, but we have no way of cooking them. We were given a tour of the lovely garden where we had samples of the scrumptious raspberries which would be ready for sale in just a few days.

I am so enjoying talking with the many friendly Canadians we are meeting. They are well informed about American political affairs and not shy about voicing their opinions. I am thrilled with their perspective and wish they could vote in our elections. I've also asked about the National Health System and heard glowing reports.

Along the road today we had glimpses of Lake Erie, however, it wasn't until we arrived in Port Stanley that we were on the lake. Pam always arrives in town first, secures a place to stay and contacts us by cell to give us directions. We don't have cell service in Canada, so we had to "wing it". Carol and I felt a little overwhelmed when we arrived hot and tired after 71 miles. We did find a church, but when we went up to the door we saw it was locked up tight. I was trying to decide where to look next, when we were approached by a lovely lady, who said she had a message for us from Pam. She directed us to a home up the street and I thanked her profusely for her help and asked if I could give her a hug. She hugged me back and we were shortly in front of a lovely old home with a beautiful veranda. Kelly and Barb Cookson took us in, plied us with food and cold drinks and offered us a bubble bath. Pam went to jump into the bubbles and Barb showed us to our room. I was in awe and said, "it looks like we fell into a B and B." Barb replied, "that is what we had in mind when we remodeled the house, but we've been too busy traveling to open a business." She does put up actors who come to act in the local summer stock theater.

We have been offered dinner, tomorrow's breakfast and we are grateful.

St. Clair, MI to Dresden, Ontario, Canada 38 Miles

2008-07-10T12:43:00.000-07:00

We zipped along , a bike path to catch the Blue Ferry from Marine City , MI to Sombra, Ontario. Bicyclists pay the sum of $1.00 for the ferry. It seems that this run is most popular with the people from Canada who zip across the river into the States to buy beer half price of what it is in Canada. This is interesting. US Citizens cross into Canada to buy prescription drugs, Canadians cross into the US to buy cheap beer. Is something wrong with this picture?

We had no trouble crossing into Canada and I immediately noticed how the Canadian shore of the St. Clair River is not built up, it is protected and kept for public use. Pam stopped to put her feet into the water and pronounced it "Cold", then she zipped on to Dresden. When Carol and I stopped to enjoy the river, immediately a woman joined us to ask us where we were going on our bicycles. She apologized because she was in the midst of errands and couldn't invite us in for a snack. We enjoyed her company and continued on.

In Dresden Pam had connected with people who secured a place for us at Heritage Court. This is a retirement home owned by a father and son, Mike and David Pilon. We have a lovely room and they are even letting us use the laundry facilities. All these things add so much to the quality of our life on the road.

Dresden, Ontario was the home of Josiah Henson, a slave on the Underground Railroad who escaped with his entire family of wife and children. We visited the village he lived in which is called Uncle Tom's Cabins because Josiah Henson was the model for Harriet Beecher Stowe's slave character in her novel. Josiah Henson became a Methodist Minister and helped many other slaves find their way to freedom. He became so widely known that Queen Victoria wanted to meet him.

Tonight we are having dinner with the residents of Heritage Court as well as helping serve. I've been guaranteed that I don't have to worry about spilling anything. Canada has welcomed with open arms.

North Branch, MI to St. Clair, MI 60 Miles

2008-07-09T11:24:00.001-07:00

Even though our ride was 60 miles, it was a relatively easy ride with a few rolling hills and a few river crossings. Before our trip, I had no idea Michigan had so much farm and dairy land. I am seeing fields of corn, bright yellow wheat, alfalfa and numerous dairy cows.

We were thrilled pulling into St. Clair, our last town in Michigan. It is a lovely town on the St. Clair River. The water is a deep turquoise and picturesque with large barges being pushed or pulled by tugs, as well as graceful sailboats. It is a humid day, but the breeze off of the lake is quite refreshing.

The St. Clair Garden Club has done an exquisite job landscaping Palmers Park, along the waterfront. There are huge hanging baskets of multicolored petunias and large orange lillies lining some of the walkways. We look across the river at Canada, where we will be tomorrow night.

We enjoyed a Chinese dinner tonight, our first of the trip. It was delicious and a welcome change from many meals of sardines or cheese. We have been warned that the towns we are visiting in Canada may have few services so we have stocked up on some extra groceries.

Tonight we are in the United Methodist Church thanks to Pastor Don Gotham. Often, we are in the church basement, but tonight we living high in a lovely room surrounded by windows overlooking the turquoise St. Clair River.

Tomorrow we will be in Canada where more adventure awaits.

Bay City, MI to North Branch, MI 62 Miles, July 8

2008-07-08T13:12:00.000-07:00

We began riding under the threat of rain and warnings of a severe storm heading our way. Severe means lightning. Pam sped ahead as Carol and I decided to keep a steady pace and take frequent but short breaks. We had a couple of towns to stop in along our route today and enjoyed a delicious breakfast 21 miles down the road.

We have passed many farms in Michigan which have a plaque out front designating them "Michigan Centennial Farms". These farms have been worked and owned by the same family for 100 years. Today I stopped to photograph one which dates from 1856, over 150 years old. A man, who was looking out the window began questioning me about the load I was carrying. When he heard what I was doing, he was glad to allow me to take photos. He explained that his wife had inherited the farm from her grandparents and I was invited in to view photos. Because the skies were so black, I was sorry to decline his offer and got back on the road.

We did arrive in North Branch by 1:00 and the sun came out shortly after our arrival. Imagine, the weather prediction was wrong. We had a nice visit with Pastor Michael McCoy of the United Methodist Church. He then invited us to have a shower at his home and we are scheduled to go out to dinner tonight with Pastor McCoy and Lorraine Suva.

Lorraine has undertaken a project of her own. She makes special small quilts of different textures which she distributes to people in Alzheimer's facilities. She also teaches other people how to make these "blankies". She gets the materials and sewing machines donated and she has people from as far away as California asking for as many articles as she and her group can make. Lorraine saw a need and is working to fill it. Her idea seems small, but it is making a world of difference to people who have troubled minds and a need for something calming to do with their hands.

I continually remind myself how fortunate I am to be able to undertake this bicycle journey.

Clare, MI to Bay City, MI 54 Miles, July 7

2008-07-07T17:17:00.000-07:00

After a delicious breakfast of homemade biscuits, oatmeal and homegrown tomato juice with Merle and Wilma we were ready to start our ride, until we saw the lightning and rain. We delayed our start until 7:00 AM when the skies cleared giving us a lovely ride on the Pere Marquette Bicycle Rail Trail. This was such a treat with no traffic and a well maintained paved trail. It ended in Midland, MI 30 miles away where we enjoyed the riverfront park with the "Trige". This was where three bridges came together over the Tibawasee River, Salt River and another tributary. The Trige is strictly for walking.

Going through Midland we stopped to eat at Sid's, a party store. In Michigan, the convenience stores are called party stores, because that is where they sell liquor. When Carol and I entered the people there were so excited by our cycling adventure they asked if we would stay long enough to be interviewed by a reporter from The Daily News. Carol and I agreed to wait even though we were concerned about the predicted 1:00 PM rain storm. We were interviewed and photographed by Josh, then had another delay in Bay City because our route was closed due to road construction. We had to negotiate quite a bit of traffic before finding Pam at St. Luke's Methodist Church. But we arrived by 3:00 and the storm didn't arrive until after 4:00. We enjoyed meeting Pastor Juanita Ferguson who showed up on her own bicycle. I remarked to the Pastor that of all the churches we had stayed in, this was the first where we could take a hot shower and how special this is for us. She then told us that they have had the shower for years, but they only use it to store "stuff". When she heard we were coming she remembered about the shower and made sure the place was cleared out and ready for our use.

Later we were treated to dinner by Bob and Mary Davidson at Hooligans, the local restaurant. We were joined by others from the church and the waitress knew them all by name. Then Bob Jarve, the Director of Habitat in Bay City took me on a tour of Bay City and allowed me to use the Habitat Computer for this blog, while Pam and Carol decided to turn in for the night.

Bob had quite a story of his own to share. He and his wife were both public school teachers with six children, when two of their children were diagnosed with terminal illnesses. Their medical bills of $500,000. threatened to sink them, when their church raised funds to help them stay solvent. They did lose one son at 21 years old. The younger son, at 11 years old, received a liver transplant and today is 32.

Out of gratitude, Bob began volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, in 1988. After 35 years as a special education teacher he retired and the next day became the first paid employee of Habitat in Bay City, Michigan. He said he works harder now than he ever did as a teacher and is loving every minute of it. Bay City Habitat is able to raise a Habitat House in approximately one month, with donated labor, materials and land. Their latest project is making the homes so energy efficient that the families have utility bills of $100. per year. They are really cutting edge on many levels.

Later in the evening, Pastor Juanita Ferguson returned to ask us if there was anything she could do to help us on our trip. She went to her office, at 10:00 PM and contacted the Pastor of the church in North Branch where we will be tomorrow. It is more and more obvious that it is the people we meet on this journey who continue to take care of and inspire us.

The trip through Michigan is going entirely too fast.