Trains, Dogs and Roosters! Oh My!

Last night was the first camping night in Ash Grove, Missouri.  There was a nice little shelter in the park to pop the tent up.  The Sherif gave the ok, so that's always a good thing.  

As soon as the sun went down dogs started barking and there were a lot of them!  Every house around the park seemed to have a coon dog in the back yard.  If all dogs go to heaven I was just about ready to send them there! (not really, but these thoughts do cross ones mind)

Then we heard trains going by.  They were a few blocks away but they were crazy loud.  and it wasn't just a warning blow.  It seemed like they'd blow that whistle a mile coming into town, through town and after the town just for fun.  Then Roosters!  I was like "What the **** is a rooster doing crowing NOW for?!?!?  

I had my ipod so Dave Matthews and the Counting Crows kept me from hearing the racket, but I had them cranked up pretty good so I wouldn't hear the train that seemed to pass every 5 minutes.  It made me think of the Blues brothers when John asks dan "how often will the train pass?"  Responding dan say "So often you won't even notice."

Now I'm heading off to springfield after I get directions here at the local library.  Two more programs are set up there which should be fun, and it's a large enough city that I'll be able to get a few extra things I need.

Joe ><>

Week in review #1 Great Bend, KS- Golden City Missouri

Gigs

1-Great Bend Presbyterian Church

2-Hutchinson Emanuel Lutheran Church

3&4 Wichita, KS  Christ Lutheran and Lord of Life

5 Eureka Christ Lutheran

6 Chanute St. John's Lutheran

7 Pittsburg Lutheran

I don't think I will have a week this full again in my entire tour.  So much has happened and it seems like it started a forever ago.  Right now I'm sitting at a hotel in Golden City, MO doing some journaling and internet catch up.  I'm going to post the week in review pictures and write more in the review tomorrow.  Here is the album link for Facebook.  Copy and paste this in the address box above and you should get to check out the pics!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2165581&id=73405078&l=6809bc9431

Tom and Crazy Dogs attacking

It's always kind of funny when you meet people just because of happen stance or something goes wrong.  Well, that's how I met Tom.  Mom and I finished a little lunch on the road and then I started on the bike and she took off.  We were on a back dirt road and I can take it, I mean, I am a Mt. Biker after all.  As she drove away I noticed my ride was rougher that it should be....YUP, FLAT!  I wave in the air for her to turn around.  I jump up and down.  I take my bright orange bike and wave it across the air but to no avail.  I started to walk the bike when I thought, I'll just just walk up to this ranch style house.  I was greeted by a dog, which didn’t look to threatening.  I knocked on the door.  And a rancher looking fella named Tom came out of the garage.  He was pleasant to speak too, asking if I’d like some water and guided me to the phone while he went back into his shop I could see from the garage, which looked like some kind of wood or leather carving shop.  After I called mom and got her to turn around.  I walked into the shop and there was a beautiful looking saddle he was making with very detailed designs somewhat resembling the Norwegian artform of rosemalding.  His father did it until the age of 90 and now Tom has taken over for him.

It turns out he does some sort of Horse ranching ministry.  If he checks this he can comment and clairify.  His wife called and asked if we wanted to have dinner.  As I always say, I have a firm policy never to turn down food.  So we have a nice lunch/dinner together, I fixed my tire.  He even gave me a beautiful 9x9 piece of leather with the design on it.  He put a cross on it and I'm going to frame it when I get home.  He even put a cross on my leather bound journal I've been writing in, so that was pretty sweet.  I'll put up pictures in a few days.  No time right now.

ATTACKING DOGS 

I cycled by a house and they bused out of their little dog houses and I thought they were going to catch me.  These were 3 butch dogs and had no business not being roped up.  I didnt think they would be able to hold the speed for as long as they did, but we were flying.  As one got close I swerved to the other side of the road.  We had probably topped out at 24 or 25 mph before  I finally shook them off my tale.  Today I bought dog mase and now I have 20 shots worth for future incidences.  I love dogs but those were not nice animals.

Life's a Journey; keep riding,

Joe

Crazy schedules/new friends

I'm going to combine the last few days into one blog.

So yesterday I was scheduled to play in Wichita.  The pastor pulls in the parking lot from my first Wichita gig and says "we've got a problem"  "you're scheduled to be in Eureka tonight"  I said, no I'm scheduled to play again in Wichita.  We went in and realized that I had accidentally double booked.  My afternoon officially was nuts from there on out.  I was calling both churches trying to finagle how I could do both of them (and they are an hour apart)  I worked out that I would play in Wichita while they were eating and then leave early and just miss the meal part in in Eureka and show up as fast as possible.  I was pretty stressed out.  We get to the first gig and they were so nice.  I really wished that I could have stayed there for a while longer.  They really enjoyed the stories and music and there was just a really strong energy in the room and as luck would have it, the stoves were not working so the didn't start eating until after I left anyways.  The church is called Lord of Life and Pastor Gary was so nice to work with.  There was a good crowd including a good number of youth.  one 17 year old girl had her birthday so I started happy birthday for her (I'm sure she liked that)

After Lord of Life Mom and I jumped in the car and raced to Eureka.  Christ Lutheran was also a nice church to play at and as it turned out since I was 40 min late, they started singing and had so much fun that they are going to try to do that once a month as a fellowship Idea!  SOOOOOO, after all my stress and anxiety about this situation and short changing both churches, it turned out pretty good after all.  UFF-DA!  It was kind of funny, that when I pulled up someone had the door open and yelled "He's here!" I walked into a very enthusiastic clapping congregation of ranchers as well as some youth.  I apologized and started right up.  This was my day.  I'll write about today, tomorrow, cause I'm tired and I need sleep.

Peace!

Joe

Wichita! Twister and OZ come to mind

***Journal from Sept. 22***

Actually I do have experience with the Gale force winds Kansas can produce.  I'm not sure how a state with such friendly people ended up with such crazy weather.  But so far these first two days have both started out raining and then ended up with the sun shining and the wind at my back.

Yesterday started out nice as Emmanuel Lutheran put me up in a hotel.  I got to church to see that I had a flat tire.  I should have taken a picture of the little bugger that worked his way into my tire.  I hadn't seen 'Goat heads' since Nevada!  A little worried about future incidents I made my way over to the bike shop and bought extra thick tubes, 5x!  I have done many different activities in a church before but changing a inner tube was a first.  In the picture you notice me struggling a bit and Jesus in the upper left watching me....probably saying, "I'd cycle with ya to but trek was still coming along in my day.  I tried to get Thomas on it but he didn't believe me when I said it was a good idea."  (blogger cut the pic off at Jesus' neck)

So I got on my way and it was a nice day, much to my dismay the rain went away and I said Yay!

It was a a good and fast ride to Wichita.  I dodged many miles of fuzzy wuzzies and even made a movie of one, but for the time being it won't upload.

Other events of the day consisted of buying ice cream from an ice cream truck playing Green Day.  Hate is a strong word but I really really really don't like ice cream truck music.  So when I found them playing Green day I felt very compelled to walk up and purchase something from them.  And I saw my good luck charm up close which is a monarch butterfly.  There is a lot of symolism connecting the monarch to my journey and they always seem to pop up in the right places.

The concert went very well.  There were a lot of people tonight.  Last night there were only 10 so it was unplugged, but tonight there were 50 people which was the largest crowd thus far.  I messed up a new song I was doing but I'll have it for tonight.  The host family is really great. Paul and Freyja were very hospitable.  We had delicious food and these grandparents have foose ball, pool, pingpong and air hockey downstairs, all full size but sadly I have no one to play with : (  Next time one of you will have to cycle through Wichita with me!

well that's all for now.  Today was a good second day of riding!  I'm still feeling strong so that's good as I haven't done back to back 60+mi Days since last year.

Life's a journey, Keep on ride'n!

Joe

First Day Back On Tour!!! Great Bend to Hutchinson 66mi

Today was a good day.  I thought it was going to rain on me all day making me very thankful I purchased the extra rain cycling gear, but it quit after the morning.  I had some miles on bad roads and I had some miles on worse roads, but still had some good roads.  But Sand roads are new for me.  It didn't take me long to turn around and find another route.  

Thorn today- Sand roads after jarring unfinished paved roads. 

Rose today-  In Ellinwood KS there are underground tunnels where there used to be many soloons and brothels.  It took an hour so it put me a bit behind but it was a really cool tour.

Baths, 15 cents for clean water, and 5 cents for used. (put your self in a cowboy's shoes in the 1800's)

extra highlight- Dinner with the Pastor who is a Cancer survivor himself and is going in for his scan tomorrow.  Then he put me up in a hotel.  Sweet!

Old friends to new ones, Great Bend Kansas

Hey Hey!

Today was a pretty good day.  I stayed overnight with the lady who gave me a ride last year when I was broken down.  I got up early and they were getting ready to make a breakfast which was deliciously scrumptious!  Bacon, eggs and pancakes!  Yum yum!  I had a pretty good conversation with Charley, Jackies husband who is a very giving person, like Jacky.  We shared some stories, ate and then headed for Great Bend!

We went to church at 1st presbyterian, where I would be playing later.  After church, I was invited to a lasagna dinner at a couples house from the congregation, Howard and Phyllis'.

After dinner it was time to go and put a few final touches on the program before it started at 3pm.  I was a little nervous since it was the first one this year and I didn't know what to expect.  It was a small crowd of about 20 members of the congregation.  I was surprised that only 2 were cancer survivors.  

The program went very well.  They asked questions throughout the concert and my nerves were calmed as I got a few laughs and I could tell it was going well.  I met many very nice people.

After the program I went with Pastor Scott to go sight in his muzzle loader.  He is quite the hunter.

Last night our host was a cat person and tonight they are dog people.  There are 3 crazy dogs.  One is about as big as a gofer, one is a golden lab and one just farted near me and it smells pretty bad.  Uff-Da.

Driving to Kansas

You really have to love just driving across the country.  Well, at least I don't have to drive through Nebraska.  There really isn't anything too eventful to write about but I've been updated by friends that the story made the front page of the La Crosse Tribune today so that is really cool.
http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/article_10d66c20-a4d5-11de-a837-001cc4c0

3286.html

  

But today is also a very sad day as a very very dear friend of the family died yesterday just after we left.  Joanne Dunnum was just about the best human I know.  I know people always say that in these times but this woman was very special.  She was a light to everyone who knew her.  She struggled with Lupus since she was 26, but she was the brightest most positive woman in the world.  The craziest Joanne story I think I have is that she was coming to my highschool graduation and she was making the buns at her house.  She fell and broke her wrists and she showed up with a smile on her face delivering the buns..... on the way to the hospital!!  We were all like, no you should have forgot the buns and just went to the hospital, but that was Joanne.

Introduction

Hello Westby, La Crosse, Family and Sugar Creek people,

Some of you know about my yahoo adventure but here is a little intro for those that don't.

The name's Joe Iverson.  I've always wanted to bike from one coast to the other.  Ok, maybe not 'always' but when I was 11 or 12 I told my mom that I was going to do that.  She didn't let me do it quite then.  but in 2008 I took a plane to Southern California's Orange County.  I packed a big duffle of gear I'd need along the way and a credit card to find a bike and a trailer.  After a week of hanging on the beach, and doing a bit of surfing I started up the coast to San Francisco...with my surf board.  I hit cisco and hung a right and made my way across a route over a lot of mountains.  I was riding for Hunger and Cancer.  Just because I think those are the two most important causes to me.  People asked why Cancer and I said, no reason, I don't have it or anything, just a good cause.

I had a different bike by then though as the one I bought, a Trek Portland (very nice bike) was stolen in L.A.  while I was trying to take care of my broken down trailer...yeah, it was a bad day.  And for the cyclists out there, Kriptonite is indeed a breakable lock. (note to self)

things go down but then they go back up.  A homeless man came along and fixed my trailer and L.A.'s Bike Kitchen fixed up an old bike for me to use.  and I made a B-line for Santa Monica back on the Coast.  Hollywood sucks.  

Enough story for the first post, but once I got to Kansas' Great Bend I felt seizures start to attack quite frequently.  they were not the real full blown ones as I had experienced before I left and in CO but I wasn't going to wait for those to come.  I got home and saw some doctors, had an MRI and they found a brain tumor and it ended up being Cancerous.  It was a little Ironic I thought that Cancer had taken me off my ride when that was the cause even before I knew about my own.  

I've been through Brain Surgery, Chemo and Radiation and now a year later, almost exactly, I'm back on the bike, this time as a survivor and this time, though not physically, a bit stronger. 

I have a few new stories, a few new songs and I have 40 gigs at churches from Great Bend to Washington D.C. as I finish my ride which I've dreamed of doing for so long.

OrangeRocks,

Joe ><>