Front Page of La Crosse Tribune (for upcoming churches who want to read it)

http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/article_10d66c20-a4d5-11de-a837-001cc4c0

3286.html

Lost in Translation story/Mississippi Crossing!!/Pouring Rain All Day!!!!

10/8/09

So the morning didn't start out that great and that pretty much set up the cycling day.  One thing about me is that I really don't like being rushed.  I was getting around to packing and it was 10:30.  Dad and I had gone out to breakfast, so I was getting a later start.  I had till 11:00 to pack and checkout.  There was a knock at the door.  It was the Indian guy, not native american, but Indian who had a pretty thick accent and we had a conversation that went something like this "5 minute check out."  "what did you say?" I replied.  "You Stay?"  "No, we're checking out today."  "Ok, I check you out today."  "No No No, Not stay, To-Day and it's not time."  "5 minute check out."  "It's 10:30" I replied fairly disgusted.  And the conversation wasn't as clear as it sounds as I type it either.  I had to listed very attentively to try to make out what he was saying, so this went on for a little while and eventually I just said ok ok ok and he left.  Dad was getting out of the shower.  and I told him that this guy said we needed to be checked out in 5 min.  So I packed in a hurry grumbling a bit as we were the only ones in this big roachmotel, so you'd think they could take a chill pill.  Dad went to check us out as I'm hurrying grabbing my stuff and packing it away and getting my bike gear on.  I didn't want Dad to get charged with another day, so I ended up standing outside in my bare feet as I had an extra pare of socks in the car.  I'm standing there holding my helmet outside waiting for dad to come back from the lobby and then I hear the door open behind me.  It's the Indian guy I can't really understand, but he has this phrase down, "2 dollar tip for house keeping."   I'm not sure what the expression on my face said but I'm sure it went something like "you've got to be out of your mind."  I consider myself a generous tipper, but as I'm standing there in my bare feet rushed out of my room as it's starting to rain.  I replied " you'd have a much better shot at getting a tip if you didn't rush us out of our room before check out."  Then I pointed to my spandex cycling shorts, "besides, does it look like I have any money back here?"  I wanted to be much ruder to him as I was not in a good mood.  but he waited for dad to come back.  He hadn't quite figured out that curiousness helps him get a tip.  Dad gave him a dollar and he went away.  Had he been nice I wouldn't have minded giving him several dollars, but I didn't like him this morning.  It started to rain and I stood out there getting my socks on under the overhang getting my socks and shoes on as Dad waited in the car just wanting to get out of the parking lot cause these hotel people seemed just a little slick hoping his card didn't get charged more.  I'm pretty frustrated cause I needed to get my rain gear on but I left with my yellow jacket which is "rain resistant"  and we got out of the hotel.  After Dad left to go up a couple of towns ahead I stopped under  a shed as my jacket was soaked through by then and I got a dry shirt out and put my hardcore rain gear on.

With no gig to go to, I called my day 30 miles short at Chester, IL.  I was a funny sight as I haven't been able to fine a helmet rain cover, but what Mom was given for me when she was with me was a shower cap that looked like it was 15 years old, still unused, with little frills around it, definitely used for an old lady, as the lady was in her 70's that gave us the cap (and she was a very nice funny old lady that we had stayed with)  and you know what?  It worked splendidly.  It fit over my whole helmet.  My gear managed to keep me pretty dry the whole day as it would down pour for a while, then it would just rain, then it would pour and it repeated this most the day until we stopped, then it was just a drizzle.  The only gear that turned out to falter were my little shoe booties.  The got soaked and then soaked my shoes.  So I'm going to go online and buy these other ones I was looking at.  It always is a bummer when gear doesn't work out because it usually is expensive, but even though my feet were wet, they were warm, so it wasn't that bad.

Before we crossed into Chester, IL I got to cross the mississippi and this was a very exciting thing for me because the Mississippi is just one of those land marks you know?  We have it right up near home, and I was looking forward to crossing it on my ride.  This bridge pails in comparison to our two bridges in La Crosse.  There is just enough room for two lanes.  No walking is aloud and cycling it is a bit dangerous.  one guy honked at me and I hate that they do that...not a nice, "you go!" honk but a "you're in the way" honk.  I don't always respond very politely  to these idiots.  Like what am I supposed to do? Move over and fall in the river?  But I didn't let that guy ruin my crossing.  I took a few pictures as I was cycling cause this is a very momentous moment in my trip and I might put those pictures in my book so I don't care if it costs some driver 3 seconds of his day.  I cycled over 3000 miles to get to this point and I'm going to take it in.

After a few more pictures at the Illinois sign we were in Chester, apparently the "Home of Popeye," you know, the sailor man?  ie ie ie ie.   We went to the museum since it just seemed like the only logical thing to do in the home town of Popeye, but alas, it was closed.  

You should see the hotel room.  I did laundry and am hang things to dry and everything is used around the room, so it looks like my bob trailer back just exploded and stuff is everywhere.  

Dad comes down to MO/Civil War show down/ stop in Ozora

I got all packed up an ready to leave Pastor's house by 10:00AM  which is pretty typical.  We had a good breakfast and I had soft boiled eggs for the first time.  I really wasn't too sure about this.  Before I knew we were having them like that I was asked "how many eggs you want?"  I replied, "3 sounds good."  Then I saw her putting them in a boiling pot....I began to think that I should have said 1, but they weren't that bad.  I just like eggs cooked cause I worry about bacteria.  I should have said something, but I'm fine so it didn't matter too much.  My immune system is still down pretty low from the chemo, so I have to be careful.

Pastor's wife wanted to give me a tour and take me to Iron knob before I left, but I was already getting going late, so we just took a little tour around town.  I could tell she really wanted to show me more but sun goes down at 6:30 and had to be going.  I got off by 11:00 and I cycled by fort davidson and started reading the Civil war stuff they had around on the battle field.  That lead me to their main building where I figured I might as well go inside.  I was very intrigued so I ended up watching the 20 min video after all.  The Battle was at Iron knob.  The Confederates took the fort the Union was protecting to make sure they didn't take the railroad.

I eventually got going.  The roads were nice and the colors in the trees are starting to turn.  The day was in the 50's and sunny so it was perfect weather out for cycling.  I met dad in Farmington and he drove a head as I cycled to Ozora, MO  where I'm sitting now, catching you up.

I found a 6 food box of crayons on my ride which made me think of the sign off of a youth director I met uses

God has better Crayons,

Joe

off to IRONTON gig (the whole 15 miles)

10/6/09

So like the last blog said, I got going in the morning....actually I didn't really leave until the afternoon because only then did the weather dry out.  Come to think of it, I should really unpack my tent....anyway, I had brunch at the sports bar where this lady wasn't anywhere near as nice as the guys the previous night, but that happens.  The weather was cool and it looked as if rain could be in the near future again, but I wasn't too concerned as I only had 15 miles to bike until Ironton.  I know I know big day right, but it was supposed to be my rest day.

As I neared town I saw some confederate flags flying in peoples yards, which wasn't much of a surprise as I had seen a number of them in MO here.  I arrived at St Pauls Lutheran and I tried to call the pastor but no luck.  So I sat and waited.  this man with bumper stickers plastered all over his truck gabbed on and on at me about how the 60's was the last great time where the people  influenced the government and yadayadayada.   he was a little annoying as I was trying to work on my computer, but he was a good guy.  previously we were walking about how he was fixing up the youth building since he didn't have a job as he lost his a number of weeks ago.  Which I thought was pretty cool.  Eventually he left and I was able to call and connect with the pastor so he was coming in 20 min.  Then this guy came back because he had lost his 10 TV dinners and he seemed quite distressed about his TV dinners.  People have been pretty generous with me along this ride and though I don't have lots of money I gave him 20 bucks so he could go get some good food.  I just thought he was a real good guy for fixing up this youth ministry building.  He was building a stage and it sounded like it was volunteer work.  He said " you're a sweet guy" and I replied "well, your doing a very good thing."

Pastor came and so we went to his house.  We had some BLT's before the gig, which we hadn't talked about too much so I was glad to hear there was going to me one.  We got to the church and I was greeted very warmly by these two older ladies.  One was about 4'10'' but had a heart that made up for any lack of height and the other was just as warm and excited to see me.  There were about 7 people that came and the pastor figured this wasn't too bad considering they usually get 30 for church.  They really enjoyed the stories and music that I played.  I play the smaller ones just like the larger ones, just maybe a bit more intimately with not as much energy up front.  It seems less like you need to capture their attention, unlike when you have 20 middle schoolers. 

Thunder Storm Camping 10/6

Night of the 5th- 12 miles west of Ironton on N

So after the Packer Viking Game I walked out to my tent, not really expecting what I was in for.  I awoke at about 2AM to Thunder and Lightning.  It wasn't raining to hard...yet.  I got out of my tent and did the extra measures securing my rainfly to the frame.  I grabbed my rain suit from my saddle bags so I could have it in my tent just incase I needed to make a run for it.  I packed all my gadgets away in plastic bags along with the chargers and put them in my computer bag.  The wind picked up and the rains came down.  There were a few pretty good lightning strikes but it was nothing like the storm I camped in last year in Kansas that practically did blow me to OZ.  It began to blow over, so got back in the bag and went back to bed, almost thinking "all that effort for nothing."  but then "how crazy am I to sit here and think, geeze I wish there would of been a greater storm since I went through all the preparations for it."  But I'm glad it wasn't.  

The next morning it just rained and rained and rained, so I just ate breakfast and since I was playing at 7pm and had all day to go just 12 or 13 miles,  I went back to bed.  I wasn't going to ride in rain if I didn't have too, besides the roads are dangerous since they don't have shoulders on them.  I should start a movement within the adventure cycling website to write these governments that the national trail runs through to put in shoulders for cyclists.  The motorists would be happy as we'd be out of their way and we'd be happy because we wouldn't worry so much about getting killed by some inattentive teen texting their bff.

Hunt for the Packer Game in the Ozarks

I woke up the morning of the 5th in Ellington.  I had stayed at Wayne's house from warmshowers.org.  It turns out he is an adventure racer and a 4 time Ironman.  He was in Madison for the last Ironman, so that was a good topic to chat about.  He told me about how people with stories about overcoming disabilities or medical challenges in their life can sometimes get into the Hawaii Ironman, which is really hard to do otherwise.  So who knows, I might try that if I can learn to swim (long distance)

As I was getting around that morning I thought, "How cool would it be to just come across a sports bar where I knew the Packer Viking game would be on?  That would be nice."  I took this day off from any programs just so I could watch this game of monumental proportions, especially since Favre is now suiting up in Purple.  I never thought I'd see that day.  It was such an obscure thought that it never even crossed my mind as a possibility.  I wanted to stop in Centerville, ditch my stuff at a motel and find somewhere to watch the game.  I got to centerville only to find out it was far to small and had nowhere to stay or watch the game.  I met an old man at the top of a hill, cyclist, and he said I could camp there.  I was hoping that he'd say he was a foot ball fan and I could watch it at his house, since he was a friendly guy and we had good conversation.  nope.  oh well.  I just kept on going.  I met two cyclists headed for the west coast.  And people think I'm late.  They are way late and are going to freeze their royal tushes off in the rockies.  I hope they've got warm bags.  One of them told me about how rude drivers had been in the Ozarks.  They shout as they pass F&$* You!  And I said, that was funny cause I hadn't got that.  I kid you not, 30 seconds later someone passes yelling that out their window.  "It just must be some vibe you give off" I told him.

I continued onward on my mission to find the game thinking I'd have to go 40 more miles to Ironton.  I went about 25 and the hills were good but not as insane as the previous couple of days with all the false summits.  Those are what really get to you, when you think you've arrived at the top and you wiped out and you see 2 more hills to climb, so you do it and you see another little one still to go up.  The hills and I have exchanged some words....or...just kind of a one sided conversation I suppose.

I was crossing the county line and I looked to the left and there was a campsite.  I looked on the end of it and as if it was put there just for me, just for this night of the most anticipated monday night game ever, a sports bar AND Grill!  I was in luck cause I was was starving.  I walked in just to make sure they were playing the game and I was met by an overtly friendly campground manager and he was like "well baseball is over, so yeah, we'll have the game on."  Had I gotten there only to hear him say, no we're watching base ball....I'm not even sure what I would have said, but I was in luck.  I wasn't sure how I was going to react to this game until I watched it.

I watched the pregame and they were lovin on Favre which is nice concidering there have been so many favre haters since he switched or can't make up his mind...cut him some slack, he's getting old.  I wasn't happy at all with Ted Thompson or Mike for not letting him come back.  He was the face of the packers franchise (they didn't like that)  you let him come back.  So for the first time in my entire life I found myself rooting for the team opposing the packers.  I still hopped the packers did well cause they are a great team.  But Favre is my favorite athlete who has ever played any sport, so as long as he's manning a ship I'll be on his crew.  He's one of the greatest competitors to ever play the game, no matter what color he's wearing.  He had an amazing game too!  as did Rogers, but I was glad to see Favre come out on top.  It was an action packed high scoring game, so it even kept the Missouri watchers intrigued.  They had their southern accent and some of them were drunk on top of that.  These two guys sounded like Boomhower on King of The Hill.  You couldn't hardly understand a single word they said.  There's no way that was english.  Favre said it wasn't that much sweeter than anyother victory, but he was playing the good sport cause there's no way it wasn't so sweet to get back at the team you served for so long that rejected you in the end.  That had to feel good.  He put up career high numbers for his last game in his 30's.  That guy is amazing.  Go Brett Favre!!

Springfield, MO (added blog about it)

I didn't really cover springfield all that well.  So this is going to be an additional post about it.

There was a cool youth group, part the confirmation that came to watch.  They had a youth director with a Bright Yellow office.  I mean, it was pretty crazy.  Her name was Kate, there by making her Crazy Kate.  I really liked their pastor who had a lot of energy and was just very welcoming.  We had half a day to look around so we went to the Bass Pro Shop.  We had food and looked at all the gear and all the fish.  I wanted to use some of the gear so I could catch one of those big fishes, but I with held myself.

The other Springfield gig turned out alright too.  I wasn't so sure about it.  since we were waiting and about 15 minutes before the show there was still no one around...anywhere.  We just sat there.  I said to her, " think this is our first bust."  She thought so too.  But then at about 10 minutes before it was to start, people started trickling in, and they were a really great group to play for.    I finally played my new song correctly, so that was nice.  They seemed to really enjoy the stories.   I closed with the piano story, which I've been meaning to do but had been forgetting and I think it made for a good closing followed by the the old time favorite "Lord I lift."  It's usually a sure bet that everyone knows that song.

Now, it's late and I'm tired.  

Peace,

Joe