Trek29-32 Monday-Thursday July 15-18

Well we got up early 5:45 AM wanting to leave early at 6-6:15. I checked my bike and find a broken spoke. It is a simple one to fix so I take the time to fix it we are late getting started, 7:00 AM. We head out on route 36 again from Phillipsburg, KS. 7 miles into the day I am drafting close to Luke and hit his tire and loose my balance and fall right and land hard on the pavement. I hit my shoulder and hip, did a roll in the grass and pop right up. Not sure how my feet came out of my clips but I rolled free from the bike. Ben and Keith watched the whole thing and said it looks horrific. They missed me and did not run into me. They stopped and asked if I was OK, I quick asked if my bike was OK. I said I can heal the bike cannot. The front fender was broken but everything else seemed fine, then I checked my wounds. My shoulder and upper arm are bleeding, my hip is brush burned and my elbow and other knee and.... I did not hit my head. I put ointment on and we are off riding. That was actually the worst fall I ever had on a bicycle in my life. I basically healed in 2 days. yea!! It seemed like my day because I did get the 12th flat later in the day. What a great campsite in Belleville, KS at Rocky Pond Community Park. We had some rain which sent us to celebrate at DQ for some ice cream. We started memorizing James chapter 3. We went 96 miles.

Trek30 We went 86 miles and ended at Seneca. We wanted to leave early again to beat the heat so we left at 7:00 AM. We get in to a great camp by a lake with a pavilion. The engine light came on in the van for a second time, as Karen did other things I took the rest of the team to the local pool to cool off and I tried to find a mechanic for the car and a bike shop for my bike because we found another broken spoke. With a Dodge dealer in town we set up an appointment for the next morning. No bike shop in town. I try to fix the spoke myself. I have one tool but need another since I have a different wheel (I figure that out after reading a maintenance book and watching a Utube video and wasting an hour.) I duck tape the spoke so it doesn't effect any thing else but ride a wobbly wheel all the next day. My nite was restless since my 'stuff'' is not 'perfect'. I can worry, I try to cast my cares on the Lord. God is good!!!!

Trek31 I let the guys sleep in so I can take the van to the shop. I take it at 8:00 AM, with some encouragement to get to the van. The computer diagnosis says that the 5th cylinder is misfiring like it was is Spokane, WA on the way out. We determined things would be fine until we got home in the next 2000 miles. I put some fuel injection cleaner in the gas tank and decided to use a higher grade gas. I gained some confidence that we will be OK. We take off at about 9:45 AM, a later start. We travel 74 miles, cross over into MO. and camp at Beacon RV park in St. Joseph. MO.  RV attendant likes to help cross-country bikers so we got the only tent site for free. Thanks!!!!!  We have been doing much better at getting less expensive camp sites. Thank you Heavenly Father and Karen's frugileness. During lunch I received an email from Bob, a friend from the Phillipburg church. He offered his home 15 miles south of St. Joseph but Karen had already got the free site on our route. Thanks Bob. In conversation he was able to locate a by appointment only bike repair person in St. Joe's. Thanks Shawn for fixing the spoke and realigning the wheel and the great conversation about living for Christ. In Christ alone we are saved and not by works. Ephesians 2.8-9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast."

Trek32 With my 'stuff'' fixed we try to leave in good time, 8:00 AM. At 93 degrees, lots of humidity, rolling hills and a tail wind, we make good time. We stop for McDonald sundaes and get into camp about 3:50, Pershing State Park, MO. We ride into camp and camp is set up. The support team is doing an amazing job, set up and tear down of camp, great meals and cleanup, etc. Karen is amazing, pray for her strenght, she is definitely working out of her comfort zone in finding camps, grocery stores in new cities and working out of the van. She is making fabulous meals and keeping us full of energy and water. Yea!!!! I think I sweated the most today of any day. We broke 2000 miles for our whole trip and we put in 90 miles.