Day 28 New Ulm - Owatonna

Day 28 New Ulm - Owatonna

Essence - Being a “Be’er”

Starting our day in the dorm seems like it would be easier, but I often feel that iti s not. We are just a little bit out of our rhythms on dorm days. True we have no tents or sleeping bags to roll up, but still we are just out of rhythm and ultimately have to walk farther to carry our bags to the truck.

This morning was especially hectic, because my cook team also had lunch duties. Lunch prep is where we setup a folding table, about 6 loaves of bread, 3 jars of peanut butter, bushells of bananas, oranges and other fruit, boxes and boxes of granola bars and other snacks and within 20 minutes, a hurricane of activity occurs and all that is left are a few heals of bread, some spilled jelly, 2 or 3 sickly, bruised and lonely pieces of fruit and a bunch of empties boxes. Not all 50 people can descend on the table at once. There jsut isn’t enough space. It usally seems to be a rolling group of about 10 or so folks. Sometimes you make it hte first group and you get prime pickin’s sometimes youare oin the last group and you get the dregs. Nobody complains when they are the last ones and get the limited selection of the goodies. But if you can make the early groups and get your favorite treats, it is like Christmas. Fruit snacks are popular and go quickly. I love the cheesy spread cracker sandwiches. now I have to be careful because there will be teh cheesy crackers with the peanut butter filliings. Those are not as good. I alreadyusually have 2 PB&J sandwiches and a few PB flavored clif bars, so variety is key. Everytime I come up to the table I am first looking for hte cheesy crackers. Everyone else has they “gotta have it” items as well. Some folks go for the fruit. Others are after teh fruti snacks. It all balnaces out, but it sort of is like playing a game and you are lookng for the right cards to draw into your hand.

So on to my day. After lunch prep we, had catered breakfast in the cafeteria at the college. I walked over, leaving my bike int he dorm, so by the time I walked back after b’fast and got my bike, my regular Scott Train Team had already departed so I rode out by myself.

Feeling good, as I often doo after rest days, I was in a happy mood and buzzing along. Light crosswinds were going to be the order of the day and I was already fighitng them.

A bit further up, I passed Michael Yee, who said the gang was lookng for me so I pushed it a bit and ccaught the “train”. Stephen and I pushed it a bit and brok out of the train. Good conversation today. Some days we don’t talk much, but today was a chatty day and the miles just melted around us as we pushed through the winds.

Coming through Mankato, Stephen was ready his guid and almost missed the water stop. Which was kinda funny considering that his wife, Polie -our ride director, was there waiting at the stop. He gets kisses from his sweeite as abonus at each water stop, and would certainly be reason for me to make sure I didn’t miss a water stop.

Back onthe road in Mankato, I happen to think that is was Sunday and about 9:00 a.m. I thought it was about church time. Since Stephen and I had bee maikng good time and were feeling good, I offered if would like to stop for church if we found a convenient church having service. He, said yes, and not 1 1/2 blocks further we came upon a Methodist church on our right, right on the corner, we whipped around and pulled in. Fully decked out in my Harpoon Beer spandex riding costume I inquired with the Reverend if they would let us 2 vagabonds join there service, since we were on our quest and a long way from home. We were welcomed with open in arms and hit timing perfectly. Sevice was an hour and started in 5 minutes. That worked out great that is wasn’t a huge multi hour break for us.

We found some seats at the rear, not wanting to inflict our sweatiness on to m any people. Fortunately the overcast morning had kept us fairly humane. We visited with the folks around her whow were all abuzz as many of them had driven passed all of us on their way to church. And moments later I was thrilled to see a 3rd rider, Alex also come in for the service. As service started and greetings were spread we were officially welcomed by the Reverend, which was very nice as we felt comfortable but definitely stuck out like sore thumbs.

Sevice was good. The message highlighted the difference in life between the “Do’ers” in the world and the “Be’ers” in the world. I definitely identified with his description fo being a Do’er but this message highlighted the importance of taking the time to stop, and listen and be in the moment, of God, of Friends of whatever. It was exactly what I needed to hear for this trip. So many days had I rushed through to get that days ride done, that I have sometimes missed the historical marked stops, or the just stopping and watching.

Even this stop at church was a “Be’ing” moment. That is one part of my life that I need to embrace more whole heartedly and it was good and powerful to even get that message from God today.

After the service many people were talking with us about our journey and what we were doing. It was nice to be a Be’er for those moments and meet those folks. To accept their genuine well wishes and encouragements was rejuvenating. I did ask the Reverend to keep our dear Dr. Brack in prayers for a quick and healthy recovery and the Reverend was only to happy to pass that word along for prayer fromthe whole congregation.

I left church energized and missing, my homne church and church family back in Phoenix. After a quick text message to a few chruch friends back home, to greet their service. we were roling again.

The hour break, certainly had stiffened up the legs. And now we were full on dead last of the riders. WE go warmed back up and Stephen called Pollie so she wouldn’t worry had we had gone from daily leaders to the daily tail.

Resuming our battle agains, cross winds we rode with energy and fulfillment. Feeling like Peter, as Jesus had becomed him to walk on water, I felt like I could keep up the overly fast pace as we regained time on the group. The service provided Stephen and I more topics of discussion and that distraction had as much influence on our legs as the rest from the day before.

The traffic is getting in heavier and righ now the roads are tough. Sloppy and broken shoulders have us “White lining” it a lot of the time. Riding that white line at the right edge of traffic, makes for tense an tiring days as we spend so much time and energy “playing in traffic.”

Even with our church stop we were in by 1:30. Vern’s home, Owatonna provided a huge family welcoming party opportunity, with pie for everyone and even his 92 year old mother here to greet him. Vern, in his 70s, is one of the oldest riders and it such a character and great person. It was so wonderful to see his reception and the homecoming, temporary as it is. The celebration of the day just seemed to contiune.

Tented, showered, pied and snacked it was time for a nap. And I was really looking forward to it. The wind was cool and gave a nice breeze and with looming thunderclouds, climbing in my tent felt like that warm safe place that our favorite blanket felt to us as a kid. The nap was cool a the rustle of the rain fly just soothed me to sleep as I was glad to be so near the environment yet out of its harshness. Ahhh......zzzzzzzzz..........

2 hours later, I woke uyp to find I had been deserted as everyone had gone out for $10 dinner. Rubbing my eyes and clearing the naptime cobwebs, I was trying to decide what to do for dinner, when Ane came to visit and reported ont he local Mexican Food discovery just across the street. Having just left there, she joined me for the company and off we went, and found many 15 other riders. Sort of like like being a sheep and rediscoerying your flock I was back in the fold and all was good.

The plate was hot (as all good mexican restaurants should serve) and the Chile Colorado was pretty good. Not like Arizona, but then it is Minnesota so I couldn’t be too picky. A good dinner, a good conversation and I was yet again reminded of what a woman wants and needs. As I guy I can never be reminded of that enough sometimes and it was good to be reminded of that.

Back at camp, I made my tomorrows lunch as one of the last ones and was happy for the fruit snacks I managed to acquire. Then I discovered my 3rd flat of the trip. A slow rear tire leak that I thought I had felt earlier in the day, when my tire felt spongy. Feeling at peace and a little more like a Be’er I changed my tube in now particular hurry and found the offending puncturer.

It was a peaceful day. I did not take a single picture. Today was day of feelings and moments, that pictures and scenes could not capture. Just a day of feeling right. A day of listening, if you will. Listening to God, listening to friends, listening to my body, listening to the soothing voices on the wind... and taking all those sounds into my soul.

Maybe today was even a day of changing...




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