making headway, in headwinds

So first, a correction...counter to what we were initially told, the ride to Bowling Green was only 97 miles, which means we have not yet had our century ride. If you didn't already notice, I'm not following the mileage that the Bike and Build website states, because it's almost always wrong (except to Bowling Green).

However we did cross the much-awaited 1,000 mile threshold today! In 15 days of riding, which seems like a pretty big accomplishment, but the days are going to get longer and longer...

We had some great hosts in Bowling Green, at the First Presbyterian Church. They fed us really really really well, as I am finding to be a trend across this here USA. The Reverend, Steve Moulton, is an alum of UM Law School (they're more friendly to the Wolverines in the northern portion of Ohio), practiced law for a while, then at 45 decided to study at a seminary, and became an ordained minister. Pretty amazing change of pace. He was a very happy, welcoming, and insightful man. He was the first pastor/reverend/minister/churchperson to ask any of us if we affiliated ourselves with what he called a "faith-movement". Maybe two of the thirty twentysomethings raised their hands (and reluctantly, too). At that moment, realizing we were in near-rural Ohio, I feared he may preach to us about something God-ly, but really surprised me when he argued that he saw Bike and Build as a faith-movement regardless of its secular nature. He applauded what we were doing as the future of religion, where people are driven to affect some important issue, and are able to come together in a movement of the fundamental faith in humanity. It was a really basic concept, a simple connection to make, but incredibly profound coming from a man of Christian faith. He really seemed to be in touch with the changing nature of religion in America, or the spread of secular humanism, and was able to respond to it with great wisdom. To say the least, he was inspiring.

We're in Michigan now, finally out of Ohio. Seriously, the only time I actually enjoyed Ohio was when I wasn't riding through it. On today's ride, we met a disgruntled old man who screamed at Sharon when she decided to take a walk through his field of grass (she was actually going to find a place to go to the bathroom, but he didn't know that). He proceeded to get in his car, because the 200 yard walk was much too far, stop his car just short of Michelle's head, and give us a lesson in private property etiquette. Because apparently we, in our biking attire, look like a bunch of trouble-makers. I know he was just trying to protect his precious land, but he was just rude. He was an Ohio State fan (as evidenced by his OSU cap, shirt, and license plate, "OSU FN"), and when he got back in his car and closed the door, I glared at him and screamed "GO BLUE". Whatever.

So the ride through Ohio. We were on very busy and very dangerous roads for all but probably the last 15 miles. Anyway, we're in the south-central part of Mich, in a small town called Camden. I mean tiny. But the gas station had soft-serve ice cream, even Flurries, and the church has wireless, so I'm quite content. We're at the amazingly tech-savvy United Methodist Church...seriously, I've not seen so many computers in one church before. The sanctuary has two (with a/v/mixing equipment galore), there is one in the Fellowship Hall, and a bank of them in another room. Pastor Ed is a former computer programmer, and he teaches computer classes at the church, so the place is hoooked up. And the place is pristine...the lawn perfectly manicured, beautiful stained-glass windows, and just really well-maintained. Its probably the nicest looking building in the entire town, and certainly its pinnacle.

The ride here was only supposed to be 78 miles, but I ended up going 94. Don't ask, I just went 7 miles too far on one road, thinking I was on another. It was really frustrating, almost ruined my day. But I made it, and after going 97 the previous day, arrived exhausted, had a great meal, but two presentations to give following dinner. One to the congregation, and another to the group for our weekly affordable housing meeting. It was a stressful day, but thankfully everything is over and it all went pretty well.

So, traveling west, we have to deal with this thing called a headwind. Yeah, about that, it sucks. We haven't hit the worst of it yet, but yesterday (Wed) the headwind kept most of us from going over 15 mph. I mean you are pedaling as hard as you can, and its kind of like riding uphill (not too steep) for 97 miles, because you just don't go fast. Its frustrating. Add to that the wind created from the 4 or 5 tractor trailers passing you per second. We were on a busy route that parallels I-90, so the truckers who don't want to pay Ohio tolls take this same road instead. And the shoulder is only two feet wide. It was messy. Lots of close calls, but fortunately no cyclist splatter.

I gotta go to bed, another 75 miles tomorrow, then our first centruy (for real this time) to Chicago(!) on Saturday. By the way, Michigan has better state signs...Ohio's were boring.