Better late than never

I finally got some pictures from dad. Out of 500 pictures (yes, that's right...500), I had to pick and choose a few to post here. Some are a bit old, but they're better late than never, right?

This is Jack and Jane VanZytveld from Denver, CO. They are friends of mom and dad's when we lived in Denver and he stayed with them during his weekend stop there.Here is dad with his Uncle Henry and Aunt Anita Van Maanen and his neice, Jennie Feenstra, who all live in Iowa.

Only 5 more days to go!

Heading east

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to be at 5/3rd Ballpark for the celebration rally because of a sick child, but my two brothers and their families were able to attend. Here's dad with the rest of the family.

My brother, Dave, lives in Lansing so they got another chance to visit with him during his stay at Sleepy Hollow Park. Like I mentioned earlier, he can't pass up an ice cream opportunity. Here, he's enjoying some ice cream with his granddaughters (and Dave).

Nice tan lines, dad!

Only two more weeks to go. My mom is heading out to New York this week to visit family and see dad again next weekend. She's then going to pick him up in New Jersey. I can't believe we're reaching the end.

An Eastmanville welcome

On Saturday, the tour came through Eastmanville on their way to Grand Rapids. The Feenstra family set up a cheering squad in front of dad's sister, Jan Everman's, house. My cousin, Janet, sent me some pictures to post.

Here's dad with his parents, John and Joyce Feenstra

Dad's cousin, LaVonne Koedam, is the head cook for the Sea to Sea tour. She stopped to say hi to the family as well.

Dad and Clarence Doornbos (also from LaGrave).

This weekend, dad is resting up at home and getting ready for the final 2 weeks on the tour. Another bicyclist, Hans Van Dooyeweert, has also been staying at his house. I got a chance to talk with him a bit. It turns out he lives quite close to my brother/sister-in-law in the Vancouver area.

It was nice to see dad again and listen to his and Hans' stories and encounters on the road. He said it hasn't quite sunk in yet that he has just biked 3,000 miles. He has lost some weight, despite the fact that every picture I see of him in other biker's blogs, he's either standing in the food line or has a plate of food in his hand. :) I'm told by other bikers that he has not been able to pass an ice cream stand without stopping. Somehow, that doesn't surprise me.

I got some pictures from dad (500 of them to be exact). I still have to upload them and I'll post some of them as soon as I can. Stay tuned!

A little behind

Wow, I've been a little behind in updating dad's blog. Sorry about that. So far, dad's updates include that "everything's going fine." While he's starting to get a bit tired, he's still doing great and biking every mile. Yesterday in Woodstock, my cousins, Bonnie and Eric, surprised him with a visit and brought him one of his favorite food items - chocolate chips. She sent me a picture to prove he's still alive (and eating).

He received some more mail and care packages. A big thank you to all who sent him something! The next mail stop is in St. Catharines, ON and needs to be there by August 23.

This week they'll be arriving in Grand Rapids. It turns out the bike route goes less than 1/2 mile from his house in Allendale. We'll be along side the road cheering them all on. Some friends of ours, Jim Reiffer, Jason Reiffer, and Dave & Jenny Wenger, are joining the bike tour on Saturday for the day. We wish them the best! Hope you guys can keep up with them! (Just kidding).

Until next time...

Moving ahead

After a nice weekend and much needed rest in Denver, dad was excited to head out on the next leg of the tour. His cold is almost gone and his knee feels great. His bike was fixed for free at a local bicycle shop in town, so all is going well.

He said, though, that one rider (Cynthia) fell on Monday and broke her pelvis after trying to dodge something in the roadway and is now in a Colorado hospital. How disappointing this must be for her. She is in our prayers and we hope for quick healing.

Now...if only he'd send some photos! :)

An upsetting spill

Dad made it to Denver yesterday, but not without injury. Soon after they got into Denver, dad took a spill. A bike in front of him was slowing down and dad's front tire ran into the other person's back tire and down he went. He apparently scraped up his knee pretty bad. His bike was damaged in the process as well. Like last Thursday's Shifting Gears devotional states, "Despite your best efforts to avoid it, you will fall." It also states, "When it happens, your beloved bike will be scratched, your body will pick up some road rash and your pride will be wounded." But we are assured that God will "lift up the fallen, no matter what kind of fall it is." We are thankful he wasn't injured more. I heard another rider broke his collar bone in several places and is off the tour. Let's continue to pray for safety of all the cyclists.

This weekend he is staying with some old friends in Denver, Jack and Jane VanZytveld. This will give him a chance to get over his head cold and give his knee a rest. He's also taking his bike into a local bike shop to get the front wheel repaired. He was glad to received a few letters and care packages this week. The next mail stop is in Madison, WI on August 9. You can send mail to:

Roger Feenstra/Sea to Sea Bike Tour
Crossroads Church
3815 S. Dutch Mill Road
Madison, WI 53718

'Till next time...

A personal record

Sorry it's been so long between updates. I got a chance to talk to dad a couple nights ago. He said biking through the mountains has been extremely tiring, but is going as well as can be expected. So far, he's been able to finish every mile. He's currently suffering from a head cold, but we all know that won't slow him down. In fact, he hit a personal best for speed. He hit 42 miles per hour on one of the descents.

I asked him how hard it is for the geologist in him to bike past the rock formations and not stop to take pictures or give lessons on sedimentary rock layers. He said he's so focused on getting through, he's actually passing by some of it. I wonder if the heat is getting to him...I didn't think it was possible to NOT stop at an educational rock moment.

Anyway, he's spending the weekend at our old stomping grounds. We lived in Denver during the 80's and my brothers and I were once Denver Christian Crusaders.

We ask for your continued prayers for dad and all the other bicyclists as they are finishing their "climb" to Denver and beginning their descent towards Grand Rapids. Hopefully, I'll receive some more pictures to post soon. Stay tuned!

A tough day

Well, after 19 days of biking, dad finally had not one, but TWO flat tires on Friday caused by some wire on the roadway. They have a very difficult day today - 95 miles with the last 20 miles of it climbing almost 6,000 feet. Tomorrow is Sunday so they have a day off from biking with a celebration rally in Salt Lake City.

I found a news article from Thursday that shows dad in the video clip.

http://www.magicvalley.com/articles/2008/07/17/news/local_state/140539.txt

'Till next time...

More Sea to Sea in the News

Dad called during a banana break right in the middle of Highway 84. It's not everyday you can stand along side a highway and make a phone call. He said things are going well. They have a couple of long, tough days ahead of them.

Here's another news story about Sea to Sea.

http://www.kmvt.com/news/local/25522854.html?video=YHI&t=a

Some recent news:

Arnie Issette (from my church - Fellowship Church in Big Rapids) tore his achilles tendon and was forced to quit the race. He will be flying home to Michigan to see if surgery is necessary. We were sorry to hear the news about Arnie and hope he has a quick recovery. In an earlier phone call to the church, he said this ride was a "life-changing experience".

Other news heard through the grapevine:

A porta-potty fell off the truck right in the middle of the road. I'd hate to be the one to clean that one up.

The food trailer came unhitched and was caught by the safety chains. Uh oh!

Stay tuned for more updates.

Photos

Dad finally sent me some photos. Enjoy!