Here is a picture of the Mississippi River from a high point above the river that we have biked along for almost a week. It has been a very beautiful part of the bicycle trip. In fact all of the trip has been so great in terms of seeing the country. Pedaling along at 10 mph you see everything and smell everything on both sides of the road. It truly is an awesome touring experience.
Another aspect of a bicycle trip like this is the hours and hours of solitude, and the thinking, pondering, reflecting, creative thinking that goes along with that solitude. It is marvelously renewing and rejuvenating for me. I am very much an introvert by nature and though I love everyone at JBC very much, I get drained emotionally little by little over time and lose my passion and fire for ministry and don’t even realize how much until I get away on a trip like this, and start to feel the fire coming back with more heat each day. Pastoring is a teaching job, but mostly it is a leadership responsibility, and the leadership is a modeling style that requires enthusiasm and a contagious attitude that draws and attracts people to a way of living. A tired and dull man doesn’t motivate and attract much.
This trip has been an experience of a lifetime and I am so thankful to The Lord and all those in my life that I have been able to experience what most just dream about.
Today we we started pedaling at Dyersville and finished at Muscatine, Iowa. We went 87 miles in about 10 hours. Rained a little at the start and was overcast all day but cool is good when you are pushing hard on those pedals all day. Some favorable winds today. The worst was a side wind that occasionally would swing around and give us a good push. Lots of fun having a 13 mph tail wind occasionally. The hills were as many but much less steep and tall. We had a good day. The ladies drive up 10 miles ahead of us and when we get to where they are parked reading, talking or sleeping they jump out with water, bananas, gator aid, cookies, etc, and I always get big kiss from Patty, and a comment on how macho my legs are looking 🙂
tomorrow morning we cross the Mississippi River into Illinois and say goodby to Iowa. We are planning on an 80 mile day. The roads look way flatter and it is forcast to be clear but cold with a high of 60 degrees.
I love you all very much. Dee
Pastor Dee's Blog 
I really appreciate your words about solitude and how rejuvenating it can be. I get mine hunting and fishing, just being by myself out in God’s great creation and although I am no pastor and certainly not a leader, I truly understand what you mean.
And I’m glad for such a great support team that you have.
Bless you all. You are ALL inspiring!
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Great job, Dee! You are really cruising. Waiting for the dancing (not the singing) as you cross the Mississippi. Build that fire and ignite the rest of us as you come home, share the salmon to your second favorite pastor’s group, and encourage Ricky to get rid of the red in his reports! Love ya!
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Hi Dee! Be encouraged that even while you are ‘taking a break’ on this bicycle trip, your written words are still impacting us here at home. Keep up the good faith; God will do the rest! I too spent numerous hours on a mountain bike during my initial years as a new christian and indeed, it was a very fruitful and fulfilling time. It really doesn’t matter how you get it, but time alone in the spirit and a chance to refresh yourself is a huge part of our christian walk. Prayers for a refreshed ride to the finish! Your are already well-prepared for the challenges…
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