Previous blog post was sent prematurely (a frequent problem I have)
Sunday
Sioux Falls SD to Spirit Lake IA
89 miles
Travel Time 7 hours
Saddle Time 6:15
470 miles this week
1,972 miles over 4 weeks
A great day riding. Wind at my back and my friends riding with me. (Two in minivan geocaching, and one alternating cycling). I finished up at the home of the brother of Pam from the office! Not Pam from The Office. Pam Cerny, from my office, grew up here in Iowa (which explains the corn stalks growing around her cubicle). She hooked me up with her family to stay with!
Today I passed a guy, from CT biking west from Portland Maine to Portland Oregon. He wasn’t carrying any gear. It turns out his wife drives ahead and finds a hotel for them, and he bikes all day. Interesting!
Ok, so I’m halfway home. Sue and I are thinking of throwing a day long party on my arrival at long Beach Island NJ. Depending on whether I go to Cleveland or not, and depending on the wind, and depending on a bunch of other factors, I might be home Saturday Aug 9th. LBI is 2 and half hours from Westchester NY, if you leave at the recommended 7am on a Saturday. We will be supplying all the food and drink, breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you think you and your family would be interested in a day at the beach, please EMAIL Sue and myself by this Wed. Sgfuirst@gmail.com. And. Kfuirst@gmail.com. This is just tentative at this point and we are not asking for commitment, just a sense of how many would consider coming.
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Ken. I think I’m not alone waiting for this blog to hit. We are hooked. Series hot of summer. Always look forward to next episode. Keep oedaking. Way to go!
Pedaling.
Saw Ethan this weekend!
He is so proud of you!!
I expressed how amazing I thought your journey is….
Xo
Iowa (and my family) look great! You are making me very homesick! Be sure to eat pie…and then more pie. Be safe and enjoy!
Ken, if your route and time allows, ride through Clarinda and Gravity Iowa. Clarissa is the birthplace of Glenn Miller the Big Band Era. Gravity, well you will see the town sign and it will make you laugh.
Hi Ken, Love reading your blog! I have always believed all Americans should travel from coast to coast to better understand and appreciate our country. I followed a southern route and went from the north fork of Long Island to San Diego–by car! It’s hard to comprehend biking the entire way.
If I had known you were going through Iowa I would have hooked you up with my family. I was just there last month. I grew up in Sheffield which is 30 miles from Mason City, home of Meredith Wilson who wrote “Music Man”. Yes, I marched in the Band Parade with the trombones for a number of years. You probably will see grain elevators (silos) with the name Sukup on them. They are manufactured in my little town which is one reason the town of 1100 people has survived.
I’m glad to see the corn is growing.
Safe travels and please keep writing.
Jan
ok so I will meet you in Iowa..im on my way, riding my bike there, I wish..did ten miles yesterday..what a whimp..2000 miles Ken so far..AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DID I SAY AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! maybe I did not..
anyway keep going man with the troops..remember for those who read the posts please donate as it helps Ken raise money for our Veterans Initiatives and homes most of you worked on…
God bless,
JJK
http://www.habitatwc.org
I told you should have had a pit crew riding with you. You wouldn’t have needed to carry anything. I’m sure if you had asked my boss he would have let me go with you for 2 months 🙂