Greta's eleventh birthday

Safe and sound at the Gunderson's home in Omaha, NE.

Justin, my hero.

Justin, a technical customer service super star.

Thanks for all you did in restoring imaging service to my phone. See you on the next trip.

The finest "Mom & Pop" motel in the world...

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing" Helen Keller

Well, it's almost good afternoon and I'm still in Tekamah. Cathy just phoned and reminded me that Omaha is still a long way to go. It's hard to explain the way these small towns just seem to make you feel at home. The feeling that people care about you, and your safety is so powerful.

Back to last evening: I enjoyed pizza in Decatur, and even though it was after 5:00 pm, I decided to continue riding. The day had been cloudy and warm, and the headwinds strong. Tekamah was still sixteen miles ahead. Once pedaling, the temperature began to drop and suddenly the wind stopped. The road was level and lightly traveled. Wow, I'm enjoying this ride!
Then it happened, light rain at first followed by a serious downpour. Rain suit and headlight on, I continued riding. In a strange way it was mystical. An occasional truck would pass as the rain fell. With no idea of what was ahead, and an earlier message from Cathy saying there were no hotels in Tekamah, I just accepted my fate, that it would be another night of "rocky" camping.
Well, the rain stopped, and on my left was the most welcoming "Mom & Pop"motel I had ever seen. Mekonnen, owner and operator, cheerfully greeted me and affirmed he had vacancy.
I was thrilled and so excited to see a clean, and well maintained facility. What a miracle God brought to me this evening!

Within minutes Mekonnen had introduced me to his wife Gema, and opened his home to me.
After a superb shower (with excellent water pressure), he drove me about a mile to a Subway.
I bought dinner and headed back for a most comfortable night's rest.
Mekonnen is a person of great faith and compassion. He arrived in America from Ethiopia in 1985. Prior to America, he had spent a year in Germany, and some time working on a vineyard just outside of Rome, Italy.

He met his Mexican-American wife, Gema, sixteen years ago and they have two beautiful daughters. (Tsehaynesh, age 12, and Nurit, age 9) At some point I would like to share details of Mekonnen's quest to find a long lost son in Mongolia. However, we will save those details for later, since it's a long story. Mekonnen and Gema, along with girls journeyed to Ulaan Bataar, Mongolia, about six weeks ago, and suffice to say they successfully located his son, Onon.

This morning, I enjoyed good conversation with fellow motel guests, Ray and Bonnie.
They are from Mountain View, CA (Home of Google) and were visiting Ray's boyhood home.
They have two daughters, Tara, and Trista, and all enjoy living in California.
Ray informed me he was sixty-five, but to be honest, he looks like fifty. Bonnie, also is retired but she couldn't be a day over forty-five. Ray worked for Stanford University in a "high tech" department.

At breakfast with Ray and Bonnie, I was introduced to Noretta, (61 year resident of Tekamah)
who now manages the local historical society museum. Talk about enthusiasm, she has it.
I'm posting from an old Carnegie library with three work stations. Once again how wonderful that small towns provide library resources for their citizens.

I'm now off to Omaha, to stay with dear friends Nick & Angelique, and their three children.
Note: First stop in Omaha will be the Sprint Store. Maybe we can post pictures tomorrow?
In the meantime, your collective imaginations will supply everything you need to feel this journey.

Enjoy a fine Friday!