Arrived safely in Tekamah, NE, &
found just the perfect motel.
The Lord works miracles when you least expect. Details in the AM.
Good night.

I just crossed the Missouri into NE.
Lewis & Clark passed this point.
How cool to think of what they felt at this location.

Back in College... (Sioux City to Tekamah,NE)

Greetings from the campus of Morningside College in Sioux City, IA.

"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page" St. Augustine

What better way to start your day than by going to the library. Yes, I'm typing this post from a library on the campus of Morningside College. And wow, it's a blazing fast net connection.

First, let's step back to yesterday afternoon when I arrived at LeMars, IA. and proceeded directly to the Blue Bunny Ice Cream visitors center and ice cream shop. In 1993, the Iowa State Legislature proclaimed LeMars as the Ice Cream Capital of the World. All I know is this ice cream was our friend, Hertha's favorite treat. At the counter, Barb cheerfully greeted me and told me a little history of the company, and informed me that my bicycle route would go right in front of the production plant. At one point, this plant consumed the daily milk from more than 45,000 cows. Eventually, you will see a picture of Barb hard at work, just making people happy.
As I scanned this active establishment you could see multiple groups of smiling and laughing individuals. I guess ice cream adds something to life that we all need.

Back on the saddle, it was another super hot afternoon with oven like gusting winds.
Was it five, or maybe six Gatorades I gulped down? You really get thirsty on a hot and windy day. Finally, on the horizon, I caught a glimpse of the first TV tower outside of Sioux City.
Funny how on a bike you notice different things. For example, you have lots of time to see how vistas change from a geographic perspective. Small farms have given way to large spreads that can be seen for miles. When you first spot a small town it's usually the church steeple, a water tower, or a grain elevator. For larger cities like Sioux City, the TV towers and high tension power grids are first noted.

I enjoyed a fine Chinese Buffet dinner (two full plates) and then went soundly to sleep.
Oh, I almost forgot to tell you about Bonnie. She is a night clerk at the "Mom & Pop" motel and had retired after thirty-six years with the former US West. (Qwest today) Just after retiring her husband passed away. Although she has three grown sons, and an 80 acre homestead, she felt the need to return to work. Good for you Bonnie! She was fascinated by the idea of a bike trip and wished she could ride along.

This morning, I pedaled to a specific destination on the Morningside campus. That spot is the Robert M. Lincoln Center. This building named in honor of a dear departed friend, is the center of business study here at the college. Bob and his wife, Shirley, were dynamic supporters of this institution. In 1983, Cathy and I, joined Bob and Shirley on our first trip to Hawaii. Those memories live on in my mind. Thanks to both of you for showing two novices the joy of travel.
Note: about ten years ago Cathy and I returned here to Morningside to see Bob & Shirley's daughter, Sue, receive an honorary Phd.

Helping me locate the library was Ron, a Morningside alumus. He is a full time controller in private industry and also serves as a professor for a local community college. Thanks Ron, for taking my photo and sharing your insight. Once again, you really do meet the nicest people everywhere you travel.

It's time for a good sit-down breakfast,and then time to start pedaling to Tekamah.

Thanks to all for your comments. They add so much to the trip.
The words of encoragement really help you to pedal faster. Enjoy a great Thursday.

Good AM from Sioux City

Sheldon to Sioux City,IA

Top of the morning to everyone.

"A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles" Tim Cahill

If yesterday was an example of what Tim was referring to, then I'm in tune with his thinking.
While pedaling on a bike trail out of Spirit Lake I came up alongside a really "fit" gentleman.
His strong physique and excellent cycling skills were noteworthy. We struck up a conversation, and can you believe he was from my hometown of Cincinnati, OH. Tom had married an Iowa girl and they had spent the last forty years of vacations by Lake Okibogi. The next thing you know he invited me to meet his bride, Marilyn, and his brother in law, Jim and wife Judy. How amazing to learn that Tom lives in Norwood, OH (suburb of Cincy) and that he is a real Bengals fan. What's up with that Green Bay Packer's hat Tom? (Thanks also for your text message)
How about this, Tom was friends with Chuck Mignery, who has a son named Ed.
Ed and I were in the same graduating class. Way to go Coach Ed. (Hamilton High School Football)
Tom's brother in law, Jim, was an active bicyclist in Cincinnati, and rode over twenty years of
a special bicycle tour to Madison, IN. Jim, you should be on this adventure with me.
PS: Jim also rode RAGBRAI in 1983. (Ride across Iowa) It sure was nice enjoying a cool beverage and meeting you at Spirit Lake. Thanks!

Little did I know just how windy the day would become. I stopped for my first DQ lunch in Milford, IA and then proceeded to struggle with a punishing headwind and temps in the upper 80's. Although I was running about three hours behind schedule, I finally arrived about
7:15 pm at Clarice's home in Sheldon, IA.

Let me tell you about this fantastic lady named Clarice. She has a dynamic outgoing personality like you have never seen. A life long resident of Sheldon, Clarice is living a wonderful life that includes many highlights. She celebrated fifty years of marriage before her husband passed, and she was blessed with six children, I believe, 17 grandchildren, and maybe seven or so, great-grandchildren. Immediately, she made me feel so welcome and even allowed me to do laundry.
What a wonderful caring and loving person! Brady, Megan, & Colin, you are really blessed to have such a "cool" grandmother. She took me to a nice restaurant and we had such a neat conversation. I met her friend and "customer" of 25 years, Sandy. Have a great trip to Chicago, Sandy.
You may ask about the word "customer" and how that relates to Clarice and Sandy. Well, Clarice has achieved over 36 years of "Presidents Club" membership with Avon. You should see her awards. There you have it, a beautiful woman with an outgoing personality and an interest in sales. She is awesome.
Clarice, I'm not going to tell all, but suffice to say, what an evening we enjoyed together.
I'm really glad you go to church with that police officer who pulled up behind us with flashing lights on. Ha-ha. Oh my...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Right now I'm typing this post from the beautiful Alton, IA library.
Temps are warming and that old south west wind is in my face. Guess what, I love it!
It's a character builder. Next stop will be LeMars, IA, home of Blue Bunny Ice Cream.
I am definitely planning on lunch at the Blue Bunny museum and visitors store.

Special thanks to all of you who posted comments yesterday. I feel your spirit and love while pedaling. Have a fun day.

NOTE: Tonight I will be in Sioux City, IA and plan on finding a "Sprint" store. Maybe they can solve my image uploading problem. Don't worry, there will be plenty of photos posted.
Cathy, you are right about Rule#2, always learn how to operate technical systems before you really need the service.

Enjoy!

Saint James to Spirit Lake, IA

Good morning everyone,

"Without new experiences, something inside of us sleeps. The sleeper must awaken" Frank Herbert

I enjoyed a beautiful ride from Saint James to Spirit Lake, Ia. Another sunny day with a high near 86.
Hardly any wind in the morning, but as the temperatures climbed the south west breeze increased.
I stopped in Jackson, MN to pay respects to my late friend Bob B. Bob spent many years in Jackson, and Esther, the widow of his best friend, Cobbie, had me over for coffee. We talked about Bob and Cobbie and what a wonderful friendship they enjoyed. Bob, I even took a photo of your old bank. While at Esther's I met Cobbie's cousin Les, and his wife Mary Jo. It was a stimulating conversation.

While in Jackson, I asked directions from a nice couple (Gary & Donna), and they enhanced my ride by highlighting a county road on the west side of Spirit Lake. Beautiful lake homes and cottages surround this magnificent lake. After lingering by the beach I finally arrived at Cenla RV park.
Rule # 1 for rookie campers is: Understand how to inflate a "self-inflating" sleeping pad. Guess what,
Good old Dennis couldn't figure out any method of moving air into the pad. Bottom line, it literally was a "rocky" nights sleep.

After dinner I hiked back to my campsite (overlooking Center Lake) and met Gary and Nancy, from Des Moines. It was their first "camping trip" in a beautiful new motor home. We went inside and talked about touring and how life can take many different directions. Thanks for your hospitality Gary and Nancy. (And may you see all fifty states via motor home)

At about 7:00 am this morning I bicycled into town,and low and behold I saw Gary and Donna at an intersection. We spoke briefly and I continued pedaling. Ten minutes later I asked for directions to a "cafe" or "diner" and was directed to a small downtown cade. I walked in and there was Gary and Donna. Can you believe it? We enjoyed a fine breakfast and they bought. Wow, what a way to start your day.

It's back to the campsite, tear down the tent and begin pedaling to Sheldon.

Note: I have lots of photos to post. Stand by for uploading later.

Good morning!

I enjoyed a peaceful night's rest and just finished breakfast at "Happy Chef".
Cathy, remember all those meals we shared at "Happy Chef" in Clear Lake, IA?

The ride today will go from from Saint James to Spirit Lake, IA with a stop in Jackson, MN.
We have a little fog this morning but the forecast is sunny and 85 degrees.

Enjoy a relaxing labor day holiday.

Text message test post

Day 2 of 42

"He who would travel happily must travel light" Antoine de St. Exupery

Today's ride was fantastic. We were greeted by sunshine and minimal wind. As a matter of fact, the light morning breeze eventually evaporated. By the time I arrived at Larry & Shawn's, New Ulm home there was zero wind. They have three wonderful children (Brit-at the University of MN, Trevor, and Anna) They also have a super nice home in New Ulm.

Larry grilled burgers and chicken, and Shawn prepared everything else including a tasty salad.
It was a real feast, and I especially enjoyed conversation with Trevor and Anna. School starts on Tuesday, however Trevor had already played his first football game. Nice kick-off Trevor!
After lunch we toured the city.

This was my first visit to New Ulm, and I simply fell in love with the city. I suppose it might be my 50% German heritage, but I was impressed with the geographic beauty of rolling land and spectacular vistas of the city. Yes, they took me to the top of Hermann's statue (102 ft) and drove me to Schells Brewery for a photo. Magnificent homes, churches, and buildings cover the land. I stayed five hours in New Ulm and can't wait to return.
Our dear departed friend, Hertha, had lived in New Ulm many years ago and spoke eloquently
about this place. Hertha, you were absolutely right. It's a beautiful city. And what a view from the top of old Hermann!
The ride from New Ulm to Saint James was a piece of cake. You know, bicycling really is a neat way to see the countryside. I'm staying at a Super-8 tonight so it's easy living.
Talk to you tomorrow. (Note: I'm still working on uploading images from my Palm Treo 700.
Why is technology so challenging. Once I learn how to text-message it will be possible to upload photos throughout the day.)

Tomorrow, we ride to Jackson, MN and then navigate into Iowa.

Day 2: Gaylord to St. James (via New Ulm)

We have a beautiful morning here on Lee & Sue's farm near Gaylord.
Breakfast is finished and I'm off to New Ulm.

We're off and touring

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step" Lao Tzu

Saturday morning 7:15 am, we arrived at Lunds Central for coffee and a send off by our booster friends. It was so encouraging to receive such an enthusiastic send-off. Special thanks to Mark and Aaron for taking time for pictures. For today's ride I was joined by Mike and Loren (both accomplished European touring cyclists-they went to France several years ago and bicycled interesting parts of the country.)
Image on the right shows the rear bike tire dipped in the Mississippi River. This is tradition for any long distance bike tour.
Let's talk about the riding...beautiful sunshine, 84 degrees, but unfortunately one mega head wind coming out of the southwest gusting to 25 mph. Oh well, you can't have everything and remember, hot head winds are better than cold rain and 47 degrees.
As we approached our destination (a farm south of Gaylord) we were greeted by Lee and his daughter, Heather, who rode out in their jeep. Then, Spencer and Jon arrived in a 4 wheeler
and began taking photos of us as we faced the final two miles of incessant wind. Check out Jon's images at the link provided. He is a great photographer specializing in wildlife and landscape photography.
As we rode up the farm driveway we were surrounded by Lee and Sue's cheering friends.
What a wonderful experience. Everyone is eating dinner and I'm still typing this post.
It feels great to report that day 1 of 42 is in the record book. (We pedaled for 7-1/2 hours and registered 74 miles on the bike computer.)
74 miles......74 pictures from Jon ....Great start for this Trip!

More pictures from the morning take off! http://www.jonsmithers.com/dennis090107-cathy/
Some really fun pics here.... http://www.jonsmithers.com/dennis090107

One Day To Go

It's Friday morning and just about everything is ready to go. Last evening we had a casual dinner with wonderful friends (see photo above) and made final toasts for the trip. Check out the detail on the cool cake, and believe me the smooth delicious taste was simply incredible. Becky D. created this cake of perfection. Thanks to Mike, Melissa, Cleone, Duane , Julia, Allison, Sharon, and of course my bride, Cathy (not in photo) for a fun evening.

Last Sunday, my friend Bill and I completed a 38 mile breakfast ride. Beautiful weather conditions contrasted with our week earlier four hour ride in the rain. Special thanks to Bill for all the riding tips and encouragement he has given this year. Enjoy the fall riding season in Minnesota.

Schedule for departure day tomorrow is; coffee at Lunds Central (7:15 am), and then biking over for a ceremonial "tire dipping" in the Mississippi River. The dream is just about ready to become reality.

Thanks to all who have posted such encouraging comments. Your thoughts and prayers for a safe ride are really appreciated.

Only 7 days until, "Adios!"

(John, Mike, Chris, & Chet pose for a photo).... (Store Manager, Chris Erickson & the author)

All of us understand the importance of having a kind and knowledgeable physician, a trustworthy accountant , and a talented barber. From my perspective, finding a friendly and dependable Bicycle Shop that you can rely on throughout the riding season, also is important.

About ten years ago I discovered Erik's Bike Shop in Eden Prairie, and today I'm happy to say it's been a wonderful relationship.
Chris Erickson, store manager, has a fantastic staff of enthusiastic bicycle riders. Over the years, I have seen this store grow, yet personalized one-on-one service is still their calling card.

Buying a bicycle is not unlike buying an automobile. You select the appropriate brand and style based upon your riding goals. However, after all your research is finished you still need to find a retailer, who can match the "perfect fit for your body" and provide ongoing service. That's another reason why I recommend Erik's to all my friends. They take time to be sure your bicycle is a perfect fit for you and your riding style. Bottom line; Erik's is my kind of Bike Shop!

A couple days ago I took my bike in for new tires and tubes, and one last inspection before the trip. Today, I picked-up the bike and Chris said everything looks good to go.
John, my mechanic, had assembled an emergency repair kit for the trip . Hopefully, I won't need any of these parts, but it's reassuring to have them, just in case. Thanks to the Erik's team.

As you know, I have been packing for this ride a long time. This week, final decisions on what goes, and what stays behind will be made. Safety is my first priority, with "dry & warm" a strong second. We're in the final stage of preparation.

Only 14 days until "Bon Voyage"

It's been a busy week, both at work and here on Curtis Lane.
Wednesday evening we had a wonderful get-together with several couples that we see maybe once or twice a year.
Everyone brought potluck and we grilled chicken, and proceeded to have a most enjoyable time. Special thanks to Larry (aka the real "cable guy"), Don, Glen, & Jeff for convincing Cathy about the virtues of ESPN on HDTV.

Yesterday, Cathy supervised installation of our new furnace and central air, as well as coordinating exterior house painters. The crew enjoyed complimentary snacks and beverages. Great job Cata.

Following Dr. Russell's pronouncement that I am good to bicycle, "real packing" commenced.
The above photo shows everything that's going on the bicycle. Just add water and start pedaling. All of this "stuff" weighs less than 18 lbs. Certainly, this trip will be a working exercise in possession reduction (and how less really can be more, especially on a bicycle).
It's raining here today, and our high temperature is forecast to be in the low sixties. What will the weather be like on Saturday, September 1st?

24 days and counting

Someone once mentioned how important "preparation" is to any project or undertaking.
I think that was my dad who always reminded me about taking time to do things right. Funny how those memories of growing up and learning about life keep reappearing.

Since bicycling season started in March, it became apparent that training would be paramount. You know, 100 miles a week isn't all that difficult when you break it down day by day.

Last Saturday's contribution to "preparation" centered on a really neat 55 mile ride on the Lake Wobegon trail. My friend Duane and I started this ride in St. Joseph, MN and pedaled to Avon ( had a fine breakfast at the Cabin Cafe), and then on to Albany. Although we had been on this trail about eight or nine years ago, it has since expanded with a northern spur to Holdingford. We took the spur and adventured into new territory. It was a comfortable ride with a morning temperature near 70 degrees. Light rain felt real good. On our return trip to St. Joseph we faced an increasing headwind, but nothing that could dampen our enthusiasm. How about this fact, today's ride was a mile longer than what we did when we were eight or nine years younger.