Day 48/August 16 - Grand Haven to Grand Rapids - 72km

We had 130 extra people join us for this ride - and I did sweep. Wowsers! No it went well. We had a church stop, and two homes that offered us goodies. Man we are spoiled! The cyclists also biked into Calvin as a peleton - being on sweep I didn't make the opportunity but I'm sure there's some great pictures of the event on the sea to sea website.

Day 47/August 15 - South Haven to Grand Haven - 76km

Wow, lots to say about today. First of all, short ride - yet beautiful. We were surrounded by trees, and at some points I even felt like I was in BC!! Today we also went through Holland Michigan! Now how sweet is that!? First of all - we decided that today of all days should be Rabobonk day!! (Holland biking team.) So we all wore our holland biking jerseys. Then we went to a really sweet church that had basement called the heritage center. The Heritage center had the history of that church, the history of Holland Michigan, pretty much the history of dutch people in Canada - it was really cool. My favorite feature of this was an old pump organ. As I was busy inspecting this thing a man from the church told me to sit down and have a try - well I probably could not have sat down faster! It was so sweet! Bit of a work out - kind of like biking and playing an organ at the same time. BUT later on an older dutch man sat down at the organ and started playing Praise God from whom all blessings flow - in dutch. Brought little chills down my spine - hymns and the love of music - especially the organ run deep into my family's roots.

We didnt quite stay in Grand Haven but at a CRC conference ground where Hope College made us a marvelous steak dinner - yeah steak - wowsers!

Tonight we camped right beside lake Michigan - it was beautiful. I watched the sun set (it looks like the ocean - wow - so big!) called my momma and then went and walked by the water for a long time. The water was warm on my feet, and the moon was bright so I wasn't scared (I'm afraid of the dark, I know - and I still sleep with blankies - no I wont get over either of them.) While I was on this walk by the water I realized many things, so here they are:

So, in life we pick up things along the way - characteristics and such that are given to us by our family memebers. Some of my favorites: one of them is the name Netje. I've been given a lot of nicknames in the past but Netje is by far my favy, I love it. Its caught on in Terrace, in Edmonton and now on this bike tour - the dutchies (and there are a lot of them) just love it. Another characteristic of mine is the love of jewelry. Everyone who knows me, knows I love jewelry, especially earrings. These two characteristics, or whatever you wanna call them (dingists, haha) have been given to me by my Oma. Oma was very excited for me to be on this trip, she supported me both financially and through prayer - I could not wait to see her when the trip was done, unfortunately things took a turn for the worst and I will not be able to have that opportunity. Oma passed away this afternoon, peacefully. I'll miss her so very much and I wish I could of had one more time to say good bye, but God has His time for everything and sometimes that just needs to be accepted. I know that Oma is now with her Lord - and there is no better thing.

I'll miss you Oma, the candy store, bitter balls, good LONG chats, and much more. Say Hi to Opa, say Hi to Dad - I love and miss you all.

Please pray for my family, especially my mom and her siblings at this time.

Day 46/Aug 14 - Chesterton to South Haven - 119km

Not a whole lot to note about today's ride. We biked, it was nice - and then we got ice cream/coffee - which was also very very nice.

Day 45/Aug 13 -Palos Heights to Chesterton - 77km

We were royal blessed this morning and last night. Trinity College is located in Palos Heights - its a small Christian Univerity and very beautiful. They gave us a wonderful dinner, Jenna and I stayed at a billets house (yay no tent!) and were fed an awesome breakfast in the morning. Thank you very much to the community of Trinity College. Before we went on our way the College had a little service for us. One of our riders - Aaron Carter is a student there. He said a few words that will stick with me and hopefully everyone both on and supporting the tour. He said - it was a great homecoming - but he knew that when he got up in the morning the work was not over - he had to get up and bike. Aaron encouraged us to remember that when we get to Jersey City. The work is not done when we get there - we will go back to our homes, but poverty will not be gone, and therefore our work is not done.Thanx Aaron for that important reminder - our work will not be done until our very end homecoming.

Day 44/Aug 12 - Woodstock to Palos Heights - 133km

Today was a little bit busier of roads - and we got lost - again - but it was funny. So we were on a bike path - then a fork came along, then other fork, and then another fork - and oh dear - I think I like knives better. So the path that was supposed to be paved the whole way became gravel, and then it got narrower, and narrower - uh oh. Oh and then we were biking down the straight and narrow when some sea to sea cyclsists came towards us biking the other way - oh no. That was funny. Luckily we found someone running down the straight and narrow who guided us towards the right way - so we were saved. Another funny thing happened this day - we did find a windmill and we did get some sweet treats from a local church - but before this I hit a little bit of chaos. First I was riding along this beautiful bike path when oh - pee runs into me and desides that it might be a pretty cool thing for it to sting me. It stung me right where my appendix is - so my abdomen? Anyway, I'm biking along hold onto my appendix because of this stupid bee - only one hand on my handle bars when some little black dog cuts infront of me! So I'm holding my appendix trying to dodge this dog with one hang on the handle bars - oh wow. After all the chaos it was very funny and I did not fall, yay!

Day 43/Aug 11 - Madison to Woodstock - 130km

Was a bit sad to be leaving Madison, but the tour must go on! It was however a very beautiful day. Again - lots of green (I think the deserts of Nebraska and Utah have scarred me for life, ha ha) trees, crops and beautiful quiet back country roads. I biked with Theresa Meinders today and we just talked, laughed and enjoyed soaking up the beautiful scenery. This truely is the most amazing way to see such a beautiful country, and the beautiful handy work of God. Still, I am and always will be in awe of how great this is. At one point in the day we were coming around a corner - the clouds moved away from the sun and a bird starting singing - so peaceful, I'm pretty much loving life right now!

Day 42 - Sabbath in Madison

Ever since I was quite a bit younger, I can't even remember actually - I've wanted to go hang gliding. Two of my wonderful uncles both do it - so i figure, someday I'll get to go. Well, things just always have a way of working themselves out dont they? I just happen to go on this bike tour that just so happens to go throught Madison, Whisconsin where my Uncle Rik just so happens to live. We end up in Madison on a Sunday - our day off - so I get the day to do whatever I want. Well, if this isn't just awesome enough - the tandem hang glider is ready to go - and the weather is great for hang gliding - all I can say is - Hallelujah! It was so aweomse! Unfortunately there were no mountains in Madison to jump off of (that's usually how you hang glide) so we got pulled up by a tow plane instead. This was still pretty cool - and the whole hang glididng experience was awesome. We went up to 3000 feet, managed to stay there for a while before we came back down. I also got to meet my two cousins Lucas and Keely, man it was great to see some family! Thanx uncle Rik!

That's not the only sweet part about this weekend. Along the way, this tour has both picked up and dropped off cyclists. Its always difficult to say good bye, and exciting to intigrate new. One of those great riders decided he liked us all so much - Joel Pel (rode from Seattle to Boise) suprised us all in Madison and it was awesome. A bunch of us spent the evening playing dutch blitz, egyptian war, and spoons - but spoons had a fork, and at one point a pizza cutter. Anyway, needless to say it was SO MUCH FUN and loud - very loud.

Day 41/Aug 9 - Fennimore to Madison - 116km

Today was neat day, and a very different change of pace. We have been riding these huge long days, well all of a sudden we get 116km. Not only did we have a shorter day, but we got to ride on a cute little bike path. It wasn't paved so we had to go a little bit slower but hey, we weren't in any rush, the day was short and wonderful. We're starting to hit less corn crops and more trees - everything is so green, and so lovely! We stopped in a little town called Mt. Horeb (so cute) at a coffee and chocolate cafe. It was really cute, then had all sorts of chocolate, I wanted to get some pretty bad BUT it would have melted in my bag, and I couldn't eat it all at once. Too bad. Anywho - the rest of the ride was great. We also had a media opportunity today - what happened was we all had to meet at some park and ride into camp together. It was cool and I think there's some stuff on the sea to sea web sight - but a little scary. Riding with 144 other people as a mass peleton - you have to be very, very careful! But it was very cool and the people of Madison Whisconsin were very inviting - it was great. We even got shuttles to the showers from people in the church, and if that isn't good enough - the man who drove us to the showers also went through the drove through to buy us all ice cream - now let me tell you something - no wait you already know - I am in love with ice cream. Thank you!!

Day 40/Aug 8 - New Hampton to Fennimore - 161km

Well, another long day - but woot not as long as yesterday. We went over the Mississippi River today - cool, and biked into Whisconsin! I have been pretty excited about getting into Whisconsin - I have an uncle who lives here that I cannot wait to see. Not too many stories today, we stopped at a bakery, mmm so good. Then we went for a bike ride, and it was nice.

Day 39/Aug 7 - Algona to Hampton - 182km

Today's long day was not as easy as the first - tail wind, hmm, maybe not so much. I was pretty sad about it, actually so sad that I bonked. For those who do not know what the term means - basically is you do not eat or drink enough while riding (or exercising of any kind) you start to feel a little bit funny - dizzy, and then you must eat or you will pass out. I am silly, I know. How long have I been riding now? And I still bonk? But I guess with the weather changing (not as hot) and did not drink enough, or eat enough. Me of all people, I love food. Anyways, about 40km out I got really weak, 30km I started feeling pretty wonky. 20km Kaitlyn realised she was doing all the talking and I was barely responding to her - so she gave me a cliff bar. That was a very good thing. Then when I got into camp I ate another cliff bar and downed two water bottles - one was pink lemonade - yummy. Then after all of this chaos I got a huge sugar rush and it was very funny. But yeah, I think instead of bonking again, I'll just go straight to a sugar rush - so the lesson is friends - riding and bonking is bad news. Do not try it, eat, drink, and all will be goet zo!

Oh and this picture is of Jenna and Josh taking advantage of me in my vulnerable bonking state.

Day 38/Aug 6 - Sioux Center to Algona - 182km

Hokay so, I be on sweep today - the longest day of the tour. Oh dear. BUT! Let me tell you something. For a while now we've all been praying for a tail wind. Please, please, please - and when does God give us the tail wind? On the longest day of the tour! We were truely blessed today. A lot of the riders got in faster today on the 180 day than a 130 with a head wind, so nice! It was also nice for us as sweep because the day also wasn't as long. We started off the day by going to a dutch bakery for coffee - it was so goet zo! Had a coffee, doughnuts, and droolled over the droppies. Then we stopped at a park (where they had cookies, bars, gatorade etc.) for us. We stayed there for awhile underneath a little shelter - played cards and avoided the rain. Sweep is sweet, we have to be last, so we take a lot of time - and its always a good time. So yes again, another good day.

Day 37/Aug 5 - Sioux City to Sioux Center - 98 km

Alright, let me tell you a story. A ture story, and a good story. So for about two weeks now I've been having troubles with my eyes. Its been really hard to see out of my left eye and I've been a little bit scared about it. One of my fellow riders - Barb Mellima is from Sioux Center Iowa and set up an eye appointment for me. I was pretty excited to get this appointment because I was pretty scared there was something wrong with my eyes. When I biked into Sioux Center (we spent the night at Dordt College! So nice, no tent.) I called up the eye doctor and headed over there. He looked at my eyes, gave me a prescription for drops and sent me on my way - free of charge. Then when I was at the pharmacy getting my drops they told me that the drops would cost about 100 dollars...... oh dear. I told them that I'd have to go to an ATM to get out more money because I didnt have enough cash on me, and my interact doesnt always work. Before I went on my way to the ATM they wanted to get a little information first. They then gave me the directions for the drops, put them in a bag and sent me on my way. I did not have to pay for either the drops or the appointment - amazing. Thanx so much for the prayers, once again - they've been answered.

just a note

I know some of these last blogs comment on pictures that are right now non existant. I'm sorry about that friends. I'll put the pics on as soon as I can.

Day 36/Aug 4 - Fremont to Sioux City - 143km

So Lynn and Sharon let me stay in the hotel with them again last night - yay another night in a bed. They dropped me off this morning, and there we had to part our ways.The bike trip today was beautiful, but also very windy - hard - in the face. The morning was quite humid as well, I felt like I was wearing a wet towel. It was yuckiss.We also made it into Iowa, another state down - very exciting.The rest of the day was not as humid or hot (thank goodness) and I am just loving these rolling green hills full of crops. The crops are mostly corn and soybeans, but it just look so pretty.

Day 35/Aug 3 - Sabbath in Fremont

So these lovely friends of mine got a hotel room, so thats where I spent the night - in a bed - so nice! We also had a buffet breakfast, so nice as well. I'm pretty much just loving life right now.The service we had today was really neat, the church put a lot of effort into it. The lunch afterwards was also amazing - they had a pizza machine that made one pizza every minute. Crazy hey!I spent the rest of the day just relaxing and enjoying the company of my friends from Edmonton, thanx girls.And if I thought the suprises were over, after Lynn, Matt, Sharon, and I had dinner we came back to camp for some goodbyes and lo and behold, another friend from Edmonton - Amber - happened to be passing through. She had to take a 2-3 hour detour, but I guess I'm good enough for that. ;PLove you ber, thanx for coming!One thing that I thought about/learned during the service gave me more hope about the cause for the tour. The pastor was talking about reasons for the tour, and everyone doing their little bit and how that becomes one big bit, and it just made me think of a great lesson I've learned over the years from my dearest mother. Her greatest words "Netty, just take it one day at a time." That sentence got me through my bachelor degree especially. I've also relied on this sentence to get me through this tour. And it has, this advice has also helped me in enjoying the days and not destination. Now when I think about it, all of us cycling, the support staff, support from home etc. are taking this challange of ending the cycle of poverty one pedal at a time, one person at a time, on prayer at a time, one donation at a time, etc. If you look at the whole - the whole bachelor degree, the whole nine weeks of cycling, the whole problem of poverty - it becomes very overwhelming. But just chip at it as best you can, and let God do the rest.Mom: Thanks for the advice, love you!

Day 34/Aug 2 - York to Fremont - 154km

Alright, today we had cross wind, cross wind, head wind, cross wind - ice cream shop! tail wind! Turned right - bam wall of cross wind. Then we got into camp. The end.... jkLet me tell you about this ice cream shop, it was absolutely amazing! The sizes for one were ridiculous, I felt like a little piggy with just a small! It was huge. Perhaps I also felt like a piggy because I got a dipped cone too. They had butterscotch dipped cones! Those are so so good, and millions of flavors of shakes. But I deserved it, those winds were tough!The best part of the entire day today was the best part of my entire trip. As I strolled into camp in all my buckets of sweat glory I see John Vanderveen standing there with a camera faced in my direction. I was like, what in the heck are you doing? But whatev, its John. So I'm saying hello to people, about to sign in, give John crap for taking pics of me seating away when all of a sudden Lynn and Sharon pop out from the other side of the gear truck. For those of you who dont know, those are two of my really good friends from Edmonton. Oh and the camera - John was taking a video of the whole thing. But yes, that was the best suprise ever! Thanx girls!!Oh ps - Krystal, we all loved the cookies (seriously, everyone) especially Johnny poopy baby.

Day 33/Aug 1 - Minden to York - 151km

So we're getting better at this whole leaving for the ride at 6:30 thing. I am happy about it because the days are cooler longer and we get neat little things like this morning. We got to see a beautiful sunrise! I was just lovin' it!Today was also the day that we reached half way on the bike tour. Wow, we've all biked half way across the continent...... I cant decided if I'm happy or sad. I mean, its an accomplishment, but it also means I'm half way done this sweet trip....... Hey momma - You can be the excited part for me. I know you cant wait for me to come home, actually I cant wait for me to come.... ok ok. I'm also happy its half way done.

Day 32/July 31 - McCook to Minden - 153km

Jenna and I started off the day together bright and early. It was so nice to get out there early (there was a time change too so it was earlier yet!) Anyways it was crisp and beautiful with rolling green hills, those are my favy. Sage brush is yuckiss (which we had yesterday, also not my friend.) Then Jenna and I strolled along and found this fellow names Eric Stehouwer, now this story is funny - especially for my brother Eric (cuz I know he's gonna love this joke) and my dearest friend Krystal. Hokay so, we're climbing up this hill (we do that a lot) and I told Eric this funny joke that stretch (Mark, he's tall and skinny so we call him that) told me. What did one burp say to the other burp? Let's me stinkers and go out the back door! So of course I laughed histerically, so did Eric and Jenna. Then five minutes later Eric started laughing again, even harder - that's when he got the joke. So yeah, that's for you Kryst, you're not the only one!Later that night Lawrence was kind enough to put handle bar tap on my bike because mine was falling off (actually he told me I had to get new tape, that my bike looked terrible because of it and that he'd do it for me.) Anyways, he put it on, but he was not expecting this tape - pink handle bar tape! Alright!

Day 31/July 30 - Wray to McCook - 150km

Today felt like etenity - hello head wind, you are not my friend, neither is 40 degrees, he's not my friend either. But hey I went to two states today, both Nebraska and Kansas. But when we got to Kansas I did not see todo or tornadoes, so we turned around and went back to Nebraska. I'm just kidding, we only went to Kansas as a little baby detour (one mile there, one mile back.)Ok so, later on that day I was super excited because I saw a sign that said Stratton. Now my favorite show is called the office, and because I haven't seen it in so long I thought the town was called Stratton, but actually is Scraton. So I got my picture with this sign for no good reason BUT as you can tell from this first picture I'm not quite at the sign yet I'm actually yelling "shoo snakes, go away!" I didnt know she was taking that picture, but I knew at least my momma would get some enjoyment from this story.