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.