Big Ride Across America 2011

Our grandson, Julian, riding his bike across America. This was taken at an elementary school in Seattle. He went there for art camp. He didn't make any art, but they had bike day.














July 20 Viroqua to Madison WI 99.3 miles in 99 degrees with so much humidity that the heat index is 110 - 115 degrees. I'm in Viroqua as I write this. We have had to stay in hotels the past 3 nights, but I called ahead to the dorm at UW, and THE ROOMS ARE AIR CONDITIONED!!! Glory be to God!! The scenery has been beautiful--lots of green. Corn, soybean, corn, soybean--repeat ad infinitum, interspersed with huge green trees, orange lilies, queen anne's lace, and lots of other wildflowers.

We sent Dick off to a clinic in Winona, where, after multiple tests, he was proclaimed healthy as a horse. He was advised to get some real support hose, as his varicose veins weren't helping his swelling.

We stopped at the Meyers home in Dakota yesterday for a 2nd breakfast. The Meyers family has been hosting the Big Riders since 1998. None of the family has done the Ride, but they had been watching the cyclists ride by their house for several years, and decided to put on a feast for them--and what a feast! There were all kinds of home baked goodies (done at the church kitchen, which is cool), fruit, little sandwiches, and drinks, all served in Julie Meyers' garden, which is gorgeous. Since I've now mastered the picture thing, thanks to Margaret, I'll post some of the garden sometime.

We crossed the mighty Missippi today into Wisconsin, our 7th state.

Dick rode with me to Viroqua after his 5 hour ordeal at the clinic and E room. He was happy to stop at the air conditioned quilt shop in LaCrosse, where the owner told us how to get to the medical supply place where Julie Meyers told us she gets her support hose. We got the hose, then traveled through Amish country, where we followed the hand-lettered signs to an Amish farm that sold quilts, bread, cookies, jams, pickles and other quilty items. Dick bought a quilt for Mary. I bought a loaf of bread, jam and cookies for the riders. The young woman, Annie, showed us all the quilts, including a queen-sized one that she had hand quilted in a month! It was a fun day, in spite of the heat. Noel is doing well, as are most of the riders, though some of them are wondering if they can do the extra 30 miles today.