Day 22 Garden City, KS via the Kendall, KS Shuttle

Today we were honored to participate in monthly conference call between Millard Fuller and the Fuller Center board members and covenant partners. We smiled as we heard again the voices of Betty Youngs and David Snell, having met them earlier in our trip. We learned that 2 new covenant partners have been added in April and in May and 6 in June, bringing the total to 44 covenant partners in 25 states, in addition to 15 foreign countries! Mr. Fuller was calling from Fresno, CA where a new covenant partner is being formed. David Snell reported on the upcoming builds in Armenia this July, August and October. Ryan Iafigliola noted that we bikers have planted the seeds for possible new covenant partners in Brawley, CA, Phoenix and Payson, AZ and Lamar, CO – perhaps others we are unaware of.

Due to the conference call, we got a later start than usual – 9:15. Today’s ride from Lamar, CO to Garden City, KS (oh, yeah, we entered our fifth state today – the desert and the Rockies are history!) was to be 99 miles on US 50 with a couple of miles on S. Third St. in Lamar and N. Third St. in Garden City – 101 miles – our third century. The first 50 miles were mainly downhill – easy pedaling at speeds near or above 20 mph. BUT – the weather intervened once again and the lighting predicted for 3pm arrived an hour early (until we realized we had changed time zones and it really was 3pm in Kansas) and forced us to take cover at the Snow Ride Shop in Kendall, KS. We’re glad they were there, as the wind was so strong it threatened to push off our bikes. So we once again shuttled our bodies and our bikes the last 35 miles. Fortunately, the facilities at Garden Valley Church are excellent, even including a much needed washer and dryer. Not to mention a delicious spaghetti dinner. Thanks, Pastor Steve and ladies.

Our total miles biked as of today is 1,556. Tomorrow we should reach about 1,650, or just about half way on our 3,300 mile journey. So I thought you might be interested in a few other statistics at our almost half way point.

Total miles biked: 1,556

Average miles per day: 78

Days off: 2

Days under 50 miles: 1

Days 50 - 75 miles: 6

Days over 75 miles: 13

Total feet climbed: 59,230!

Most feet climbed in one day: 7,416 - Payson

Longest day- mileage: 103 – Buena Vista

Longest day – hours: 12+ Taos

Longest stretch without a day off: Days 1-12

Days over 100 miles: 2 – back to back Buena Vista and Colorado Springs

Fastest downhill speed: 49.87 – Tony – Santa Fe

Hottest day: Brawley – 122 degrees

Hottest day, runner up: - Surprise – Record temp - 117

Shuttles required to avoid expressways: 2

Shuttles required to avoid lightning: 2

Rain delays: 1 - Taos

First flat: Doug

Most flats by one person: Doug - 7

Most flats in one day: Doug - 3

Least flats: Nate - 0

Worst day for flats: Taos – 2 by Tony; 2 by Chris

Total flats remembered: 31

Tires replaced: 5 – 2 by Tony with a third on it’s way.

Highest point in the trip – geographical: Wilkerson Pass, 9500 feet

Highest point in the trip – spiritually – probably different for each person, but Josh’s sharing a yesterday’s service is my choice

Highest point in the trip – intellectual / emotional: Hearing the energy and progress and enthusiasm of all the people involved in the conference call this morning

Riding as a group at 18.5 mph singing songs in the sunshine - PRICELESS