Day 47: Where are we?

This morning was our coldest ride of the tour. Didn't see that coming. This is mid-August in Michigan. What happened to the dog days of summer? I wore a cycling sweatshirt and was still cold in the shadows, of which there were plenty. I longed for sunshine, which contrasts with all those days out west when I longed for shade.

The day held other surprises. As I was fixing lunch I noticed a riding mate, Jim B., standing hunched over and looking at me a bit strangely. Oh, he wanted to tell me something. He ambled over and said, "I spent 3 hours at the hospital last night." "What's going on? I asked. "I cracked three ribs." "How did you do that?" "Last night I stayed at the Hampton with my wife. I was taking a shower and slipped in the tub. I grabbed the shower curtain, but it pulled away from the rings. I fell out of the tub and landed on the stool."

I wondered why Jim had his biking clothes on and was packing a lunch. "Are you still going to ride?" "I'm going to give it a shot. I think riding a bike will be easier on my ribs than riding in a car with the starting and stopping." That was just about the dumbest thing I'd ever heard, but Jim was so sincere, and so devoted to the Tour, that I decided to swallow my first, second, and third thoughts. "God bless you today," I replied, which concealed my incredulity and revealed my concern for him. Oh the things we tell ourselves in order to keep riding.

I rode the morning with Clare and Roger. There were only three of us, but we had a tough time staying together, and after an hour I lost them. I know what you're thinking, "How hard can it be to stay with someone who is riding the same road, heading for the same place, and following the same map?" Sometimes, it is pretty hard.

Graafschaap CRC hosted us for lunch. Because it was only 27 miles from South Haven I left late and still arrived at 10 am, too early to eat. To pass some time I went to the CRC history exhibit in their basement. My expectations were low-I was just waiting for my stomach to start making some noise-but I found the exhibit fascinating. I was especiallly intrigued by the documents that describe the secession of churches from the RCA in 1857 and the beginning of the CRC.

It is humbling to read the reasons for separation. They sound unsubstantial, which makes the CRC's beginning seem illegitimate. The important thing is to accept it and move on. I'm glad the RCA has joined the CRC in Sea to Sea. Addressing poverty is a good direction to move together.

My stomach finally gave me permission to eat and I sat with my former church history professor-Henry Zwaanstra. I had lots of questions. Why wasn't I more interested in church history in seminary? I guess I needed some more experience in the present to appreciate the past.

The remaining 20 mile ride to Grand Haven went by quickly. I was about a mile from the entrance when I saw one last water stop. Odd to have one so close to the end. I was going to go past until I saw that they were serving some fruit. Is that blueberries? I pulled in and ran into a longtime friend, Mary Jane Baylor. Connecting with old friends around this ride is one of the unexpected delights of the Tour. (Yesterday I had seen Steve and Flo Mejeur at a stop)

I finally finished the ride and waited for two things-the arrival of my wife and the steak dinner supplied by Home MIssions. My mother surprised me by coming with Cindy. She too wanted to get a feel for the Tour. The steak dinner was delicious-good meat prepared by grillers who knew what they were doing. Mine was a perfect medium.