The days are getting shorter—it took me years to figure out what people meant when they said it. But the sun isn’t coming up as quick or hanging around as long as it used to. I didn’t get up until 5:50 & we didn’t leave until 6:50. Heavy dew covered the tents and bikes that had to stay outside—Cynthia still gives me a hard time about my bike in my tent—it’s the child I never gave birth to.

It was low 50’s when we left and two hours later it still read 56*—clouds prevented the sun from warming us up too quickly. The high some say was in the 70’s—I don’t know when though. I think my blood is thinning out because I don’t remember wearing so many biking clothes as this week—I kept my leg warmers on all day today. My arm warmers now have safety pins at the top so they don’t fall down—lost a bit of upper body weight the last 8 weeks. Leg & arm warmers are made of lycra, with elastic on each end to hold them in place—they keep our extremities warm and are easy to peel off once our bodies or the temps warm up.

The morning smells are fresh—laundry in someone’s dryer, fields being worked, the smells at bakeries—and then a guy went by with a cigarette…cough, cough.

Cory was at 11 miles out and he waved us on and told us where a turn was coming up—he’s glad to be back at his duties today and not riding with us. We made a stop at Julie’s SAG and she had a great location—on the NY & PA state lines. Photo opportunities…She had potato chips for us—Yes! Salt instead of sugar…From there we went to coffee—we tried to get Julie to go along with us, she declined. What would they do to her if she dropped off the water jugs & chips with a sign that says she’ll be back in a bit? Fire her at this late date of the ride? Ever faithful to her duties…

I noticed in my mirror while we were riding that a few dropped off the line. Cynthia was having a bit of breathing trouble—so we spread out. Too many bikers in a long line limits the visual ability of those in back so we separated into two groups again—I was with Louis & John. Cynthia was with Jake, Andy and Jerry. We usually meet up at the rest areas or for coffee but today we missed each other when we went into town…didn’t see each other until camp.

Beautiful visuals today. Covered lanes, waterways, and the Tunkhannock Viaduct—according to the locals it’s the world’s largest reinforced concrete structure world.

Our climbs at the end of the day were short but steep—one persons GPS said 14-16% grade. I found my mountain muscles again—Hello little legs! Climbing here is different then the mountains—tree lines come quicker thank the Lord.

At peloton tonight Alida (in camp nurse) and Marv (kitchen truck driver and who hates to say more than 3 words at a time) De Boer, gave a reflection of the trip through their eyes. Alida said, “We are in awe of what you have accomplished on bikes with such skinny tires.” Then she gave us a few medical statistics,

· 22 people went to the ER

· 3 collar bones

· 1 Achilles tendon

· 1 broken pelvis

· 2 with broken ribs

· 1 arm

· 6 people broke bones

· 2 needed stitches

· 3 needed surgery after going home

Communion tonight was a blessing. At all of our services Jenna Zee & Annette Rolleman have been playing their flutes and sharing their talents with us—I hope they know what a blessing they have been to us. When you tell them thank you they respond with, “No problem.” It would be for me—music is not one of my talents. J

I’m being hosted in Sussex so this is my last night to sleep in my tent—it’s been a great little dome home but it’s time to move into my spouse house. J

Because I was hosted this past weekend I missed the mail. So today, I received a lovely letter from a blog reader in Salem, Oregon. Amy, thank you for introducing yourself and family to me and for your encouraging words. I hope someday you and your family, as well as many others, can do a Sea2Sea type experience. Until you do may God bless you and your husband in your ministry. Coffee shops are great places too—thanks!