What a wake up call—a skunk came into camp and left at stench a little after 4:00 am—I couldn’t bury my nose in the sleeping bad enough. I didn’t get much sleep after that because I was tenting between John & Cynthia & they were on breakfast sweep duty.

We left Lackwanna State Park this morning with vest & arm warmers but jettisoned them shortly after. Lots of climbing today so we warmed in a hurry.

It was a big day for all—82 miles of ups & downs with grades of 14-16 % at different times.Coffee at Mugg’s in Hawley wasn’t quick with many bikers but few waitresses…but I got a funny picture of Fred Meyerink’s helmet hair.

The biggest climb was 4 miles that took us to High Point, NJ—this is the highest point in the state. Right at the top is High Point State Park with a monument—we just had to do it…another 1.5 miles to it, 291 steps to the top. It was 21 floors tall & reminds me of Washington Monument in DC.Louis & I stopped to take many photos today. Churches, prisons, wind generators…all were in great settings of these rolling hills…check out the photos of the day.

When I got to camp at Sussex Christian School I had a surprise visit from Ken & Diane (Vander Schaaf) Nywening—I wish I had more time to visit but thanks so much for coming to see me. We were in grade school & high school together and I used to cut her hair.

I also met a few blog readers and Dordt alums. Brandi (Ochsner) Vande Werken and her husband Joel are living here. Brandi had the sign for us in NE & I met her mom in the middle of the road. Joel is the pastor here. I also met Terri Garris and Stan and Melody (Brink) Sturing.

The food at the school here was unreal—what a buffet. WOW! It is time for me to start cutting back starting Saturday night—I won’t be biking on Sunday but rather starting the ride home. I’ll just have my daughter order first & eat what she chooses—then I won’t have to make a decision of what to eat or I’d over order.

We’re guests this evening in the home of Rob and Carol Dekker’s—he’s a brother to Rin Goedhart, one of my prayer partners at home. Rin—you are remembered fondly here and I even met a few of your former students…Sharon & John Morris and Rich Sytesma. Rich’s daughter Hannah made a great sign for us outside the Clove Brook Bakery…and we need to get Casey, their son, to our campus!

Sarah Terpstra will be getting out of the hospital tomorrow according to her brother. Bob said to watch her blog site for updates in a few days—thanks for your concern & keep praying for her.

Things from the day:

• I saw a sign that said, “A zoned community.” What kind of drugs do they take for them to all be zoned? Quaaludes?
• How do you tell the person in front of you that “crack up” no longer means a crack in the road or a joke…but rather it’s time to throw those shorts away after a 9 week tour?
• Ladies—your husbands have been making their lunches and doing their laundry for 2-9 weeks…don’t let them fall back into their old routines.

• Men—your wives have been carrying their bags and setting up their tents for 2-9 weeks—they need a break.

It’s time for bed—this is the second time I’m typing this because I lost it in the cut & paste process. I’m not sure how much time I’ll have for blogging but I do plan for a few reflections later. Pray for us on our last day…that we stay safe as we go to the waters edge, that logistically it all works out with 3 different police escorts, and that the mission continue and not end at the water.