LIFE ACROSS AMERICA 2010

Hi Everyone,

What an incredible 57.4 miles today!

It was a nice day … my bike cassette worked perfectly … and I rode today with P.M. (my roommate)!

There were a couple of minor accidents to day … one cyclists bumped wheels one a cyclist in front of her and she fell … nothing serious, just minor road rash! (see pix)

Another cyclist was knocked over when a fairly large dog went running across the road in pursuit of another dog… the cyclist was fine and the dog was fine, therefore all seems well!

Today when I rode with my roommate … it was a really good ride and we went pretty fast … finishing in 3 hrs 10 mins!

This afternoon I was able to visit with my sister, Sylvia, and her husband, Louis… also with my nephew, Michael …  later in the evening I visited with my niece, Judy and her husband, Bruce!  It was a joyful time!

After dinner, rap, mechanix and visiting with relatives … I’m exhausted and I’m going to bed!

Thanks for everything,

Larry F.

Check out all the pix at: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/07-20-08%20–%20Manitowoc%20WI/

Hi Everyone,

What a great day!  85 miles to Fond du Lac!

I had a great time today riding with Mr & Mrs D & J, and Mr. E. (They were nice enough to slow up on the “hills” so I had a chance to catch up!)

This is a very beautiful part of Wisconsin … Fond du Lac … lots of green pastures, lakes, and

we are staying at the downtown Ramada!

We also stopped at the downtown bike shop and they were really nice to our cyclists!

Last night I had to change my chain on the bike … actually Mark the mechanic changed it for me!

He left a couple of extra links longer than before … which gave me … a couple of extra gears in both the middle (39 ring) and the big (53 ring)  which really helped me today in climbing! … Thanks to Mark!

So all in all, it was a good day … and the “comments” are really helpful … and welcome!

Check out the pix for today at: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/07-19-08%20–%20Fond%20du%20Lac%20WI/

Thanks to ABC … and the local blood centers who are doing an incredible job every day!

And most of all … thanks to our blood donors … who help save lives every day!

Larry F.

P.S. Well, the new chain helped me a lot when it came to shifting gears, both up and down!  However, it still had quite a “clatter” or “clicking” … I took it to Mechanix hour and this time Jim took a lot at it … then … he rode it and even then … he really couldn’t hear it!  So he put it back on the rack and now he could hear it a little bit… at that time, Mike (tour leader), walked by and they discussed it briefly, so Mike listened to it, and then stopped the wheel from spinning … and … “wiggled” the rear cassette … which turned out to be loose!  So Jim took out his special tool and tightened up the rear cassette.  So it’s my guess that tomorrow will be an incredible ride with the bike shifting “quietly” and that will help me with my climbing ability!  So a special thank you to Mark (for the new chain & extra 2 gears), to Jim for tightening up my cassette, and to Mike! (for finding the loose cassette!)

To my buddies at Santa Rosa Cyclery (Mitch, Charlie, DJ, etc.) thanks for putting the bike together so well that it’s lasted this long! (By the way, I’ve only had 3 flats so far with my Amardillo tires … all on the back wheel!

Hi Everyone,

It was an incredible day! (a 92 mile day!) From LaCrosse, WI to Wisconsin Dells, WI!

A 60 mile bike path leading through 3 tunnels and then the last 30 miles with a few rollers and a nice downhill finish into Wisconsin Dells, WI!

It was a slower day, a more relaxing day!

A beautiful ride through very green scenery and a very beautiful area of Wisconsin!

As you check out the pix today at: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/07-18-08%20–%20Mauston%20WI/

You’ll see that we encountered a tree down across the path … 3 very big tunnels … they were very cool!

Lots of neat, clean little towns!

It was a good day and hopefully the next couple of days won’t be quite as long (in mileage) and give us a chance to recoup a little!

The majority of cyclists have become like family … example … last night one of our cyclists(Mr. John, who plays guitar and writes music) wrote and played a song written especially for Mr. Al … it was a touching, humorous version of what had happened during the day when they got lost!

That’s what makes this group of cyclists … so awesome!

Also tonight, I had a “terrrible clatter” when I was shifting gears in either the 53 or 39 … in between the gears of 11, 13, 15, 17 cogs in the back wheel!  (Mark measured the chain and suggested we change the chain because it had extended it’s life over the last 2500 miles, luckily, I had brought a new chain with me.  So we changed the chain … leaving 2 extra links in the new chain … so I could now use the 13 and 11 gears on both the 53 and the 39!)

We’ll see how it goes tomorrow!

Larry F.

Hi Everyone,

What an interesting day!

We had a 90 mile day to do … then the thunderstorms started and it started to rain!

Well, we ride in the “rain” … so the 1st 30 miles was in the “rain”!

Then it settled down and we all rode together to keep our spirits up … lots of hills and climbs today!

Then a one mile climb at about 75 miles and just when I finished climbing it … the big thunderstorm … hit us!

So 15 of us hung out in a small barn (check out the pix I took today)

After the big thunderstorm passed over … it continued to rain… so we rode the last 15 miles to LaCrosse in the rain!

An incredible day … an incredible memory for all of our cyclists!

Larry F.

Check out the pix at: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/07-17-08%20–%20La%20Crosse%20WI/

Hi everyone,

Not a lot to say today!

Back to back centuries sort of leave you speechless!

Most of the cyclists … just wanted to get it over with!

I wasn’t very motivated today … yet … finished the ride okay!

We had some “hills” and “climbs” especially the very 1st one of the day … right up from the hotel!

Even the fast riders were very melancholy today … and happy to finish it!

Check out the 5 pix that I took today at: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/07-16-08%20–%20Rochester%20MN/

It was great to hear from Mark & Carol today … also from Katrina, Aaron … and the others who have posted their comments!

Thanks to Bob Sanchez and all his hard work!

Thanks to Sam Holtan for trying to get in contact with me!

Larry F.

Hi Everyone,

Another incredible cycling day!  103 miles from Worthington, MN to Mankato, MN!

A slight tailwind and a soft downhill always helps … plus … riding with 4 other very strong cyclists helps even more! (103 miles in 5 hrs 10 mins and an average of 19.8 mph … even though I had a “flat” on the way!)

Lauren & Chuck (from North Carolina) stopped to help me with the “flat” while the others waited … so about 10 mins later … we were on our way again!

I must admit I had a great day and really felt the “joy” of cycling as the other cyclists, P.M., Miss D, Mr. C, Miss L, all pitched in to help me finish the century!

They are an amazing group of cyclists! (check out the pix)

I am so grateful for the compassion and understanding that I’ve felt from the other cyclists on this trip! (As Dr T said earlier, you can ride one hundred miles by yourself (but it’s a lot harder) and when you ride with 4 or 5 cyclists it becomes a “joy” to be a part of the team … each cyclists takes their turn at the front, pulling for however long you can pull, then you fade back to the rear and wait your turn to pull again. (that way every cyclist gets a chance to rest and recover … that is, IF,  you are strong enough to keep up … if not, you fall by the wayside and the “peleton” is gone, and you are by yourself again!)

Once we got in, I showered and walked over to get a bite to eat at McGoff’s Irish pub  (hamburger, milk, Sprite and potatoe stew for me)

Once again, I am very thankful for my faith and belief in Jesus Christ, which has helped me many times on this trip, to never give up … and keep going each day!

There was an article in the Worthington, MN., newspaper … the Daily Globe … which can be seen at: www.dglobe.com

It’s been a great day … and tomorrow we’ll be riding another century … so stand by for the update tomorrow evening!

Larry F.

Check out the pix at: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/07-15-08%20–%20Mankato%20MN/

Hi Every!one,

Today was a back on the road kind of day … after a nice rest day in Sioux Falls, SD!

Today we rode to Worthington, MN, a total of 72 miles, with a bit of  a “crosswind” and lots of gentle “rollers” (these are climbs that are a peace of cake … if you’re young, in good shape, with great calves, hamstrings & quads!)

However today I was lucky enough to ride with a couple from upstate New York … who are both in great shape and tremendous cyclists! (I barely hung on for about 52 miles and then I faded into the scenery and they rode blissfully up the road together … I later saw them headed to the Dairy Queen … for a cool refreshment beverage of some type!)

A reporter from the Worthington, MN … Daily Globe was at the Travelers Lodge to interview several of our cyclists of which I was one … you can check out the article at: www.dglobe.com     

First, thing I did today after stopping at the Dairy Queen for a chocolate milkshake was to shower, and then lay down for a “nap” and “elevate” my feet and legs for a couple of hours!

Also I rec’d an email that their was a blood drive held to benefit “Life Across America” in Minneapolis, MN., so here’s a big thank you to the Minnesota “blood donors”. (I married a wonderful, kind, sweet, girl, who was born in St. Cloud, MN. … her maiden name was Schneider …  so here’s a big thank you to all the Schneiders in St. Cloud and St. Joseph, MN areas!)

It’s now almost time for “rap” and “dinner” … so I need to post this and get on my way.

Thank you for your interest,

Larry F.

Check out the pix for today at: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/07-14-08%20–%20Worthington%20MN/

Hi everyone,

A very welcome rest day in Sioux Falls, SD.

I woke up early about 7 a.m. and decided to ride my bicycle to church, however, I didn’t know where the church was, so I used the Meetinghouse Locator to find the local church.

I attended Sioux Falls, SD, 1st Ward, from 0900-1200 hrs.  It was a neat experience and I met an incredible bunch of “saints” from South Dakota.

I also asked for and received a blessing from the High Priests quorum with Pres. Tibbetts as the voice.

It was a special blessing of comfort & counsel, protection & provision for the rest of the trip, not just for myself, but for all of my fellow “cyclists”!

Our lessons today was on “Converting to the Lord Jesus Christ” and the changes it brings into our lives and the “ripple effects” that our created for us when we are are happy! (Our best example of the gospel is our love for our fellow man and showing an overbundance of it to others!)

I feel so blessed to go to a new ward knowing noone there and yet, being quickly accepted as one of their family!

I’ll upload the pix of the missionairies(Elders Clark & Worthen) that I met while I was there.

Check out the pix at: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/07-13-08%20–%20Rest%20Day%20Sioux%20Falls%20SD/

Larry F.

Hi Everyone,

Another incredible day of cycling from Mitchell, SD to Sioux Falls, SD.

It was a 74 miles day for me with an average of 19.2 mph (including a flat, my 2nd so far!) and an elapsed time of 3 hrs 48 mins.

It was a great day! (Mostly because it was a cool, overcast day in the a.m. plus we had 20 -25 mph “tailwind” … so I guess you could say my prayers were answered! ( a short time in the saddle and lots of flatlands and rollers which made us cyclists feel like we were in the Tour de France!

After getting in, I did my laundry, went to Wal-Mart and shopped for a haircut, two small/medium sized suitcases, picked up a pair of “shorts”, went to the “2nd wheeler dealers” bike shop and picked up some Specialized shorts, tire, tubes, goo and other necessities for the next leg of our journey.

Then we went out to dinner at the Royal Fork Buffett and had a great meal … we said good-bye to Marc & Carol (the recumbent man and his royal lady!) and Erin (Tracy’s daughter) who was and is a phenomenal cyclist for a beginner!)

We’ll miss all those leaving and we’ll welcome the new cyclists coming in for this leg!

I’m pretty tired tonight and looking forward to a “day of rest” tomorrow!

Larry F.

Not many pix today … to busy riding fast & hard!  Yet, you can check out the pix at: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/07-12-08%20–%20Sioux%20Falls%20SD/

Hi everyone,

It was an amazing day!

It was a windy day!

It was only a 74 mile ride yet it seemed much longer because of the wind!

I did a radio interview with the local station @ 93.5 FM as I was about 23 miles out of Mitchell, SD.

Also there was a nice article in the local paper written by Sherry S., about the America by Bicycle ride and Life Across America!

Once in town I was picked up by Sherry S. (UBS) and taken to two blood drives in town, visited the Corn Palace and met a lot of donors to which I said “thank you” many times!

It was an amazing “blood donor” day in Mitchell, SD! ( I had to opportunity to say “thank you” to many long time donors and even 2 first time donors!)

I cannot say “thank you” enough to the South Dakota “donors” who were and are willing to roll up their sleeves and give blood!  (Giving blood really does save LIVES, and I’m living proof of that!)

Plus giving one pint of blood is one of the only gifts that truly and literally comes from the HEART!

So thank you again to Sherry and Nancy who have been instrumental in helping Life Across America get the word out in South Dakota … you are both incredible ladies! (Also thank you to the 1st time donors today, I am in awe of your willingness to give the “gift of life”!

Larry F. (Over 1/2 way to Portsmouth, NH and still pedaling!)

Check out the pix today at: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/07-11-08%20–%20Mitchell%20SD/