The days route took us through a number of small towns, and then on a fairly busy road that eventually took us down a fun descent toward a bridge over the river that marked the border between Iowa and Wisconsin. Fortunately it wasn’t a toll bridge this time, although this time we didn’t end up crossing it more than once. That was followed by a climb to regain the altitude that was lost, and a few more miles into Wisconsin to get to Fennimore.

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We missed one of the turns along the way, which worked out fine since we were planning to go to Decatur where there was a bridge across the river to Iowa and the wrong turn took us along faster roads. Later on a number of cyclists also didn’t turn where they were supposed to, but they don’t get quite the same advantage. A ways down the route we got a call from the first SAG stop since there was a cyclist who was having trouble. We headed back and picked up the cyclist and brought them across the bridge into Iowa and a ways further into the route.

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Today I took over a SAG van for the day while Betsy took my bike for the day. Before I was even ready to head out, I got a call that a cyclist had fallen and required the use of a first aid kit. It was only about three klicks out of town, and I arrived there shortly after receiving the call. The cyclist had a bad gash on his arm and some other scrapes, so we patched him up and he made the rest of the day alright (getting a new bandage from one of the nurses halfway through the day).

After going back to camp to finish packing my tent, I headed out with an assistant to mark the route near York, since there were a few confusing turns over there. On the way there we stopped at the first SAG stop, which was near the halfway point, distance-wise, for the tour. Someone had made signs that people were using to pose with, with the distance covered listed in miles and kilometers. Thanks Justin for “Is it the halfway point in kilometers too?”.
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On our way out of time, we stopped at a 7/11 for coffee and a bathroom break. I was standing at the counter with Stephanie who was helping us for the day, and while we were waiting to pay for our coffee and snacks a woman came up to ask whether we were part of the Christian cycling group that was in town. After answering in the affirmative and telling her more about the trip, she insisted on paying for our items, which was just great!

As we were waiting in the parking lot, the woman came back from her car that she had been about to drive away in, and told us that God had told her that she had to pray with us. She prayed for the tour, praying again and again for safety and angelic protection for the cyclists. It was very timely, considering the cyclist that was hurt the previous night and the injuries that had occured in the previous few days.
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Saturday morning we had breakfast in a semi-open shelter at the camp where we had held our group meeting the previous night. Its always great when this happens since it means that there are picnic tables available, a treat  for those who didn’t bring a camp chair along.

After helping fill water jugs for one of the SAG wagons, I headed out with Betsy who dropped me about halfway up the major climb for the day, the last pass that had to be crossed for the tour. The pass was over 11,000 feet, but fortunately the grade was relatively easy compared to some previous climbs.

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