"Before you speak, listen. Before you write, think. Before you spend, earn. Before you invest, investigate. Before you criticize, wait. Before you pray, forgive. Before you quit, try. Before you retire, save. Before you die, give." ~ William A. Ward

Monday, July 16, 2012 (Day 40)
Super 8, Racine, WI
Miles:  82  MPH:  12  Max:  21  Total:  2458

Heat Wave!  Another day of record breaking temperatures.  City pools staying open late, electric companies providing extra energy for cooling even if you cannot pay, fire hydrants spraying water, community air conditioned rooms opening for those who need it AND we are bicycling across the state!  Oh boy it was hot!  Wisconsin has many bike trails - very cool!  The trails offered some shade, but the day started hot and just got hotter.  Our only goal today was to get to our destination.  We pedaled toward Milwaukee, and then onto Racine.

Again, strangers blessed us with kindness.  A woman yelled from her driveway, asking us if we needed a cold drink.  Later in the afternoon, we stopped in a neighborhood bar for something cold and the owner would not take any money for our drinks.  She said anyone crazy enough to be outside on a day this hot deserves a free drink!


A new first today -- I got the "middle finger" salute!  haha!  We pedaled down the Pacific coast, through the National Forest, across the Rockies, through the wild west, across the Great Plains, across the river bluffs, through the rolling farm land and finally here in the heartland of the mid-west it happened --  a few harsh words and the "finger!!"  Well, just another sign that we are closer to home :-)

We are 87% to our goal to raise $5,000 for the Special Olympics.  Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you!  As of today, friends, family, and our community have donated $4,250 to Lancaster County Special Olympics!  Wow!  Just incredible! Getting anxious now to complete our trip so we can thank each one of you personally.

A day off the bike tomorrow!  Jack is apartment shopping here in Racine!