Day #69 (7/14/24) – Bike Across America

I got up a little after 4:00 and was biking by 5:15. I have been on this early schedule to avoid the afternoon winds and heat. It was 65 degrees to start, and there was very little traffic on the road on this Sunday morning.

The scenery started off as fields.

Then it changed to grazing land for cattle. The road was straight with some gentle rolling hills and a good shoulder to bike on.

That’s how it went today. Fields of crops, then pastures. Here are a few more pictures.

I just kept peddling and about 9:30 Banks Lake came into view. The temperature was already 84 degrees and the wind had picked up quite a bit.

It was a couple of miles to Coulee City. I immediately biked over to the Coulee City Presbyterian Church to attend the 9:30 service. I was 10 minutes late and snuck into the back pew.

I arrived in time for the passing of peace, which for this congregation took ten minutes as everyone greeted everyone else. So, I got to meet everyone there. Of course, my bike attire was a great conversation starter.

The minister’s name was Clifford and he was doing a sermon series about references to Jesus in the Old Testament. Today’s sermon was on Psalm 110, and it was very well done and informative.

Afterwards, I stuck around for some fellowship time and talked mostly with Kurt and Darryl. They told me a lot about the area, its history and its geology. They gave me some ideas of things to see in the area. They also answered my questions about the different areas I had seen on my morning bike ride.

By then it was almost noon. I booked a hotel room about two blocks away and was able to check in right away. Walked to a local restaurant for lunch, and have been chilling out (literally) for the afternoon. It is hot and windy outside, so I am glad to have stopped riding early.

For the day, I biked 60 miles and climbed 1,300 feet. I’ll be getting another early start tomorrow and try for 60 to 80 miles.

Four days until I see Elizabeth!! ❤️