Travel Log- May 30, 2007

9:37pm - Last post for today without having talked to Pastor Reed. Cell phone service is spotty along the shoreline, so he has not called in a final update for today. Also, Pastor may have trouble getting access to a computer, so pictures may have to wait. Today, Pastor was going to stop riding just north of East Tawas, MI where he was graciously lent the use of Ben and Freeda VanTol's cottage. He should have arrived there by about 5:00pm. Word is he is going to try to make it to Alpena, possibly even Rogers City, tomorrow so that he has a shorter day of riding on Friday to make it to the Mackinaw Bridge. Please continue to keep Pastor Reed in your prayers.

4:52pm - Haven't gone very far, again. Just a mile or so down the road from the Bickhams, Pastor was flagged by Janet, a lady on the side of the road whose car had broken down. She was having trouble telling the towing service where she was located, so Pastor was able to use his maps and GPS to give exact coordinates (6.42 miles south of Tawas City) for where they were standing. Though Janet isn't Lutheran, she said she did grow up next to a Missouri Synod pastor in the Detroit area.

4:02pm - Haven't gone very far since the last check-in. Pastor stopped to see former members, Mike and Carol Bickham (Carol used to be secretary at Grace), and had a good hour long talk with them. They said their church in Tawas City is already using the LSB and their "winter" church in Yuma, AZ has it as well, so they know the benefit of acquiring for Grace.

2:17pm - Taking a break. When Pastor called to check in, he said he was standing by the water of Lake Huron. He continues to travel up M-23 and has just passed Bessinger Rd near Hammell Beach, MI (about 15 miles or so from East Tawas). He said he stopped at a gas station to get some water and the Attendant gave him the cheery, but also cheesy, quip, "Happy bikers have bugs in their teeth." Though there are no bugs in his teeth at the moment, Pastor said he has swallowed a few over the last few days.

1:04pm - Pastor Reed has been heading up M-23 and is now just a few miles west of Au Gres. When asked how he has been handling the heat, Pastor replied, "It's really not that bad. You sort of make your own air conditioning as you ride. I'm standing in the shade at a golf course right now and the guys swinging the clubs look hotter than I am."

11:12am - Checking in from Pine River, MI (about 3 miles east of Standish). Just as he was approaching Pine River, Pastor got a call that a Freight Truck had arrived at Grace to deliver the ordered copies of Lutheran Service Book!! Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Don't forget that it's not too late to sponsor Pastor Reed's ride. Pledges will be accepted at any time. Donations for the hymnals at Grace can be brought to the church office or put in the offering plate, and donations for Concordia University can be sent directly to the Office of Development at CUAA. *Side Notes...Pastor met Nick, a student at Western Michigan studying aeronautics, who was holding the Slow/Stop sign at an intersection under construction. He found out this was Nick's first day on the job and he'll be doing this one thing...all summer long. Pastor surprised Nick by buying him a bottle of Pepsi to celebrate his new job. A few miles earlier, Pastor Reed was also flagged by a car full of older women (I think in a Chevy Impala) headed the opposite way. Thinking they needed directions, Pastor was happy to stop and help. They were all from Pigeon, MI and, sure enough, did need directions...to the new casino!! (Did Pastor ask them to make a donation to the Hymnal Fund instead?)

9:54am - Pastor Reed checked in as he was heading north out of Pinconning. He spent 20 minutes or so visiting with Pastor Jung (a classmate from the Fort Wayne Seminary). Pastor Jung showed him all their copies of LSB that were just dedicated this past Sunday. While talking, Pastor Reed also got to meet George and Dave, volunteers at the church who were in the process of installing an air conditioning unit in the pastor's office window. Pastor Jung will need that unit as it's getting hotter out there, today.

9:01am - A beautiful morning for a bike ride. After stopping to visit the guys at Men's Bible Study at Grace this morning, Pastor got away at about 7:15am. He is currently at the intersection of Fraser and Coggins Roads. He has cut his way north to this point (9 Mile to Wheeler to 8 Mile to Anderson to 7 Mile to Prevo and now to Fraser). He plans to continue to head north on Fraser to Pinconning where he will stop and see Pastor Dave Jung at St. John Lutheran Church.