Update #17 - May 14, 2005
Centerville, IA - 5141.2 miles (8225.92 kms.)

The new recumbent is really great. I still cannot believe that I've got it. The ride is so much better. I know that this seems to be a repeat on how I started the previous update but I still cannot believe it.

The ride is so much better. I've got almost 700 miles (1120 kms) on it. Yesterday, I did 110 miles (176 kms) on it in around 12 hours. I have been flying up and down hills without getting into my very low "Granny" gears.

I had some good time off the road with friends in Granite City, IL. I got back on the road last Tuesday. I crossed the Mississippi River on the old Chain of Rocks bridge. For most of the first 140 miles in Missouri, I rode along the KATY trail along the Missouri River. It was a good ride and I did spend a night in my tent camping out along the trail.

Yesterday was the longest ride for the year. I made 110 miles (176 kms) in around 12 hours. I couldn't have done this with the old recumbent. I started the day in Paris, MO (where I had stayed in the First Baptist Church) and ended the day in Lancaster, MO (where a motel room had been donated by the minister of the Christian Church in Queen City

I'm on my way to Zearing, IA (which is a little NE of Ames). I've got a friend there who is the minister of the First Christian Church. I should be there maybe this coming Thursday.

From Zearing, I'll be heading to Brookings, SD. From Brookings, S.D., I'll be riding north to the Canadian Border and then turning east for the ride through Northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Upper Pensinsula of Michigan. After Michigan, I've got some planned stops in Ohio.

I'll try and post and update as often as I can if my plans change.