Missions Bike Ride Day 5, from Lexington, NE to Grand Island, NE

Hello all!!! Only 2 days left.
Today we rode into Grand Island and it was quite a ride. We rode 82 miles and averaged 17 miles an hour into a light and moderate breeze. Overall it was a good day. I was in a bit of a mood and either rode by myself and then led the pack for 27 miles towards the end of the day!! It was a lot of fun. Our group grew by 3 and tonight another 2 gals joined us for the final 2 days! Tomorrow we are looking at a 60 mile ride with the possibility of adding some extra to hit the 500 mile club!! Tonight I was the given the racer award because they say I just don’t know when to stop!! Hey, my motto is “Shifting is overrated!” I had a comical conversation with some of the guys that if I didn’t need to start, I wouldn’t need my lower gears, maybe I could find a someone to push me to get started and then I can just let er rip!! The highlight of my day was being surprised by Jen at the Hotel!! It was a nice surpise to open the door and see her and Jalise standing in the hallway! Thanks for all your prayers.

Back on the home front, after getting the boys off to school and making sure they had all their luggage packed for their weekend pow wow for Royal Rangers, Jalise and I tried to get out the door as we wanted to surprise Dave...unfortunately, it just didn't go as planned. The best part of my day though was receiving a rose today for my flower arrangement! It is absolutely beautiful!

Finally after lunch, Jalise and I headed out to Grand Island. We arrived in town and the bikers had already gotten to the hotel. I had asked Toby if he knew what room Dave was in and he thought 128...so of course I knocked on the door only to be greeted by Jodi Banzhaff...ya, so not Dave. Luckily, just at that moment, Dave called me and I asked him where he was and what room he had gotten. He then said he was on his way to the mall so Jalise and I scooted back down the hall and as he walked out of his room, there we stood. It was the best to see the look on his face and surprise him!

I was able to spend the night with Dave and Jon and my parents were also able to come down with my Grandma Miller for the little get together that the church had. Fun times! We enjoyed some swimming after that and of course then got some much needed rest.

From my very happy picture window view that included Dave and Jon in it to yours, have a great day!

Missions Bike Ride Day 4...North Platte, NE to Lexington, NE

Day number uhhhh I have lost track!!

Today was a brutal day. Our destination was 60 miles away. Which would seem like a light day except we rode into a pretty strong head wind most of the day. There was a group of 6 riders that lined up and we were a riding machine. We would each take a turn of one mile in the front and then coast to the back and resume our position in the draft. Once we were established this worked really well. We rolled at a pace of 16 to 19 miles an hour. It is amazing how a draft can drastically lesson the difficulty of the ride. It was fun to be a apart of. As we got closer to Lexington we were totalling mileage and we were thinking we were going to be a little short of the 500 miles in Omaha so 4 of us turned back around and rode 14 miles with the wind to Cozad. We rode there partially because that was the way the wind was blowing and also because they had a bike shop there. Let me tell you if you ever need a good bike shop there is a great one in Cozad. For us four our mileage totalled 74 miles with an average of 17.7 miles an hour. It took us around 4 ½ hours of total ride time.
At our closing rally I was given the drafting award for my ability to tuck in behind somebody and make them pull me. I also was given a small license plate that says “2 FAST 4U” I atttached this to the back of my helmet in case somebody tries to pass me. Ok--maybe it just looks cool there!!! Tomorrow we have another big day we are riding 84 miles to Grand Island. Wahoo!! right now it looks like the wind will be blowing across us and that is ok. Thank You for all your prayers!

Back on the homefront...today was one of those days that when the alarm clock went off I could have just kept sleeping! So could the boys! I think everyone just laid there listening to their alarm clock going off for a few minutes before crawling out of bed.
Today, Jacob decided to try fishing--he caught the clothesline quite nicely! I on the other hand was not impressed as I reeled in his catch!

Shortly after supper, Jalise found a pen and colored herself with it while I was skyping with Dave...oh joy! Such fun for me! She looks great in stripes--really!

From my great stripped catch to yours, have a great day!

Missions Bike Ride Day 3...From Big Springs, NE to North Platte, NE

Day number three
Today was an interesting day! We needed to make up 20 miles due to some arrangements we had made with lodging and it was decided that we would just ride an extra 20 miles after we arrived at North Platte. The wind looked like it was not going to be a factor, boy were we wrong. It turned and blew us to North Platte. We rode 70 miles in 3 hours (ride time) and averaged 21 miles an hour! It was insane! At one time I was chasing my brother in law, Jon, and Dale Ackerman. My speedometer said I was doing 30 miles an hour on the flat and I was having a hard time keeping up. We had so much fun! Overall it was a good day. If it wouldn't have been for one flat tire and the support van getting the keys locked inside along the road it would have been perfect. This was one of the times we finished before the support van. Yeah us!!! Brian Korell and I hoisted his bike in the air at 70 miles and made an archway for the riders to ride through. It was perfect. Tomorrow we head to Lexington. We pick up a new rider in the morning and we loose one after the ride tomorrow night. We are praying for favor with the wind tomorrow!! Thank you for all your prayers.

Back at home on the home front, the view from my picture window was filled with more laundry (it never ends) and spending the day on the phone working with STS students and then over in Ord at the office...such fun other than getting home an hour later than planned! It was also the first night for the boys to go to Awanas at the Baptist Church--oh and did I mention that the majority of my day I felt sick to my stomach??? Yep, never more glad to see "Pastor Pillow, Brother Blankets, and Sister Sheets" tonight...as that is where I am blogging from!

From my comfortable view looking out the picture window of my bedroom to yours, have a great day!

Missions Bike Ride Day 2...From Kimball, NE to Big Springs, NE

Day 2
From Pastor Dave:
Today was a rough day. We were looking for 90 miles and the forcast was calling for us to head into a pretty stiff wind. We started out with some spicy biscuts and gravy and hit the road flying!! Today I tried something new. I started in the back of the pack and took some time to visit with the riders as I made my way to the front. It was quite an enjoyable adventure. Once I got to the front, it was time to get to work and start covering some ground. Unfortunately, we moved a little too fast and arrived at our lunch destination an hour early. Oh well! It was an enjoyable time relaxing at the Sidney church. They served us burritos on home made tortillas and it was awesome, but we had a mission at hand. Big Springs or Bust!!! And Bust it was!!! I was pulling into a stop and as I was getting off the bike, I fell down!! Not one of my finest moments!!! Then a group of 5 of us formed a draft pack and for around 30 miles we averaged around 18-20 miles an hour. (3 of the 5 are pictured above. My brother in law, Jon, Dale Ackerman, and myself.) That was great until we got to Chappel and decided due to the threat of hills we disbanded and headed out on our own. I really struggled on this 9 mile leg. I just couldn't seem to get going. I couldn't catch anybody and going down hill I had to work to get any speed, I eventually was getting passed by people and even in their draft, I couldn't keep up. At the next stop I was standing by my bike and I realized it wouldn't roll, even if I tried to push it. AFter some research I found that my back tire had slipped and was rubbing on the frame. Oh how frustrating, no wonder I was having a hard time going, it was the equivilent of somebocy holding the brake while I rode. After that was fixed, I wanted to go and go fast and I did, until I realized my front tire was going flat!! GGGRRRRRR!!!!! Pull over and fix a tire and now I am dead last and the support vehicle is following me with her flahsers on!! (Not where I want to be!!)) Time to kick it down and make up some ground!!! I caught back up to the pack and had the priviledge of racing one of the support vans down a hill at 37 miles an hour. What a rush. We ended up riding 90 miles in 5 hrs and 15 minutes (actual riding time). IT was a blast! Tomorrow we have a lighter day as we ride to North Platte. Thanks for all your support and prayers...

Back on the home front the view from my picture window was a little windy today outside but a great day to catch up on the laundry, go for a nice walk to get the mail and then grill out! Yes, believe it or not, I can cook when I want to...

This morning I had a visitor at 9:30 a.m. who came bearing a yellow flower and a note from Dave! Yesterday, when we got home there was a vase of leaves on the table with a note from him...which was rather interesting...so will see what tomorrow brings!

After a yummy supper of grilled chicken and green beans we headed out for a 2 mile bike ride around Burwell, and then a SKYPE date with Dave. It was some of the best medicine ever taken! From my picture window to yours, have a great week!

Missions Bike Ride Day 1...From Pine Bluffs, WY to Kimball, NE

Howdy Family and Friends,
This is Day 1 of the Missions Bike Ride 2011. For the next 7 days, Pastor Busch and I will be posting about our view from the bicycle and maintaining the bachelorette post at home with 4 Busch Kids!
Today, Monday Sept. 5, 2011 Pastor got in the vehicle and started the long ride at Grand Island where my brother Jon Miller started his morning off in Omaha! They drove all the way to Kimball, Nebraska recounting war stories and bragging about past accomplishments. Of course this was not to be a day without eating at the famous Tacos y Tortas in Lexington (a camp favorite…but a first for Dave and Jon). Riders were picked up along the way and finally got to the motel in Kimball and rode from there to the border as the wind was at their backs. Pastor said, “We had been told that the road was flat and for the most part it is, but the air is much drier than it is around Burwell. I made the mistake of not grabbing my chap stick before taking off for the first ride. But the ride went good—uneventful and we made it safe to the Wyoming border 23 miles later. And of course I have a minor cough but this year I am much better equipped with all sorts of medicine!
Tomorrow is downhill most of the way. We are supposed to drop a 1000 feet in 80 miles and we are all praying for tailwinds! “
Back home from the picture window at my house, life is back to somewhat normal minus one very missed Daddy! Tears were shed by the two youngest Busch Boys this morning as they watched their Daddy ride away a church van with their Uncle Jon. We got back to Burwell about 3:15 p.m. and spent the rest of the day playing outside. We enjoyed a picnic supper of leftovers and boys were in bed by 8:15. Tomorrow is a brand new day though…from my much quieter picture window to yours, have a great day!