kendallville, indiana

 I can smell the ocean!

We are now under 1,000 miles to go and we'll be at the Atlantic Ocean, maybe even in the Atlantic Ocean. It doesn't matter . . . we'll be there and we'll be finished! There was just something about going under that 1,000 mile mark today. I was in the middle of Nappanee and Kendallville, Indiana when my Garmin ceremoniously hit the seventeen mile mark for today. That let me know that I was in the three digits finally. 999 never felt so good. Did I yell? Yep. Nobody heard me but I did yell. I'm now looking forward to getting under the 100 mile mark. And . .  I'll yell again!

As I was leaving CountrySide Inn this morning I was greeted by Paul Miller. Paul is a Mennonite and was in Nappanee for his brother's funeral. Many of his family were in Nappanee for the funeral as well. Paul seems like the kind of guy I'd like to sit on the porch with and just talk about life in general. I told him that I grew up in York County, Pennsylvania which is next to Lancaster, County, home of a large Amish population and beautiful farms and fields. He knew where that was and said he was originally from Maryland which is very close to Lancaster. Paul asked about the bikes and that started our conversation about the cross-country journey. He thought it was a great adventure for us and said he would be praying for us as we travel. Paul is from Paris, Tennessee and said I was welcome to visit if I ever happened to be in that area of the country. I'd like to surprise him one day. Thanks, Paul, for much encouragement.

The road I pedaled, U. S. 6, had mostly narrow but smooth shoulders. It was also full of kind and considerate drivers. Margaret and I stopped so I could get some pictures of old cars and trucks and I think I got my first flat in the driveway there. I did manage to have two flat tires, one where I photographed the old vehicles and the other right after I got to Kendallville. Two in one day . . . and both were the results of running over very small pieces of wire from steel-belted radial tires. Same old story . . . that's five flats (out of my seven) from those tiny, sneaky pieces of wire. I'm over it, though. Probably won't be the last anyway. 

In Kendallville, Margaret and I went to what was kind of a flea market/thrift store. We bought nothing but had an interesting talk with the owner about DNR Approved Firewood in Indiana. I'll tell you about it sometime. From there we looked for a bike shop which may have existed at one time but wasn't on the map today. Not sure where it went but I am sure where is isn't so we went to Tractor Supply and bought enough tire patches to get me to the Atlantic. I'm hope I don't need them!

Lunch was at Richard's Ranch House where I had a super good burger and baked beans. Margaret had chicken salad croissant and fries. Both were very good and we left with full tummies and headed downtown Kendallville to check out two antique shops. At Carla's 5 Bucks Antiques & Such, I was looking for another Indiana license plate when Margaret spotted a box full. I asked Carla how much and she held up her hand a said, "Five bucks." That was fair for me so I grabbed one and continued to look around. When Carla and I started talking about the ride she asked, "Well, what are you doing in Kendallville?" I told her we were following U.S. 6 for much of the ride and Kendallville was part of the ride. I told her how I found license plates along the road
and wanted one from each state we pedaled through. I also told Carla that our favorite parts of the ride are the people we meet and the food we eat at the fine Ma & Pa eateries. When we finished talking I went to pay Carla for my Indiana plate and she simply indicated, "No," and gave it to me as a gift. Carla is one of those folks who make this ride an incredible and special journey. Carla, you made my day. And for that, I say thank you very much. So . . . for you folks reading this, if you ever get into Kendallville, Indiana, stop by 128 South Main Street at Carla's 5 Bucks Antiques & Such and say hi to Carla. You could even buy something.

Every day, I am reminded of God's goodness. Even though not all things that happen in our lives are good, the Bible says,  "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

That means every day and that means everything. So today . . . I give thanks for Paul Miller and his encouragement, narrow and smooth shoulders, Richard's Ranch House, a great burger, Carla and her encouragement and my gift license plate, a clean car, sunshine and wind, Kendallville, farms and long green fields, old rusty cars, kind and courteous drivers, encouraging notes and texts, going under 1,000 miles, America, tiny bits of wire, and two flat tires. There's much more I can give thanks for today but I hope my little list is enough to give you an idea and you grab a piece of paper and start writing. It's amazing how much encouragement we can get from being gracious. Write those things down. Give it try. And list things you normally wouldn't be thankful for, too. You won't be sorry.

Give thanks!

2,583.77/980.07!

Ohio tomorrow, Lord willing, then Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine! Look out Atlantic!