It seems like every day, I am getting a little faster at getting ready to pack up and get on the road, without sacrificing devotions. I arrived at a quaint cafe in Sauk Center by 6:40 AM,

The maps i primarily use, are typically for a long east/west north/south routes. Each route may have a dozen or more maps from start to finish. Since I am not following the route that I am on, to its completion, I just purchased  maps on the areas that I would be on. By the end of this journeyes I will have done parts of the Northern Tier trail, Lewis and Clark trail, Atlantic  Coast trail, and the Underground Railroad trail. My route today started on map 5 of the Northern Tier, and then continued on map of the Northern Tier. Which helps to explain my errant comment yesterday about being on a rail-trail for three days. I had been told that, but the maps did not support it. I would start out on a trail today, but would leave it after 40 miles. 

In several days I will be in the Minneapolis area, visiting with Jack Ingersol, Karen's cousin. During my 2008 trip, Jack was so interested, that he drove all the way down to southern Illinois to follow me in his car for two days. He was a wonderful companion.

Technically, Jack lives in Bloomington, on the west side of Minneapolis. The maps I use take me to the east side of Minneapolis. It is probably 60 miles out the way one would travel by car. Jack couldn't understand why I would go that far out of the way. The answer is that my maps tell me where food and lodging are located, along with accurate mileages. To go off the map would bring a large amount of uncertainty into my ride. That would soon change.

The weather was a bit cool with low probability of rain. So, of course it rained, albeit lightly. Finally, about mid-morning, I decided it was not going to rain anymore. So I stopped the bike, got off it, folded up the rain  jacket and put it away. When done, I looked up, and there, standing next to me was another bicycle tourer. We chatted a bit, then started riding, and rode together for two hours.

Some of you may consider me a bicycler, but I know better. This fellow, David Siskind, was a bicycler indeed. At 74, he had bicycle toured most parts of the country multiple times. Living in Minneapolis, he was on his way up to explore some of the CanadIan landscape for six weeks. Since he was from the Twin Cities area, I shared Jack's lament about my route. My new friend agreed with Jack, then, as we were pedaling along he was quiet for a few minutes, then said "i've got it. I have your route figured out." Then he proceeded to explain it. It made more sense once he concisely put it down as a map. In essence I can get to Jack's place comfortably in three days instead of four days. So, right now I am 80 miles from Minneapolis and should be able to comfortably get to Jack in two days of 50 or so miles, not the 70-88 that I have been doing lately. He assured me there are restaurants all over the place, and motels galore (I just need one for tomorrow night). Hmm, I wonder if Jack even wants me a day early? Yikes!

I know that David was flesh and bones, but he was like an angel to me. I have been given so many suggestion on this trip, the overwhelming majority of which I reject. But David's credentials and clear knowledge of the area won my respect. These types of meetings seem like coincidences, but as I said before, the Lord's actions are much more clear and obvious when one is alone in the middle of nowhere. He brought us together.

The scenery was very pretty today, as always. I am getting out of the lakes area, but I enjoy farmland. Surprised a doe and fawn today. A pilliated woodpecker flew out in front of us for a while. 

The moment I got onto the highway i was going to take south, what do you suppose happened? I got a good tailwind. Once again, I was flying down the road.

When was the last time I had a 70 mile day, and was checking into a motel before 3 PM? 

 Blessings.