It is 4 PM, as I write this journal. I have been in my motel room in Kewanee, Illinois for a half hour, and as I look out at the trees being whipped around and sheets upon sheets of rain falling, I think "Except for the grace of God, I would be out there in that mess."

There were two major concerns for today's ride: First I wanted to make it across the bridge over the Mississippi River alive. Secondly, there was supposed to be a severe thunderstorm coming through in the afternoon. Could I get to Kewanee before it does?

Getting up at 5 AM, I had devotions and prayer, packed everything up, and was eating breakfast a little after 6 AM. The forecast was clouds, so I did not put on sunblock at the motel, but did apply it at the restaurant, since clouds in the blue sky, were few and far between.

Stopped by a convenience store for extra water, snacks and an Illinois road map (a brilliant idea from Karen), then set off for the bridge. The road I was on was a main thoroughfare, but traffic was light that early. Before 7 AM, I was across the bridge, pedalling through Illinois. Except for a big hill at the beginning, the terrain was relatively flat. In addition, the southerly wind was coming a bit from the west side, giving me a modest boost at times.

For once, the route chosen was excellent. Good roads, Little traffic. Because of the early start, decent terrain and modest tailwind, it certainly looked like I was going to be in Kewanee long before the thunderstorm would hit. Short breaks, quick lunch, and then back to pedalling.

All day long I wondered if I would get to my motel room before the storm. A week earlier, I was in my motel room seconds before the heavens opened up. Today, however, while the clouds were accumulating, they seemed pretty docile. Maybe the storm, if there was to be one, would hit later in the evening. Even when arriving in Kewanee, it did not look like anything even approaching the status of a thunderstorm was on the horizon. The only clue I received was a couple of isolated raindrops as I pulled into the motel. Within ten or fifteen minutes, the storm hit with all its fury.

Today's trip logged in at 81 miles. To get into a motel room by 3 PM, was testimony to the early start, good riding conditions, and God's Providence, in reverse order.

For the next several days, the weather is projected to be nice. I get to meet, tomorrow, one of the Illinois Red Cross volunteers that I served with while on deployment in New Jersey a few years back.

I am in amazement at how wonderful God's grace is especially since it is undeserved.