Joann Van Vliet Update

Joann has been trying to update us with pictures and messages all week, but cell phone and internet service is very poor.
Here is a little bit that we were able to receive from Joann. She says that she will get us a full report and pictures upon her return.

Monday was a long and tough ride from Shenandoah to Creston!  The ride started out with cloudy skies after our thunder storms yesterday but made our morning very comfortable as far as cycling, the roads were even amazing as far as clean from debris.  The towns we went through were amazing, people were parked from cross roads to homes (farms) on almost every hill...and there were more hills than I could count, providing fresh lemonade , watermelon slices, fresh pickles, every kind of homemade pie to just made ice cream!  It almost seemed like the towns we went through took the day off to welcome use and take care of every need we had to every desire we may want or not want.  

I myself struggled with a minor "knee" situation, sort-of-like the one I had with Sea to Sea in 2013 and starting with all the hill back then...a little ice and some ibuprofen, and I should be good to go for tomorrows ride!  

Joann's Trip to RAGBRAI

Update 1:

Well, after driving over 1600 miles and being on the road "time" wise...25 plus hours, I am in Iowa!  

First off, I had a really rough start with vehicle problems which caused me to get delayed into LA.  The Sea to Sea couple (Henry and Nancy DeJager), that I was going to ride with left at their normal time and I made the decision of continuing to RAGBRAI all by myself...I just couldn't not go and disappoint all those who are supporting me, let alone I am riding this in memory of my Mom.  

The drive was uneventful and went rather fast, I listened to a few Christian Books on tape and time flew (Deeanne Gist books).  I finally caught up with the DeJager's Thursday evening and spent about an hour going over the past few days and my misfortunes!  

So, tomorrow morning I will be shuttled from the Omaha area to Glenwood and meet-up with the rest of the Sea to Sea cyclist.  We will finish the get our RAGBRAI registration and receive our "wristbands" then set-up camp for the night, which once again "tent camping"!  

fI'll update as I can!! :)

Joann Van Vliet join the RAGBRAI ride

Our very own Joann Van Vliet will be using her passion for riding bike and supporting a great cause by taking on Iowa's cross-state RAGBRAI (Registers Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa) starting on July 23rd, 2016. She is joining her friends with "Sea to Sea", a CRC ministry, to raise money for the ongoing battle against poverty.

You can follow her ride here! If you would like to get involved by donating towards this great cause, visit https://www.myworldrenew.net/seatosea2016/Headquarters