Discovering Northern Indiana

The whole feel of the trip has changed as I move north. The temperatures are still high, but the early harvest has changed the scenery. Fields have the look of fall. Many are already cleared. The roads are straight and flat, square one mile blocks. The corn and soy bean fields are of a grander scale than the fields of the south. I share the county roads with farmers in air-conditioned combines. Rather than as with the coal trucks of southern Indiana, the roads are dangerous with large, fast grain trucks.

(I'm hoping Mulongo will get here soon. I so wanted him to see harvest time in Indiana.)

The big difference, however, is that southern Indiana is familiar. I know the towns, the churches, the people. Riding in the north is pure discovery.

I met a cyclist in the park in Montpelier. When I introduced myself, he said, "I go to a United Methodist church." He gave me helpful advice on how to get out of town and on to a bicycle friendly road north. He also gave me a bottle of water and two snack bars. Random, radical hospitality.

As I rode into Zanesville, I saw a large church tower up the hill on the right. As I arrived at the entrance to the parking lot, I saw by the sign that it was a United Methodist church. I stopped. Pastor Tom Watt was there to greet me and hear my story and tell me the story of this church, a church that refused to die in a demographic trend. They built a new gymnasium that is filled all winter with basketball playing children and youth. When the church decided to start a Wednesday evening adult program, they had trouble finding space. Tom is truly happy in his appointment and proud of his congregation.

For the first time on the trip, I got totally lost. I've spent sections of time not sure, but this was for real lost. I tried to ride from the southwest corner of Fort Wayne to the northeast corner using the bike paths as much as possible. The bike paths in Fort Wayne are not designed for riders with purpose, but for wandering in circles. When I left the paths for the streets, it just got worse. Finally, I headed straight downtown and found a fire station. A friendly fire fighter (Remember, children, they are our friends!) showed me the station's wall map. He sent me on my way. Then about 3 miles from my destination, I asked an older couple, who were out for an afternoon stroll, if they knew Taylor Chapel United Methodist Church. "Oh yes, but you've got a long way to go." I assured them that another 2 or 3 miles would be fine. They pointed the way. When I finally arrived at Taylor Chapel, there was 99 miles on the odometer. I rode around until it turned over 100.

Ann and Bruce at Taylor Chapel hosted me for the evening and pastor Steve Conner is going to take me to lunch with a group of UM pastors today. Program tonight.

Mileage is well over 800 and the horse is smelling the barn. I need to get to South Bend before turning south to Lafayette. Trip is almost complete. Wonderful people met. Stories told. Lessons learned. Right knee is talking to me.

Bob