Twin Cities

The 70 or so miles along the Mississippi are part of the National Park Service. It is such a treasure. I was traveling a long The Minnesota river right before it merges into the Mississippi and felt such a peace. I went to a overlook area and read a sign that explained that the native American people considered this spot sacred. It was weird. I sensed a strong spiritual presence before I read the sign. Experiences like this help convince me that God is bigger than a book. I love the Bible, but I've experienced So much God in nature and in the world thru miracles that happen daily. St. Paul is a big city. As in most big cities homeless services are stretched thin and its hard to get social services. When you get to organizations there usually quite impersonal and cold. The homeless population can be a little grabby towards my worldly possessions. ( my bicycle and tent) I like hanging around small towns and suburbs because they don't want my stuff. Unfortunately they usually don't want me. Its getting cooler around here. Last night it rained. Highs will be only in the 60's and lows in the 40's. Its good riding weather. I'm planning on riding out of here soon. I visited university of MN. campus yesterday. A lot of bikes. The National Park trail cuts right thru the campus. Beautiful view of downtown Minneapolis. I hope everyone is doing good, have a great day, Daniel

Beautiful Minnisota

I continue to be so impressed with the beauty of this area of the country. I went to a library yesterday and they had a county bike trail map. It is so nice to get trail maps. Quite a few states have had state bicycle maps. Wisconsin and Minnesota have not. It makes it harder to get around on bike. I'm in a different county now and I wish I had one of their maps. Often the Internet offers maps, but the sites want money for them. I'll probably try to find a visitors center and see if they have a map. I've already been on some nice trails around this city, I would just like to know where they lead. Down town St. Paul is so modern and clean. The library here is quite old, but its so elegant. Its going to be in the mid 80s today, then cool off tomorrow. My clothes were getting a little stale. I stopped at a St. Vincent Depaul and they very kindly, gave me a new set. To marrow is only going to be in the 60s with lows in the 40s. I was given a sweet shirt to help keep me warm. Thank you God for all your blessings. I was reminded again yesterday that just having my bike, my back pack, and my tent I'm wealthier than 90 percent of the world. I'm not sure I've always been appreciative of this fact. I'm not sure on how many of us thank him for all he has given us. Thank you for reading and have a great day, yours in Christ, daniel.gibbs@yahoo.com

Hi from the twin cities

I finally made it to suburbs of St. Paul. Last night I was in Hastings. For a small community they have a real nice bicycle trail system. The Gorge that the Vermillion river cut through this town is impressive and beautiful. Today in Inver Grove I met a nice man at a MacDonald's and I was able to witness of God's love and faithfulness. I've been fighting a resentment in my heart. I keep forgetting that with my bicycle and back pack I'm richer than 90 percent of the world. God has blessed us as a country and people so much. I pray our leaders have wisdom and discernment during these troubled times. May God always provide for our needs, and may he touch our hearts to be more like his own. May he have mercy on us. The sign has said " Peace" with a cross for over a week now. I don't have a real good way of fastening a bigger sign at this time. I would like to change the sign to " great is His faithfulness" I kept hearing that song over and over as I rode down the road yesterday. Have a great day, daniel.gibbs@yahoo.com

Its beautiful up here

The bicycle ride along the Mississippi has been wonderful. Theres been a nice shoulder to ride on, and its been basically flat. I ducked into Wisconsin at Lacrosse. I found some terrific bicycle trails, but as seems to be a trend, they were pay to use. I would have to come up with 20.00. Being this is more than 1/3 of my net worth I had to decline. Even the library here in Lake city made me pay for computer access. This is the 1st library any where in the country that has done this. If our government doesn't bail out the investment companies their might not be any one around to pay to use the trails. The country clubs may have to shut down, or God forbid open their doors to the public. That will bring a lot of prayers up. God, please don't let the poor on our trails or our golf clubs. If congress doesn't act immediately many will lose their golf carts. To hear they want to spend a trillion dollars and not help one person save their house is not only baffling, but I must admit I got angry. God forgive me. I truly don't ever want to condemn any one. If I was a rich investor I would want the government giving me a bunch of money also. God is in charge, what I think, probably makes no difference to any one on this planet, the only person that gets hurt by me getting angry is myself. I'm sorry if any of you lost money during the past year , months, and weeks, I reassert no body will take it with them, trust God, not any government, church, pastor, or investment company. I love my country, I pray God has compassion on me, you, and our country. May he always provide for our needs, and may our wants become closer to his wants during this time of trouble in our. Love in Christ, Daniel

Night in doors

I often feel convicted when I judge others, or institutions. I spent the night at the Salvation Army in La Crosse WI. I've criticised this charity because I didn't like how they run things several times during my journey. I have noticed, as a whole this charity seems to be focusing on helping families rather than homeless men. In actuality the Salvation army has helped me with food, clothing, and even shelter a few times. I remember back in the early 90's you could count on getting a bunk at any given lodge. Like the rest of the world they've changed. I do thank God the Army is still here helping others. I lay ed on my mattress on the floor last night and I watched this 60 some old lady go around and make sure the 25 or so men were behaving and doing what we promised to do by agreeing to stay at the lodge. This lady 2 hrs. earlier gave me a voucher for a change of clothing. What a blessed man I am that I live in a country where this is still available. The bigger the metro area the harder it probably is to run a service like the Army offers in a compassionate and intimate way. It makes such a difference where you are, with how they run things. I thank God that He's taken care of my needs through so many different institutions and people. I got a chance to witness of God's love to a man named John today. I'm at a public library getting free Internet access. God is good. I hope everyone can go to and experience God's peace during this difficult time in our countries history. May we all thank him and appreciate all he does for us, and may He have mercy on all of us. Have a great day, yours in Christ, daniel.gibbs@yahoo.com

Beautiful weather beautiful trail

South East Minn. has a wonderful trail in the root river trail. I've been on 53 miles of asphalt trail. The res another 6 mile or so extension I have not been on. The res been so many friendly people on the trail. The res been a nice mixture of rolling farm land, prairies, forests and rivers loaded with fish. I've seen many deer. They call this area the bluffs. All along the root river there are high bluffs overlooking the stream. I've talked to quite a few locals that went through a bad flood 13 months ago. A lady at the visitors center in Rushford feared the town wouldn't make it through another. The Central Iowa area had it worse this year, this area had it worse last year. Today a very generous donor donated my 19th bicycle. I'm recovering from a cold, its been hard to motivate myself to get up and go. They have a wonderful nature center here in Houston. The town and people are so bicycle friendly. God is still working in the hearts of many. May he be with all of us and draw us closer during this time of uncertainty. have a great day, daniel.gibbs@yahoo.com

Hot to Cold

It is chilly today. It wasn't long ago it was so hot I couldn't sleep. Today I've been fighting a bitter North wind blowing in my face. I've been zig zagging through Iowa. They have so many nice rail trails here. Its been such a nice surprise to see so many nice trails and trail systems. As I found in Virginia, they have nice cycle trails here, but their state highways have very few shoulders for riding. Here I've been able to take county roads that are less traveled and in better repair. I expect to make it in to Minnisota today or tomarrow. It will be nice to see the sun again. MY bicycle sprocket came loose again, a man at a Ford dealership let me use a wrench to tighten it up again. I tried to stop at a Mc Donolds for Coffee and a warm up, but it was closed for repairs. I'll go now, have a great day, daniel.gibbs@yahoo.com