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

Thanks for the tent

Boy did it come down last night. I'm staying in a woods off a bicycle trail. Its a little muddy, but seems to be remote enough so that I won't be bothering any one. My warm up suit got quite muddy yesterday. I rode around 40 miles or so. I escaped most of the rain during the day but it was wet enough to have the back tire splash me pretty good. The mugginess and humidity had me very uncomfortable by the time I stopped. The big news around here is that Iowa just beat Iowa State. I stopped at a garage sale and bought a fresh shirt and a pair of pants. Its nice to feel clean again. I was able to clean up at the library restroom. I still must find a clean pair of socks, this is way over due. If I found a very cheap pair of shoes I may buy them also. Iowa Falls has a wonderful bicycle trail system, theres some type of festival going on. I was able to witness of God's faithfulness to a nice young lady from Minnesota. I pray God continues to draw all of us closer than that he will have mercy on all of us. Have a great day, daniel.gibbs@yahoo.com

Skys are still dark

I was able to ride 50 miles or so yesterday. A church let me stay on their property last night. I was woke up this morning to a large back hoe removing trees from the Iowa river. It was a beautiful stretch of river. I'm grateful the church let me stay on their property. They were very reluctant. Most church around the country would say no. They would not let me use their rest room. The fear that has entrenched our country is very cold and hardening. I some times feel sad when I see coldness in the Church's. We have such an opportunity to stick out in this day and age. We are suppose to be different. Like no other time in my life time society has made it so abnormal to show love and affection to strangers. It can be such a cold world. I thank God and the people that He's used for all the love they've shown me over the last months. He who helps a prophet will get a prophets reward. I stand on God's promise that he will do what he claims and I rejoice at how he will bless so many. Have a great day, yours in Christ, Daniel

Rain day

I'm currently in Ames Iowa. Home of Iowa State University. I was able to take a bicycle trail 28 miles North of Des Moines to a place called Salorville. It is an Army Core of Engineers dam project. It is a beautiful area. Last night a Baptist church allowed me to camp on their property. The pastor shared some bread they had in their kitchen. Its a growing church. It was nice to see a church with a mid week service. Around the country its getting harder to find them. It looks like heavy rain comming this way on radar, I'll wait for it to go thru before going further North. Have a great day, Daniel

DesMoines Trails

The sign still reads "soon" with a cross. It rained last night. I'm grateful for the tent. I stayed next to a creek 30 miles from DesMoines. I went on a bicycle trail that extends 18 miles south of town. I've seen many nice trails in the city and on the map. Its cloudy and around 70. I'm thinking I may try to find a place to take a shower and change my shift. The bikes still hanging in there. A nice guy gave me some bread sticks for lunch. I hope all of you are having a great day, your friend Dan

Another State

Today's sign reads " Soon" with a cross. I woke up this morning to a flat tire. I thank the nice man from Cameran that bought me a pump. I was able to pump up the tire and make it to Walmart to put green slime in the tire. It looks like it finally sealing it. I've had to put air back in it 3x or so. A lot of farm country. I made it through Missouri and I'm now in Iowa. My tooth is pretty much healed. My shoulder is still sore. The road is mostly rolling hills with farms. The cows and horses get entertained when I ride by. I've went by quite a few Amish buggy's. My email is daniel.gibbs@yahoo.com. I hope all of you have a great night, your friend Daniel

Thank you God

Riding thru Kansas was tougher than it looked on the map. By the way its not totally flat. The hot temps that have followed me from Washington State continued up until this morning. Yesterday afternoon a cold front came thru and it rained all day today. I was very cold. I stopped by a church around 11 to see if they had coffee and a preacher took me out for lunch. I went to a church this evening and a very nice guy took me to Walmart, bought me a tent and supplies and paid for a motel. Missouri is proving to be a state with some real nice people. This has happened just in time. I have so many mosquito bites. The abscess in my mouth is healing. My shoulder is still sore from the bicycle accident I had earlier in the week. I really needed this night inside. I want to thank the special person who has generously provided for me this evening, and thank you God for your faithfulness. "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and heal their land". I'm riding across the country I love and we need to pray and turn to Him. Thank you for reading the site and I pray you pray this prayer with me. Have a great day, Daniel

Its Hot out here

Hi, I've made it thru Colorado and into Kansas. was hitch hiking along I 80 when a man in a truck picked me up ant took me to his house in Hutchinson. He let me work a couple of days, which enabled me to buy a used bike at the salvation army. I went NE from there. My seat fell a part so I detoured to the city of Emporia. A nice lady at a down town cycle shop gave me a used seat on the house. I spent 2 nights at their mission and cleaned, and rested up. The heat has been Waring me out. I have so many mosquito bites. Yester day my bike was broke down on the side of the road and a man that owned a bike shop stopped and picked me up and fixed the bike. He is 75 years old and participates in 20k races. So many nice people out here. Today I entered my 30th state on this adventure. I've made mistakes, spiritual, physical, and mental, but God is faithful, he has not left me nor forsaken me. Late last night going down a hill my front brake broke and wedged in my tire , which cause me and my bike to tip over. I had a hard time with the accident. My shoulder is still sore. There was a few minutes where I was much less than happy about what happened. I'm so sorry God for blaming you, and thank you for being there with me. Rain and cold is cumming next, this will be a big change. I'm battling lack of sleep due to mosquitoes and hot temps. When I get overly tired I'm pro an to have negative attitude. Again God is faithful. All ready today I was able to shower and change my clothes here in St. Joseph. I told a group of young insurance agents I would give them a mention on the blog. Four early 20's young people in an insurance co vehicle picked me up hitch hiking and gave me a ride to Colorado Springs. They bought me lunch and gave me a 20. Looking at their car, age, and prosperity, I would say this was close to impossible. People are still allowing God to work thru their hearts, thanks guy es your friend Dan








f