I am Paul Lipetzky from st. Joan of Arch Catholic Church in Minneapolis, Minn.

This is my first journal entry of the Brake the Cycle ride and my first time at a PC keyboard since the ride began. Please have patience gentle readers if by chance this entry does not meet the standards or forms previously established.

Today was our 17th day on the road and our 18th together as the Brake the Cycle team. By my calculations we have now traveled 1,148 miles from San Francisco to Hanksville. This count includes the 12-mile ride to Baker Beach in San Francisco for the photo opportunity.

Yesterday evening we stayed in motel rooms in Boulder Town, Utah. Several women from the team fixed stir fried vegetables and beef for supper. They cooked in the kitchenette of their housekeeping unit. After queuing up for food in the tiny kitchen we took our food out into the garden between the motel building and the owners residence. It was an oasis from our desert travels. There were low hanging fruit trees, a lawn of lush grass, a few chickens pecking about, two kittens and an old dog. We spread out on the lawn and an assortment of furniture commandeered from the motel rooms to enjoy our dinner and companionship.

After supper we had our daily map meeting to review todayÆs route and schedule. Mary W. chaired the meeting from a hammock suspended between the fruit trees. Because we lost an hour of morning daylight when we cross from Pacific to Mountain Time, we decided to delay our start time by half an hour so that the first riders would not be riding out before daybreak. Therefore, this mornings schedule was set for a 6:30 A.M. ride out. After the meeting we adjourned to our rooms and the parking lot to work on bike maintenance and personal stuff. By 9;00 P.M. all was quiet.

Due to the time schedule change I set my alarm for 5:15 rather the 4:30 time I have been getting up. However, creature of habit that I have become, I woke at 4:30. Maybe tomorrow I will pick up that extra sleep! I heard Jerry H. outside loading the truck on schedule at 5:00 and went out to help since I was up and ready to go. By 5:45 we had the truck ready to go and the early bird riders were heading out. The rest of us stayed and enjoyed our breakfast of bagles, dry cereal and wonderful banana bread from the Cedar City church ladies. By 6:30 A.M. we were all on the road.

We began today's route with a 12 mile climb from 6400 feet elevation in Boulder Town to a pass at 9400 feet in Dixie National Forest. It is a beautiful forest with pine trees at the lower elevations and mountain aspen in the high country. The aspen had very light colored bark which reminded me of the birch forest of northern Minnesota. Maria F. and I were riding sweep, the last riders in the line. We rode slowly and the climb took about two hours and forty-five minutes. We spotted a deer in a meadow and stopped to watch it graze. It inspected us briefly and bounded off into the bush.

From the 9400-foot elevation we descended 5200 feet to our campground here in Hanksville. The rapid descent made for fairly easy pedaling in spite of the heat. The first riders arrived in camp about 1:00 P.M. and the last came in about 3:30 P.M. We passed through Capitol Reef National Park and the Fruita Historic District along the Fremont River. Once the road leaves the National Park it enters the most desolate dessert we have seen on this journey.

Our final rest stop was at a small road side cafT in Caineville, where we were served home made organic breads, sweet rolls and melon smoothies. The proprietors showed us true Christian hospitality, inviting us in to use the facilities and drink their water without regard to whether or not we were ôcustomersö. When they heard our story, the Brake the Cycle of Poverty story, they were even more supportive and told other customers about our ride. I do not know what brand of Christianity these good folks follow. But, I believe I saw the face of Jesus in their hospitality to travelers in the bleakest stretch of desert we have passed through.

We are tenting tonight in Hanksville. Jose R. Maria F. and John M. prepared Mexican fajitas for supper. After supper and our map meeting Susan lead a reflection which followed up on the theme begun on Sunday night when she asked us to think about the story of the good Samaritan as we bicycle along these lonely roads. It was very timely, as most of us had experienced the charity of our Neighbors in Caineville.

Lyle closed the meeting by leading us in singing, ôNow We Gather At the Riverö to prepare for our crossing of the Colorado River tomorrow.

Paul Lipetzky