Day 42:In the last week we’ve received numerous e-mails that have brought me to tears. Most of these have been from people who are either desperately poorly or living with someone in extremely poor health; not all cancer sufferers. All the letters are saying the same thing that Jane cycling across the States is providing them with hope; not that we’ll raise enough money to make a difference but that no matter what life chucks at you there is still a future. It’s not cycling across the States that matters it’s seeing a loved one develop and enjoy life. If we ever doubted what we were doing was worthwhile reading one of these notes let alone the dozens we are receiving would banish those thoughts. Our heartfelt best wishes go out to all those people who are unwell and to all your families. We know the devastation that a serious illness can bring on a family and the strength, support and luck that’s needed to get through some dark days. We have no answers, our efforts are unlikely to make a difference but we can hopefully show that there is some life to be lived by those with a poor prognosis. Jane will give the last three weeks of this ride all she can, the body may be suffering but her mind is strong. We do need some good thoughts and certainly those are being given us. For the record Jane cycled 76 miles today to arrive in Terre Haute crossing over the state line to Indiana and our final time zone. She’d finished by 2pm so there was no slouching today and it was an astonishing effort on the back of seven days continuous cycling. Day 41:Yesterday was a short, 60-mile, easy, flat ride only spoilt by a headwind that slowed Jane down by about three miles an hour. We travelled from Greenville to Effingham through some of the most uninspiring scenery we’ve seen in weeks. That’s not to say it wasn’t pleasant it’s just that we’ve been spoilt. Part of the reason that yesterday was shorter was because today it’s an 80-mile hike to cross into Indiana and the final time zone.; we’ll be three hours ahead of when we started. Also Jane’s just ridden six long days on the bounce as the race to reach the coast continues. Last night we poured over the maps of Indiana but still haven’t made a final decision on the route. The problem is deciding at which point to tackle the Appalachians. If any of our American readers can help please e-mail. Jane has set a target that we should get through both Indiana and Ohio by the end of the week. Looking at the mileage and terrain it looks daunting but this will only leave us a week to do West Virginia and Virginia. The last week is no easier as it looks like we’ll have only three days proper riding to get from Washington to New York. Sitting here in Effingham, Indiana the finish still seems an enormously long way away and it’s far too presumptuous to plan for it. Day 40:Jane went to be Thursday without knowing whether we would be staring Friday’s ride. She was extremely unwell and we had two alternatives either to bring forward Monday’s rest day or abandon. It was a tense night which in turn makes resting more difficult which exacerbates the problem she has. Friday morning, it was only will power that got her up with the thought she’d cycle the first few miles and see how she was. Knowing that you’ve got up ticked off some miles, New York is a little nearer put the physiological balance back to Jane and despite being unwell the ride is positive. Helped by the first temperate weather conditions in 40 days (relatively low temperature 85, no wind or storms) she managed the planned 76 miles to get to Greenville, Illinois; thereby crossing the Mississippi, Route 66 and the 2,500 mile barrier. There’s a push now to get into Indiana on Sunday as time is becoming precious. Jane is sticking to the notion that if it appears that she won’t reach New York by the 1st September she’ll give up. We can’t wait to get back home to the UK. When Jane started England was still in the World Cup and now the Championship has started. I’m writing this listening to the Athletics on Five live on what is a Saturday afternoon in the UK. Day 39:A miserably difficult day was tempered by some stunning scenery by the banks of the Missouri River as we reached St Louis. Jane is suffering from exhaustion, back pain and being generally unwell after cycling for 39 days. The climbs over the last three days have been short but very steep not dissimilar to the Yorkshire Dales. It was similar tale to so much of this ride, spectacular countryside, hot and humid temperatures, a cracking storm and truck drivers with a mission to kill lycra clad cyclists. Although at 76 miles it wasn't a marathon day because a number of miles were on city roads it was a nine-hour ride. On the back of three exhausting days it's left Jane on her knees. It is another target met but in this increasing time critical journey she has decided she must get across Illinois in three days, a tough ask. We have two and a half weeks to reach Washington DC; it looks tough especially with the Appalachians in the way. The Appalachians we are told will be the most difficult mountains of the ride, very short and steep hills which after seven weeks of riding could be the straw that breaks this ride. Jane's given everything so far lets hope there's enough left in the tank. Day 38:At 3am this morning Jane was in a bit of pain so needed to go out to the RV to get some pain killers. I lay awake and suddenly there was a dreadful commotion, I gazed out of the window where a young couple were running from the room two doors away; two children, aged five and three, running behind. The elder child shouts "Will she die before the ambulance gets there?" It was that type of motel, with a number of longer-term guests who had "issues". Today's journey took us from California to Hermann, 76 hard miles on a fatigued body in blistering heat; it wasn't what was needed. Yesterday we passed through Dresden and today Rhineland so you can probably guess we are in an area populated by German settlers. It's a beautiful, idyllic spot on the banks on the Missouri river and probably the nicest place we've stopped at. Before we came to it was a standard phrase that "I'd come back as big as an American"; partly poking fun at my midriff but also at the American sizes. I have to say having travelled nearly 3000 miles the statement appears to be a fallacy. Not my waist, no argument there, but I would say people here are no bigger than the UK. Not only that but the children here seem on the whole to be in really good shape. One advantage the US kids have is top quality sporting facilities freely available. Here in Hermann there are facilities that are of a better quality than I have seen anywhere at home and this is a town of 3,500. Not only that it's a safe environment. Church slogan of the day - sadly we didn't see it but it was e-mailed in, but too good not to use - "Why won't you drop kick me Jesus through the goal posts of life". Day 37:There are many ways that you can tell that the United States is a new country and one that’s struck me as we have travelled through are cemeteries. In the UK at most you’d struggle to find a spare space, headstones can be broken or covered with long grass and weeds. In the States most are well tended, pleasantly laid and significantly have large amounts of unused space. Imagine my surprise to find that some people not only buy the plots but erect and inscribe headstones before they die with only the date of death needing adding. I guess it’s just one more thing to ask the kids to do when you go away, “please tend my grave for me will you until we get back?” We try not to dwell on Jane’s death but at times it’s inevitable and one of the positives of being away is not visiting St James’s hospital in Leeds each Thursday for treatment. Knowing that when we get back we’ll be onto the treadmill for scans, results and prognosis casts a shadow over our return. But that’s why we are here, to try and raise money to cure the disease that is killing Jane as well as many others. I don’t dwell on the importance of the fundraising as it tends to bore people but its essential that what Jane is doing makes a difference. We can make sure that funds go into research so others don’t have to suffer pain like Jane, so give generously as it affects all of us. We are in California, Missouri at the Motel California; it almost tempts you into bursting out into song. Today’s favourite church slogan is “the soul's insurance policy.” Day 36:When your spirits are flagging it doesn’t take much to turn it around. The first two e-mails we received today were negative, one complaining that Jane was a self-publicist, the second about the lack of coverage in the UK. In fairness we’ve only had these two abusive e-mails to Jane. Yesterday was dreadful, cycling out of Kansas was tough, a two-hour delayed start because of a thunder storm was followed by two road detours, the chosen route was dreadfully busy so a longer one was needed and then at the most inopportune moment a puncture. On top of that, the heat was intense and humidity unbearable. It was an 11 hour day. Everyone on the road is flat and again the ride seems completely futile. At the point of desperation three lovely e-mails arrived within ten seconds two from the States and one from the UK and you realise it is worthwhile, thanks Becca, Heidi and Yvonne. Whilst in the States I have tried to ascertain what it must be like to live here. Sometimes the most telling comments are those from immigrants, this weekend we had a long chat with two, an Iranian and Ethiopian. It was fascinating to here how much they loved living in Kansas and how if you worked hard, didn’t break the law and fitted in, it was a land of opportunities. We left Kansas, City and State, reflecting on how friendly the people were and are sorry to be moving on. Finally as we’ve been travelling through we’ve been intrigued by the messages outside churches either trying to strike fear or entice people in ; today’s favourite “Exposure to the son may save a burning”. | 
