June 13, 2003 The sun is out, the sky is clear and Ron is awake. He got about 8.5 hours of sleep, and hopes that the Team's Stoker did as well. The sleep is a wonderful recovery agent, and the journey gets going again tomorrow, hopefully. LaValle had a bit of an accident yesterday walking from the store in Council Bluffs. She stepped into a bad section of sidewalk, and did a rather dramatic fall. She thought that she had broken her foot, but a two-hour trip to the emergency room indicated that it was not broken. So, it is back to to the rest, ibuprofen, elevation and ice to get it back into "pedalling shape". Ron's right calf is much better this morning, and will be ready to go on Saturday. LaValle and Bill, Ron and the Audette family are all gathering for lunch in the Old Market in downtown Omaha today. This will give LaValle and Bill and chance to meet the Audette girls, Lindsay and Kelley, and their dad, Bill. The Audette's are a great family, and they have taken very good care of Ron during this rest phase. It is fun to rest and see family, but the big goal still looms ahead. It is tugging at us to get going - there is much to see, a lot to experience and a lot pedalling to do. Meriwether probably would not have stayed around so long! We will catch up with Meriwether and William when the riding starts again. Ron Note from LaValle... Bill and I spent some time exploring downtown Council Bluffs. It really is a small burg and definitely the poorer twin. However, it does have a slower pace than Omaha and is home to many wonderful people. Patty at the Days Inn has been especially helpful to us. She's always cheerful even when the customers are trying her patience. Thank you Patty and I promise to send you a postcard. For all of you who have the Friday the 13th phobia, keep in mind the number 13 is a lucky number in parts of Italy!! Sidewalk where LaValle fell... Council Bluffs street...