Posted: Wednesday, Jun 10th, 2009
BY: DIANNE JAMES

Tim Dellett, distance cyclist, launches his 13th annual ride for Habitat for Humanity.

SAN LUIS VALLEY — Johnny B. Good’s Restaurant in downtown Monte Vista was packed on June 2, as approximately 40 people of all age groups attended a fundraiser for Habitat For Humanity, with music provided by Don Richmond, Fred Hargrove and Rocky Mountain Stage Productions.

The fundraiser, designed to raise $50,000 for the San Luis Valley Chapter of Habitat For Humanity, scheduled for 6 p.m., kicked off a sponsored bike ride by Tim Dellett, who will ride from Alamosa to Minnesota to raise awareness for the organization and its beneficiaries, stopping at many towns in between.

“I’ll be hosted by a family in each community,” said Dellett.”

Planning, he said, is a key element for a successful ride. “I check with churches to find a host for the night. Planning is important. This will be the fourth year I’ve ridden to Minnesota,” he said.

His ride will begin June 27 and he will arrive at his destination in Minnesota on July 11, totaling 1,100 miles. He’s ridden annual bike rides for Habitat since 1996.

Dellett’s initial draw to Habitat For Humanity began in college in 1991, “I did a service trip with a group which did some Habitat building at John’s Island in South Carolina,” he said.

“It’s an organization that works. It’s effective and empowering.” Love of people is apparent in Dellett’s ambitious bike rides,

“Some of the difficult parts of the ride are mechanical difficulties (with the bike), weather and storms, intense heat and humidity, dogs chasing me, and rough road conditions,” he said.

“Another (caution) is always being mindful of drivers on the road- every year, I’m always pleasantly surprised with their help. There are good people everywhere. One of the central tenets of Habitat is to show love for others.”

via Monte Vista Jornal

Brent and I went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. I got biscuits and eggs. Since then I have had biscuits as often as possible. They have become a staple for this ride. Biscuits and grits. I have eaten more grits since I left New Orleans than I have in the past 10 years.

I had a leisurely morning. Too leisurely. By the time I said goodbye to Brent and Bridget it was hot and very humid and getting more so by the minute.

On the way to Baton Rouge I stopped on the shoulder after seeing drill bits scattered all about. Two people stopped to see if I needed assistance. I was surprised by their helpfulness and said no thanks, I’m fine. I did not say, but thought about later how it might sound if I had said, “no thanks, I’m just stopped picking up drill bits that are scattered on the shoulder” I have a habit of stopping and collecting trinkets along the road. Usually tools, drill bits, sockets, the occasional wrench. It’s the bike tourists version of a treasure hunt.

At the south end of Baton Rouge I turned left at the LSU stadium and got onto a great bike trail right alongside the Mississippi. I stayed on the trail until downtown Baton Rouge.

North end of town the smell of Exxon refineries made me feel a little ill.

Some distance south of St. Francisville I ran out of water no town or store nearby. I did see a group of prisoners with fat stripes on their pants, picking up trash along the shoulder. I badly needed water. On the far side of the road a guard sat in a van. There were two large igloo coolers in a trailer behind the van. I rode over and asked if I could fill up my water bottles. He looked at me with suspicion. Was I part of an escape plan? I was grateful when he said I could fill my water bottles.

Further up the road my rear tire went flat for the second time of the day. I pulled over at a house in search of a tire pump. No pump. I do carry a pump with me, a tiny one. It’s more of an emergency pump. With it I can get enough air in the tire to get to a real pump or air compressor. I got to work getting the tire off and patching it. I was dripping with sweat. It was the time of day where a more sensible rider would have been taking a break from the road. The woman who answered the door and said that I could work on my tire in the shade of the yard came out and asked if I wanted a cold bottle of water. It was the kindest thing. The water was amazing. I had forgotten that water could taste so good.

10 more miles and I was in St. Francisville. Massive live oaks, spanish moss draped from their branches standing guard around old plantation homes.

My host in Gonzales, Louisiana had told me in advance that the big event for the evening was the LSU baseball game. I don’t remember now who they were playing, could have been North Carolina. LSU was in the collegiate world series. I joined Brent, his wife Bridget, their son B.J., his girlfriend and another family for Popeye’s fried chicken, with salad and beans and rice. It was not a huge day of biking, but I ate like it was.

LSU lost.

I went to bed early and had no trouble getting to sleep.

Ride start cancelled due to rain, almost. I’ve been down in New Orleans for several days hanging out with my friend Chuck Greiner, his wife Margaret Leaf, and their son Aidan, perhaps the cutest 11 month old in New Orleans. Their daughter Pearlie has been away at camp. We’ve had a lot of fun hanging out, playing with Aidan, swimming, tree trimming, tearing up carpet, and clearing off an area of the backyard for a garden. Chuck and I even fit in a trip to Jean LaFitte state park where we encountered several alligators and I came away wounded by a vicious fire ant attack. That ought to teach me not to leave the boardwalk for a closer look at the friendly gator.

Sunday morning I woke up to of thunder and pelting rain. Did not look like great riding weather. We went out for breakfast at one of their favorite cafes. The storm continued and got worse. At times the rain was coming down horizontally. Water was pooling under several tables in the cafe. The streets outside were flooding. Not so sure about riding in this… We got back into their Scion to head back to the house. We got about a mile from the house and Chuck had to park the car on a high spot off the road. We couldn’t get back to their house, the road was flooded! So we got out and slogged back to their house at times in knee deep water! Chuck told me later that it rained 6 inches in 2 hours.

The water receded in a few hours, the sky cleared up, and we loaded the bike into the back of their truck and they hauled me out of the city. On the way to route 61 we had to detour due to flooded streets.

So, with Chuck and Margaret’s help I got out of a soaked New Orleans and on my way. They dropped me off on route 61. On the right side of the road was a canal and it was fun to see an occasional alligator. One poor fella had crawled up on the road and had been hit by a car. He was about 2 1/2 feet long. We’ve all heard a lot about why the chicken crossed the road. Why, I wonder did the alligator cross the road? Was it just to get to the other side?

There is an article in The Natchez Democrat about Tim’s ride.

photo by Steve VanGunda

Tim Dellett, left, stopped in Natchez Tuesday nigth to take a break from his 2,400 mile bike ride from New Orleans to Minnesota to raise money and awarenes for Habitat for Humanity. Eric Junkin, a member of the local Habitat’s board of directors, rides along.

Biker will cycle 2,400 to raise money

By Brian Reynolds (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Thursday, June 19, 2008

NATCHEZ — Tim Dellett made a stop in Natchez Tuesday night to take a break from his 2,400-mile bike ride to raise money for and awareness of Habitat for Humanity.

“Biking is a passion for me and combining that with another passion — working with habitat — is a real pleasure for me,” Dellett said.

Dellett will stop in towns along his route from New Orleans to Minnesota, where local Habitat committees support him.

“My ride’s not supported during the day but when I get to the town, that’s where the support comes in,” he said. “Tonight we’re going wild boar hunting so you never know what you’re going to get into.”

Dellett said that despite his training, he could not completely prepare for the heat and humidity of the Miss-Lou.

“I have to really stay on top of how much water I’m drinking,” he said. “It’s just about keeping the fuel tanks full.”

At one point in Louisiana, Dellett ran out of water and had to ask the head of a prison work gang for more.

“That prison water gave me some extra energy to make my escape from that part of the ride,” he said.

Eric Junkin, a member of the Habitat for Humanity board of directors, met Dellett Tuesday night and said he was impressed by what he Dellett was doing.

“Being new to the biking game, its an amazing thought,” Junkin said.

Junkin postponed his business for the morning to join Dellett on part of his trip.

“I’ll be tempted to ride to Fayette with him,” he said.

Dellett’s has done other long rides in the past including Washington state to Minnesota and Brooklyn to Minnesota and has raised around $80,000 for Habitat since 1996.

Day 1:  6-15-08  New Orleans, LA to Gonzales, LA (65 miles)

Day 2:  6-16-08  Gonzales, LA to St. Francisville, LA (68 miles)

Day 3:  6-17-08  St. Francisville, LA to Natchez, MS (65 miles)

Day 4:  6-18-08  Natchez, MS to Vicksburg, MS (88 miles)

Day 5: 6-19-08  Vicksburg, MS to Greenville, MS (100 miles)

Day 6:  6-20-08  Leland, MS to Clarksdale, MS (82 miles)

Day 7:  6-21-08  Clarksdale, MS to Senatobia, MS (62 miles)

Day 8:  6-22-08  Senatobia, MS to Memphis, TN (64 miles)

Day 9:  6-23-08  Rest day, Memphis, TN  (0  miles)

Day 10:  6-24-08  Memphis, TN to Ripley, TN (81 miles)

Day 11:  6-25-08  Ripley, TN to Union City, TN (69 miles)

Day 12:  6-26-08  Union City, TN to Cape Girardeau, MO (91 miles)

Day 13:  6-27-08  Cape Girardeau, MO to Ste. Geneveive, MO (83 miles)

Day 14:  6-28-08  Ste. Geneveive MO to St. Louis, MO (84 miles)

Day 15:  6-29-08  St. Louis, MO  Rest day (0  miles)

Day 16:  6-30-08  St. Louis, MO to Louisiana, MO (105 miles)

Day 17:  7-1-08  Louisiana, MO to Hannibal, MO (66 miles)

Day 18:  7-2-08  Hannibal, MO to Keokuk, IA (61 miles)

Day 19:  7-03-08   Keokuk, IA to Galesburg, IL (94 miles)

Day 20:  7-04-08  Galesburg, IL to Moline, IL (59 miles)

Day 21:  7-05-08  Moline, IL Rest day (0  miles)

Day 22:  7-06-08  Moline, IL to Galena, IL (93 miles)

Day 23:  7-07-08  Galena, IL to Prairie du Chein, WI (71 miles)

Day 24:  7-08-08  Prairie du Chein, WI to La Cross, WI (67 miles)

Day 25:  7-09-08 La Cross, WI to Red Wing, MN (100 miles)

Day 26:  7-10-08  Red Wing, MN to Winthrop, MN (97 miles)

Day 27:  7-11-08   Winthrop, MN to Hutchinson, MN (30 miles)

Day 28:  7-12-08  Hutchinson, MN Rest Day (0 miles)

Start of Habitat 500

Day 30:  7-13-08  Monticello, MN to Hutchinson, MN

Day 31:  7-14-08  Hutchinson, MN to New London, MN

Day 32:  7-15-08  New London, MN to Little Falls, MN

Day 33:  7-16-08  Little Falls, MN to Onamia, MN

Day 34:  7-17-08  Onamia Loop

Day 35:  7-18-08  Onamia, MN to Foley, MN

Day 36:  7-19-08   Foley, MN to Monticello, MN

Made it to Baxter. 94 miles, almost all of it on trail. The trails here are getting me spoiled – well maintained, smooth, no traffic worries. Ideal biking weather mid 70’s, clear, very little wind. The riding was broken up by posing beside giant fiberglass figures. Starting with a tiger muskee, followed by Paul Bunyan, then Paul Bunyan’s girlfriend, and ending with a giant ear of corn. Highlight of the day – a scoop of vanilla ice cream with a double espresso poured on it and malt sprinkled on top. Got that at a place called Fun Sun, next to the Book Nook in Hackensack. It was the perfect mid-day beverage.

Nice long ride today, 113 miles. I am thoroughly pooped. My legs feel like cooked spaghetti. Highlights of the day: I had my first crash! Around 60 miles into the route, I was in the middle of a steep downhill when I saw a small turtle crawling across the road. I wondered why the turtle was crossing the road. Sheryl was ahead of me and she shouted “Save the turtle!” Immediately, I turned to the left to cross the road in an effort to rescue the turtle. In a split second, I found myself on the pavement. I got up, picked the bike up and made my way over to the turtle. The turtle must have sped up because by the time I got over to it, it had made its way across the road. Cause of the spill: my front bike tire had a slow leak and it was halfway flat when I attempted the turn. No major injuries – slightly scraped knee and elbow. We rode through Itasca state park and I walked across the headwaters of the Mississippi river, about 25 feet across. I also saw a very large beaver on the road.  Unfortunately it had come too close to a vehicle moving at a high speed. The beaver had a luxurious coat. We had an amazing meal of lasagna and cole slaw at St. John’s Lutheran tonight. It wasn’t just that I was hungry enough to eat shredded cardboard. It was an excellent homemade meal and I had two plates.

Day 3 of the habitat 500 was a 75 mile loop out of Perham. Riders also had the option of staying in town and building on a habitat house. I chose to ride. Rest stop 2 came after about 42 miles on the shore of Pelican Lake at the Fair Hills Resort. We were spoiled. The resort had prepared a spread of fresh cantalope, watermelon, pineapple, pasta salad, small ham and turkey sandwiches and brownies with chocolate icing. It was all very, very good. My riding partner Sheryl and I stayed for nearly an hour. It was tough to leave. I would have been satisfied to end the days ride right there. But we got back on the bikes and pedaled on to the next rest stop, slowly. Rest stop 3, posed for a picture beside a giant fiberglass loon. The Minnesota countryside is littered with gigantic fiberglass creatures. When we got back into town we went to the Tuffy’s pet food factory. I was hoping we could get a tour. We got as far as the office. I did come away with 3 sample bags of dogfood. There are two dogs traveling with the habitat group. Next we went to the Barrel ‘o Fun snack factory. Again no tour. But did have fun talking with a woman in the front office who offered us snacks and candy. Kenny’s Candy Company also operates out of the building. I left with red hot cinnamon and chocolate flavor licorice twists and a bag of bitter berry sour twists. Tonight we have dinner at the Lutheran Community Church and a celebration of Minnesota’s 1500th habitat home.

Howdy from Perham, Minnesota.  88 miles today.  The first 38 out of Alexandria were on a bike trail and we had a slight tailwind.  Great riding past many picturesque lakes, fields, and farmhouses.  On the second rest break, we toured Phelps Mill, a historic flour mill that was in operation until 1939.   Felt hot the last few miles.  It was nice to get off the bike and into the shower at the Perham middle school.

61 miles today, almost all on a bike/snowmobile trail.  Really great weather, fairly cool, a little cloudy.  I took it pretty slow.  My legs are needing more rest.  I took a short nap at rest break #3.  Tonight’s accommodations are the cafeteria floor of the local high school.  It may be an earplug night.  It’s pretty crowded in there.
On the way today we rode on the Lake Wobegon Trail.  Rest break #2 was in Sauk Center, hometown of Sinclair Lewis, the town which he based the book Mainstreet.   I learned a bit about Mr. Sinclair and his writing at the small interpretive center there in his honor.  Apparently the folks in Sauk Center weren’t  too happy at first about Mainstreet, but they came around.

I made it to Cambridge and just finished dinner with Wayne and Nancy Eller. We had crispy kentucky fried chicken, mashed potatoes, biscuits, and broccoli. Nancy picked raspberries from the front yard. Very tasty.

Got Nancy on her way this morning. Her friend Greta came from Madison to pick her up. They planned on doing some sight seeing along the St. Croix River before heading back. I got a late start this morning and wasn’t too speedy getting here. I rode 41 miles, most of it with more of the same strong headwind. My legs need a rest.
Last night when I got in, to the home of Warren and Mary White, I spent some time in their hot tub. It was wonderful. I was really tired at the end of the day’s ride. The last 45 or so of the 84 miles yesterday were directly into the wind.

Greetings from Chetek, WI. It’s a little less windy today, and we’ve been going north for a while. This morning a guy named Bob that we met in Cornell at Turks Cycle shop and pub joined us for a few miles out of town. Very friendly folks in Cornell. Our hosts served us some tasty pork chops last night. It’s the third time this week we’ve had pork. The trip through wisconsin is being powered by pork.
I found a leatherman tool on the side of the road this morning! Road Treasure!

It was a long day today.  I didn’t get off the bike until 7 this evening.  We got off about 6:40 in the am but made slow progress and our progress got slower as the day went on and the wind picked up.  It blew steadily for about the last 65 miles.  It was relentless, fierce even.  Nancy made it about 65 miles before catching a ride from Gilman  with a very nice lady who she met in front of the IGA who had a bonneville.
We are going to shoot for an early departure again tomorrow morning and I think we have figured out a route which is on some nice county roads and fairly direct to St. Croix Falls.
I got a picture today underneath a giant chicken that was holding a root beer with one wing and a burger in another.