We decided to alter plans and head to Milwaukee after talking with Amelia. She informs us that the cancer Chris has involves his liver. It is a bile duct/ bladder cancer with a tumor that has attached itself to his liver. The devastating news… No one has survived this type of cancer. The surgery performed put stints into his liver to jump start it to function again. The positive here is 20% of his liver is functioning again.

Out of New Hampshire and on into New York we cross over the Hudson River.

Driving west we chased the sunset for over an hour and watched the color show happen. Once that was over we finally stopped for the evening.  We have driven far enough that it would get us into Milwaukee by tomorrow afternoon.

The change in the landscape during our summer travels have been amazing. Those are apple trees out there. Also a picture worthy barn.

A day and a half and 1,300 miles we have set up camp again at the State Fair of Wisconsin Fairgrounds RV Park. Arriving at St. Mary’s Hospital in Mequon. Chris is in lounge with several people visiting.

That evening at the Kegel’s Inn we meet Betty who started working there when she was 17 with her mom who was the chef. Now she runs the kitchen. Stephanie and Julian now own the Inn and are glad to have her still cooking away.

Spending the day with Chris again. So many people are coming by to visit with him. Many are flying in to give support. It makes my heart smile to see all of the freindships Chris has gathered and touched, influenced, guided, inspired and nurtured. We feel that he is our “Chris”. Watching everyone you realize he belongs to all of us.

With Chris tucked in for the evening we are off to dinner with the kids. Jim with Julian. Amelia, Stephanie and Tessa, three beautiful ladies.

A meeting on Tuesday with JB, T and Mark from Trek Bicycle set in motion for Sunday to have a “Slow Roll” to celebrate Chris for all he has done for bicycling locally and nationally.  The slow roll would gather at the fairgrounds and ride the Hank Aaron Trail 12 miles to downtown to the Lake Point. The on to Kegel’s Inn for Beer,Brats and Pretzels.

Another evening ended at Kegel’s. It is such a facinating place the artwork is beautiful and throughout the resturant. The English hunting scenes were painted during World War II. Being a German resturant they wanted to show their loyalties to the U.S. and the Allies.

Proclamations from Ozaukee County,  West Allis, Wi. And the Govenor of Wisconsin has proclaimed October 3rd, “Chris Kegel Day!”

Aaron a long time friend of Chris’ from the Juvenile Diabetes organization coordinated much of the event. Amelia with friends and Mr. jimmy on my Trek Lift electric bike.

Sunday morning  were walked out of our trailer and it was all quite. Slowly the people started coming. First to set up then the people. Speculation thought that maybe 500 to 1,000 would show. Above all of the people who road across the States in 2013 that were from Milwaukee stopped for a photo op.

Noel, Amelia, Tessa and Julian up on the van to let everyone know how much they appreciated everyone coming for the slow roll. 1,000 tees shirts were handed out and they ran out. Over 2,000 people were ready to roll.

Slow rolling Julian and along the way people were posted for photos of everyone riding.

At the Lake Point they had huge posters for people to sign. JB  and T with her awesome bike. Paul and Laura with Trek making it to the Point. People still coming in.

At Kegel’s the party ramps up. Chris between Amelia and Julian. Jim and Chris relaxing. Mary and Chris cuddling up.

Jim owned the Inn for many years and early this spring has sold it to Julian and Stephanie.  It was fun to see him relaxed. The only time we have seen him he has always been in a white shirt and tie working in the Inn as the Matre de.

As the beer flowed and the Brats  and Pretzels got eaten, everyone watched the packers win against the     on the big screen that Trek supplied. All the while a drone roamed and filmed the festivities.

Mary and John gave wonderful heartfelt thoughts and great moments.

Julian and Steph, Tim Blumenthal and Tom Schular not missing a word.

Chris with his grandson and another photo op the the Milwaukee crew that rode across the States in 2013. We brought our chairs from our trailer for Chris to relax in. Those chairs went in and out of the Inn. Jim was the hall monitor when Chris needed to relax for a moment.

A lady that worked for Chris now makes cakes and created and interesting cake for Chris. Like the weather man forcasted the rain would be in at 4:00. We made it home and back to the resturant to pick up chairs and make sure Chris got home. It was an awesome day.  Thank you  JB, T , Mark and others from Trek who made this happen. Thank you to all who came and rode and for all the love for Chris.  He is a special person in our lives and we are so thankful to have him in our lives.

In our travels around Milwaukee we pass this building. It once was a gas station for Wadham’s Oil and Grease Company of Milwaukee. Built in 1927  Harger W. Dodge thought of a convenient way for customers to fill their automobiles, by offering off-street filling stations. With underground tanks and electric pumps to dispense gas, it was a hit. By the way Wadham’s was bought by Vaccum Oil Co. In 1930. Vacuum was bought by Socony, which becam Mobil. The Pagoda was the result of the original building being quite ugly. Neighbors complained. An architect, Eschweiler inspired by the Japanese culture designed the pagoda that became Wadham’s gas station.  Over 100 were built. Unfortunately few remain.

We are headed to Indiana and back to Jim’s brother’s farm. Going through Chicago we Spotted othis flat bed, it had a trike strapped in the middle of it. That was some expensivefreight!

Traveling down the lane everything seems to calm down and relax. The corn has now gone full circle from when we arrived back in May. Now it is waiting for harvest. The trailer is all settled in and Doogie is ready to roam the farm.