using a “traditional” bike for the first nine years. During this time, Tom only participated once with her but after he retired, he could devote the time necessary to their 1,000-mile preevent training schedule and annual event. The last eight years, they have been riding a tandem bike, or a two-seater bicycle, Tom’s idea. “The tandem looks easy when other people are riding it, but balance is a lot more complicated,” she explained. She told me when they bought their tandem bike the specialist told her it would take 1,500 miles to get used to it. They laughed at the comment but later found out its accuracy. It took miles of practice to ride, Tom pedaling while controlling steering and braking in front and Jane pedaling as the engine in back. Surprisingly, the Gilmore’s aren’t usually the only tandem bikers on the Habitat 500 ride, often meeting up with a couple of others riding double. The Habitat 500 ride follows a new route in Minnesota each year, taking advantage of many of their abundant bike trails. The ride spans an entire week during early July, each day’s ride averaging approximately 82 miles. Gilmore estimates that it takes them about nine hours to travel an average day. The route is set up around affiliates in the community who help provide places for food and shelter, though riders can also choose to bring their own tents to camp if desired. On Wednesday during the ride, some riders can stop to assist in building a Habitat house, though there are often an abundance of helpers to build. Because the ride is a fundraiser, it’s not meant to be a race by any means. The race directors stress safety and fun and encourage riders to take a break if not having fun or feeling well. “Sag wagons” drive the route to assure that riders are healthy and will provide assistance for bike repair if needed. Habitat 500 only accepts 130 riders and each rider has to earn $1,000 to enter. Team Yankton raises funds to ride through fundraising events. Not all bike team members ride in the event but those that wish to can. The bike team just finished up their annual Habitat Rummage Sale, held late March to early April, the event growing larger and larger every year. Another fundraiser is held in June, with a hoedown including a free concert and a strawberry pie auction. Habitat is still going strong in Yankton county and just became affiliated with Clay County this past winter. Per Julie Dykstra, their office has served 43 families through homeownership opportunities and six families with home improvements to include re-roofing a home for an elderly woman and building a wheelchair ramp for a 7-year-old boy. Gilmore is involved with Habitat’s family selection and mentors the new homeowner during the building phase and during the home maintenance after they move in. In what little downtime she has, the ambitious lady also tutors math at the middle school. Though, as Gilmore puts it, they are “well into their 70’s,” this vivacious gal seems to have the energy of someone half her age! Having made many friends at the annual ride over the years, she reflects, “I think what makes the people interesting is that they all care about other people.” Aside from meeting many friends, she has also encountered hundreds of nature’s blessings on her rides: meeting up with eager Border Collies, encountering low-flying birds, spotting fox and coyote in their habitat and even getting calves to run along the fence with them while they rode by. “You get to see more than you do in the car,” she stated, explaining further that without having the distraction of music or a phone, “we basically rely on being entertained by nature.” We discussed courtesy for bicyclists. She suggested to be aware of how vulnerable they are, stating, “We can’t afford to get hit.” She explains how bicyclists need to respect motorists and motorists should have mutual respect. Summing up her accomplishments humbly, Gilmore stated, “I feel like I’ve been blessed or fortunate to have the good health to pursue my interest and I know that not everybody is that lucky, unfortunately. I notice that my body complains a little more but other than that we’re pretty fortunate.” For more information on how to participate in the bike ride, contact the local Habitat for Humanity office by calling (605)260-4224. vBy Julie Eickhoff Will your money retire before you do? Rhonda L Wesseln, Agent Registered Representative Bus: 605-665-4411 The sooner you start investing, the more likely you are to reach your long-term goals. Ask me about State Farm Mutual Funds . Like a good neighbor,State Farm is there. CALL ME TODAY. ® ® Before investing, consider the funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. Contact State Farm VP Management Corp (1-800-447-4930) for a prospectus or summary prospectus containing this and other information. Read it carefully. Securities are not FDIC insured, are not bank guaranteed and are subject to investment risk, including possible loss of principal. AP2013/03/0938 State Farm VP Management Corp. One State Farm Plaza, Bloomington, Illinois 61710-0001. Neither State Farm nor its agents provide investment, tax, or legal advice. 1101413.4 HERVOICEvMAY/JUNE 2016v9