2008 Tour de Sem

The fourth Tour de Sem of Concordia Seminary will be held on Saturday, May 3. Last year over 25 students, faculty, spouses, and friends participated in the Tour de Sem, including President Dale Meyer and Dr. Bob Weise.

Tour de Sem is a 90 mile ride down to the original site of Concordia Seminary at Altenburg, MO. After loading up the bikes on campus, participants drive to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Columbia, IL, for devotions and the start. The first 40 miles goes through the Mississippi River flats on the Illinois side, just below massive limestone bluffs. At Modoc, the ride crosses the river by ferry, the roll through historic St. Genevieve. The next 10 miles bring some rollers, then more flats until about mile 70, when a tough climb takes cyclists out of the valley. Riders fight hills for last 20 miles, finally passing through Frohna just before reaching the still-standing log cabin seminary.

The ride is followed by a meal in Altenburg, along with tours of the church, the old seminary, and the new Lutheran Heritage museum. Our friends in Altenburg give us a warm welcome. It is a tough ride, but the training rides get us all into shape and give us a chance to meet new people – you can find a lot to talk about during a six hour ride! Every year several cyclists complete their first long rides on the Tour de Sem. Click here for the registration form and more information.