Jim Andresen's Big Ride

August 9, 2008 Clarksburg, MD to Washington, DC 53 miles (55)

2008-08-16T07:44:00.000-07:00

Awoke early, eager to get started on the final day’s ride. Still dark, packing presented little challenge since, in the last 7 weeks, I have had ample practice doing just this. The routine has become ingrained; deflate thermarest, roll it up and place in bag. Stuff blanket and pillow, along with sleep wear into waterproof pack. Next, get dressed, set bags outside of tent and make sure all items are off overhead storage net (I forgot to do this once and ended up having to unpack my tent to retrieve my sunglasses). Pull up stakes, remove and fold rainfly, drop the tent, fold and bag poles, fold tent, roll it all up and place it in the bag; all of this is done and the sun is not even up!

Breakfast was subdued, people seem to be preoccupied with the fact that we are at the beginning of the end of our 48-day adventure. Rolling out of camp at 7:10 am in groups of 2 to 5 riders, people seemed in no hurry to go out fast.

The early miles were through beautiful, rolling countryside. Raising horses seems to be a large part of the local culture. Imagine our surprise when looking into a pasture off to our right we noticed a horse of a different color. Okay, it wasn’t a horse – it was a zebra. I had to stop to verify. Yes, just 40 miles from Washington, DC, a zebra was grazing alongside four horses!

The other riders had left me behind so I rode alone, quite content to have time during our last day to reflect on the ride of my life. I was not alone for long. At the bottom of a hill, Simon and Tony were off to the side. Simon had blown out a tire and needed a replacement – they both knew that I always carried a spare tire (Most riders just carried spare inner tubes). Simon’s tire problems solved; we quickly got back on the road and soon caught several other riders, including some Big Ride alumni who had come out to escort us on our last day. Many past riders seem to have a long-lasting connection to this event.

The terrain was not done with us just yet. There were some more tough climbs to overcome during the first 40 miles of the ride.

I almost forgot to mention – the “weather gods” smiled on us again! Sunny skies, low humidity (unheard of in DC this time of year), cool temperatures, and a tailwind accompanied our ride today. I doubt there has EVER been a cross-country ride, spanning 48 days, that has been graced with the wonderful weather we have been blessed with!

At mile 43 we experienced a total change in riding environment. For the next 7 miles we shared a very congested bike path (It is Saturday) with walkers, usually walking two or three abreast, joggers, pseudo-bicycle racers, roller bladers, and others. It may have been the most dangerous part of the Big Ride (Route 87 in Ohio was worse).

Riding past the Watergate building (of Nixon fame), the Kennedy Center, along the Potomac River, through the streets of Washington DC, past the Washington Monument and the Viet Nam Veteran’s Memorial was emotionally moving because it reinforced the fact that our great adventure was almost over. But first…..

We need (or want) FOOD!

Costas Pappas is a Big Ride alumni who rode in 1998. He is also the owner of Greek Taverna, a provider of great eats located in the food court of the Old Post Office Pavillion. All of our riders met at his establishment where we were served more food and drink than we could realistically finish, before being sent out, in groups of two or three, to ride the final mile to the official finish of the ride. Costas is a very generous supporter of the Big Ride!

Doug, Dewayne, and I rode out together looking for Henry Bacon Drive and the finish. There were no banners, no music, no pomp and circumstance, just an informal mingling of friends and family waiting for their loved ones to ride in. The only “official” acknowledgement of our accomplishment was the sign made by Doug’s daughters which read “You Made It!”.

After hugs, high fives, and a group picture we all went our separate ways. Some riders loaded up and headed home, others went to a variety of local hotels. A sizeable group of us stayed at the State Plaza hotel, three blocks from the finish.

Ash and Pauline hosted a small get-together for riders and their families in their suite. Drinks and snacks were served as we reminisced about the past 48 days.

So this is how it ends; not with a bang, but a whimper…

August 8, 2008 Gettysburg, PA to Clarksburg, MD 50 miles (50)

2008-08-16T07:43:00.000-07:00

Our string of UNBELIEVABLE luck continues to hold…yesterday’s storm brought with it a welcomed change in weather. Clear skies, low humidity, moderate temperatures and a tailwind accompanied us all day. The usual for this area this time of year is hot, sticky, almost unbearable weather. It is one reason, even in Abraham Lincoln’s day, that people left Washington, DC for cooler locations.

Our ride traced routes taken by both the Confederate and Union armies as they marched back and forth through this area during the Civil War. Plaques, monuments, memorials, and parks commemorated many events of those troubled days. I was inclined to read them all – but didn’t.

In Taneytown, at mile 12, Doug, Joe and I stopped at a café for breakfast. As usual, our bikes out front signaled others to stop as well. We were soon joined by Bruce, Cliff, Letty, Catie, Rachel, Sam, Janet, Barbara, Rosie, and Tracey. The coffee was excellent, the food was good and the stop gave us a chance to acknowledge the fact that 24 hours from now (or there-a-bouts) we would all be going our separate ways. There was a melancholy mood settling over the group.

Rolling through the beautiful countryside, it was hard to believe that we were less than 100 miles from our nation’s capital. Well maintained horse farms, cornfields, brick and stone homes that had seen history march past enhanced the short day’s ride.

Just outside of Fredrick was the Monocacy Battlefield National Monument which I couldn’t pass up. I turned in; Doug looked and just rode on. The interpretive center was only 14 months old, well designed, and staffed by very helpful and knowledgeable people. The little known battle fought on this site stalled a last ditch effort on the part of the Confederates to attack lightly defended Washington, DC.

The last ten miles into Little Bennett Park had a few hills, to remind us of what we had just come through, traffic, to prepare us for what we will certainly face tomorrow.

Tonight’s camp reminds us of our first night’s stay – wooded, secluded tent sites, minus the roar of trucks passing by.

Most people seem somewhat subdued, almost melancholy, reflecting on the completion of our journey tomorrow. Spirits were brightened a bit by the actions of a “closet pyromaniac” in our group. Patty C.,with help from others, built and tended a huge campfire – the only one of the trip. The bright, dancing flames invited riders to sit around, talk and laugh, lightening the mood of the evening. Thanks Patty!

Noah liked the fire so much that he spent the night outside, sleeping near the fire pit. He said that he was watching the fire but some of us suspect that other factors contributed to his choice of sleeping accommodations. We also heard rumors that an unconventional, socially unacceptable method was employed in a failed attempt to put out the fire…I wonder what it might have been?

August 7, 2008 Gettysburg, PA

2008-08-07T15:33:00.000-07:00

Several weeks ago some of us decided that renting a hotel room would be a nice touch for our final rest day. Dewayne and I booked a room in the Gettysburg Travelodge. I have mixed feelings – it would be nice to spend time with many of the Big Riders in camp, one of the last times we would be able to share experiences, but on the other hand, sleeping in a bed, in an air-conditioned room with a clean bathroom obviously won out.

I awoke at 7:40 am, refreshed and ready to spend the bulk of the day relaxing; no battlefield tours, no bike riding; just a bit of exploring the town on foot was on my agenda. Walking through town I was amazed at the record of events, displayed on plaques everywhere, recounting events of July 1 – 3, 1863. If buildings could talk, many in town could speak volumes on what they witnessed as the Battle of Gettysburg raged in and around town.

Visiting the College of Gettysburg campus, where my father attended school MANY years ago (approx. 64 years ago), I located his dorm and took pictures to share with him when I return home.

We did have a major storm blow through that knocked down trees and dumped copious amounts of rain in a short period of time. Streets in Gettysburg were turned into rivers and hail bounced off roofs. We were glad to be in a hotel!

August 6, 2008 Bedford to Gettysburg, PA 100 miles (101)

2008-08-07T15:31:00.000-07:00

2:37 am (I hate digital watches – too exact!) is a bad time to wake up with the urge to use the bathroom. There is too much time before I need to get up so holding it is not an option and getting out of the tent is a chore. Fumbling around in the dark to find zippers, unzipping both the screen door and then the rain fly creates a lot of noise and disturbs others (many of us are now conditioned to wake up in the morning to the sound of zippers opening – “zipper alarms” we call them), contorting a stiff body in order to get out of the too small tent door, and then walking to the bathroom is not fun. As I stepped out into the night I noticed something moving between several tents. Thinking it was a raccoon, or worse, a skunk, I flashed my light in its direction. It was just a plastic bag blowing by. The wind was strong and heavy with the threat of rain. I wondered what morning would bring. At 4:23 am (see digital watch comment) I was no longer wondering, a few raindrops splattered on my tent and just as I was deliberating about breaking camp before everything got soaked, the skies opened up! My decision was easy – crawl back under my blanket and sleep for another hour. At 5:39 am I awoke to silence, the rain had stopped; the skies had begun to clear promising yet another spectacular riding day.

I doubt if any cross-country bicycle tour has been blessed with wonderful weather that has accompanied the 2008 Big Ride Across America!

Breakfast was unusually bad, even by our reduced standards. With the end of the ride in sight supplies are running low so we have to make due with what is left. Two bowls of corn flakes and one banana fortified me for the start of our last 100+ mile day.

Today’s ride is billed as our “final exam”. The cue sheet states “Huge day on the bike…The first 40 miles features several big climbs and treacherous descents.” The ride lived up to its billing! Today we rode over ridges of the Appalachian Mountains and then descended into Gettysburg.

Leaving camp with several others, the early miles tested the legs with a combination of long, gradual uphills punctuated by several short (and some not-so-short) climbs. In Breezewood, at mile 21, we stopped for breakfast. Immediately after refueling the serious climbing began which had me using the lowest gears on my bike. I was still feeling the effects of doing the optional Mount Davis ride yesterday so, as I painfully made my way up each climb, I had ample time to reflect on the stupidity of trying to be young at my age.

The lunch stop and checkpoint was at Cowen State Park (mile 51). What a wonderful setting; a large lake surrounded by pines, a cool wind blowing through, swimming beach and a snack bar, no one wanted to leave.
I rolled out alone to finish the last half of the ride. I didn’t want to be pushed by anyone, the last 3,000 miles have taken a toll on my body. some of the young kids still continue to get stronger (I hate youth) but many of us, young and old alike, have become fatigued by the constant physical effort.

Much of the remaining ride followed Route 30, the same road that goes through DeKalb, IL.; another tie to home for me. The day grew hotter, the sun beat down, and the road went up and up. The gradual climb seemed never ending but was made easier by a strong tailwind. About 12 miles from Gettysburg a long downhill began that took us almost all the way into town, what a relief!

Camp for most riders was at the Artillery Ridge Campground while several of us were headed off to the Travelodge in town.

August 5, 2008 Confluence to Bedford, PA 81 miles (79)

2008-08-07T15:30:00.000-07:00

Awoke to a low-lying cover of fog with the forecast calling for possible severe rainstorms; not a good start. Once breakfast was finished, as cue sheets were about to be passed out, Sharon called for a show of hands – who wanted to ride the road route up and over the highest point in Pennsylvania? She promised extreme grades, no shoulders, and truck traffic – what an enticing invite! We had known this moment was coming, the moment that separates the men from the boys (I wanted to be a boy). Riders had two options: up and over Mount Adams or the flat, crushed-limestone bicycle trail. The question was posed, I looked around and, sure enough, all the young guys raised their hands. Oh shit! It was time for me to put up or …my hand went up along with Doug’s. We would represent the old guys on the climb (Doug is 39).

A couple of rolling hills out of town gave us a false sense that this was going to be no big deal. A slight drizzle only wetted the road and convinced me to keep my rain jacket on. Things were looking good…until we made a left hand turn and saw THE WALL! Quickly gear down, stand on the pedals, don’t look up, breath hard, dig deep…and we were only 50 feet up the hill! Doug turned off and stopped. “What are you doing?”, I asked. He said, “ You told me to take it easy. So I am!” It was obvious that the ride up and over Davis was going to be rough. As the ride progressed we all separated; it’s hard to ride difficult climbs at someone else’s pace.

• 15-19% grades on Mt. Davis
• Did the mountain – on my own terms
• Great downhills
• Excellent breakfast – though slow service
• More hills
• Tragic traffic accident – bus through trailer (okay, it was only somebody’s house – a trailer with the back two-thirds of a bus installed at right angles to expand living space.
• Great tavern food and drink three miles from camp
• Friendship Village Campground is right next to the Cannondale factory
Did laundry and …went to sleep

August 4, 2008 Washington to Confluence, PA 88 miles (94)

2008-08-07T15:29:00.000-07:00

Once again due to a long days’ ride bullet points will have to do. We have all noticed that the daylight hours are getting shorter – a definite sign that we have been on the road a long time!
• The hills were killer early on today.
• Letty has developed into a REAL hill climber,
• Many towns in this area are past their prime.
• The rivers we rode along and crossed over have names that I can’t pronounce, much less spell. (Youghiogheny, Monongahela
• The Youghiogheny River Trail (YRT) is a great rail to trail conversion. We followed it for over 50 miles.
• Some people like crushed limestone bike trails and others don’t.
• Fred (Big Rider 2000) and his family had a great rest stop for us.
• Looking for Tracey adds miles to the ride (not too many) After I finished dinner I overheard that one rider was still out on the trail. It seems that Tracey had several flats and she was still out on the trail alone. Given the fact that it was getting late I volunteered to ride back up the trail to make sure she was safe. Cell phones didn’t work on the trail this so direct contact was the only way to verify her situation. Luckily she was only one and a half miles from camp and all was well.
• Camping at the base of a large dam with a huge water outlet has drawbacks (noise and fear, being two of them)
• Cold beer with a large group of Big Riders (Doug, Dewayne, Steph, James, Chad, Greg, Catie, Kevin, Rachel, Letty, Tony, and Sharon) can solve many problems

August 3, 2008 New Waterford, OH to Washington, PA 62 miles (62)

2008-08-07T15:28:00.000-07:00

Definitely a slow start today; we didn’t get on the road until 8:10 am. I got PLENTY of sleep last night (see August 2nd entry) so I am well rested for the hills promised on today’s route.

Shortly after riding out of the campground, Bob and Kathleen were off to the side on the road. Bob had a flat tire and he was only half a mile from camp. What a lousy way to start the day! Other factors that impacted our ride – a tailwind all day, hills, partly cloudy skies, hills, small towns, hills, comfortable temperatures, and more hills! Today’s ride was beautiful…

Here are some impressions that struck me as the miles rolled under my wheels:
• Is there a problem setting up a rest stop in a cemetery? It was done and one woman was obviously upset about our choice of setting. The cemetery we were at was the final resting place of a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. His story of heroism on D-Day was very moving.
• Speaking of cemeteries…Is there a problem with a sign placed just outside a cemetery that advertises “Clean Fill Wanted”. Just wondering….?
• As for signs – there was a billboard on the side of a building that advertised “American Foods” and just under it added “German Meat Specialties”.
• We passed by a cemetery named “Mount Prospect’. Until now the only Mount Prospect I was familiar with was the town neighboring Arlington Heights.
• Pennsylvania has more hills than Ohio.
• Dewayne has troubles getting out of restaurants. Two doors were next to each other near the exit of our lunch break. One door, a solid wood door was labeled “Private”, the other, with glass had an exit sign overhead and near the handle a label to “Push”. Dewayne was insistent, he kept trying to exit out of the “Private” door, much to our amusement!
• I wonder how many insects, dead and/or alive, I have transported across state lines in my tent.
• When this ride is over I’m going to bronze my riding shoes, burn my clothes, and rebuild my bicycle.
• Campground facilities (bathrooms) vary widely in quality.
It’s nice to have Dad and Joan call to see how the ride is going…I’m glad they are following the blog (mine and others) – no matter how dull they may seem!

August 2, 2008 Burton to New Waterford, OH 59 miles (60)

2008-08-07T15:26:00.000-07:00

As I settled into my tent for the night I could hear the sound of distant fireworks…or so I thought. As the evening wore on the sound drew closer and closer, a storm was bearing down upon us. I listened to the advancing thunder, I watched the sky (and the inside of my tent) illuminate from the lightning, and I heard the wind begin to pick up. Closer and closer until I could distinctly perceive the distinct sound of the advancing wall of rain. It hit with a vengeance, torrential rain, horrendous winds and scary lightning pounded the camp.
Wrong time to wonder if this was the camp that I set my tent up under a dead branch in the tree overhead…

Below are some general, disjointed thoughts that I will expand on later…
Violent lightning storm last night, rain high winds. Wind change due to storm – a tailwind pushed us south east. Rollers, lots of rollers. Generally good roads Warren Ohio, home to Packard automobiles. Steel mill, coke plant. Breakfast at Perkins with Joe and Doug. Terrace Lakes Campground; seasonals, showers, Laundry (washing machine pretty gross) Pranks – picnic table in Doug’s tent, lightning bugs in someone else’s. “Big family” reunion. Steak fajitas dinner Crawled into tent to nap at 7:38 this is why I’m typing this at 4 am!

August 1, 2008 Burton, OH

2008-08-01T14:31:00.000-07:00

Breakfast, laundry, postcards, journaling, lunch, and then dinner took up the bulk of the day. I did very little else. Burton is a cute little town (emphasis on “little”) so there is not much to distract us from resting.

Most riders are beginning to fixate on the rapidly approaching end of this excellent adventure. We have ridden 2,900 miles, only 400 to go, Ohio is the 10th of 12 states we will ride through, our watches (or cell phones) are set to Eastern Standard time, and Washington D.C.is not nearly as far away as it was on June 23rd. We have witnessed the maturing of summer; early season crops when we started are now, in some cases, are being harvested and the summer daylight hours are growing noticeably shorter. Some riders are restless to finish the ride and get back to a more regular schedule, while others are dreading re-entering “normalcy”. I’m somewhere between these two extremes….

July 31, 2008 Sandusky to Burton, OH 92 miles (102)

2008-08-01T14:30:00.000-07:00

Today’s ride highlights; Lake Erie views, beautiful homes, downtown Cleveland, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; were mitigated by high traffic, narrow roads, poor shoulders, detours, and irritated drivers! Oh well…all days on bike can’t be heaven!

It started out well, Joe, Doug, and I stopped at mile 17 for our second breakfast. Gramdma Joes Icecrematorium, housed in a former funeral parlor, served a delicious breakfast. Back on the road, approaching Cleveland traffic increased and there were numerous stoplights which slowed the pace dramatically. Detour number one resulted in Doug, Kathleen, Bob, and I getting lost. Our detour was good for an additional 8 miles!

In light of the fact that this was my least favorite day of the trip I’ll spare you the details and just bullet some of the items:
• Lake Erie is a big lake
• The detour through Lorain was poorly marked but we found a interesting bike trail
• Detours are really tests of one’s creativity
• Asking a local fireman does not assure one of getting good directions
• My “guy card” was not revoked for asking for directions
• Cleveland’s downtown traffic does not compare to Chicago’s
• Cleveland’s downtown is beautiful
• Reading a cue sheet containing 55 sets of directions, while riding in traffic on poor roads, is not good mentally or physically
• Route 87, east of Cleveland, is not meant for bicycles

July 30, 2008 Napoleon to Sandusky, OH 87 miles (89)

2008-08-01T14:29:00.000-07:00

We awoke to a rather unusual sound…raindrops1 Something we have all expected would come, hoped it wouldn’t but figured was going to happen sooner or later. How can you ride from Seattle, WA to Napoleon, OH over the course of 34 days and only encounter a couple of hours of light rain? Well, the weather gods are with us, the Sumo continues to bring good karma, and we are still unbelievably lucky – the rain held off!

Last night James and Stephanie asked Doug to pace them through today’s ride as they wanted to arrive early enough to go to Cedar Point Amusement Park. Doug agreed and I volunteered to help. Little did I know what was in store for me!

James and Steph are usually among the last to arrive at camp each day. Picture breaks, roadside naps, and sight seeing detours take up much of their road time – but not today! Cedar Point’s roller coasters are calling! A group of us rolled out together and things were going well until Stephanie flatted. The repair was quickly made and we were back on the road. The pace was good, the wind was at our backs, a cloud cover kept the temperature down – all was going well.

Lately I have become a bit paranoid about crashing….several riders have touched wheels in pace lines and gone down. I don’t want to experience that (at my age I don’t bounce, I SPLAT!). With this in mind, I slacked off the pace and rode much of the day with Patty. It was a very safe, very predictable ride.

Today’s route was primarily due east and mainly followed Route 6 so the chances of getting lost were minimal.
Once into Sandusky, several of us found a great informal diner across the road that served excellent snacks. We enjoyed talking about the Big Ride, the personalities, and the future (yes, there is a future after the Big Ride!) before we joined the others in camp.

Many people set up their tents, showered and then rushed to get the shuttle to the amusement park. The rest of us lounged around and then went our separate ways (in small groups) to get dinner. Ash, Pauline, Sharon, and I had a taste for steak while the others were content with Chili’s (the emphasis for them was on margaritas!)

July 29, 2008 Kendallville, IN to Napoleon, OH 70 miles (70)

2008-08-01T14:28:00.000-07:00

We were all a little slow to awake and get moving this morning – a combination of today being a short day (70 miles) and accumulated fatigue. It’s interesting to watch how each of us, including myself, deal with the physical demands placed on us day after day.

Breakfast was served by the same great people who prepared last night’s dinner. Scrambled eggs, sausage, pancakes, fruit, coffee, juice and milk – we had it all!

Dewayne REALLY needs his morning coffee. Without it he is NOT fit for public display! We’ve seen it a couple of times so we were very worried when he rode out of camp, bypassed the coffee, and waved goodbye…No concern – he was on his best behavior today. When we arrived in Butler, approximately 24 miles into the ride, Dwayne NEEDED coffee and Doug needed food. So we stopped.

Patrons and employees of the small downtown diner we selected were very interested in who these strangers (us) were and what we were doing. After hearing that we were riding across the country for the American Lung Association one woman asked if we were accepting donations, and when told “yes” she handed us money and stated her sister had died three weeks earlier from lung disease. The manager of the diner asked to take our picture (she referred to us as “famous people”- obviously they don’t get many strangers through town).

Shortly after entering Ohio (state #10) we had an encounter with an out of control quad runner driven by a 15 or 16-year-old local. Driving fast and passing too close he skimmed by us at 50+ mph. We were shocked when he turned around and came back at us for a second pass. Doug and I did the only sensible thing - we got in the oncoming lane, faced him off and gave him the universal hand sign of disapproval. If I were younger I would have turned around and followed the idiot to confront him…but – let’s just let the ride continue.

Our encounters and acceptance by the people we have encountered have been overwhelmingly positive so our few, very few, negative experiences have to be kept in perspective. We really do have a great country!

Arriving in Napoleon, OH, we rode to the Henry County Fair Grounds to set up camp. I have begun to feel that county fair grounds are home. Home, at the fair grounds, is accompanied by mosquitoes, flies, and an assortment of barnyard smells but it also means water, showers, flush toilets, and a place to set up our tents.

Dinner was great but…

In the last couple of days the reality that this great adventure is drawing to a close has begun to set in. We have ridden over 2,600 miles – less than 800 to go, we are in state #10 of 12, and in the Eastern Time zone which are all signals that the end of this great adventure is near. Mixed emotions – what else can I say?

I can say thanks to everyone who has demonstrated confidence in me by supporting the American Lung Association and the Big Ride Across America! Your contributions have supported a great cause and allowed me to realize a life long dream – for that I’m extremely grateful!

July 28, 2008 Valparaiso to Kendallville, IN 109 miles (112)

2008-08-01T14:06:00.001-07:00

Indiana redeemed itself today. While the first fifteen miles were extremely busy, the road conditions were good. Once we moved further east traffic lessened, the roads were smooth, there was no wind, and IT WAS FLAT! No hills at all!

Today’s high mileage was complicated by a late start, our transition into the Eastern Time zone (which meant we lost an hour) and the mundane scenery. On the plus side were the occasional fields of sunflowers, an unexpected rest stop featuring homemade cookies sponsored by a Mennonite family, and the quaint towns.

Our camp in Kendallville was among the best we have had so far; campground in town, next to a lake, with showers and flush toilets. The park board administrators cooked dinner for us and we were welcomed by her honor, the mayor.

July 27, 2008 Valparaiso, IN

2008-07-27T08:49:00.000-07:00

I apologize for the sketchy posts covering the last week of riding. As the week wore on, our longest riding week of the event, I found it difficult to stay on top of my journal. 654 miles of cycling and several nights of poor sleep only contributed to my growing fatigue. In fact, at our Coal City camp, I seriously wondered how I was going to continue on the following day – very uncharacteristic of me!

Much of the riding from near Madison to Valparaiso blurred into a boring sameness; fields of corn and soy beans and just to mix it up a bit, fields of soy beans and corn!

July 26, 2008 Coal City, IL to Valparaiso, IN 82 miles (85)

2008-07-27T08:48:00.000-07:00

Campers at Coal City partied late into the night; drinking, arguing, and fighting until well past 2 am! Their revelry did not disturb me too much but other Big Riders were. To get even some Riders began yelling as they broke camp. I doubt that the locals heard any of our noise due to their inebriated state and the noise of the air conditioners on their trailers.

Our remaining miles in Illinois were uneventful, more corn and soy beans, until a loud boom punctuated the quiet morning. My front tire blew out…fourth flat of the trip! Bummer. I assured Doug and Darrel that I was okay and they rode on. While fixing my flat many other Big Riders passed by, each one asking if I needed any help. We are all watching out for one another.

The transition into Indiana was marked by a sign painted on the road and we all stopped for the obligatory pictures. In a few short miles we were all in agreement – we hate Indiana! Terrible road conditions coupled with construction and high traffic counts made our remaining miles to Valparaiso very nerve wracking!

Joan and Nate met several of us about 10 miles from Valpo and the treats served out of the back of the truck helped brighten our moods. At Valparaiso University Joan had a chance to meet more of the Riders as well as Doug’s family. Doug and I may be in trouble now that our wives have met!

July 25, 2008 Belvidere to Coal City, IL 104 miles (110)

2008-07-27T08:47:00.000-07:00

After spending the night at home, which was a welcomed change, Joan and I got up at 4 am to get back to the ride. I could have used 2 or 3 more hours of sleep! We brought treats from Rolling Donuts for the Riders – the donuts disappeared in record time!

Today marks a major transition in the ride for me. Up to now I’ve been riding ever closer to home but once our route passes Northern Illinois University (my alma mater), I’ll be riding away from home.

The roads of DeKalb County bring back memories for these are the very same roads I trained on 30+ years ago while I was a student at NIU. Most things out here have not changed much at all with one noticeable exception. When I used to ride out here farm dogs were a constant threat but now it seems that every farm has a fence to contain their dogs. What a wonderful change!

The high point of the day was the stop for our second breakfast in Malta. Per usual, two bikes parked outside a local café attracted more, which attracted more, and soon a large group of riders were eating, laughing, and sharing stories from the road. All while locals stared at the strangers in bright colors and spandex that had invaded their town.

Greg, who did a solo cross country tour years ago, his wife, Erin, and daughter, Julia, were kind enough to visit me at Coal City. Its always nice to see friendly faces from home! Thanks guys!

After the long rides of the past few days, it was dinner, shower, and then I crawled into my tent. I didn’t change, I didn’t pull out my sleeping bag, I didn’t even inflate my thermarest – I simply placed my exhausted head on my unpacked bags, wondered how I would be able to continue on, and fell fast asleep.

Today’s question – how can the hills (highway overpasses) of Illinois hurt more than the mountains out west?

July 24, 2008 Madison, WI to Belvidere, IL 83 miles (103)

2008-07-27T08:46:00.000-07:00

Scott rode out with Doug, Ruben, and me. Our first miles were fairly slow allowing conversation between the three of us. It turns out that Scott and Doug, who both live in Portland, OR, will be joined by Ruben this fall. Ruben is going to attend Louis and Clark University which is located in Portland. It is a small world.

At about mile 15 the conversation ended and the ride for survival began. Scott, with his fresh legs, pulled a group of us (Ruben, Ed, Austin, and me) for the next 90 miles. We all grabbed his wheel, drafted, and hung on for dear life! The miles flew by, no pictures were taken (the scenery was mundane, at best), and stops were few. We crossed into Illinois (state #8), rode through South Beloit and into the fields beyond. At one point we needed water and food but there was none to be found so we pressed on – until Austin noticed a sign for a golf course. Where there is a golf course, there has to be a club house, where there is a club house there has to be water, food, and air conditioning. We found our oasis, got our food and drinks, and when I went to pay for our refreshments the manager of the club picked up the tab!

About 5 miles from Outdoor World, at a sharp bend in the road, we saw a flash of orange ahead. Once at the bend Ed shouted “beer!” Sure enough, there on the shoulder were four, ice cold, cans of MGD! We stopped and then saw my truck with Joan waving to us, parked a short way up the road. She had water, Gatorade, chips and dip, as well as an assortment of candy to get us through the remaining few miles.

After the ride, Joan, Scott, and I left the others and headed back to Elgin. We dropped Scott off at his sister’s house, thanked him for a great ride, and proceeded home for steak, baked potatoes, corn on the cob, a visit with family and then sleep.

July 23, 2008 Viroqua to Madison, WI 100 miles (111)

2008-07-27T08:45:00.000-07:00

Too much celebrating of Doug’s birthday guaranteed that today would be a LONG one! It was!

Ruben, Doug, and I started the day with breakfast at a diner across from camp. We were the last ones to get started today. Riding back through camp (Doug thought he left his birthday card there) we noticed a bit of commotion, apparently there will be a change in ride support personnel. Can’t say it was totally unexpected…

The first 25 miles were through some of the prettiest countryside so far; hilly, green, quaint, well maintained farms

July 22, 2008 Winona, MN to Viroqua, WI 66 miles` (69)

2008-07-27T08:44:00.000-07:00

July 21, 2008 Owatonna to Winona, MN 89 miles (103)

2008-07-27T08:43:00.000-07:00

Eric’s 21st birthday!
Called Eric at 6:15 am to wish him a Happy 21st Birthday. I wasn’t the first to do so – his buddy, Mike, awoke him at 4 am!

Once again, Route 14, was the road of choice…only now it is rather busy. Semis, cars, pick-ups, some of whom don’t like to share the pavement with bicycles, passed dangerously close. To add to the challenge, the shoulder was in very poor shape.

Just before winding our way through Rochester, MN, home of Mayo Clinic, we were treated with a food and water stop hosted by four of last year’s Big Riders. Ben, Ane, Tom and Liz treated us to all the things they looked forward to at rest stops. Chairs, a wide assortment of fruit, coffee, donuts, fresh-baked cookies covered the table. What a welcomed sight! THANKS GUYS!

On our way through a residential neighborhood in Rochester we noticed two little kids selling lemonade. Just had to stop which made their day! The little girl exclaimed to her slightly older brother “And Mom said we wouldn’t have any customers and now we have thousands!”

Shortly after Rochester I decided to roll through the final checkpoint. From that point on I rode alone – almost 40 miles. With a tailwind and level to slightly rolling terrain the miles rolled by quickly.

Thankfully Becky, Mike and their son, Alex, saved me from a dinner of boiled hot dogs and cold, soggy tater tots

July 20, 2008 New Ulm to Owatonna, MN 72 miles (73)

2008-07-27T08:42:00.000-07:00

Almost felt like we were cheating today – the ride was fast and over even before Mother Nature could cook us!

We started out in a fog that just got heavier as we went along. Riders that passed were swallowed up and disappeared! Didn’t have to drink at all – just licked the condensation that formed on my arms as I rolled along.

The scenery and terrain were unspectacular – I think…with the fog it was hard to tell. The only thing we could do was ride. Traffic is getting heavier now that we are approaching more populated areas. Makes me long for those long, unbroken stretches through Montana and South Dakota where we would pedal for hours and see maybe one or two cars. Along with the increased traffic is a noticeable increase in drivers who are a bit irritated sharing the road with us. We’ll deal with it and just continue on.

Ruben and I had some fun making other riders work to try to catch us and ended up in camp at the fairgrounds just after noon. Eventually Doug, Tony and I grabbed a bite to eat and came back to camp and ate dinner – a great meal cooked by Daniel. Vern, who rode the ride last year, and his wife, Karen, welcomed us to their town and contributed fresh corn on the cob for dinner. What great people!

Another Photo Update

2008-07-24T17:39:00.000-07:00

Bored riders do strange things!
Two locals wish Chad a happy 21st birthday.
Waiting for the gear truck.
Steph's bike likes to climb vending machines.
Bike cleaning and repair have become part of our daily routine.
Wind turbine blades are REALLY BIG!
Entering Minnesota - State #6

July 19, 2008 New Ulm, MN

2008-07-19T12:30:00.000-07:00

Rest day. Luckily I did my laundry last night so today I explored the town, cleaned up my bike and caught up on my blog. New Ulm is a quaint town with a strong German heritage – over 80% of the population is German!

July 18, 2008 Tyler to New Ulm, MN 86 miles (88)

2008-07-19T12:27:00.000-07:00

Nothing different to start another day…wake up, clean up, pack up, eat up, load up (the truck), saddle up and ride out. We continue to ride Route 14 east which we’ve done for the last three and a half days. This ribbon of asphalt is yet another connection to home because it runs through my hometown of Arlington Heights, Illinois.
Based on the map, I anticipate riding 14 for at least another day or two.

Some of the riders have turned the Big Ride into the BRTDQ (Big Ride Tour of Dairy Queens). It seems that every sizeable town has its own DQ and riders cannot pass by with out stopping in. I have fallen prey to the temptation several times; my personal weakness is a root beer float!

Again towns fly by: Florence (pop. 61), Balaton, Tracy (named after one of our riders?), Walnut Grove (childhood home of Laura Engels Wilder), Revere, Lamberton, Springfield, Cobden (pop. 61), Sleepy Eye (How’d it get that name?) and finally New Ulm.

We are staying at Martin Luther College and pranks continue…Stephanie’s bike found its way to the top of vending machines.

July 17, 2008 De Smet, SD to Tyler, MN 78 miles (80)

2008-07-19T12:26:00.000-07:00

I have to backtrack to last night…a police officer stopped by to tell us that a major storm was bearing down on us -70 mph winds, heavy rains, and large hail was expected. With the ominous rumble of thunder and lightning approaching, his warning seemed well founded. The nighttime storm hit but was not as serious as what some of the riders had to deal with in the morning…

As I awoke thunder was rumbling, with occasional flashes of lightning, in the westward sky. Another storm was quickly bearing down upon us. Frenzied activity was obvious throughout the camp; no one wanted to be in the middle of breaking camp when the storm struck.

Breakfast was being served at the Catholic Church one block from camp. Several riders and I were enjoying our morning meal when the skies opened up. A rain of biblical proportion drenched everyone who was still packing – about half of the riders. We waited until the bulk of the storm had passed to finish loading the truck and begin the day’s ride.

Rain accompanied us for the first two hours of the ride. The slow soaking of the on-again off-again drizzle was not too bad. The worst part of the wet conditions was the painful “power washing” we got as trucks passed at 60 mph, spraying us with a mixture of water and gravel picked up from the road. Maybe it wasn’t so much a “power washing” as it was a “sand blasting”! Eventually the rain stopped, the roads dried, and the skies cleared making way for another fine ride.

Just outside of Brookings, Kathleen got a flat, which I helped her repair. This caused me to loose touch with some of the riders I had been with so for the next 15 miles it was just the road and me. Eventually I caught Barb and we finished the ride together. Along the way we marveled at an expansive wind farm that bordered the road for over 11 miles. With turbine blades revolving, and several hundred towers visible, it seemed like something out of another world. We also crossed onto state number six: Minnesota.

Our group camped outside Tyler high school, home of the Knights, which was close enough to town that we could walk to dinner.

One major change today – I feel like I’m home! The whole make-up of the land is familiar. Trees, corn, soybeans, farms, towns every 6 to 10 miles apart, the flat to slightly rolling terrain, the humidity, even the condition of the roads has a comfortable, back home, feel to it.