rideforworldhealth.org

The wind kindly welcomed us into Kansas today…not.  First, Borat seems to be the movie of the trip, hence the “not.”  Second, the wind was anything but kind.  After 42 miles of 30+ mph cross/head-winds, the ride was called for safety reasons. 

Let me back up.  The day began in Eads, Colorodo.  The place we stayed was vaguely referred to as an “Indian burial ground,” “shack,” or “warehouse.”  Luckilly it turned out to be a much nicer clubhouse of sorts.  It was a building next to a horse track, and it had a kitchen.  One thing that is appreciated on this trip is a kitchen and hot shower facilities.  The hot shower (yep, only one stall for 23 people) happened to be at a truckstop across the street which was surprisingly clean with excellent water pressure.  Nice.

The ride was definitely character building.  Katie and I played Frogger with the many tumbleweeds flying across the road.  I don’t think anyone got a flat tire due to a tumbleweed today.  For those of you that don’t know, tumbleweeds have lots of thorns that are more than capable of deflating the most impenetrable tire.  As if avoiding tumbleweeds wasn’t enough, we practically rode leaning into the crosswind.  Wish I had some pictures.  It’s amazing how forward momentum can keep one moving forward even if the bike is tilted almost 45 degrees. 

At lunch somewhere near tribune, the bikes were loaded and we headed to Leoti, KS.  It was nice to have the decision made for us because biking in winds that flatten the grass and early crops is definitely not safe…however, there was talk of at least trying it out to see how it goes.  The decision seemed even better once a mix of rain and snow fell at some point on the drive. 

  “Wind Stirs up Chaos across Town”  (Thanks for the pics, Jen)

Once in Leoti, a visit to the Museum of the Great Plains (http://skyways.lib.ks.us/towns/Leoti/museums.html) was highly enlightening.  The woman running the museum knew an incredible amount of local history.  Buffalo Bill and a few other notables lived in or near Leoti.  Another crazy find was the rules for teachers in 1915, which is less than 100 years ago.  Some of the rules included:  No fraternizing with men other than your father or brother; no getting married while under contract during the school term; no loitering at the local icecream parlor; and no going out between 8pm to 6am unless there is a school function.  Those are only some of the 15 ludicrous rules. 

   Rules for Teachers

Let me reiterate that those were printed less than 100 years ago.  Since this ride is about world health, I’ll just suggest that everyone keep an open mind when it comes to some other countries and their treatment of women and minorities.  We have come a long way and still have a long way to go.  It was not that long ago that blatant discrimination ran rampant in the US.  There are still inequalities throughout American society today.  That does not mean we shouldn’t try to help people who are treated poorly in other countries.  Just keep in mind that the US and other countries are more similar than is perceived today, and that barriers in both the US and the world need to be addressed before change can occur.  Okay, off my soapbox.

The team went to a Mexican restaurant for dinner.  The food was quite good, especially the salty chips with salsa.  Dairy King (yep, it’s “King” instead of “Queen”) satiated our cravings for dessert.  Even when 30 degrees outside, a hot fudge sundae hits the spot. 

The Wichita High School is providing us with lodging tonight.  It has a home-ec kitchen and warm showers!  After playing Taboo and writing this blog, it’s time for bed.  I’m on support with Corey, Kel, and Stephanie…Team Melrose, named for all the drama that happens on our support days :)  Never dull.

So…there are two notable milemarkers for today:  crossing into a new state and moving into central time.  Now I’m only an hour behind my home state of Virginia.  Calling home will be much more convenient since friends and family won’t be sleeping when I finally get a free moment. 

Tomorrow we go to Ness City, KS.  80 miles pretty much downhill.  The wind should be better, too.  Welcome to Kansas R4WH.

Utah is beautiful! I have been enjoying the scenery so much at times I forget I’m on my bike. I feel very lucky to have this opportunity to see different parts of the country, and all at just the right pace!

Here are some pictures from Utah:

Hot Springs in Panaca, NV

After a great meal cooked by Marianne we went for dessert at a restaurant called the Windmill Ridge. It was fun and relaxing, and because we are all so good at sharing (I love that!) we all got to try most of the desserts on their menu. My personal favorite was the peanut butter brownie. After that a group of us went to the hot springs nearby for a quick dip. This picture is Ashley, Stephanie, and I underwater acting out hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil.

Cedar City to Tropic

I was on support the day these two pictures were taken. The first is the view after the long climb out of Cedar City, Utah. It was a great climb and everyone did awesome! The second picture is from Bryce Canyon the same day! I was driving the support vehicle and kept stopping to take pictures because I couldn’t get enough. When we got to the high school we made the riders tomato soup and grilled cheese which went over really well.

 Lunch Stop

Jamie and I taking a rest during lunch. Our lunch stop was at a great lookout over the canyons.

Natural Bridges Monument

 We camped out at the Natural Bridges Monument after a 100 mile day. A group of us went on a short hike when we got to the camp site to walk under one of the bridges. This picture is of Seth, Van, Cory, Anuj, Nate, Josh, Jamie, and I.

Karaoke in Monticello

In Monticello, Utah we sang Karaoke! There was a restuarant across the street from the Church where we were staying and the Karaoke DJ made a special trip for us! The first picture is us singing Summer Nights (Anuj, Nate, and Van for the men, and Steph, Marianne, and I representing the ladies). The second picture is when all of the guys serenaded Marianne singing “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling.” Maybe we should start singing for World Health. Just a thought

Tropic to Boulder, Petrified Forest

On our way to Boulder, Utah we had a lunch stop at a petrified forest. This is a picture of some of us hiking along the trail to see the petrified wood.

Riding into Telluride

Snow! Riding into Telluride we had a huge climb in the mountains and were surrounded by lots of snow! Dave, Bobby, and I stopped for a picture during the descent.

I am so far behind at this point I don’t think I will catch up soon. Camping is a strange and wonderful experience. After a long hard day of riding we must unload all the gear. This includes all the riders bags, and bedding as well as the food bins, cooking utensils, two extra jumbo sized coolers, and the camp stove, propane tank, tents etc etc. You get the idea.

Now we must figure out what to feed 23 plus very hungry riders. Thankfully Cory struck a deal on many cans of almost expired turkey chili at the local convenience store. I think someone mentioned stocking up for Y2k! You remember that don’t you?

On this particular day our team was on support for the riders from Bolder to Hanksville UT. We managed to put together an edible supper of doctored up turkey chili and veggie chili made from one very large can of tomatoes, two packages of taco seasoning, several cans of re-fried beans, can corn, garbanzos, mmm my mouth is watering. It is a good thing everyone was extremely tired and hungry. I do not think there was much left.

With full bellies everyone settles down in their tents and sleeping bags. Many chose to sleep under the stars. The night sky is glorious with no city light to fade the stars. Sleep tight because we will be up at dawn to begin again. Peace, Marianne

So we have been in Utah for awhile, and while thr southern portion of the state has been relatively devoid of such necessities as grocery stores and showers, it has been chock full of big hills! This has lead to the breaking of many personal speed records over the past week. The highest I’ve heard recorded was 58 mph, which I’m pretty sure was a clear violation of the speed limit in that area (which of course begs the question: can you get a speeding ticket on your bike?) anyway, while most of us love flying down the hills, everyone here knows that I in fact hate the descent. It’s been that way as long as I can remember, which my long time cyctling buddy, my dad, can attest to. While we may grind it up the hills together, when it comes to the downhill, he goes bombing down, no brakes without a care in the world, as I watch enviously as he goes by. In fact many times I’ve thought of how much fun he would have flying down the peaks of Utah. So, since this trip is all about challenges, the last few days I’ve challenged myself to pretend I’m back in NJ chasing him down the hills. So far it’s worked: my highest speed has gone from around 20 before this trip to 38 mph. So Dad, here’s my challenge for you: when I get home let’s race down that big hill off of Mountain Blvd, and if I win, we’ll get you clipless pedals to go on your new bike

Today we left Cedar City and headed out to Tropic, Utah, making our first ascent to almost 10,000 feet.  We had barely had time to warm up when our the “hill” started.  4,000 feet, 17 miles, 8% grade (check this out if you’re interested to know what this means: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grade_%28slope%29).  Suffice to say, it was steep.  Snow and icicles lined the road starting at about 7,000 feet, and by 9,000 feet I was having trouble catching my breath as the air thinned.  It’s pretty obvious though judging by how well we all did that we are all getting stronger daily on this trip.  While some people zipped up in a pace line, others spent the time talking in pairs, and others rocking it out to their iPods, I was pretty sure that I was the only one grinding it up the hill to the BeeGees.  Now although I do admire the musical stylings of Barry Gibb, the inspiration and drive to push up the hill had little to do with him.  Two days before I left, my mom and I had spent the evening playing cards and having an impromptu BeeGees singalong.  Listening to them reminded me of how supportive my mom has been throughout this trip, and how her confidence in me has inspired me to work that much harder on this ride.  I then started to think about what a wonderful group of people we have on this trip and how there must be many special mothers out there to have raised such interesting, inspiring and caring people.  So, I guess what this entry really is is an early Happy Mother’s Day and thank you to all the mothers out there who helped get us here, up the mountain, to Tropic, Utah today. 

I think I have finally graduated from being a “rookie” cyclist! My first few days in San Diego I was informed that these grease marks on my legs are a trademark of a rookie. Everyone on the team has been kind enough to point out my new marks on a daily basis. I managed to get them on both of my legs, my arm, my face, you name it Only recently did I make it through a day without a new tattoo. Very exciting! By counting the number of marks on my legs I could tell how many days we’d been riding, like the rings on a tree. I guess I’ll have to look at the calendar now.

Yesterday as we headed out of Panaca, Nevada we said goodbye to the hot temps we’ve been riding in the past few weeks. I think many of us underestimated the cooler weather in Utah. By the first rest stop we were doing whatever we could to stay warm. This is what 13 riders look like in 40 degree weather with strong winds at 6,719 feet in one car! We got nice and cozy!

After the break we bundled up to ride 26 more miles to lunch. The support team graciously offered what warm clothes they could spare for those of us riding.

We have the day off today in Cedar City, Utah. We are giving three lectures throughout the day, running errands, taking trips to the bike shop, and preparing to conquer the surrounding mountains. I know many of us decided to invest in some additional gear to keep us warm as we will be spending more time in the mountains these next few weeks. There’s only one way out of here- up we go!

It is now already April 16th. My commitment to family and friends to blog daily is in serious trouble. So let’s begin at the beginning. April 31st I made some notes at the airport on my way to San Diego. Many times the anticipation of a trip outshines the event it’s self. This is not the case here. I did not sleep particularly well the night before leaving. It will not matter because of the excitement of the trip. I was up at 6 am and went for a run. The morning was spent giving last minute instructions to mom, Keith and Alison. We are on the road by 11:30am after an emotional good-by. I will not see my family again until May 25th. I love, love love my family for supporting me while I have this adventure.

When I landed in Houston I received a phone call from Dave Holder (logistics guy on the leadership team) he says they will be at the airport to pick me up. The team has been driving from Columbus OH and have just arrived in SD. I am sitting at my gate in Houston and I look up and see the flight departing from the opposite gate is going to Washington DC. How ironic is that?

The time in SD was busy with getting organized, receiving instructions from the leadership team on how things will work once we are on the road. We are getting to know each other and getting used to sleeping on the floor. The Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center is a bright busy center with all types of programs. They have made us feel very welcome.The training rides are difficult for me “we are not in Florida any more Toto”. The California coast is breathtaking. I am enjoying getting to know my teammates.After a few days of riding up and down the Pacific Coast Highway we are treated to a serious climb up Mt. Solodad, an 800 ft climb over less than a mile, this means it is very steep. the strong riders get to the top pretty quickly. Several of us continue to climb slowly but steadily stopping along the way to catch our breath. I stopped about 1/4 of a mile from the top very shaky contemplated going back down. I could not get started again on the hill so I walked about 100′ until I could get back on my bike to finish the climb. It was worth it for so many reasons, the view, overcoming my fears, a great bonding experience with the group.

April 6th ready or not here we go! After a beautiful week in SD we are on our way. Tire dip in the Pacific ocean, 85 miles from SD to Huntington Beach via the Camp Pendleton Marine Base. After some time at the beach and sight seeing we load up in the vans to our accommodations for the night. We will be staying in various private homes for two nights very comfey.

April 7th event day at USC. We found the best breakfast burritos in the world just a few blocks from the university. We are hungry all the time. The event goes well. The vans are packed up. We spend the afternoon exploring the campus of Cal Tech ( Seth’s almamata), then back to our home stays for our last night in a bed until we get to Las Vegas.

So every fifth day we are on “Support”. We take a break from riding and drive the cars and set up rest stops and make lunch and dinner and videotape the riders climbing mountains and doing silly things.  We also fill up eachother’s waterbottles, encourage sunscreen-lathering, and give the occasional much-needed shoulder massage.  We cheer out of the car “You are doing great!! Keep it up!”  We spray paint little encouraging and fun notes to the riders about where to go and how far they’ve ridden and cool sights to not miss.  Support days are lots of work.  Giving giving giving to take care of the riders. 

And it feels great.  I love that we all take a turn at supporting eachother so that we can also all ride.  Having  a support team gives us a family feel.  Built into the structure of the ride is the recognition that we can’t all be riding in the glory seat all the time– we have to take our turns in order to make such an adventure sustainable. 

A couple of days ago as we began crossing the Mojave Desert I was on Support.  I was shuttling water to riders between rest stops and cheering people on.  As I gave one rider an estimate of how much longer until the finish– thinking it was a good thing to share, she broke down and declared herself done.  She was totally depleted.  So I packed her bike up and she got in the car and we drove to the finish together.  The moment she broke down and I was there to pick her up was beautiful.  That she could ask for help and I could give it was this sort of transcendent thing.  I am learning that there is only one way to cross a desert, and that is with a caravan of people working together.  Feels like pretty much anything can be done when we work together like this.  And we are. And it feels meaningful and good. 

but we can’t help it!  We’ve been on the road for 10 days now, most of which have been in the empty desert lands of western California and Nevada.  Riding through these parts has reminded me (a city dweller) just how empty a lot of this country is.  We visited a real ghost town last week, but it seems that some of the towns we’ve ridden through lately are even emptier than that, with populations as few as 100 people.  We have been able to see some great sights (Death Valley, Mohave Desert, Vegas) and have been received so warmly by all the people we’ve met and stayed with along the way.  As for the riding, we were all feeling the effects of 400 miles on Saturday and the day off in Vegas was a great relief.  Saddle sores have begun to be an issue, but I think we are getting conditioned to daily 70+ mile riding.  Wind makes a HUGE difference on how a ride goes.  This morning we had a great tail wind behind us pushing us up a 6,000+ foot summit, but got blown around on the way down which was kind of scary.  But we all got here safe and sound and are ready to head out for pizza.  More to come later!