we heart our bikes

By the numbers

2009-08-08T15:45:00.000-07:00

Miles travelled: 3853.6
People who told us we were crazy: 3852 (Sarah's mother was the one person who supported us from the start. Thanks, Suzie).
People who entered the bet against us in Peru, Indiana: 10
Money we won from proving them all wrong: $100
Days on the road: 60
Rest days: 10
Average miles per riding day: 77.1
Most miles in one day: 112
Tires used: 10 (Lisa's still on the originals and had no flats, but she can't steer)
Jars of peanut butter consumed: 21
Icees drank: 75
States Crossed: 13
Mental breakdowns (main criteria = tears): 6
Steroid shots: 2
Mg of Advil: countless
Beers: Not enough
New friends: thousands
New friend firemen: 20
ISO-1s: 1
Number of mountain ranges in Oregon: too many
Average temperature in Oregon: 108 degrees
Last time it was 108 degrees in Oregon: 1930
People we've met who are more hardcore than we: 3
Bull elk sightings: 4
American Idol Auditions: 1
Youth inspired: 85
Radio apearances: 1
Shrunken Breasts: 6
Current money raised for Children's HeartLink: $1450

Things we've learned

2009-08-08T15:39:00.000-07:00

Iowa's not flat.
Neither are Oregon, Pennsylvania, nor California.
Your butt will never go numb.
Pearl Izumi's worth the extra money.
Stretch.
Take that bike maintenance class.
Training might help.
Amish people know best the hills.
4000 calories are hard to consume.
A surprising number of bars come equipped with free showers.
A surprsing number of campgrounds do not.
The Haitians are right; beyond mountains, there are mountains.
Milk.
One can never have too many parents on the road.
There are a lot of white people in America.
10 pounds is a lot for a tent.
Ohio smells like sulfur.
The wind will always find you.
Jelly Bellies.
Dogs like cream cheese crab rolls in collapsible containers.
Said crab rolls are not good bike food.
Stop biking when you start crying.
If you look desperate enough, someone will help.
That guy was right, wear sunscreen.

An Ode to Bob and Doris

2009-08-08T15:37:00.000-07:00

This is a poem about Alkali Lake;
We arrived there one day in need of a break.
We could write a song. Nay, a Romantic Chorus,
But even that's not enough to thank Bob and Doris!

Last day pictures

2009-08-08T15:22:00.000-07:00

1. Dipping day #2. Front tires.
2. Lisa's friend Tarek met us in New York and then again in San Francisco. It was his birthday.
3. Lisa and my bike on Patti's car in San Francisco. We're not riding them.
4. Celebration dinner with Tarek, Tawfic, Tami and Kristine. Bottom's up. Thank you guys so much for a great welcome, making us feel like rockstars, and for dinner. It was delicious! Especially the specially ordered drinks.

And yet, there are more pictures

2009-08-08T15:10:00.001-07:00

1. Melissa's self portrait.
2. We made it! That's the Golden Gate Bridge. And that's us. On the San Francisco side.
3. The Redwoods are all they're cracked up to be. Notice we look stressed? That's because my tire had a hole in it and we just needed to get to the next bike shop by 5:30. We made it.
4. This is why you buy the expensive shoes. That's Lisa's foot.
5. Cows. Not something you expect to see on the turnout of the PCH. By the way, those turn outs are necessary when the road winds precariously close to the edge of the cliffs and has no shoulder.

More Oregon and California Pictures

2009-08-08T14:59:00.000-07:00

1. The motorcycling dentists we met outside of Yellowstone were impressed.
2. Also in Yellowstone, we met Jim Clause (no relation) from Lakeview, Oregon, which happened to be on our route a week later. He and his wife, Lorrie, took us in and fed us an amazing steak dinner complete with the best sweet corn we've had yet. Thanks!
3. Jim also set us up with his sister, Gail, in Eureka, Calif. Gail thought we were a joke until we showed up on her doorstep after biking up the steepest hill in all of America (ok, Lisa biked; Mel and I walked). Thanks to Gail and her husband, Bryan, for the delicious Mexican dinner, for taking us in, and for setting us up on the radio.
4. Primary colored helmets. Self explanatory.
5. Mel's gears broke, so she experimented with new options while I fixed my tire, which had gotten yet another hole.

Idaho, Oregon, California Pictures

2009-08-08T14:44:00.000-07:00

1. Did you know Oregon has mountains?
2. We met Mike the Fireman at the hippie camp in Ashland, Or. The whole place smelled like sulfur from the "healing mineral baths", so he took Lisa out on his sweet bike to buy some potable water. As they were preparing to leave, a half naked girl asked for a ride on the basis that "Beamers make me wet." She then asked Melissa if the three of us were intimate lovers. Later the same evening, a man felt my calf and declared that he "felt power."
3. Finally!
4/5. Our first day in the Pacific Ocean, which is on the other side of the country, "clear 'cross town," as someone in Indiana told us. Little did we know what the next six days would entail. Turns out sea level is full of mountains too. And whoever said all roads are graded to 6% LIED.

PACIFIC OCEAN!!

2009-08-01T15:47:00.000-07:00

We made it!! Arrived in Crescent City, CA yesterday after spending eight days biking through Oregon during the hottest week the state has seen in the past 100 years. We have so many people to thank and stories to tell from that week but we'll have to post them later since this library is closing in 8 minutes. Now we just have to do our 400 mile cool-down ride from here to San Francisco.

IDAHO

2009-07-23T16:39:00.000-07:00

Attention: After many, many failed attempts, the much anticipated American Idol Video has successfully been posted. Please scroll down to see Freda's performance. And see if you can spot the judge who's not like the others...

Idaho is HOT. And windy. We descended from the snow-capped peaks of the Rockies directly into the 103 degree heat of the desert. The 30 mph head winds ALMOST got the best of us one afternoon when it took us 3.5 hours to ride the last 23 miles. Freda was convinced she was pedaling and not moving forward. But we persevered! And we beat Lance. Again.

Rexburg, ID was filled with SnowCone Shacks and the wonderful hospitality of Tony Perkins and Lana Grover. It was by far and away the softest grass we've ever slept on and the best milkshakes we've ever eaten. And your advice on our nutrition needs has led to our daily consumption of a quart of chocolate milk. Each. (Except Melissa). And a big thanks to Mike (the angel) from Idaho National Laboratories who magically appeared on the side of the road with cold Gatorade and Salted Nut Rolls because he'd seen us suffering for 2 days. Good luck on your 200 mile race! (in one day).

Now we're taking a rest day in Caldwell, ID. This should be our last rest day before we roll into the Pacific Ocean. We have to get over the Cascades. Everyone who told us it was all downhill from the Rockies was lying. Lying.

2009-07-23T14:12:00.000-07:00

#1: we were a little scared of radioactivity. but things are ok, i think. anyway, "all injuries are viewed as preventable."

#2: Lisa's new tent died. After about a week of use. Eureka has kindly sent her a new one.

#3: Sometimes I think Freda's tent looks like a cross between Slimer and the sandworms from Dune--especially when the mesh is closed.

#4: Waaaay too hot in the Boise valley to read inside the tent.

#5: Especially when your reading material is so steamy.

Bison!

2009-07-23T14:02:00.000-07:00

We had to stop to let the bison cross the road.

Grand Teton and Yellowstone Parks (Lisa's cousin has more pictures)

2009-07-23T13:53:00.000-07:00

#1: The snow-capped mountain that we crossed

#2: In front of the Tetons. Lisa is NOT pregnant in this picture; she just wears funny clothes

#3: We taught our new friend, Kevin, to play Euchre

#4: Freda, with attitude

#5: Self-explanatory, I hope

Muddy Gap and Dubois...WY

2009-07-23T13:46:00.000-07:00

#1: Truly the middle of nowhere

#2: Taken just before a 7 mile descent

#3: Going up into Grand Teton park

#4: We took pictures in our Dubois shirts for the people of Dubois, PA. There's also a Dubois, ID, but that was 20 miles off of our course. Sorry, guys.

Lisa rides the mechanical bull at the Wyoming state fair

2009-07-23T13:37:00.000-07:00

In the end, she had to tell the operator that she was done because he could not get her to fall. Evidently, she has a second calling in bull riding. Note that she's getting air in the third picture.

At long last, the video...

2009-07-23T13:15:00.000-07:00

The Caldwell, ID Library ROCKS!

Here is Freda's tryout. Basically, she's America's Idol. For further proof, check out the leg tan lines AND the shadows created by her calves of steel.

Yikes! Internet is difficult to find in the west

2009-07-18T14:52:00.000-07:00

Sorry--again!--that we haven't updated the blog in a while. We promised pictures and videos from Wyoming, but the internet in many of these places isn't fast enough to upload things. So you'll have to wait just a *bit* longer for that priceless video of Freda thrilling the crowd at the Wyoming Idol tryouts. I promise you; it's worth the wait.

But here is a brief update about our time in WY:

We left Casper with heavy hearts. Sutton and Rick were so great, and their house was so cozy... The ride was good, though, and we ate a delicious breakfast at the Sunrise Diner at mid-morning. Thanks to Francine for the awesome eats and for donating to CH. We rolled into our destination, Muddy Gap, pretty early that day. As luck would have it, another cross-country bike tour was passing through there (www.biketheUSforMS.org). First we met Don, Dustin and Dustin's incredible handlebar mustache. As we were all headed in the same direction for the next few days, Don and Mason (and the rest of the riders) generously offered to let us throw our panniers in their sag wagon and ride with them. So after "crushing" all of the blue freeze pops at the only gas station in miles, we freed ourselves from those 40 lb bicycle fetters and took off for Jeffrey City.

Do not camp in Jeffrey City. They have the largest, most aggressive mosquito population in this continent, I think.

The next few days were lovely. We had lots of new company, played some Euchre, ate a lot, didn't have to carry our bags, climbed some mountains (9600 ft!!), didn't get eaten by bears... so great! And to everyone who mentioned that the Tetons are spectacular: you are beyond right. On the way (down) into Moran Junction, the mountains came into full view. It was cold, yes, but absolutely worth the trek.

Yellowstone was wonderful as well. Lisa's parents and cousin, Adam, met us in West Thumb with...SWEET CORN! They also drove us to the parts of the park that we would have been too lazy to bike to (namely anything remotely off of our route) and put us up in a sweet hotel last night. There was a hot tub and a pool! Thanks a million for giving us the chance to rest, restock and refuel before the last leg of our trip. The venison jerkey is a lifesaver, by the way!

We will attempt to upload videos and pictures when we get to another spot that has internet, which we believe will be near Boise. Thanks again to everyone for the support!

2009-07-18T05:48:00.001-07:00

Nebraska/Wyoming Pics

2009-07-18T05:04:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the West

2009-07-10T17:33:00.000-07:00

As much as we loved Nebraska, arrival in Wyoming meant for all of us a true sense of accomplishment. I mean, we rode our bikes from Manhattan to the wild, wild West. And boy is it wild. There's really just not that much here. Three houses, occupied or not, constitutes a town. We have to be a little more careful about planning our rest stops because, you know, we need water every once in awhile. Lisa seems to need it less.
Before I get carried away, let me just thank Annette at the Bunk House Motel in Chadron, Nebraska because even though I couldn't find a place to get my legs waxed (see previous post), she made us feel right at home and didn't kick us out when we got bike grease all over, well, everything. This is a great place to stay if you're ever on Route 20.
So back to Wyoming. I think our entrance into Wyoming was the moment when we all realized exactly how incredible and awesome we are. Did I mention we rode our bikes to Wyoming? Have you ever even been to Wyoming? In a car? Probably not. You should, though. There may be only 500,000 people here, but they're all family. That's what we've been told. And they've adopted us. Our first night in Wyoming was after a rough 93-mile day that involved a construction-ridden hill into the wind when it was 100 degrees, dusty, muddy, trucks, you name it. We will never speak of it again. The folks at the Manville Community Alliance Church took us in and gave us use of their kitchen and backyard for the night. Thank you, and we're excited to be on the annual PowerPoint presentation.
From Manville, we basically beat Lance Armstrong as we flew to Casper, WY just in time for my Wyoming Idol audition (see video). In case you were wondering, we'll never know if I won. We didn't have time to stick around for the finals even though my presence was requested. And yes, the winner of Wyoming Idol goes on to compete in the Fox extravaganza.
While I was performing, Melissa met the nicest woman in Wyoming. Sutton kidnapped us and took us to "the most beautiful spot in all of Wyoming." She wasn't lying. Right now we're watching the river flow by as elk and antelope frolic in the surrounding hills. Sutton also took us out to Poor Boys' Steakhouse where we each put 16 oz. of delicious, juicy, mouthwatering, decadent, tender, sumptuous slabs of red meat into our systems which we expect to power us through the looming ... In case we were worried, she and her husband, Rick, also took us out for pasta at Red Lobster the next day for lunch. Thank you both so much for your hospitality and kindness. Meeting people like you is what makes this trip what it is.
A stop at Ragged Edge Bike Shop revealed some slight maintenance issues, and the mechanics were a bit concerned, but duly impressed with my "burliness." They said that the only dude who was more hardcore than we had not only done the trip solo with one outfit, but also strapped a dead bat to his handlebars. Yeah, he wins.
Finally, I have an announcement. After much harassment and many days of suffering both on and off the bike, Lisa has finally purchased a new tent, complete with an escape hatch in the roof. This new item has lowered her total weight by at least 7 pounds. To cut another 6 oz, she also lost the kickstand. Goodbye, trusty tent. Goodbye, less trusty kickstand. I won't say we'll miss you.
Mrs. Schmidt, stop reading.
Tomorrow, we'll be entering bear country. We feel prepared. Just like we were for this trip.

More Donation Shout-outs

2009-07-10T11:37:00.000-07:00

Thanks so much to Sophia and Ken, Erica, Jennifer and Tim, and Nor for the donations! You guys are awesome!!

Nebraska

2009-07-07T15:42:00.000-07:00

Nebraska has been everything that Iowa was not: flat, windless, and having smooth roads. We love this state! If anyone ever has to bike across Nebraska, they should take Hwy 20, which is one long stretch of (fairly) smooth road that goes through little towns filled with free camping, swimming pools, and amazing museums (see previous post). The only thing they don't seem to have is a place for Freda to get her legs waxed. After nine straight days of biking, we're taking a rest day in Chadron, NE. We were trying to capitalize on a predicted easterly wind that was supposed to last until yesterday. I think it blew at about 3mph on the first day and then turned into a headwind for the next three. At least it's flat here.

Nebraska highlights:

Camping out with Aaron Bullington in Plainsview!

The Klown Doll Museum.

Finding out that my tent doesn't leak! (I just wasn't assembling in correctly...)

They make great pie in every town.

The route 20 map

Did we mention it's flat?

We're headed to Wyoming tomorrow. Hoping to be in Casper by Friday to experience not only the Casper State Fair/Rodeo festivities, but also Wyoming Idol! Exciting posts are yet to come.

Iowa

2009-07-07T14:46:00.000-07:00

Roadside mulberries. An Iowa highlight.

So it turns out that Iowa's not flat. Ever. In five days of biking across this state I think we encountered about 20 miles that were neither up nor down a hill. And the wind blows all the time at 20mph from the west. I'm convinced that we'll be biking into the wind 90% of the time on this trip, but Freda and Melissa read on some bike website that no matter which way you bike across the country, you'll have the same number of days with a tailwind as with a headwind. I think it's the same website that said Iowa is flat.

Even though winds, hills, and road conditions were less than desirable, the people of Iowa were AMAZING! Thanks to Al and Nancy Schmidt who put us up for 2 days and fed us very large quantities of fruit, ice cream, potato salad, candy, and red meat. Thanks to Armando, Mike, and Tim for letting us camp out in the Grinnell park and to Erin and Steve McDowell who met us that night for dinner. You guys are great! Thanks to Joyce Patterson for all of her hospitality in Boone and to Dave and Linda Grieve for driving over from Ankeny and for dinner at the Golden Corral, where we'd been trying to eat ever since we started this trip. (It was Freda's first Golden Corral Buffet experience; she was both excited and appauled at the food choices). Thanks to Tim and Kelly in Sioux City. Tim for the ride to the sporting goods store (which was 5 miles away from where we were staying) and Kelly for the great advice on biking out West and for escorting us through the busy streets of Sioux City, IA at rush hour. He's also our new bike idol.

Quick video

2009-07-03T14:52:00.000-07:00

ok, our time on the computer in Bassett, Nebraska's public library is running short. So we won't be able to talk about the past few days in detail. BUT----! Here is an amazing video from the Klown Museum in Plainview, NE. It was voted Nebraska's "Best Attraction of 2008."

Donations shout-outs

2009-06-27T20:40:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Mrs. LaFortune, Pamela Zwolinski-Gliozzi, Tina and David, Laurie, and Brett, Brittany and Natalie for supporting our cause by donating to Children's Heartlink.

At the cheese factory

2009-06-27T20:32:00.000-07:00

More pics from days 14-18

2009-06-27T20:23:00.000-07:00

Brett shows us how it's done on the slip 'n' slide.

Lisa tries to copy the kids' form. Check out those awesome tan lines.

Family photo. Yay! You guys are awesome!

Crossing the Mississippi.

Pictures from days 14-18

2009-06-27T20:12:00.001-07:00

In front of the log cabin.

Freda laments the lameness of her rear tire.

Someone in illinois has a lot of extra time.

Days 14-18: 341 miles

2009-06-27T17:54:00.000-07:00

Sorry it's been so long since we posted any updates. The days were tedious this week, and the heat was insufferable. But we made it to West Chester, Iowa--a day early! Here are some highlights from this leg of the journey:

Day 14: 106 long, HOT miles. We left Ryan and Sarah's house, stocked with Kashi goodness. Illinois is pretty flat, but 95-100 degree weather (with a heat index over 100) can make the flattest territory seem hillacious. That night, we camped in the city park in Gilman, Illinois. The folks at the grocery helped us get the okay on pitching tents next to the ball field, and Tim (who works at the park) came through with some much-needed moral support. After some mac 'n' cheese bites, we rode down to the local DQ, where Freda and Lisa got some cool treats and i had a second dinner. There we met a woman who was so moved by the sight of us--you can go ahead and interpret this as you so choose--that she decided to give us $20. We had not informed her that we were fundraising; she simply felt that we needed the money. After she went into DQ, we considered our appearances as well as marveled at the many colors of this woman's hair. By the way, Lisa had been wearing her bike helmet the entire time.

Day 15: Another hot day (94 miles). We ended up at my Uncle Steve's and Aunt Anne's amazing log cabin in Maquon. (see pictures.) Staying there for the night made everything SO much better. They even gave us hugs upon arrival--sweat and all! We got to shower, sleep inside AND have dinner at my cousin's restaurant. Thanks to all of you for making us so comfortable. My grandma and Aunt Diane came down from Galesburg to have dinner with us, and it was really great to see them. Thanks, too, to Emily and Zach for sharing their flip books, stories, and TV room/basement with us. And to my other cousins for making the drive to see us.

(oh yeah, and to my aunt and uncle, for mailing my wallet to me after I forgot it there. Oops.)

Day 16: The heat continued. And, unfortunately, the suffering returned. I started pouting at about mile 25, because I'd realized that I'd left my wallet behind. Plus I almost ran over a guy coming out of the gas station. Yikes. But my troubles were miniscule compared to what Freda faced. You should know that Freda only has tire problems as we approach our daily destination. On this particular day, we realized--at mile 48 out of 60--that Freda's rear tire had a rather large hole in it. Because the hole hadn't gone through to the tube, we wisely decided to test the strength of aforementioned tube (which, by the way, a bike guy swore was basically indestructable) by riding the rest of the way to Burlington, Iowa. Three miles east of the Mississippi river, on a busy state highway/truck route, Freda's tire exploded and she lost control of the bike. Luckily, traffic stopped for her, and we managed to get her bike off of the road. Thankfully, the folks at the Burlington bike shop (Bickel's) picked her up and then fixed her bike. We made it as far as the gate at the Burlington water park--a.k.a. "Fun City"--but couldn't muster the energy to face the teenagers inside. So we just sat and ate nachos on the sidewalk.
Our day was made infinitely better as soon as the Bickel's van dropped us off at Dori's house. We got to have tacos and hang out with her sons, Lukey and Brett. They even let us try their slip 'n' slide. The temperature in the house was PERFECT (for me), and the TV/People magazines really hit the spot. Thanks so so much, Dori and kids, for brightening our day.

Day 17 and 18: 67 miles + a rest day in WEST CHESTER!!!

Things cooled off a bit today, and we didn't have as far to go. So life was nice. We arrived in West Chester, where we immediately consumed about 5 pounds of fresh fruit and veggies. Lots of rest and revelry followed. We were treated with homemade ice cream, various grilled meats, potato salad, beer, cheese/meat dip, and dumplings. Today, we took the convertable over to the Kolona cheese factory and picked up some squeaky cheese curds. Yum!

Tomorrow the adventure really begins. There will be no more rest days with family--no more safety stops. It's the rockies and the west coast...or bust! Be patient with our blog updates; my computer is not really functioning, and we don't know where we'll have internet access. News to come as soon as possible.

Day 13 - Rest

2009-06-21T20:25:00.000-07:00

Peru is trying to out-do DuBois on our list of great little towns to stop in. We've been eating amazing food all day long, Jim and Suzie (Sarah's parents) gave us a supply of Kashi granola bars to eat on our way out of Indiana, and we spent the afternoon boating at the Reservoir where we did some water skiing... some of us were more successful than others...

Day 12 - 102 miles

2009-06-21T19:50:00.000-07:00

Team Century Day #1. More to come. We got off to a bit of a late start due to some plumbing issues at the church. Pastor Jim assured us it was not our fault, the plumbing issues were pre-existing. (though I blame it on the Beef Stew that was consumed for breakfast). We decided that we were going to do whatever it took to get to Peru, IN, where my brother lives and where we were sure to be welcomed with food, drinks, and hot showers. Pedaling right into the 20mph headwind that was coming straight out of the west, we made it 30 miles down the road where we stopped at Becky's Restaurant in Willshire, OH, home of the best cinnamon rolls in the world. And congratulations to the guy at the next table over who got married that day! We got back on the bikes to fight the wind for another 30 miles before stopping for lunch under a big shade tree on the side of the road. We were all feeling optimistic that we were over half-way to Peru and were about ready to take off again when Freda noticed she had a flat tire. We did a quick roadside fix (shaved 30 minutes off our first flat tire change) and kept going. 20 miles later the tire was flat again. We decided to pump it back up and see if it would last another 20 miles. It lasted 4 miles instead. We put in a new tube, but we bent the stem. We patched the old tube, but it wouldn't hold. We put in a new tube again and were very careful to not bend the stem. (who needs bike maintenance classes when you can have hands-on practice). By now it was 7:30pm, we were 15 miles from Peru, and we'd changed Freda's tire 4 times in the past 20 miles. Good thing it doesn't get dark until 10:00pm here. The last 15 miles went quickly due to the multiple dogs that tried to attack as we rode by. We finally pulled to Ryan and Sarah's house where we were greeted with open arms until they saw/smelled us and then we were told that we had to get in to pool before they'd let us into to house. Great food, hot showers, and clean laundry followed. Thanks Ryan and Sarah!

Day 12 - 65 miles

2009-06-21T19:32:00.000-07:00

We woke up in the morning to lightening. Not the wussy kind that just lights up the sky, but legitimate cracks with loud thunder. Scary when you're in a tent with metal poles, like Lisa ... and Melissa. Not me. We packed up quicker than ever that morning and may have even gotten off to the first timely start of the trip had the storm not thwarted our plans. For two and a half hours. No fear, we stayed with the good people of Soni's Junction eating ... see previous post. Darrell kindly bought us breakfast and donated to the cause. Thanks, Darrell. You're a gem. Bellies full, we headed west toward Findlay flanked by our first tailwind of the trip (Lisa got really excited). About twenty miles on the western side of Findlay, Mel's spokes broke, and we discovered that maybe that bike maintenance class wouldn't have been such a bad idea. We use the phone a friend option to call Nor in Iowa who was dismayed that we did not have any of the proper tools. Mel did have spare spokes. She also had a spoke wrench, but didn't know it. Thanks to Nor's advice, we were able to get the bike to Lima. Lisa and I had to ride into the 20 mph headwind. Mr. Shafer was particularly instrumental in the transport of said busted bike as was the other kind citizen who stopped for us.
Not to be discouraged, we continued west once the folks at Lima Cyclry and Fitness patched up the wheel. Desperate, however, for some sugar (see previous post) we stopped at a local Speedway for a slushie. During our shopping trip, we found out that there was going to be a hail storm that evening. We continued on past Allentown, OH where we found God's House. We called Pastor Jim, who rushed to our rescue on a motorized bike and let us into the newly refinished church basement. Pastor Jim then brought Arby's sandwiches (it was my first time). We were in bed by 7:30 that night. Rough day.

Day 11 - 93 miles

2009-06-21T19:18:00.000-07:00

Announcement: Melissa has gotten another shirt. She now has two shirts.
We woke up Thursday morning to the rain, and my tent was soaking wet. Lisa couldn't find her camera, which we could not leave behind for fear of disappointing you, our dear blog readers. One of Mel's mom's four dogs, three cats or one bird had mysteriously hidden it right in front of Lisa's face.
The major accomplishment for the day was the introduction of the pace line into our touring technique. Said technique would become increasingly important as we travelled west. We also discovered that eating on the side of the road improves our chances of going far.
We arrived in Tiffin, OH and stopped at the Kroger's to pick up some nutritious and delicous food (see previous post).
We camped out for the night in the backyard of Soni's Junction a mile and a half outside of West Independence, OH. Thanks to all of the folks at Soni's for making our time in their midst comfortable. Note in the accompanying picture the size differential between our tents. Guess which one's the heaviest and the least waterproof.

Things We Ate

2009-06-21T05:41:00.000-07:00

My mother told us not to write so much about food. So ... here's all the things we've eaten since we last blogged (3 days):
9 cups coffee (Lisa doesn't drink any, but I refuse to ride more than 30 miles in the morning without at least one cup)
3 Nutrigrain bars (We bought these in New York. They're suffering at this point)
6 hard boiled eggs fresh from Mel's mom's chickens
3 baked honey ham and swiss cheese sandwiches, each made according to individual taste (Lisa doesn't like a lot of cheese on her sandwiches)
1 bag ranch flavored pretzel pieces (Turns out they work well as croutons as well)
1 large bag gummy worms (Lisa needs large amounts of gummy candies to get up mountains)
9 peanut butter sandwiches
1 large spinach salad with lunch meat, a carton of baby tomatoes, a bag of baby carrots, and three different packets of dressing
1 tube of chocolate chip cookie dough
1 snickers bar
1 cottage cheese doubles (pineapple flavored)
6 beers
2 bowls oatmeal with brown sugar and raisins (on Mel's)
6 pieces of French Toast ($3)
1 packet black peppered beaf jerky
1 giant slushee (Cherry Fanta and Gogo Grape mixed)
3 mixed cold cut sandwiches with Kroger Brand Sliced Cheese
4 apples
6 bananas
4 Arby's roast beef cheddar sandwiches
3 small french fries
2 cans beef stew (Lisa was not happy. She has vetoed this meal, especially for breakfast.)
1 omelette with two pieces whole wheat toast
2 biscuits with dried beef gravy (not as good as grandma's, but still passable)
1 pecan pancake with whipped cream (Mel loves whipped cream)
1 delicious homeade cinammon roll (the greatest ever made. Becky's restaurant in Wilshire, OH. GO!)
5 slices Kroger Brand Sliced Cheese
1 large bag Haribo gummy bears
2 Nature's Valley Oats and Honey Granola Bar
1 Nature's Valley Chewy Fruit and Nut granola bar split evenly in three while riding
5 hamburgers
2 cups veggies on the grill
2 cups corn salsa with green olives
2 cups fresh corn (Lisa's family's from Iowa, so they know corn)
1 half watermelon
3 yummy pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosty
More good food will be consumed in the next two days at Lisa's brother's house in Peru, Indiana

Day 10

2009-06-17T19:07:00.000-07:00

Rest. Blog updates. Chinese Buffet. Don't eat mass-farmed strawberries.
Thank yous to: The Ingrahams for their donations; Dr. Lenny Klein for financing much needed bike maintenence; and Keith at Century Cycles for getting us up and running again.

Day 9 - 40 miles

2009-06-17T18:55:00.000-07:00

Melissa had already made it to Medina, but Lisa and I woke up unsure of how far we had to go. We'd heard everything from 20 to 60 miles. We were excited to go motivate the youth of America (and ride through a human tunnel) by making an appearance at Coach Tarr's basketball camp. We headed to Yours Truly in Chagrin Falls, where we stopped for bagels and eggs (it's just not the same outside of New York). Luke, our St. Peters-Chanel logistics coordinator, texted early to check on our progress. We met a Bruce Willis look alike who kindly gave us directions while he consulted his personal trainer.
Riding through the suburbs of Cleveland, we found a strange correlation between the quality of the road and the size of the houses surrounding. We met a nice FedEx man (those people know everything!), who warned us to be careful of our chosen route to the high school.
We arrived at St. Peters-Chanel where we were greeted by about 70 cheering, well-disciplined, future basketball stars. A short speech, a Q&A session, a pizza lunch, a phone interview with the local paper, and short stop at Target later, we continued on our journey to my grandmother's house in Shaker Heights.

Day 8

2009-06-17T12:43:00.000-07:00

Mel was getting anxious because she was pretty sure we were going to hit her home state. Lisa and I were just excited to potentially get out of the hills. We tried Fried Dill Pickles (not recommended) at a great diner in Mercer, PA and then headed up to the Ohio border. Seriously, as soon as we crossed the border, the road flattened out.
In Warren, OH, I called my mother and asked how far we were from Shaker Heights, where my grandmother lives. She said 20 miles.
Ummm. It’s not 20 miles.
Lisa and I decided to head toward Shaker because we thought it would be closer than Medina, where Mel headed. Once again we found that state maps can make towns look deceptively close.
The dollar drafts sign about twenty miles down the road was way too tempting, so we stopped and met Craig at Coachz “Grill”, who told us we were welcome to stay in the backyard for the night. We also met Coach Tarr, who runs a basketball camp at St. Peter’s Chanel in Bedford, OH. He asked if we’d come speak to his students in exchange for a human tunnel to bring us into town. I mean, who can turn that down? Meanwhile, the waitresses at Coachz took one look at us and decided we needed to clean up a bit if we were going to hang out for the night. A hot shower magically appeared in the basement. Ladies, thank you.
A night of good sleep was in order, though I discovered that my sleeping bag is kind of suffering. It got a bit cold.

Day 7

2009-06-17T12:40:00.000-07:00

I was pretty sure that once we’d reached the highest point in Pennsylvania the rest would be downhill. Melissa, however, wisely pointed out that the highest part of a mountain range is usually somewhere in the middle. So, more uphill climbing was in our future.
About one mile outside of DuBois, Melissa’s bike started making some funny noises, but have no fear, we fixed it right up. Well, except for the brakes part. Are those important?
We stopped in the lovely town of Brookville for breakfast at the Patriot House Café. Delicious. All organic, good people. Highly recommended.
From there we peddled on to Foxburg and stayed on the incredible farm of Dr. Arthur Steffee and his wife, Patti. Foxburg might be the cutest town in America with everything you could ever want in life ... a pizza shop, an ice cream parlor, a public library, a theater, a river, a most importantly, a chocolate shop.

Day 6 - 0 miles

2009-06-17T12:39:00.000-07:00

Rest Day. And what a rest day it was. Lisa and I ran errands (laundry, preparation for flag day, bike maintenance, etc) while Melissa sat at a local bar and graded the TOEFL exam online. Convinced that we were just scammers from a nearby town trying to score some free food and especially dubious of Mel’s bar office, our new friends did everything in their power to make us comfortable and happy. Scott even made us honorary volunteer firemen.
At night, there was entertainment from the very energetic Vocal Trash, and I resisted Lisa and Mel’s encouragement to fight the children for the peppermints thrown out into the audience. The band complained about how hard their week had been, their struggle to get to “God’s country.” We’re pretty sure our week was harder. We thought about staying in DuBois for the rest of the summer, but fearing we’d wear out our welcome, we headed back into the hills of Pennsylvania.

More on Day 5

2009-06-17T12:33:00.000-07:00

After a stormy night under the pavilion of Zion’s town park we headed out into the early morning cold determined to find a place for the next day with internet. Everywhere we went, we heard rumors that Pennsylvania was going to flatten out “over the next hill.” You would think that the name Happy Valley would be a clue as to the validity of said rumors, but it’s amazing how deluded optimism can make you. The epic climb up Snow Shoe mountain had no fewer than three signs each five miles apart promising the top was 11 miles away.
But reach the top we did, and in my efforts to try all the local cuisine, I ate scrapple at the local diner once we did. Never again.
During the aforementioned breakfast the following conversation took place:
Us: So, that was the last mountain, right?
Waitress: Which way you going?
(Flurry of activity as we search for the maps)
Us: This way.
Waitress: Ha ha. Well, first you have to go over my mountain. It’s steep. I don’t even come to work in the winter because I’d slide all over.
Us: And then we’re done?
Waitress: No. Then you have to hit the highest point east of the Mississippi on 80.
Freda: I quit.
Yes, friends, we had two more mountains to climb that day. Two more long, painful ascents during which we moved so slowly that we began to envy a certain Greek rock roller.
At the base of mountain number three, we met Mr. Rowles of the Rowles Furniture Store who offered up some warnings about the terrain ahead.
Side note: Mr. Rowles, you’re right. That was no joke.
When we finally reached Clearfield, PA, famous for, well, being hard to get to on a bicycle, it was just a short jaunt to Rockton where Lisa and I witnessed a man falling off his motorcycle. We immediately leapt into EMT and Athletic Trainer mode and basically kept him alive until the ENTIRE fire department of Rockton, PA arrived to begin first response. Ok, really he was probably fine, but about thirty volunteer fire fighters responded to the 9-1-1 call which led to a loud siren summoning the troops from all around the mountain. Sorry there are no pictures; Lisa didn’t think it was appropriate.
We continued onward and UPWARDS to DuBois, PA where Lee at the YMCA gave us the nicest gift we’ve received yet, passes to the hot tub and showers. The latter was especially nice for Melissa because she only has one shirt. Yeah, it smells.
Now, I am sure we will meet some nice people in our travels. We already have. It is going to be hard for a town as whole to beat DuBois, though. We came in during Community Days, a huge festival celebrating the founding of the Volunteer Fire Department. After downing about two thousand calories of fried food, we found Officer Randy Young and asked if we could pitch our tents somewhere in town for the night. He called the mayor and from there, things just took off. Mayor John "Herm" Suplizio might just be one of America’s best mayors (especially if you happen to be on a cross-country bike trip). He introduced us to the men of the fire department, gave us awesome t-shirts, fed us, entertained us and welcomed us to his city.

Donation shout-outs

2009-06-17T11:27:00.000-07:00

Thanks so much to those who have supported our cause by donating to Children's Heartlink:

Elizabeth Sweeney, Erin Graves, Kim Truong and Linh Pham, Meg and Jon, Robbie Dewhurst.

Y'all are great (or, as they say in PA, "Y'uns" are amazing!)

Day 5--75 miles

2009-06-17T11:06:00.000-07:00

Today we conquered three mountains, one of which was the highest point east of the Mississippi...on Interstate 80 (or so we're told). The day went pretty well. Lisa and Freda were the first to arrive at a motorcycle crash scene. Even though the local EMS came quickly, we're pretty sure they played a key role in the man's survival.

In the meantime, Melissa had ridden ahead to arrange showers at the local YMCA. There, she met a very kind man named Lee Meyers. Thanks for all of your advice, Lee! We're extremely grateful for all of your help that night.

By some miraculous and magical chance, we arrived in DuBois, PA, just in time for the town's annual celebration, which is called Community Days. Oh my gosh, FAIR FOOD. Nuff said. There's so much to say about DuBois that we want to devote an entire post to it. More to come.

Food Excitement

2009-06-17T10:58:00.000-07:00

Freda experiences scrapple for the first time. Lisa nearly vomits.

Freda delights in the fish sandwich.

Michael's Tavern has the best cheesy vegetable soup and chef's salads.

Delicious.

Day 4

2009-06-17T10:17:00.000-07:00

Left Danville, PA--and those lovely, warm beds--and headed to Zion. During the day, we biked through two state parks, a long stretch of rolling hills in Amish country and at least one mountain.

We discovered that the Amish give the best road advice and directions, particularly when it comes to distances and road conditions. Let it be known that you can still get two scoops of delicious ice cream in this country for only one dollar.

We arrived in Mingoville, where Donna Reese hooked us up with a sweet spot in the city park. Thanks, Donna! You're awesome, even if you still think we're crazy. After a bit of freshening up, we rode down to Michael's Tavern at the Y in Zion for dinner. Because they live on the edge of Happy Valley (Penn State territory), the patrons and owners were not very excited about Lisa's Iowa Hawkeye jacket (which she purposefully wore with pride). They were, however, very impressed with her capulana pants.

Windgap, PA

2009-06-17T10:10:00.000-07:00

Matt and Charlene offered to let us stay in their house, but Freda's animal allergies compelled us to move to a hotel. Zane very kindly took us over the hills to the hotel (in the opposite direction of where we needed to go, but well worth the extra miles the next morning).

The truck wasn't quite made for four people and three bikes, so Lisa took over the shifting duties. Here's an action photo. Note: THREE legs to the left of the shift stick.

The thumbs up: it never goes out of style

2009-06-17T10:07:00.000-07:00

Here's the proof, close up:

Days 2 and 3

2009-06-13T11:27:00.000-07:00

Day 2—50 miles
Not gonna lie—day 2 was rough. It had stormed all night (even the people in the surrounding RVs were marveling about the power of the elements). At about 7:30, some more rain came, so the three of us took refuge in our only standing tent—Lisa’s. When the precipitation abated, we ran up to the rec room of the campsite to check the forecast. It called for more rain in the afternoon, so we decided to take off during the break. Lisa continued to suffer for her tent. What was once a hefty 6 or 7 pounds then weighed at least 10 because it was wet. On top of our waterlogged gear, our maps were super crazy…They had us turning all over the place to avoid traffic. In the meantime, I’m pretty sure we rode on every mountain road in central New Jersey. Thankfully, there are kind people all over the place, and we wouldn’t have gotten anywhere were it not for their directions, advice and generosity.
Some thanks from day 2:
To Theresa at the campsite: Many thanks for the forks. I can’t say that not having utensils would stop us from eating, but having them certainly makes the cleanup easier.
To the guy we met at the Gateway Motel: Good luck on your AT hike! Your advice was invaluable, not only because it was practical, but also because it lifted our spirits. Rocky Mountains, here we come!!
To Glenn at the PA welcome center: Double heart to you. One for the maps, and the other for being so nice.
To Charlene, Matt, Zane and the guy on the blue Ninja: You guys are sweethearts and incredibly generous. Remember, if you’re ever in our areas (hiking the AT or doing your own bike trip), you have places to stay. Tell Duke Two to watch out for cars. Good luck with your remodeling project!

Day 3—92 miles
Oh.
My.
God.
If you are on a bike in the state of Pennsylvania, avoid at all costs Hickory Run State Park. Beautiful scenery. Horrible hills. Steep, mountainous expanses that never end.

We will not speak of this day again.

The evening, however, was fantastic! We spent the night with Freda’s college roommate, Ginny, and her partner, Angie. What a gorgeous house! That night in Danville, PA allowed our muscles and minds to recuperate a bit. Obrigada.
Another big thank you to Kenny, the Danville bike mechanic/pastor who came upon us at the side of the road and stopped to give our bikes a free tune up. He was not too optimistic about the capabilities of Lisa’s bike.

More pics

2009-06-13T06:05:00.000-07:00

Ok, so the bike/pedestrian path across the bridge is great. It even has these very convenient metal runners to help you get your bike down the many flights of stairs. Unfortunately, it seems that the runners aren't quite prepared for those bikes carrying heavy and wide loads. It took two of us to carry each bike up and down each flight of stairs. Yowsa.

Snack break.

A snapshot of the strapping firemen of Patterson, NJ.
Many, many thanks for your help!!

Lunch break at a nice little spot in a small Jersey town.

We had our first wildlife sighting here (geese).

Pictures from day 1--Leaving NYC

2009-06-13T05:55:00.001-07:00

Leaving from Freda's house at 6:30 in the morning.

FINALLY crossing the bridge!

View of the river.

Not sure what was going on here, except that my helmet clearly doesn't fit.

Day 1

2009-06-09T18:32:00.000-07:00

After a bit of a rough start crossing the George Washington Bridge, we finally made it to New Jersey. Our maps required that we make a lot of turns through the glorious urban sprawl, onto streets that sometimes did not exist. Thanks to the help of the strapping firemen—and one policeman—of Patterson, NJ, we managed to continue west.
Lunch in Denville was lovely and very necessary because, as it turns out, New Jersey has a few hills. At this point, we have decided that we are happy to never again have to ride on Mt. Pleasant Rd, Vreeland Rd and Mountain Rd. Some have kind citizens have told us that there more mountains in our future. As one, strapping fireman said, “You’re going to hit a few hills between here and California.” At about 6 p.m., we elected to stop for the night, to end our 12-hour day. Spent the night at a luxurious campsite (boasts hot showers for a quarter!! So nice). Sadly, day 2 began with thunderstorms at 1 a.m. We’re still fiddling with our tents. Lisa suffered.

BUT all was well during our delicious dinner of macaroni and cheese with tuna. AND chocolate.

Internet spotty--pictures to come.

Safety first!

2009-06-07T14:45:00.000-07:00

The fanny pack is invisible in this photo.

More pictures from the day of dippage

2009-06-07T14:18:00.001-07:00

Dip: the act of blessing a bike tire before a cross-country journey
OR
that stuff you put chips in

equally beneficial.

Freda does not like heights.

Lisa likes her helmet.

Days negative 4 through negative 1

2009-06-07T13:59:00.000-07:00

None of us have blogs or really know how to do much besides read a blog (and some of us have opted out of reading for the summer), but we're going to try this anyway. Please forgive layout or link mishaps; we'll fix them as soon as we get to a place that has internet--provided we can still move when we get there.

So we've spent the past few days amassing and checking our gear. Give or take a few things, we think we're prepared for this journey. Yesterday we rode to a spot near water to dip our wheels in the water. We ran into a few problems but managed to do the dip--thanks to a new friend :) Our bikes have now been blessed by NY water, which is about all 3 gals could ask. After that, we headed over to the camping/sporting goods store to pick up the MOST important equipment: the stove and pots. There may have been a quick stop at the ice cream truck.