Another night out -- Coal City, July 24

Out on the town two nights in a row with friends & family!  Coal City is just 40 miles east of Ottawa, where I grew up.  Ron & and Barb Dodd, Stan & Ruth Gaul, and my sister-in-law Norma Willy picked me up at camp.  Ron & Stan are high school classmates of mine.  Ron & Barb live in Joliet, Stan, Ruth & Norma live in Ottawa.

One of the local "delicacies" when I lived in the "hood" was a pork tenderloin sandwich.  We went to a restaurant in nearby Morris that still serves them.  Yum!

Stan, Ruth, Norma

Stan

Norma, Ruth

Barb, Ron, me, Stan, Ruth, Norma 

Dinner with the Diserio's -- July 23

Our route went through home territory -- northern Illinois, where I grew up and went to college (U. of Illinois).  Our first stop in Illinois was Garden Prairie, near the home of John & Vivian Diserio, college friends of Mary & me.  They met me in camp and we went to dinner in Marengo, about 10 miles east of our campground.  Catching up with old friends was special, and the food was great, too!

Meet Ruby -- the best cook in South Dakota

So she claims.  From the taste of her bread pudding, Noel, Bernie & I agree.

We met Ruby in an unlikely place, a bar & grill in Midland, SD, one of those small towns whose business district, as  common in the upper Midwest, has been decimated by the gas station convenience store on the highway.

Noel & I would often look for local places to have a mid-morning “second breakfast”, so we detoured into town in search of a spot.  The bar & grill was not an obvious choice.  Noel inquired at the hotel whether there was someplace to get coffee & a snack.  As it turned out, the left door of the bar & grill was for the restaurant.  We entered and met Ruby.

Every day she works, Ruby uses the day-old bread to make her bread pudding.  Otherwise, it gets thrown away, which upsets her.

Bernie arrived after Noel & I had eaten.  We convinced him to try it.  He was sold, too.



The finish line

The Big Ride is over, but in the coming weeks I'll be posting pictures and stories of the trip and people we met.  So, keep looking from time-to-time.

Noel Gilbrough & I were privileged to cross the finish line first.

We were presented with commemorative medals -- very cool -- made of bike chain & a rear cassette sprocket.

Thanks to our ride director, Charlton Durant, for his leadership, dedication and support.

It's been a long ride.

We later hoisted bikes over the Reflecting Pool in front of the Capitol Building.

The finish....

Well...it's over.  Part of me says "Thank God!", but another part will miss being part of an incredible adventure and the company of new friends, many whom I'll never see again.

I'm sore & tired, and need some rest.  Sleeping in is wonderful -- no more standard 5:15 alarms.  My bedding & clothes are no longer damp.  These are very good things.

Re-immersion into a "normal" life is an abrupt change from our Big Ride cycle of eat-ride-eat-sleep and total focus on  riding the day's route.

The last two days of riding were fairly easy: 60 miles, and 40 miles.  On Saturday everyone was riding strong & fast, anxious to meet up at our lunch destination -- a Greek pavilion in the Old Post Office food court owned by a 1998 Big Rider.  We made great time, and were all there by 10:30.  Food was great & portions were huge.

From there, we paired up and rode to the finish line at the Capitol Building end of the Mall.  Noel Gilbrough & I were privileged to be the first pair to cross.  Mary, Kate (daughter), Spence (son-in-law), and grandsons Jacob & Tom were there.  Some ALA ceremonies followed, of course.

And, then the Big Ride 2011 was over.  But, it'll always be indelibly printed in the minds of 26 Riders, three support staff, and Cindy Gilbrough, our informal fourth staff.  We are forever changed.

Gettysburg

Paxton Hall, our dorm in Gettysburg.        

 Gettysburg College.

 View north from Little Round Top along Union battle line to Gettysburg.

Confederate artillery on Seminary Ridge, looking  across the path of Pickett's charge on the Union forces atop Cemetery Ridge -- a confederate disaster and a turning point in the Civil War.  Lee's push into Pennsylvania failed here on Jul 3, 1863.

The top of the Alleghenys.

Aug 4

Yesterday was a long, tough day.  101 miles and 6,900' of climbing.  Fortunately, it was overcast with showers, so the temperatures stayed in the mid-70s.  Noel, James Lynn & I rode together.  Took us 12 hours, with around 3 hours for rest & food stops.

Today we have a rest day in Gettysburg.  My roommate Stan Howell & I took a bus tour of the battlefield -- always a moving experience, and I always learn something new.

My dorm "roomie", Stan Howell -- from Chimacum, WA, west side of Puget Sound.

Only 100 miles to go to Washington, DC.  Tomorrow is 60 miles to Clarksburg, MD.  Then, 40 miles on Sat. to DC and all the finish line festivities.

It's hard to believe we're almost done.  My body says "thank God", but I'll miss the other Big Riders & staff, some of whom I may never see again.  Nevertheless, we'll be forever bound by a shared experience few will ever know or understand.

I will appreciate waking in the morning at a civilized  hour (not 5:15), with dry bedding and no wet (from dew) tent to pack away.  I'll enjoy a few days off the bike.

Seeing Mary, Kate, Spence, Jacob & Tom on the Mall will be special.  We plan to tour DC until Friday, then visit Antietam National Battlefield.  From there, Mary & I head north to Maine for a few days with Gilbroughs.  Then home to Seattle from Boston on the 20th.

Aug 2

Today we rode from Confluence to Bedford, PA, a distance of 82 miles with 4900' of climbing.  The first 30  to miles were on a Rails-to-Trails route, in a treed corridor and nearly flat -- but after awhile, pretty boring.  Tomorrow we ride to Gettysburg -- 100 miles and a well-earned rest day.

A highlight of today was a visit to the Flight 93 Memorial near Strongsville. The permanent memorial is under construction and scheduled to open 9/11/2011.  Very moving experience.