Another dinner with old friends

On the Wednesday after The Ride, Mary & had dinner with college friends near our hotel in Arlington, VA.  Karen & John Burnette live in Herdon VA, a few miles north of Arlington.  Bev & Bob Smithson drove up from Chapel Hill, NC -- 270 miles south!

The ladies are sorority sisters from Kappa chapter of Alpha Xi Delta, University of Illinois.

John, Karen, Bob, Mary, Bob, Bev, Dick 

Bob & Bev

John & Karen

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.

Jul 29, continued.

I probably won't get many pictures published until after the ride.  Keeping up with blogging using free wi-fi has been difficult, especially with as little time as we have.  Our experience is a continuing cycle of eat-ride-eat-sleep, and all else is secondary.

Weather last week was "varied": heavy rain, wind, sun & heat.  Fortunately the terrain has been very flat.  Northern Indiana & NW Ohio is former Lake Erie seabed -- there are no hills worth the mention.  That will change next week as we move into eastern Ohio & Pennsylvania.  The day into Gettyburg is reported to be very difficult climbing.  Hopefully, I'll get back my "Cascades" legs by then.

That's all for now.

Update Jul 29

Yes, I'm alive.  ;o}  Last week was very long one -- 7 days in a row on the bike, 645 miles total.  Started the week in Madison WI, ended yesterday in Burton (Cleveland) OH.

I missed one complete day (Coal City, IL - Valparaiso, IN) due to lack of sleep the night before.  The night in Coal City (camping) was hot, humid, with no air movement. I managed to get only 1 hour of sleep and was in no condition to ride, so drove with Cindy Gilbrough.  I took a sag halfway through the next day, still catching up on sleep.  The rest of the week went well.

Yesterday I stopped my ride at daughter Kate's house in Lakewood, west side of Cleveland.  It's been great to have a rest day with family.  They'll take me to the Burton campsite tonight, and we'll hit the road again tomorrow AM.

Last week I was able to spend time with old friends:  John & Vivien Diserio in Belvidere, IL (college friends) and at Coal City with high school classmates Stan Gaul & Ron Dodd and the spouses, along with sister-in-law Norma.  Coal City is only 40 miles from Ottawa, where I grew up.

Next week (starting tomorrow) we ride five days into Gettysburg, PA where we'll take our last rest day.  Then, i't two easy days into Washington, DC.  More in next post....

Rapid City, SD - New Ulm, MN Jul 10 - 18

It was a tough week -- 6 days biking, 513 miles, strong headwinds, rain, heat.  I was really struggling on day 5 and decided to take an extra rest day, skipping the Tyler - New Ulm leg.  I rode with Cindy Gilbrough in their Toyota pickup pulling their Burro trailer.  It was difficult to sit out a day but it's exactly what my body needed.

After two days rest, I rode comfortably today -- 72 miles from New Ulm to Owatonna, MN.  It was hot (low 90s) and humid, but a 10 mph wind at our right side tempered the effects of the heat.

The countryside is pretty flat, with rolling terrain and few significant hills.  Crops are predominately corn & soy beans, generally very healthy.  Some fields show crop damage from the rains & flooding.

Pierre, So. Dakota's capital, is still suffering the effects of a flooding Missouri River.

That's all for now -- falling asleep..

Jul 9 - Rapid City, SD

It hardly seems possible that we've come 1,350 miles  -- 40% of Big Ride 2011 is over!  We've crossed Washington, the Idaho panhandle, Montana, the Rocky Mountains, the NE corner of Wyoming, and entered the Great Plains in south Dakota.  We've also climbed an incredible 41,000' and become acclimated to cruising at mile-high altitudes.

The change this week will be dramatic -- flatter terrain, heat routinely in 90's, and increasing humidity as we head east.

Last week was a tough one for me.  First day,, Jul 4, Billings MT - Hardin WY was fairly easy at 56 miles, but most found it more difficult than the distance would suggest -- me, too.  Seemed like our bodies didn't want to work after a day off.  Hardin - Sheridan (85mi), Sheridan - Gillette (112 mi) and Gillette - Newcastle (76 mi) we're physically painful.  I finally realized I hadn't been stretching as I usually do, and my back & arm pain we're the result.  That night I stretched really well. That and a couple of other changes made and huge difference the next day.  See next post for Newcastle - Rapid City via the Black Hills.

KOA, Hardin, WY

Noel & Cindy Gilbrough's Burro trailer , "Baby".  Cindy drives the route, they sleep in the Burro, except rest days where we have indoor accommodations, like university dorms.  Cindy visits all of the quilt shops en route.

Cindy & Noel

Jul 4, Hardin, MT KOA

Lazy day....  Only 56 miles, and most were in camp by 11 AM.  Noel, Brian, Kenny, Gabe & I stopped in town at Taco John for some "real" food -- other than PB&J.  We were in by noon..  some riders haqve gone to the fairgrounds for the rodeo -- others, like me -- are chillin', blogging, etc.  There will be fireworks tonight at the fairgrounds & by a FW dealer's business.. Too late for most,though. We have an early departure planned for tomorrow - maybe more days, too - to beat the heat & possible headwinds.

Dinner tonight by "Beyond Basil" caterers fro Billings.  Yum!

Jul 3, Billings, MT

Last week was one of highs & lows: four days of riding in a row, including two centuries & one 90+ miler.  We crossed over the continental divide at 6,300 feet - the highest altitude on the Big Ride - on a beautiful century through country reminiscent of Bonanza and High Plains Drifter with most of the day spent at mile-high altitudes.

We had fabulous dinner in Harlowton at the home the owners of a soon-to-open restaurant in town -- I had the buffalo burger.

Yesterday the ride started fast and strong, as riders rode to beat forecast PM head winds & high temps.  The road in the AM was slightly downhill, and Noel I m made the lunch stop at mile 47 averaging 18.6 mph!    But, the next 45 miles was composed of many long uphills, temps rising to 90 deg and a slight headwind.  And, I bonked badly about 20 miles out of Billings, only able to pedal at 10 - 12 mph.  Our average fell to 15 - still our fastest day yet.

Our dinner was catered by "Beyond Basil" and was the BEST food yet: three great salads, yellow tomato gaspacho, the tenderest steak I've ever had (Montana organic raised beef), cupcakes, and homemade ice cream.  They will also be catering our dinner in Hardin!

MacDonald Pass - 6,325' - the 

Continental Divide 

The descent to Helena

Crossing the Missouri above 

Townsend & Three Forks, where the Galatin, Jefferson& Madison merge to form the Missouri

A "Big Sky" scene

We've crossed the Rockies, done three centuries in four days, rested today in Billings, and will ride to Hardin on the Crow Indian Reservation tomorrow.

Sandpoint - Thompson Falls 6/26

 Glacial Lake Missoula near head of current Lake Pend Orielle.

Noel explaining the great flood when the glacier holding lake Missoula collapsed thousands of
years ago creating the landscape of central Washington.

Lake Pend Orielle moose habitat.

Pretty ride past Lake Pend Orielle and the source of the great floods from Glacial Lake Missoula, tens of thousands of years ago.  84 miles, uneventful.

Update Jun 30, Townsend, MT

Free internet service has been spotty, even in Missoula.  So, I'll try to summarize highlights from time-to-time, rather than give daily highlights.  Our first century ride was Thompson Falls, MT to Missoula -- 101 miles.  Hot, head winds and a significant climb at the 75 mile mark.

Noel & I had a hard day, especially that last 75.  We found an art gallery in Arlee that served smoothies, which helped us cool off (90 deg). We eventually got to the UM dorms at 6 PM.  Luckily, they held the food service open for us -- and we weren't the last.  Two more riders followed, the latest at 7 PM.
The next day was a welcomed rest day: lazy breakfast, lunch with some local ALA associates, some shopping, dinner & bed.

We're now in Townsend, MT.  The 90-miler Wednesday went much better -- Missoula - Avon, 99 miles, 3,600' of climbing, following the Blackfoot River upstream.  We arrived about 4:30 (?).
The trip from Avon to Townsend was "short" -- only 60 miles.  We started with a 1,500' climb over MacDonald Pass on Hwy 12, crossing the continental divide at an altitude of 6,300'.  The altitude effect on breathing has been noticeable.

I'll add pictures when we get to Billings Sunday -- I hope.

Spokane WA to Sandpoint ID -- Jun 25

An uneventful day -- which is good.  76 miles, 2,190' of climbing, temps in the 60s with breezes at our back.

We're staying on the grounds of a very nice athletic club, with full use of the facilities.  We hiked to downtown Sandpoint, about a mile, for dinner at Ivan's --excellent Italian restaurant.  I had lamb t-bone with pasta, veggies, minestrone, salad & beverage.

Tomorrow we're off to Thompson Falls, MT, a ride of 88 miles.  From there its a 101 mile day into Missoula; our first century ride, followed by a rest day.

Stay tuned..

Snoqualmie Falls, Snoqualmie rest stop

Mayor Mike McGinn & local chapter ALA CEO Renee Klein -- ride kickoff