Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Day 48 & 49
Gettysburg to Clarksburg, MD - 50 miles
Clarksburg to Washington, DC - 53 miles
We did it! After 3,427 miles we arrived at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. The last two days were shorter miles but both had around 4,000 feet of climbing. We all gathered about 3 miles from the memorial and then rode in together to meet about 60 family and friends waiting to greet us. Thanks to a retired writer for Business Week, Bill Cook, there were both TV and newspaper coverage.
We spent the afternoon and evening partying and saying our goodbyes. When I reflect back on the trip it was not about the miles or how hard the ride was but it was about the friends you make and the people I met along the way.
Would I ever go on a trip like this again? Absolutely, bicycling is the greatest way to see the world. You are moving fast enough to feel like you are getting somewhere but slow enough to totally interact with your surroundings.
On a seven-week bicycle trip across the United States, we all learned a lot about ourselves, our situations, and our colleagues. Here's what our homespun Texas philosopher, cattle man, rodeo rider, and family doctor David Ramsey says he learned.
1 The smoother the pavement, the shorter the distance you'll be on it.
2 Don't try to talk during climbs, especially to women, unless you want to be embarrassed.
3 In July, nothing ever really dries out in the Midwest.
4 When you live out of a dufflebag, the things you really need are always on the bottom.
5 Age is a relatively minor feature compared to mindset.
6 Physical appearances have little to do with physical abilities.
7 You don't have to have ice in your water when you are really thirsty.
8 Real friends help you even when you say you don't need it.
8 First impressions of people are often wrong, though not always.
9 Things hurt a lot worse when you focus on them.
10 You can go to sleep while sweating profusely.
11 Awfully big projects can be accomplished by just daily working at the goal.
Clarksburg to Washington, DC - 53 miles
We did it! After 3,427 miles we arrived at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. The last two days were shorter miles but both had around 4,000 feet of climbing. We all gathered about 3 miles from the memorial and then rode in together to meet about 60 family and friends waiting to greet us. Thanks to a retired writer for Business Week, Bill Cook, there were both TV and newspaper coverage.
We spent the afternoon and evening partying and saying our goodbyes. When I reflect back on the trip it was not about the miles or how hard the ride was but it was about the friends you make and the people I met along the way.
Would I ever go on a trip like this again? Absolutely, bicycling is the greatest way to see the world. You are moving fast enough to feel like you are getting somewhere but slow enough to totally interact with your surroundings.
On a seven-week bicycle trip across the United States, we all learned a lot about ourselves, our situations, and our colleagues. Here's what our homespun Texas philosopher, cattle man, rodeo rider, and family doctor David Ramsey says he learned.
1 The smoother the pavement, the shorter the distance you'll be on it.
2 Don't try to talk during climbs, especially to women, unless you want to be embarrassed.
3 In July, nothing ever really dries out in the Midwest.
4 When you live out of a dufflebag, the things you really need are always on the bottom.
5 Age is a relatively minor feature compared to mindset.
6 Physical appearances have little to do with physical abilities.
7 You don't have to have ice in your water when you are really thirsty.
8 Real friends help you even when you say you don't need it.
8 First impressions of people are often wrong, though not always.
9 Things hurt a lot worse when you focus on them.
10 You can go to sleep while sweating profusely.
11 Awfully big projects can be accomplished by just daily working at the goal.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Day 47
Gettysburg - rest day
This was a much needed rest day. I have rode for 13 days without a full day off. I got a hotel room here and it was like heaven. I spent some time seeing the town and all of the battlefield things but mainly just rested. I also had to do all of my domestic chores for the last time.
The next two days are around 50 miles each so not to hard. Tomorrow we will have our final dinner together at a restaurant. It will be fun to look back over the last 48 days and remember all of the fun and challenges.
I am looking forward to being home with everyone but am also thinking about my next trip.
Flight 93
Day 42 to 46
Burton to Waterford - 68 miles
Salem to Washington, PA - 63 miles
Washington to Confluence - 92 miles
Confluence to Bedford - 82 miles
Bedford to Gettysburg - 101 miles
We had one last day of riding in Ohio and then finally into the Pennsylvania mountains. There were a lot more hills to climb but not so much corn! On the day into Confluence we rode 52 miles on a rails to trail. The trail surface was crushed limestone which is smother than most of the roads we have been riding on in the last three states. The next day we started out with 31 miles on the Allegheny Highlands Trail. It was raining in the morning so that made for some messy riding.
During our ride to Bedford we stopped at the Flight 93 Memorial. I found it very moving to see the site and all of the personal things that family members have placed there. It sure brought back all of my memories of 911.
Our day into Gettysburg was great and hard. We had 101 miles with over 9,000 feet of climbing. Some of the grades were 12 to 16 percent. Most of the climbing came in the first 50 miles.
Another flat again yesterday. That is now 5. My rear tire has been replaced twice, once for wear and once for a glass cut. It is now booted because of a LARGE nail.
Today is a rest day in Gettysburg.... Only two ride days left to DC! Our groug has become a family. It will be hard to leave them and re-enter the real world.
The pictures I have uploaded are of the Flight 93 site.
Salem to Washington, PA - 63 miles
Washington to Confluence - 92 miles
Confluence to Bedford - 82 miles
Bedford to Gettysburg - 101 miles
We had one last day of riding in Ohio and then finally into the Pennsylvania mountains. There were a lot more hills to climb but not so much corn! On the day into Confluence we rode 52 miles on a rails to trail. The trail surface was crushed limestone which is smother than most of the roads we have been riding on in the last three states. The next day we started out with 31 miles on the Allegheny Highlands Trail. It was raining in the morning so that made for some messy riding.
During our ride to Bedford we stopped at the Flight 93 Memorial. I found it very moving to see the site and all of the personal things that family members have placed there. It sure brought back all of my memories of 911.
Our day into Gettysburg was great and hard. We had 101 miles with over 9,000 feet of climbing. Some of the grades were 12 to 16 percent. Most of the climbing came in the first 50 miles.
Another flat again yesterday. That is now 5. My rear tire has been replaced twice, once for wear and once for a glass cut. It is now booted because of a LARGE nail.
Today is a rest day in Gettysburg.... Only two ride days left to DC! Our groug has become a family. It will be hard to leave them and re-enter the real world.
The pictures I have uploaded are of the Flight 93 site.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Day 41
Burton - rest day
I am still very sick today. I rode about 25 miles down tomorrows route to find a hotel in hopes that it might be more comfortable than the tent. I hope this gets over soon as it is really hard to ride since I have not eaten much in two days.
Burton is a small town of about 1,400 people. On Sunday evening they had an old tractor pull. It was fun to watch the 1920's tractors trying to pull much compared to the modern ones. This is the smallest town that we have had a rest day in and the first we did not have a dorm room to stay in.
I am still very sick today. I rode about 25 miles down tomorrows route to find a hotel in hopes that it might be more comfortable than the tent. I hope this gets over soon as it is really hard to ride since I have not eaten much in two days.
Burton is a small town of about 1,400 people. On Sunday evening they had an old tractor pull. It was fun to watch the 1920's tractors trying to pull much compared to the modern ones. This is the smallest town that we have had a rest day in and the first we did not have a dorm room to stay in.
