We began our day in quiet Umatilla, OR, before embarking on a scenic 85 mile journey through the spectacular Columbia River Gorge. Although the sights were resplendent, the headwinds were less than helpful. On top of that, there was only one oasis on the entire route, a charming mini-mart halfway through the day; a true sight for sore eyes, a mini-mart unlike any we have ever seen. Nevertheless, the team persevered with dignity and grace. The first groups arrived at the campsite and set up the team's tents. We all hunkered down after a delicious spaghetti dinner before a tranquil night's rest. Considering the last group to arrive was on the road for 14 hours, it was a cherished close to one of our toughest days!Thanks to Maryhill State Park for being an awesome place to pitch a tent or two (or seven)! Also, a big shoutout to the 2011 I4K team for leaving us an inspirational note in the journal at the mini-mart. You guys are the greatest! =DArdently and fervently,The Illini 4000 for Cancer 2012 Bike America TeamFun Fact: The Columbia River Gorge, where we biked today, is the windsurfing capital of the world. The more you know, I4K style.
The Zig Before the Zag
Hello everybody! Today, we successfully zigged our way into Oregon raising our state count to eighteen! Although, over the next few days we will bounce back and forth along the Columbia River Gorge, this means we have all but eliminated one state off our route- California!Today's ride was especially gusty towards the end, but started off in a very homey fashion at the Walla Walla Farmer's Market. Many riders discovered the wonders of the Bagel Dog (a hot dog wrapped with bread and stuffed with cheese) and were treated to many a home cooked treat by the ever hospitable Antoinette, a lovely woman and talented cook who kept our stomachs full. Although the day presented its challenges, it (like many other days before it) presented us with the opportunity to meet some really awesome people.Tonight, we rest at McNary Elementary School in Umatilla, OR, but tomorrow we press on,Love and tailwinds,The Illini 4000
Evergreen is a Lie
Greetings from Washington! (The seventeenth state on our route).Today we started off in Lewiston, Idaho. Sam did the ride dedication this morning, asking us to ride for all the people who don't survive as a memory that we're doing this work with a purpose. Within the first three miles of our ride we had crossed over into Washinngton. Immediately, we were greeted by a large sign that stated, "Washington: The Evergreen State." We realized as the miles of the day stretched on, however, that statement could not have been more ironic. It would seem more appropiate for the portion of Washington that we rolled through to be deemed, "The Never Ending Rolling Hills Covered in Wheat with a Sparsity of Trees State." That being said; today was another toasty one with a few good climbs but the team pushed on and concluded the ride in Waitsburg, Washington at Waitsburg High School where many an I4Ker enjoyed hot showers. We were also fortunate to receive food donations from Betty's Diner, with special help from Mike, which wrapped up today quite nicely. Thanks also to Kyle, a worker from a fruit farm who helped one of the groups fend off bees!Onward and westward.Love, hugs, and tailwinds,The Illini 4000
Alpacas Galore!
Greetings! Today we continued rolling through Idaho (from Kamiah to Lewiston) and the scenery could not have been more different than the days before; starting out in the heavily-wooded Clearwater National Forest, moving into the hilly somewhat familiar prairie-like landscape, and finally ending in the breathtaking views of hillsides covered in wheat, or plants, and dotted with alpaca. The day was riddled with high winds and the potential for unfavorable weather, but all turned out well thanks to the beautiful winding down hills and abundance of gas stations (a luxury we have come to much appreciate), the day was overall quite the success. When we finally arrived in Lewiston, we were greeted by the lovely people of the First United Methodist Church who provided us with an amazing taco buffet complete with guacamole. Although our travels through Idaho have been somewhat brief, we have met loads of amazing people and Lewiston was no exception.Onward to Washington!Much love,The Illini 4000
Take That Kristen
Greetings from Idaho. My friend Kristen has informed me that I am long overdue in writing a blog post and as such, have left her with little to do with her time so to conced; here it is.The past week and a half or so have been some of the most gorgeous. We started off the stretch in Yellowstone but unfortunately due to bike issues, I had to drive the van for the duration of the park (Although, on the bright side, this just means I will to go back for another visit). In addition to our two days of riding in Yellowstone, we had the opportunity to camp for two nights. After an interesting bought of weather, we ended up getting monsooned which resulted in most tents, sleeping bags, and the like having large amounts of water on, in, and surrounding them; that was grand fun.But then, oh then, we moved on to Montana. I have never been sadder to leave a state; between the million and one Subarus of Missoula; spending the evening at my friend’s ranch (doing things such as petting a day old calf and hanging out with some goats); and the never ending beautiful scenery that comprised of rows of mountains and a bubbling stream along almost every major road. I never wanted to leave. It is what it is, however, and I will be back someday.I can’t believe we have less than 3 weeks left in this trip. I’m sure the next 3 states will fly by with brilliant speed but until then, I plan on lavishing in every minute of it.Satisfied Kristen?
Smooth Rollin'
Today, we woke up at the campsite with fresh Idaho air flowing into our nostrils. After a delicious bag-cereal breakfast, the day’s ride was dedicated to Patrick Ruane and his family. We continued along the riverside the entire way to our next stayover in Kamiah, ID. The temperature increased throughout the day, becoming very hot by lunchtime. Luckily, the river was still very cool and refreshing, and the ride was under 60 miles. We learned that this part of our route was the same route that Lewis and Clark took through the Nez Perce tribal area and imagined what it looked like back then. We arrived at the Clearwater Valley Assembly of God in Kamiah and were treated to air conditioning and a nice hose shower. We also did a portrait of Michelle White Eagle, who was a caretaker during her mother's battle with breast cancer. Michelle is doing the Susan G. Komen Walk for the Cure in Seattle, meaning she'll walk 60 miles in 3 days! Thanks so much, Michelle, for doing this portrait, and good luck for the walk! Much love,The Illini 4000
Idaho, Here We Come!
Today, the team woke up in Missoula at 5am, with 97 miles ahead to Clearwater National Forest. Our ride this morning was dedicated to Warren Gettinger, the father of one of the rider's friends, who is currently battling cancer.The first 40 miles were gradual climb up to Lolo Summit as we entered Idaho. We had a lunch stop at the top of the mountain where there was a lovely visitor center. After lunch, the team began their descent along the Clearwater river stopping to bathe in a natural hot spring, a 1.5 mile hike off the road. The water was surprisingly warm near the spring and very cold in the river, so there was the perfect water temperature available for everyone. After drying off, the team flew down the mountain to Wilderness Gateway Campground -- a beautiful area on the river. The team cooked spaghetti on the propane stove and scarfed it down before lying down to reflect upon the beauty they saw today. We look forward to seeing more of what Idaho has to offer! Our thoughts are with rider Patrick Ruane and his family through their family emergency. We send love their way. Thanks for the support,The Illini 4000
Do something everyday that scares you.
Today marks three weeks until the ride ends. I can't even begin to process that at some point, the summer ends. In reality, we've already started our descent to San Francisco. We're at the northern most point of the entire trip, and it seems so crazy. How are we possibly to that point?Almost everyday, we talk about what it's going to be like to go back to "real life." We'll go back to having showers every day, to washing our clothes in things besides sinks, to sitting behind desks, to listening to professors and TAs, to sleeping in the same place every night, to being one student in a mess of 40,000 people.I don't know how to feel about any of it. I've always loved school, loved sitting behind desks, loved listening to professors and TAs, living a life that's solid and steady. Suddenly, I found myself in a world that doesn't seem real, one that's full of a team that I adore, biking across some of the beautiful places in the country, having adventures every single day, and knowing that the next day is going to be just as incredible, if not more so, than the last day. Every day feels like multiple days in one, because SO many things happen every day, things that make me love this summer more than anything I've ever done.Honestly, I'm afraid of what the school year is going to be like. How am I going to go back to spending every day in the same town, going to class, doing collegiate things? I'm so blessed that I get to spend every day doing what I can to fight cancer, and I can't believe that in 21 short days, I wont be doing that anymore. I'm afraid of being separated from the cause. I'm afraid of forgetting the memories from the summer. I'm afraid of losing the lessons I've learned from the incredible people I've met along the way.A lot of people ask me what the hardest thing is about biking across the country. It's not the pain in my knees, it's not the soreness in my quads, it's not the fact that I can't walk up a flight of stairs without cringing. It's not the climbing the mountains, avoiding the cars, or fighting through the heat. It's finding the parts of myself that I didn't want to admit existed. You realize there are parts of you that you despise, the parts that want to quit, the parts that whine and complain, the parts that want to run and hide, the parts that are terrified of breaking through barriers. You have a LOT of time to think when you ride your bike for thousands of miles, and a lot of my thoughts have been about the parts of myself that I don't like very much. As hard as it is to admit that they exist, it's great to discover them. Discovering them means accepting them. Accepting them means conquering them. Maybe that's why I'm so afraid of going back to normal life. I'm afraid that I won't find the parts of me that I'm unhappy with. I'm afraid that I won't get to have the feeling of standing on top of a mountain, screaming my lungs out in happiness that I just managed to tackle it. I'm afraid that I won't keep learning about myself and about life and about cancer. I'm afraid that I won't be as drunk on life as I am now. Eleanor Roosevelt said, "Do something everyday that scares you." I guess when we get to San Fran, the thing that scares me for that day will be returning to life without riding my bike for 6-10 hours a day.
One Of The Most Beautiful Places
Being in Yellowstone again after 12 years has been my favorite part of this trip so far. We went camping there and the Grand Tetons for 3 weeks one summer with my family to celebrate my Grandma and Grandpa's 40th wedding anniversary. Even though it was a very long time ago, I remember it being my favorite vacation and one of the most amazing and beautiful places. Sadly though, due to wildfires we would not be able to ride through the Grand Tetons and had to re-route which ended up making us stay in Yellowstone for an extra day. It was definitely a blessing in disguise. At the beginning of the day we did a short hike and decided that biking 20 miles uphill to maybe see a waterfall or something cool was to taxing on our exhausted bodies. Unfortunately (and looking back I have nooo idea why) I decided I would just study for my nursing boards down by the lake. As I was grabbing my NCLEX book out of the van four cross country cyclists, riding to raise money and awareness about Graves' disease, we met briefly the day before drove up to see if any of us I4Kers sitting around the campsite wanted to go explore Yellowstone via van. Casey, Lauren, Sarah and I jumped at the opportunity. Tons of bison jams, two grizzly bears, hot springs, waterfalls, and 112 miles later we made it back to the campsite having seen more than we ever anticipated and a lot more than the inside of my NCLEX book. So a big big thank you to Elias, Keating, Dave, and David for their generosity and helping me re-experience the beauty of Yellowstone. (check out greaterthangraves.com too) The day brought back some memories of our vacation and it was the perfect opportunity to dedicate the ride the next morning to my Grandpa. He passed away from cancer a little over 5 years ago and he is my main driving force that keeps me going on this trip. It was such a treat to be able to ride for him in Yellowstone. I miss you so much Gramps! <3
Adventures of Our Own
I can say that Missoula is one of the coolest city we have been in so far! We felt like the city was very welcoming us. Today was our third to last event day. It felt so weird that we have more days that we spent together than the days we will be together. We visited Adventure Cycling Association today. As soon as we got there, we had a barbecue with them and had a great chance to talk to them. After having lunch, we looked around the place, which was gorgeous! People were so welcoming to us and all of us became members of the ACA! On the wall, there were pictures of people who had done cross country biking in 1970s. In black and white pictures, their adventures looked awesome and reminded us how lucky we are to be one of the people! At ACA, we met people who we have seen along our trip in the past few days. We were so glad many bikers are out there adventuring the world and could get together again in Missoula! I hope our trip will be remembered by other bikers and our supporters as good memories! Thanks for all the support,The Illini 4000
Read About My Great Days Here!
Welcome back to civilization. Being without wi-fi and signal is a little cleansing and all went away when we rolled into Yellowstone and the days that follow, which were collectively my favorite days. On the way into the park we rolled through a number of national forests and state parks. I have never been in a place like this before and am throughly enjoying the colored rocks, pine trees, and mountains that surround us at all times. Luckily many of the roads weave in between many of the inclines and I thank whoever did that. Another new experience I had was seeing wildlife up close. As I entered Yellowstone, I felt like I was in a zoo where there were no cages. It was fantastic. On the bike ride in we saw a bison and a herd of elk. Luckily on the next day we had an event day, allowing us to explore. And lucky for me...I got a ride around the park. The event day in Yellowstone will forever be in my memory as being one of the most carefree, fun, hilarious days of my life and it was made possible by some fellow cross country cyclists. **Please check out their website, Greaterthangraves.com.** It all started as I was on my way to my tent to take a nap... I know I'm lame... when the Keating, Dave, David, and Elias rolled up in their van and asked if a few of us wanted to tour the northern loop of the park. From that point on, we all had a blast. We traveled a total of 112 miles and saw sights that were not possible by bike. We got stuck in grizzly jams and many bison jams and sat in a magical hot spring where time became irrelevant. Jokes were exchanged and by the end of the day we had made great friends. We were sad to say goodbye, but luckily we ran into them at the Prismic Pools where we were promised we'd meet again in San Francisco... and I hope it happens. But then, it doesn't end there, my family from Colorado decided to meet me at Old Faithful which was the best surprise a girl could ask for. Seeing them made me very happy and realize how important my supporters are. So with that, I had the best days of my life. Sadly the high didn't stay because I hit a small wall of hard luck.Throughout the entire state of Montana I have had the meanest case of strep throat I have ever had. Sadly it kicked my butt right into the van for a few days, but don't fret, my recovery is coming along swimmingly and I will hopefully be back on the bike tomorrow...Missoula is where we are residing right now and it is a hoot. I have never been in a more bike friendly community. I have now put this place on the list of places I would love to live in. "It's like Urbana, but more open" (-Sarah Hidder) is a good way to put it, plus, everyone has amazing gardens! What could be better?Oh-and yesterday we jumped into a clear spring next to the road. It was complete with a waterfall and underwater cave. It was very beautiful.In closing, thanks for all the reads and Ellen P. for her letters and generousity.A special shout out to my family who has supported me in ways I cannot explain.
Missoula, Montana
I haven't been able to post too much lately due to lack of effort, beauty of nature and greatness of friendship. I cannot recall what happened exactly for past 30 days, but all I need to know is I am in Montana, and it is a beautiful country out here.One of the greatest blessings from this trip is friendship. Many of us are already planning on next adventures we are going to pursue, and God only knows if it will really happen, but we still get super excited while planning for it. In the sense, today's visit to Adventure Cycling Association was very fascinating. We've met many fellow cyclists, and one of the founders was there to talk to us. At the end of our conversation on many of the traveling plans we have, he said something that would leave a great impact on my mind.He said, "Make sure you do it."Make sure you do it, Young.
Keep Missoula Beard
Hello friends!Today, we rode mostly downhill to the unique town of Missoula, MT. Some groups stopped in Drummond or Philipsburg for some extra calories, but the whole team had lunch by a local natural spring and swimming hole near I-90. Jumping in from the rocky shore, swimming underwater to a hidden cave, and general merriment was had by all. Upon arrival to Missoula, home of University of Montana, the team was greeted by the wonderful people of St. Anthony's Church who quickly showed us to all of the packages and letters we received. Mail drop day is a lot like Christmas -- packages being torn open, candy and baked goods being consumed, and some were even playing with brand new toys (thanks Mrs. Young!) After that, the team was treated to some food donations from Bridge Pizza and Taco Treat Mexican Restaurant. Thank you so much! Although not everyone had the energy to explore the town after dinner, the bumper sticker "Keep Missoula Beard" was spotted on a local vehicle. The team looks forward to understanding what that's all about tomorrow.Love, hugs, and tailwinds!The Illini 4000
Monnnntana where the winds come rolling down the mountains
Philipsburg, Montana! Do you know what that means? We will arrive in Missoula, Montana tomorrow! Today we started easy biking on our old friend I-90. A couple of flats this morning did not stop us from riding to our destination. The wind changed direction later in the day, and it turned into an uphill battle for the team. Not surprisingly, our traditional peanut butter and jelly lunch was on top of a hill. Similar to yesterday, our arrival was marked by a sensational downhill and a sweet tailwind. We want to thank Philipsburg Community Church for hosting us tonight.Portrait #55 was done today! Clayton, the new minister at the Philipsburg Community Church shared with us his story about his wife's battle with breast cancer. Thanks, Clayton, for sharing your story of faith with us.Much love,The Illini 4000
Montana is Latin for Mountains. Who knew?
Starting from the end, we arrived in the beautiful city of Butte, Montana right in time to catch dinner provided by our generous hosts, the good people of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church! A big thank you to them! In addition to dinner, Butte is also home to the Folk Music Festival, which many members of the team attended. The ride into Butte was marked by a sensational downhill, complete with sharp curves and a magnificent view of the Montana landscape. Such a downhill was not a free ride though; it was literally an uphill battle for some six miles before that. Long before this undertaking, the team visited a sweets shop by the name of Papa’s Candy Factory, one of the best chocolate stores we’ve encountered on the trip. Last but not least, the team completed a Portrait, marking number fifty four of the trip. As of today, we are two ride days away from Missoula, Montana, with the town of Philipsburg awaiting our arrival. Montana, you are one beautiful state!Much love,The Illini 4000
Onward to Ennis!
Leaving West Yellowstone today, we were all drawn a bit closer to the cause when one of the members dedicated the ride to her close high-school English teacher and student council advisor, Doreene Boland, who thankfully survived her battle with cancer. Every morning is a reminder to all the riders that this organization is about more than bike riding; it is about those affected by such a widespread disease and about those who already lost their battle.Setting off, we were lucky to encounter rather strong tailwinds that propelled us to our lunch stop, marking the halfway point of today's ride. On top of these tailwinds was the fact that today was in large part downhill and, even better, gorgeous with mountains to the right and a clear blue river to the left for much of the day. However, we were beset by headwinds after our traditional peanut butter and jelly meal, but successfully pushed until our stayover in Ennis, Montana. Also, throughout the day, we saw loads of other touring cyclists, which is always exciting!We want to thank Madison Valley Baptist Church for hosting us and providing us with fantastic showers and a delicious dinner! Also, we want to thank the numerous members of the church for coming out to speak with us. We always love meeting and interacting with the people in the communities!Much love,The Illini 4000
Moustache Montana!
Waking up in a small puddle of water wasn't the most pleasant feeling, but we're not here for it to be easy! During the night, there was a rain storm matched with freezing temperatures, causing much of our camping gear to freeze. However, being cold could not stop us from enjoying marvelous views that Mother Earth has provided. After climbing the slow hills, we were delighted by the vistas and ever-changing landscape. The miles flew by, and we got to see Old Faithful at our lunch stop. Old Faithful lived up to its expectation! The rest of the day was like we were in a movie with the trees and nature that surrounded us! There were some incredible downhills, and almost everyone on the team got to see elk on the side of the road! Overall, the team found the day very memorable and its sure to be one of the favorites of the trips.Thanks to the kind people of West Yellowstone who donated great food to us! Thanks also to Kenny's mom for paying for dinner and to Amanda's dad for bringing us ice cream!Love always,The Illini 4000
Yolostone!
We woke up in the morning inhaling fresh air! On this event day, people used it for a number of things, ranging from biking to hiking to exploring the great outdoors of Yellowstone! Some of us were fortunate enough to get a ride around the northern loop of the park from some other charity riders that were near our campsite (for more on them, visit greaterthangraves.com). As the day continued, memories were made, but the skies turned gray and the rain came down! This caused a lot of wetness in our tents, but the storm blew away and the skies were beautiful! Its very hard to predict weather in Yellowstone, but we felt like being surprised by weather is part of the experience!Mother Nature does not enjoy being told what to do. Do not mess with her.Love,The Illini 4000
It's a Beautiful Day
We started our day on uphills from Cody to the Yellowstone National Park. It was tough, but very rewarding with fresh air and wonderful views that nature has presented us! Some of the parks we went through include the Shoshone State Park and Buffalo Bill State Park. We also went through our first tunnel, and it was great!As we proceeded into Yellowstone, many teams stopped at a number of waterfalls to refill our water bottles with the cold, fresh mountain water. We also met some awesome touring cyclists, Team Bagadonuts from Iowa! Its always great to spend time talking to other touring cyclists. When we finally reached our camp site, we set up our tents and finally got to relax.Luckily, we have so many people to thank today! First, thanks to the Wapiti Valley Church for providing us with lemonade and cookies along the way! Secondly, thanks to all the people along the way who donated to us! Special thanks to Sandra Epstein who donated $500! Thanks to all the people in Yellowstone who helped us out in multiple ways- we really appreciated everything!Thanks for everything!The Illini 4000
Meeteetse and More!
Our day started with a wonderful portrait of Rebecca Samples of Thermopolis, WY, and we want to thank her for her encouraging and wonderful words! We can't wait to get all of the portraits up on portraitsproject.org! Today was easy, yet hectic. Today was an easy route with some short climbs, but with over 8 flats in total the day went by much slower. It was also enjoyable, as we stopped at the museum at Meeteetse and got to interact with the community members. We arrived at the Christ Episcopal Church, and would like to thank the church members for cooking us a wonderful meal with a delicious desert! Post dinner, most of the team went to the grocery store to get snacks for the day we camp in yellow stone national park (the 11th). Now that we've had our the bear safety talk, the team looks forward to yellow stone! Love, hugs, and tailwinds,The Illini 4000