Today we had a fabulous day touring the lovely city of Thermopolis, home of the world's largest mineral hot spring. Our team got to enjoy soaking at the Wyoming state bath house and took in the aroma of sulfuric water. A few of us went to a church service at the Community Federated Church, and we were greeted instantly by the pastor with open arms. The church community was so generous and interested in our endeavor. It was so great to experience the kindness of the community.A special thank you to the generous people who donated to the cause as well as picked up our bill and tip at brunch afterwards. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Thermopolis, WY and we are excited for future teams to experience the kindness that we were greeted with today! With love,The Illini 4000
Thermopolis: A Beautiful Place With Beautiful People
Sunday: What a peculiar day this has turned out to be. I have been waiting for a Sunday event day this whole trip. Ironically though, after an unfortunate mishap with my bike yesterday, no bike shops are open which has rendered my bike unrideable until West Yellowstone, MT. Oddly enough, this fact isn't really bothering me; I figure, it’s just a possession, things happen, and I will drive that support van to the best of my abilities until my bike is fixed.That being said, I have been stoked for a Sunday event day because that meant I could easily attend a church service. I have honestly missed going while I’ve been on the trip so a few two teammates and I decided to attend a service at Community Federated Church. As soon as we walked in the pastor greeted us and just before the actual "meet and greet" portion of the service, introduced us to the congregation. Everybody was so welcoming and supportive; we had many people promise prayers, offer hugs, and even donate to us. After the service and picking up our laundry, we went out to lunch at a cafe near the church where coincidentally, many of the church members were eating. After we had ordered and began to eat when the waitress informed us that both our bill and tip had been covered. While in Thermopolis, we have all been blown away by the kindness and generosity of the people here. I would like to especially thank the pastor and people of Community Federated Church. You showed us extreme kindness and you have no idea how much it means to us. God Bless.
Proud To Be An American
Today absolutely blew me away. A few of us decided since our event day fell on a Sunday that we would go to church. We made a day out of it and dropped of laundry first then headed over to Community Federated Church. The Pastor immediately made us feel welcome and announced our presence to the congregation. The community was so friendly toward us and very interested. During the service Jerry Balius, a member of the community, sang two songs about being proud of the country we live in. His second song, Proud to be an American, choked me up really bad. On top of feeling a renewed sense of patriotism since this ride and falling in love with our beautiful country, I have a lot of friends who serve our country. They are the some of the best people I know and the song's lyrics just overwhelmed me in that moment. On top of that, during the song a couple in front of us turned around and donated money to our trip. I sort of just lost it and tears streamed down my face. In a sort of hysterical hilarious way we somehow managed to choke out the chorus to the song. A kind lady who saw us crying even gave us some tissues.After church we went to the Thermopolis Cafe and saw a few people from church there as well. To our surprise the couple from church took care of our bill. Again, my eyes welled up. The community of Thermopolis is so generous and welcoming it makes me want to move to a small town. Days like these during our trip make me want to give back so much more, like biking across the country isn't quite enough. I will definitely be paying it forward for years to come after this trip. I can honestly say the hospitality and kindness I have experienced in the past two months have changed me for the better. I am proud to say I live in a country with such great people. Thank you Thermopolis for being so awesome!
Hot Springs Here We Come!
Today we woke up snuggly in our tents to the crisp morning air, and it felt amazing to be out in nature! We started our ride by finishing the downhill of the Big Horns through the town of Tensleep. The day went by faster than we anticipated as most of it was flat lands. We biked through several construction zones first and then were shuttled by the construction crew a few miles, which made the first 40 miles go by really fast!
The team took a stop at Larsons bike shop in Worland, WY, and also one group stopped at a farmer's market in town, where they were lucky enough to receive food donations from some of the amazing vendors! Also, two portraits were conducted in Worland! We can't thank everyone enough for everything they've done for us along the ride, from the donations to the portraits to the general kindness!
We finally reached Thermopolis early evening and are staying right across the street from the sign for "the worlds largest mineral hot spting!" With a rodeo a block from the stay over and A&W bowling lanes in the town, most of us are sure to be busy this evening!
We want to thank A&W Lanes for their generous food donations! We also want to thank Thermopolis's Hot Spring County Recreation District for giving us a great place to sleep, with an incredible view!
The team's looking forward to our day off tomorrow!
Love, hugs, and tailwinds,
The Illini 4000
Big Horns!!
Today we left from Buffalo, WY on our way to conquer the Big Horn Mountains! We started out our day with a 35 mile climb uphill riding toward the snow-capped mountains, ending with a beautiful view at the top of the mountain, 9,664 feet above sea level. We climbed a vertical mile! This was all rewarded with an 18 mile downhill that curved through a breathtaking view of the canyon.
Everyday the team does a ride dedication. Last year our president of the Illini 4000, Greg Colton, abolutely loved this ride.
We thought it would be the perfect day to dedicate to Greg and his father who passed away after battling brain cancer. Greg has dedicated so much work to this organization, and we cannot thank him enough for that!
We were lucky enough to stay in a beautiful campsite right in the middle of a canyon in the Big Horn Mountains. There was a rushing stream right near our campsite that we were all able to cool off in. It was our first night of camping as a team and it is safe to say we are all excited for more camping nights to come. However, we were not able to build a campfire due to the fire danger, so instead we had a second PB&J meal for dinner!
Due to the terrain we had a lack of cell service, but don't worry parents -- we are all safe and sound!
Much Love,
I4K
Buffalo Soldiers
Greetings from Wyoming! After a delicious Fourth of July, I4K traveled from Gilette to Buffalo. The team followed I 90 the whole way, which proved to provide an easy day. As we approached Buffalo we were able to see the Bighorn Mountains which we will have to tackle tomorrow morning. After an easy few days the team is up for the challenge in the morning and ready for some steep climbs.Big thanks to everyone at Christ the King Lutheran Church for providing us a delicious meal and shelter for the night!! Stay cool in Illinois!-Illini 4000
South Dakota
Right now I'm writing this from Rapid City, South Dakota! We can officially say we've entered the west and today is the exact halfway point for our trip. Thinking about those things alone fill me with to a of mixed emotions...I'm excited we've come so far, sad it's halfway over, and curious to see what else is in store for us. Yesterday we did 100 miles in about 100 degrees through the badlands. It was a long hot day but definitively one of the best days of the trip so far. The hills were gorgeous and although some of the climbs were unexpected, reaching the top was incredible and the views on every downhill more than made up for all of the sweat we put into the day. The people we run into on the trip have been so inspiring. I think my favorite part about being a young adult is getting the chance to learn about life through older adults and listening to their struggles, mistakes, advice or even just a story or two. While cycling in Minnesota a group of us ran into motorcyclists who were raising money for breast cancer research. After just a few minutes of taking with them we met Penny, who brought out cancer awareness bandanas, bracelets, patches, and key chains that said strength (which she said were to help us on our journey) to give to each of us. As we went to leave, all of the other motorcyclists came up to us and opened their wallets emptying their pockets and giving us donations for the cause. It was one of the most memorable experiences of the trip for me thus far. Cancer brings us together because we're all determined to fight it. It's that determination that enables us to persevere through even the hottest and hardest of days and the people we interview for our portraits project are the best kind of motivation. I still wear my breast cancer ribbon on my jersey every day and carry with me the rest of the things Penny gave us...just a small reminder of what I'm fighting for and a small token of the generosity we constantly run into on the road. Ps- motorcyclists often get a bad reputation so i promised to help clear the air for them and i want to let you all know they're actually teddy bears who would give you their leather jackets if you needed one.
Forever West
Hello Everyone! It was another eventful day for all the riders of I4K as we started the day in Rapid City. After a restful off day, riders were able to tackle the Black Hills that awaited them. The climbs were definitely long and hard, but the views of the mountains, Mt. Rushmore, and Crazy Horse were well worth it. We met many people along the way, especially at Mt. Rushmore, and were able to spread the word of our mission to them. Some of the groups even saw people they met in the badlands! Today was one of the longest days of the trip for many groups due to the heat and hills, but by the end everyone was able to feel accomplished for what they completed.Tonight we are lucky enough to be staying at Christ the King Church in Newcastle, WY! We are officially in the west and hitting what is new land for many of the riders since we entered another new state today! Tomorrow should be a fun day for the team since we will be celebrating the Fourth of July! We will also be avoiding forest fires, don't worry parents. Happy almost Fourth of July!Much love,The Illini 4000
Two thousand, two hundred, and ninety miles.
We’ve biked 2,290 miles. As I stare at that number, it seems less probable and more impossible. How could each pedal stroke add up to that incredulous number? It blows my mind to be honest. I know I had a whole lot more to say about South Dakota and things in general but I really think I want to keep it simple; well done team.
Rapid City and the 50th Portrait!
We had a free day in Rapid City today! Since we did not have to ride, we slept in until 10. We would like to thank the church and community for providing us with such a delicious breakfast this morning!Having no obligations today, many of us went out to explore the city, buy what we need for the following days, and interact with the community. During this time we conducted an interview with Colista Lich at a gift shop that was a two time cancer survivor. Her story was very inspiring as she explained that the cancer taught her to live life to the fullest and that life is all about the path you take and the mistakes you make.Another group of us met a woman at the Alex Johnson Mercantile gift shop that was also a two time cancer survivor. She had breast and colon cancer, followed by a brain tumor. She also had a positive attitude and was very amazed and grateful for our dedication to the cause.Interactions like these are very valuable to us as they really make our ride and our cause more personal. As the ride goes on, we have more and more specific people to think about and to ride for when the heat or hills get particularly exhausting. Thank you to everyone that has been sharing their story and inspiring us this summer! Today's portrait of Colista marked the 2012 team's 50th portrait!! We can't give enough thanks to the people who've been so willing to share their stories with us. It makes a huge difference to the team. Thanks for everything!The Illini 4000
Rapid City!
Today was a short day from Wall to Rapid City, SD. It was our first time biking on the shoulder of the interstate. It was a very hot day and many of us got flat tires throughout the ride, but all in all it was a good ride.At the stayover, we interviewed Leon who saw us biking today and then met us at a dollar store. He was amazed by what we were doing and met us later to learn more about our cause and to share his inspiring story of his cancer, two surgeries and how his grandson got him back on his feet after these challenges.The community of the United Methodist Church, where we are staying, provided us with a wonderful dinner, and we are so grateful for that! After dinner, our ride leader also organized and decorated the room for our Illini 4000 prom. We all dressed up in things we found in thrift stores along the way, took pictures, danced a little and went out to explore Rapid City! Looking forward to the event day in Rapid City tomorrow!Thanks for the support!Illini 4000
Where the heck is wall drug?!
Today was amazing and, for many of us, the best day so far! The morning went fairly smoothly, except for one group that had 3 flats in the first 15 miles. However, they also had a good time as one of the flats resulted in them discovering a ghost town called Okaton. We went through the beautiful badlands, climbing many rocks and taking tons of pictures. Through the badlands we had water stops every ten miles due to the extreme heat, but it was definitely worth it! During the last ten miles we got caught in a storm with very strong winds and painfully large raindrops. We fought through it though and ended the day with a hot cup of coffee and some donuts a the much anticipated Wall Drug store.Along the ride we talked to many cancer survivors and other tourists all of whom were very motivating and inspiring. Thank you to everyone that supported us us during this hot and hilly day! Also great thanks to Wall Drug for donating our breakfast donuts and Roger Dyson for buying the entire team pizza tonight! Thanks also to Charles Staben for doing an incredible portrait. Off to Rapid City!Much love,Illini 4000
Smooth rollin'
Today we had a 89.6 mile ride from Stephen to Murdo,SD. On the way we saw some horses and tried to chase them for some pictures. We also saw ponies and alpacas a few miles later! The ride went smoothly, despite it being above 100 degrees out and grasshoppers hopping all over the street and hitting our bikes. In the end we all made it and a lot of us went out for icecream to celebrate.We'd like to give special thanks to the family that stopped to helped us out this morning, as well as the gas station that kindly gave us ice to cool our water at the lunch stop! We'd also like to thank Murdo Drive-In for providing us with such great ice cream! Thanks also to the Buffalo Bar for providing us with food donations, and the United Methodist Church for letting us sleep there!With love,The Illini 4000
Across Borders
Today was a short 35 mile ride into Stephan from Mitchell. After the first few miles of the ride, the team began to notice a very prominent change in the landscape as we rolled into the true American west. The scenery was very inspiring and for many riders marked the beginning of what may be the most memorable part of the ride. About half way through the ride the team stopped at a hotel in a town called Fort Thompson to meet with many Native American residents who had experiences with cancer to conduct portraits. We learned a great deal about the ways cancer has impacted the lives of these members of the Sioux Nation. We continued our ride into the Native American reservation into Stephan, South Dakota. We were given a great dinner of spaghetti, vegitables and garlic bread! We were also visited by Jeff Swansen, a local Souix resident who showed the team his traditional native American regalia and talked about his culture and the state of modern Native American reservations. Tomorrow the team will roll out to Murdo, South Dakota. Until then, thanks for reading!Thanks for the support!Illini 4000
A Quick Ride to Chamberlain
Hey all,A few weeks ago the team decided unanimously to split our crazy 110 mile ride to Stefan, SD into two days with an added stay-over in Chamberlain. With most of the team rolling in at about 2, the free afternoon was full of thrift shopping and strolling along Chamberlain’s one street business center. The team was greeted with an amazing amount of kindness from the Chamberlain community including the Zion Lutheran Church allowing us to stay on such short notice, and Maria’s delicious and much appreciated dinner. We also got to meet with Mike Tyrell, the father of Izzy Tyrell, who the 2010 team met to do a portrait! With a place to sleep and our bellies full, the team will spend the night relaxing and recovering from the early wake up and the headwinds we endured today.Tomorrow we are off to Stefan (with a 6:30 wake up!!!) to learn more about this country’s Native American history, but we would like to thank the Chamberlain community once last time for their hospitality! Day 34 here we come!Much Love,The Illini 4000P.S. The team received their first rattlesnake tutorial after dinner, and are fully prepared (also slightly scared) for the western wildlife!
The 13th State
Today is our third night in South Dakota, the 13th state we've gone through on this trip. The past three days of riding were made much easier by very strong tailwinds, but today the winds shifted and we had to deal with some headwinds and crosswinds. We had a wonderful time on our day off in Rochester, Minnesota. Rochester Fest was going on while we were in the city, so we were able to enjoy some live country music and great street food. We also were given a wonderful tour of the Mayo Clinic's cancer center. South Dakota has been good to us so far, and I'm really looking forward to getting to Stephan tomorrow and staying on a Native American reservation. It should be a great experience, and I'm sure we will meet some fascinating people.
Making Our Way to Mitchell
Greetings to all our loyal readers,Today saw the team make a 73 mile ride from the city of Sioux Falls, South Dakota to Mitchell, South Dakota. The day was made fairly relaxed by a helpful tail wind. We rode through many interesting towns on our way to the Mitchell Christian School.The team had a very interesting visit to Avera Queen of Peace cancer center, where we learned a great deal about the treatment of different types of cancer through chemotherapy and radiation. The town of Mitchell is also home to the Corn Palace, which is a one of a kind tourist attraction that some of the riders visited. Over one ton of nails, staples, and wire are used to fasten the corn and grasses to the walls!The team also received generous food donations from Culver's, Corona Village and the cancer center. We enjoyed a great meal and also experienced downtown Mitchell. Tomorrow we head to Chamberlain, South Dakota, including a 5 AM wake up to beat the heat!Until then, thanks for everything!The Illini 4000
South Dakota!
Hey I4K friends, family, and fans!Today the team rode a long day (93 miles!) out of Jackson, Minnesota to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. South Dakota marks the 14th state border I4K has crossed since our journey began 31 days ago. Minnesota had some memorable moments since we climbed out of the Mississippi Valley and made our way across the state. We can attest to the state motto “10,000 Lakes” as every day at least one team found a lake to jump into for an afternoon swim to escape the heat. Minnesota proved to be a great experience for the team as we make our way out of the Midwest.And now we find ourselves in South Dakota (“Great Faces, Great Places”)! We were treated to an amazing dinner by our generous host at Zion Lutheran Church. Much of the team made it out to the infamous Sioux Falls for a spectacular waterfall view and some much needed relaxation. The team is more than ready for what this new state has to offer. We would like to thank the Zion Lutheran Church again for the wonderful meal, the local YWCA of Sioux Falls for allowing us some much needed showers, and everyone we talked to on the road for your kindness. Looking forward to continued tailwinds tomorrow!Much Love,I4K
Magical Moments in Minnesota: Where Dreams Come True
We woke up today in Albert Lea, MN (pronounced Lee as in Fee, like Casey. Not like Princess Leia from Star Wars. You're welcome for clearing it up.) At our usual morning preride huddle, we were encouraged to partake in a scavenger hunt of sorts, and as a result we had one of our most I4Komplished days so far, collecting over $150 dollars and 3 portraits all on the road! First we talked with Mike Holland, whose grandson underwent chemotherapy for a rare blood disease. After a sucessful bone marrow transplant, he is now fully recovered. Later, we talked with Jeri Morris, a stomach cancer survivor that was treated at the Mayo Clinic that we visited at the same time as her brother fought colon cancer. She is now interested in cancer research and advocacy. Lastly, we talked with Sammy Jo Helmers, whose grandmother is fighting cancer and whose mother survived ovarian cancer, but has recently had a relapse.BIG thanks to Larry, owner of the Bike Shoppe in Fairmont, MD. He provided us ice cold water, great cycling advice, wonderful conversation & encouragement for our journey (and in return we bought ALL of his cycling caps!). Another thanks to El Agave for feeding lunch to some of our riders. Finally, we are extremely grateful to First Baptist Church in Jackson for housing us for the night. We couldn't do this trip without the generosity of our stay over hosts!Tomorrow we hit up the eternal South Dakota. We'll keep you updated the whole way!You stay classy, friends and family,The Illini 4000
Catching Up
Just a heads up this blog might be a bunch of random, tangent thoughts because I've been meaning to write for days but the internet is far and in between. FIRST, I want to acknowledge how great my family is. Riding into Chicago was so great. Seeing Lake Michigan, riding along Lake Shore Drive and seeing the skyline, which I have all done before, was ten times more exciting because we had made it there from NYC on bike. ON BIKE! Even though all of those things were amazing, seeing my Mom waiting at the Bean made me feel like I was home. She even brought me a Take 5 bar =DBeing home was kind of a tease though. My comfy couch and my own bed! Seeing my dad and brother. Playing wizard! All my friends coming over to see me for 2 hours being heading out on the road again. At least I know I have something great to come home to =) But what I really want to emphasize is how much the small things mean and how much my family being there for me keeps me going on this ride. My little brother even rode my old purple mountain bike on the ride along for 25 miles! I feel like this blog isn't capturing what I want it to about how grateful I am and how much everything and everybody meant to me in Chicago. So thank you!!!On another note, I cannot believe we are going to be in South Dakota tomorrow! This ride is already flying by way too fast. It is remarkable how many people we have met along the way. Random store owners that have been touched by cancer and tell us their story, friends of pastors who let us swim in their pools and share their stories about being touched by cancer, and even the church janitor who brought me to tears telling his story of being a caretaker for both his parents. It is no secret that too many people have stories but hearing them on a day to day basis in the most ordinary of places really reminds me of how badly this disease needs to be beaten.And random side note: For the first time, a few us ran 1.5 ish miles to a DQ (needed a motivating destination) after our 85 mile day. Guess which one was harder? Chicago half here I come!OH also, ate pasta and lentils for dinner for the first time tonight! Just goes to show how generous communities and individuals have been for the past 30 days and how spoiled we have been. A sincere thank you for reminding me how much good is out there.