We dedicated today’s ride to Becky Gates, the mother of two of my brother’s best friends. My brother and his friends just graduated this weekend, and I know that they felt the loss of Becky as she passed away after her battle with cancer several years ago. She would have loved to see this milestone, as well as the milestones of her daughter. We rode with her and her family in our minds and hearts.

Today was a longer day than yesterday, 76.4 miles. We crossed TWO state lines: Pennsylvania and Ohio! We had some more awesome rest stops near the water and at an ice cream shop, this is truly a beautiful area that we are thankful to have the chance to explore. During our last 16 or so miles into the stayover, it poured on us, but we all rolled up with a smile on our face.

Our stayover, the First Covenant Church in Ashtabula, helped us warm up with a homemade meal (including a casserole, meaning we are really back in the midwest!) and access to showers!!!!!! This is the first year that First Covenant Church has hosted an Illini 4000 church. When we talked to the pastor, he told us that he didn’t even know too much about what our mission was, but knew that he wanted to help our a group of college students. We are continuously blown away by the blind kindness the stayovers show us! I may sound like a broken record saying that, but it is so true. There is so much goodness in this world!

Our rider shoutout today is Maria! We have an amazing team, and part of the reason why is because Maria is on it. She is a great person to bike with because she is kind, positive, and is always making us laugh. Also, today she managed to get peanut butter on her eyebrow, which is honestly just impressive and something only Maria could do.