Hello! Today we left Pennsylvania, crossed through a small section of West Virginia and are now in Cadiz, Ohio. The morning part of today’s ride took us through some rather remote places on back roads before we passed through Stubenville, Ohio and finished the day riding on US-22. The weather consisted of cloudy skies for most of the morning before the clouds opened up in the afternoon soaking much of the team over the final few miles.Tonight we are staying at the Scott United Methodist Church in Cadiz. Xixi and Takaya made dinner of burritos followed by ice cream from the little stand across the street for many team members. Tomorrow it’s off to Zanesville!
yes, i know i haven't been updating
mostly because the tool we use to update this blog is kind of difficult to use and we can't edit previous posts. really, check out my blogger! it's pretty nice.
http://jayhasabike.blogspot.com
also, i told barry at dirty harry's cycles that i'd say something nice about him on the website because he was AWESOME and fixed mine and amy's bikes for FREE! so if anyone's ever in pittsburgh's suburbs, look him up haha!
to ohio...
after leaving washington d.c. we have spent most of our time in pennsylvania. tomorrow will be out last day in pa as we head into cadiz, ohio. the last few days have been a challenge for everyone in terms of the hills we have been climbing, which have provided a stark contrast to the level land of illinois where we trained during the spring. however, everyone has definitely been pulling through, under both the hot sun and the gray skies that gave us our first dose of rain the other day.
part of the reason why everyone seems to being doing so well is, i'm sure, very much due to how much support and generosity we have been recieving from all of our stayover hosts as well as others that we have met along the way. the hospitality at each of our stayover locations has gone above and beyond what any of us had expected. a think a number of us had a menu consisting mainly of pb&j in mind when we signed up, but we have been served delicious and filling meals almost everyday from the church and community members. in addition, we have been able to interact with cancer survivors who volunteer time to share their experiences and give us a greater understanding of the purpose behind each day of riding.
one thing that has surprised me since beginning the ride is what i end up spending my time thinking about as i ride. before beginning i expected that i would have plenty of time to think about ideas that i have not thought all the way through and maybe even have some kind of epiphany. however, i usually find myself thinking about the road in front of me and communicating with my team mates that i am riding with that day -- both of which are very important. maybe as the scenery changes from tree-topped mountains to long stretches of corn fields on either side of the road, my thoughts will drift elsewhere and will no longer be strictly about the bike.
Carnegie, PA
I am currently sitting in Carnegie Free Library in Carnegie, Pennsylvania typing my own blog for the first time since DC. My sister Kim has been updating it the past few days but with a short 30 mile day today I've found internet access at the local library and have photos uploading while I type!!
We spent last night in Murrysville, PA where the Calvary Lutheran Church provided us with an amazing meal. One of the members of the church then went out after dinner and bought us breakfast food for this morning ensuring we left energized for our ride today!
While we have not gotten the get-up-get-out practice down to an hour just yet we are getting closer and closer. Today we were up at 6am and had our bags packed around 6:45. Compared to many of our recent rides I felt today was rather easy although the fact that it was only 30 miles probably had some effect. Today was also the first day in about a week that my legs felt fresh on the bike so I'm hoping that means I'm getting stronger! We did not take a water break today as Amy and Jay needed to visit a bike shop and we were riding through areas where we could get water if needed so after a few stops here and there the group I was riding with arrived in Carnegie a little after noon. The church where we are staying has continued the streak of generosity and will be providing us with dinner tonight and breakfast in the morning. It's really amazing to see complete strangers go out of their way to help us doing everything from opening their churches and places of worship for us to sleep to providing us with meals and opening their homes for us to shower. I can't seem to say thank you enough for all that everyone has done in just over one week on the road.
Yesterday while I was waiting for dinner to begin I got a phone call from a Denise Richardson a staff writer at The Daily Star (my hometown newspaper). The story she wrote can be seen here however it was a question she asked me while on the phone that got me thinking. I can't remember just how she asked it but she asked me something about what this experience has taught me about cancer. In a way I really didn't know how to answer the question as I have a hard time putting the experience as a whole into words. When we meet people that have been affected by cancer and hear their stories day after day it’s a truly eye opening experience. It makes me realize that some of the things that seemed so hard in life really are not that hard after all. The one thing that I seem to find in common with many that we talk to is hope. They are all fighting the disease the only way they know how and they all seem to have faith that they will beat it! They are who I ride for and for the hope that soon doctors will find a cure so that even the toughest cancers will be beatable!
day ten
Tonight is our last night in Pennsylvania! Goodbye, Appalachian Mountains! Actually I have heard the mountains might stretch into Ohio so I might be speaking too soon. Tomorrow's ride will be bittersweet...my body (especially my quads) will definitley be happy to leave the mountains, but the scenery has been amazing! The hills have been so challenging, but they are really rewarding once you get to the top.
One of my favorite days of riding so far was 3 days ago (approximately) when Dana, Andrea, John, Brad and I jumped in a beautiful lake at the top of one set of hills! It was freezing cold, but once we started climbing again i remembered it was well worth it. I've been making it through these hills mostly with the support of Dana and Andrea.. They have helped push me through all the 80% inclines (thats what it feels like at least) and kept all the rides really light hearted and fun....EXTREME!!
I'm going to find some ice cream in Carnegie, PA now....Ciao!
Through Pennsylvania
Hi again. Today I'm writing from Carnigie PA. The hills here are incredible, luckily both today and yesterday were very short days, only 25 miles yesterday, and 35 miles today. Tomorrow will probably be around 70 miles.
Two days ago we had our first rain during the trip. It poured. It was also lightning for a while, so everyone stopped at a dollar store. Despite being cold, and making everthing somewhat muddy, the rain was nice. It also helped break in my Brooks saddle, which is now very comfortable.
I should be able to update this again in three days, if nor sooner. Goodby for now
Matt Cillick
Recharging in Murrysville
After several days of 80+ mile rides, the team received an unexpected surprise when today's ride to Murrysville, PA was only 25 miles long. After a few short hills and some amazing views, the team arrived at our stayover location before noon. We were even able to sleep in an extra hour before we left!Once, we arrived in Murrysville, the good times just kept on rolling. The last of the team arrived just before the service at the church we are staying at got out. This was great because it allowed us to meet talk with many different members of the community and the congregation, which unfortunately is not always possible. As we were a this was going on, we also met a local police officer and fellow cycling enthusiast who was out on bike patrol and decided to swing by.After everything had sort of settled down, the team had a nice relaxing afternoon to fix up our bikes, stretch our legs, and catch up on some much needed sleep. At around 5 o'clock though, many of the people we had met that morning returned to the church and helped to prepare an amazing meal for us. The buffet table was enough to make even the most stalwart competitive eater question his confidence, and the deserts were amazing. However the best part was the company. The generosity kept on coming as people offered us places to shower and the opportunity to do laundry. Dee, one of the women we met, even went out and did our breakfast shopping for us and brought it back to the church!Perhaps the greatest aspect of our visit here in Murrysville, however, was the chance to sit down with three cancer survivors from the community who volunteered to participate in our Portrait's Project; a compilation of interviews and visual portraits of people we meet along the way who have been affected by cancer. After listening to Diane, Ken, and Kathy's stories, it really helps to put the ride into perspective, and to remember why we're doing it in the first place.
Last night in PA!
We sacrificed one of our rest days to split one of our long days in two. We rode 30 miles today and will ride 65 miles tomorrow instead of one 95 mile day. We are still riding up and down the hilly terrain of PA. Many of the groups stopped at Schenly Park in Pittsburgh since it was so beautiful and was perfect weather outside. Most of us arrived at the St. John Lutheran Church before noon. Pastor Bruce met all of us and graciously offered to buy us some groceries. He made great accommodations for our vegan team mate and even bought her some vegan ice cream. Most of the day was spent by walking around the very nice downtown of Carnegie and making excessive trips to Dairy Queen. Tomorrow we ride for Ohio with the sunrise!
day nine
Well I haven't done a very good job at updating this journal...let alone updating anything at all. But today was a wonderful day of rest in beautiful Murraysville, PA. An extra hour of sleep this morning made a big difference for me after a few days of climbing Appalachian Mountains (only 25 miles today!). We were so fortunate to be welcomed at the Calvary Lutheran Church with a delicious food and great company.
I had the opportunity today to participate in a Portraits Project, which is a really important portion of this journey that I haven't really focused aside from visiting the Walter Reed Hospital. A few of the riders and I sat down with Dorothy and her father-in-law as they shared their experiences with cancer.
I would like to share a lot more of my travels thus far-but I'll update next time I find a computer!
25 mile rest day
Hello we are currently in Murrysville PA after a short 25 mile ride this morning. Because of the days short milage we got to sleep in an extra hour this morning waking up at 7am instead of 6am. The United Methodist Church in Mt. Pleasant donated cereal and english muffins for breakfast and after packing up we were on the road around 8:30am. The ride today was rater uneventful- so short that we didnt even take a water stop. I rode with team out of state again plus Matt and after thinking we were lost about 17 miles into the ride we found our way and arrived in Murrysville around 11:15am. The ride included some hills including one very steep climb about 20 miles in however other then that it was pretty easy.
When we arrived at Calvary Lutheran Church in Murrysville they were in the middle of their sunday service so the majority of us waited outside playing games on the grass until they finished. I spent the afternoon catching up on things, writing thank you letters, drying my wet laundry from yesterday and journaling.
The Calvary Lutheran Church genourously provided us with an amazing buffet dinner that included hot dogs, salads, stuffed shells, chicken, fruit and much more. They then shuttled us to different houses to take showers before returning to the church for the night.
Im not sure where we are headed tomorrow but its west of Pittsuburgh. We will be riding on our off day in order to break up what would have been an extremly long day on tuesday.
I have been having my sister update my blog the past few days so if you have sent me an email in the past week I have not read it. I will get back to you next time I have acess to a computer. I will also try to add pictures to my photo album next time I have computer acess.
Mt. Pleasant and more!
Pennsylvania has proved to be challenging due to the hills. The up and down in the hills has really worn down on our legs! We're grateful for a few shorter days after some 80 milers. The fatigue should be leaving my legs after a nice afternoon of relaxation. The scenery continues to astound us. We passed a really beautiful cathedral on our ride today. It was called Holy Name, and was made of local stone. Many of the structures in Pennsylvania look like ancient buildings out of Europe. The setting and riding continues to challenge and reward all of us!
Over the hills and far away
I joined the team 3 days ago and got a taste of the Appalachian hills. The taste became a full serving in the following days. It's a very rewarding feeling to get to the top. There's also nothing quite like riding a bicyle downhill for 4 miles. After climbing the hill at 4-8 miles per hour, the descent makes everything worth it.
I've been riding with various people on the team. The group dynamics are positive and spirits are high!
25 Miles
We arrived in Murraysville, PA before 12 PM today. We rode 25 miles from a fabulous stay over in Mt. Pleasant, PA last night. Although we only rode 25 miles, all of us could use a good day of rest before trekking over to Pittsburgh tomorrow. Yesterday the mountains were conquered in rain and terrible storms, but at the end of the day when the weather finally cleared there was a spectacular rainbow that gave a good sign of hope for the rest of the trip.
Today I also got to take part in an amazing Portraits Project when I got to talk with a woman who has battled breast cancer. Although being cancer free for almost 5 years, she could still remember the day she was told she had cancer. I also learned a few new cancer related facts from her battle with cancer. (Also note that when people describe having cancer and trying to rid their body of it they use the term battle, because it destroys not only the body but the mind, too.) One thing that I found interesting from her story was that she used the term "Chemobrain". Not really ever hearing what that was or what it meant, I asked her what she meant by the term Chemobrain. Going through 6 treatments of Chemotherapy the mind becomes foggy and things that were once easily remembered, like taking your pills today, were easily forgot. This may seem common placed for older adults, but she described Chemobrain much more pronounced and much more common due to the types of drugs people are on who have breast cancer. The American Cancer Society has a great link (http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MBC/content/MBC_2_3x_Chemobrain.asp?sitearea=MBC) that describes exactly what chemobrain is. She also had a daughter my age and a son who is younger, and the thing that helped her get through the worst days of her treatment where the support and love she found from the family and friends around her. So if you know of anyone who has cancer, a simple card can brighten their day and I encourage everyone to reach out and help out.
"Be glad of life, because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars."
-Henry Van Dyke-
Murrysville, PA
Today we reached Murrysville, PA, which is 25 miles outside of Pittsburgh. The past couple days have been really difficult for me. The hills in PA are steep and long, which takes a lot of physical and mental strength to get through. The rides, however, have been very rewarding and fun and we've been having very good luck with our stayover locations.
Wet, windy, wet, sunshine
This morning we woke at 6am and enjoyed a filling breakfast of cereal, danish, fruit and coffee provided by the United Methodist Church in Everett. We were on the road by 7:30am and were greeted by our first rain and thundershowers less then 5 miles into the ride. At around 10 miles we rolled into a little town where we sought shealter and snacks at the General Dollar while waiting for the storm to pass. I purchased my first box of poptarts of the summer for a dollar and Connie and I used plastic bags to make water proof shirts to keep dry. I spent the morning riding with the out of state crew that consited of Andrew, Stephe and myself. After the thunder stopped we continued on to our first waterstop of the day around mile 30. The first 30 miles consited of some small rolling hills but nothing major. The hills seemed to grow significantly after mile 30 until lunch in Somerset at mile 50. The sun broke through the clouds as we were eating our PB&J sandwichs outside of the CVS in Somerset allowing us to dry off a little bit before heading back out on the road for the final 30 miles.
Connie and Dana joined our group for the afternoon which consited of hills, rain and sun. My legs were feeling rather tight after lunch but were 100% better then yesterday when I was tired the whole day. Near the end of the ride as we were going down a steep and long hill the rain picked up along with the wind blowing so hard that it felt like hail hitting our faces. Around 6:30pm our group pulled into Mt. Pleasant and were greated with a warm dinner of Spaghetti, salad, and bread at the United Methodist Church. They topped it off with cookies, brownies and ice cream for dessert - a perfect meal after a long wet day on the bike. We finished the day covering 80 miles in just under 7 and a half hours. It was definitly a long wet day on the bike.
First Rain
This was the first rain day. We were caught in a down pour shortly after we started the ride. We had to stop for half an hour because of the lightning. After that, everything went well. Many riders think this was the best day so far because we experienced a little bit of everything. Even though we climbed a lot of hills today, it was very rewarding to have a 4-mile long down hill. After the lunch, the clouds broke and the sun came through. We got caught into a second down pour, but after that we were rewarded by a huge rainbow. The United Methodist Church of Mt. Pleasant is our destination point. It is over 100 years old and is built on a large hill. We had ice cream for desert. It was the best way to end our ride.
So these are the Real Mountains (the Appalachian Chapter)
The mountains, yes, the real mountains were a true test of strength and character today. Some with such steep slopes I felt that I would never be able to make it. The Appalachian Mountains...at least a portion of them, have been conquered today by all of the Illini 4000 riders. Testing the strength of each rider to push themselves to the top and emotionally battling themselves when exhausted and hungry. I have never been more proud of a group as I am right now of this team. No one gave in, thus, we have conquered a mountain, physically and emotionally.
Flying through the first part of the ride today, myself, Connie, and Dana were able to enjoy and relax the sunshine on a small beach in one of the several state parks. After John and Brad joined us, we all jumped in, rather dove in to the lake. Having fun and enjoying life has made a big impact in my thinking after today. Not letting the little hills or mountains take advanage of you, you need to let your emotions go sometimes to realize that there are bigger mountains to climb and that you should take each and every opportunity given to you!
After getting lost several miles away from our final location, we arrived in Everett, Pennsylvania and were greeted by some of the best most caring people I have met. At the Everett United Methodist Church we were provided with a home cooked meal, desserts, and all of the necessities one could ever need for one night. With a welcome sign greeting us on our arrival, we have been astounded by the love and care we were given and myself for one am very thankful for all that has been provided for.
As I get ready for bed, it is almost 11PM Eastern time, I realize that tomorrow another tough day lays ahead filled with mountains to climb and memories to be made. Coming from flat land my whole life in the Midwest, I truly enjoy looking at these beautiful natural creations, and after these next few days and weeks, I will be able say that I have conquered these mountains on bicycle, one pedal stroke, rather one very slow pedal stroke at a time.
“Plunge boldly into the thick of life, and seize it where you will, it is always interesting.”
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
First blog on the road
This is my first blog on the road. It has been an amazing journey so far and I've connected really well with everyone on the team. The route so far has been very challenging yet rewarding. We average about 80 miles a day with some rest days in between. Most days involves lots of hills, which has been the most challenging part of the ride so far. I am writing this blog in Everett, PA at a church we are staying at. The people here are very nice to us. They made us some fantastic food and provided us with shower and internet access. Our next big destination is Pittsburgh, hopefully we can make some impact there.
A long day in the hills...
Hello from Everett PA. Today we biked from Boonsboro MD to Everett PA a distance of over 85 miles. Todays ride consisted of many hills, as we have now hit the Appachalian mountains. We departed Boonsboro shortly after 7:30am this morning after packing up and eating breakfast. At around 40 miles we stopped for lunch and a swim in the lake at Cowans Gap State Park. The hills seemed to intensify after lunch growing longer and steaper. About 16 miles after departing Cowans Gap State Park we stopped for a water break and fed the horses and ponies on the side of the road. We then continued to climb capturing many great views as we made our way through the mountains. With about 10 miles left in the day we stopped at McDonalds for ice cream sundaes to refuel ourselves for the final leg. We are currently staying at the Everett United Methodist Church where they fixed us dinner of lasagna, scalloped potatos, beans and salad along with pie for dessert. Tomorrow we head to Mt. Pleasent on another 80 plus mile day thats sure to be full of many more hills and possibly our first rainny day of the trip.
NY city to Everitt PA
Hi everybody, today is the first day I have been able to get on a computer since the ride started. The first thing I want to do is thank everyone for their massive support. The second thing I want to do is to talk a little about the trip so far.
The first few days were crazy with everyone getting used to the scheduel, and the crazy routes through New Jersey. The first really nice day was when we went through Pensylvania for the first time. The scenery was beautiful, and there were a ton of hills. Today was very similar, but longer and hotter. Fortunately for me, I was driving and didn't need to worry about the temperature. Right now everyone is getting to know each other better, and getting used to being around the same 20 people all the time. Now it's time for me to go to sleep, tomorrow is another long ride, and this time I won't be driving.