Journals

Day 61

Hello world!Sorry for the late post... we were camping in Unity, OR where there is no such thing as a sign of civilization, which meant no service.Yesterday we were taking all passengers aboard the struggle bus. It was probably one of the top 5 ish toughest days for not only me personally, but as a team in general. The wind was going berserk and we had 2-3 tough, steady climbs. Wind and climbing is just a bad combo. Our climbing speed ranged from 4-9 mph and it was extremely draining, but the only thing we could do was tough it out and keep goin, which is exactly what we did.I had about 3 or 4 laugh attacks on the bike today and I had no clue what I was even laughing at. Probably from my lack of sleep/me being slaphappy, but anyway, biking and laughing at the same time is no easy task... take it from a girl who knows. I could barely pedal and keep my bike moving forward. Some might call that a hot mess.As I was saying earlier, our team has seen some better days. By the end of the 84 miles today, we had 10 riders still standing. These kids are dropping like flies out here!!At the campsite we were finally able to have our first fire!!! Big steps peeps, big steps. We roasted dogs over the fire for din and watched the sun go down over the lake. A nice, relaxing night telling funny stories and crackin jokes.Peace out.Marge

Day 60

Hello world!It was a Chill Bill day today. We only had 62 miles and pretty flat for the most part!We got to the stayover around 1 and just hung around, caught up on sleep, watched some documentaries, etc etc.Big things happened today though! We crossed the Oregon border, woooooooo party! This team has come a heck of a long way and we have one more state sign to go until the end. It honestly feels like just yesterday that we were dealing with the cold, pouring rain and massive hills of New York.Madonna was wrong... time does not go by so slowly.We’ve got 84 miles tomorrow, still biking through the uglier parts of Oregon. Views are right around the corner though so I can’t wait.On that note, as my friend Nick would say, “Bye-daho!”Marge

Day 60: Oregon we’ve been waiting for you!

Today the team rode 60 miles from Boise, Idaho to Ontario, Oregon. Today’s ride was super smooth and a ton of fun! With the easy miles comes a more relaxed vibe. My group started the day with a detour to a mural alley and ended it with a detour to get pizza. It can’t get much better than that. With a short day comes more time for stops at the nooks and crannies we are so lucky to find on I4K. From a cars view you just can’t see the things we see and have the ease to get out and explore them.I would like to thank First Church of the Nazarene for having us. Also shoutout to Pizza Hut for donating pizza to us. The ride dedication for the day was for Mike’s aunts who both battled cancer.The mosher for the day was to think of a motivational quote and try to slip it in to conversations as much as possible. So I’ll leave you with mine. “If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you.” This one has stuck with me for a good part of the ride. Sometimes the challenges can seem too big but then I realize how many things I have been able to accomplish and how much all of this has changed my outlook on the limits I set for myself. All you need to do is pedal and you will get where you need to go!~Tailwinds~MandyFlat count: 0Song of the day: Beautiful day - U2Memorable moment: A great downhill between two hills that made the small climb up worth it! Not the craziest decent but one I will remember for sure.

Day 59

Hello world!Rest day in Boise truly kept us on our toes, that’s for sure!Me and my crazy self decided to wake up at 6:45 on our rest day and venture over to Boise high school’s track to run some laps, as if biking every day isn’t enough hahaha.It was an experiment more than anything because I wanted to see how running would compare to biking. Turns out I am very out of shape!! After running a couple miles, my legs are feelin it and it took my body a while to get used to a different type of exercise other than biking. It makes me wonder if I’ll ever really run again!Around 9:00 the team headed out in the van to our big event for the day... whitewater rafting!!! We took on class 4 rapids which got prettttty wild. Unfortunately we had a wee lil incident where one of the rafts got pinned to a rock for quite some time and their raft flipped. Thankfully everyone is A-OK, but to keep a long story short, we had a few swimmers that had to be brought to safety.Thank goodness we’re a team because we all had to work together to help one another out on those rapids today. In the end, everyone had a good time though and I’d still recommend rafting to peeps because it’s very enjoyable :)Tomorrow we will be crossing into Oregon, which is our second to last state!!! Can you believe it?? Time is flashing before our eyes.Although everyone hates on eastern Oregon for being deserty, I don’t care because I’m excited to skedaddle out of Idaho. I didn’t really enjoy biking through here, but I’m seriously contemplating moving to northern Idaho in the future. I think I might like it up there. It’s much much much much much more scenic than southern Idaho... and it’s more uncharted.And now... here’s to entering Oregon Duck territory. May it be all a girl could ever want in life. The end.Marge

Day 59: Buoyancy in Boise

Today was our rest day in Boise, Idaho! We decided to do the most restful thing we could think of … so we went whitewater rafting. In all seriousness it was one of the coolest things we have done on the ride so far. We woke up at 7:30 so we could be out the door by 9. We drove 45 minutes to the Bear Valley River Company located on the Payette river. We then drove 7 miles down the river so we could get to the white rapids. It was several team member’s first time whitewater rafting. We got to ride class 2,3, and 4 rapids today and they got a little crazy toward the end. Some of us even rode the bull (sitting at the front of the raft while we went over rapids).All of us were pretty exhausted and hungry after the excursion so the rest of the night was spent relaxing, running errands, and going out to eat at various places.~Tailwinds~MandyFlat count: N/ASong of the day: How to save a lifeMemorable moment: when our raft was purposefully and temporarily slid up a rock

Day 58: Oh Boise!

Today the team rode 82 miles from Glens Ferry to Boise, Idaho! It was a tough ride due to cumulative toll from days prior, overexposure to heat, and the dry desert climate. The route wasn’t the most exciting so today groups passed the time by singing and asking funny questions. Realizing we only have 18 days left makes the time that we do have to joke, laugh and get to know one another that much more important. Today we also got to ride on the interstate for several miles which was a thrill for many people. At the stayover we spent our time getting Ben and Jerry’s ice cream and learning the newest dance craze.Special thanks to Elias’ parents for donating dinner for tonight. We got Chipotle burritos and it was fantastic! Also thank you to our hosts at Cathedral of the Rockies. Today’s ride dedication was for a lady Maggie met in Steamboat springs who was very thankful for what we are doing because he mother was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer.~Tailwinds~MandyFlat count: 3Song of the day: Paradise - George EzraMemorable moment: Teaching Mike, Matt and Elias the shiggy danceRider Spotlight: Eric Ma (Lord MA)What's been the best part of I4k so far?Having rest days because I feel tired often so I enjoy resting and sometimes the team will do something together which is fun.Favorite rest stop snack?:Lemon protein bar or beef stickWhat's your favorite type of music?/Favorite pump up song on the bike?I like piano music.What do you do when you are struggling on the bike?I look down the road and just keep pedaling.If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?I would try to be more outspoken! I want to appear more positive.What's your dream place to live?In big cities, somewhere dry.. still deciding the specifics. Maybe CaliforniaWhat place are you most looking forward to on the ride or liked the most?I liked Colorado! It was very beautiful and I liked the mountains.What has been your favorite day on I4K so far?I enjoyed Berthouds pass. I went up the mountain very slow but we got there. The downhill was also very fun. I like to see my hard work paying off.Team Knife or spoon?Team knife for peanut butter and spoon for jelly.If you could have any superpower what would it be?Mind reading so I can know what to say to people!What's been the most challenging part of the ride?The most challenging part of the ride is the rainy days. I get really cold and I don’t enjoy being wet.New edition to a crayon box what would you be?Bovine Brown: because I moo at cows!

Day 58

Hello world!Oh Boise, we’ve finally made it! We straight up cruised through the 83 mile day today. Due to the heat and wind, we kept rest stops short and we’re movin and groovin on those bikes, averaging 15 ish mph. We meant business today.Groups trickled in and then we took a trip to Boise State to use their red center to shower. U of I needs to step up their game because this place was niceeeeeee!BIG shout out to Elias’s parents, for donating Chipotle dinner. It totally hit the spot after a big day. Thank you so so so so so much Mr. and Mrs. Martin!!I’m gettin p u m p e d for whitewater rafting tomorrow. It should besuper fun and hopefully no one falls out of their raft.Also side note: today I accomplished 2 of the goals I set for myself on this trip. First, I successfully did the Superman on a bike (riding with your body horizontal as if you’re laying on your bike) and finding a license plate on the side of the road!! It was a good day :-)Tune in tomorrow for updates on the rafting sitch.So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, good night.Marge

Day 57

Hello world!Today was a journey, one that had its ups, it’s downs, and tested mental toughness for sure.The first 23 miles were pokey because we took a 30-40 minute stop at mile 5... but it was well worth it. We got to watch a handful of people jump off this awesome bridge!! The base jumpers had parachutes that they pulled when they jumped and floated down over the Snake River (I think), ending in the landing area to the right of the river. Some jumpers even had fans on their backs so they would jump and then fly around/do tricks (flips, etc) in the air.It was a SIGHT to see :)We also ran into at least 10-15 doggos that were out to get us. You wouldn’t think it, but being on a bike and getting chased by 4 yapping rat dogs is a scary time, especially when your only defense mechanism is to bike faster and squirt the darn thing with your water bottle.We had 1 very close call around mile 28 when a feisty one almost bit Caroline’s leg off. No worries, she was able to shoo it away (by inches).The day was mostly downhill with a couple Mt. Everest’s to climb (as Sam would say). We dealt with some tough temps and bad winds. It reached over 100 degrees today and that was no fun.The Idaho desert seriously feels like you’re biking in a hair dryer on full blast, at the highest heat possible. It is brutal!We had 6 miles to go when Caroline got a flat. She repaired it easy peasy and we were on our way after 10 minutes or so. Then... in less than a mile, the poor girl got another flat!! What kind of bad luck is that?? Crazy talk... she repaired that one too and we were on our way.The last 6 miles were a grind and I thought I was sizzling in a frying pan but we finally got to the stayover.I still kind of feel like death and am probably 10000 bottles dehydrated so we shall see what tomorrow brings us.Boise and whitewater rafting is on the horizon!!Stay golden, Ponyboy.Marge

Day 57: Poppin tires all the way to Glens Ferry

Today the team road 70 miles from Twin Falls to Glens Ferry, Idaho. Today was long, hot and windy. It got up to 100 degrees mid afternoon with 12 mph headwinds the majority of the day. Needless to say we all feel very exhausted and drained from today’s ride. This morning we got to see base jumpers, which was super cool! Also while riding through the farm country we were attacked by Petsmart as Maggie would say. A herd of 5 dogs came out of the blue and started chasing us all on bike. We tried yelling and they weren’t even phased! Spraying water and ringing bells ended up doing the trick. We then had several other encounters with dogs for the next few miles which kept us on our guard.I would like to thank our amazing hosts tonight at The United Methodist Church. They made the most incredible dinner, complete with homemade bread. I may have had a few too many pieces hehe.~Hoping for Tailwinds~MandyFlat count: 11... Idaho has bad roadsSong of the day: Pump up the jamsMemorable moment: Getting ice cream at the end of the hard day at a fudge shop across from the churchRider Spotlight: Helen MendezWhat's been the best part of I4k so far?Seeing the different parts of the country and having my expectations be different than I thought it would be. Also meeting everyone on the team.What is your signature dance move?Swerve: shifting arms right and left while snapping. It works with any song!Favorite rest stop snack?:Chocolate anything. Hershey’s is a go to. Cheese it’s and chocolates satisfies my sweet and salty cravings.What's your favorite type of music?/Favorite pump up song on the bike?Alternative. Feeling good remixWhat do you do when you are struggling on the bike?Try to not think about how hard it is. Try to think of my family and support system!If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?There is a lot of times I hold myself back. I would like to get out of my box more!What's your dream place to live?In a place that’s urban and also close to nature. Seattle seems up my alleyWhat place are you most looking forward to on the ride or liked the most?I’m looking forward to Oregon and Crater Lake.What has been your favorite day on I4K so far?It was a century ride where it was pouring rain and the whole time I felt worried but we sang Disney songs and sang “it’s gonna be a bright sunshiny day”. It was a bittersweet momentTeam Knife or spoon?Team Knife because I only eat peanut butterIf you could have any superpower what would it be?Flying would be cool!What's been the most challenging part of the ride?The most challenging part of the ride has been trying to lift myself when I’m low so I don’t sink into a negative hole.New edition to a crayon box what would you be?Cloudy Blue: it’s a very light hearted color and I am very carefree and go with the flow.Favorite pair of socks: My Brazil socks because of the World Cup! My Chicago socks to represent my roots

Day 56

Hello world!Today was refreshing. A nice 43 miles essentially made for half a rest day... BOOYAH!Festivities consisted of a trip to Jimmy Johns, paying a visit to Shoshone Falls (the Niagara of the west), a nap, a team pow wow, watching the show Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (not sure why I continue to watch it because I really only like the intro theme song but oh well), playing hacky sack, juggling a soccer ball, and my favorite... eating an amazing dinner made by none other than our own Matthew Niewiara!!Man... who taught that boy how to cook??? He made one of my favorite chicken dishes, which is putting tomato, basil, and mozzarella stuffed inside a chicken breast.Game. Changer.Also another fan favorite were his cheesey potatoes made from Idaho potatoes! It was... divine. Hats off to Matt for an awesome feast.Tomorrow we have 70 ish miles to get us to Glens Ferry, ID. Should be a grand ol time.Okay... goodnight moon.Marge

Day 56: Twin Falls you are a beaut

Today the team rode 43 miles from Rupert to Twin Falls, Idaho. Today was the second easiest day of the ride and it could not have come at a better time. After a few long, hot days many people on the team were not feeling too good. The ride today was pretty easy with good conditions and nice weather. Most of the groups wanted to hustle so that we could enjoy the day and have time to rest. All the groups got to the stayover around noon. This gave us the whole day, so naturally we all piled in the van to run some errands. First stop Jimmy Johns for lunch and Chik-fil-A for a shake! Then the grocery store so chef Matt could prepare for the feast he wanted to make. After a few hours and waiting on Matt hehe we finally made it back to the stayover. The rest of the team was waiting so we could all go see the waterfalls. They were stunning! We spent 2.5 hours staring at the waterfalls from different directions and elevations. we then spent the rest of the afternoon doing laundry and chilling. It was a nice day! Matt prepared us a delicious meal complete with: Salad, Au gratin potatoes (when in Idaho), Chicken with lemon caper sauce, soup and brownies for dessert. It was restaurant quality and so nice of him to spend the day preparing all the dishes!Thank you to our stayover River Christian Fellowship. The ride dedication today was for my aunt Marcy’s mother Evelyn who passed away from lung cancer a few days ago.Rider Spotlight (bringing this back): Mike RotterWhat's been the best part of I4k so far?I would say doing the portraits. Especially the portrait we did in Madison.What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?People would be surprised to know I only left the country once and that was to Niagara Falls.Favorite rest stop snack?:Snagging a vintage root beer from a glass bottleWhat's your favorite type of music?/Favorite pump up song on the bike?Oldies for sure. Jukebox heroWhat do you do when you are struggling on the bike?Start singing along to songs or ask random questions to my teammatesIf you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?I would change that people perceive me as mysteriousWhat's your dream place to live?In Liverpool, EnglandWhat place are you most looking forward to on the ride or liked the most?The entire state of Utah because it was gorgeous and the mountains are beautiful and the people are nice.What has been your favorite day on I4K so far?Day 48: The day entering Utah because we passed Dinosaur national monument. We greeted into Utah by the blue mountains. I tried 3 types of root beer at the lunch stop. I found 4 license plates that day. I also had a great group.. best imaginable!Team Knife or spoon?Team spoon for peanut butter and team no utensil for jelly. If it doesn’t come out easy.. I guess you could use a spoon.If you could have any superpower what would it be?Speed and stamina to keep up with Hitarth on the bikeWhat's been the most challenging part of the ride?The most challenging part of the ride is eating PB and J because I don’t like peanut butter.New edition to a crayon box what would you be?Reliable Red: it’s a generic color so it won’t make your art pop but it will always be there for youFavorite pair of socks: My New York Socks because I plan to pair them with my San Francisco pair.~Tailwinds~MandyFlat count: 1Song of the day: In the end -Lincoln ParkMemorable moment: seeing the waterfalls for sure!

Day 55

Hello world!Boy oh boy. Wind in Idaho is bruuuuutal, what the heck! We were mentally prepared for the headwinds of Iowa and Nebraska, but people forgot to mention Idaho. Today easily had some of the toughest winds of the trip so far, combined with hill after hill after hill. Even though they were smaller, they get pretty difficult after a while (especially when your speed going downhill into the wind is a whopping 13 mph).Anywho, tears were shed, screams were screamed, rocks were thrown... anything to let the frustration out ya know! Perks of being in boofoo Idaho I guess! You have no one to bother so you can scream as loud as you want and throw things to make yourself feel better. Whatever gets the job done, right?At one point today we were cruisin along the interstate! That was pretty exciting and kinda funny. Cars were going 80 mph next to us and we were chuggin at a solid 11 mph. Only 69 mph under... not bad! We also were following the Oregon Trail for most of the day, so that was exciting!Some of us also stopped at a potato farm/field and may or may not have harvested a few potatoes to put in our jersey pockets.When in Idaho folks... when in Idaho.Another funny thing we saw today was a dog standing on top of hay bails on the back of a truck. That pup was surfin safari and was barking away up there. I hope the driver knew his dog was actually up there...hmm I didn’t think about that until now.God bless tomorrow because we only have 43 miles!! Partyyyyyyy! Then only a few more days until Boise, ID, can you believe it??Time flies when you’re having fun my dudes.Deuces.Marge

Day 55: Rescuing in Rupert

Today the team rode 75 miles from Pocatello to Rupert, Idaho! It was a very windy ride, with headwinds coming straight at us for all 75 miles. After the first rest stop some groups stopped at The Ranch Bakery in American Falls! It proved to be a hidden gem, with the nicest people working there who gave the team ice. At The Ranch, a few of us met a women named Diane who shared/filmed a portrait about her scary and sad experience with cancer after taking care of her brother in his final months. The Ranch was nice enough to provide the portrait group with homemade cinnamon rolls. They were delicious! We then continued riding through some hilly parts. The first group noticed a patch of dust up ahead. When they got closer they realized that there was a car on the side of the road with a man inside asleep. Because we were in the middle of nowhere with close to no cars they found it suspicious. When they tried to see if the man was ok he was unresponsive. They were quick to call the police and check his pulse! The man eventually woke up and appeared very out of it. The group left the rest to the police. Shoutout to that group ( Mike, Sofie, Eric, Rachel) for being hero’s today.Thank you to First Christian praise chapel for hosting us tonight and providing us dinner!~Tailwinds~MandyFlat count:2Song of the day: Bad day -Daniel Powter ( not necessarily because today was bad)Memorable moment: Getting squirt by water guns from the van clan upon arriving in Rupert

Day 54

Hello world!Today was a sad day... I made it 53 days, but then down went Frazier (kinda).My group started the day cruisin along just doin our thing and at mile 9-10, my back wheel did something funky. Pop goes the weasel and ya girl got her first official flat of the ride. My tubeless tires failed me for the first time.Normally when I get a flat, I spin my tire and the sealant inside the tire will self repair the flat. This time that didn’t happen and turns out it was because I had no sealant left in the tire!I sagged for the first time today (honestly surprised it’s taken me this long), but was able to make it to a bike shop and they fixed my tire in minutes!We’re all good to go now... I think.The rest of the team faced a tough headwinds and a long 97 mile day, so I feel badly that I wasn’t fighting it with them. But hey, sometimes ya just need to be a cheerleader on the sidelines and motivate everyone, so that’s what I tried to do.We’ve got 76 miles today and will be passing a lot of Idaho potato farms! Good stuff.Happy trails.Marge

Day 54: Pokey to Pocatello

Today the team rode 96.7 miles from Logan, Utah to Pocatello, Idaho. We crossed another state line today and now only have two states remaining!! We started the day a little pokey because Mike was never woken up. This wasn’t realized until our “circle up” morning meeting where it was noticed that no one had seen him. Minutes before we were going to roll out Mike was woken up! We all were pretty exhausted after yesterday and took our time this morning so we didn’t leave until 8 am. Once on the road we knew it was going to be a long, hot day. We tried to look for a 7-11 to stop at for free slurpee day but unfortunately there was next to nothing along our route the whole time. However. we met some very supportive people at the gas stations that we were lucky enough to find along the way. Overall, I think it was a pretty difficult day for most of the team. There were a lot of people who ended up not feeling well. I think that we are also at the point in the ride where our bodies are breaking down from all the riding. The heat also takes a massive toll. The wind and heat were very unfriendly to us today. The remainder of the team had our last rest stop at a park where some people napped under trees and others had a water gun fight. It’s safe to say we are all very tired but we are excited to continue the adventure through Idaho!Thank you to the hosts at Evangelical Lutheran Church Of Good Shepherd for preparing Avery healthy meal for the team. The ride dedication was for a family friend of Helen’s who is battling prostate cancer, while also training for triathlons. She described him as her hero!~Tailwinds pretty please~MandyFlat count: 5? Too many to countSong of the day: Greatest Showman soundtrackMemorable moment: Completing yet another hard day with one another’s support and realizing that as a team we only have 22 more days left on the ride!

Day 53: Burning up in Logan

Today the team rode 89 miles from Salt Lake City to Logan, Utah. The day started out nice because we were on trails for a good 40 miles! We made our first pit stop at a gas station where Helen met a man who was a cancer survivor and got to conduct a portrait with him. We also made another stop at a fruit stand. We have all been craving healthy and natural food as our diet consists mostly of gas station food. It was so nice to snack on watermelon and berries on such a hot day. The temps got upward of 98 degrees with a substantial climb around mile 70 of about 6 miles. It was brutal! Once we made it to the top there was a sweet downhill waiting for us with incredible views of the valley and mountains. I’ll miss the Mountain View’s in Utah. Tomorrow we will be heading to Idaho.I would like to thank Alpine Church for hosting us tonight and providing us with a spaghetti dinner. Today’s ride was dedicated to Kathy’s uncle, John Geary who passed away 7 years ago from esophageal cancer.~Tailwinds~MandyFlat count: 4Song of the day: September -Earth,Wind &FireMemorable moment: The team piling into the van to make 3 stops at Chick-Fil-a, Krispy Kreme and an ice cream shop so we could all get our desired rewards after a long day!

Day 53

Hello world!Today was a long but good day. We rode 89 miles from Salt Lake City to Logan, UT. We got a late start to the day so we ended up finishing around 6:15 instead of earlier. We also had a 1,500 foot climb toward the end of the ride/the hottest part of the day but you know, ya win some ya lose some.The climb was about 8 miles long, so it was a grind but the downhill was well worth it. The views were awesomeeeeee! As we were flying down, I spotted a golf course right up against the mountains. I’d love to come back to Utah and play that course because it looked so pretty :)I tied my record speed going downhill today at 42 mph. Getting closer and closer to 59 heheheAlso today we were spoiled with a bike path and if it’s a bike path day, you know you’re gunna have a good day.Oh and my best friend is back and better than ever.... heat rash!!!! Missed my ol pal, he just couldn’t stay away. Hopefully it’ll be gone by tomorrow morn, but one can only wish ya know.Okay gtg I’m hungry and need food!Marge

Day 51 and 52

Hello world!The 53 miles into Salt Lake on Sunday took a little longer than normal. There were a couple big climbs that were a struggle but we got through them.The first big climb was a disappointment because we didn’t even get to do thendownhill :( there was construction on the downhill and they strictly said “no bikes”, so we had to shuttle down which took a v long time.Anyway... when we got to the stayover, we all showered and ate dinner but didn’t do much else. I passed out at 8:30 because I was so exhausted and didn’t even realize.Yesterday marked rest day number 8 and it was very chill. Salt Lake is a cool place and all but we didn’t really do anything too extravagent. We were treated to a team lunch at an Asian restaurant, thanks to Hitarth’s extremely generous parents!! It was divine.We paid a visit to downtown Salt Lake, seeing the Capitol and doing some shopping downtown. Salt Lake was more of a rest day for the body rather than anything else.I look forward to rest days in Boise, ID and Bend, OR for some white water rafting and a biiiiig home.Utah has been rad so far but we’re almost outta here.Word.Marge

Day 50

Hello world!Shuttlefest 2K18 was a success! We packed all 20 of us into the Silver Bullet and made the drive to Provo, UT. We looked like a circus act clown car with so many people in a van but we made it work and we’re all alive and breathin so that’s somethin to celebrate!Once we got to Provo, there was a group run to Chic Fil A... a much needed reunion with that establishment! I’ve beem craving fries and a milkshake for FOR-EH-VER now so I finally got my fix :)A few of us decided that our unanticipated rest day was overrated, so we decided to drive up to the prettiest part of the bike ride that we would’ve ridden today. We ended up doing 22 ish miles to bring us back into Provo.Although there were a couple tough hills and the wind was a tricky one, it was well worth it. After biking through the mountains and along the lake, I’ve gotta say... today was the prettiest ride out of all 50 days so far. We made a pit stop at the lake to take a dip and test the waters. It was lovely, especially because it was a balmy 95 degrees.Utah is a beautiful state and I can’t wait for our rest day coming up in Salt Lake!! Tomorrow we’ve got 53 ish miles lined up that will bring us into Salt Lake City, UT. I hope to catch a nice hike out there but we’ll see how the cookie crumbles!Speaking of cookies... if you ever find yourself in Provo, UT, hit up Chip. It’s a cookie joint that is off the chaaaaain! Crazy good chocolate chip cookie. I don’t think your classic chocolate chip cookie will ever beat that and that’s facts. 10/10 recommend.That’s all I’ve got for tonight.CiaoMarge

Day 52: Salt Lake is Rad!

Today the team had a rest day in Salt Lake City!! People did several different things. Some spent the day actually resting up while others explored the sites. These included: Coffee shops,the Olympic Park, and the capital. A special thanks to Hitarth and his family for generously donating amazing meals to the team.Today is a short blog as many of us caught up on rest! Our last day in Utah is tomorrow and I am sad to be leaving as it has been one my favorite places so far!~Tailwinds~MandyFlat count:N/ASong of the day: Lorde -Tennis Court