The past two days have been filled with awe, as the 2011 Illini 4000 team traveled out of Missoula, over LoLo Pass, and entered Idaho. Though the climb out of Missoula was difficult at points, the team was excited to find that the peak of the pass was at the entrance of a new state and time. The day became even easier as the downhill featured a bounty of wildlife (such as Moose, Deer, and Antelope). With a relaxing night gathered around the fire and eating smores, the team fell asleep very easily.The next day began cooler and cloudier, but the knowledge of only riding 57 miles made the team's spirit high (that and the awesome shakedown Mosher by Josh). The morning ride began just where it ended; alongside the Lochsa River westward. With a scenery of forest pines to the left, random creeks and waterfalls to the right, and a continuous downhill road, the ride went by smoothly. When the last team came back a mass nap ensued, which was quickly followed by a majority of the team eating at a local Mexican restaurant. To say the least, the team has fully enjoyed its stay in Idaho, and the roads along the way.
July 11 The Mecca of Cycling?
The morning was filled with excitement as the team knew that the ride was going to be filled with adventures in hot springs and an eventual arrival to one of the most infamous bike friendly cities in Missoula, MT. After the 76 mile ride our team was lucky enough to be treated to a buffet style pizza dinner from Freemo's Pizzeria! Once again, the surprising generosity the team has received along the trip has been amazing. Thank you very much Misty and everyone at Freemo's!This morning six of our riders—David, Sean, Marc, Maggie, Linsey and Ron—had the opportunity to visit Camp MĀK-A-DREAM in Gold Creek, Montana. It was about an hour away from our stayover in Missoula, MT, so they left at 7:45 as others were still sleeping. Although I was not with the group that traveled to the camp, those who attended greeted the rest of the team later on in the day with nothing less than smiling faces and an eagerness to share stories. Camp MĀK-A-DREAM caters to children whose siblings are suffering from cancer. Meanwhile, the rest of the team hopped on their bikes and pedaled over to the building that puts Missoula, Montana on the map as the mecca of cycling in the minds of I4Kers. It’s building with bright green handlebars for door handles and a wall laden with sticky notes of all the adventurers that have passed through (including past I4K teams!). We later discovered that this touring cyclists’ haven, Adventure Cycling, makes it on the map because, well, they make the maps. They have been routing the country for cyclists since 1976 when the first Trans American tour of 4,000 cyclists took place. Their goal is to change the way people see cycling: it’s more than a toy, more than a sport, more than just a mode of transportation. Instead, cycling is a means of adventure for all ages.When we arrived, we were greeted with a hearty barbeque, and were privileged to hear numerous cycling stories from men and women that all share in our love for it. Many compelling stories were told casually over lunch by a woman named Mickey who had been a participant in the Trans Am tour of ’76. With 66 years of life behind her, 33 years of cycling, 66 countries toured, and 6 years as a cancer survivor she was an inspiration to all of us and never at a loss for words. When she began cycling, it was hardly about going on an adventure because, back then, a bicycle was little more than a child’s toy. In fact, she embarked on her first cycling journey with her 4-year-old son sharing her saddle because she didn’t have enough money to move by any other means. It’s fascinating what people can do with the resources they have.One quite unusual story she shared with us seemed average at first but quickly turned into something shocking. In short, as Mickey was hiking, her leg was punctured severely by a large piece of wood. She pulled it out and cleaned it as well as she could but, knowing she would need stitches, she impatiently pedaled to the nearest town with a hospital. Choosing the cheaper of two hospitals in that town, she got her stitches and moved on. If the story had ended there, it would have been unfortunate but nothing especially unique. The twist was that a year later a chunk of wood resurfaced and pushed itself back through her skin. What a doozy!We also found ourselves crossing paths with a student from Ohio State University that began his solo, self-supported cycling journey in Denver, Colorado and will eventually arrive in San Diego, California. Although we’ve met a fair amount of cyclists also travelling across the U.S. since we’ve been in the west, this young man was the first we could identify with as a fellow college student. We invited him to spend the night with us as our Missoula stayover and, although hesitant, he could not resist the offer of a warm shower and a free bowl of oatmeal.After taking individual photos for the wall and entertaining group photos—especially when the boys decided to really show off their gnarly tan lines—we dispersed in various directions to get prepared for the next day of riding.
This is just the beginning.......
When I started touring the United States on my bicycle, I was so nervous. I had not ridden my bike in 11 years until last July when I was kindly given a bike by a friend. I fixed it up and Charlie and I, were soon best friends. I had always been thinking about doing Illini 4000, but I was never sure if I could since I hadn't biked in so long. I have never been athletic and I have always been horrible at sports embarrassing myself anytime I tried. I have certainly struggled a lot with cycling on this trip, but today I realized that this is only the beginning of my lifelong adventures. We were so fortunate to get to tour the Adventure Cycling Association. This whole trip, I have felt so cool. I can finally say that I am athletic, which I have never ever said before. Today, I realized that what I am doing is just the beginning of the rest of my life. I met a woman who has toured 66 countries on her bike and has done over 250,000 miles in the last 30 years. I met the founders who biked 18,000 miles from Anchorage, Alaska to Argentina over two years and then set up a cross country ride for 4000 people in 1976. How AMAZING!!!!!!!!!! I met people who were doing self-supported tours and people who had traveled all over the world on their bicycles. I read crazy stories like one about a man who toured the U.S. at 70 and another man who toured with a lawn mower attached to his bike so he had some employment. I realized that we had just touched the tip of the iceberg. We were the lucky ones with a supported tour that was already organized.I left that place as if I was in a dream mode and I was constantly thinking about what would be my next tour. I thought I was adventurous, but it turns out I am nothing compared to others. However, after studying abroad in Australia and doing this tour of the United States, my thirst for adventure is only growing. I can't wait to see where life takes me next. On our way into Missoula, I rode with 4 boys. I have never done that. I am usually the one causing the gaps, not the one keeping up. Finally, for the first time, I was able to keep up with people who were much bigger and more athletic than me. I'm sure they slowed their pace down some, but it was a lot better then it usually is for me. We rode fast even in the headwind and it was an amazing accomplishment for me. I can see myself improving everyday. I can't wait to get back. I am hoping to get a routine of cycling, swimming, and running in. It's going to be awesome.I feel like I am finally learning that I have never pushed my limits and if I do push them, I really have potential. If I could explain where I was a year ago and where I am today with words, I would, but I can't, the change is unreal. I ended up having one of the best rides I have ever had with Connor, Sean, Christian, and Ron. We got to stop at these hot springs off the side of I-90 and I jumped off a cliff for the first time and swam in an underwater cave! I even got the opportunity to sit in a waterfall! To top off a great day, Rachel and I happened to walk into a sweet jazz bar at night and we had a great evening listening to some amazing live jazz. I love when life takes you by surprise and you find something so perfect just by chance. Every time I travel, it happens at least once and it's such a magical feeling. We ended up at a local hotspot with great music and we didn't even know it. We got the opportunity to listen to some phenomenal live music in a town we have never even been to, how can't you enjoy a moment like that? As I keep telling everyone by adding Rs when I am excited about something, I LURV this trip!BTW, excuse my grammatical errors, I am usually half asleep when I write these so I make silly mistakes sorry about that.
July 8 Conquering the Divide
Today the Illini 4000 had an 80 mile ride from Ennis to Butte, Mt. Each and every rider was well aware of what was to come in the day, climbing. This did not dampen our spirits, however, as we got prepared for the big day by watching Independence Day last night and having a Breakfast Bonanza this morning. The latter consisted of bagels, muffins, and pancakes which is definitely a huge improvement on our normal cereal or oatmeal.The ride started off nice and peaceful but six miles in we started to climb. Every group reached the top and really marveled at how easy climbing has become. We are all getting to be such strong riders being able to power through the hills and shifting with the utmost efficiency. The pastor at the church last night told us that we had to stop at a candy store in Harrison so the majority of the teams pulled over at Papa's Candy.A full paragraph is needed to tell about this candy shop. It was founded by a retired husband and wife duo who turned a holiday passion into a thriving ma and pop business run out of their very own garage. They handmake each chocolate which can vary from homemade mint to homemade marshmallow or caramel filled. We talked to the happy couple for about an hour about their business and trying various candies. Order some chocolates for the holidays or right now! They only advertise by word of mouth so here is the number! (406)685-3243 Many of the riders agreed that it was one of the best stops along the route so far!After the midway point of the ride the winds started to pick up and a ferocious headwind ensued. The next 23 miles took some groups nearly an hour and a half to complete. It was brutal! And then came the climbing. We climbed and climbed until we suddenly realized we were going downhill again. We had finally conquered the dreaded Continental Divide for the last time!!!! SOOO EXCITING! From here on out, like the rivers, we will now flow west to the Pacific.We made it to the stayover at the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Butte after battling some more headwinds and received word that since we only have 55 miles tomorrow we are going to be able to sleep in for another hour! YAY!That is all for now folks! Until tomorrow!
Life is Beautiful
Wow what an amazing week. We have been in the mountains and its been lovely. I can't remember the last time I was angry because I have been so happy and peaceful as of late. I am thoroughly enjoying life every day. It's so beautiful out here. Yesterday I was in a smaller group and Manny, Taylor, and I had such a great time. We took the day slow and soaked in the beauty as we passed through lakes and valleys. We even stopped by a river and had breakfast at a cafe. We went from snow capped mountains to being in prairie land like Illinois, only the prairie here is surrounded by mountains. I toured towns as I always do and sat on the church porch staring at the mountains amazed that I am sitting here with only a bicycle to think about. We were fortunate to have Marc, a barista at Espresso Royale, to make us wonderful drinks this morning and we had a great meal donated by the church. How amazing is this experience! I love every minute. We have a climb ahead of us, but I now know that I can accomplish anything no matter what is thrown my way. I just love every minute of my life right now and I can't believe that this experience is so close to being over. I will never ever forget these days and they will always help me get through whatever else I go through in life. I think I will keep a snapshot of the view we have right now to always remember that life is beautiful and we are fortunate to have each and every day.
Updates in the form of a List
Here's a list of some of the things that have happened the past few weeks, organized by each day's final destination. I apologize that this isn't an eloquent blog.Murdo, SD: I wasn't excited to arrive in Murdo, but it turns out that Murdo isn't too bad of a town after all. To make the heat of the day go away, a ton of us stopped for ice cream and it was so delicious.Wall, SD: On this day, we rode through the Badlands. I was fortunate enough to see some prairie dogs and buffalo. The entire team was chased out of the Badlands by a massive thunderstorm and everyone beat the storm! For dinner, each of us were given a free footlong from Subway.Rapid City, SD: Before we departed Wall for Rapid City, we spent a few hours in Wall Drug--one of the best tourist traps the USA has to offer. I spent a ton of money on the Wall Drug photo booth, a prairie dog t-shirt, a USA bandana, and postcards. It was really hard to drag Maggie out of that place, but we finally got her to leave. Because Maggie and I love Wall Drug so much, we decided to take another trip there in 10 years! The ride into Rapid City was only a few miles but we were delayed several times due to hail and lightning. Eventually we arrived and went to the Merchen's home for dinner (a group met the Merchen's randomly on the road and they offered to provide dinner for the entire team!).Rapid City, SD (Event Day): I explored Rapid City, especially the Downtown area. Maggie and I basically went on a shopping spree and purchased some really nice things (jewelry, purses, bandanas, post cards, etc). Dino Park is a pretty cool place too!Newcastle, WY: Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills! I drove the van in an attempt to avoid driving through my favorite parts of our route (Montana-California). Nothing too exciting happened to Team Van that day. But I did make a rest stop at Erik Volkman's favorite Quizno's in the USA.Gillette, WY: Once we arrived in Gillette, my group stopped at a gas station to get some Gatorade. We picked the right gas station because a local reporter was there and asked to interview us. Here's a link to the article: http://www.gillettenewsrecord.com/browse.html?search_filter=illini+4000&x=0&y=0Buffalo, WY: During the ride into Buffalo, I got 2 flats. But luckily my second flat delayed our group long enough so that we completely missed a hail storm. Right before the sun went down, we saw a double rainbow!Ten Sleep, WY: This day's ride was one of the most memorable days of my life. We climbed the Big Horns! At the top of a climb, myself and a few others took a very long nap. When I woke up from this nap, I felt so balanced and in harmony. Words can not describe how amazing this mountain was. I have never visited a place so peaceful.Greybull, WY: BEST STAYOVER EVER. We had a roller skating party! It was so much fun, except I really need to improve my roller skating skills.Cody, WY: The ride into Cody was really fun, but it was cut short for me when my front derailer stopped working and wouldn't let me pedal. Fortunately, our bike mechanic fixed my bike. In Cody I realized that I am addicted to Subway and right now, the thought of Subway makes me feel a little sick.Cody, WY (Event Day): HAPPY 4th Of JULY! The team went to the Cody Rodeo, watched fireworks, and frequented the local Dairy Queen. Myself, Maggie, and Dory got feather extensions in our hair at the Cody street fair.Yellowstone, WY: Yellowstone is one of the most beautiful places on this earth. Neither words or pictures can describe this national park. We camped in Yellowstone and my tent had a good time taking some ugly pictures. I'm sure they will appear on Facebook someday.West Yellowstone, MT: I loved this day. So much exploring and so many amazing descents. But too many mosquitos and RVs. The best part of this day was swimming in a natural lazy river! I will definitely never forget that lazy river.Ennis, MT: Team Relaxation + Brooks Saddles! Most of the day was downhill, which is always much appreciated. Today my group took very long breaks and had some great photo shoots. My chain kept flying off, but at least I didn't get another flat. For dinner we had a taco bar and ice cream. Tomorrow I will be flipping pancakes with Taco for Marc "Team Barista" Maybaum's Breakfast Bonanza.I'm looking forward to the next few days in Montana and I am very excited to get to Missoula!
Wild Wild West
*This post is for my mom- who I have been promising a blog for way too long. Thank you for everything - for my bike (thank you too, dad :)), for helping with fundraising, for taking me shopping for my trip, and for getting tickets to San Fran!!! Thank you for supporting me and being excited for me! It means so much! I love you. I finally figured it out. Everyone has always asked me why our route is from east to west instead of from west to east. Some people have even argued that west to east would be easier due to the direction of the wind. I never knew the answer. But now that we are here- way over half of the way done- I have no doubt why we go from NY to San Fran and not the other way around. It is because, now that we are on day 47 we are tired and are physically and mentally worn down, but the sights make everything worth it. The beauty of the west, and what is yet to come definitely helps me get up at 6am and get back on my bike every morning. I could not fathom going on day 50 and being in Ohio. We have simply saved the best for last. The official dividing line between the east and the west is the Mississippi River, which we crossed way back leaving Wisconsin. Then I thought the West was Minnesota. I had no idea. The true West was when we started seeing signs for "last stop for gas," and when the only towns we saw were where we started and where we finished. Our first day riding through Wyoming we rode 65 miles without seeing so much as an exit. The real West is when the towns elevation is ten times the towns population. The real West is absolutely breathtaking. Every day somehow gets more beautiful than the last. These past two weeks have been a whirlwind of sights and attractions. And I honestly couldn't pick my favorite. The day from Murdo, SD to Wall, SD we rode through the Badlands. The entire route we saw more than dozens of signs for the famous Wall Drug. My favorite said, "Badlands then Wall Drug." So of course we went shopping for more than four hours in Wall Drug and drinking 5 cent coffee and free ice water. We also saw Mount Rushmore, the Black Hills, and Yellowstone NP. We rode 35 miles uphill through the Big Horn Mountains. We climbed averaging 5/6 miles an hour uphill, but in the end we reached over 9600 feet and were rewarded with a 20 mile downhill. I didn't have to pedal and flew at speeds around 30 miles an hour. So pretty much it took all day to reach the top and less than a half hour to get down. But every second was worth it, especially at the end when the Mountains opened up into a huge valley. Not only was the Big Horns one of my favorite sights, but one of my best accomplishments on this trip. I didn't think that any view could beat the Black Hills or the Badlands but I was wrong. Today we rode through the Madison River Valley in Montana (yes, I'm all the way in Montana!) and it was so pretty it looked fake. It was like a green screen or like I was in a biking simulation. There were mountains surrounding every side of us. I also got to see a baby big horn along the way! That was just my first day in Montana. I am willing to bet I will see a lot more on our way North to Missoula and then onward all the way to San Fran down highway 1. There is no doubt the best is yet to come!!!
July 7 The Big Sky State
Today the Illini 4000 team faced a 73 mile journey to Ennis, Mt with only some of the most beautiful scenery you could imagine standing in their way. We woke up and everyone was a little groggy but Ellie came through as always with a fantastic Mosher that really lifted everyone’s spirits and ensured a good day for all.Our route took us northwards following the Continental Divide. We had tailwinds for most parts of the ride so the actual riding proved to be relatively easy for the west so far. We rode through the stunningly beautiful Gallatin National Forest with its famous Quake Lake.Quake Lake is very unique. After reading some of the information on lookout points, the riders were informed that the lake itself was the result of a dammed river caused by one of the largest earthquakes on United States soil in 1959. Today it features unbelievable views surrounded entirely by mountains and lush forests and many of the riders chose around the lake to take a nap or have a snack.After nearly falling off the bike—kidding parents—from being so awestruck by the natural beauty of the scene, the riders eventually made it to the stayover at Ennis Assembly of God Church where we were all welcomed graciously with showers, internet, and yes even food! We call it the trifecta!Onto Butte tomorrow which should be our last crossing of the Continental Divide!Peace out!
July 6 So Long Wyoming
Today many of the I4K riders woke up a little wet from an overnight rain high in the mountains of Yellowstone National Park. This downpour did not dampen our spirits however as all riders were excited to conquer what was left of the park. The morning was rather chilly as temperatures were in the mid 40s so everyone bundled up and set out on a rather short 66 mile ride. Marc Maybaum pumped up the crowd with a Mosher activity in which each rider acted as their "spirit animal."Because of the short mileage, each group wasted no photo-op or cool place to see along the entire ride. Some of the more exciting opportunities were around Yellowstone Lake in which you could get the reflection of the sun and the snowcapped mountains in a single picture. Any wildlife along the ride was also a crowd pleaser. But the main attraction was definitely the geysers.Each of the groups waited to see Old Faithful erupt. It goes every 90 minutes and it seemed that we all just seemed to roll in right after it had just blown. We were some of the thousands of tourists there to see such a magical sight but it was impressive nonetheless.One of the more exciting things that happened today was the crossing of the continental divide. And we did it twice! This surely signifies that our group is finally making some serious progress towards the west coast. Since we go north from here, there is no doubt that we will encounter the divide again soon, but it is still very exciting and motivating.Since we are now in Montana, the gentlemen of the team will have to shave the majority of their faces. Most haven't shaved in 45 days or since the beginning of the trip in New York City. They are taking it all off except the moustache, thus continuing the tradition of Moustache Montana. It will be hard to recognize some without their shagginess!Well that will be all for now! Have a great day. Ennis tomorrow.This is I4K signing off.
Into The West
My last post I was able to do was about our stay in Rochester, MN and boy oh boy how far we have come. We are finally in the west and I cannot believe it. I have been to Colorado twice in my life but never anywhere else out here. It is full of new sights and sounds and climate and terrain. I love it so far and cannot wait to wake up each morning. My goal for this post is to keep it short because I'm borrowing Linsey's computer and she is being crabby about it...So I'm going to quick highlight some things that have happened since Rochester that I would like to share with you:-We saw and took pictures with the Jolly Green Giant statue in Blue Earth, MN. The thing was huge and randomly appeared next to some gas stations.-Saw the falls of Sioux Falls, SD and apparently got lucky because it was flooded and more rapid that usual!-Saw the world's one and only Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD. Pretty weird and not hard to believe that it's the world's one and only. But also in Mitchell we got to take a hospital tour which was very cool because we got to see what a cancer patient would do on a day to day basis.-Rode on I-90 for the first time. It was pretty easy riding because of the giant shoulder and relatively flat grades.-Realized that we don't have that crazy of weather in Chicago. At least not compared to that of South Dakota. In one day I had to have all my cold gear on and then it rained, and then it was too hot, and then it rained, and then it was cloudy, and then we had to find shelter in a barn to get out of a hailstorm, and then when we got into the stayover it started raining again. Whew that was exhausting just to write.-Saw the Badlands of South Dakota. It is absolutely unfathomable to me that these breathtaking natural rock formations are not more famous and popular. It went on for miles and miles and was unlike anything I have ever seen.-Went to Wall Drug. For those of you who don't know what that is, drive into South Dakota. You will be notified over 150 miles away. For those of you who are unfamiliar, its essentially the Western Supermall consisting of two whole square blocks of shopping and eating and even rides for the kids. And don't forget about the free ice water!-We saw Mt. Rushmore. It was pretty cool but to be honest I couldn't see the reason for people to come from far and wide to come see it. It's exactly what you see in the pictures only a little smaller than you imagine. Oh and packed with people. We rode past the Crazy Horse memorial too. It's going to be HUGE!-The plus about Mt. Rushmore was that we got to ride through the Black Hills. This was definitely the most beautiful ride to date in which we encountered rolling hills, lush forests, and some very high speeds. It was awesome!-We rode into Wyoming and are now in Montana. I am writing this as a highlight because to be honest, I don't think I would ever have considered visiting these states if it wasn't for this trip. But I am so glad I have.-I got a food donation from a small restaurant in Newcastle, WY. When I explained what we were trying to get, the manager came out with a 10 lb. roll of hamburger meat and buns. It made for an interesting ride back to the stayover to say the least.-We rode through Bighorn National Forest. If I have one place to tell people to visit on the entire trip, it would be this. We took US-16 West into it. It was a tough 35 mile climb but once we got to the top we were met with snow at around 9,700 feet! In JULY! After a few snowball fights and snow angels, we then climbed the peak to get to that magical 10,000 feet mark. The views were unbelievable. But the best was yet to come as we encountered a sign stating that we had 18 miles of downhill coming up. This led us into Ten Sleep Canyon in which for six miles of riding my jaw was practically dropped to the floor. The icing on the cake was that our campgrounds was right in the thick of the beauty and we enjoyed a beautiful night under the stars. You guys have to go!-We rode past Emblem, WY. This was our smallest town and had only 10 residents! We had two groups meet at the sign and took a picture with eleven of us. It was crazy!-In Greybull, WY we stayed in a roller rink and had a rollerskating party all night! It was without a doubt the most fun I've had at a stayover and brought me back to those grade school years where the couples' skate was the source of the school drama.-I went to a rodeo. And not just any rodeo, it was Cody's (aka the Rodeo Capital of the World) largest rodeo of the year and just happened to be on the Fourth of July. What could possibly be more American than that? Connor Yanz and I also bought some fireworks but unfortunately the Cody firework show and our own were rained out. We are hoping that somewhere in Montana will be waiting for a show.-Yesterday we passed by LVs Ride which is another cross country charity bike team. I couldn't believe it! They were headed from Astoria, OR to Long Branch, NJ to fight poverty. We talked with them for awhile and it was really fun to compare and contrast our organizations and rides. Good luck to you all especially Mario and Mari!-We went through Yellowstone. That sentence could be a highlight in itself. Yellowstone could be described as the natural Disneyworld. It has everything and I mean everything! It has snowcapped mountains, hot springs, geysers, buffalo, moose, elk, waterfalls, you name it. We passed the continental divide twice! I think that was a first(and second) for me. One thing I could go without though is the amount of people there. It was a bit out of hand when you have thousands of people surrounding an Old Faithful eruption. For some reason the abundance of other tourists took away from the wonder and awe of the place. But definitely not the beauty.So that is my experience of the west so far in a nutshell. I hope you guys are enjoying the posts as much as we are on our ride. It's hard to believe that before the ride started I was nervous as to whether or not I would enjoy it. 45 days in and I have no regrets in the world and believe that sticking with this organization and completing this ride will be one of my life's greatest triumphs to date.P.S. I have lost 20 lbs. on this trip so far. I am now thinner than I was in high school when I was playing football and unfortunately definitely less bulky. But you win some and you lose some.
Gone to Look for America
It has been quite awhile since I have last blogged, I like to think that I was taking a bit of a hiatus from technology, as I have not been on the internet for more than 10 minutes since Chicago. It felt great to fall off the grid for awhile and I would recommend those of you who have the capability to do the same. We have covered many miles since Chicago, and unbelievably, we are already in West Yellowstone, Montana, the Mosquito Capital of the US. The past few weeks have brought with them the lowest lows and highest highs of the entire trip for me. After leaving Chicago we rolled strongly through Wisconsin, Minnesota and the eastern half of South Dakota. These states were filled with excitement of being past the point of no return, really traveling out west. Wisconsin felt familiar, and Minnesota was very welcoming. It wasn't until approaching the Badlands that we began to see a true change in landscape as the rolling hills grew gradually in size. My knees began hurting for the first time on the trip and my nerves about the Rockys almost got the best of me. After conquering the Bighorn Mountains, which I was especially nervous about hearing that we would be climbing for more than 30 miles, I have regained my confidence and feel ready to take on anything. It is with this attitude that I rolled through Yellowstone and plan to conquer the remainder of the trip with.This trip has become much more about the journey than the destination for me. This experience has been more amazing than I had ever dreamed it would be and so far all of my most favorite moments are the unexpected ones. One town that I will never forget is that of Fairmont, Minnesota from now on known as the black hole of the Midwest. Our group decided to take an extended lunch break in Fairmont that included taking a nap on the sidewalk in front of subway, meeting a breast cancer survivor, eating free ice cream, visiting a prairie dog exhibit, and most importantly, staring as an extra with Divya in the local soap opera As the Corn Grows. Some other great moments from the past weeks include, being invited to roll along in a parade, learning rattlesnake safety and fortunately not having to put it to use in the Badlands, spending the entire day visiting almost every single shop and Dino Park in downtown Rapid City, seeing Mt. Rushmore, The Black Hills, Bighorns, and Yellowstone National Park for the first time, Seeing my first moose on the side of the road, floating down a natural lazy river, stuffing five people into a tent while camping, and so many more.Until next time, I have gone to look for America.
It is amazing to think that the past month and a half has gone by so quickly. After an exhausting day in Yellowstone Park, I will give a bit of a quick summary since I have not been very consistent with blogging. Hopefully this will change with the little time left.The east coast was busy, but I enjoyed that aspect of it.Pennsylvania was beautiful, especially the mountains.The midwest was...comforting. A bit flat and at times boring, but it was pleasant to be near home.South Dakota can best be described as 'natural beauty'. The land that surrounded our ride was simple: rolling hills and boundless prairies. Unlike the rest of the state, the Badlands were unlike anything I had ever seen. They are something that you have to see to understand.Lastly, Wyoming was jaw-dropping. Both because of the stereotypical cowboy Western culture that is so well maintained and because of the nothing-desert landscapes. Yellowstone and the Big Horns didn't hurt either.In case you were wondering, here is the score for favorites:1) Wyoming2) Pennsylvania3) Wisconsin4) South DakotaIn later days I should be blogging more, sorry for the wait.
July 5 To Yellowstone or Bust!
Most of the team would agree there is nothing more daunting than getting back on the bike after a rest day. However, the day we left Cody, Wyoming was no ordinary day. Our destination was Yellowstone National Park. We have talked about the day we would get to go camping in Yellowstone for most of the trip- and how far away it seemed. However, today Yellowstone was only about 80 miles away. We all expected the park to be beautiful, but we were all unsure about what the road there was going to bring. There was talk of difficult climbs and steep upgrades. Yellowstone would bring us back to an altitude above 8000 feet again. The first 50 miles weren't as difficult as everyone had speculated. Even if it had been difficult the view of the valleys and mountains were more than worth it. We followed the rolling hills along the river all the way to the entrance of the park. Along the way we ran into another team of cross-country bikers who are riding west coast to east coast against poverty. They were the ones who gave us a tip for the road ahead in Yellowstone. They told us that a park ranger had strongly advised them get off the road and ride in their support vehicle for part of the way because the road was so dangerous. Once we got to the park, we saw the road for ourselves and made the call. Unfortunately due to the road being very long and steep, having little to no shoulder, and also heavy traffic from the holiday (especially RVs) we made the decision not to ride the last 30 miles to our campsite. As unfortunate as it was to make the decision not to ride- we were comforted with the decision knowing that safety always comes first. So we took shifts taking everyone and their bikes back and forth from the entrance to our campsite. Even though we weren't on our bikes, we still got to see Yellowstone's beauty firsthand. Everything you may have seen or heard about Yellowstone is a huge understatement. All the trees, mountains, and lakes took your breath away. We even got to see a couple buffalo on the way up! The campsite was a little chilly but luckily a warm fire (the boys love collecting fire wood) kept us warm. We also got to enjoy Mac n' Cheese and S'mores by the campfire thanks to Lauren Mazurski. Lauren is a previous I4K rider who mailed our whole team a care package in Cody including all the ingredients for S'mores. THANK YOU SO MUCH LAUREN! It made our night!
Contentedness on the Range
In the time leading up to this cross country ride, I was bombarded with stories, pictures, videos, and all sorts of media that, as a whole,led me to create an abstract idea of what riding with the Illini 4000 would be like. And, for months on end, this abstraction was something I clung to. At times, it was solely a source of excitement. Occasionally, it seemed like the only thing that made going about my daily routine doable. Either way, though, at these times, what I believed in was still distant, remote, and just the sum of anecdotes and photographs. Quite recently, I began to reflect on how I felt leading up to the ride, and I was reminded of my abstraction and how it made me feel. This small bit of reminiscence did much more than that, however. It also allowed me to be more perspicacious about how my expectations were affecting my behavior day in and day out on the ride. What I found was that, in the beginning, I had an idea of what I thought places would look like, notions of how my time would be spent. With this said, though, I am satisfied to say that I can't recognize the point at which I no longer had any sense of expectation when I woke up in the morning. Simply put, I find that I have finally begun to understand that each day of this trip is unique, and that no matter what preconceived notions I may have had, I am bound to be both a passive recipient of surprise as well as a dynamic force in shaping my own experience. And accordingly, I have never been so prepared to allow my eyes to widen and my legs to pedal.
Firework in Cody
Yesterday it hit me, for the first time, that we had actually ridden to Wyoming from New York City. I still can't tell if it's been a long time or no time at all. Several times on this trip I've just felt like a plastic bag drifting through the wind, being swept from one coast to the other and not being able to experience the journey; just wanting to start again.But starting again isn't an option at this point. Sometimes this team feels like a house of cards; one blow from caving in. Tensions have been high, but ever since crossing the Missouri each day has been better than the last.For the first time, we went several days with no phone service. Not being able to get in touch with anybody was an experience that showed that we were really in the west, like being buried deep, six feet under when you scream and no-one hears a thing.But if there's anything this trip has taught me, it's that there's still a chance. All the people that we've talked to have a spark in them, and they just have to ignite that light and let it shine. When it happens, then they can own the night like the Fourth of July.Speaking of the Fourth of July, today was the Fourth of July. Independence Day in Cody starts with the Stampede Parade at 9:30 am, mostly cowboys and a few marching bands, though there were a few gems - namely a team of older men in turtle carts. They made the parade feel like it wasn't a waste of space. It was very original and couldn't be replaced by any other act. After the parade was a barbeque in the park, and then the Cody Stampede Rodeo at 5. After the rodeo came the fireworks show, accompanied by a lightning show. The rain was tough, but we have to remember what the future holds - after a hurricane comes a rainbow.Between the rodeo and the fireworks, we attempted to enter the original Cody from the 19th century, but were told that it was private property. Maybe we're the reason why all the doors are closed, and we just had to open one that could lead us to the perfect road. This door led us to a field a few blocks away from the stayover, where we watched the firework show.Regardless of the old Cody setbacks, this has probably been the biggest culture shock of my life. We've been going through the west for a while now, but I never really stopped to experience the culture. And just like the lightning bolts outside, my heart will blow and when it's time I'll know that we just have to ignite the light inside all of us and let it shine. Then we can own the night like the Fourth of July in Cody. Because we're all fireworks and we are showing the whole country what we're worth. I4K is even brighter than the moon.Boom boom boom.
July 4, Red White Blue
The Illini 4000 celebrated the Fourth of July in Cody, Wyoming for our rest day. The team sported red, white and blue as we enjoyed the towns festivities. The team kicked off the day by witnessing the parade. It was a true western parade complete with lots of horses and guns. After the parade we got the chance to go shopping on the streets of Cody. The streets were packed with tourists (the town is said to double in population for the holiday) and vendors selling everything from homemade jewelry to antlers. Many of us also got to experience wild game burgers at the Wyoming Buffalo Company restaurant. The menu had everything including ostrich burgers, wild boar burgers, elk burgers, and buffalo burgers. After a day on the town our evening was concluded with our big event. The whole team got tickets to go watch the famous Cody Stampede Rodeo. For many of us, it was our first time witnessing bareback riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing, and bull riding. The stadium was packed with over 10,000 people and the cowboys did not disappoint. The night was concluded by a big and bold display of fireworks. We could not have imagined a more spectacular way to celebrate the Fourth of July- true western style.
Cody WY
We were in Cody today for a rest day and it was awesome. We got to Cody by riding through the desert for a couple of days after dominating the Big Horn Mountains. We were at 9,666 ft but a few of us decided to climb the rocky peak to get to 10,000. Then we had an 18 mile downhill through a river valley that required almost no pedaling. We got to camp and had an awesome ride out of the mountains. Then we got to Cody . The rest day started by going downtown and seeing a 4th of July festival going on with a bunch of neat stuff. There was a parade and I stopped to have an elk burger for lunch. Tonight was probably the most fun for me because we got to go to the Cody Rodeo. We got to see calf roping, bareback riding, barrel racing, and bull riding just to mention a few. It was awesome with the arena sitting at the bottom of a mountain. We get to ride into Yellowstone tomorrow and and then we will be in Montana on the 6th. The ride is getting better and better but a little bit tougher as we climb the mountains. I can't believe thought that we will be on the coast in about two weeks. Awesome!!!
July 3 At Home on the Range
With the Big Horns behind us and even more mountains in the distance, the Illini 4000, were happy to embrace a second day of Wyoming's flatter regions. With only a 53 mile route to complete, the team was anxious to complete their rides and finally get to Cody WY for the festivities that we have all awaited.Accordingly, both the ride into the town and the ample amount of time spent in it, brought about widespread enjoyment. The ride itself was much like the preceding day's, however, no two days are alike on the trip, and monotony was far from our minds. The team road beside wild horses and even encountered a European touring cyclist whose experiences widened even our eyes.Once in Cody, the team found that the hospitality doesn't take a backseat to the busyness of July 4th. Christ Episcopal Church was kind enough to provide pizza and watermelon and allowed for a pair of riders to describe the organization and its goals to members of its congregation. Following dinner, the team also did a portrait of a man named Gary whose perseverance regarding his own cancer was motivating and whose general optimism was inspiring. Tomorrow, the team is spending the day in Cody, and one of America's largest rodeo's has made its way on to the agenda!
July 2 I4sKate
After encountering seemingly all that Wyoming had to offer, the Illini 4000 team left our campsite this morning only to find a new face of Wyoming as well as some considerable Summer heat.The team navigated dry grasslands on their way to Greybulll, however, most groups completed their routes quickly and, in doing so, beat some of the day's heat. Along the way, though, the team was happy to take to the flat roads that greatly contrasted yesterday's climb.After reaching Greybull, the team managed to relax and utilize the amenities that the Greybull Recreation Center offered us, and from there, a good time was had by all as a result of a key feature of the center, its skating rink. We found it entirely difficult to relax after the first skates were put on. The team skated the night away, and assuredly will not forget their time in Greybull while traveling to Cody tomorrow.
One of the best days of my life
Oh my gosh, I can't even begin to describe how awesome yesterday was. I think if I try, I will ramble on so I will give you the shortcut version by way of my facebook status. Here goes:Just experienced one of the most beautiful days of my life. Climbed the big horns to reach snow capped peaks, took a nap in a field that resembles that in the sound of music, biked downhill through a canyon only to sleep in a tent right next to a river full of rushing water with its peaceful sounds accompanying my sleep and i even managed to catch a look at the stars just before i went to sleep. i will never forget 7/1/11.