We entered Idaho yesterday, and let's just say that it has been beyond amazing. Upon crossing the border, we were greeted only five miles later by a lovely cafe in Victor, ID who offered us all free lunch! We were blessed with sandwiches, chips, and oatmeal cream pies. Later that day, we arrived at the stayover in Idaho Falls and were welcomed by the Calvary Baptist Church. After a long day (95 miles with a few huge climbs) the dinner they prepared us really hit the spot! After dinner, we were taken over to Apple Athletic Club to shower. Yet, if showers weren't enough, they let us use their pool, hot tub, and sauna! It was great to let our legs and muscles rest.This morning, we had a late wake up time due to a shorter ride today. Who would've known that getting up at 7:15 would be so exciting! We had a great breakfast of cereal, bananas, and coffee (also provided by the church!) and then set off to Pocatello, ID. We stopped for lunch in Fort Hall and were laying around on the ground on the side of the road. Much to our surprise, a lovely lady walked out of the local cafe with bags of huge homemade cookies for us! You should have heard us all sigh in unison at the sight of the cookies.Upon entering Pocatello, we passed a few separate groups of people holding signs on the side of the road for various fundraising endeavors- car washes, bake sales, etc. When my group was only two miles away from today's stayover, Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, we passed another car wash, crafts, and baked goods fundraiser. About 200 feet past them, my brain finally processed what their sign said- "We are fundraising for our dad with colon cancer." We immediately turned back around and headed to the car wash. This could not have been a more inspiring detour. There were tons of family members there, sitting under a tent selling crafts and snacks or washing cars or holding signs on the side of the road. They were all there for one person. That individual was a grandfather, uncle, father, and more. His recent diagnosis with colon cancer had led the family to take action and assist with fundraising, due to the strong financial burdens a diagnosis can hold. We explained our story and how we collect interviews for the Portraits Project. They agreed to do a portrait! While waiting for the van, we decided to help wave signs on the side of the road. We let some folks have a break from the sun and sit under the shade while we danced on the side of the road yelling "Car wash for cancer!," promoting the cause to the best of our ability. The van finally arrived and we conducted an wonderful portrait. As we were leaving the car wash, we were all inspired by how many family members had come out to join in the fundraiser. There must have been at least 20 people there, if not 30. It's great to see how families can really come together.We finally arrived at the stayover and were surprised to find juice, fruit, and some great ladies waiting to drive us to showers! We were incredibly lucky to take showers at the Idaho State University gym. After this, we were fed an amazing meal of hot dogs, sausages, macaroni and cheese, quinoa, hummus, noodles, and beans! What was even more exciting were the folks we got to eat with! Some members of the local cancer support group had come to eat with us, and my table was privileged to sit with Gloria, a cancer survivor and box of joy! She told us countless stories about life, traveling, cancer, the support group, and just about anything else. We were both laughing and crying throughout the whole dinner.After dinner, we were blown away by the amazing offer to sit in on an example of what a gathering of the cancer support group looks like. Words cannot describe how blessed we were by this. We were taken in like family and could not have felt more welcomed. It was such an encouraging environment and most of us were moved to tears. Checking out local cancer support groups will definitely be something I suggest to those struggling. It provides a perspective that otherwise would be unattainable.Post-meeting we were able to conduct four portraits! (I know you're probably amazed that this blog is STILL GOING! and still about today, for that matter.) The portrait I sat in one that was inspiring beyond belief. It re-centered us on why we are riding. It inspired us to look to the future. It allowed us to not just ride for a medicine to prolong the time to live, but for a real cure. Above all, the portrait provided us with stories of real people who weren't able to stick around enough to find a cure. We're riding for them.
[Journal] Day 8; Boonsboro, MD - Everett, PA
"He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord." - Proverbs 18:22It was the year of 2008.I was taking a summer in S.Korea. It was a great chance for me to visit my family and take summer class in my mother nation.God sometimes acts upon us humorously when it comes to LOVE.We never had a same class. The only connection we had was our mutual friend who happened to know both of us.Then, this one text message, one wrong text message sent to wrong person, changed the whole thing.One day she send me the text regarding the party of her friend during the weekends. I was half excited, half doubtful. Is this person really inviting me to this party? THIS IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE!So I responded whether she really meant me to come, or she sent it to the wrong person. I received the response 3 minutes later."Oops, sorry! Wrong Je Won."Apparently there was another guy named as same. Since then this girl's name was stuck in my head and never came off.'Haeley Park'Long story short, I heard she was back in S.Korea and we met each other again while I was serving in ROKAF (Republic of Korea Air Force) for military duty in 2011.Then, this beautiful girl and I got married in August, 2012.Everyday I ride, whenever I look up the sky, she is always smiling at me. Then I smile back and continue pedaling.As I went through Boonsboro to Everett, I realized how blessing it is to have a reason to be a better person each moment.I believe all I4K members have a same thought.All the families, friends, relatives, and supporters bring as the energy to continue this journey.I once again thank you for everything you have done to us.Coming this August is 1st Anniversary.Haeley "Haedeun" Park, I'm the luckiest guy on earth to be with you, and I love you so much. See you in San Francisco!
Onward into the land of potatoes
Even before it started, we knew today would be a long day. What we faced was the four-mile, 10% uphill on the Teton byway. Luckily, instead of dodging heavy traffic, there was a nicely paved bike trail for us to take. Local people told us it was the old Teton byway, which was then remodeled for cyclists. Climbing the hill was not going to be easy for us. According to many of our smartphones the ride was going to be particularly daunting. Fortunately, the climb did provide some spectacular views. The switchback path allowed us to view the landscape behind from all angles. Some groups also stopped at a beautiful pond halfway up. The ice cold water was very refreshing. After more than 2 strenuous hours and over 2000 feet of climbing we finally reached the top. The one benefit of a long climb is the easy descent that comes with as all the groups coasted into our first rest stop that had a surprise.We would like to send our thanks out to the Victor Gateway Station, whose employees were kind enough to treat us to lunch. It was definitely a blessing to have a delicious lunch after climbing all morning. Idaho continued to surprise us throughout the day, not only with more hills to climb, but also with the generosity of strangers. Tonight the team’s stay over is at Calvary Baptist Church in Idaho Falls, where we were greeted not only with kindness, but also with a wonderful dinner! It was a great conclusion to a long and tiring day, and the whole team is already agreeing that Idaho is definitely a hidden gem in our country.
Goodbye Yellowstone but Hey Hello Grand Tetons
It was 5am in the morning, and it felt like 40 degrees outside. The team woke up before sunrise to get ready for this 95 mile day to Jackson, WY. Packing the van was more difficult in the darkness and the cold milk and cereal didn’t help to warm us up either. But when the sun finally came out, everything became shiny and happy again.
It’s hard not to make any stops in National Parks. Some of the group stopped by the general store for coffee in order to warm their bodies up. There we met Remy Terrier once again. He is a cyclist from France who is biking across America this summer. The team first met him on the way to Yellowstone. We were happy to see him and his recumbent bike and we exchanged a lot of experiences about cycling.Biking in the Yellowstone is not an easy task. The narrow shoulder and crazy RV drivers made us nervous. It has been a while for us to be so concerned about traffic since the flat land of South Dakota and Wyoming. But we all made it through the chaos, and we didn’t forget to enjoy the beautiful geysers and waterfalls.Happy times are always short. After two nights camping in Yellowstone, we finally have to say goodbye to it. However, it didn’t mean the rest of the day was bad. We were soon welcomed by the mighty mountain of the Great Teton. Even though we had some gusty wind in the afternoon, biking right in front of the Great Teton was such a sweet experience. All the clouds were piled on the other side of the Tetons while sunshine sprinkled on us.
It was a long day of riding and we harvested not only fun but also donations and portraits.A huge thanks to our stayover, First Baptist Jackson, for welcoming us into their church! It was beautiful. We also would like to thank Heather's family members (Dana Norris and Maureen Blackb urn) for funding a delicious food donation of pizza, salad and breadsticks! After a long day on the road, a great meal and awesome stayover was much needed.
Bison, Geysers, Lakes, and Mountains!
The Yellowstone event day started slowly, despite great anticipation, due to the brisk morning. We started a fire to warm up while eating cereal and discussing the day’s activities. Some members decided to check out Old Faithful, others celebrated Heather Norris’ 22nd birthday with a hike and picnic, and a few took the day to relax and catch up on journals or bike maintenance.Those who checked out Old Faithful caught a ride from the campground to see the natural geyser. Along the way, they discovered that the driver’s wife died of breast cancer 3 years prior, and talked about what our organization is doing. Tomorrow we will dedicate our ride to the memory of LaDine.For those who went hiking, the day consisted of slowly ascending the mountain overlooking Yellowstone Lake. On the way up, they met some other people making their way across the country, and got a few pictures in front of the scenic overlook. A feast of a picnic was had on the shore of the lake before heading back to the campground for a team meeting.After recapping the past and upcoming weeks, we retired early in anticipation of the next day’s 95 mile ride out of the park.
Arriving in Yellowstone
Today we rode from Cody, WY to Yellowstone National Park! A greatly anticipated part of I4K for many riders, the ride easily lived up to expectations as one of the prettiest rides of the trip so far. We were able to see the landscape change over the day from a more arid canyon to a lush forest with lakes and streams.We all met at the café outside the park at lunch to pile into the van and shuttle into the park, but due to road construction we were delayed and ended up getting into camp just before sunset. Riding into the campground provided stunning scenery of Yellowstone Lake as well as some up-close encounters with a few bison. One of the first groups went ahead and set up all of our tents so we were able to start dinner right away after the long day.Following our normal routines were a bit difficult at the campsite, especially with the time crunch at the end of the day. Because we arrived shortly before sunset and had to cook dinner over a campfire, things were hectic yet fun as we got to try out this new experience. Before going to bed, we had to be extremely careful to be clean and put our food into “bear boxes” to keep the chance of encounter with a Grizzly to a minimum.At the end of the day, it was relaxing to sit around the campfire among teammates. Eventually, we all headed to our tents in the Yellowstone woods in the dark to catch up on sleep.
Getting Ready in Cody
Today we were biking from Greybull, Wyoming to Cody, Wyoming for a short 53 miles ride. The ride was very short so that we could do laundry and prepare for the ride into Yellowstone National Park and the upcoming event day. However, some of the groups encountered hailstorms in the early afternoon.Our afternoons and evenings were very productive and exciting! Some folks headed to get their laundry done while others hung out at various shops around town. We gathered together again for a delicious dinner cooked by our stayover hosts. We could not have been more delighted with the delectable treats. They even gave us brownies and ice cream for dessert! After dinner, the night got wild- a square dancing crew typically meets in the church on Monday nights, so we were invited to join in on the fun! All of the square-dancers were incredibly tolerant of our lack of skill and welcomed us with open arms (literally)! After we were all dead tired from the dancing, we headed to the grocery store to pick up some food for our camping time in Yellowstone tomorrow and Wednesday.A huge thanks to our stayover, Christ Episcopal Church, and the wonderful members who cooked us dinner! We also could not be more thrilled to have been included in the square-dancing activities tonight. This will definitely be a night to remember.
[Journal] Day 7; Washington DC - Boonsboro, MD
"Everytime I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race." - H.G. WellsThe path to Boonsboro was not an easy one.My team got lost and had to add extra 10 miles on our odometer.Getting lost and having an extra 10 miles, however, didn't drag us down much. We still made it to Boonsboro as 2nd group, close to 1st group.I should mention Mt. Nebo United Methodist Church's warm welcoming and hospitality here. 22 members of college kids, all sweaty and sun-burned, had one of the best moments in Illini4000 2013 riding. God bless all of you and we will ride with your true heart given.Town of Boonsboro also happened to have a carnival in nearby ground from the church, and the riders enjoyed it so much. Being in Maryland for the first time, I would love to come back once again.My wheels will circle tomorrow as always.Thanks for your supports and prayers.
We'll Climb a Little Higher
Today, I conquered a mountain. That’s right, I pedaled my brains out for thirty-six miles on a 7% incline for over 5,000 feet of elevation. I climbed a vertical mile today. Even as I write this blog, I know that I will never be able to describe how it all felt. I can’t put into words the beauty of the forest, the pain of my legs, the heavy breathing, or the desperate shouts of “WHERE’S THE VAN?!?” that were screamed once we hit mile thirty-three, where we had been told the end of climb was. I cannot describe how amazing that peanut butter and jelly sandwich tasted at the top, how unexpectedly cold it got, or how relieved I was that this climb had no electric fences for me to crash into.I will, however, attempt to describe the descent.Here we are, at the top of this mountain. It’s freezing. The wind is tearing at our jackets, and we’re ready to get back on our bikes, if, for nothing else, than to continue pedaling to keep warm. We’ve been up since 5:30 am. We’ve been on our bikes pedaling for at least five and a half hours, willing ourselves to make it the top, to Powder River Pass at 9,666 feet above sea level. We’re exhausted, and we have no idea what lies ahead, other than an eighteen mile downhill to our campsite. The first few miles are similar to the evergreen forests we had gone through on the way up. And then the suddenly, the rocks on either side of us surge upwards, and we are thrust into what is one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen, and to what stands as one of my most incredible experiences.Red rocks with evergreen and scattered shrubs surround us as the road gradually snakes down through the canyon. It’s unbelievable. The wind roars in my ears and my heartbeat quickens, not because of effort, but because of the adrenaline rush. I’m going as fast as I can with this incline and wind, a steady 37 mph. The trucks and campers that pass us can surely see the expression of absolute joy on my face. I can’t hold in the excitement of this thrilling experience. I want to scream at the top of my lungs. I want to let the world know that I’m here, that I’ve conquered the mountain. I know that I can do anything. Even now, as I write this, the feeling comes back. This is better than any dream I’ve ever had. I could have never imagined a better reward. This moment is something that I will never forget.But, like all good things, it ends somewhere. This one ends at a campground at the edge of the national forest, by a fire, surrounded by twenty-one other lunatics that just climbed over 5,000 feet. We’re roasting marshmallows, swapping stories, and enjoying a night with no phone service and no internet. The roar of the river echoes through the trees, and the fire dances to the night music. I’m ready for whatever tomorrow, the day after, next week, or even next year has to throw at me. Because I know I can conquer anything.
From Canyons to Deserts
Today started wet and cold from the rain we got overnight in the campground, but it turned into a beautiful sunny day. After packing up our tents and eating a quick breakfast, we headed to the campground entrance for sun and the ride dedication. We were able to dedicate today’s ride to Matt Soltys’s grandmother who recently pasted and was a cancer survivor.The ride out of the canyon continued to be beautiful and as we descended, the weather quickly got hotter! We started on a gravel road which, while challenging, was beautiful and a test of our bike handling skills. While on the road, we were able to see the landscape change throughout the day, going from mountainous canyons, to red rock, and finally a more desert-like climate.Last night, while setting up camp, we met a fellow camper, Michael Adams. Mike was diagnosed with multiple myeloma two years ago after undergoing a bone marrow biopsy. He went through chemo and an autologous stem cell transplant and went into remission. Unfortunately, the cancer returned again last fall. “Once I was told that I was in complete remission and that there was no detectable cancer, it seemed like it was reasonable for me to assume I’d have five to seven years; that’s pretty common after a transplant. But ultimately, it did return.” Mike went through three types of chemo, including the IV treatment reserved as a last-ditch effort. “I really thought that was it. They had tried everything and it wasn’t working. I was told at one point that my chances of being alive in a year were one in three. I was told that I’d probably be dead in three months. I was told a number of things.” Thankfully, a new drug was introduced to the market, and it has worked miraculously. Mike is scheduled for another autologous stem cell transplant and a donor transplant later this year, which has the potential to cure him.As a closing remark, Mike talked to us about how he dealt with the diagnosis. “There is no way that cancer can’t affect you. There are places that I won’t let myself go. I won’t go down certain roads and go through certain doors because it would be too depressing. I just made a decision that I will live my life as fully as I can live it. I owe that to myself and I owe that to my family, to live my life as well as I can for whatever time I have. I mean, I could be around for another twenty years—that’s perfectly possible. Or, I could be dead by the end of the year. Everybody faces that; everybody, theoretically, could go out and get hit by a car, but cancer puts it right up in your face that it’s there in a way that nothing else does. You could be dead at any time. So I am grateful every day that I can get up and feel good.”A special thanks you to the Greybull Recreation District for hosting us tonight.
The Bighorns
Today we rode from Buffalo into the big horns. The beginning half of the ride was extremely demanding; within the first 34 miles we climbed more than 5,500 feet. That's a vertical mile! However, after we made it to the top, which was about 9,666 feet in elevation, the day became much easier. The remaining 22 miles were mostly downhill into a canyon. The beautiful landscape consisting of mountains, trees, and cliffs were breathtaking. Today was by far one of the most beautiful days of the trip. Tonight we will enjoy the beauty firsthand as we are camping in the Bighorn National Forest. The team has no cell phone service so mom and dad, don't worry, we are all fine.
Today we rode 70 miles form Gillette to Buffalo. Our ride today was dedicated to Eleanor Schuh, the grandmother of Maddy Schuh. Eleanor is currently battling liver cancer, and Maddy had asked that we keep her grandmother in mind as we continue our journey west.Even though today’s ride was shorter than our recent rides, it turned out to be just as challenging. Throughout the day, we faced strong winds and a hot sun. Also, we encountered some construction on the interstate about midway through the ride. Unfortunately, the construction meant that there was no longer a shoulder for us to ride on. In the end, some members of the team walked along the construction and others were shuttled. After our challenging ride, we made it to St. Luke’s Lutheran Church. There, we enjoyed homemade Sloppy Joe’s!On a side note we will ride up the big horns tomorrow! After dinner, the team conducted some interviews for the Portraits Project. We had the opportunity to chat with Curt and Loretta. Curt Newcomb was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma after a blood test showed some unusual levels of proteins in his blood. “There’s a big difference between someone telling you ‘So-and-so has cancer,’ and a doctor telling you, ‘You have cancer.’ I approached this like I do to every other challenge in my life. There’s three key elements; one is your faith in god, two is having a great wife that will support you, and the third is having self-confidence. Curt went through multiple bone scans and several bone marrow biopsies. He underwent a year of chemo, a stem cell transplant, and then two more years of chemo. He told us about the importance of having a good attitude. “I’d go to the hospital and see all these people that maybe were worse off than I am, maybe not, but you look at them and it’s obvious by the look in their eyes and the look on their faces that they have given up. And they were letting the cancer control them. And that didn’t make sense to me.” Curt also described the important role of his support system. “All my friends and family didn’t treat me like I was sick. They knew that would’ve been a mistake, so they treated me like they always had. And I think you have to surround yourself with positivity and faithful people. If people keep telling you you’re sick, sooner or later, you’re gonna start believing it.”Loretta Funk-Culpepper was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1977 and underwent a mastectomy. Six years later, the cancer returned in the other breast, and she once again opted for surgery. Loretta had trouble finding other women who had similar experiences as herself. “It was a very frightening thing because you don’t know what to expect, you can’t find anyone to talk to who has been through that experience and can give you reassurance. And I think that was the most frightening part of the whole thing.” In addition to breast cancer, Loretta’s mother had colon cancer. With this knowledge of family history, Loretta had an examination and discovered that she had colon cancer. She was able to have the growths removed through surgery. She stressed the importance of being tested and gave some advice to other women who are going through similar experiences. “There’s nothing to worry about, you can’t do anything by worrying. Put it in God’s hands and you’ll be a lot better off.”Hearing their experiences with battling cancer was a great opportunity for the team to remember why we ride. It was the perfect reminder of why we work so hard and a good motivator to conquer the mountains tomorrow.
Celebrating America on the Road
This morning, we left Newcastle, WY on an 80 mile ride, destination Gillette, Wyoming. The ride was certainly a lot less hilly than our previous day. It was relaxing and allowed for great conversations amongst our team of all girls. We kept breaks short and enjoyed our time on the road, seeing so many cyclists decked out in red, white, and blue. We spent most of the day hoping to run into a thrift store, where we could purchase some stars and stripes apparel – no luck there.We arrived at First United Methodist Church in Gillette, WY to a crowd of parishioners awaiting our arrival. It was great to have the chance to sit and talk to the people of the church. They made us a most memorable dinner of grilled vegetables, pasta salad, burgers, hot dogs, and every kind of patriotic American food imaginable. The food and company certainly made for a memorable Fourth of July.The best part of my night was definitely taking time away to talk to my family in New York and Michigan. Fourth of July has always been a family holiday for me, so for the first time on the trip, I truly felt homesick. Talking to my parents, sister, cousins, grandpa, and aunts truly made me feel right at home. I cannot wait to see everyone come August.I ended the night awaiting the firework show of Gillette, WY. However, the firework show was more of a lightning show over the hills because of the coming thunderstorm. It was amazing waiting for the rain and watching fireworks and lightning light up the sky.I am so much more thankful and appreciative of the country as I have seen it from the road and met so many people along the way. We sang “Proud to be an American” as we rode today, and I am definitely more proud to be an American after seeing so much of this country this summer. So tonight, I am looking forward to falling asleep to the rain, sleeping in a little bit, and a day off driving the van tomorrow.
[Journal] Day 6; Event Day, Washington DC
"Living in dreams of yesterday, we find ourselves still dreaming of impossible future conquests." - Charles A. Lindbergh Once upon a time, an exchange student from S.Korea had a tour of East Coast of The U.S.. Out of all great attractions, there was one place he really wanted to visit in Washington DC. However, the tour schedule was mixed up and he had to postpone this opportunity 'til later days.That exchange student is me, and the place I really wanted to visit was Air and Space Museum at Smithonian Institute.I chose my major because of this one great film; October Sky. Based on Homer Hickam's "Rocket Boys", a non-fiction self portrait of a young boy who formed a group of his friends to build a rocket in late 1950s, October Sky changed my life dream into a different course. since the moon is already pioneered, my next destination is Mars, not just for an unmanned spacecraft and rover, but for human beings.Air and Space Museum, therefore, was a 'Must-Go' place for me, and I finally got it off of my bucket list after 9 years of waiting. All my space heroes were brought closer to me, Lindbergh's Spirit of St.Louis was waiting for me, and F-51 Mustang, one of the most accomplished propeller fighter in the history of Air Warfare and the first fighter plane Republic of Korea Air Force used during Korean War, simply told me how hard it is to defend freedom and protect one nation and its people.When I switched my major from Mechanical Engineering to Aerospace Engineering, lots of people told me I am being silly. As an international student, the opportunity is nearly close to zero in Aerospace Engineering industry when it comes to an internship or a job. S.Korea's aerospace technology is not quite there yet to provide a fundamental base to compete in international level, meaning the job opportunity is limited compared to other engineering fields, especially compared to Electrical/Electronic Engineering. Therefore, in practical perspective, I chose the path that is so narrow that almost nobody is willing to take.However, I didn't change my mind. Since high school exchange program I always have been dreaming of going to space. If there is no path possibly available, I thought I would be one creating that path. I truly believe if one believes in something, God will do the rest for you as long as your heart is truthfully oriented to the pureness of your dream. I4K confirms that personal statement. After all, tomorrow is another day, and each day it happens no matter how hard it is for us to finish.Thanks to my family supporting my no matter what I am currently working on and dreaming of.
Forever west
Greetings and happy Fourth of July from Gillette, Wyoming! I am writing this blog during a thunderstorm. This is the first year I have not seen fireworks on the Fourth of July, due to the storms canceling Gillette's show. However, the past week or so has been beyond amazing, so I am not complaining one bit!A few days ago we rode through the Badlands! Words cannot describe the beauty witnessed on this day. We had a shorter mileage to ride, which was perfect. It allowed us to take ample time to climb around on the badlands and explore! I've always loved being fully surrounded by nature. It reminds me of how small we really are! Here is a picture Jordan took of me hanging out, I'm the small dot in the middle!
A few days later we biked through the Black Hills! Boy, was that a long day! We stopped for coffee really early which was a great start to the morning. Then, at a visitor information center, we met a man named Neville who told us his story of battling cancer three times! It was super inspirational and we loved getting to know him. We continued the day with another stop for ice cream and snacks, and then biked up to see Mount Rushmore! Some of us have decided it should really be called mountain Rushmore because of how long it took us to get up there. What a way to get those legs moving! We took some team pictures and fully embraced the monument before moving on. We also ran into Neville and his wife again! That was a great surprise. Here is a picture Jacqueline helped take where Catherine, Jordan, Shun, and I try our best to replicate the monument.
The rest of the day included more climbing but also some amazing descents through the black hills. We also entered Wyoming! (The welcome to Wyoming sign said "Forever West," hence the name of this blog post.)Today was the Fourth of July and we had a wonderful day. I pulled out all of my patriotic clothing for the ride! We sang songs about America and even were treated to an amazing cookout by our stayover hosts and First United Methodist Church in Gillette, Wyoming. The past few days have been amazing and I can't wait to see what the next few will bring as we begin to climb through the bighorns!
We are in Wyoming!
The past few days coming out of South Dakota and entering Wyoming have been unbelievable, both unbelievably beautiful and unbelievably hard. We had a great event day in Rapid City spent at our first campsite. It was certainly a 5 star campsite that came equipped with laundry services, showers, wifi, and a pool! Camping was surprisingly really great. Rapid City was certainly eventful, and the team really had a chance to bond while camping and reflecting on the trip so far.We woke up early, packed the tent and headed out, embarking on our journey into the Black Hills. This ride was undoubtedly one of our hardest days yet. We climbed over mountains to get to Mount Rushmore. I was in awe of the climbs and the beautiful sites along the way up. The hills were hard to climb, but arriving at the top to see Mount Rushmore was amazing and made me forget about the whole climb. I am so glad I got to spend the day before Independence Day at a national monument reflecting on my cross-country journey. The ride was difficult and long, but I felt really accomplished at the end, being able to put one of the hardest rides of the trip behind me.
Happy Fourth of July from Wyoming!
The team was really excited for today’s ride. We had been anxiously preparing for quite a few days for the patriotic ride. We were all decked out in American flag apparel for the 80-mile ride from Newcastle to Gillette. Some memorable outfits were American flag thrift store vests and striped bandanas. Although the route had minimal climbing compared to yesterday, the hot Wyoming sun proved to be a different sort of mountain to overcome.Our hard work through the heat paid off and all the teams made it to the stay over pretty early, where we found cold refreshments waiting. Tonight we are staying at First United Methodist Church. Some of the church members were kind enough to cook us up an awesomely American BBQ - complete with burgers, kabobs, and desserts galore. After dinner, we took some time to relax and unwind until about 10:00pm, at which time we went to watch the local fireworks show. It was an Independence Day we will never forget!We would like to give a special thanks to the First United Methodist Church for hosting us for yet another year. We appreciate your generosity and support!
Mount Rushmore!
Everyone said that the hills/mountains in the West wouldn't be that bad because we would be very strong by the time we reached them. Not trying to degrade our strength, but today's climb to Mt. Rushmore was very challenging. The elevation change and heat dried out our mouths and made us more out of breath than we remembered. When these hills loomed in front of us, we thought of our ride dedication. We dedicated our 83 mile ride with 4000 feet of elevation change to Randy Smith. We learned about Randy in a portrait that we took yesterday. Being at Mt. Rushmore the day before Independence Day was exciting. We met and talked to many other travelers and even Illinois alumni! When we were riding on the mountain, we saw a huge area of dead forest which was eaten by some harmful beetles. One of the forests we went through was destroyed by a wild fire. However, the scenery of South Dakota is still one of our favorites. In the evening, we rode into Wyoming, being impressed with the great harmony of sun shine and bright green carpet of grasses.Today, while at the Big Thunder Gold Mine, we met Esther, a breast cancer survivor. Esther was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer three years ago. She underwent a mastectomy of her left breast and removed several lymph nodes from that area, and is currently undergoing drug therapy. She visits the doctor twice a year, but has shown no signs of cancer since her treatment. Esther also lost her brother to pancreatic cancer and her sister to breast cancer. “Cancer gave me a more positive outlook. We’ve had more family get together since then, and that is what I wanted. I get to live a few more years and see more of my family. And that makes me happy.” She also gave some parting advice. “Stay positive. Don’t think bad things like ‘Oh I’m gonna die.’ I did a couple of ties, but it’s not gonna help or work out. Look forward to the future and be positive.”
Rapid City Event Day
After 10 days of riding, today was finally an event day in Rapid City. Rapid City is a very beautiful place! The downtown has many unique shops, such as a handsome chocolate factory and a nice bike shop. We started our day off with a portrait of a retired paramedic we encountered at McDonald's. Ed has lost family members to cancer and has battled skin cancer for many years. He stressed the importance of taking preventative measures like using sunscreen and getting tested. It's these unexpected interactions that remind us of why we ride!Then we headed to our campsite. Tonight is some of our team members' first time camping! During the day, riders took care of much needed maintenance on their bikes and enjoyed the cool water of the campground's pool. The weather is perfect: no rain and the temperature has dropped! Rebekah's mom donated sub sandwiches for us to eat for dinner! We'd like to extend a big thank you to her for reminding us that there are other foods out there besides pasta! Before the sun set, we met a remarkable man named Eric smith. He is a Marine who lost his brother to cancer last year. Eric's brother, Randy, was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer and fought it for 5 years. He compared his brother's battle to his military experience. You always need to attack it and never give up. He emphasized the importance of family and explained to us that his brother is still with him everyday. The portrait meant a lot to the riders that were able to sit in on it and it was a great way to close the day.
So Much South Dakota
South Dakota is a place I have been hearing about for the past 4 years from a great friend of mine, Gina Althoff. I never expected I would have the opportunity to spend a week and bike the length of the state and truly enjoy it for what it is worth.Upon my arrival in Sioux Falls, Gina’s family was patiently awaiting my arrival. They treated me with the kindest hospitality I could have ever asked for. They offered to wash the whole teams’ jerseys which was needed for sure! They opened up their house for me to shower and cooked me an incredible dinner. I even got to meet the infamous family dog, Dancer, that I have been hearing about for years!That night, I got to see the Great Sioux Falls, which were so beautiful. The next morning, we made our way into Mitchel, South Dakota, claim to fame – the Corn Palace. Every town has to have some claim to fame …Next came Chamberlain, SD, a beautiful town nesting on the Missouri River. We spent time splashing around in the cool river and hanging in the sand after our great dinner, provided by the church. A few friends and I sat on the river watching the sunset and then walked home via the Main Street.After Chamberlain, we went to the state capitol of South Dakota, Pierre. The ride started out with incredible picturesque down hills – absolutely breathtaking headwinds were absolutely awful and the ride was long, but we made it. We got a lot of free food in Pierre … and that is really about all that happened – great, nonetheless.From Pierre, we took off on a 95 mile ride to our smallest destination yet, Kadoka. It was a long, but enjoyable day. We were glad to find the cute little stayover in the town.Our trip from Kadoka to Wall was probably our best day yet in South Dakota, and maybe even the whole trip. It was certainly like nothing I have ever seen before. We met so many people; it was great, even some from the Chicagoland area. People are so supportive and interested in what we are doing. Our motive to keep on riding was the Wall Drug, a convenient drug store souvenir shop that is advertised for miles on I-90. I spent a lot of time and money in there …We are now in Rapid City, and we have an event day tomorrow, and after that, we will be making our way through the Black Hills and seeing Mount Rushmore.All of my rides in South Dakota have been amazing and so memorable, challenging, but worth every mile. I love South Dakota, definitely one of my favorite states I have rode through. It smells a lot better than Minnesota did. The people are great and are happy to share intense stories and pride in their state.