This is the end for us of the dream we only thought about. I feel so grateful for all the people we met and America we saw and the time I had with my husband.
I will start with New Waterford - Washington only 62 miles
This was the day God decided to pour on us. It didn't start to rain till we came out of mass that we just happened on. Father had just blessed our trip and bike and the skies opened up. I don't know if that was a sign but we definitely felt his presence. We got to camp absolutely soaked and only had 2 small awnings to stand under. It was a little depressing because we knew this was going to be a wet night. Didn't sleep . Oh the joys of camping.
Washington -Confluence 88 miles We enjoyed this day because we had a wonderful trail to ride on with a river on our left and a beautiful forest thick with maples and oaks on our right. There was rafters to watch as we rode along. Lunch was provided by a past big rider. What a treat!
Confluence - Bedford 81 miles This was a very hard day and we thought if this is hard what will tomorrow bring. We will say Pennslyvania is beautiful , with huge hills and stairstep hills that get steeper with each turn and longer. We are working harder than we have ever on the tandem . Thank God for granny gear or we would be left behind . We finally arrive in camp and there is free icecream. Life is good.
Bedford - Getttysburg The day of reckoning. This is the day that we have heard is the hardest the whole trip. Can we do it? Ok I was so nervous I woke up at 4 am worrying. Greg is saying no problem. This day is like none of the others .It was going to be hot and the hills steep. Well it lived up to its reputation. The heat was over 100,the miles over 100 , and the humidity close to 100. That is pretty good odds to being hard. The day began challenging with a flat in the first 10 miles. We both were on edge and the climbing was hard and we faltered at one point with each other. WE had to regroup and remember why we were at this and stay on course. WE ride for my Mom and we did. WE didn't really look at the scenery but stayed the course and concentrated on the hill after hill and slowly it began to be a reality that we were almost done.
With only 26 or so miles to go we started to see the beautiful farms and the fields and with one more huge hill to conquer we knew we were going to make it. It was a gradual hill and over we went and down for 10miles . The reality of what we had done started to sink in. We began to hoop and holler as the end was near. Thank you God for this amazing experience. Thank you for r all the people who have made this possible. Thank you for my family who have hung in there in the most difficult time ever. We have only 2 short days and we are home.
Gettysburg-Clarksburg-Washington D.C. We have come the end of our journey and I can't really explain the emotions I have but I am so grateful to be here and know I did this journey with my husband and our beautiful tandem. Would I do this again probably not. Would I do another trip with my husband on a tandem in a heartbeat. Life is good and God is good.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Friday, August 3, 2007
Only 7 days to go!!
We just powered out our last group of 4 and now left 5 and than 2. This is the famous 5 that we have heard rumors are the most difficult. I might add there have been some very difficult days so we will have to see. This is our layover day and low and behold the computer is working. We have ridden 2,780 miles so far. That seems incredible to us both. We keep on pedaling .
We ended our last rest day in Valparaiso,Il.
Valparaiso- Kendallville. 88miles July 30th
This day was supposed to be only 106 only it ended up being 117. Greg had put on 2 new chain rings and a new chain. We started out feeling good about the bike and ready for the day. We put our stuff on the truck parked the bike on a bike rack and proceeded to go get coffee. Someone yelled "hey Dimmitt's your bike fell". I didn't think too much about it . By the time We got to the bike we knew it wasn't good. The front had twisted in the bike rack and broke and twisted and bent the rim. It was cracked in two places. Because we have 36 spoke rim we knew we were in trouble. It was Monday no way to get a rim and we thought we were toast. David's father and grandfather were there to ride with him, three generations of men in his family that have ridden across America. Danny , his father at the last minute had put their tandem in their truck. He walked over to us and handed us his front wheel. We were overwhelmed and so grateful to him. Not only did he give us his wheel to ride, he continued to another city and had a new wheel built and brought to us by the last water stop. He was then able to ride with David. This was another example of the generosity of the people we have encountered. Thank you so much. We will never forget that. The last 20 miles of this ride were through the Amish or Menonite farms. We rode along side a girl on a bicycle in her dress and bonnet. We just smiled at us. I wondered what she thought of my get up. This day was a doozy grateful it was over .
Kendallville- Napoleon 70 miles yippee. Wonderful, great shoulders. rolling gentle hills, ended in flat, finished early , rode with Jodee, cold beer and bridgemix. Life is good.
Napoleon-Sandusky 87 miles Day 38 Aug 1. This is another good day . We have been on the best roads and through beautiful little towns . I imagine life is sweet where things are slower. This is home of the biggest roller coaster. We didn't go but a bunch did. Heard it was great fun. We walked around camp and found we were close to Lake Erie.
Dandusky to Burton 92 miles only it was closer to 100. Aug 2 We followed along Lake Erie. The homes that are all along are the most amazing houses I have ever seen. Mansions after mansions that I said oh this is my favorite and another would surpass it. We arrived into Cleveland. The skyscrapers were huge and we are right in the heart of town with buses, cars, people and lights. Downtown riding is stressful. We had people yelling at us. There is turnarounds we had to maneuver. People aren't as tolerant in town. I think this will be the rest of our ride.
Burton now we have a very relaxing day off. Breakfast , snack Lunch , Snack, more snacks and bed. Sounds good to me. I am looking forward to going home. This will be great. I am tired and ready to be done even though this has been an amazing journey. Count down. I plan to enjoy every minute.
We ended our last rest day in Valparaiso,Il.
Valparaiso- Kendallville. 88miles July 30th
This day was supposed to be only 106 only it ended up being 117. Greg had put on 2 new chain rings and a new chain. We started out feeling good about the bike and ready for the day. We put our stuff on the truck parked the bike on a bike rack and proceeded to go get coffee. Someone yelled "hey Dimmitt's your bike fell". I didn't think too much about it . By the time We got to the bike we knew it wasn't good. The front had twisted in the bike rack and broke and twisted and bent the rim. It was cracked in two places. Because we have 36 spoke rim we knew we were in trouble. It was Monday no way to get a rim and we thought we were toast. David's father and grandfather were there to ride with him, three generations of men in his family that have ridden across America. Danny , his father at the last minute had put their tandem in their truck. He walked over to us and handed us his front wheel. We were overwhelmed and so grateful to him. Not only did he give us his wheel to ride, he continued to another city and had a new wheel built and brought to us by the last water stop. He was then able to ride with David. This was another example of the generosity of the people we have encountered. Thank you so much. We will never forget that. The last 20 miles of this ride were through the Amish or Menonite farms. We rode along side a girl on a bicycle in her dress and bonnet. We just smiled at us. I wondered what she thought of my get up. This day was a doozy grateful it was over .
Kendallville- Napoleon 70 miles yippee. Wonderful, great shoulders. rolling gentle hills, ended in flat, finished early , rode with Jodee, cold beer and bridgemix. Life is good.
Napoleon-Sandusky 87 miles Day 38 Aug 1. This is another good day . We have been on the best roads and through beautiful little towns . I imagine life is sweet where things are slower. This is home of the biggest roller coaster. We didn't go but a bunch did. Heard it was great fun. We walked around camp and found we were close to Lake Erie.
Dandusky to Burton 92 miles only it was closer to 100. Aug 2 We followed along Lake Erie. The homes that are all along are the most amazing houses I have ever seen. Mansions after mansions that I said oh this is my favorite and another would surpass it. We arrived into Cleveland. The skyscrapers were huge and we are right in the heart of town with buses, cars, people and lights. Downtown riding is stressful. We had people yelling at us. There is turnarounds we had to maneuver. People aren't as tolerant in town. I think this will be the rest of our ride.
Burton now we have a very relaxing day off. Breakfast , snack Lunch , Snack, more snacks and bed. Sounds good to me. I am looking forward to going home. This will be great. I am tired and ready to be done even though this has been an amazing journey. Count down. I plan to enjoy every minute.
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