Montana was great. It was my favorite state of the entire trip. It’s beautiful, it smells great, it’s clean, everyone’s nice, etcetera etcetera. One of the biggest highlights was visiting Glacier National Park. I actually ended up getting dragged into camping there, which wasn’t the original plan, but turned out to be a blast. To date, Glacier is the prettiest place I’ve ever been. Sorry, Yellowstone. We also had the chance to try our hands at whitewater rafting while we were there. Thanks Val for the hook up  – it was gorgeous/super fun and the entire team loved it.

We spent some time in a town called Whitefish, which was a nice break from the Montana wilderness. It’s a gentrified ski resort town and has a very modern feel to it. That night we were treated to the best meal I’ve had on the entire trip. The owner of Wasabi, Paula, brought out plates of sushi and pad thai and we feasted. It sure was nice to get a break from the onslaught of tacos/burgers that make up our everyday meals.

From Whitefish we headed over to Kalispell where we stayed at a fire station. The first half of the day was relaxing (very short ride), but I ended up coming down with a fever that night. The next day we made it into Libby where I promptly threw up on the floor of a clinic. Whoops. I’m alright, though. It was just a nasty two days. And hey, sometime in there we managed to see the new batman movie for free. Batman reminds me of myself a lot.

From there we traveled to Sandpoint, Idaho. I was stuck in the water van so Eric and I put our skills to use and erected a 4k flag made of thank you cards on a flag pole made of sticks. It was great. Truly a monument to our ingenuity and fortitude on this trip. We also decided to play songs featuring bagpipes in the van for one of our water stops. Unbeknownst to us we ended up having to wait there for 2.5 hours for all the groups to make it in (soooo many flats). At this point it’s safe to say I’m sick of bagpipes. Anyhoo, Idaho was nifty. We had a lovely dinner and our hosts gave us a few bags of fancy energy chews to share. Much of the night was spent bickering over how to divvy them up. It was grand.

Spokane, WA was up next. Crossing into Washington was an emotional moment without a doubt. I can’t believe we’ve made it to the last state! We had a blast there as well. Mark O’reilly, the director of a summer camp in Spokane, set us up with a wonderful barbeque and we had the chance to meet some of the campers and community members. Other standout Spokane memories include meeting up with Charlie and Erika, members of the Spokane Cycling Club and a place called “Neato Burrito” that sold 1 dollar beverages and grilled cheeses on Wednesday nights. Man did we luck out.

From Spokane we headed to Grand Coulee. Turns our Eastern Washington is basically a desert. It was weird to return to dry, open terrain after spending the last week or two amongst some sweet pines. All the way into Grand Coulee we could hear rattle snakes on the side of the rode. Indie (Jones) would have probably pooped his pants.

Like I said, we’re in Twisp, WA now. Today was a trek. We had about a 90 mile ride in, but we were expecting it to be relatively flat. SURPRISE. There was a mountain range that we had to cross over toward the end. Hahahaha, it was hilarious. There’s nothing like plodding along to realize that you’re climbing thousands of feet all of a sudden. The first 60 miles were tiring due to wind and rolling hills so I did my best to book it into lunch. I gave it my all and ended up getting to the top first, where I promptly hopped off my bike and passed out. Tomorrow we’re crossing over the cascades. It’s our last real climb of the trip. I’m pretty bummed about that. For me, climbing is a chance to push myself and really focus on why I’m riding. But hey, I couldn’t have asked for prettier mountains to finish with. The cascades look magnificent from here.

Until next time!

That night we had a wonderful dinner prepared by church members and, as usual, shared a snippet of why we each ride. What made yesterday so cool, though, was that almost every member of the community that came out to dinner shared one of their experiences. I was touched. Cancer is ubiquitous. It causes hurt in so many lives. But to have the chance to be together, to share how it’s affected us, and to see that we’re not alone is a genuine blessing. I am moved by all the stories that were shared last night.

Before dinner our riders helped the campers set up tents. I was paired with a girls’ cabin and had an absolutely amazing time getting to know the ladies. With our expert tent assembling skills we were able to lead the girls to victory in the race to set up a tent the fastest. Afterwards we ended up playing games and grabbing dinner and I got to know of few of the campers better. It was wonderful getting to know Mariah, Meckenna (sorry about the spelling!), and Bella – a 12 year old who has already finished a half marathon. That’s nuts! Bella tried pawning a hair tie off on me under the guise of a “bracelet to remember her by”. But dang, here I am sporting a lavender hair tie on my left wrist along side my 4k for cancer wristband that my dad made for me and my livestrong bracelet. And everytime I see that hair tie it brings a smile to my face. Thanks Bella for the inspiration. I’ll be thinking of you on the rest of my ride and will surely be dedicating some days to you. Stay strong, kiddo!

Right now almost all of Team Seattle is out exploring Missoula. Typically I’d be right there with them, but tonight I’m left with my thoughts after our trip to Camp Mak-a-Dream. I’ve met quite a few people who have battled cancer on this trip. I haven’t, however, had the chance to meet so many kids who are dealing with it themselves. I’m not sure how to feel. Part of me is furious. It brings back all these memories of how mad I was when my dad was sick. Mad that cancer essentially took away my senior year of high school with him. I’m mad that cancer caused him to be so ill for so long. And to know that the campers I met today are going through what he went through eats me up. All I want to do is hop on my bike and pedal as fast as I can. No one should have to deal with any uncertainty regarding health at that age. My heart goes out to them. At the same time, though, I’ve learned that a lot of my attitude toward cancer is dependent on how I choose to look at it. I think it’s natural to be mad, to be sad, and to want more than anything to change the circumstances. But in a lot of ways good things have come out of my experiences with cancer. I think about my dad every day on this trip. I’m not sure if I’ve ever felt so close to him, especially considering how far away he is. It’s also exposed me to an incredible, inspirational strength in all of the patients and survivors I’ve met. That keeps me going even when I feel like quitting. I was genuinely touched by all the campers I met today and I know that they’re going to grow up to be strong, wonderful individuals. I owe a huge thank you to everyone I met at Camp Mak-a-Dream today. The staff for all their hard work, the volunteers for taking time out of their lives to help out, and of course, the campers. Thank you.

The black hills in South Dakota were absolutely gorgeous. We were all pretty apprehensive about the climbing we’d have to do, but it ended up not being that bad. There were more pine trees than freckles on my arms (quite a few at this point) and it smelled like one of those dorky Christmas tree shaped air fresheners. It was such a nice break to finally ride next to trees again. Not even 25 miles of a “gravel” (read: large rocks) trail could take away from the scenery.

Coming out of the black hills we finally made it into Wyoming. The first day was breath taking. We were finally biking at the feet of mountains and there was a real sense of grandeur. Honestly a lot of Wyoming has now blurred together in my mind, but there are a few standout moments.

The first was climbing the big horn mountains. Word on the street is that this was our toughest climb of the entire trip. We broke up into groups of twos and tackled it in pairs. It ended up amounting to about 40 miles of climbing (about 6-7% grade), but it wasn’t as bad as we thought. When we reached the peak we were all shocked. We’d been prepping for an absolutely grueling day and while it wasn’t easy, it wasn’t so bad after all. The descent was beautiful. We had about 20 miles of straight downhill winding through the mountains. I think the slopes of Big Horn will be forever etched in my memory.

Our ride into Yellowstone may have been our prettiest day of riding yet. The Shoshone forest is stunning. There are beautiful, sweet smelling pine trees, awe-inspiring mountains, and a stunning teal river for about 60 miles getting into the park. Usually by the end of the day I’m ready to stop biking, but I seriously didn’t want it to end getting into Yellowstone.

Yellowstone itself was pretty, but it’s very hard to see everything the park has to offer in a day. We did our best and I certainly enjoyed it, but I think the ride into the park outshined the park itself. Also, Bison are nuts.

Ahh, one more wonderful Wyoming memory. Outside of Gillette, WY we met a woman who invited us to her ranch in the evening. She served us elk burgers (not too shabby at all) and let all of us ride on one her horses bareback. All I can say is that I’m happy I’m not riding a horse across the country. I don’t think my lower half could take it. The sunset was breathtaking, but the stars were what got me. I’ve never seen a night sky like that in my life. The milky way was the clearest I’ve ever seen it and we were lucky enough to see a few shooting starts. Truly a magical night.

Now we’re in Montana. It’s beautiful, too. I’m starting to notice a trend. I miss the east coast a lot of the time, but the West just has more…presence? But anyways, yes, Montana is as pretty as everyone says. Can’t wait for the adventures to come!

The badlands. It was like biking into another planet. Back in the day Hollywood would film footage there for scenes on the moon. Honestly, I think it’s a little more reminiscent of Mars. There are these large, towering rock formations that have an orange tint to them. It was 101 degrees getting into the national park, but some locals told us it was 112 in the actual park because of the rocks. Regardless, it was hot. Real hot. Despite the temperature I force-fed myself water and did some exploring. Climbing the badlands is tricky business. They’re these sandy gravely slopes that don’t seem particularly stable. We managed to make it to some pretty high peaks and the views were absolutely spectacular. All in all a magnificent, albeit hot, day.

Getting out of the badlands was another story. We faced our strongest winds yet. In the morning we had a headwind hovering just under 30mph. More than anything else it’s a mental challenge. It’s very frustrating to work so hard pedaling to move at such a slow pace. It took as a whopping 2.5 hours to make it our first 20 miles. The steep inclines getting out of the park probably didn’t help either. The next 20 miles were just as tough. We faced the same wind, but as a crosswind rather than head on. At one point we were on the shoulder of a busy road going downhill and I was exerting all my focus on keeping my bike straight and not getting blown into oncoming traffic. It doesn’t make for the happiest of days, but getting through it felt like a real accomplish. After the first 50 miles or so the winds died down and we were met with rolling hills. I’m a big fan of that kind of terrain and enjoyed the rest of the day. Most of us were still pretty drained from the morning, though.

Today we’re in Rapid City. We had a rest day and it was pretty grand. This morning we had the opportunity to visit Mount Rushmore. It’s spectacular. I’m still in awe at its creation. We spent the rest of the day driving through the black hills and exploring a national park. The black hills are absolutely stunning. First of all, they should be called “the black mountains”. Calling them hills is a joke. Anyways, they’re steep inclines and descents covered in pine trees. Coupled with the rock formations it’s truly a sight to take in. They’re gorgeous. We stopped by a lake and ran right into a wedding. I never thought I’d say this…but maybe South Dakota would be an ok place to get married? I dunno, I have very mixed feelings on this state. The first few days were flatter than that bottle of Coke that’s been in our van since day 1. There weren’t any trees – it was just prairie and corn for as far as the eye could see. But then we ran into the badlands…and now the blackhills. It’s certainly been interesting.

Until next time!

From La Crosse, WI we headed right into Minnesota. One of the best parts of the 4K is everyone’s shared passion for junk. Riding into Rochester we were able to stop at a garage sale as well as a thrift store. Steven picked up giant plastic candy canes (which he’s been wielding ever since) and I found a ridiculous wool headband for only 25 cents. The rest of the ride into Rochester, MN was uneventful, but we had the pleasure of staying at the Zumbro Lutheran Church. They served us a delicious dinner and it was great to get to explore Rochester a bit. It’s definitely a smaller city, but still maintains an urban feel.

We woke up early the next morning to ride into Minneapolis. The best part about the day’s ride was the hills. Climbing can be tough sometimes, but after what has felt like weeks of flat riding, hills were a welcome sight. I also feel a lot closer to my dad when I’m working my way up a hill. Anytime there’s a physical challenge on the ride I just think of him back home and find myself grinning, in my highest gear, racing up a hill. My preference is always to get up them as fast as possible. I like to stay in a high gear and push as hard as I can to knock them out quickly rather than drop down to a lower one and grind them out.

My riding group that day, affectionately named “team SNEAKS”, snuck off the route, added a few miles in, and took a detour to the Mall of America. Wow. It’s overwhelming. There are at least four roller coasters in the mall and it struck me more as a capitalist amusement park than a mall. It was a sight to see. That night and the next day we stayed with the Cochrans, the parents of one of the ride directors on Team Portland. They were wonderful. It legitimately felt like being at home for a day. That evening we had a big bbq with the neighbors and got to meet some members of the community. Not even Minnesota’s ruthless mosquitoes could put a damper on the night. The next day we knocked out some chores andI had the chance to go to Twin City Guitars. Boy, it was great to just chill there and jam for a while. Thanks for letting us crash in your store and rock out! And again, a huuuge thanks to momma and poppa Cochran and all the wonderful members of their community that housed us, fed us, and shared their stories. You made Minneapolis a truly wonderful time. Ok, time for a quick break from blogging, but I’ll be back with more Minnesota stories!

Anyways, our rest day in Chicago was an absolute blast. The night before I got to spend a little time meeting Team Portland. They were staying at the University of Illinois, Chicago with us and it was a real treat to hear about their ride. It’s funny to see how many similarities there are between our trips.

The next morning we woke up and blasted the internet with news about 100 cars for good – Toyota’s initiative to give away cars to charitable organizations who need them. Voting took place that Sunday and the 4k ended up winning a new whip. Sweet! I spent the rest of the day biking around the city. I was absolutely blown away at how bike-friendly Chicago is. Typically I picture city biking as a harried, stressful experience, but Chicago was the complete opposite. Most of the streets are one way and there’s a huge bus lane, which makes things easy. There’s also a beautiful city to look at. It was nice to dart around in normal clothes for once and just take everything in. For lunch I met up with a friend, Rebecca, from back home. I love all of the riders on my trip, but it was really special to get to see a friend from back home. Thanks Rebecca!

That night we all went out to Lou Malnati’s for deep dish. Side note – I spent the entire day thinking people were telling me to go the “illuminati’s”. It was on point.

The next day we had another century and biked into Milwaukee. We spent the first 12 miles or so on a bike path right along the lake going out of Chicago. All I can say is that it was beautiful. On our left we had a magnificent, towering city and on our right was a clear, blue lake. Ahh, the best! The rest of the ride is kind of a blur. It was a fairly easy 100 miles, but that might be because we had strong tailwinds behind us. I’d never biked with tailwinds before, but it definitely makes a difference. At one point we were able to cruise at 30 mph on flat ground without having to do too much work. Toward the end of the day the wind turned and we had a nasty crosswind. I get especially squeemish when the wind starts blowing on my front wheel and changing my direction so it wasn’t super pleasant, but hey, we made it through the day!

Milwaukee is not at all what I expected. It’s this kind of quirky smaller city that has a lot of character. We met some folks at a local restaurant and spent over an hour just chatting about our ride and life. I think what I liked best about it was all the independent restaurants, bars, etc. It just had this very young, interesting feel about it. Unfortunately we didn’t get to try any of that famous Wisconsin dairy, but we got a stab at it after getting into Madison. Until next time!

We stayed at a church that was only a block away from the state capitol. It was so nice just to walk around and people watch. On our rest day there we had a chance to fundraise and we were able to come up with a little over 500 dollars. Other highlights included swimming in the lake, trying my hand at slack lining for the first time, and of course, Wisconsin dairy. Cheese curds are overrated. People seem to rave about them, but they’re really just glorified irregularly shaped chunks of cheddar cheese. I wasn’t impressed. UW’s custard, on the other hand, was out of this world. All in all Madison has been one of my favorite places that we’ve stayed. Thanks badgers!

From Madison we traveled to Elroy, WI. Elroy is one of the smaller towns we’ve stayed in, but they were so hospitable. We had a lovely dinner and breakfast at Royall high school and even got the chance to check out their fair. I had my first ever fried oreo. Tasty, but not something I can handle a lot of. I almost instantly got that “uhhg, tooo greasy” feeling. Another fun event at the fair was the tractor pull. Basically gigantic horses pull weighted trucks/tractors. For like 4 hours. It’s a sight to see, but it gets a little repetitive after the first few times. Anyways, Elroy was a blast. Thanks again to our wonderful hosts!

From Elroy we traveled to La Crosse, WI. This was one of my top three favorite days. We spent all day on an absolutely gorgeous trail. Bike trails can be hit or miss. They’re either poorly maintained and difficult to ride on or beautiful trips through nature. This was the latter. The trail we were on used to be a railroad. It was densely wooded and it was great to get a break from the sun. It was also littered with wildlife. I can’t even count the number of times squirrels/chipmunks would race out in front only to turn around immediately at the sight of 5 speedy bikers.  The best part might have been when two baby deer were literally frolicking along the side of the trail and we passed them. It was straight out of a movie. When we passed through a cloud of butterflies I was pretty sure we’d made it to Narnia. It ended up being a magical day, but the tunnels were the best part.

Like I said, we were on what used to be a railroad. Every so often there were these loong tunnels that the trail went through. They’re not lit and it’s suggested that you get off your bike and stumble your way through. We’re not so good about suggestions.

Once you’re in a tunnel you can’t see anything except the small light at the very end. It’s super hard to tell how far you’ve gone and even harder to tell where the walls are around you. I was lucky enough not to take a spill, but boy it would have been easy. We all ended up getting this red glare in our eyes that filled the lower half of our vision. It was creepy and kind of terrifying, but hearing all the screams of fellow riders around you made it a lot better. I just remember making out the vague outline of Steven and doing my best to stick close…but not too close.

In preparation for more tunnels we stopped at a gas station and stocked up on glowsticks. I put some in my spokes, but we also cut them open and splattered them on our bikes. It was amazing! All of a sudden you could see glowing spots on bikes ahead. We also had some speakers with us so Steven pumped some appropriate “cave tunes”. Ultimately the ride into La Crosse may have been the best one yet. There was so much nature to look at, the weather was great, and the tunnels just made it more exciting.

The day ended at a host dinner right on the Mississippi river. We had access to a pool, hot tub, and kayaks. Eric and I decided to put our immense boat/river knowledge to the test and successfully kayaked across the Mississippi to a beach on the other side. It went swimmingly, despite a few close encounters with motor boats and Eric’s never ending efforts to capsize me. But yeah, it was great. There was this one point just as the sun was sitting where I was floating in a kayak taking it all in and had one of those “this is the life” moments. Wisconsin has been such a treat. Here’s hoping Minnesota can keep it ip!

I’m writing this post from Chicago. Man, it’s great to be back in a big city again. We’ve passed through a couple of other midwestern cities, but Chicago reminds me of home more than any of the others. It’s beautiful, the people (that aren’t in cars) are friendly, and it’s exciting to be in a place with so much diversity again.

The last couple of days are kind of a blur for me. I always think about things I want to write about while I’m writing, but it’s rare that I’m actually able to capitalize on that and churn out another post. I’ll limit myself to the big things that have stuck out over the past few days.

Megan Lowry is a beast. She’s the mechanic on our ride and can kick anyone’s butt on a bike. Seriously. I got the chance to ride into South Haven, MI with her and had an amazing time. Each day we’re in different riding groups and it’s always a unique experience. The thing about Megan is that she needs to go fast. It was a pretty windy day, but she took the lead in our line and just pulled us through Michigan at a blistering pace. It’s honestly a real treat to get pushed like that. Some days are slow, some are fast, but if you’re with Megan you know you’re going to be working the entire day and it’s a great change of pace. Thanks Megan!

In other news, South Haven, MI is BEAUTIFUL. I’d never been to Lake Michigan before. It’s spectacular. We were lucky enough to be there for their harbor fest, which was a fun little carnival-type celebration. I wish I had a picture on me. We spent the evening sitting on a pier just watching the sunset. The days are so busy that it’s a genuine treat just to sit back and take everything in. We also got to see a wonderful bluegrass band jam out in South Haven. My favorite was a up tempo bluegrass rendition of Message in a Bottle by the Police.

And then making it to Chicago felt like a big accomplishment. In my mind Chicago is “the city in the middle of country”. We’ve got the night to explore and then tomorrow I get to meet up with two friends (Sahil and Rebecca!) and try some deep dish. Huzzah! Also, if this post makes it up on Sunday PLEASE go to 100carsforgood.com and vote for the 4K for Cancer. Help us get that car!

The last few days have kind of blown by, but they’ve been enjoyable. Yesterday it started out raining, which is never particularly pleasant, but luckily it stopped by around the 30 mile mark. The bad news is that we were stuck on mud roads for a while. Mud kiillls your speed. It’s like trying to bike through glue. The plus side is that with all the mud flying around it’s hard not to look like a champ. If only there were more than just possums on those back roads to see us in all our glory.

I’m typically a lot louder on the bike when conditions are crumby. When it’s nice out I kind of just plug along and think quietly to myself. When it’s raining, muddy, and cold I let the world know. It really helps, though. Singing, shouting, yelling, etc. all make a ride in the rain better, especially when you’re joined by a chorus of loud, grumpy riders. We’re definitely a site to see. I can only imagine what it’s like to be walking around as a pack of loud-mouthed, obstreperous bikers wiz by hahaha.

Anyways, today we pulled in to Lansing, MI. It was a very short day and conditions were great with the exception of a strong headwind. We only biked 47 miles today and I was surprised to find myself disappointed that we didn’t get to go further. All in all it was a very fun day, though. We were well fed and had a blast going at a leisurely pace. Big thanks to our host tonight at the Union Missionary Baptist Church for an excellent dinner and place to stay. Also, if you’re in the area, look out for us on the news (channel 9)! Alright, I’m off to bed, but hopefully I’ll be better about keeping up with the blog. Night everyone!

I’ve spent the last two days in the van doing administrative tasks and coordinating with the office back in Baltimore. I would have absolutely loved to have been on my bike, but part of the job is making sure everything runs smoothly. Honestly, the last two days may have been my hardest. We’ve had a few curveballs on the trip and things don’t always go as planned (understatement?), but we made it through what was a bit of a rough patch and have come out stronger than before.

It’s funny to think that the most difficult part hasn’t been the physicality of the ride. Sure, there are times when I’ve been sore, but the most draining aspect is always being on your feet ready to respond to whatever comes up. I’ve been stretched pretty thin. But hey, making it through is what makes this position so rewarding. All I can say is that I’m glad to be back on the bike. More on that in my next post, but thank you to everyone who has helped during the last few days!

Anyways, today I was back on the bike. Man. It rocked.

Up until now I’ve been sore or apprehensive at least at some point during each ride. Today was different. I ended up in a group of riders looking to go fast and we flew. It was amazing. I haven’t really had the chance to push and go too fast yet and so today was a real treat. We started out at a reasonable pace, but after the first water stop we just kind of got into a groove. All of a sudden we were in a tight line and drafting and we were moving. We averaged between 20-21mph and went even faster at times. It was nuts to see the difference between pulling the team in the front of the line and dropping to the back and just cruising behind everyone else. At one point when I was tucked down on my handlebars drafting behind the guy in front of me I just realized I had this huge grin on my face.

One of the coolest things has been to see how much more comfortable on my bike I am now. I remember gripping my handlebars like a madman on day 1, but now I’m at the point where I feel comfortable in all positions and am able to take a lot of pressure off my hands.

Toward the end of our ride my group pulled over to a beach on Lake Erie. It was beautiful. There have been surprisingly few moments when I’ve gotten to sit back and just enjoy what’s outside. Turns out the great lakes are gorgeous. We were on a beach staring at a winding coastline right as the sun was starting to come down. And I finallly learned to skip rocks haha. All in all today was great. I needed a pick me up after the last few days and got it. Shout out to TEAM AIR HORN (we rode with air horns in our back pockets. No one was irritated with us…..)

We got into town early and hung out at a restaurant. I’m really liking New York so far. Every town we’ve stayed has been quirky and pretty and has kind of reminded me of home? Definitely seems a lot more like where I’m from than Pennsylvania did. Anyways, the team enjoyed the down time and took the opportunity to prank me. All I can say is that it was elaborate and orchestrated very well. Thank you Team Seattle for the laugh – and don’t worry, I’ll get you all back.

One thing I haven’t really touched on yet is the physical aspect of the trip. It’s been a pretty big change transitioning from a recreational exerciser to a full time cyclist. My legs are sore, my butt hurts, there’s some back pain, and my wrists/arms occasionally bother me. That said, I’m still absolutely loving it. I’ve already gotten a lot faster and I like to think I’m pretty solid at climbing hills. And the best part is that everyone thinks you’re a beast on the bike because you’re in colorful spandex. I’ll keep this post short because there’s a lot to be done tonight, but it’s been another solid day on the 4K. WEEK ONE IS DONE!

From there we headed back to our wonderful host (the YMCA in Ithaca) and did some housekeeping. Organized the vans, contacted a few hosts, and got some food donations. After that we went on a hike (so much for a rest day….), but it was absolutely breathtaking. I don’t have a picture of it on my computer, but we went to the largest waterfall east of the Rockies. At least I think. I feel like Niagara Falls is bigger, but nonetheless it was a sight to see.

Something that we like to do is give a shpeel about who we are and what we do for our hosts every night. Typically I start out and give a little introduction and then all the riders say why they ride. I like to think it’s a pretty compelling presentation, but today it was extra special. Everyone shared a little bit more than they usually do about their experience with cancer. All I can say is that the other riders on this trip are truly amazing and are some of the most dedicated people I’ve ever met.

Finally, our day ended with a feast. I’m not exaggerating. Ithaca has this festival going on called “Ithaca Fest”. We swung by right when it was winding down and got all the left over food donated to us. So here’s what we had for dinner:

Thai food – check. Indian food – check. Polish sausages? Yeah, those too. And we’re talking massive quantities. Anyways, I’m hitting the hay soon, but it’s been another great (oyy, said “great” again) on the 4K and I’m excited to get back on the bike tomorrow. Next stop is Geneva, NY!

I’m also posting a few pics. The first is me dipping my tires in the Atlantic ocean. Sike, it was the inner harbor in Baltimore, but hey, don’t tell anyone? Next is me modeling our ride’s jersey. 6 days in and I’m still loving the space needle as the “L” in Seattle. Be sure to check out the link up above to see pics from our service day, too!

ONE LAST THING. It’s hard to share all of the fun and goofy inside jokes that pop up on this ride. One of them is eating worms. Yes, worms. Our goal is to have everyone eat one by the time we get to Seattle. Today I took the plunge. Slimy, yet satisfying. I also decided to one up everyone and eat a tadpole (scout’s honor). Let’s just hope I don’t poop a frog tomorrow. Night everyone!

Apologies on taking so long to get my blog up and running. I’m going to do my absolute best to post more frequently, but there just aren’t enough hours in the day. It feels like it’s already been forever since I left since so much has happened, but I’ll limit myself to a few updates from each day.

Day 1 – Send off. It was genuinely amazing. Seriously, I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect ceremony. It was so great being there with family and friends. Kudos to Stephen Hersey, the program director of 4K for Cancer, for all the hard work he’s done this year. Our first day was a pretty pleasant ride (only 60 miles, 40 of which were on a trail) and we had some amazing alumni riding with us. Shout out to Alex Hinch and Nicole Lunardi for all their support. Team Seattle 2011 must have really rocked! We spent the night in York, PA in a YMCA. It was pretty sweet sleeping on big gym pads and  it was wonderful meeting some of the members of the community.

Day 2 – I ended up on food duty on Day 2, which turned out to be a blast. It’s amazing how generous people are when it comes to donating food. We were able to scrounge up 30 meals from McDonalds (thanks McD’s from York, PA!), 4 pizzas from Papa Johns, bananas, and more poptarts than anyone could really want. Eating healthy ftw! Highlights of the day included accidentally passing through a military training ground (turns out passing through mortar firing ranges probably isn’t the best idea) and our AMAZING hosts in Lykens, PA. The dinner was ON POINT and everyone was so welcoming. Thank you, Lykens!

Day 3 – Day 3 was magnificent. We had a relatively short ride (again, only 60) and the terrain was pretty easy speaking. I’ll hand it to Pennsylvania, there are some gorgeous views. We arrive at Susquehana University early in the day and had the chance to swim in the pool, which was a real treat after riding. Again, the host was amazing. Air conditioning, BEDS TO SLEEP ON, great food, great people – all in all an awesome time.

Day 4 – DID OUR FIRST CENTURY (100 miles) through the mountains of Pennsylvania. It was tough, but so extremely rewarding. Early in the day we hit our first steep hills and it was my dad that kept me going. Whenever my body felt like quitting I just thought of him, his battle with cancer, and how much he means to me and it was like I had a fresh set of legs. At the top of one of our toughest climbs I just started balling, but it was because I was so happy. So happy to have made it up a long, steep climb and so happy that pops beat cancer and is still the most important man in my life. But yeah, we DID it. It took more than 12 hours with all the stops and climbs, but man oh man, it was awesome.

Day 5 – Route planning doesn’t always go the right way, but we’re always able to reach our destination (ended up being a 70+ mile day for us). We traveled from Mansfield, PA to Ithaca, NY. When people say Ithaca is hilly they aren’t kidding. There was a 2.5 mile 6% grade descent at the very end, which was absolutely beautiful. We’re currently lounging at a YMCA in Ithaca and are looking forward to our first rest day tomorrow. I’ve been so busy I haven’t been getting much sleep so I can’t wait to catch up on that.

Anyways, from now on I’ll be better about blogging. Hopefully every day or two! I’ll be able to include a lot more detail and mention everything that’s made this trip so amazing. Also, feel free to call or email! I love hearing from friends, families, and people we’ve met along the way! And yes, there will be pics in future blog posts