Day Thirty-Three: Swinging into Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Today was Megan's twenty-first birthday, and I had the privilege of being drafted for her birthday group. Now, Megan likes to go fast, and it was her birthday so we my group couldn't disappoint...

So we made it to Sioux Falls well before the heat--despite making today a surprise century by adding on an extra 8 miles due to a wrong turn. WHOOPS. My legs were sore, very sore, but I was alive, accomplished, and had one of the best days on this trip thus far.


Check out views from the route:

Another early start to try to beat the heat.

A local told us that there are about 700-800 windmills in this area.

Sweet, rolling hills...

By this point we were hungry and wanting lunch, but we still had a little ways to go.

After having a delicious dinner and performing a presentation for our hosts, some of us set off to the Palisades State Park. The park was gorgeous. After swimming in the river, I attempted to rock climb. The first attempt went well, as the first rock face was less complex than the other. The other rock face I attempted to climb didn't go so smoothly. I got past the hardest part, which was the very beginning. But about halfway up I realized that I would not be able to get down safely (it actually was possible I just didn't think I could do it). So I started to panic. Mid panic I turned around, sat down on the ledge I was on, and proceeded to cling to the rock and catch my breath. I waited. Eventually Megan came around the corner and was able to help coax me down, like a cat stuck in a tree, going as far as to hold my right foot in mid air while I scaled down the rock face using my left foot.

Views from Palisades:

So I'm not exactly a rock climber. I guess I'll have to work on that.

Climbing to New Heights--Sort Of,
James

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Today was dedicated to the residents of the Minneapolis Hope Lodge, who I thoroughly enjoyed meeting and entertaining. Stay strong, stay hopeful.

Day Thirty-Two: Beating the Heat to Marshall

The hotter it gets, the earlier we awake--and the heat is on the rise. Today we got up with the sun:



That way we're riding in the cooler, more enjoyable weather. The route today was rolling, though the skies were blue and open:



We made great timing, and made it to host before the heat of the day. Of course, getting up early has its drawbacks, like the general lack of sleep that accompanies it and the fact that 12 pm comes to feel more like 5 pm, so your internal clock is off from the rest of society. But you get a lot done early.

Early Bird Catches the Worm,
James

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Today was dedicated to a woman I met in Minneapolis. Her adult son is battling two different forms of blood cancer, one of which is rare and genetic, and the other one which may or may not respond to a bone marrow transplant. To this mother and her son--STAY STRONG. Best of luck on treatment and recovery. Don't lose hope, that's what we're riding for.

Day Thirty-One: The Lovely People of Lake Lillian

Few towns are as lovely as Lake Lillian. You can tell that they were excited for our arrival, just take a look at the welcome sign:



Even the route to Lake Lillian was lovely. This was pretty much the entire route (paved, flat roads):


Plus, two friendly huskies decided to join us at a water stop:


And the night was just as great as the day (except for the mosquitoes):


Today was simply a great day to ride--beautiful weather, a welcoming town, and a route ideal for cycling. I can't help but feel spoiled. Thank you Lake Lillian for the magnificent dinner, live entertainment and hospitality!

Feeling the Hospitality from Our Hosts,
James

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Today was dedicated to the father-in-law of a donor, Jenifer Y., who battled cancer and won an additional 11 years of life before being diagnosed again. We ride so that 11 years of life become many, many more.

Day Thirty: Turning Time to Gold (Rest Day)

In truth, I didn't get to see as much of Minneapolis as I would have liked to, but I did get to meet a really cool community, check out an awesome local lake, and have a productive day helping to work on bikes.

Minneapolis, MN

First off our hosts were amazing--and already apart of the 4K family. Parents of a Team Portland rider, and their friends, were kind enough to host Team Seattle for two days, offering us tons of food, beds, showers, and (my personal favorite) PILLOWS! We were close to the local park and lake, which was nice to walk around and bike through. Team Seattle can't get enough of lakes on this trip. 


Most importantly, today was productive for the team. Everyone got something done, many things that we NEEDED to do, like clean the vans, clean the bikes, clean the coolers, can for donations, route plan, call hosts...the list goes on and on. But we did it, we were efficient, and--dare I say--we learned to turn time to gold in Minneapolis, MN.


Go DO Something,
James

Day Twenty-Nine: Making it to Minneapolis

Few routes on this trip are better than the trail routes. I love riding on trails. There are no cars to worry about, no stoplights and few stop signs.We can go quicker, smoother and farther.

Today's travel to Minneapolis was mostly trail:



Though there were some roads that we had to ride along (as long as it's not an interstate we're usually OK to be riding on it)



Riding through St. Paul to Minneapolis along the Mississippi River Trail, we stopped to climb some sand stone that built up under a bridge, and leave our mark:



Minneapolis lingers on  the horizon as we cross the river:



Roads like the one below are the best to ride on--smooth, open, and clear. Today was a great day for cycling, and I'm so excited to spend the day in Minneapolis tomorrow.



See You on the Road,
James

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Today was dedicated to Mary from That Place in Utica and her friend/business partner for their awesome company and hospitality. Today is also for Mary's niece, a young adult cancer survivor.

Day Twenty-Eight: Early Morning Climb

This morning I awoke with 12 other riders at 4 in the morning. We didn't have to get up this early today, but we were on a mission. The goal was to reach the top of a hill, a point overlooking the Mississippi. A local told us last night about the location, and that it was a sunrise that we shouldn't miss.

How could we say no to that?

We left later than we wanted to--4:45 am to be exact, and pedaled swiftly over bridges, across state lines (officially crossing into Minnesota) and down streets. After a wrong turn (we soon realized we had gone the wrong way) we found ourselves at the base of the climb.

Prior to this excursion I had never rode my felt before sunrise, nor had I climbed an ascent at such speed. The clock was quickly ticking as color began to appear in the sky and the hour of sunrise--5:20am, loomed over our heads. Pushing as fast as we could we reached the top with 6 minutes to spare. Our efforts were rewarded:

The rest of the day did not go as planned. We didn't get to meet up with the other half of the riders until lunch, and we were forced to stop and get breakfast, which was about 50 miles from the sunrise spot because, as we have found, the towns out Midwest are far and few between. One could argue that there's a reason for the way the day unfolded, though. In Utica, MN we came across the first open place that we had spotted for miles. It was a curious building, with giant stuffed animals tacked to the roof and a cat to greet us on the porch. As we pulled up the gravel driveway to the door, a wonderful, boisterous woman appeared in the doorway, warmly greeting us with open arms and an exclamatory "Welcome!"

The result of our early-morning excursion--a lunchtime nap!

Mary was one of the owners of That Place in Utica, a second hand shop where all clothing and shoes are only $00.25! The shop, which recently opened this year, is entirely non-profit, and donates all profits back to the community, choosing a new event or organization to sponsor every month. We loved That Place in Utica, we loved Mary, and (if I do say so myself) she also loved us. If you ever have a chance to go, do stop in at That Place in Utica.

After a long day, finally arriving in Rochester.

Who Knows What You'll Find,
James

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Today was dedicated to Earl Jones, my step-mother's father who I was never blessed to meet. He was an amazing man, retired 1st Sargent from the military after serving for 23 years through Vietnam. Earl was intelligent, having skipped two grades in his younger years, and everyone's favorite uncle. He suffered from colon cancer. I think my step-mom sums up his cooking best: "if I could, I would resurrect that man just to ask him for his mac-n-cheese recipe." Today's early rise, military-like push to the top of the hill was for him.

Day Twenty-Seven: Tunneling to La Crosse

One path, three tunnels, and a beautiful day. This was our ride to La Crosse, WI:

The light at the end of the tunnel. It looks manageable from outside but by the time you are in the tunnel's center it is pitch black and not safe to ride without a head lamp. I don't own a head lamp but I used my phone as a flashlight, holding it with one hand over the handle bar. It worked better than most headlamps!

The last picture above is the view of the Mississippi River from a host who opened his home to us for dinner. It was a wonderful evening filled with kayaks, hot tubs, and a pool. The Wisconsin-Minnesota-Mississippi River area has been kind to us.

Tomorrow we cross the river and head into Minnesota, heading westward.

Making Ground,
James

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Today was dedicated to my grandfather, Donald Schwabacher, who stuck through my grandmother's side through all of her life, including her cancer battle.

Day Twenty-Six: Savoring The Road to Elroy

The weather today was beautiful! I wish I was on the road for it--I was on water van duty.

I had never done water van duty before. It's difficult, you must be aware of each group and their whereabouts, track your mileage, secure water and ice, set up water stops, close down water stops, and chalk the path from host to host.

This morning wasn't so smooth. Groups got separated, the route had to be corrected, some riders required assistance, and we had to turn all the way around and go back to the host after establishing the first water stop because I forgot to return the keys to the church in Madison. WHOOPS!

But, no harm done, because all's well that ends well! After the morning hiccups the afternoon was smooth and before we knew it we had successfully and safely brought the team to Elroy, WI.

Here are some views from the route; check out the military technology that was a historical stop along the road:





After a rest day in Madison and van duty to Elroy, I'm ready to get back on my bike. My legs are well rested and ready to go.

Puttin' Pedal to the Medal,
James
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Today's efforts were dedicated to Deb, a cancer survivor and gas station manager who personally donated water bottles and ice for the riders. Thank you!

Day Twenty-Five: Meeting Madison

Today's rest day just proved that Madison is my kind of town!


We started the day off by canning for donations to help the 4K reach the $500,000 mark, which would make us the most successful cross-country fundraiser! Canning was not the most comfortable experience for me. It takes guts to walk up to random strangers, present your pitch, and collect money. Luckily for me I was with Liz, a mass communications major who just happens to be AMAZING at all things social/fundraising. She lead the way (with me learning as I went), and together we swept through the Madison area.

Madison at night!

After successfully fundraising, the team went out for a Wisconsin must have, custard and cheese curds. I wasn't a big fan of the cheese curds (no surprise to those of you who know I'm not fond of cheese, though I did try it), but the custard was delicious. I chose Blue Moon, a Fruit Loop flavored ice cream:

Wisconsin custard, Fruit Loop flavored!

Now's the time to admit that we had dessert before dinner tonight. We were sure to make up for it though:

Oh how I missed sushi. This was the perfect treat!

A HUGE thank you to the local sushi restaurant and our awesome waiter for a great, donation-filled evening. People like you make the 4K possible, allowing the majority of our funds raised to go directly back to cancer patients.

I enjoyed strolling through the busy, neon-lit streets of Wisconsin's capital. Madison is small but it's clean, the people are friendly, and the town is perfect for the younger crowd. I'm almost sad to leave--almost, there's still plenty more of the country to see!

We're Getting There, Quickly,
James

Day Twenty-Four: Why, Oh Why, is Wisconsin NOT Flat?

Someone once told me that the mid-west was flat. I thought I could consider Wisconsin the mid-west. Except Wisconsin isn't flat.

Okay, so I'm exaggerating. Wisconsin has rolling hills (nothing as daunting as the Appalachians), and I guess some would consider that "flat." But today hit 100 degrees, aka IT WAS HOT. Plus, the route was out on the road, treeless and naked in the sun, aka NO SHADE. Throw in the relentless winds (at 20 mph) and those rolling hills become a bigger deal than they should be. No one could blame the team when they were heat exhausted, sun burnt, and tired.


Not that any of the elements stopped the team. Sure, it was challenging (personally my second hardest day ever), but we made it. We always do.

Even though it was hot, the scenery was still beautifully green, coated in a blue sky and sprinkled with clouds:



And then we rode into this:







The miraculous Madison, Wisconsin, a beautiful state Capitol and charming city that is bike-friendly, college-friendly, and 4K-friendly. I love it here. I cannot wait for our day off around town tomorrow to check out what this city nestled between two lakes has to offer!

Cycle Through,
James

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Today, my second hardest day on the 4K to date, is dedicated to my brother, Robert, who I pray comes to realize (as I have) that we are truly capable of anything and everything. Stop at nothing--every single day.

Day Twenty-Three: Milling Through Milwaukee

This morning I bid farewell to the Chicago skyline,



and traded it for the gorgeous, untouched portions of Lake Michigan's coast. This was the view along nearly the entire route today:



Better yet, this was our lunch stop, where we took a refreshing swim in the cold lake waters to cool us from the day's heat:



Before we knew it, the century from Chicago to Milwaukee was over, and we had arrived:



Arriving in Milwaukee, we stopped off at a local park down by the lake shore, where we took another cold dip. For some reason, this dip seemed much, much colder than the first. It was the second coldest body of water that I had ever been in (first being the waters off of Maine's coast).

The city itself was small and reminded me more of a college town. Walking through it's more populated areas reminded me of home.

And there was the thought--home. We have come such a long way, but still have so much more to go. Thank God, because I'm not nearly done touring the country yet!

Movin' on to Madison,
James

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Today was dedicated to a store owner the team met on the way into Chicago who is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer (we unfortunately forgot to get her name!). Stay strong, we wish you the best!

Day Twenty-Two: Chilling in Chicago

It was wonderful waking up in a major city in a bed placed in a room that I had all to myself.--it has been awhile!

I started today in the Caribou Coffee shop located next to the dorms where I helped recruit voters for the 100carsforgood campaign. After about two hours I ventured off on foot back to
Downtown Chicago. My first goal was achieved:

The Chicago Classic individual deep dish from Lou Malnati's on State St., Chicago. It was delicious!

I headed to Lou Malnati's for a Classic Chicago deep dish; it was well worth the trip! The pizza was delicious, filled with delicious cheeses, perfect homemade tomato sauce and precisely cooked sausages. As a New Yorker, it felt awkward to eat pizza with a fork and knife (but the old rule prevails: when in Rome, do as the Romans do). 

It was a beautiful day so I continued heading north on Michigan Ave, hitting up the typical tourist locations, like the bean, officially known as Cloud Gate:

Located in Millennium Park, the public sculpture warps light to create stunning reflections of the surrounding city. There are also some other really cool sights and views from the Chicago Loop area:

I also had the opportunity to stop into the Art Institute of Chicago's lobby and gift shop. I will certainly have to check out the exhibitions during a return trip to Chicago (yep, I will be going back, I have to go back--it's like trying to spend merely one weekend in Manhattan). It reminded me of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, although the lions outside instantly brought me back to the New York Public Library on 42nd St.

The day didn't end there. For dinner we decided to splurge a little and check out an Asian restaurant called Joy Yee Noodles which was located within a block from our dorm rooms. It was the perfect way to fulfill my desire for Korean food (Chapchae noodles anyone?). I tried a Red Bean bubble tea; it was delicious:



I would have loved to stayed in this city longer, but tomorrow we have to move on to Milwaukee, Wisconsin (aka time for a NEW state!). I enjoyed every minute spent in Chicago, and I can't wait to come back one day.

Movin' on Westward,
James