Day Fourteen: Fun at Cedar Point

If only we actually rested on rest days!

Today we ventured over to Cedar Point (virtually the only thing Sandusky had to offer other than Bike Week 2012). I had never heard of Cedar Point before this trip and I have no idea how that happened. Cedar Point is, by far, one of the best amusement parks that I have ever been to! It certainly gives my local Six Flags a run on its tracks (and Cedar Point is a little cheaper).

Cedar Point's famous Dragster, a fast, high climbing thrill coaster.

The park was fun but exhausting. I quickly learned that standing in line in anticipation in the Ohio summer sun is more exhausting than pedaling through the heat. At least when pedaling you have some wind to cool you off. We rode a few coasters, saw a country music show at one of those mock saloons, and went on swings that rose 301 ft into the air to end the day with an amazing view of all of Cedar Point.

In the end, today's rest day just made me more tired. I can always sleep tomorrow, right?
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Keep Awake!

James

(Lucky) Day Thirteen: The Wheel Ahead

I didn't see the route today.
Nope. Not much of it. I even passed by a beautiful garden, without knowing, and thus didn't stop to smell the roses.

Why?

I was focused on the wheel ahead of me. No, seriously. For most of today's 64.3 miles I focused solely on the back wheel of the person in front of me. I was with a very fast group today, a group that I knew from the beginning would be a challenge to keep up with. I accepted the challenge readily, consciously choosing to not be that guy that slows the whole group down.

And I wasn't. You see, the way to get faster on a bike is to focus on the wheel of the person in front of you. Simply stay determined to keep up with that wheel at all costs. You will block everything else out, zone in on your goal, and push yourself farther than you thought you could. Better yet, at the end of the day you will be a very tired but noticeably faster cyclist.

So thank you Meg, Casey, Caiti and Stephen for pushing me above and beyond my limit and helping prove to myself that I can go faster and further.

But I did get to see the lunch stop, and what a beautiful spot it was along a river in Ohio:



There was a bountiful of food, an ample amount of time to rest, and a lovely spot to sit and watch the water. I'm liking Ohio more and more every mile.

Settling in Sandusky, Ohio we didn't realize that it was bike week--that is motorcycle week--and that all festivities were taking place two blocks down from our host, the First Congregational Church. So, in 4K fashion, we put on the best biker outfits we could and headed out to check out the food, music, and motorcycles.

Bike Week in Sandusky, OH. The band Midnight Special is covering some classic rock songs.

Personally, it's not my scene, but it's a new experience with good people and another memory from the road. If this keeps up I'm going to have enough stories for a lifetime.

Ride On,

James
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Today's ride was dedicated to Doug, the ice cream store owner from yesterday, his cancer stricken brother, and all cancer patients that have given up hope. We're riding so you can find more hope than you ever though possible--I know I already have only 13 days in. Cycle. Inspire. Unite.

Day Twelve: Territory Westward

Save yourself the trouble of debating it with me--Ohio is a western state. Take it from an east coast city boy, anything to the left of PA on a map is indeed west. Today we rode 81 miles "westward" into Ohio. This is especially exciting because this is as far west as I have ever been! Seeing the "Welcome to Ohio" sign forced me to realize what a journey I had begun and just how far I have come in a relatively short amount of time--less than two weeks. From this point forward, it's all new states!



Renewed in my passion for 4K adventure, the 81 mile trek did not seem draining at all, (although lack of sleep did make me slightly drowsy during the few long miles before lunch). We were able to stop and get ice cream donate from Doug, whose brother is suffering from cancer and has decided not to fight it. Hearing this was disheartening and the perfect motivation for completing the day.

Riding into Cleveland from the east was particularly interesting, given the state of the area. It did not lend well for first impressions. However, over the course of the evening I saw more of Cleveland, a charming city, and the surrounding area. A 4K Alumnus, his parents, and parents of some of the great team members of this year's trip, came together to host a scrumptious dinner. By far, the best part of the night was sitting around an outdoor fireplace with the team stuffed with delicious food. Cleveland looks pretty good from that seat!

So far I'm loving the "west" and its cities. I can't wait to get moving again.

Westward Bound,

James
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Today was dedicated to Corina Correia Rodrigues, the aunt of a donor who passed away from breast cancer. I hope to be hearing more about Corina and sharing her story with you in the coming weeks. 

Day Eleven: Heaven at Camp Sherwin

The day was long and arduous, but the terrain was calm and flat in comparison to Day 4's surprise century. My wonderful group kept me laughing for all 106 miles, making the 12+ hours on the bike route all the more bearable. Today's century didn't feel like the last one.

Along the north something shocking occurred: a deer darted out in front of our drafting line, brushing the front tire of the leader's bike and dashing off into Route 5 traffic. Luckily no one was hurt and we all got to trudge on and laugh about the scare. All is well on Team Seattle. The route itself is beautiful. I love riding along lake Erie. The water glistens blue under the sun while the coast beckons us to sit on its beaches.

Along the route we stopped at a strawberry farm for freshly picked strawberries. In short, they were the best strawberries I've ever had.



Better than riding along the lake is spending the night by it. Our generous hosts at the YMCA Camp Sherwin provided us with dinner, breakfast, storage for our bikes, beds for our weary heads, and beautiful camp grounds for our enjoyment. We gathered to watch the sunset over lake Erie, , which was absolutely stunning. The hues of red and blue faded into a starry purple as the horizon slowly swallowed the sun. Afterwards, we gathered around the campfire to celebrate the day and roast marshmallows for smores.






There's no better way to end a 106 mile day than a sunset over lake Erie and smores over a campfire. This is one of my favorite days on the 4K thus far.


Keep Warm by the Fires,

James
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Today was long and difficult and therefore dedicated to my grandma, whose memory kept me pedaling even when my legs cried out against it.

Day Ten: Time To Do It All Again

By this time in the trip we have certain things down to a routine: the morning wake up, packing, breakfast, checking the bikes, circling up, and heading out in our ride groups. But today was different. Today was a glorious rest day! And I was in luck-- I got to sleep in!

While others went to the Buffalo Hope Lodge for an afternoon of service, I wandered down to the lake front. It was absolutely beautiful and more massive than I realized, stretching farther than my eye could see. This excursion was brief, and we soon headed out to gather food donations for lunch. Buffalo was kind to us, donating pizza, Mongolian buffet, and Buffalo Wild Wings.

We returned back with a van stuffed with food to feed our hungry do-gooders. I assisted the mechanic and others with checking the bikes an performing some minor maintenance. I've learned a lot of important information about changing tires, patching, degreasing, lubing, and adjusting brakes. Hungry again, we cooked breakfast for dinner and geared up for a local ABC interview (I will post the video as soon as I get it!). However the best part of the night was going out with the team for some Duff's famous wings while watching our news segment premiere on TV. It brought a sense of pride and accomplishment that every evening of the 4K brings. I've never been more productive in my entire life.

Tomorrow we will start the routine all over again: up at 4, groggily pack, dress, and force ourselves to eat, check our bikes, circle up for the day, and finally set out--all by 6 am. With a century ahead of me, I'm off to sleep. Tomorrow is sure to be a long day.

Savor Every Moment,

James

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Today was dedicated to the wonderful hosts at the Harvest House for opening their doors, hearts, and wallets.

Day Nine: Nice, Cold Rain

Day eight's trip in the rain made me vow to wrap my feet in plastic before the next rainy day. I should have listened to myself. Today started in the pouring rain in a chilly 52 degree Rochester, NY. I quickly learned to be thankful for my cycling rain gear, which kept my core warm and dry. My feet, however, were sunk in shoes filled with water.

And slowly things got worse. We got a flat, and then another one, and another one, and a fourth one. And that was just my group. Overall, the whole team had over 20 flats. The vans were shuttling riders tools and tubes all along the route, slowing us down more than we had anticipated the rain would. We were cold, and all our feet were soaked.

But sometime along the way something peculiar happened: I had a flashback to a snowy winter day. I was at my grandmother's house on Staten Island. I didn't have my snow boots but needed to go out in the snow. Her solution was simple--plastic bags. Growing up in a poor large family they didn't have the money to spend on snow shoes, so to insulate their feet and keep them dry they would wrap their feet and socks in plastic bags before putting on their sneakers. Their sneakers would get wet, but their toes would remain warm and dry. Thus, the next time my group stopped at a gas station, I went inside, peeled off my wet shoes and socks, and wrapped me feet in plastic pastry bags. Buying tape from the store to wrap around my ankles, I sealed off my feet from the tumultuous weather outside. So it wasn't exactly correct--my socks weren't wrapped inside plastic with my feet since they were already wet (instead I put them over the plastic bags), but it made a huge difference. Soon my most uncomfortable ride ever became much more bearable.

The day grew better as time passed. Before we realized it we had arrived at our host, the Harvest House, which is such a great place to be staying for the two days! After showering (what a glorious feeling) and eating (I can't decided whether showering or eating is a better feeling these days) we set off to check out Niagara Falls. The city was bright and touristy, but the falls were beautiful. It was such a thrill to be able to see them lit up at night. By the end of our excursion we were exhausted, and settled in for a sleep lengthier than what we're accustomed to. The best feeling of the day, by far, was crawling into a sofa to sleep. I forgot how much better a couch is than a floor!

Niagara Falls at Night--from the US side.

Despite all the challenges and temporary struggles, this trip is well worth the effort. I've never felt so healthy and productive.

Good Night from Buffalo,

James

Day Eight, Ain't it Great...

Ain't it great cycling in the rain? No. I finally found the one thing I hate more than hills--rain. My shoes each contained an ocean, a cold, uncomfortable mess. On top of that, drafting to reduce the wind drag caused splatter from the back wheel of the rider in front of me to cover my face and sunglasses. It was my first time riding in the rain and it wasn't pleasant. About halfway to the host I decided that I would trade the rain for some sun and hills any day. Go figure!

But rejoice, because today was only a 43 mile ride--the shortest yet. This weather could have easily occurred on a century day. And even though I got a flat I was able to fix it quickly (thanks to Meg the mechanic) and get back on my way. It was also a great day because my group was able to secure and Arby's donation; we got to choose our meals and everything!

Once at the host we were able to work on our bikes and shower. I'm glad I learned some bike maintenance basics it will definitely come in handy over the next 3,500 miles. Best of all, the Unitarian Church hosting us tonight was warm and welcoming, featuring a deliciously bountiful community dinner. It was the perfect end to a stormy day.

Tomorrow we get to head to Buffalo, where we will take a rest day and visit Niagra Falls. The team is really excited, it should be a nice few days. We're almost at the most northern part of the route!

Stay Dry,
James

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Today was dedicated to my grandfather, Charles Overton, a skin cancer survivor. Wear your sunblock!