Day Nineteen: Noteworthy South Haven

I would go back to South Haven, Michigan. It was a gorgeous little town that reminded me of summer/tourist locations along the New Jersey shore.

South Haven is a shore town, it lies on Lake Michigan, and comes complete with a stunning sunset:

The South Haven Sun setting over Lake Michigan. The locals told us that it was a must-see (and they were right)!

After having a great ride today we were happy to discover the luxurious shower and amenities as the South Haven Wellness Center, who generously welcomed us. It was the perfect start to a great night that included a delicious, home cooked dinner from our hosts at the First Congregational Church of South Haven (the Lasagna was a great treat!), Harbor Fest (music, food and beaches), and a sad but touching encounter with sibling food vendors.

The food vendor owners that we spoke to after the sunset at Harbor Fest informed us that their mother passed away from cancer, followed all too soon by the passing of their father. The brothers were very generous and made sure we were fed well with onion rings, funnel cakes, and lemonades before they closed for the night. We were touched by their story, as they were impacted by our journey. I can only hope that our meeting was a positive, healing blessing for everyone. Such generosity never ceases to amaze me. Perhaps the world isn't as greedy as some would have us believe.

To top it all off, while sitting in the grass down at the lake I had the rare opportunity of spotting a green shooting star. Well, to be honest I wasn't sure what it was at the time. I wasn't confident that shooting stars could be green or that I could eliminate the possibility of delirium (caused by riding a bike all day). But, as it turns out, shooting stars with copper in them can have a green tail. Maybe I'm not crazy after all?

No matter what it was (I'm going to stick to my shooting star theory) it was another experience to tack on to an already amazing day.

Keep Your Eyes Westward,
James

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Today was dedicated to my father, because he would have loved South Haven and its sunset.

Day Eighteen: Everyday's an Adventure

Everyday on the 4K is sure to be interesting. But today was something extra-special.

The weather was beautiful and spirits were high. On I-96 my group was able to stop at the raceway and have the once in a lifetime opportunity of riding our road bikes on a dirt track (no, our bikes are not made for such a  track but when else are you going to get to do such a thing?).

A big THANK YOU to the owners for letting us ride around the track!

And then we hit a milestone--our 1,000 mile mark! It baffles me that only a few weeks ago we were just starting out and yet we have quickly rode over mile 1,000.

As you can see, I was pumped to have reached the 1,000 mile mark!

Thank you everyone--donors, supporters, readers and cheerleaders for helping to carry me to this point. Without your perpetual spirits as my great motivation I would not have made it this far. These 1,000 miles also belong to YOU!

To make things even better, we also stopped at a small Lake Side Shop. The owner Paul was a great host and offered us free wet burritos, which reminded me of a cross between an enchillada and a burrito, smothered in delicious cheese and a gravy/enchillada sauce mixture (we were fortunate enough to have snagged the recipe; we're taking wet burritos all the way to Seattle!). There happened to be a lake right by the store ("Lake Side Shop"), so we cooled off with a swim before gearing up to conquer the rest of the day.

And conquer the rest of the day we did, all the way to Grand Rapids, MI. It was a great day, complete with good foods, better memories, and even better people. I can't wait to see what the rest of the trip brings.

Don't Forget to Have Some Fun,
James

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Today was dedicated to my great-grandfather, Ciro Apicella.

Day Seventeen: Seeing Michigan, from Ann Arbor to Lansing

Michigan is beautiful. Mostly flat, with some rolling green hills, blue skies, blueberry farms, asparagus crops, and magnificent Lake Michigan.

Riding through this state has been a pleasure, with views like this one:



The occasional dirt road has been a bit of a nuisance and can do a number on the wrists, but overall I am enjoying my time in Michigan.

Today was pleasantly uneventful. It was a great day to ride and simply enjoy time spent under the sun.

Don't Worry, Be Happy,
James

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Today was dedicated to my grandfather, Charles Overton.

Day Sixteen: Setting the Sun in Michigan

We've made it to another state as we continue to trudge westward!

And what trudging it was! It rained for most of the day today (and I'm sure you're all familiar with how much I dislike cycling in the rain--it's so uncomfortable). However, unlike last time, the temperature was higher and the rain was warmer so it wasn't so bad. Besides, (like I always tell myself) I'm sure any cancer-patient would much rather be having to deal with a day in the rain than having to deal with cancer. Suddenly the rain doesn't seem like much of a problem.

So I get over it, and I move on. I stop periodically to wipe my glasses and scrub some mud off my shins, but I keep going, along with my group, along with the whole team. We keep moving, pushing forward to our next destination, which just so happened to be Ann Arbor, Michigan. We took the back roads out of Ohio, through farm fields aplenty and famished fallows, over dirt roads and muddy potholes, past crossroads with no street signs and turns that looked like something out of a scary movie (have you ever seen Wrong Turn?). Despite getting lost, pedaling through mud (up hills, mind you), being hungry, wet, and cold it was still a great day. The rain stopped, the roads became paved and we had a filling lunch.

On this ride things turn quickly, shifting from bad to good and from good to bad as often as we shift our gears along the way. Still, everyday still manages to be a great day. Everyday is a great day because we're alive, we're moving forward, and we have the support of many, many others. Additionally, I'm learning to be grateful for the little things, things normally taken for granted: a shower to clean me, some food to feed me, and a place to rest my head. I'm grateful for my loved ones, my health, and the opportunities that I have been so fortunate to have come across. Not everyone has such things, but I wish everyone could.

I'm truly grateful, and that's why I believe I'm truly happy. What have you taken for granted today? You're one "thank you" away from happiness.

Don't forget to smile :), it's good for you,
James

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Today's ride is dedicated to Kathy Ramos, a neighbor and family friend who is bravely undergoing the battle against cancer. Today is to show her that she can do it and that there are those of us out there who are fighting alongside her in many different ways. Best wishes and blessings!

Day Fifteen: Feeding Time (Food Van Duty)

I maintain a love-hate relationship with van duty. On one hand it's nice to have a day off the bike and it's fun to go around and collect donations for the team. On the other hand sometimes you just want to be out there on the road with the team cycling the route. Plus, getting food donations can be very frustrating--it's a lot of pressure to have to find food for 27 people, people who will be very hungry and very mad if there isn't lunch.

So far it's been going well. All van riders have done a great job of securing meals for lunch (and dinner when necessary). Today was no different, though it was off to a shaky start. My co-pilot Molly and I received a lot of what we like to call the "corporate card." It goes something like this: You ask to speak to the manager, introduce yourself, your co-pilot, the organization and present the official letter head to then hear "I'm sorry, but we can't do anything at the store level, you'll have to apply through our corporate office." This is, in fact, usually a lie. Walmart, Target, Giant, Weis, McDonalds, Tacobell, Subway, Dominos, Papa Johns, Chipotle and so many other chains have already donated to us. Now it sometimes depends on the owner of a particular location, but in general, managers have some pull for small donations without having to go through a corporate office. This information, of course, makes it all the more frustrating to hear a manager attempt to pull the corporate card. Fortunately, we have learned to not be so easy for taking no as an answer. Sometimes all the manager requires is a little more persuasion.

I recognize that some people may not be so fond of the idea of a group of students scrounging around for free food, however this is essential to 4K for Cancer operations. Food donations from generous, kind-hearted people from across the nation allow for low overhead costs. Imagine for a moment that the 4K had to pay for all food and lodging along the route. The cost would be astronomical and no funds would be left for the cancer patients. By securing food and lodging for free, the 4K for Cancer can send the maximum amount of money raised to programs and operations that directly impact cancer patients.

In fact, as a whole we have raised nearly $500,000 (we are only $40,000 shy of this goal, which would make us the most successful cross-country cycling fundraiser in existence). This is an exciting time for all connected to the 4K mission--we have a chance to make history and have  a greater impact on lives across America. I think that's something worth donating and cycling for.

To those who have donated--whether you have donated time, money, food, shelter or even showers, THANK YOU. The 4K for Cancer could not exist effectively without your loyalty and support. It is astounding to see the good of the world united on one front, fighting for a cause deemed worthwhile. Every day of this trip I am reminded of how remarkable people are, and how generosity and kindness are not dead in the world. Days on the 4K teach me to hold on to hope because the human potential is truly infinite.

"Hope springs eternal" -Alexander Pope

The view as the team entered Toledo, OH--our YMCA home for the night.

James

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Today's ultimately successful efforts were dedicated to Luis DeSousa Pereira, the father of a donor. I will hopefully be posting more about Luis and his life in the near future.

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.