by Janet Hankins
The above was on the ride from Medina to Bellevue.
As I get ready to wrap up my first bike leg with the boys, I reflect on how much they have learned in just a week and a half. With our new norm in the world, whether it be economic conditions, Coronavirus quarantines, or school being closed, it’s wonderful that the riders are seeing the kindness of people in every town we visit, from Goldie and Larry at lunch donating to Be Loud! Sophie to Paulie bringing breakfast and a Be Loud! Sophie donation. People inquire at every stop and are supportive of the boys efforts. Much has changed over the last few months, but that has not. They have improved team communication. When one travels as a bike team, each person in turn should relay important information about obstacles. They quickly learned from missed opportunities to help fellow riders. Now, they regularly shout out the obstacles. They ride together not just as a group, but as a team. Best of all, they are spending their entire summer free of stuff, all of the things that are part of typical life. They are happy (I hear them laughing as I write this) with no more than what fits into two large pannier bags on their bikes, plus a tent. Early in the trip, Mike Malinchock, Karl Murphy and I stopped to review trip directions. Mike said his trip computer showed that something was coming up; but, he couldn’t tell what it was. This seemed symbolic for the entirety of this trip. There is always something coming up, a tree down, a learning moment, a fox, a fabulous swimming pool, a breathtaking view, tasty diner pancakes, beautiful sun rays filtering through the trees... the list goes on. Each mile, we are looking forward to seeing what comes next. My favorite places have been the Maryland horse farms, despite their hills, the Allegheny Gap Passage over the Continental Divide, and the first big tunnel. I will miss the boys and this discovery in the coming weeks. Likewise, I am excited to rejoin them later in the trip. Until then, I’ll just have to read the blog to learn of the discoveries they make in the coming weeks. On a personal note, as a frequent mountain biker but less frequent road rider over the last few years, I would like to do another bike tour someday. There is something special about the way you see and interact with the physical landscape from a bike.
The above was on our wall in our Bike Hostel in Ohiopyle