Meet the amazing community that was the Big Ride 2007

Tom VanCura

Steven McCloskey
Phil Williams
Lisa Gizzarelli
Alex Anderson

Michael Yee
Brian O'Sullivan
David Hoganson - Crew, our mechanic
Jean Anne Hattler
Brack Hattler

Jodi Matakovich
Liz Schulz
Helyn Anderson

David Lambert

Vern Katzung
Ben Thiesse
Sean Bennett
Mark (Pollie's Dad) - Crew (he joined us after Anne sadly left us)
Jerry - Crew

Jeff Rich
Jay Carlson
Greg Sterling
Greg Dimmitt
Pollie McCloskey - Crew, Ride Director

David Latner
Andy Lasseter
Adam Marengi
Bob Jones
Mary Moore

Dan Scott
Marty Minkoff
Jerome Mercer
Nick Fels
Ane Klomps

Scott Hadley
Cathy Harm - Crew
Bill Harm
Justine Dobies
Margo Harrison

Kelly McCall Rodney Sanders
Kari Giorgi
Alison Guerin
Em - Kelly McCall's crew and MOM

Floyd Bere Barry Verbel
Mike McFarlin
Trish Dimmitt
Bob Dumke
Anne - Crew

Day 48 (8/11) Clarksburg, MD to Washington DC

Washington DC (Potomoc?)

Arriving into the city, Washington Monument is ahead in the distance
at the Old Post Office where we are to eat our final meal together at a Greek restaurant
Sean, Brack, Jean Anne, David, Andy?
Ane and Helyn?

Helyn and Trish
Liz and Andy

Bob, the Greek rest. owner (a 1998 Big Rider), Jean Anne, Michael, another 1998 Big Rider
Trish and Alison
All of us who stayed with the same host family in Seattle before the ride started. The first people I met! We all made it! Margo, Mike, me, Dan, Bob, Jodi, Helyn, Justine
Greg, Michael, David, Margo

Our last time all together
outside the Old Post Office
Kelly
Kelly

Floyd and Mary celebrating while waiting at the staging area before riding to the finish line

the staging area

a seven person bike you can rent and tour the city !?!

Adam - checking out his cue sheet for the last time (and maybe for the first time today)

Jeff - still eating in staging area

Floyd and I - before we start riding to the finish line, we are crossing the finish line together

me

my parents and I at the finish line - I did it!

me, Jean Anne and Brack at the finish line

finish line ceremony with National American Lung Association speaker

56.39 miles (including ride to hotel)
14.0 mph average

Got up early today, first time I've done that on this entire trip. Was nervous, excited and extremely sad. This is it - our last ride. I wanted to savor it, but I also couldn't wait to get there. I was worried about getting there by 10:30 too. I rode the whole way into DC without stopping until I got off the bike path in DC and took a picture of the water (I'm guessing the Potomoc, but I'm not sure) to show that I made it. I rode right past the water stop/check point. It was a beautiful ride, if I wasn't in such a unsettled state, I would have taken pictures. We rode past horse farms, very large older mansions and lots of rolling hills. In the mansion area we rode through in Maryland right outside DC we passed LOTS of other cyclists out for their Saturday morning club rides. It was strange seeing so many "other" cyclists on the road, usually we are the only group. The traffic picked up as we approached the city. We got on a very busy bike path for the last 7 miles that took us into the city of DC. I think it was more dangerous than the roads, there were hundreds of people jogging and slow bike riders mixed in with fast cyclists weaving around all of them at very high speeds. It was pretty crazy, but nice to see so many active people. We rode over the C&O Canal and it's bike trail. After stopping in the city to take a picture of the water and have a snack, Bob, Jodi, and the Dimmitt's caught up with me (they were stopped at the water stop ). We rode into the mall area together and Andy and Steven soon joined us too. It was an amazing feeling to be on the mall, to see Washington monument and the Lincoln memorial. We were savoring our time together. Many were not ready to see their families yet and were hoping they didn't pass them as we rode through the finish line area on our way to the Old Post Office to eat. The Old Post Office was our last meal together and the last time we would all be together as part of the Big Ride. It was so sad. It was wonderful to congratulate everyone as they got there, since I was the first group to get there, but it was so sad to say goodbye. It was our special time before we dispersed at the finish line with our family and friends. It was really nice to get to be with everyone and relax for a while before having to go outside and line up in the staging to ride to the finish. Some former big riders showed up to congratulate us and took a final group photo for us. Eventually it was time, we had to leave and begin to line up. I was really dreading the end. But it came and I rode across the finish line with Floyd (my fellow photographer friend). My family had a great banner for me and it was nice to see everyone. We got together for Pollie to give out certificates and for the National ALA speaker to congratulate us and then we were off to unload our luggage from the truck for one last time at the hotel. I checked in to the hotel and had some time by myself to attempt to adjust and digest what just ended so abruptly it felt before I was meeting my family to go to my Uncle's house for dinner.

It was an amazing, life changing trip with wonderful people. I will cherish these memories forever and will think of each person I shared the last 7 weeks with often. They will each touch my everyday life when some silly little thing reminds me of one of them. I guess I have to try to adjust to everyday life again, which I am really not looking forward to. Nothing compares to the beautiful simplicity, activeness, adventure, doing what you absolutely love, beautiful scenery, and support and friendship from our community that was each day of the Big Ride!

Day 47 - The Wedding Ceremony and Brian and Phil's Big Ideas

Brian sharing his big Ideas - like the fact that Michael Yee is most likely to be found eating with his helmet on, or that I have the longest braid when riding, and Trish has the nicest butt to be riding behind...these are really "big" life changing ideas!
Rabbi Rodney reading the vows
Phil and Brian - and thier big ideas

Margo and Adam, with Bill toasting in the background

Father of the bride (Nick), Margo, Adam, Mother of the groom (Helyn)
crushing the glass (in a paper bag so we don't get broken glass in the campground)

The choir

Father Bob (My job was to post the colors, I believe that's what it's called. I call it planting the flag, and Mike, the Colonel just laughs and says that's perfect.)
priest and rabbi togtether reading the vows

Margo and flower girl - Mary

Father Bob
Rabbi and priest


mother of the groom and Adam walking down the aisle

Day 47 (8/10) Gettysburg, PA to Clarksburg, MD

Vern's bike buddies - Trix the rabbit
Vern's bike buddies - a two headed dragon that talks, and the mouse from Charlotte's Web Bill napping before dinner

52.26 miles
14.1 mph average

After a great breakfast at the hotel with Jodi, Cathy, and Bill, Cathy gave us a ride down to the middle school to get our bikes and get on the road. Today was all rolling hills that got a bit steepter for the last 10 miles. What a short ride! Got to Maryland at mile 7.8. It was a very nice ride. The city of Frederick, MD is a beautiful old city with gorgeous old buildings and row houses painted different colors. I rode with Adam, Margo, Greg and Mary for a bit and finished the ride with Jerome, Mike, Rodney, and Greg. I got into the campground at 1:something. It was nice to set up the tent and just sit around relaxing chatting with different people. Eventually, I started to get ready for tonight's festivities. Our last dinner together! We all have mixed emotions right now. My body is ready for a break but I'm not ready for this trip to end. The beautiful simplicity of life just can't be matched - it is wonderful! And these people who have become a tight community - I'm not ready to leave that.

We are being fed at Applebee's tonight and we are being shuttled there on a mini bus thing. We all put on our nicest, cleanest clothes for a night out. After dinner is the wedding ceremony. Jay and Nick have planned a spoof wedding for Margo and Adam (who have become great friends that spend almost all of their time together). Jay has put a lot of time into planning this and there will be a rabbi for Margo and a priest for Adam.

Dinner is wonderful, I was able to get a head shot taken of each rider. Brack and Jean Anne are even there with us! Brack had got up and spoke to us and it was very nice. Bob Jones also got up to speak and it was really great! We have amazing people in this community! Dinner went so long that the wedding is now going to be held back at the campground.

Bob Jones is our priest and Rodney (who lives in Isreal) is our rabbi. Margo and Adam are just going along with this in good humor. Nick gives Margo away (because Greg is out with his wife at a hotel for the night) and Helyn walks Adam down the aisle. The priest goes first and unites the couple with wonderfully unique vows - together in riding for the rest of the trip. They exchange wheels and have a "quick release" clause added in, just in case (these vows were written by lawyers (Jay and Nick) of course). The rabbi now does his ceremony and covers Margo's head in white cloth, which she keeps undoing and getting yelled at for. There is a tent fly canopy held over them and Adam breaks the wine glass and we all yell "Mazel Toff?" After the exchanging of the vows, Jodi and her back up vocals sing a great song and Kari finishes with another. It was hilarious! The wedding is followed by the big ideas of Brian and Phil that came to them on the ride, which were also hilarious! It was a great evening! I didn't want it to end, but eventually I decided it was time to go to bed, so I could be up and ready and out early to make it to the restaurant by 10:30 in DC. Tomorrow is going to be a slap in the face of reality - it really is over and I'd rather just go to sleep now and not think about it.

Day 46 - Rest Day - Gettysburg, PA

Livin' large in the Hilton Garden Inn while those not hoteling it are camped out at the Gettysburg Middle School that didn't have any hot water for showers yet when I left there yesterday!

Sleeping, Relaxing, doing laundry, drying out all my wet stuff from the rain this past week, blogging, blogging, blogging, eating, sleeping some more, reading, relaxing, eating, reading... It's a great day. It is also absolutely pouring out right now while I am doing all of these wonderful things right inside my hotel!

Day 45 (8/8) Bedford, PA to Gettysburg, PA

I was too hot and anxious to get the day over with to take any pictures today. It's too bad, because it really was beautiful scenery today. Pennsylvania is a gorgeous state!

104.30 miles
12.5 mph average

I left camp last with Floyd (except for Bill and Jeff who went out for a real breakfast). I can't seem to get up anymore (not that I was ever good at it). I am one of the last of camp everyday lately. We followed to Pennsylvania Bike Route "S" the entire day today (except the last 10 miles). The roads it took us on were beautiful and they sure were hilly! The hills were not as dreadful as they were talked up to be, there were a lot of them, but none of them were that overly steep, it was just very slow going all day long. What made today especially difficult was having to ride 104 miles of continuous hills in 100 degree weather. The heat was the real challenge. It was HOT!! My bike was in a rain shower of sweat all day long! I was gulping down water like crazy. I had a nice break at a little campground store with Jodi. We sat and relaxed in Adirondack chairs while I downed two Arizona iced teas very quickly and had a snack. I had a bagel at the Starbucks at our first water stop too. By the time I got to our check point I was ravenous for some reason and ate most of the snacks in my bag. I'm usually not hungry when it's this hot, but I'm also not usually riding 100 miles of hills either. Eventually, I did it, I arrived in Gettysburg at the middle school where we were camping for our rest day. The day was over and I did it and really wasn't that bad, just long and slow. Bob Jones' CPA office came to surprise him. All of the women from his office were there and had lots of baked goods and cold drinks for us all. He was so surprised to see them - it was really nice. The middle school's boiler was broken when we got there and there was no hot water for showers. I was very happy to be spending my rest day in a hotel. Jodi and I went in on a room for both nights. While I was waiting for Jodi to get in(who was having difficulty with the extreme heat), I was able to set out my tent and sleeping bag and get them completely dry and I was able to clean my bike. I then packed up what I needed for the hotel and Cathy (our crew and married to Bill - a rider) graciously drove us to the hotel because they were staying there too. What a help that was!! Thanks so much Cathy - you're wonderful! Time to begin my day and evening of pure relaxation in luxury and start to tackle to fact that we only have 2 more short days of riding. This transition back to everyday life is going to be rough and the reality of it hasn't really hit yet. The end is bitter sweet. My body is tired, but I'm not really ready for this amazing experience in this wonderful community that we have become to end.

Day 44 (8/7) - Confluence, PA to Bedford, PA

Our private tour of the Cannondale factory in Bedford, PA. It was after dinner, so the production line wasn't running, they invited us back in the morning to see everything in action, but it is our hardest day tomorrow, so we politely declined.

me
Andy

our tour guide. It was a lot of fun to see how the bikes are made. We even saw the testing room where they were running tests on all different bikes and components to see how strong they are and what their breaking point is. We got to watch frames bend and stretch on machines to try to replicate regular use, but with excess force added - it was amazing to see - we weren't allowed to take any pictures in there though. (Dan, Steve, and Brian off to the side)
future bicycles!


exactly how each welded joint should look
a colorful array of paint remnants on some pipes

along the bike trail
view from up on a bridge on the bike trail. we were high up over a highway. The bike trail is all old railways
off the trail and onto the road again. back to following our cue sheets again and dealing with those motorized vehicles that always seem to get in the way
the view from the hill going up to the town of Berlin
more from that same hill
the Pennsylvania flight 93 memorial that we rode right past.

82.54 miles

11.8 mph average

44.4 mph max speed today!

We rode on the Great Allegany Passage bike trail for the first 30 miles of the day today. It was a lot easier mentally to deal with than yesterday's 50 miles on it. It was quite beautiful with lots bridges, water views and farms. Some people opted for a road route today instead that was very hilly through the Alleganys. The trail is crushed limestone with some muddy spots, which can be unpleasant on skinny road tires (as Kari put it: "I don't want to ride on kitty litter") We also have a few people who really enjoy hills. I was content on the trail, knowing that I'd have plenty of hills this afternoon and tomorrow. We have now ridden a total of 85 miles on the Great Allegany Passage. We got off the trail in Meyersdale and the hills began. Some were pretty steep, but the scenery was gorgeous! Stopped in the town of Berlin, that was at the top of a long hill for lunch. A very nice couple asked me lots of questions about my ride and ended up buying my lunch for me! We rode up a hill to the site of the flight 93 Sept. 11th crash where there is now a large memorial set up. We also rode over Bald Cap mountain, one of the Allegany mountains at an elevation of 2906'. I was absolutely exhausted at the end of the day and worried about how tired I would be for our toughest day tomorrow. It started raining tonight after my tent was set up and I was showered. I just hid out in my tent for a while and luckily it stopped before dinner. We had pizza ordered in for dinner at a pavillion and then went on our Cannondale factory tour. Tomorrow is it - the day we have heard so much about - it is finally here - our last real ride and a difficult one. The two 50 mile rides after that barely even count, they are practically a rest day for us by now.