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Special Note
With the end of this year's ride approaching rapidly, I wanted to issue one more appeal.
If everyone on the Hunt Dis and Caregivers lists who has not previously given this year could just donate $10, that would be close to $5000, and the goal of $16,500 would be well within reach.
Please make check payable to HDSA send donations to:
Pat Pillis HD Ramble 'Round the Colonies 3 Covey Lane Saranac Lake NY 12983
Be sure to bring your "Road Change" to Convention, if you're coming.
Thank you in advance for your generosity in search of a cure for HD,
Marie Nemec

Day 22 - May 17 - HD Ramble 'Round the Colonies
Philadelphia - Drexel Hill PA
Time to move on again. After good-byes, John drove Linda to work, while the M&M's walked to Independence Hall. John met up with us with plenty of time to spare.
With so many groups of school children taking field trips, we knew that we had to be in the first tour group at 9:00 am. The tour was very informative, adding a new dimension of understanding. Three of the most important documents of the USA were worked out in Ind. Hall (which at that time was actually the Pennsylvania State House): the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution. Ben Franklin and George Washington were nominated to be President, but Franklin declined due to his age (he was the oldest delegate). Only 11 states signed the Declaration (Rhode Island didn't come), and NY walked out, leaving Alexander Hamilton to sign as a private citizen. The details of what went on were faithfully and secretly kept in a diary of James Madison. Delaware was the first state to ratify; Pennsylvania was the second, five days later. Saw the Congress Building, with the House of Representatives downstairs, and the Senate upstairs. House members were always elected, but it wasn't until 1913 that Senators were elected (before that, they were appointed by each state legislature.)
After that 1-hour tour, we swung past the Liberty Bell, but already the lines required a 1-hour wait, so we moved on. Walked to the US Mint, hoping to get in on a tour, but the Mint has been closed to tours since 9-11. On to Betsy Ross' house. Her training as an upholsterer came in handy sewing the first flag.
Picked up some lunch supplies on the way back to Linda's. Ate, then packed up the bikes and gear, and headed to Boathouse Row again. On the way, we passed the Philly Gas & Oil Bldg, which was the place where the first Girl Scout cookies were sold. (How about that Jenn?)
J & M wanted to hang out and watch the regatta crew races on the Schuylkill River, but I wanted to ride some, trying to get my legs back into shape after that week off riding. So I rode for 1 1/2 hours on the bike trails on either side of the river. Had to dodge through all the foot traffic of participants and spectators for the boat races, so I came back on the far side of the river.
Met up at 3:30 pm and headed out for the short drive to Drexel Hill, to the home of Karen, Rob, and Mary Wenner. Karen's mother had HD and had been a resident in two of the nursing homes where Jim Pollard worked. Karen tested negative 5 years ago. She's in college majoring in Health Care Administration. She hopes to get an M.A. and then follow in Jim's footsteps. Nice spaghetti dinner and strawberry cheesecake too! Mary (3 1/2) really took to John. He went outside with her for her to ride her little bike.
The Wenners purchased 3 Ramble T-shirts, and we had a little "photo shoot" before bedtime. Mary graciously surrendered her Winnie the Pooh decorated bedroom for me (she got to sleep with Mom & Dad), and J & M slept downstairs on the sofa bed.
Only two more weeks of riding until Convention. Know everyone is getting anxious to renew friendships, and make new ones.
Please consider sending a donation, even $10. We need a boost NOW if we are going to reach our goal!

Miles: Marie N. - 12
Road Change: 10 cents
Cumulative: $8.94
With love from the Ramblers 3,
Marie Nemec
John and Marie Elsner

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Day 23 - HD Ramble 'Round the Colonies
Drexel Hill PA - Wilmington DE
Two very distinct halves of the day...
It was raining heavily when we woke up, so we knew our start would be delayed. After breakfast I drove the van to the Post Office. Parked on a side street, and when I looked down on the sidewalk, there was a wet $20 bill! Biggest "Road Change" find since Scott found $54 in White Sands Missile Range in 2000. Once inside, had a 25 min. wait until 10:00 am. About 9:45 am, a woman came in with a manila envelope to mail, but couldn't wait until 10:00. So ... I told her I'd mail it for her, and she left me $4. While she was there, a neighbor of hers came in, bought a book of stamps, and affixed them to his mail. I noticed he missed putting a stamp on one, but didn't say anything. But when he put all 7 envelopes in the slot, I told him he'd missed stamping one envelope. He got a postal worker to go to the slot, and sure enough, he had missed one. He told me that would have cost him $29 in late charges, had it been returned. Finally got to mail my envelopes. What an experience! I felt very used of God and blessed!
Returned to the Wenners and got directions to the Granite Run Mall, near Media. Drove there to have three rolls of film developed at the One Hour Photo that Karen recommended. During the time I was waiting, I was approached by a marketing/survey person and I succumbed to a 20 min. interview on my impressions of a new women's shaver that Schick plans to market. I was paid $5 for participating, so that went into the "Road Change" fund, too!
Returned to Drexel Hill, and met up with J&M, who had gone with Karen and Mary to a school festival. Mary won the quintessential goldfish, had her face painted, etc. The rain had stopped, so the Ramble could continue. I wanted to ride, to keep my legs in shape, so J&M SAGged for me for almost 30 miles, to the home of Vivian Miller, the mother of Marsha Miller (one of the founders of the www.hdac.org website). Pat Dushkewich had driven down from NJ too, so we had a nice welcoming group!
Vivian and Marsha had prepared a meal that could be served any time, since no one was sure when we would arrive.
Ham, three kinds of fruit sauce, homemade mac/cheese, veggies, sausage; you name it, we had it! For dessert, we had the choice of two different cakes! Yum!
After dinner, we visited for quite awhile. Vivian is a quilter, and she showed us some quilts her quilter's group had made for cancer and AIDS babies. Pat left to drive back to NJ about 9:30 pm, but I stayed up long past my usual bedtime. It was close to midnight before I turned in.

With love from "The First State,"
The Ramblers 3
Marie Nemec
John & Marie Elsner
Miles: 29.25
Road Change $25.48 (most on the Ramble)
Cumulative $34.42

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Day 24 - May 19 - HD Ramble 'Round the Colonies
Wilmington DE - Baltimore MD
After a wonderful breakfast of "egg in the hole," sausage, bacon and juice, it was decided that I would ride first, and John and Marie second. It's always hard to leave all the special folks along the way, and this was no exception.
Rode up and down many back roads into Newark DE. Twenty miles was enough for me today, and J&M were anxious to get in their ride, so we switched roles. I got the lunch supplies, and then drove out Hwy 273 to catch J&M. Crossed over into Maryland within 3 miles.
Ate lunch, then continued towards Hwy 1. Once we were on Hwy 1, the traffic steadily increased. I drove behind J&M (with emergency lights flashing) as they rode across the Connawingo River Bridge. As traffic increased, I stayed closer ahead. At the end, we were just doing two-mile stretches. Finally at about 48 miles of their ride, J&M decided they'd had enough. SAGged the last 17 miles into Baltimore.
Found the Best Western Travel Plaza. Got situated, then called Mary Louise Franz, the retired Social Worker from Johns Hopkins. She came to the hotel to pick us up. We ate dinner at a local diner type restaurant, 'Sip & Bite.'
Afterwards, Mary Louise took us on a nighttime driving tour around Baltimore, where she has lived since she was 12. So many beautiful row houses. The view of the Inner Harbor was awesome!
Got back to the hotel about 11:00 pm, very tired after two nights up late.

Miles: Marie N - 20
John & Marie - 48
Road Change: 20 cents
Cumulative: $34.62
With love from Baltimore,
The Ramblers 3 (soon to be 4)
Marie Nemec
John & Marie Elsner

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Day 25 - May 20 - HD Ramble 'Round the Colonies
Baltimore MD
Slept in this morning, then had continental breakfast in the hotel's restaurant.
Mary Louise Franz showed up to escort us to Johns Hopkins Hospital. We four went in the SAG van, arriving about noon. Johns Hopkins has been voted the top medical facility in the US for about 8 years in a row.
We got an introduction to HDL2 disease, which is being researched by Dr. Russ Margolis and his associates. It is HD-like, but is not HD, and so far they only know of small pockets of families, primarily Afro-Americans, who are affected. Many genealogical records were searched to construct the family tree. Mary Louise helped with some of the genealogy.
Dr. Chris Ross also stopped in to greet us. Dr. Ross is well known to the HD family, and at Convention.
Finally Dr. Jason Brandt stopped in, and we visited. He's with the psychiatric realm of the disease.
Marie E. is coming down with a cold, so we went back to the hotel to rest up and await Charlotte's arrival from Colorado. About 3:30 pm, she showed up at the hotel, having taken the shuttle from the Baltimore-Washington airport. It is so good to have our fourth member now!
While John and Marie were resting, Mary Louise, Charlotte, and I drove out to see a family that Mary Louise is close to, the Masons. Those who were at the 1999 Nat'l Conv in Wash DC may remember Troy (who was in a wheelchair), Rosemary (his wife), and their daughter Toi. Troy has HD, and just recently the family found out that Mary (Rosemary's mother, who lives with them) also has HD. So dear Rosemary is a caregiver to two Phd's, and she is at risk. Mercy!
We enjoyed our visit, and it seemed to make Troy happy when we tried to sing the BG's song from 3 years ago.
As we were leaving, a young man approached us, inquiring about the "Bike for the Cure for Huntington's Disease." Octavius is an aspiring filmmaker, and is planning to help make a film about HD starting in August.
Drove back to the hotel, and bid fond farewells to Mary Louise. We had lots of re-organizing to do with our gear, to compact it as much as possible, with a fourth person now traveling.

Miles: none
Road Change: none
With love from the Ramblers 4,
Marie Nemec
Charlotte Reicks
John & Marie Elsner

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Day 26 - May 21 - HD Ramble 'Round the Colonies
Baltimore - Rockville MD
Drove out to beyond the "Outer Belt" i-695 to Randalstown. Since Marie E. was still not feeling well enough to ride, Charlotte and I were the "designated riders" of the day.
It is so fun for Charlotte and me to be "on the road again." We have shared so many adventures in the past three years.
The route was pretty straightforward, Hwy 26 West to Hwy 97 South, so John and Marie drove to check out the C & O Canal towpath trail and also get lunch.
Stopped at a bike shop after about 6 miles, since her bike computer wasn't working. A nice young man named Andrew figured out it wasn't seated well enough, and rectified the situation quite easily.
Riding was great, on the cool side, but sunny and a little windy. Rode through so many scenic "farmy" areas, and wooded ones too.
Met up with J&M at a park just past the I-70 overpass (the I-70 goes all the way across America through Grand Junction). Continued riding as traffic became steadily heavier, but what a day for "Road Change." I found 7 quarters, plus the other usual. Check out the total below.
Passed through Brookdale, which was the US Capital for a day on August 26, 1814. President James Madison had fled Wash. DC when the Capitol and the White House were burned by the British.
Turned West onto Hwy 28 towards Rockville. At forty miles of riding, J&M pulled up in the van, so we could load up the bikes and head for the home of Jody and Phil Usatine. Jody is a sister of Cindy Tylock, with whom we stayed in Shrewsbury MA. Jody is a member of the Hunt-Dis list, and had answered my plea for a place to stay in Rockville.
Great lasagna, chicken Parmesan, salad, bread, and brownies. Enjoyed the conversation, learning about Phil's involvement in working for a start-up company. Charlotte recounted her tooth story from the 1999 Infinity Loop, and had everyone in stitches!

Miles: 40
Time: 4:30
Road Change: $2.68
Cumulative: $37.10
With love from the Ramblers 4,
Marie Nemec
Charlotte Reicks
John & Marie Elsner

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Day 27 - May 22 - HD Ramble 'Round the Colonies
Rockville - Frederick MD, along the C&O Canal Towpath
Goodbyes to Phil & Jody after a nice breakfast. Drove along River Rd to Swain's Lock (mile marker 16.6), where J&M wanted to start riding. Charlotte & I had primary duty of driving the van, but also managed to ride too.
While J&M headed North, Charlotte and I rode South to Great Falls (mm 14.3), and looked around. I had visited there in 1999 on the first Bike For The Cure. The towpath is just W of the canal, and it's where the mules walked, pulling the barges along the canal. The C & O was in operation from 1850 - 1924. The canal was already obsolete at the time it was finished, because of the great strides made by the railroads during the 22 years it took for the canal to be built. The canal sat neglected until the early 1950's when Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas led a campaign to save it and the towpath from demolition.
Charlotte and I then drove N to White's Ferry (mm 35.5), another favorite place from 1999. The Col. Jubal Early ferry is the only one operating on the Potomac River, and ferries across to near Leesburg VA (perhaps 1/2 mile). We rode 10 miles round trip on the towpath, and discovered that Charlotte's front derailleur wasn't functioning properly. She couldn't shift gears on the triple chainring. While eating we were eating lunch, J&M showed up. They'd pedaled about 19 miles.
So, after lunch, we drove back to Poolesville, where we'd spotted a bike shop as we drove through before. Bob was able to make some adjustments, and re-bend the handlebar bag holder, which was getting in the way.
Finally found our designated meeting place along the towpath. No signs off the rode - purely "hit and miss." I dropped Charlotte off to ride some more, since she didn't want to go to Harper's Ferry with me. I drove back towards Harper's Ferry, parked, then rode to the bridge over the river, alongside the railroad tracks, and into West Virginia. Harper's Ferry was a crucial site back in the Civil War days, at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers; the battle of Antietam was fought a few miles away, on the Maryland side. Bought a postcard, and affixed the WV stamp, and mailed it.
Rode back over to MD, and drove back to pick up J, M, &C. Drove up to Frederick; good thing I had some recollection of this area from 3 years ago.
Found "Quail Ridge," the home of Dwight and Ardie Newbold. Their yard is still pretty much the same (so verdant and foresty) and house exterior looked the same. They have been re-doing the main floor, with new white molding around the windows, and a new handicap accessible bathroom.
Dwight fixed a dinner of breaded chicken, broccoli, baked potatoes, and 7 bean salad, and cheesecake. Phil and Interline Chen joined us; I had met them 3 years ago also. Phil is a scientist at the National Institutes of Health. After dinner, we visited, and Marie E. relaxed in the hot tub. I was tired, and managed to get to bed by 10:15 pm or so.
Miles: J&M - 50 C&M - 20 Road Change: 26 cents Cumulative: $37.46
Total ride donations are now above $8500, so we are a little more than half-way to this year's goal. Keep the donations coming!
Thanks for the greetings that were sent for Adie to give us hugs; that was very sweet!

With love from Quail Ridge,
The Ramblers 4
Marie Nemec
Charlotte Reicks
John & Marie Elsner

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Day 28 - May 23 - HD Ramble 'round the Colonies
Along the C & O Canal in Western MD, between mile markers 64.9 and 124
Ardie & Dwight treated us to Mickey Mouse-shaped waffles before we said fond farewells.
Drove down Hwy 340 towards Dargan Bend but got caught in a 1/2 hour traffic jam of unknown origin. Finally got to Dargon Bend where J&M resumed their ride. Charlotte and I rode 10 miles towards Sharpsburg, and then rode back to Dargan Bend.
Drove to Williamsport where we gassed up the van, and got some lunch supplies. Ate as we continued towards Hancock, our designated meeting location.
Upon our arrival in Hancock, we went into a trailside bike shop, and discovered a 10.5-mile rail-trail, very smooth and fast, so we rode it instead of the C&O. It was interesting because there were three eras of transportation side by side: the C&O Canal, the old Western MD railroad bed, and the I-70. The railroad ended the usefulness of the canal; the modern interstate highway played a part in making the railroad line no longer necessary.
Drove back to Williamsport, where we had a donated room at the Red Roof Inn. John and Marie went to a diner for dinner while Charlotte and I drove to a grocery store for lunch supplies for tomorrow. Still needing dinner, feeling tired and hungry, we thought of Wendy's. Met a dear lady named Hilda in the market; she was our "angel" because she volunteered to lead us to the Wendy's which was about 3 miles from there.
Everyone was tired tonight; bedtime by 10:00 pm.

Miles:
J&M - 61
C&M - 41
Road Change - 1 cent
Cumulative - $37.47
With love from Western Maryland,
The Ramblers 4
Marie Nemec
Charlotte Reicks
John & Marie Elsner