Week One
During the ride, Marie will write a message recounting the highlights and progress of the day. Just e-mail Marie's husband Ron at ronnemec@hughes.net to request subscription.
- May 19 - On the Way - Colorado Springs, CO
- May 20 - On the Way - Kansas City, MO
- May 23 - On the Way - Nerinx, KY
- May 26 - On the Way - Indianapolis, IN
- May 27 - On the Way - Rochester, NY
- May 28 - On the Way - Saranac Lake, NY
- May 29 - On the Way - Ellsworth, ME
May 19 - On the Way - Colorado Springs, CO
By the grace of God, and in His will, this year's long distance fundraising/awareness bicycle ride began this morning at 10:20 am. I am driving today to Colorado Springs, taking along my friend Sandy Roy from Bible Study. Sandy will travel with me to Jefferson City MO where she will visit a childhood friend.
We took the scenic route via US Hwy 50 to Delta, through the somewhat infamous "Stinking Desert," very familiar territory with my two delivery jobs. Instead of staying on 50, we took CO 92 through Hotchkiss, Crawford, and Maher, past Crawford Lake State Park. We got back on 50 near the Wayne Aspinal storage unit of the Currecanti National Recreation Area. Very beautiful. On into Gunnison, home of Western State College. Lunch stop at Subway.
Leaving Gunnison, signs saying "Warning - ice on road ahead" reminded me that it's still "Springtime in the Rockies." Actually the road was merely wet, even though it was even snowing at the top of Monarch Pass, on the Continental Divide. Memories of Rockies to Plains ride in '07.
Down into Salida, and through Bighorn Sheep Canyon, so amazing with steep rock canyons edging the Arkansas River. Through Canon City with its many prisons, then veered NE on CO 115 past Ft. Carson. Arrived at the 105 year old home of Amanda Adams, who rode the "Border War" ride in 2001.
Great dinner - London Broil, salad, and gluten free cake topped with strawberries and whipped cream.
Total driving distance - 320 miles.
With love from the road,
Marie Nemec
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May 20 - On the Way - Kansas City, MO
This was the first full day "on the road again." Our host Amanda was long gone by the time we awakened at 5:00 a.m. "Goin' to Kansas City, KC here we come!"
Route was very familiar, same as two years ago (US 24 to Limon CO, then II-70 through the high plains of CO & KS, passing through stone post country and the Flint Hills to KC, M0. Rained much of the day; glad we had gotten the windshield wiper motor fixed.
Our host tonight is Megan Younger. Hadn't seen her in two years (since Cycle the Heartland for HD). We are staying in her 1930's brick bungalow home just over the state line in KC, MO. She has it furnished nicely, complete with two standard poodles and two kitties. Great dinner - pasta with spaghetti sauce, salad, french bread, cake, and strawberries.
Lost an hour today; we're now on Central time.
I'll try to write more tomorrow, but am tired tonight. Drove 630 miles today.
With love from the road,
Marie Nemec
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May 23 - On the Way - Nerinx, KY
Drove through parts of 5 states, en route to Marion County KY. While driving US 50 to Jefferson City, saw signs for Clinton, Knob Noster, Sedalia, Booneville ... names so familiar from past rides on the KATY Trail in 1999, 2004. and 2008.
Bade tearful farewell to Sandy in Jeff. City, at St. Mary's Hospital. Her friend Janice had taken a turn for the worse, and was being transferred there. Please keep them in your prayers.
I took I-70 through St. Louis into IL, then IN, crossed Ohio River into KY. Memories of some of this territory during "Bike for the Cure '99." Rain showers off and on all day. Playing driver and navigator now towards Bardstown (Steven Foster of "My Old Kentucky Home" fame. Final destination Nerinx KY, in the "Holy Land of Kentucky." Town names include Calvary. Lebanon. Gethsemene, Bethlehem, Nazareth. Holy Cross, and Sts Ignatius. Charles, John, and Stephen. I will be staying at the Motherhouse of the Sisters of Loretto, for the 50th anniversary of vows of my good friend Sr. Frances Weber, who was instrumental in introducing Ron and me back in 1968.
Spent two full days at the Motherhouse, meeting Frances' fellow golden jubilarians. Beautiful verdant campus, high ceilinged brick buildings, with some dating back to the 1800's. The 700 acre grounds are farmed, and the grounds are groomed. I stayed in a wonderful guest house. Meals were wonderful. cafeteria style. The whole campus has changed over from the training of young Catholic women to become nuns to long term care of the now aging nuns.
After breakfast on Sunday, there was a special Mass, then a lovely noon meal. I sat at the main table with the jubilarians and their guests. After lunch, I went on-a tour of-the grounds' on an electric cart. Saw 3 man-made lakes, farm buildings, and cabins in the woods for private retreats.
I feel a bit like Maria in "The Sound of Music." "My day in the hills has come to an end, I know ... It's time to go." Tomorrow after breakfast we will be driven to the Trappist monestary at Gethsemene for a tour,. When we return to the Motherhouse I will drive Frances to the Louisville Airport so she can fly back to Houston. I will spend the rest of the day with a friend, Doris Pittman, who is recovering from knee replacement surgery.
With love from the road,
Marie
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May 26 - On the Way - Indianapolis, IN
Everything went according to plan on Monday, May 24. After breakfast. One of the nuns took Frances and me to the Trappist Monestary at Gethsemene.
Drove to Louisville Int'l Airport and dropped Frances off for her flight back to Houston. Then drove to home of Barbara Nicholas' a friend of my friend Doris Pittman. Doris is recovering from knee replacement surgery.
Doris treated us to lunch at the Kingfish Restaurant, overlooking the :Ohio River. Very scenic and relaxing. Tasted hush puppies for the first time - ball of bread with toasted outer crust. Also stpeed at DQ for mid-afternoon dessert.
Back at Barbara's, we visited while Doris did some of her knee exercises. Lots to catch up on. Since I hadn't seen Doris since 2003 in CA. She is a grandmother to two beautiful little girls, Xochi and Sunday.
Light fare for dinner (grilled-cheese/tomato sandwiches and watermelon).
Tuesday morning, I wrote postcards and got packed up. Drove to Indianapolis (2 hours) and easily found the Hendershot's home. They hosted Charlotte and me two years ago on "Cycle the Heartland for HD." Grace is now 10, Ben is 6., and Raisa is 15 months! Lots of hugs. The kids call me "Miss Marie" out of respect.
Lovely dinner of grilled chicken with Famous Dave spices, pasta soup with carrots & celery, golden cauliflower, and a raspberry/oatmeal, chocolate chip dessert. We drove to a regional park for the kids to play. They especially liked going high on the swings.
After baths at home, we ate pear halves and popcorn before they went off to bed. Visited with Mike and Barb before turning in.
Tomorrow will mark a transition. Charlotte will be joining me after she flies into Indianapolis, and tomorrow we leave for New England.
Sorry these messages are briefer than usual. The keybord on this Peek device is quite small, so it takes longer and it is a bit tedious. But when there is more historical information, I'll try to be faithful and live up to expectations.
With love from the road,
Marie
PS - Route so far has been 1745 miles.
PS to the PS: The new wireless email device that Marie is using is called a "Peek".
You can see it at www.getpeek.com It is about as thin as a checkbook and about 3/4 ths the size of a check book as to height and width.
Definitely takes some getting used to.
Ron
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May 27 - On the Way - Rochester, NY
Left the Hendershots after prayer with Mike. Rest of the family still asleep. Such a precious Christian family!
Headed East on the Interstates, through parts of four states (IN, OH, PA, & NY).
We were pulling into Buffalo, on the NY Thruway, when suddenly I noticed that the battery light had come on, and the engine temp guage was on very hot! Thank God I was a ble to exit the Thruway and make it to the parking lot of a Cracker Barrel restaurant, where we were to meet one of our ride donors. By then, I was also having trouble turning the steering wheel. It was about 3:15 pm.
Found Beverly and asked her help. Since Beverly is a local, she was able to direct us to a Chevy dealership, which was open until 8:00 pm. The service manager referred me to a towing service. The wrecker arrived and got the van hooked up. When the van was lifted up, I noticed a belt hanging down below the engine compartment. The towing guy said it looked like a serpentine belt.
The van was towed to the dealership, and the serice manager said it would be about an hour. So we went to dinner at a diner called The Olive Tree. Good food, reasonable prices. During our meal, my cell phone rang and the service manager gave me the news that a seal had to be replaced also. I OKed the repairs; what else could I do?
During the course of conversation, Beverly revealed that her HD connection was that she had met Charlotte and Evelyn back in 1999, when they rode through Buffalo. Earlier in the day, Charlotte had told me about a nice lady that drove them to tour Niagara Falls, and now we found our that lady was Beverly!
Beverly took us to see the church where Charlotte and Evelyn stayed. That "deja vu" was fun for these who were there.
Back to the dealership. Van appeared, washed and ready to go. Filled up the gas tank with 21 gallons. Beverly led us to the Thruway..
We headed East, hoping to make it to Syracuse, but I was just too tired. Stayed in Rochester at an America's Best Value Motel. I'd give it a C- rating.
Although the day was both long and expensive, we just praise God for how everything worked out.
Drove 610 miles.
With love from the road, in the Empire State,
Marie (and Charlotte)
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May 28 - On the Way - Saranac Lake, NY
Up and runnin', back on the Thruway towards Syracuse, then N to Waterton, where we exited the Interstate and headed E on Hwy 3 into the Adirondacks. Nice road through the forests, with occasional towns. Mostly seemed like a depressed economic area; many homes were very weathered and dilapidated.
Met up with Pat and Shannon Pillis near Tupper Lake. They lead us to the wonderful Young Life Camp in Saranac Lake, where Pat's husband Paul works on grounds and maintenance. After meeitng some of the staff, Pat and Shannon toured us around to see the camp buildings including the Guest House, the boat house and docks, soccer field and whiffle ball field. A wonderful lunch of a chicken salad wrap, butternut squash soup, and pan cookie were served to us and many others.
Drove to see Shane Benham, their son with Juvenile HD, who now lives in a group home a stone's throw from his parents.. Shane's HD has progressed. So tragic, but his spirits are good and he is looking forward to Shannon's wedding on June 19.
Just a bit more about Saranac Lake. It-is 300 miles North of New York City, and is 1600 ft elevation. For 7 decades (late 1800's and 1900's) it was the Western Hemisphere's foremost center for the-treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Dr. Edward Trudeau designed a treatment plan of fresh air, rest, wholesome food, and peace of mind. Cure Cottages were built and people with TB came to live in them. Pretty significant success rate.
So special to see where the Pillis Family lives and works..
Today's route mileage - 267 miles, total 2668 so far.
With love from the Adirondacks.
Marie (and Charlotte)
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May 29 - On the Way - Ellsworth, ME
A long day's drive, through parts of four states. Hard to leave the P illis family ... "So long...farewell...auf weidersehen goodbye..."
On the road at 8:15 am, after prayer with Pat. Got to Vermont by crossing Lake Champlain by ferry! VT has the penultimate population in the US (Alaska has the least). Lots of signs warning about moose! Also saw one road sign with distances in kilometers, and bi-lingual signs in English and French, because of the proximity to Quebec. Passed through Danbury, the headquarters for the American Society of Dowsers (people-who find where to dig for underground water using a forked Y shaped willow branch device).
When I was in Vermont the first time (2002) I did not get to ride my bike, so I stopped and rode 5 miles while Charlotte drove ahead. Vermont is now the 41st state in which I have ridden for "Bike For-The Cure."
Crossed over a river into New Hampshire "Live Free or Die." Found ourselves in the White Mountains. Learned a little about Mt. Washington, which is the highest point in New England at 6288 ft. It has the highest wind velocity world record of 231 mph on April 12, 1934. The summit lies in the path of the principal storm tracks and air mass routes affecting the US. Because of elevation biologically & ecologically similar to a sub arctic zone.
Saw lots of hikers, and cars parked in parking lots for the Appachian Trail.
Crossed into Maine about 2 pm.. Had to drive and navigate because the navigator is frequently asleep.
Got off track of the MapQuest directions and lost about an hour around Madison and Solon, but finally got back on track and followed US 2 out to I-95. Whew!
Skirted around Bangor ME and then headed for Ellsworth. Good directions from MapQuest and our host Nancy Patterson. She is the aunt of "k ba" on the Hunt-Dis List. She and her husband Jim live on about 68 acres between two lakes. Their home is lovely, New England clapboard. Nancy is a very motivated and high energy gal, from a HD family.
We were warmly welcomed, and treated to a lovely dinner fare of chicken, fiddleheads (be the third to e-mail me with the correct definition and win a free ride t-shirt), barley, home grown spinach, home grown rhubarb, and moose tracks ice cream.
Nancy has organized a kick-off event tomorrow. She is a teriffic advocate for the HD cause. She is in touch with her congressman and two Senators. Wish I had that energy!
Tired after 461 miles of driving today. Cumulativly I have driven 3129 miles, through parts of 11 states. Tomorrow we will start the actual count for the route of "Coastin' to Carolina."
With love from the road, in Ellsworth ME,
Marie (& Carlotte)
PS.
Marie's email address during the ride is: bike4cure@gmail.com
Ron
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