BIG RIDE July 25 - July 31 Summary



Day        Destination                         Arrival                   Depart                  Mile

 

40           Burton OH                           25-July                 26-July                 92

Left the flat and headed to the urban areas of Cleveland and wonderful homes along Lake Erie .  The route took us to downtown past the rock and roll hall of fame.  Great ride.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Lake Erie at Cleveland

 

 

41           New Waterford OH         26-July                 27-July                  59

Today was the hills and rolling ohio country side after some flat to begin.  Terry and Kevin Craig visited us and we had a wonderful time.

Terry and Kevin Craig, our visitors from home

 

42           Washington PA                 27-July                  28-July                 62

Rolling hills with some steep climbs.  Back in our neck of the woods and Beaver County.  Had a gang visit us today.  Ben, Jen, Liz, Hewey, Tim, Lynn, and Mary and Mike .  They brought all sorts of food and drink.  Heavy rain and thunder.  Big time fracking, trucks everywhere.

PA line and Beaver County

 

Wonderful to be have family and friends visit us in Washington PA

43           Confluence PA                 28-July                  29-July                  88

Another great day of riding with the last 50 miles on the YRT from West Newton to Confluence.  Rained the afternoon .  Met up with Maury and Terry at OhioPyle and rode to Confluence.  Skipped the tent camping and stayed at an apartment that Maury had rented.  More visitors with Dave, Millie, Patty, and Diane coming to see us also Sally and Anita came over and we drank a few beers before heading to the Lucky Dog for dinner.  Felt great to sleep in a bed while it rained outside.

Impromptu Party at the Eagles Nest apartment

 

Ohiopyle

44           Bedford PA                         29-July                 30-Jul                    81

Long day with a side trip to the Flight 93 memorial in Shanksville.  Hills , hills and more hills.  Upon our arrival we were greeted by Corky, Dee, Patsy and her two grandchildren.  What fun.  We all went to a nice restaurant and enjoyed talking about the trip.

 

Thank you for the cheers of support, Corky, Dee , Patsy and grandchildren

 

 

45           Gettysburg PA                  30-Jul                    1-Aug                   100

A long and challenging day.  Many previous Big Riders saying this is the hardest day of the trip.  Started with several back road climbs and went through the Laurel Highland mountains.  Up over Bald Knob and a long descent.   Lunch was in a state park where a 2008 alumni cooked everyone lunch.  Almost a nine hour day and 103 miles on the bike.  We are staying at Gettysburg College and had dinner at a nice French restaurant.  A six day week of riding is now behind us.

 

 

46*         Gettysburg PA

Nice town for a rest day.  We are staying at Gettysburg College in a remodeled hotel/dorm very close to downtown.  The restday was the normal laundry, bike wash and huge breakfast at the Lincoln Diner.  Then Cathy did an interview for the local paper and the group went to the battle field for a tour.  We went to the campus and took video for the closing ceremony.  A mixed emotion on the trip ending with many ready to go home and some wanting to continue,   I guess we all miss home and have had a great time and want to continue.  Two more days to go and we will be finished.



Cathy doing a News interview and photo shoot

Video prep for the finish line