tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48713258823318734452024-02-07T19:27:10.386-05:00No ChainA bike, 3700 miles, and an opportunity to impact the world.Justin Hepkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057938469112280034noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871325882331873445.post-80203957675275153302010-05-27T20:32:00.001-04:002010-05-27T21:57:38.933-04:00Final Thoughts.<div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2Kik4bujWWJR0reKStoWiSROdKQJLwIF3YsfP4w_tdpr8LWZ7uTRwLiNpTw0rwuKBeJ5LQOIhar7ydDQeUsK50M-pHHIK8uP6U2TmAHRg-ZCOPlC6Gncp-VqdL864mYXHZ894J8SPmBc/s1600/100_1233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2Kik4bujWWJR0reKStoWiSROdKQJLwIF3YsfP4w_tdpr8LWZ7uTRwLiNpTw0rwuKBeJ5LQOIhar7ydDQeUsK50M-pHHIK8uP6U2TmAHRg-ZCOPlC6Gncp-VqdL864mYXHZ894J8SPmBc/s400/100_1233.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><blockquote><i>"Too often we are scared of what we might not be able to do. Scared of what people might think if we tried. We let fears stay in the way of our hopes. We say 'no' when we want to say 'yes'. We sit quietly when we want to scream. And we shout with the others when we should keep our mouths shut. Why? After all, we do only go around once. There's really no time to be afraid."</i></blockquote><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">I don’t know if it really feels like we have just cycled across the country yet, seeing the ocean laid before us at Bethany Beach was a completely surreal event. I do know that I feel like I’ve been away from home (wherever that is right now) for a long time. My bed is in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Columbus</st1:city></st1:place>, my job is in Chicago, my family and friends are everywhere in between and it’s time for me to get off of my bike and back to the real world. It was easy to grow into the cycle of the trip: ride, eat, sleep and it will definitely be hard to leave it and be a grown up again. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Every day of the trip was its own story, I hope I even did a little bit of them justice by documenting them here. For the past 2 months we woke up and had a goal to move a few more miles across this vast country, some days we did them fast, some days we struggled to stay up right because we were pedaling along so slowly up a mountain. Some days were fun and an adventure around every turn, and some days just plain hurt; but they are all memories that I love and hopefully 10 or 20 years from now when I come back to read these entries Ill still cherish them all like I do now. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I learned a lot from this trip both from the people I was riding with and the roads themselves. I learned that some times you have to get off the interstate and enjoy the country roads of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">America</st1:country-region></st1:place>, stop at scenic overlooks and eat at the place that all the locals are at. I learned that we all need to visit the National Parks more often, watch sunsets and appreciate nature for all it has to offer. I learned that everyone has a story, sometimes you just have to ask the right questions. I also learned that in life you have to take a chance, go for it. I just rode my bike across the country with 22 other people at 20 mph, through deserts, up mountains and across <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Texas</st1:state></st1:place>, anything is possible if you are truly passionate about it. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thanks for taking the time to read my blog, I was a science major so hopefully my words were adequate. Thank you for those who made the donations that helped make this trip possible. Thank you for all of those that came out and met us along the way, you don’t know how much those visits meant. Thank you to all the churches, schools, community centers, hospitals, and random people that took care of us in too many ways to name along the way. Thanks to my mom and dad for all their support every single day. Thanks to Maggie, Katie and Libby and rest of the leadership team for all the time and efforts you put in to make this ride possible. Thanks to all the other riders, I loved hearing your stories, riding in your pace lines and consider you all friends and cycling teammates for the rest of my life. I'm not cool enough to have a blog in real life so this is the end for me. On to the next journey, No Chain!</div>Justin Hepkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057938469112280034noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871325882331873445.post-62268073741844673042010-05-27T20:07:00.004-04:002010-05-30T16:46:04.537-04:00Ocean to Ocean.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVajPI3-0l-X38gS4xoKmIToAIpwai19dNqdWEsltF7pSZh2wWDO4cgmmYq0vs8vhbA5bXk7d9A0VohQ8MIXM8CUUUs-gwkxf_ZocdRRBYXbi5GtSdk7AtAZzZkkD6Y8FwzeW88HX4Umxm/s1600/tire+dip+for+maggie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVajPI3-0l-X38gS4xoKmIToAIpwai19dNqdWEsltF7pSZh2wWDO4cgmmYq0vs8vhbA5bXk7d9A0VohQ8MIXM8CUUUs-gwkxf_ZocdRRBYXbi5GtSdk7AtAZzZkkD6Y8FwzeW88HX4Umxm/s400/tire+dip+for+maggie.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pacific.</div><div style="text-align: auto;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Never underestimate the ability of a small group of committed individuals to change the world. Indeed, they are the only ones that ever have.</i> </div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div style="text-align: center;"> – Margaret Mead</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOIZHhwHFG-BFqBrLANA4wfmEFRtnga1W2pBstm0Yy7VvatHgOMo8jNEqNsRIolSV2sm1SuLhEcs6KuK5Hwr1wtMLSDn2dYE7mbrtCEaDLIfwIu5jI3A588LDpsNnuhuyQPz3elmll3R9/s1600/100_1223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOIZHhwHFG-BFqBrLANA4wfmEFRtnga1W2pBstm0Yy7VvatHgOMo8jNEqNsRIolSV2sm1SuLhEcs6KuK5Hwr1wtMLSDn2dYE7mbrtCEaDLIfwIu5jI3A588LDpsNnuhuyQPz3elmll3R9/s400/100_1223.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Atlantic.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Justin Hepkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057938469112280034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871325882331873445.post-15910061527563417352010-05-27T19:57:00.003-04:002010-05-27T20:22:23.444-04:00Bethany Beach, Delaware<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfqWdakd21QzbL1wjTv1wknJxxG84754YZVUqVW3MPdgsfD0lsiAy5kbE7TfZWT7mzLfOKfmvcd0FNYiUipoN5VgOl4KJOJQutxGnkS5gg2MjTEKHQyKA9WWI2TYIB1XO5pPA9P_yZCRgi/s1600/DSC_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfqWdakd21QzbL1wjTv1wknJxxG84754YZVUqVW3MPdgsfD0lsiAy5kbE7TfZWT7mzLfOKfmvcd0FNYiUipoN5VgOl4KJOJQutxGnkS5gg2MjTEKHQyKA9WWI2TYIB1XO5pPA9P_yZCRgi/s400/DSC_0006.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>"A ship in the harbor is safe. But that is not what ships are built for."</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> -William Shedd</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The ride to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bethany</st1:place></st1:city> beach was more ceremonial than an actual day of riding but it was great to be together on our bikes for 3 more hours before the group all went their separate ways. After driving away out of D.C. due to traffic and over the bridge that crosses <st1:place w:st="on">Chesapeake Bay</st1:place> because cyclists are not allowed on it we ended up riding about 50 miles for the day. The vans were parked a mile out from our final destination so we knew when to really begin the celebrations. Champagne was toasted, a ton of pictures were taken and we rode in together as a group of 25 right up to the boardwalk bordering the Atlantic Ocean before everyone took off on a dead sprint for the water. Jumping into the ocean with my helmet and jersey still on with all of the other riders definitely go some interesting looks from the other beachgoers but we were all having so much fun it didn’t matter. People had to start heading home for graduations, weddings, etc as soon as we finished up so the goodbyes began way too soon; I hadn’t really prepared myself for it all to come to a close so quickly. Once we got the people on the road who had to go we road the 1 mile to our accommodations for the night. We stayed at some very nice condo’s just down from the boardwalk that overlooked the ocean so after one last team dinner we spent the night down on the beach watching the sunset and telling stories from our amazing trip. I don’t think anyone really wanted to go to bed because we all knew that would signal the end but after 2 months of constant traveling and a big day of driving back to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Columbus</st1:place></st1:city> ahead of us we all hit the bed pretty early.<br />
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I plan on posting one more blog to try and put the whole trip in words, we'll see what I can come up with because it's going to be hard to cover everything that needs to be said. No Chain!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2B08EBpkWsDB4xXd3QCk7GX1wBTQDL52_Wz47ByKmAuwQBRZUrnXvYnMzAcRidb5ytV6gcZGgLA0A1TGImAyR75dIXygD2SCS2RRqpXxDtt5qajjvkV8for-5w2QO7XOQrCQeAhOyiHfF/s1600/100_1201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2B08EBpkWsDB4xXd3QCk7GX1wBTQDL52_Wz47ByKmAuwQBRZUrnXvYnMzAcRidb5ytV6gcZGgLA0A1TGImAyR75dIXygD2SCS2RRqpXxDtt5qajjvkV8for-5w2QO7XOQrCQeAhOyiHfF/s400/100_1201.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One last new state!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWE85MYTtxIVP6q9f5hG6WaIzkdjVF-2M0CMSrL4ud3PlmmU7gdeeWt8Nt4SlwtyBpSQ8ybBKcIYdJiR3WvrnuRS_jPKU1uwIO9QTUZNYa6-8wn35PS-aXeVghyphenhyphengj5riH0fj9A3P8cu-nb/s1600/100_1203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWE85MYTtxIVP6q9f5hG6WaIzkdjVF-2M0CMSrL4ud3PlmmU7gdeeWt8Nt4SlwtyBpSQ8ybBKcIYdJiR3WvrnuRS_jPKU1uwIO9QTUZNYa6-8wn35PS-aXeVghyphenhyphengj5riH0fj9A3P8cu-nb/s400/100_1203.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One last paceline.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's probably safe to bike with champagne in your back pocket.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSLg2AOajzfqZ3FRp7sD61RF4nrxxzTdhq5BmNpacW0s7CXzHa4KCbCZqc_uThHN3DxsEfyKtnFvX8aa_ek-zQCgpYYkBEZyq51-qiFBc80K5IuTLibz1U81WmetxyiHTzhRWPzR2D0ey/s1600/100_1206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSLg2AOajzfqZ3FRp7sD61RF4nrxxzTdhq5BmNpacW0s7CXzHa4KCbCZqc_uThHN3DxsEfyKtnFvX8aa_ek-zQCgpYYkBEZyq51-qiFBc80K5IuTLibz1U81WmetxyiHTzhRWPzR2D0ey/s400/100_1206.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Slow clap at the last traffic light.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmi6oHufkIxjw9_TvxBqvHtYvFdkoKKq0WGDrdQNervKaRPuazzP4YTDcwHkwg3cWX2RmDQKDbR7Dro0IAepuf18w309AdHhR9B8BO02go7mP8HgJDM5RX9rZcYP97CktI7MB640TAQ5Hz/s1600/100_1210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmi6oHufkIxjw9_TvxBqvHtYvFdkoKKq0WGDrdQNervKaRPuazzP4YTDcwHkwg3cWX2RmDQKDbR7Dro0IAepuf18w309AdHhR9B8BO02go7mP8HgJDM5RX9rZcYP97CktI7MB640TAQ5Hz/s400/100_1210.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Up the boardwalk.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pretty happy to be here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiph6baSN8BnKScE-4FeWEc1WhLkWmH1Z1_ozgbbkVobLxCLCzRpcNv6U05LpMxLch9vnB3RpvvLLuQ9BCfW8OXabXMgTAzDFXG1h4bIcuo_OJf48PuAn__dlkagl__T6-oyIDgnHKQvfjk/s1600/100_1214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiph6baSN8BnKScE-4FeWEc1WhLkWmH1Z1_ozgbbkVobLxCLCzRpcNv6U05LpMxLch9vnB3RpvvLLuQ9BCfW8OXabXMgTAzDFXG1h4bIcuo_OJf48PuAn__dlkagl__T6-oyIDgnHKQvfjk/s400/100_1214.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pure joy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQR1NYORzOeVl3UVNL201JCffH-NiGJ3PyXVDy34Wd0wn-Jy4MB-f9WsOVU_BOpbovkGqG6OxM1EowscZcdH2eRpFKQkYS01lpDXkaaBiXadn69vm48D7NYmyBIFbPuxx_KY39rQJInpr3/s1600/100_1216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQR1NYORzOeVl3UVNL201JCffH-NiGJ3PyXVDy34Wd0wn-Jy4MB-f9WsOVU_BOpbovkGqG6OxM1EowscZcdH2eRpFKQkYS01lpDXkaaBiXadn69vm48D7NYmyBIFbPuxx_KY39rQJInpr3/s400/100_1216.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU6jZh6p0m2s4QGCA6iGY4CsmRioJc7J9r-hP3SPxJwbLhgwvP09JomUpFaFxdv4CS9ICw7a8WrByvc9opnpvTZojLRFwE9FphnwoljG3PdkbZMk45HpkKKcJTw-RXde8_yL1sY5uLuNf4/s1600/100_1218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU6jZh6p0m2s4QGCA6iGY4CsmRioJc7J9r-hP3SPxJwbLhgwvP09JomUpFaFxdv4CS9ICw7a8WrByvc9opnpvTZojLRFwE9FphnwoljG3PdkbZMk45HpkKKcJTw-RXde8_yL1sY5uLuNf4/s400/100_1218.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have one of these with the Pacific and the Atlantic. I rode my bike from picture to picture.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7JcBdd3YtpxHmXwVyvGMBYeF_SHD7OwyMO1gynMtnSivlJjkEXa-wROWSaJxtZ0QdvRqKVQEAxmKZz536KSfXVu5UuADxeW1z3sh-INzE_z7MoTmOhWxa9BGCsgawfShtcgiYbCk-Q8N5/s1600/100_1227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7JcBdd3YtpxHmXwVyvGMBYeF_SHD7OwyMO1gynMtnSivlJjkEXa-wROWSaJxtZ0QdvRqKVQEAxmKZz536KSfXVu5UuADxeW1z3sh-INzE_z7MoTmOhWxa9BGCsgawfShtcgiYbCk-Q8N5/s400/100_1227.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dr. Money. He really is graduated and a doctor now. Scary.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrXjy4-tWzlMxsgTqRBdg8rQN8DxpGmuKozGWOZV31ZSXzuft6Ns0-6qYmc3uqyntyOerZnlh8_jryWoTl4lzKxYduzHyQqMUvhOTl6WlIOZOfQuKxtPLm3cfnnfX20_XOIQSfx-lzUi4/s1600/100_1235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUrXjy4-tWzlMxsgTqRBdg8rQN8DxpGmuKozGWOZV31ZSXzuft6Ns0-6qYmc3uqyntyOerZnlh8_jryWoTl4lzKxYduzHyQqMUvhOTl6WlIOZOfQuKxtPLm3cfnnfX20_XOIQSfx-lzUi4/s400/100_1235.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not a bad view from our condo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TETM_9z1rhiBCsI16yN6dJMrXsyJikEacjtQ_-kEgWrl0EUr2d5NVkK7v03CAqwGKoFAxMNokUBimbzyzOAB7o6czhZmbUO5bqZal9jm_YD3C_3ftiT9uy1PTCF-t7AzmTAsoY4rXKSl/s1600/100_1241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TETM_9z1rhiBCsI16yN6dJMrXsyJikEacjtQ_-kEgWrl0EUr2d5NVkK7v03CAqwGKoFAxMNokUBimbzyzOAB7o6czhZmbUO5bqZal9jm_YD3C_3ftiT9uy1PTCF-t7AzmTAsoY4rXKSl/s400/100_1241.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Katie.</div>Justin Hepkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057938469112280034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871325882331873445.post-13115098324910119022010-05-27T19:57:00.000-04:002010-05-27T19:57:06.249-04:00D.C. Off Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIcQPy0Zth2HQfXsfXdJuUh4XUYlJqajHSWqC5ybBCTzhbM9XwFEcabTKS3_60NSItgeo9uuNaX6G0fWvplytyvwFgQues6pCCoMhMD2MY-pNefSLCWvohzG74pdw__MEFIk-P-FYImKZF/s1600/100_1197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIcQPy0Zth2HQfXsfXdJuUh4XUYlJqajHSWqC5ybBCTzhbM9XwFEcabTKS3_60NSItgeo9uuNaX6G0fWvplytyvwFgQues6pCCoMhMD2MY-pNefSLCWvohzG74pdw__MEFIk-P-FYImKZF/s400/100_1197.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The National Capital</div><br />
I covered a lot of ground in my off day in D.C. A tour of the capitol, the Library of Congress, the Supreme Court and an afternoon in Georgetown barely touched all the sights that I wanted to see but I guess that will just be another reason to come back again some day. USA! No Chain!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOoB3JyaE8pHmpdIQTpDv8gYz9yAk2gwSsx8JnnICzNXZ56RaF0aV71DDYhnS5YMMk0AX8oL6Ij4hWCWazRDBTC4tO8E96GCaEjMpidc7165XHTqIB4biBkWzkGeO093xZ847fYcmt327/s1600/100_1180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOoB3JyaE8pHmpdIQTpDv8gYz9yAk2gwSsx8JnnICzNXZ56RaF0aV71DDYhnS5YMMk0AX8oL6Ij4hWCWazRDBTC4tO8E96GCaEjMpidc7165XHTqIB4biBkWzkGeO093xZ847fYcmt327/s400/100_1180.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Freedom Statue.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZQ542gPt-xvCP5DcIOaJbnk0DuoGCpYFZ7Mk2Uj7rClW6B-o-9yG0fzEKZ0mAYN-w6iLjTXPgCzq-3fES7WwxzqsSZgqK0mfJcNJG-26RoD2TSE4QNR4S_kiLrrMMZ96lDPKzgXNtSno/s1600/100_1183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZQ542gPt-xvCP5DcIOaJbnk0DuoGCpYFZ7Mk2Uj7rClW6B-o-9yG0fzEKZ0mAYN-w6iLjTXPgCzq-3fES7WwxzqsSZgqK0mfJcNJG-26RoD2TSE4QNR4S_kiLrrMMZ96lDPKzgXNtSno/s400/100_1183.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Rotunda Room</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOCntXQdQY7SXof-6f8tTsEqmITSJTjVMXYEjY_6FECzpNw8-cc2bVMoDeRc7s5hxDdIqk1EIAAR9il-EpPW_rFOTRf1hedaelSFJc2jTYafHn-007MQwGs5W3dRvOPdxB-Yunzs4ZrCt4/s1600/100_1184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOCntXQdQY7SXof-6f8tTsEqmITSJTjVMXYEjY_6FECzpNw8-cc2bVMoDeRc7s5hxDdIqk1EIAAR9il-EpPW_rFOTRf1hedaelSFJc2jTYafHn-007MQwGs5W3dRvOPdxB-Yunzs4ZrCt4/s400/100_1184.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The ceiling of the rotunda room</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJM6kSk6rZtbRduvSJyJrYYd_jNiaJ9di53yDZawXKyD_IRorvt9mvAwV6VS-_vRSpyzotFo3NtKZX-p0-w0YEfDpHSld7ieEusrBWxGjhW9oBHFOznUHpVaMz08mFulgRf6HtV8ovUKoS/s1600/100_1193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJM6kSk6rZtbRduvSJyJrYYd_jNiaJ9di53yDZawXKyD_IRorvt9mvAwV6VS-_vRSpyzotFo3NtKZX-p0-w0YEfDpHSld7ieEusrBWxGjhW9oBHFOznUHpVaMz08mFulgRf6HtV8ovUKoS/s400/100_1193.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Love the quote at the Library of Congress.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheg68whr7f6jgRiBdFdqoESIlTuq1b5RAt1GLsL6GDvooy8uqvGTU2tlXVg0cV0UwBmcz8Gb8mS4_0TCMXZ4YS4-HV_3RhEPYqDNk_LyeUXXOa1GXD0E-gueqV-TdQ9sLSE0dUnuL0JDfk/s1600/100_1194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheg68whr7f6jgRiBdFdqoESIlTuq1b5RAt1GLsL6GDvooy8uqvGTU2tlXVg0cV0UwBmcz8Gb8mS4_0TCMXZ4YS4-HV_3RhEPYqDNk_LyeUXXOa1GXD0E-gueqV-TdQ9sLSE0dUnuL0JDfk/s400/100_1194.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Supreme Court</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVg3GoiFRdz1Vz8sJZLOqpngYQvtZdFr2YEZmodLZ8xGxrbkF15N4L_xfnNe7CYzHLar5vEs22KqKWmss0-hp2l6nBjwnyY2TNt0DkbvGagSwyouXzbl_SmjgcftNflSAJnPwS8bvJQJTR/s1600/100_1196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVg3GoiFRdz1Vz8sJZLOqpngYQvtZdFr2YEZmodLZ8xGxrbkF15N4L_xfnNe7CYzHLar5vEs22KqKWmss0-hp2l6nBjwnyY2TNt0DkbvGagSwyouXzbl_SmjgcftNflSAJnPwS8bvJQJTR/s400/100_1196.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The spiral staircase at the Supreme Court</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5DHp-_gTy1S_MMdkaEQ5H7cIRHWm19FqCyLVxmICfYitj1631MamkJT5yWjx-3PI53_NV6SDx4MfECkYf5wIDwtfSW_sB3DqOJcEf-xsP79NmG429V-NTEkzNG_dtaKgx_jKIPx-zUjBM/s1600/100_1198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5DHp-_gTy1S_MMdkaEQ5H7cIRHWm19FqCyLVxmICfYitj1631MamkJT5yWjx-3PI53_NV6SDx4MfECkYf5wIDwtfSW_sB3DqOJcEf-xsP79NmG429V-NTEkzNG_dtaKgx_jKIPx-zUjBM/s400/100_1198.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Georgetown's Medical School</div>Justin Hepkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057938469112280034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871325882331873445.post-72365824796690294862010-05-27T07:42:00.000-04:002010-05-27T07:42:59.566-04:00Washington, D.C.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'MS Shell Dlg'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbcRNqdjX4tqk0YZorT-HYVLSmufFnAjjC3XfmUmrINrLG0G9jG4DnLLmk5NR7xDoIPQy97DRRDOzJtFMysvOMdxm8AW_oJKnFIS6SsvEbAxes4d-pxpw7TsEEAWDpTjeH2xBpVwz-iIb0/s1600/100_1163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbcRNqdjX4tqk0YZorT-HYVLSmufFnAjjC3XfmUmrINrLG0G9jG4DnLLmk5NR7xDoIPQy97DRRDOzJtFMysvOMdxm8AW_oJKnFIS6SsvEbAxes4d-pxpw7TsEEAWDpTjeH2xBpVwz-iIb0/s400/100_1163.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;"><i>"Well of course. I mean there’s nothing better than being an American…so…I mean this is the greatest feeling. If you don’t love it, leave it. U.S.A. number one!"</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px;">- Ricky Stanzi after winning the Orange Bowl for the Iowa Hawkeyes</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The trip into <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Washington</st1:city> <st1:state w:st="on">D.C.</st1:state></st1:place> was everything I expected and built it up to be in my mind the past 3200 miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We awoke to ominous clouds and basically a 100% chance of rain but we all were smiling as we pulled away from the last high school we would be staying at on this trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We rode the first 30 miles as a large pack before the clouds opened up and drenched us from head to toe. We stopped at the first water break to be told by the support team of a monster climb coming up ahead on a very busy highway, the shop guys at a local bike store basically called it a “death trap for cyclists”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We broke into 3 groups each being trailed by a van to protect us from the cars and trucks that were flying by us at 70 miles per hour as we slowly trudged up the 2 mile climb into the clouds. By the top of the mountain you could barely make out the rider in front of you do the thickness of the moisture, Libby referred to it as biking through “pea soup”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the climb it was basically downhill into the city so we rode at a pretty quick pace despite the ongoing torrential downpour. We rode from the outskirts of town on a bike trail leading straight to the heart of the city, as the density of traffic and buildings around us grew so did our pace as we all knew that around one of the next bends the Washington Monument would come into view.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We crossed the Potomac and arrived at the feet of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Lincoln</st1:place></st1:city> sitting in his chair with the reflecting pool and the National Capital lying in front of us. I’ll never forget the feeling of riding my bike on to the National Mall with a pack of 10 other riders who just had the experience of a lifetime crossing the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region></st1:place> to get there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To have the history of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">America</st1:country-region></st1:place> on display in front of us after seeing so much of it up close and personal on our bikes the past 7 weeks brought goose bumps, high fives and wild yells of pure joy from the entire pack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We offered each other congratulations and then raced from monument to monument and finally the White House to have our pictures taken to culminate the end this amazing trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reactions from all the other tourists at the monuments when we told them how far we had come; were eerily similar to the reactions we got in California and Arizona when we told them how far we had to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We waited for the rest of the riders to arrive at the Lincoln Memorial before a group shot was taken and we headed to our destination for the evening the Presbyterian meeting house in Alexandria, Virginia. I don’t know if what we have accomplished has completely set in yet, maybe diving into the Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday will help but I think mostly it hasn’t because I’m just not ready to be done cycling yet. Only 50 miles to go, No chain!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_umB-NpHM0Nk7oiYFdqUxO1Pi36gY3aqMO4zgQ9Jn2_40fEkZmesI1ZX5zmwjtWm27NOgCSbG_H2dUe4YRuWpz8nPAn6_lGmZaplvU0cUL5orMK5XOzxHrETvWy7RuSPVjJ9fkL_nvS7C/s1600/100_1146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_umB-NpHM0Nk7oiYFdqUxO1Pi36gY3aqMO4zgQ9Jn2_40fEkZmesI1ZX5zmwjtWm27NOgCSbG_H2dUe4YRuWpz8nPAn6_lGmZaplvU0cUL5orMK5XOzxHrETvWy7RuSPVjJ9fkL_nvS7C/s400/100_1146.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On the path into town, the first time I could take a picture all day after the rain finally stopped.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUeIDh3hiegWPsEcyAbWo_nQg3WXZEOQ3tSsnoDCJX0yLJb3BRflsuGDJKrOfqt6bxaToM_fE61Zv3vIBNOLGoEVVmvLRmy5v7dPfSJrE2UutxszhYkJZNiWO_DbyzNULW4nGn9xnhOaej/s1600/100_1149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUeIDh3hiegWPsEcyAbWo_nQg3WXZEOQ3tSsnoDCJX0yLJb3BRflsuGDJKrOfqt6bxaToM_fE61Zv3vIBNOLGoEVVmvLRmy5v7dPfSJrE2UutxszhYkJZNiWO_DbyzNULW4nGn9xnhOaej/s400/100_1149.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just hitting the sidewalks of D.C.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNS6NIXix5OcN0xnpLnEWfdMl0g8nWvyg4WR2n6BmOr0ZXEkpo9KLGlPjTE-P1B8z2oOOhONstbZyHdUMXwGb-NH2w37F7sGNP-FoMp-BKNXdlU7HKDpOZ-z4FLz7bTh0giSZtjTKmBhoo/s1600/100_1153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNS6NIXix5OcN0xnpLnEWfdMl0g8nWvyg4WR2n6BmOr0ZXEkpo9KLGlPjTE-P1B8z2oOOhONstbZyHdUMXwGb-NH2w37F7sGNP-FoMp-BKNXdlU7HKDpOZ-z4FLz7bTh0giSZtjTKmBhoo/s400/100_1153.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Getting very close.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMWQSv2UP1nbetQtiJjgAVhqOP67j9Vau2S599pTxuKLnt6qHLrICOGkh0UrZqauG27TFpCREgoJUAu5YV14g9fYObutrszhGV75ZmynKchhVfD-H_DcDIXrAHZuIrG5vkJKFfmZKaQhL/s1600/100_1157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMWQSv2UP1nbetQtiJjgAVhqOP67j9Vau2S599pTxuKLnt6qHLrICOGkh0UrZqauG27TFpCREgoJUAu5YV14g9fYObutrszhGV75ZmynKchhVfD-H_DcDIXrAHZuIrG5vkJKFfmZKaQhL/s400/100_1157.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">'Merica!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WOvrzeBNF2Otg6_HqrpjOMIFa9fGQQD_UKzxlCg5ydjy2tJiLLKd7_uc8yN_ejQB7w4h6vvMSYiUTccEzCq6sDOpJqfmfCGcKLssyUlmYCwwNuU71SoYurv2K8P7KfifMyrz7pj55hkT/s1600/100_1167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WOvrzeBNF2Otg6_HqrpjOMIFa9fGQQD_UKzxlCg5ydjy2tJiLLKd7_uc8yN_ejQB7w4h6vvMSYiUTccEzCq6sDOpJqfmfCGcKLssyUlmYCwwNuU71SoYurv2K8P7KfifMyrz7pj55hkT/s400/100_1167.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Check the red, white and blue arm warmer. GBA.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWNGr2VhY25aT7wQm77DvBT3NIIObWgn-VMHoLf8yZhXSVp_6Fl8NXYnIGUrAPAGposbqDRNVFsxxML3i-KE9V2_f2GixWLY78r6SB1JVTLVxHGHCVNNlsi4Oqnz94R64qWX0nTlZp_CMD/s1600/100_1176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWNGr2VhY25aT7wQm77DvBT3NIIObWgn-VMHoLf8yZhXSVp_6Fl8NXYnIGUrAPAGposbqDRNVFsxxML3i-KE9V2_f2GixWLY78r6SB1JVTLVxHGHCVNNlsi4Oqnz94R64qWX0nTlZp_CMD/s400/100_1176.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Shortly after taking this picture I was escorted out by security, they don't love bikes that close to their monuments.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYBzBN0ItZYHV96HtQ0EuXA2FuILsAm_7D1_A-MfZX7seCmovt9qCHkwb1kKHz2jZZqFqloxM9ulF83CGA8VSx6KkLCbBs84tT2ZPFVUEoriqx3VXFDW5YON3TMmQ_n8as36ZPH8zM3M1D/s1600/100_1173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYBzBN0ItZYHV96HtQ0EuXA2FuILsAm_7D1_A-MfZX7seCmovt9qCHkwb1kKHz2jZZqFqloxM9ulF83CGA8VSx6KkLCbBs84tT2ZPFVUEoriqx3VXFDW5YON3TMmQ_n8as36ZPH8zM3M1D/s400/100_1173.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just rode my bike to the White House, no big deal.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7HkqOOpLxSEpmM_HGUjbZ3dEyMf9Jnb805H-thPPTE6wn-S2W0NmBn2_zWG3v90F6rBbbsYvnPBqoyPgmVsGYoBgPvFXJuCXxmDj-PxDDBjJD_P3YyjTVav40slx2gAy1FGriVfgmIJc/s1600/100_1175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7HkqOOpLxSEpmM_HGUjbZ3dEyMf9Jnb805H-thPPTE6wn-S2W0NmBn2_zWG3v90F6rBbbsYvnPBqoyPgmVsGYoBgPvFXJuCXxmDj-PxDDBjJD_P3YyjTVav40slx2gAy1FGriVfgmIJc/s400/100_1175.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1600 Pennsylvania Ave.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTxcSTKdBU89DSSLFkOAbgm0Njf3IvSHIML7DDUJjmz6qR_b0qE6h2vahrixhB_FnOs50vs6LdXNKSbL3zsCsTajTL54WAmShvt9dFtVQ64kRoXNkqrIGfMJ7HH4cR3LkEiSw7yDzLwTL/s1600/100_1164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTxcSTKdBU89DSSLFkOAbgm0Njf3IvSHIML7DDUJjmz6qR_b0qE6h2vahrixhB_FnOs50vs6LdXNKSbL3zsCsTajTL54WAmShvt9dFtVQ64kRoXNkqrIGfMJ7HH4cR3LkEiSw7yDzLwTL/s400/100_1164.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pretty Amazing!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>Justin Hepkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057938469112280034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871325882331873445.post-4990002531638143762010-05-27T07:27:00.001-04:002010-05-27T07:49:20.183-04:00Front Royal, Virginia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5YJv0I-nbH7Cd-3EFZ6dzJSRwi8JmyfK2JVGcA5Dj5yYpMtM_b_pLFo_r3x0agOFzNQi4laEbAFjfB1iC9SgZZQsor2eNopTg1qKkvtRIcxlGmQ7hVKQkOO3LBJEva-NDJl2G4eoJG_qz/s1600/Elevation+Profile+for+5-22-10.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5YJv0I-nbH7Cd-3EFZ6dzJSRwi8JmyfK2JVGcA5Dj5yYpMtM_b_pLFo_r3x0agOFzNQi4laEbAFjfB1iC9SgZZQsor2eNopTg1qKkvtRIcxlGmQ7hVKQkOO3LBJEva-NDJl2G4eoJG_qz/s400/Elevation+Profile+for+5-22-10.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The elevation profile for our ride today. You can see how steep and how long that second climb was.</i></div><br />
The same people who told us about the mountains between Elkins and Petersburg also said that it was all downhill to Front Royal, our next stop on this trip, I don't know what roads they were taking but they definitely weren't the ones we were on today. Another 5000 feet of climbing later (Close to 20,000 feet in 3 days) we arrived in Petersburg, Virginia, our last night before heading to D.C. in the morning. After starting out the first 20 or so miles on pretty flat territory in a pretty tight paceline with a few of the riders things went up hill quickly. Pete and I got out front of the pack on the first climb and stayed in front all day, not even seeing anyone at the lunch stop where we took about a 30 minute break which never happens. It was a lot of fun to ride for four hours with one of my best friends on this trip and personally challenge myself to stay on his wheel as he is one of the best climbers I've ever met. Their was really only 2 mountains between the two towns but one climb I'll remember forever occurred right at the border between West Virginia and Virginia. 4.5 miles, 30 minutes and a 9-10% grade the entire way had me questioning my ability to continue to move forward multiply times on the way up. I was dripping with sweat and breathing hard when I took those last few peddle strokes at the peak. We had a little celebration at the top as the support van was parked there and with the state border sign right there it was a great photo op. The descent was awesome, lasting about 5 miles with some pretty sharp turns but it started to pour as we began our way down so it felt like we were being pelted with tiny pebbles the whole way. We went through some rolling hills and fought a pretty strong head wind the last few miles into Petersburg but still managed to arrive right around 1 pm. During the afternoon we headed to yet another national park, Shenandoah National Park, home of skyline drive, a 105 mile winding road that rides the crest of the blue ridge mountains it's entire distance. Due to some pretty crappy weather we only got to experience the breath taking views to about 1900 feet before we ascended into a cloud and couldn't even see the cars in front of us on the highway. I'll definitely have to come back again some day to get the real deal because the small glimpse I got was awesome, and I can only imagine the beauty in the fall when the colors come out. We all went to dinner at an old mill in historic downtown Front Royal before calling it a night to prepare for our big ride into Washington, D.C. tomorrow. Can't wait to make it to 'Merica's national capital! No Chain!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLT82cQ4TyVxwl4FjMAOMIW0L5QGNh_ljlrq1ym4zbzCmFcszYsKDVmbIWnskAnuyqpbzbezbrqDQRfM-TYRW24jEcDLLTpuHrKmV7hyDAjKZ0HNZiHTc4HMa0GRxn95yOG0_D6VH_XX8P/s1600/100_1141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLT82cQ4TyVxwl4FjMAOMIW0L5QGNh_ljlrq1ym4zbzCmFcszYsKDVmbIWnskAnuyqpbzbezbrqDQRfM-TYRW24jEcDLLTpuHrKmV7hyDAjKZ0HNZiHTc4HMa0GRxn95yOG0_D6VH_XX8P/s400/100_1141.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not a warning sign you like to see</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuKxbEnEKeZfcq6Ch1_m-2nSlir_Z3ncEutfZL3M5K26kcBZ6d80jn3w9oakfzXYm1TkpakcYcHNqduWJZWsSCGq-RPZMFA5nn6fP0kuSeyup8wEobS13ZFhuIcROJzEitqwfaiNNCMpU/s1600/100_1138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuKxbEnEKeZfcq6Ch1_m-2nSlir_Z3ncEutfZL3M5K26kcBZ6d80jn3w9oakfzXYm1TkpakcYcHNqduWJZWsSCGq-RPZMFA5nn6fP0kuSeyup8wEobS13ZFhuIcROJzEitqwfaiNNCMpU/s400/100_1138.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pete Descending</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlG1G-1fJczWcDr0jiWARUT0uNq0rhpNUIbWt5gKx2rs0YjBxU_8z3XNMEYX3bCDARHsktRyEUUkiSHcWnaZ1rFB0sYn268uG_bdD58DFhxRUw6D7s1orlzwILQZJDsOobTwrQaa28YGh/s1600/100_1140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlG1G-1fJczWcDr0jiWARUT0uNq0rhpNUIbWt5gKx2rs0YjBxU_8z3XNMEYX3bCDARHsktRyEUUkiSHcWnaZ1rFB0sYn268uG_bdD58DFhxRUw6D7s1orlzwILQZJDsOobTwrQaa28YGh/s400/100_1140.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our winding road through the valley</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5cFMicHFyD_94JEjIjjlAaa4qz-y3LLELsfY6FjlHBgY1OF9571aWGvoVPdw7M0O1otmzAiNVyq_uQltYvS9bqZFEAwTvhmzVS1qErNFW9rR7ENxTV4pSQMHOi1ezK4BfwWdUMYXcNGx9/s1600/p1951-Shenandoah_National_Park-View_of_Skyline_Drive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5cFMicHFyD_94JEjIjjlAaa4qz-y3LLELsfY6FjlHBgY1OF9571aWGvoVPdw7M0O1otmzAiNVyq_uQltYvS9bqZFEAwTvhmzVS1qErNFW9rR7ENxTV4pSQMHOi1ezK4BfwWdUMYXcNGx9/s400/p1951-Shenandoah_National_Park-View_of_Skyline_Drive.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not my picture, it was too cloudy, but it gives you an idea of how awesome Skyline Drive is.</div>Justin Hepkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057938469112280034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871325882331873445.post-13068452169502617302010-05-24T19:59:00.001-04:002010-05-24T20:11:16.755-04:00My Cycling Family<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJmldtukuHD0jGitOY8eSL75ErvuWe1icVFEBB4zZuPMRAUqPrZ4FzeegZQVYoOs-pGpDswfokwLWiXeoxMh-2phKGtzZinFnSuQJ_UGIalyWdQJci1r6dCMXfo1wK2Y5xI_rkSE113yF/s1600/100_1634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJmldtukuHD0jGitOY8eSL75ErvuWe1icVFEBB4zZuPMRAUqPrZ4FzeegZQVYoOs-pGpDswfokwLWiXeoxMh-2phKGtzZinFnSuQJ_UGIalyWdQJci1r6dCMXfo1wK2Y5xI_rkSE113yF/s400/100_1634.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
It’s hard to explain to people who are not apart of this trip how much the guys (and girls) I ride with mean to me as we traveled across the country. It’s difficult to explain the sense of closeness that can come with mile after mile of riding together on this trip. How you can come to quietly understand and recognize subtle shifts in each other’s cadence, posture and effort as we press against the wind, up and down mountains, through valleys and deserts. They understand and feel the same pain that I do on the hard days and we all celebrate together on the good days and when we accomplish something amazing like summiting yet another mountain. They know the roads we have traveled and the towns that we have passed through in ways that few others may ever fully appreciate. Sometimes it feels as though they pulling me along and sometimes I pull them. Some days our paces are in sync and other days I know that they are thinking I am too fast or too slow. I have watched them work hard when they are tired, even when their bodies and minds are telling them to just stop for the day and hop in the support van. I appreciate their words of encouragement as much as I appreciate the silence that often falls over the group as we work hard in the paceline to make our way through mile after mile, day after day, week after week. I’ll miss all of them when we go our separate after we dip our tires into the ocean; hopefully our paths (or bike paths) will cross again some day out on the road. Thanks for the journey of a lifetime to all of you. No chain!Justin Hepkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057938469112280034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871325882331873445.post-65579039567826354882010-05-24T19:26:00.000-04:002010-05-24T19:26:59.286-04:00A Million Miles in a Thousand Years<div class="MsoNormal">Below is a great quote from Don Miller one of my favorite authors who wrote a really good book about telling a better story with your life including his own personal account of his bike trip across the country:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“When you fly across the country in an airplane the country seems vast, but it isn’t vast. It’s all connected by roads on can ride a bike down. If you watch the news and there’s a tragedy at a house in </i><st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><i>Kansas</i></st1:place></st1:state><i> that guy’s driveway connects with yours, and you’d be surprised how few roads it takes to get there. The trip taught us that we were all neighbors, that my life is connected to everybody else’s, that one person’s story has the power to affect millions.”</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i> - Don Miller</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I thought about this passage from the book a lot today as I was plodding up the mountains of <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">West Virginia</st1:place></st1:state>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How La Jolla beach on highway 1 is connected to the driveway at Joe’s house in Las Cruces, New Mexico and the parking lot of the First Baptist Church in Ranger, Texas is just a thousand miles east on those same roads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How the main street we paraded down at the Western Tennessee Strawberry Festival is connected to the roads that lead to <st1:placename w:st="on">Mammoth</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Cave</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st="on">National Park</st1:placetype> in the middle of <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Kentucky</st1:place></st1:state>. How we somehow 6 weeks later through just a few turns ended up on the roads that led back home to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Columbus</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Ohio</st1:state></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the end they will all be connected to the highway that leads <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bethany</st1:place></st1:city> beach, the end of our journey just a couple of days away for us now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s truly a small world connected by just a few roads, especially when you get off the interstate and enjoy the country and the people of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region> like we have the past 7 weeks. What an amazing, life changing experience traveling down all of them this trip has been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>Justin Hepkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057938469112280034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871325882331873445.post-53790178123679417542010-05-24T19:14:00.005-04:002010-05-24T20:16:37.814-04:00Petersburg, West Virginia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'MS Shell Dlg'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;">The pastor at the church we are staying at in Petersburg, West Virginia told us as we arrived that when people go to Elkins, where we stayed last night, they don’t pay attention to the mileage between the two towns they just count the mountains between them. "5 mountains and a bunch of hills" quickly became the description of the mileage for today’s ride by the team. It was an epic day of riding that will go down with our day into <st1:placename w:st="on">Guadalupe</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">National Park</st1:placename> and the <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Natchez</st1:place></st1:city> trail as rides that I’ll remember forever. We pulled out of town this morning we quickly hit our first major climb that lasted about 25 minutes and summited at Cheat mountain around 2600 feet, after being a little cool when we first started it quickly became a stripping of layers at the peak from the work that took to get there. The next 30 miles were all pretty, put your head down and climb at 6 mph to a summit, have your breath taken away by a beautiful view and then plunge down the other side at 45 mph white knuckled around sharp bends only to do it all over again, it was amazing! One of the more deaf defying descents came just after the Eastern Continental Divide, it was around a 10% grade for 3 miles and featured multiple curves that had warning signs for cars to slow to 25 mph, we were taking them at 40 mph on 23 cm of rubber, I was seriously concerned about the physics of it all but was having too much fun to slow down. Jeff and Adam ended up interspersed in a pack of motorcycles on the way down; it was awesome to watch a motorized vehicle pulling off of a bike at such high speeds. We climbed half of yesterday’s total for the day in the first 18 miles alone right around 2300 feet, but even though it hurt I did it all with a smile on my face because how often do you get the opportunity to accomplish something like that during your day? The entire ride was spent in Monongahela National Forest so the scenery was unbelievable on the way up and down, many of the climbs were bordered by mountain streams and the sound of water crashing over the rocks was very peaceful as we plugged away to reach the next peak. We took a left hand turn at mile 35 when we hit Seneca Rock, a huge outcropping of stone from the side of one of the peaks and followed a white water river the final 25 miles that were relatively flat into <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Petersburg</st1:place></st1:city>. I made sure to take a lot of pictures today because I knew I could never adequately describe the magnificence of our surroundings, I hope you enjoy them. No chain!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;">Peak #1</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wALy5BVU8Mrj6xicNXD_2hCh_GZ_h9IkYdnuxx_Rdg2nHkANLSzet2tXTYkZW_eYSdpsT6GTfbf-ABhGCCHR_4J1REqeuEn6_dIlIv2Gh_wfUokl9Rq3pEjrXVsXt2XYM-6FpL-dQt4Q/s1600/100_1114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wALy5BVU8Mrj6xicNXD_2hCh_GZ_h9IkYdnuxx_Rdg2nHkANLSzet2tXTYkZW_eYSdpsT6GTfbf-ABhGCCHR_4J1REqeuEn6_dIlIv2Gh_wfUokl9Rq3pEjrXVsXt2XYM-6FpL-dQt4Q/s400/100_1114.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;">Unbelievable views.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNf6pagcjLhGXpOWM3L-5PBCZlLEiAigc4tROD25F7xH3YK3DAFYDQJDw08LNJm3mQqtBNLtKBCRcaVw5JqZ0mWcKmDfunJ3L6Wa6swXX2UegasS52Sx-AAnNCQ89FKALmFIEe127g1J8L/s1600/100_1117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNf6pagcjLhGXpOWM3L-5PBCZlLEiAigc4tROD25F7xH3YK3DAFYDQJDw08LNJm3mQqtBNLtKBCRcaVw5JqZ0mWcKmDfunJ3L6Wa6swXX2UegasS52Sx-AAnNCQ89FKALmFIEe127g1J8L/s320/100_1117.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;">Peak #2</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3Rrxi23K3HTf4spMkz-Ias42pfgTA3bgcsmYe6VGq3Y7ww6cG2dpDDQzOLbYVvOkcCdKaHOm3oHpCB965huxPRX-Oy4O3uo-JiP_8GsNhXXt9-dTVffoy9O1aNporKxy9IYnxp88YpXf/s1600/100_1119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3Rrxi23K3HTf4spMkz-Ias42pfgTA3bgcsmYe6VGq3Y7ww6cG2dpDDQzOLbYVvOkcCdKaHOm3oHpCB965huxPRX-Oy4O3uo-JiP_8GsNhXXt9-dTVffoy9O1aNporKxy9IYnxp88YpXf/s400/100_1119.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;">Crazy we got up there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4t3gykFTFanUQdLMfvYjWu82WTNi4xCbc2rwHWRKmbdFmZCLd4b8jvCo6lEISeIPH0wNR5MVLS2363D8TFrmY4EHmqKiUz3DIwrDe3ORdVcKA3nxRlQrZ9aOYI61g45p7Rr08qfsNuikX/s1600/100_1109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4t3gykFTFanUQdLMfvYjWu82WTNi4xCbc2rwHWRKmbdFmZCLd4b8jvCo6lEISeIPH0wNR5MVLS2363D8TFrmY4EHmqKiUz3DIwrDe3ORdVcKA3nxRlQrZ9aOYI61g45p7Rr08qfsNuikX/s400/100_1109.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;">Riding in the clouds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-z6c29ENhsN8qXOt_8wUDHj8ei25z7PxJ-L8q3fnUDGx23nbBV72kpByYYznibgyTIgESoHQ88pfIWyDjWfrOYmqByuZ46qT-hvc3Qwh5TWBvQC1PFO9QJPW3ynNaln-_xhoFQOe3kOlN/s1600/100_1115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-z6c29ENhsN8qXOt_8wUDHj8ei25z7PxJ-L8q3fnUDGx23nbBV72kpByYYznibgyTIgESoHQ88pfIWyDjWfrOYmqByuZ46qT-hvc3Qwh5TWBvQC1PFO9QJPW3ynNaln-_xhoFQOe3kOlN/s400/100_1115.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;">Fast.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29FlUWuYeo5MdaH-MMRH5Py8eU-Gh4OKQJVJ6wUUxTDqQ-nlcZ-zu2ZfEEdbTFGglQxJ8ltsB-oKNoRa2PIwaXLnZV8gr983QoWnVnxZZfw4r1YL4Fi-8sahZgAR8nELr7Ph48HAfcYks/s1600/100_1121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29FlUWuYeo5MdaH-MMRH5Py8eU-Gh4OKQJVJ6wUUxTDqQ-nlcZ-zu2ZfEEdbTFGglQxJ8ltsB-oKNoRa2PIwaXLnZV8gr983QoWnVnxZZfw4r1YL4Fi-8sahZgAR8nELr7Ph48HAfcYks/s400/100_1121.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;">Whitewater.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFgQ8fG4FouTIu2ZDfEBY8dFar_3q6WJqhPpuvgBHPTW7kbW2URwxrQjt71xm4gJWugOZ2OLGvY2EboHUmi6yeasP6-8zfUGoAjgY4kw1LYR_uzB62DZ23c5I1eN-TY-M4N0pzbVS0db9/s1600/100_1124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFgQ8fG4FouTIu2ZDfEBY8dFar_3q6WJqhPpuvgBHPTW7kbW2URwxrQjt71xm4gJWugOZ2OLGvY2EboHUmi6yeasP6-8zfUGoAjgY4kw1LYR_uzB62DZ23c5I1eN-TY-M4N0pzbVS0db9/s400/100_1124.JPG" width="300" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;">Continental Divide #2, Peak #3</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9wyVAIhIIAFZ0Z4FG6onE03lM-OydL38-E-z4sdbIffJf7MDRYI5xQpfWBQ93XIpIlKdomlChavTdDPitn7CtrPX3NW7TH-6q5sYjQD857IJp2nSScNax3qGHM9FGa79iw4z_7V0RbbNZ/s1600/100_1118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9wyVAIhIIAFZ0Z4FG6onE03lM-OydL38-E-z4sdbIffJf7MDRYI5xQpfWBQ93XIpIlKdomlChavTdDPitn7CtrPX3NW7TH-6q5sYjQD857IJp2nSScNax3qGHM9FGa79iw4z_7V0RbbNZ/s400/100_1118.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;">Peak #4</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWJGbA17iCwGbqpHmeA-lo4dkzn1GGWJbnUjR0SG6t4gOrhLpqOAyCUFXq8gZiWA6K3fMBmNQKs-XeS84SelxCLUMm4XwJZts_a2UK5MM5GmrSzc6qBVinDepBMUCOaPQC1v-ddLluqR7/s1600/100_1127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWJGbA17iCwGbqpHmeA-lo4dkzn1GGWJbnUjR0SG6t4gOrhLpqOAyCUFXq8gZiWA6K3fMBmNQKs-XeS84SelxCLUMm4XwJZts_a2UK5MM5GmrSzc6qBVinDepBMUCOaPQC1v-ddLluqR7/s400/100_1127.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;">Hit Seneca Rocks, turn left.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQcNf_uuo50vP_TRq2BAW40-wUJ_WTjOlFJVVef0mRnWOIhRlw82rXF_x0axDyButsYW9TPyJPQraQ_fGa2uk95ZZ5rAcaV-uE2FKBduesxN52z6UbSzJGAQfRJjEz20mGhD0XblrISWK/s1600/100_1131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQcNf_uuo50vP_TRq2BAW40-wUJ_WTjOlFJVVef0mRnWOIhRlw82rXF_x0axDyButsYW9TPyJPQraQ_fGa2uk95ZZ5rAcaV-uE2FKBduesxN52z6UbSzJGAQfRJjEz20mGhD0XblrISWK/s400/100_1131.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;">The final stretch into Petersburg was mostly flat, and completely beautiful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre;"><object height="364" width="445"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/72k11PdooI4&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/72k11PdooI4&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre;">Libby taking a tight bend at nearly 50 mph</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre;"><object height="364" width="445"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5GukYZj74nA&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5GukYZj74nA&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre;">I took a video the last hill of the day, I almost died doing it when I hit a pothole midway down but I still think it came out pretty well.</span></span></div>Justin Hepkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057938469112280034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871325882331873445.post-17103456014752800232010-05-20T21:20:00.004-04:002010-05-20T21:43:23.851-04:00Elkins, West Virginia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_mAjpfmUsk3kEbt9MUJwFGm18XqhZSre1h5xyCgp2B-ENsq32E2bl4E-VSA_gPDpQ0bCy9AqopP6K8o_QmlgQwEiGzSI5jRm_qfJofrv20_X7-yN3bvf9PccUIAEjnld5h0e1qR8pj1n/s1600/100_1093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3_mAjpfmUsk3kEbt9MUJwFGm18XqhZSre1h5xyCgp2B-ENsq32E2bl4E-VSA_gPDpQ0bCy9AqopP6K8o_QmlgQwEiGzSI5jRm_qfJofrv20_X7-yN3bvf9PccUIAEjnld5h0e1qR8pj1n/s400/100_1093.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>"Dye mon, gen mon"</b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;">- A Haitian proverb, translated: Beyond mountains, there are mountains</div><br />
Each day I try my best to explain what we accomplished, what we saw and how we got to our next stop along the way but sometimes it's hard to describe what we went through as a team over the miles and hours spent on our bikes. It's easy as I sit here and type to say that as a team we went 93 miles, climbed 6200 feet, including one hill that lasted 5 miles and now our legs hurt but that doesn't begin to express what we experienced on the roads that led to our destination and only the other 25 riders will truly know. It's just us and sometimes I think that is what brings us closer together as a group. Although we all come from different backgrounds no one else is having these experiences with us, and these experiences bind us together as a team. It truly was a scenic day of riding as the riders spent most of the day enveloped by a wall of trees, which helped keep the sun and the heat of the day off, something we haven't had to deal with for awhile as the weather has been less than ideal. After starting the morning on a busier highway on the way out of Harrisville we made a right turn onto county road 151 and got up close and personal with the back country of Appalachia, where porch sitting seems to be the main pastime. It amazes me just how out in the middle of nowhere people will live, 30 or 40 miles from any type of service but I'm sure they all find some joy in being so far off the grid or they wouldn't do it. There is really no such thing as flat lands in West Virginia, just roads that lie in the valleys separating one climb from the next. We seemed to spend most of the day either going up or coming down and for some reason it always feels like more of the prior. In the end everyone survived and we are now staying overnight in the town of Elkins where we are surrounded by mountains in every direction, it truly is a beautiful small town whose main industry is the recreation that takes place in the surrounding country. The church we are staying at is cool and dark, everyone will probably crash early as I'm sure tomorrow will continue to test the strength and stamina of our legs and minds. I cant wait to get back out there. No chain!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlN85fAnwOv8FMeh7sZJYADz2hK1SPF17jGaz9VZidxyOZiXPSW3SnzhLiP8AU0Ip70jDOlVZyExnTwUVS-gLtatV9fABBth08m5FyG7tsDVz3o3goWEUijJn__vlOfEe_UBh6hgwtZY8I/s1600/100_1090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlN85fAnwOv8FMeh7sZJYADz2hK1SPF17jGaz9VZidxyOZiXPSW3SnzhLiP8AU0Ip70jDOlVZyExnTwUVS-gLtatV9fABBth08m5FyG7tsDVz3o3goWEUijJn__vlOfEe_UBh6hgwtZY8I/s400/100_1090.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you were the marble champion of USA, you would have this in your front yard too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSHgiY58sgkb80MzZFUXIudiwcnAAGuCC7Kk9bbkzBQoirl_jPOZmNqaIyNICM2MBZEzO4gXj7nZ8zGmaKWNbVnWeQeGhJk8bT5pgC7YFaY5MtfKx87flsyt254Xi9gllHNP5gmOJPKJ4/s1600/100_1087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSHgiY58sgkb80MzZFUXIudiwcnAAGuCC7Kk9bbkzBQoirl_jPOZmNqaIyNICM2MBZEzO4gXj7nZ8zGmaKWNbVnWeQeGhJk8bT5pgC7YFaY5MtfKx87flsyt254Xi9gllHNP5gmOJPKJ4/s400/100_1087.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The sun. Holy crap.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2guv-09SJZDyIZMxU90v8Njo392tegW3ykLO86vVYM-W37Ob0C6fvOCEooLjhjW_QFwB4zMlQl_NE5rfLSiZLvdaGLWYfhmLgeBChYWxq5-h-4e3yx3CiFezVmGw5rgmr4MHYuIe7mNA/s1600/100_1091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2guv-09SJZDyIZMxU90v8Njo392tegW3ykLO86vVYM-W37Ob0C6fvOCEooLjhjW_QFwB4zMlQl_NE5rfLSiZLvdaGLWYfhmLgeBChYWxq5-h-4e3yx3CiFezVmGw5rgmr4MHYuIe7mNA/s400/100_1091.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://trans-alleghenylunaticasylum.com/">Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum</a>, super creepy. Served as a sanctuary for the mentally ill during the 1800's. Housing up to 2000 patients at one point during it's prime.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUbd5Qf8qw-UNpc0h7qLhQ_W6wNB4AVoSlVVL0FtsKWNkxmpFQIxrXWHFCTKgtfzfSVKaD7BuBe5SYehCVqYHVKUcBbKvGr5Bh2_BhGL6ScGLJFJSUgYzklipTK4WvKq_QSBB4ctUxgaE/s1600/100_1085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUbd5Qf8qw-UNpc0h7qLhQ_W6wNB4AVoSlVVL0FtsKWNkxmpFQIxrXWHFCTKgtfzfSVKaD7BuBe5SYehCVqYHVKUcBbKvGr5Bh2_BhGL6ScGLJFJSUgYzklipTK4WvKq_QSBB4ctUxgaE/s400/100_1085.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Poor Katie's bike. Her derailer is broken and she can't get into her large cassette now. The guy at the bike shop told he could get a new part for her in 2 weeks. We finish next Tuesday. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvSRFXzthtdDoMZ1xf9mkvhCkuRvpCUzaP_hKpk1bmwGxlPGWlhcqhchkssj5snnu6yg1gg4oIaDpsrOi_Pi0aglkVeYDz3-tOEYCBYBKvIplWQvLmiIjMhJby5h76sh0p2A9-0wKX3nk/s1600/100_1096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSvSRFXzthtdDoMZ1xf9mkvhCkuRvpCUzaP_hKpk1bmwGxlPGWlhcqhchkssj5snnu6yg1gg4oIaDpsrOi_Pi0aglkVeYDz3-tOEYCBYBKvIplWQvLmiIjMhJby5h76sh0p2A9-0wKX3nk/s400/100_1096.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Finally descending.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As we hit the outerlimits of Elkins. Beautiful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCGhv5PuTXWvXUb2IKIg1O8jKI1a_oIyfBNggDawdRymzdcO7CjsMKSLOpqqwrWmk-gFuZT0ePqXid-013lndiE0H5p-qcpXT4vJ0ce8NbuKzBXIwsMr_MItf2GD32Cy_Rrfh4LpcbHe6/s1600/100_1105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCGhv5PuTXWvXUb2IKIg1O8jKI1a_oIyfBNggDawdRymzdcO7CjsMKSLOpqqwrWmk-gFuZT0ePqXid-013lndiE0H5p-qcpXT4vJ0ce8NbuKzBXIwsMr_MItf2GD32Cy_Rrfh4LpcbHe6/s400/100_1105.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We forgot to shut the passenger door at the bikeshop. We quickly got a new mascot.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXZMylsabp_e9lABUJbUyLJXs6myY0lWYgpjXqtnDG36JgnWI1rL62_71SnXrbONyY7LwUJBM3T1qWcXlZvLc52f0nuj9KCcHrbVAZR7zz2S684zXVDTfbSTr7cxQ4cPUf0R-r1c9neOW/s1600/100_1106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXZMylsabp_e9lABUJbUyLJXs6myY0lWYgpjXqtnDG36JgnWI1rL62_71SnXrbONyY7LwUJBM3T1qWcXlZvLc52f0nuj9KCcHrbVAZR7zz2S684zXVDTfbSTr7cxQ4cPUf0R-r1c9neOW/s400/100_1106.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If the insane asylum wasn't scary enough, Pete found a clown suit in the church we are staying at. I jumped.</div>Justin Hepkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057938469112280034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871325882331873445.post-6452536669283808272010-05-20T20:12:00.001-04:002010-05-20T20:14:05.113-04:00Harrisville, West Virginia <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2x2WrRmmmuO6gLXiLp_pNVcHFl-vlYOeCsPAGl6SQ7vkd01hczGdYX1AztIdqoJB5CoWuVnIbEFx8uoqrcT21NY-ac1wxl2S35Zfe9DcosuNjgiPUX2-OmejJDUQDyIM1BxnjKKJWKvl/s1600/100_1078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2x2WrRmmmuO6gLXiLp_pNVcHFl-vlYOeCsPAGl6SQ7vkd01hczGdYX1AztIdqoJB5CoWuVnIbEFx8uoqrcT21NY-ac1wxl2S35Zfe9DcosuNjgiPUX2-OmejJDUQDyIM1BxnjKKJWKvl/s400/100_1078.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2x2WrRmmmuO6gLXiLp_pNVcHFl-vlYOeCsPAGl6SQ7vkd01hczGdYX1AztIdqoJB5CoWuVnIbEFx8uoqrcT21NY-ac1wxl2S35Zfe9DcosuNjgiPUX2-OmejJDUQDyIM1BxnjKKJWKvl/s1600/100_1078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'MS Shell Dlg', arial, helvetica;">"Country roads, take me home</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'MS Shell Dlg', arial, helvetica; font-size: small;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">To the place, I be-long</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">West virginia, mountain momma</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Take me home, country roads"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> - John Denver (You're welcome Mike Kelley)</span></div></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'MS Shell Dlg', arial, helvetica; font-size: 13px;">We started the day climbing and ended much the same as we have now entered into the Appalachian foothills territory. It was a long day on the road thanks to the time it takes to climb some of those hills and a few detours due to poor road conditions. One of the more interesting moments of the day happened at about mile 30 when we were descending on a country road at about 40 miles per hour that then decided to change into a gravel road about half way down, I have never gripped the handle bars so tightly and I basically held my breath the rest of the way down, praying that I would stay up right on my bike (and alive). We biked on back country roads, divided highways and a few gravel roads (at least 15 miles worth, not a lot of fun) to arrive in Harrisville, West Virginia, which is basically the definition of the middle of nowhere. Chris keeps walking around humming the theme from the movie Deliverance which really seems fitting right now as I stare out the window at the rain coming down in the dark. Wild and wonderful (state slogan) West Virginia really is beautiful country though as we are surrounded by peaks and forests in every direction and were continually today as we rode. We ended up going up 4600 feet today, the second largest climbing day of the trip and the most since Arizona. Two climbs in particular really put it to us today, one as we exited Athens which was noteworthy due its steep grade over about 3/4 of a mile and one just after we entered into West Virginia a long a busy stretch of highway 50 east that lasted nearly 2 miles and took a lot of persistence to overcome. I think we were all pretty beat towards the end but we still chose to take the hillier route into town through North Bend State park rather than stay a long the main road, it added about 1000 feet of climbing over the last 7 miles but was definitely worth the effort as the views were amazing and the steep, curvy descent was a great way to finish into town. Pete, Chris and I had ridden pretty fast all day so we knew we had some time to kill before the rest of the group arrived we stopped by an old school 5 and dime store and chatted with the owner for awhile before he recommended that we grab a bite to eat at the diner next door, Caroline's. Some cheeseburgers and milk shakes later we biked the last couple miles (luckily that were down hill) to the 4-H campground where we are staying for the night. Just another location to add to the list of places where I thought I would never spend a night but now have. Big Big climbing day tomorrow, (a common theme since we've left Columbus) can't wait for the challenge. No chain!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAQx-FFhGJ0KUf9SBfkSLjP2rj_K3_0tHSXYgel2vBFt0pQRv0H63tpLME5ydp4TiVV13yiRNy09X7_F9x1TcIPHxDVbTsNjkUNLz5V3U6O3D2BnfU-874Pq5bnOSIQQriI3WJjxdJcOM/s1600/100_1073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAQx-FFhGJ0KUf9SBfkSLjP2rj_K3_0tHSXYgel2vBFt0pQRv0H63tpLME5ydp4TiVV13yiRNy09X7_F9x1TcIPHxDVbTsNjkUNLz5V3U6O3D2BnfU-874Pq5bnOSIQQriI3WJjxdJcOM/s400/100_1073.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A happy rider even 75 miles in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikcvC8xY18fGMlS8TvCqLGpZmBXJAY-KJJexLIzQdYecxIfEfvWqzuxU26ms_ePxGOvaoFQifhRwxN4QIg49BwwnGKP0wkKAt0ZNgX-d7_t_HThIoK1PqXztpludrDdEvnghxTGXgJxIlP/s1600/100_1070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikcvC8xY18fGMlS8TvCqLGpZmBXJAY-KJJexLIzQdYecxIfEfvWqzuxU26ms_ePxGOvaoFQifhRwxN4QIg49BwwnGKP0wkKAt0ZNgX-d7_t_HThIoK1PqXztpludrDdEvnghxTGXgJxIlP/s400/100_1070.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of many climbs. I've come to learn that not being able to see the top when you start is never a good sign.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Riding partners.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMx-yTfFshyi3zD_T_H1evAIAEVY6TDjIAsd2qdGjNdI8eh1U10v2GCVEOsBDpDbMV_gjA1MR1DJEet0YOeAr651HKq_qSsJMKXLF4Wff8GX9eJyPPHbweN3ba71mcGSl3h16ZSDvDR2GP/s1600/100_1079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMx-yTfFshyi3zD_T_H1evAIAEVY6TDjIAsd2qdGjNdI8eh1U10v2GCVEOsBDpDbMV_gjA1MR1DJEet0YOeAr651HKq_qSsJMKXLF4Wff8GX9eJyPPHbweN3ba71mcGSl3h16ZSDvDR2GP/s400/100_1079.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://berdinesdimestore.com/">Berdine's 5 & Dime (the oldest 5 & dime in the country).</a> I swear this store had everything you could ever need in your entire life. It's been in business since 1908 so people must keep finding what they need.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXGze2S66n8-F0Wn3vAPymT9nMWWBX2tN5yaYUrDibfXTC4w2QSUl6jrvvxvBurWT00PsJwhJto5n_XRh96BKkErtu4hMoPmU9YEB5LnzQehs-gzAwJOZttuN8IO1cmYRgoPuNNn07YhQ/s1600/100_1080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXGze2S66n8-F0Wn3vAPymT9nMWWBX2tN5yaYUrDibfXTC4w2QSUl6jrvvxvBurWT00PsJwhJto5n_XRh96BKkErtu4hMoPmU9YEB5LnzQehs-gzAwJOZttuN8IO1cmYRgoPuNNn07YhQ/s400/100_1080.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The owner really liked Pete so he got the biggest jawbreaker I have ever seen for free.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Caroline and her diner. A fine dining experience.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span>Justin Hepkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057938469112280034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871325882331873445.post-33167245591937043722010-05-19T18:57:00.002-04:002010-05-19T18:58:53.057-04:00Athens, Ohio<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmf6WdeB3p8NxSpMK0ZJYst-qm788r0pw4sJUoZaTMoylBE9ilV4ep_lEC5Pet_x7ozy3mgMe3Ej6SNlDMkMPaXicxxYPvf844tLQxoDBdDYgxLC973a9BwTBkTCcgUy8oESiNsw5ySvF/s1600/100_1063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmf6WdeB3p8NxSpMK0ZJYst-qm788r0pw4sJUoZaTMoylBE9ilV4ep_lEC5Pet_x7ozy3mgMe3Ej6SNlDMkMPaXicxxYPvf844tLQxoDBdDYgxLC973a9BwTBkTCcgUy8oESiNsw5ySvF/s400/100_1063.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I questioned turning my bike around and heading right back to Columbus a few times on the road out of town yesterday morning, it was hard to pull away from my bed, friends and family especially with some hard days of riding that lay ahead of us. We cruised through downtown Columbus before heading south out of the city along flat roads for the first 20 or so miles before things really got going for the day. After being off for a few days over the weekend the shock of the first couple of climbs as we neared Hocking Hills State Park was felt by everyones legs as our speeds rapidly dropped as we struggled up them in our "granny"/"bail out" gears. We spent the next 70 miles climbing, descending and then doing it all over again, it really kept things interesting to say the least. I had ridden to Athens previously with other group rides and never remembered the number or severity of the climbs we had, I think the lead van was actively searching them out or something. We ended up with right around 3600 feet of climbing for the day which isn't a huge number but was definitely enough to up the dosage of ibuprofen that night as we hammered them pretty hard overall. It was very overcast for most of our ride, we even rode through some light sprinkles for a couple of miles early on but as soon as we pulled into our destination the sky opened up and it just poured, sometimes it pays off to ride fast.<br />
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We arrived in Athens around 2 pm and our event with the med students didn't begin until 6 so we ended up killing a lot of time in the student union in the middle of campus, we checked out the cafeteria, played some pool and grabbed some quick naps. The presentation to the students went really well and was attended by a lot of people who were very receptive of our message and mission. We had home-stays arranged for our lodgings so Roshan and I got to go home after the event with one of the new faculty members at the college of medicine, she had beds for both of us which was a welcomed surprise at the end of a long day. Big day of climbing coming up, No Chain!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDERc74xS4LghANYFdjGKDAtNT2aTYqWGGQxnlczYE1ZhYdYpQPdqlWxThJSqRqMUAWwW_FJHoSGX-Pv7VPkS_GgnH51QbymEoKxfie7BE25DWXaXRNB9lnH7QLjkQkxTvXfCNwAigr9IC/s1600/100_1066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDERc74xS4LghANYFdjGKDAtNT2aTYqWGGQxnlczYE1ZhYdYpQPdqlWxThJSqRqMUAWwW_FJHoSGX-Pv7VPkS_GgnH51QbymEoKxfie7BE25DWXaXRNB9lnH7QLjkQkxTvXfCNwAigr9IC/s400/100_1066.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the few flat sections that allowed us to form a paceline on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheoAhW5KBEjMmyg5TBkg3oe0RszB-wGvC_PriGfO3efKsdDzsyoEJfchAxljmBOgwd-rEFyOfuCVhQzBfQtOIiuX2l0ClwBS7PKv5rIjgU-ghusIsRFuSAkjIfitkwU04T147AFsEB_NYC/s1600/Hocking_Hills_3-2007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheoAhW5KBEjMmyg5TBkg3oe0RszB-wGvC_PriGfO3efKsdDzsyoEJfchAxljmBOgwd-rEFyOfuCVhQzBfQtOIiuX2l0ClwBS7PKv5rIjgU-ghusIsRFuSAkjIfitkwU04T147AFsEB_NYC/s400/Hocking_Hills_3-2007.jpg" width="287" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When this is located on top of a hill, you know you've climbed a lot.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo2Z-V3XqMbd4PkoF_8Ik7NkrQ_9u9r4dvhszNKvw3kDvHJNecx81AKVt6ZZqjYxZ561emg4BshtQZ61kXE1sGHO4Sc9IMaLwIs0yYbs3TkUL16E2l7mJdvLttlNzWuv-vbsaYjgWNnFrW/s1600/ohio_univ_08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo2Z-V3XqMbd4PkoF_8Ik7NkrQ_9u9r4dvhszNKvw3kDvHJNecx81AKVt6ZZqjYxZ561emg4BshtQZ61kXE1sGHO4Sc9IMaLwIs0yYbs3TkUL16E2l7mJdvLttlNzWuv-vbsaYjgWNnFrW/s400/ohio_univ_08.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our Destination.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Justin Hepkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057938469112280034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871325882331873445.post-13702197748819477072010-05-18T21:54:00.002-04:002010-05-18T21:55:21.166-04:00One More Week on this Journey<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'MS Shell Dlg'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'MS Shell Dlg'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHbnVLuJItY84MQa8I81ajEeB_rS6lraFtrUrFQ_bBUIORhCW_hcuZgA5eZVcjwxJ9azbCVnSTo9Cfwh1wQotDEficVoYPcGM8t8BbDNxnMKcyHA5CbG_YIqQHuMym2drv9RKY4HbqNuDX/s1600/100_1671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHbnVLuJItY84MQa8I81ajEeB_rS6lraFtrUrFQ_bBUIORhCW_hcuZgA5eZVcjwxJ9azbCVnSTo9Cfwh1wQotDEficVoYPcGM8t8BbDNxnMKcyHA5CbG_YIqQHuMym2drv9RKY4HbqNuDX/s400/100_1671.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'MS Shell Dlg'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #636466; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode'; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><b><i><br />
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<em><span style="color: #636466; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"We start here, and we go there. But it's not that simple, is it? Our paths may be circuitous or direct. We may gaze excitedly ahead, or cast our eyes regretfully behind. Until we reach our destination it exists only in our minds. It is what we have imagined it to be. And yet we tend to neglect the journey, which is real, in favor of the destination, which is not.</span></span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #636466; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #636466; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><i></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #636466; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';"><i><em><span style="color: #636466; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">For too long I neglected this journey. It was an obstacle to be overcome, an ordeal to be endured; for I had never chosen the journey, I had chosen the destination. But now that the journey has ended, I have discovered that here isn't so important after all. I find myself looking back with particular fondness for how I got here."</span></span></em></i></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'MS Shell Dlg';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #636466; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';"><i><em><span style="color: #636466; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';"></span></em><br />
- From the book " Hot Lights, Cold Steel" by Dr. Michael J. Collins </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #636466; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode';"></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #636466; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode'; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></span></span>Justin Hepkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057938469112280034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871325882331873445.post-52224785228288408632010-05-18T21:41:00.000-04:002010-05-18T21:41:27.192-04:00Columbus, Ohio<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMBvzjGkcxxdn3GtENSlEBceKkzxMDgvcdKx_BDB97h4fk1K8oUBm_jgtyV64TpUYngwFsEZfQC5t59HLTX0Ud7nQCi4o2xsBCUh9yIaw-dwe3zYfh6PmDgvp-kUAg0TiLldCzy9GS43M/s1600/100_1031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEMBvzjGkcxxdn3GtENSlEBceKkzxMDgvcdKx_BDB97h4fk1K8oUBm_jgtyV64TpUYngwFsEZfQC5t59HLTX0Ud7nQCi4o2xsBCUh9yIaw-dwe3zYfh6PmDgvp-kUAg0TiLldCzy9GS43M/s400/100_1031.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545559; font-family: verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545559; font-family: verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>And if it's crowded, all the better,</i></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545559; font-family: verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>because we know we're gonna be up late.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>But if you're worried about the weather</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>then you picked the wrong place to stay.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>That's how it starts.</i></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545559; font-family: verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Where are your friends tonight?</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545559; font-family: verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">- LCD Soundsystem - All My Friends</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #545559; font-family: verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div>Home. After 97 miles of riding Pete and I came around a bend in the road to one of the best things I've seen this entire trip, the Columbus skyline on the horizon. 7 more miles and we were back at Katie's house the place where we had left more than 6 weeks earlier as we pulled out of town. It was a pretty easy 104 miles overall, especially with the endorphins flowing to get to our final destination. The first 70 miles were on a <a href="http://www.miamivalleytrails.org/station.htm">rail to trail pat</a>h which is an awesome project that is spreading across the country where they convert old rail road tracks into bike paths, our was specifically part of the Little Miami Scenic Trail. The best part about old train is they couldn't climb hills or turn to well so our ride was very flat, smooth and fast. Once we got off the trail and back on the highways we had a great tailwind for the final 30 or so miles so it was a really quick day of riding in the end. We actually finished on roads that I used as part of my training rides so it was a lot of fun to be back riding in familiar territory with all the other cyclists. My friends (Mike, Paul and Amy) set up the final "water" stop right at mile 100 in front of their condo complex, although there wasn't any actual water provided the entire team took the time to stop and have a drink or two before peddling the last few miles. </div><div><br />
</div><div>After pulling in Friday we didn't have to pull out of Columbus until early on Tuesday morning so all of the Ohio State based riders got to enjoy 4 straight nights in our own beds, pretty amazing! You would think with 3 days in our hometown we would have had time to relax, recharge and get ready for the final week of riding but I feel like I barely got the chance to sit down. I managed to pack all the Ride for World Health events, errands, golf, some naps, a baseball game, bowling and going out with all my friends into a very short period of time. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Although we weren't biking from city to city we still had to do a lot for the Ride. Sunday was one of our bigger events of the entire trip as we a long with our awesome sponsor <a href="http://roll-online.com/">Roll</a> hosted a ride around Columbus with over 130 local cyclists participating. We ran out of maps, shirts and food but I still think everyone had a good time and it was a great opportunity to spread our message to a lot of people who truly appreciated our mission and trip. Monday was Global Health day at the Ohio State's medical campus, after having a ride in to the medical school on our bikes we gave our lecture before having the chance to hear from both our beneficiaries who had people fly in to speak to us. Getting to meet the people face to face who we have been advocating, educating and fundraising for over the past 6 months was truly a moving experience and the message and thanks they shared with us will be my motivation as we push through the Appalachians and into D.C. this next week. Only one more week of riding until we hit the ocean, No Chain!</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QWkH2yNnIPv0lZm7u3MIK8CCM4MCf78KzPkkF7Y3hhSIQBfPAqVPTBaslpkIodWeBmyeR82vGJdBv79-w_4-jYH5obW0H5XNeDHNp_kVrlRKr9XVsb54Nejiln13qJqlv8HGdubbi_XW/s1600/28314_10100174214100465_12413877_55947584_1059550_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QWkH2yNnIPv0lZm7u3MIK8CCM4MCf78KzPkkF7Y3hhSIQBfPAqVPTBaslpkIodWeBmyeR82vGJdBv79-w_4-jYH5obW0H5XNeDHNp_kVrlRKr9XVsb54Nejiln13qJqlv8HGdubbi_XW/s400/28314_10100174214100465_12413877_55947584_1059550_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mike wears jorts and has a puppy, he's pretty much my dad.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnFdz_MyuTOfhgsE9IhaZgRyfJEIIUo-T76frPM3Lp5h-2h-GDf4588_qfJZECDWUHz-1SPRGG4DnLue-uDtnrF5vffyWNboatUgEh8Pr3mJlvU097zykSufcUPx_60zJKDHJVX0YtRdy/s1600/100_1032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnFdz_MyuTOfhgsE9IhaZgRyfJEIIUo-T76frPM3Lp5h-2h-GDf4588_qfJZECDWUHz-1SPRGG4DnLue-uDtnrF5vffyWNboatUgEh8Pr3mJlvU097zykSufcUPx_60zJKDHJVX0YtRdy/s400/100_1032.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ballgame.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDc_Ap-uomwXrJhETL3SKAoeHYVE6-usROf-D31NG7YDPoQxJMf0OzsJtqWWdjOzOt2Pv_wIfYsXA_lRhXHVKqqJAmnwhqEHNNTWg_H9QTWsnbEdigU-fRm3ceVLYcBX1Awtg32W3Feill/s1600/100_1034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDc_Ap-uomwXrJhETL3SKAoeHYVE6-usROf-D31NG7YDPoQxJMf0OzsJtqWWdjOzOt2Pv_wIfYsXA_lRhXHVKqqJAmnwhqEHNNTWg_H9QTWsnbEdigU-fRm3ceVLYcBX1Awtg32W3Feill/s400/100_1034.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Buzz, Buzz and Amy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXIH0ES_Lv57J8k5Zqa98YeD8PKcvHRnvgPzYkqCX6r-rwlQaRSq_nE9t3JW1c_pG1iUyfzMHWZG8zERH3k-yVTQW9HVeeUKAOAgpujxKgYGjXTlVMHA60liza2Mi58U7jlLYiBYTMNhE/s1600/100_1038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXIH0ES_Lv57J8k5Zqa98YeD8PKcvHRnvgPzYkqCX6r-rwlQaRSq_nE9t3JW1c_pG1iUyfzMHWZG8zERH3k-yVTQW9HVeeUKAOAgpujxKgYGjXTlVMHA60liza2Mi58U7jlLYiBYTMNhE/s400/100_1038.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Great turnout for our solidarity ride.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16UFNfoNZSsK2gQN5TXTMJckor7n0oKQgyK4azscuS5u47jfB4hstI-BCbagT41c-ySNfaW1NztYcsA3TxaT-H2ZQGh3AodJEotqNPwCz-N1BpDkSM5BUdaqwsCguNJJNwMnht_OdyIUU/s1600/100_1039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16UFNfoNZSsK2gQN5TXTMJckor7n0oKQgyK4azscuS5u47jfB4hstI-BCbagT41c-ySNfaW1NztYcsA3TxaT-H2ZQGh3AodJEotqNPwCz-N1BpDkSM5BUdaqwsCguNJJNwMnht_OdyIUU/s400/100_1039.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I led the 20 mile loop for the group ride.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgX8IduPUxWCPbAJz5WTZsKzAF5QCNhcEAitr4-2SoMbGSlU-nYpRS0E5qrE6VdNbtznYILHh_uszOFSpBR3Q-r1Hcacxl1OjGDjQasyk8ad3VWFDD3lnwOtRIhqkouYIL49joZY2vUVa/s1600/100_1057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgX8IduPUxWCPbAJz5WTZsKzAF5QCNhcEAitr4-2SoMbGSlU-nYpRS0E5qrE6VdNbtznYILHh_uszOFSpBR3Q-r1Hcacxl1OjGDjQasyk8ad3VWFDD3lnwOtRIhqkouYIL49joZY2vUVa/s400/100_1057.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bowling?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfzVVKm-6Rh-GajPuHL0yDWDtslqBg15SHP8WkOMyVrBfe8F9ra4qAJbdEHMaaBglImOUlk9eR0_BEwG12LvlB8B6rwdZwx4yievqwReb8nnoIk69rCWIJyzt1KZIEqyJgRa0-ieAM8Qq/s1600/100_1061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfzVVKm-6Rh-GajPuHL0yDWDtslqBg15SHP8WkOMyVrBfe8F9ra4qAJbdEHMaaBglImOUlk9eR0_BEwG12LvlB8B6rwdZwx4yievqwReb8nnoIk69rCWIJyzt1KZIEqyJgRa0-ieAM8Qq/s400/100_1061.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We can't take this guy anywhere.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr73-pD_Gk-bIDIjNx_czfqlK9ufIkw_u1rGqL4ZxobDmAGfAZrYGdX5j9ORq108vOG61cERjAaWApUNEB2BEeK42pVb4mH2WfUriFwOI8aDaRDm29fR3o6Bat_U81JfG4yY6ZTosehtYm/s1600/100_1060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr73-pD_Gk-bIDIjNx_czfqlK9ufIkw_u1rGqL4ZxobDmAGfAZrYGdX5j9ORq108vOG61cERjAaWApUNEB2BEeK42pVb4mH2WfUriFwOI8aDaRDm29fR3o6Bat_U81JfG4yY6ZTosehtYm/s400/100_1060.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Serious bowling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQwIy8iKt7qb0IlFfwS86KGjthZuRa6a44XE2fx69Ss9heoAO80Cwp56ormbOO9gdLabZhKGPjEViIDhbE1-uXEIOGe4bANHqYVVtFyzl5KwazykJ-ipAUNp6P84RKJaTSQDcaJpUftrr6/s1600/100_1062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQwIy8iKt7qb0IlFfwS86KGjthZuRa6a44XE2fx69Ss9heoAO80Cwp56ormbOO9gdLabZhKGPjEViIDhbE1-uXEIOGe4bANHqYVVtFyzl5KwazykJ-ipAUNp6P84RKJaTSQDcaJpUftrr6/s400/100_1062.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our welcoming crew, braving the rain at Global Health Day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVGa-wt4qXbMeddC9BI4Tc7HXHh2ikBxIEHpz5Jm3CbvXPKy3LioGc1WP55ZYwHVColCpzBBTmjVZLP89G3FGdCVcdLpnW5uz3krucgZcocKzKpagqHa8hxu9yNVuGpwgneBHHUhYuSyj/s1600/28314_10100174214459745_12413877_55947620_4659378_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVGa-wt4qXbMeddC9BI4Tc7HXHh2ikBxIEHpz5Jm3CbvXPKy3LioGc1WP55ZYwHVColCpzBBTmjVZLP89G3FGdCVcdLpnW5uz3krucgZcocKzKpagqHa8hxu9yNVuGpwgneBHHUhYuSyj/s400/28314_10100174214459745_12413877_55947620_4659378_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tim and Adam made it to PJ's at bar close, they are basically OSU undergrads now.</div><div><br />
</div>Justin Hepkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057938469112280034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871325882331873445.post-12631845963188412572010-05-13T18:13:00.000-04:002010-05-13T18:13:22.505-04:00Cincinatti, Ohio<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLJY69FnURK5kTDDuKY68b0o2O9sdP2c_5a13jdbMeoM9m-rEm4gjoP2XzRoQm0wkC_wRqkB0VcEd_CaHknv7nYTuqMXbcK3jUrnvIRtGze9QvpWtVivUk7gMS_iDfOCvZPilcbuorCoi/s1600/100_1026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLJY69FnURK5kTDDuKY68b0o2O9sdP2c_5a13jdbMeoM9m-rEm4gjoP2XzRoQm0wkC_wRqkB0VcEd_CaHknv7nYTuqMXbcK3jUrnvIRtGze9QvpWtVivUk7gMS_iDfOCvZPilcbuorCoi/s400/100_1026.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>"So maybe tomorrow,</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Ill find my way home."</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> - Stereophonics</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>We crossed into Ohio about 20 miles into our 35 mile ride today, it was pretty anticlimatic as we were on a back road with no big sign announcing our arrival. I personally didn't even realize we had done it until I started noticing all the license plates of the cars we were passing displayed the red, white and blue pattern of my current homestate. It was a pretty easy ride overall as 35 miles is not really even long enough ride for us to worry about anymore, which says a lot about the number of miles we have been packing in on this trip. We even got to sleep in till 7:30 this morning because we knew it would take less than 2 hours to arrive at our destination especially with the light tailwind that was pushing us a long highway 50 at very quick clip. We finished up a pretty decent mile long climb to reach the University of Cincinatti Medical Center which sits on a hill overlooking downtown. We were gave our presentation over lunch at the college of medicine, it was one of our best attended events yet. I just got back from running Chris to the airport as he is the first in the group to become doctor when he graduates at Boston University this weekend, which is a scary scary thought after spending a lot of time with him on this trip. Tonight we have a lot of friends and family coming into town to join us on our 110 mile trip to Columbus in the morning, I hope they have been training because that is a long ways to go and the weather is not supposed to be that great. We also have another presentation to some residents at Christ Hospital which is also located in town. Big day tomorrow both in terms of the riding and the events planned so I'm sure we'll all turn in pretty early. Can't wait to see the Columbus skyline, No chain!<br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_EVHeWQaaFbLt5pg89Xc4_5dxTc-1OQhxYwqn-M8ne5znDgCEIO68qivouMIBiNVRFFeQwgz1OpiIcBDrMWIJKA9-V6tUXJMP3fqqVKm7SHUvNR63yr6qvlsQ7t5RkwdAvyrox6ayGlge/s1600/100_1027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_EVHeWQaaFbLt5pg89Xc4_5dxTc-1OQhxYwqn-M8ne5znDgCEIO68qivouMIBiNVRFFeQwgz1OpiIcBDrMWIJKA9-V6tUXJMP3fqqVKm7SHUvNR63yr6qvlsQ7t5RkwdAvyrox6ayGlge/s400/100_1027.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just cruising through downtown.</div>Justin Hepkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057938469112280034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871325882331873445.post-34946779631068551692010-05-12T22:17:00.000-04:002010-05-12T22:17:47.520-04:00Aurora, Indiana<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69h_LINT_j4rFMPfAWM2zu2Ng8vUcf9fkbnLX0G015FILgnSh6NVZtkec-0On59bn_AHCz8ASNQzxfudmsU8dbbte0_jDxj1o8JuGS3wfj_q8SkeFQXaDwZ7lkGgx7Ic1087cBp4ASIf8/s1600/100_1015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh69h_LINT_j4rFMPfAWM2zu2Ng8vUcf9fkbnLX0G015FILgnSh6NVZtkec-0On59bn_AHCz8ASNQzxfudmsU8dbbte0_jDxj1o8JuGS3wfj_q8SkeFQXaDwZ7lkGgx7Ic1087cBp4ASIf8/s400/100_1015.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>"Don't, Don't you worry about the atmosphere</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>or any sudden pressure changes."</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i> -</i> A lyric by Andrew Bird</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">After a good night’s sleep at Chris’s friends house the riders took off pedaling hard and moving fast to stay ahead of a coming band of showers and storms that was on the horizon. Most made it about 20 miles out of town before the sky exploded and lightening lit up the sky, the support vans quickly swept up those they could while many found shelter at a gas station along the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily no one was caught out in the open for too long but everyone was pretty soaked while we patiently waited for the worst to pass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We drove ahead in the vans with everyone racked to the designated lunch stop at mile 53 where we waited for another system to clear the area before they took off again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once the dark clouds were far enough east the weather really improved and a great afternoon of riding was possible for the last 40 miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Signs along the highway we were riding on warned of steep descents and sharp curves and they weren’t kidding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Combined with the wet pavement the riders couldn’t really attack them like they wanted to but still had a lot of fun jetting through the back country roads that ran along a now rushing river from the heavy rains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We passed through a couple of small towns before turning onto a 4 lane highway for the last 7 miles into <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Aurora</st1:place></st1:city>. After the not so great hot start I think everyone was glad we waited out the storm to finish today’s ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The church we are staying at had a great dinner waiting for us when we pulled in which we really appreciated after such a long day in the road (especially since it meant my support team didn’t have to cook!). We gave a presentation to some of their congregation before heading to bed early to prepare for the big weekend we have coming up in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Columbus</st1:place></st1:city>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hit the great state of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Ohio</st1:state></st1:place> tomorrow, which means two things: 1.We have come a long long ways on our bikes 2. We are almost done. I can’t wait to get back on the road tomorrow. No Chain!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdMUEz-8NcvDwxUZ451QNqiowz9NNognjFFGeQdgmCZboADfr6YQipdq0WMXl1l1fyAi7yEU0mZf90RUSIdjKJmejoRV5yxvmHLhyo-LOpLDE6J_hXL2X24BixPcHQ_tmMzRebK65abwP/s1600/100_1002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdMUEz-8NcvDwxUZ451QNqiowz9NNognjFFGeQdgmCZboADfr6YQipdq0WMXl1l1fyAi7yEU0mZf90RUSIdjKJmejoRV5yxvmHLhyo-LOpLDE6J_hXL2X24BixPcHQ_tmMzRebK65abwP/s400/100_1002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Raging river from all the rainfall.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEZ16Fg0IRLLcs-G-bsv3EFDY3zj9y7GbtlQR1U6QfZ7oxygo_oSjaf4tIr_J-B_JNKwkLhm0YdyVEERFwGR57xjAQ4gGksy0b8IHXZlJap6vaTf6H6a1u8x_F8cCL8x6T7nXwEnKxcZV/s1600/100_0998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEZ16Fg0IRLLcs-G-bsv3EFDY3zj9y7GbtlQR1U6QfZ7oxygo_oSjaf4tIr_J-B_JNKwkLhm0YdyVEERFwGR57xjAQ4gGksy0b8IHXZlJap6vaTf6H6a1u8x_F8cCL8x6T7nXwEnKxcZV/s400/100_0998.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Descending on a steep wet hill. Very very carefully.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8WgXOqVPjhnoWXzYRLWmvfL_418YxEXUpOPrP6ZHbNjfJGdDe6Wjleh8yW1xflSgpHdJZd3Npyn0WLNQ9t7_ICrPmReJaEa2PlnwdV4ZoMv22wOJExpAIpim7vvLvIeEWf4JoU9eKfcp/s1600/100_1017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8WgXOqVPjhnoWXzYRLWmvfL_418YxEXUpOPrP6ZHbNjfJGdDe6Wjleh8yW1xflSgpHdJZd3Npyn0WLNQ9t7_ICrPmReJaEa2PlnwdV4ZoMv22wOJExpAIpim7vvLvIeEWf4JoU9eKfcp/s400/100_1017.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Faster than it looks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRq02dyW9caUmsF8FGD_vN7bbE6C8tSyBwyvnXSLPKBZxucvEQvOiCNJL808I4f32wh-wFb8Y95l5qpmDmrjDsjVqh1pNWwkH7xFFNWWb9c157657LlwUDIiu5InubKgUnRqa2lqNa_GhH/s1600/100_0993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRq02dyW9caUmsF8FGD_vN7bbE6C8tSyBwyvnXSLPKBZxucvEQvOiCNJL808I4f32wh-wFb8Y95l5qpmDmrjDsjVqh1pNWwkH7xFFNWWb9c157657LlwUDIiu5InubKgUnRqa2lqNa_GhH/s400/100_0993.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The main pack making a sharp curve.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipijSeb4lTSAHKxbfJL5hw-PfdHCGuXhzrzMB_HTHfUJDDR7PCZBJzPrPGLjTdk4yBGCadpygyzEAuY0bL0Dv_1JFtm_PEfq6c1lDmhQrBb1vwjeNc_O1Y_8aOK0s4wzrIV44D7K3J40b2/s1600/100_1021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipijSeb4lTSAHKxbfJL5hw-PfdHCGuXhzrzMB_HTHfUJDDR7PCZBJzPrPGLjTdk4yBGCadpygyzEAuY0bL0Dv_1JFtm_PEfq6c1lDmhQrBb1vwjeNc_O1Y_8aOK0s4wzrIV44D7K3J40b2/s400/100_1021.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Roshan & Libby celebrating the end of a tough climb.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhH9GA9kiAxzm9dJgR39tfxeZzq6ZSajyGerwMM82J-qelSIeoEURRBwSIP9nuQH47hGygr9jkHriwrP8Jw5lRPLcyde-NkzN09MLZV3FVHXFvkXWoGKso_UD5D0wDalnDa171cbu9aZ0/s1600/100_1023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhH9GA9kiAxzm9dJgR39tfxeZzq6ZSajyGerwMM82J-qelSIeoEURRBwSIP9nuQH47hGygr9jkHriwrP8Jw5lRPLcyde-NkzN09MLZV3FVHXFvkXWoGKso_UD5D0wDalnDa171cbu9aZ0/s400/100_1023.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I guess the pastor's son likes listening to Andrew Bird too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Justin Hepkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057938469112280034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871325882331873445.post-37577087387685539212010-05-12T21:40:00.002-04:002010-05-13T17:50:27.516-04:00Louisville, Kentucky<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmHo0y2zBLXDy-ybPUFqY5fT1Su1SVawXoEhq7Y1z2oilflCtyje7hBsDVKNNfbG0PhwdV6ucQd511lF1tVRnoDZ5-jbHNbqonWgLtcagr3pb0S9qsDEzym-26A9kJz81QfyXJqUcx2oH/s1600/100_0990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmHo0y2zBLXDy-ybPUFqY5fT1Su1SVawXoEhq7Y1z2oilflCtyje7hBsDVKNNfbG0PhwdV6ucQd511lF1tVRnoDZ5-jbHNbqonWgLtcagr3pb0S9qsDEzym-26A9kJz81QfyXJqUcx2oH/s400/100_0990.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><i>"how much can you know about yourself </i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><i>if you've never been in a fight"</i> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> - from the movie Fight Club</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I woke up in a barn in the middle of the county fairgrounds to sound of rain early in the morning and my cold hadn’t improved overnight, not a great start to the day, especially with 96 miles ahead of us. Luckily by the time we were packed up and ready to hit the road to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Louisville</st1:place></st1:city> the rain had stopped and a massive tailwind had developed. We were able to average close to 21 miles per hour before lunch even with some extremely steep climbs including one whose grade approached 20% for a time. Riding a long the <st1:place w:st="on">Ohio River</st1:place> for most of the day was the culprit for the changes in elevation that played havoc on our legs and minds. It was beautiful scenery, though, especially crossing the bridge into <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indiana</st1:place></st1:state>, another new state for us. We finished riding along the river again as we pulled into town, including a final stretch with the wind at our back where we pushing 30 miles per hour for close to 5 miles. The house we were staying at for night was located on a bluff so the final 2 miles of the day were basically straight up hill, during which many of the riders contemplated their ability to go backwards on their bikes while continuing to pedal forward, it was a very tough way to end. I spent much of the day riding on my own because of the head cold I’m currently battling. Right now it’s taking a long time for me to catch my breath because I can’t breathe through my nose and my chest feels so tight, especially when I’m pushing hard. I absolutely had nothing left as we pulled into our destination, I felt like I had just gotten beat up in a fight which was evidenced by the 4 hour nap I instantly fell into. One of Chris’s college friend’s family was gracious enough to host us at their compound. I say compound because they had their own lake, forest, barns and a house large enough to accommodate 22 riders. Our hosts also prepared some amazing barbeque and a cake decorated in our honor, it was all really good! Some of the riders hit the town to explore <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Louisville</st1:place></st1:city>, I went right back to bed because I knew I had another big day coming that I wanted to feel reenergized for. Just one more day in <st1:state w:st="on">Indiana</st1:state> before we hit <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ohio</st1:place></st1:state>, I can’t wait! No chain!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIrDgF2O53cnNnkQDcNV0heZ2STiRGJRrGu13J9mgBdsmO2FiqgLGZ7OsNIrbc7r5513B5umk-L46gFhKPTPS6s4sSA1qD57E6VQLzvvMbN7V4wVi83XZ4aXm7Regr6cR7cQFwJ2ssLwE/s1600/100_0980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIrDgF2O53cnNnkQDcNV0heZ2STiRGJRrGu13J9mgBdsmO2FiqgLGZ7OsNIrbc7r5513B5umk-L46gFhKPTPS6s4sSA1qD57E6VQLzvvMbN7V4wVi83XZ4aXm7Regr6cR7cQFwJ2ssLwE/s320/100_0980.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Ohio River from above, the source of hills.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtSmUoe1eSbcCNll-Q2wWH4FuMrHMuVmbB_U-4Iw8fZYNHuG0uqD5JeRb69RAxpDDub_FvomKsIlAqdiF8GUyOkmdYegFiwkgLdzP2VbrrwXNwUb3rmglq9_l4KFCUTqKbhUt7255XqbfJ/s1600/100_0981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtSmUoe1eSbcCNll-Q2wWH4FuMrHMuVmbB_U-4Iw8fZYNHuG0uqD5JeRb69RAxpDDub_FvomKsIlAqdiF8GUyOkmdYegFiwkgLdzP2VbrrwXNwUb3rmglq9_l4KFCUTqKbhUt7255XqbfJ/s400/100_0981.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tim descending quickly to the bridge over the river.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZeYHhDOZf6T_vszShJEkJ6D5SNUNt3daAml4T-1gqdOJldYolxBBkaeJv4_qNsP5LxjyfB2T6iUWpxqsZ2XJkAvFU-1s5wve8HBMW4_MhA0ykZQBbTKPwBi7MQjtIRmmYnM7QGVrILjU/s1600/100_0983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZeYHhDOZf6T_vszShJEkJ6D5SNUNt3daAml4T-1gqdOJldYolxBBkaeJv4_qNsP5LxjyfB2T6iUWpxqsZ2XJkAvFU-1s5wve8HBMW4_MhA0ykZQBbTKPwBi7MQjtIRmmYnM7QGVrILjU/s400/100_0983.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just another new state.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GyL4J8eBs6tbnF6DfZhpXShHuyin4dIRT6eK2uef16FpSP3Y2odRPmX62oPt8pMICkYTy4eNV1OD3UQAoGrhxzAmb5DwpV3dBPv6wZWYeCbePp9fbQxsobEJYm0bXe1bKdSaIYz0b9Sl/s1600/100_0989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GyL4J8eBs6tbnF6DfZhpXShHuyin4dIRT6eK2uef16FpSP3Y2odRPmX62oPt8pMICkYTy4eNV1OD3UQAoGrhxzAmb5DwpV3dBPv6wZWYeCbePp9fbQxsobEJYm0bXe1bKdSaIYz0b9Sl/s400/100_0989.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Perfect form into the lake.</div>Justin Hepkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057938469112280034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871325882331873445.post-79639025305350995062010-05-11T18:06:00.000-04:002010-05-11T18:06:57.474-04:00Litchfield, Kentucky<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXIQ5WKHRj0FaangL9goOGWBLn_jO4OiJ8bc5iqmDbtgpEtmOXSxK6Lbx8ysY4dIMnTNeIud45QQ5gY3oUO81wm6zixqkHoEYKpLq4dsIlGmCrWUQ-_oPMe6twut-Y8JekRzgBO-v7bJgr/s1600/MammothCave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXIQ5WKHRj0FaangL9goOGWBLn_jO4OiJ8bc5iqmDbtgpEtmOXSxK6Lbx8ysY4dIMnTNeIud45QQ5gY3oUO81wm6zixqkHoEYKpLq4dsIlGmCrWUQ-_oPMe6twut-Y8JekRzgBO-v7bJgr/s400/MammothCave.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The high from the weekend with my friends in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nashville</st1:place></st1:city> was quickly subdued when I woke up with a nasty head cold this morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A sore throat, stuffy nose and a heavy head made for a rough start pulling out of the city, especially combined with temperatures in the 40’s and a light mist of rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could see in the faces of the other riders the agony of the first 30 or so miles as we hit stop light after stop light on our way out of town on day that was scheduled for 99 miles to our final destination <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Mammoth</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Cave</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st="on">National Park</st1:placetype></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sat for a long time on the curb at the gas station of our first water stop questioning my motivation to continue on the ride for the day, knowing I still had 5-6 more hours on the bike in the cold and rain. Hopping back on my bike I told myself I would just make it to lunch and reevaluate there, sometimes thinking about the rides in smaller segments helps move the day along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We never truly hit a rhythm in our pace lines because of the stop and go riding and at mile 44 we paid for this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A quick cross of a wheel led to a pile up on the side of the road that resulted in one injured rider and one injured bike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In automotive terms Roshan’s bike is totaled, as his carbon fiber frame was fractured in multiple places and Pete is dealing with a sprained wrist and some sore ribs from his fall. We ended up shivering and waiting an hour on the side of the for the support van to come up from behind us to pick the riders up who couldn’t continue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time we got back on the road we were way behind schedule and losing 2 riders did nothing to boost the morale of the group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We crossed into <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Kentucky</st1:place></st1:state> around mile 50 and stopped for lunch at mile 60, which ended up being our final stop of the day as we all racked our bikes there because of lack of time and the weather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There weren’t too many riders sad about this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We drove 40 minutes to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Mammoth</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Cave</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st="on">National Park</st1:placetype></st1:place> where we spent the afternoon taking a tour of just a small section of this truly mammoth hole in the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The most extensive cave system on Earth and the second oldest national park in the country (<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Niagara Falls</st1:place></st1:city> if you’re wondering) has over 365 miles of surveyed passageways and geologists think there could be 600 more that haven’t been discovered yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A sandstone cap prevents the formation of stalagmites and stalactites featured in Carlsbad Caverns which we toured earlier on this trip but the shear size made these caves much more impressive. The tour was also a little more hands on than <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Carlsbad</st1:place></st1:city> as there were definitely points a long the way that not everyone I know could fit through or handle the terrain. It was the highlight of our day, and another National Park that I can now recommend to all of you as a definite place to stop if you’re in the area.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I’m currently typing this laying on a lawn chair in the middle of an unheated barn in Litchfield’s fairgrounds, our sleeping arrangements for the night, not exactly ideal after the day we all had. My standards for where I sleep have definitely gone down after being on this trip for 6 weeks now but with the way my body/head/sinuses feel I would give anything to be back in my hotel room in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nashville</st1:place></st1:city> right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully if I take enough Sudafed the morning will come quickly, only 3 more nights until I’m in my own bed in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Columbus</st1:place></st1:city>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No chain!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6a3rnuegEymWIf0TZpjH6AlPmqsL90mWiW-9jbEyEbaDCQpgGVvzSkBf7DJTIdi1ZkYz5K4i0Pw4X18j8SgVQegmTcM8MizeexOY-2ke6b-Vek5vyedNrz0EWe9AStMRLL-nZ9SF3Daa3/s1600/31393_623620467431_1011856_35414061_4796467_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6a3rnuegEymWIf0TZpjH6AlPmqsL90mWiW-9jbEyEbaDCQpgGVvzSkBf7DJTIdi1ZkYz5K4i0Pw4X18j8SgVQegmTcM8MizeexOY-2ke6b-Vek5vyedNrz0EWe9AStMRLL-nZ9SF3Daa3/s400/31393_623620467431_1011856_35414061_4796467_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Huddling to stay warm while waiting for the vans.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zBEs5D1KH5LpEOfMSnX2KZuvzQ6ejC97Jxxk6vQI1LHq_3kdTysW96i1i7y-CIiPJ75q4l_CaS6bhg1q4VKv2vzf8SKAeFtslOp9uCa70VnmOF-5TprdTuE4xc6H8L0Q-72HiXWH02Xz/s1600/100_0951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zBEs5D1KH5LpEOfMSnX2KZuvzQ6ejC97Jxxk6vQI1LHq_3kdTysW96i1i7y-CIiPJ75q4l_CaS6bhg1q4VKv2vzf8SKAeFtslOp9uCa70VnmOF-5TprdTuE4xc6H8L0Q-72HiXWH02Xz/s400/100_0951.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just another new state.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6GD8Z0E3jA2NXZxxX8mSfDwvJr1-_6SaPl7SKeLlnunVI8OgAfOA_tszti7Ks0n-o3olaiAVhM8j9teudozkJaAJ7WYuzYkakgrDwG87bMMNWqkBuu_zlwmyPLMS9RjjRE-YEOMcSSh55/s1600/100_0957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6GD8Z0E3jA2NXZxxX8mSfDwvJr1-_6SaPl7SKeLlnunVI8OgAfOA_tszti7Ks0n-o3olaiAVhM8j9teudozkJaAJ7WYuzYkakgrDwG87bMMNWqkBuu_zlwmyPLMS9RjjRE-YEOMcSSh55/s400/100_0957.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On the way into the cave.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMcUqQtZIjhC_adGph_O3Run8PYAKnQArDfB7LOWcS0eiHnuKbE_xPfpW2jbv_mPhCMFan3YONaOeYk9OxDBPunQPy7LGSgfE7A77fgGg4HSW3FjM5HutNYIkAHgYNzw3TEbttTqjLUXC/s1600/100_0965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMcUqQtZIjhC_adGph_O3Run8PYAKnQArDfB7LOWcS0eiHnuKbE_xPfpW2jbv_mPhCMFan3YONaOeYk9OxDBPunQPy7LGSgfE7A77fgGg4HSW3FjM5HutNYIkAHgYNzw3TEbttTqjLUXC/s400/100_0965.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our guide.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA292_3hVCKUHvt-06dk3uWFMelDEKzbTG0AxRRPsn89ltbldzplTC6Q9rMm7FLIXExev-LLhn8sKqO4F4JD5OFOnvreKUdJy25GlG7Qeq4TJdfSU1znvxJNAXK3N0j5pv2_iHq0Sj7PQB/s1600/100_0970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA292_3hVCKUHvt-06dk3uWFMelDEKzbTG0AxRRPsn89ltbldzplTC6Q9rMm7FLIXExev-LLhn8sKqO4F4JD5OFOnvreKUdJy25GlG7Qeq4TJdfSU1znvxJNAXK3N0j5pv2_iHq0Sj7PQB/s400/100_0970.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This area of the cave is known as Fat Man's Misery. It was very tight.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz997C4zSJHVrUL8jYS8i3v1WYrt1x0AP5mDRmllLP2KONkKFJyqPybE5pKSd2ptMN3gpCjl_C44PPY2XgJsu0d56hoIk44AjvpVW1-uwHVem9I8xRWZwWWSqw-kbZVqeVSkIbhmFbRmeY/s1600/100_0973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz997C4zSJHVrUL8jYS8i3v1WYrt1x0AP5mDRmllLP2KONkKFJyqPybE5pKSd2ptMN3gpCjl_C44PPY2XgJsu0d56hoIk44AjvpVW1-uwHVem9I8xRWZwWWSqw-kbZVqeVSkIbhmFbRmeY/s400/100_0973.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My sleeping arrangements for the night.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Justin Hepkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057938469112280034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871325882331873445.post-80692917060685893462010-05-11T17:56:00.001-04:002010-05-11T17:57:08.043-04:00Nashville, Tennessee<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzo1FBb_Z_TFxIDOOCxi386C-n8aB7xBRnpXBuHnINLUqVMG3I-7FN0411CkTD7e0XnlLF9Tn-ChguvJRSG-tvYkNU5UgIhmAGWo9awFS2YJNaRWJ6N8hKaB5wL7opBf4Mx8RrIa8aVTNW/s1600/100_0948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzo1FBb_Z_TFxIDOOCxi386C-n8aB7xBRnpXBuHnINLUqVMG3I-7FN0411CkTD7e0XnlLF9Tn-ChguvJRSG-tvYkNU5UgIhmAGWo9awFS2YJNaRWJ6N8hKaB5wL7opBf4Mx8RrIa8aVTNW/s400/100_0948.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I know I’ve said it before but I’m sure today will not be topped as this truly was my favorite ride of the trip. We hopped on the Natchze trail 9 miles after pulling out of Holdenwald and for the next 40 or so miles experienced a piece of cycling nirvana. The Natchze trail is year in and year out ranked as one of the top cycling routes in the country because of its scenic views, quiet roads and a great mix of rolling hills, steady climbs and flats. Stretching 440 miles it commemorates an ancient trail used by animals and people that connected southern portions of the Mississippi River, through <st1:state w:st="on">Alabama</st1:state>, to salt licks in today's central <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tennessee</st1:place></st1:state>. The speed limit is between 40 and 50 miles per hour the entire distance and no commercial traffic is allowed on it so because of this we passed twice as many cyclists as we did cars. All of this combined with perfect weather for riding and a group of us still managed to average greater than 20 miles per hour even with 2500 feet of elevation gain for the day. It was a lot of fun hammering on roads that deserved to be hammered on, something that we hadn’t had the opportunity to do for quite some time. We pulled into the senior home where the grandmother of one our riders lives around 11 am and that’s when the real fun for the day and weekend began. With the arrival of a significant portion of my <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Columbus</st1:place></st1:city> crew to town, Nashvegas was officially warned to buckle up for the weekend. Even though some areas of the downtown area are still affected by floodwaters both the chamber of commerce and the cities business’s encouraged tourists and the cities own to come out and support the economy so we made sure to do so. We had a lot of fun touring the town, bar hopping and experiencing country music on a whole other level. <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Broadway Street</st1:address></st1:street>, aka honky tonk row is a mini vegas strip of music clubs and bars and is also where we spent the bulk of our Saturday night as I don’t think I touched my bed until close to 3 am. I was nervous after being away from my friends for over a month that things might not be the same but after Ellen and Amy ended up on stage with the band that was playing within 10 minutes of walking into the first club I knew I had nothing to worry about. Saturday was spent recovering, checking out Vanderbilt’s campus and watching the Cavs/Celtics game before my friends headed out for another night on the town and I headed for bed to prepare for a big day of cycling Monday morning. Thanks to all my friends for coming down, I'm pretty sure they all had a great time and it’ll be hard to peddle away from you guys tomorrow morning but knowing I will see you on Friday definitely helps. No chain!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8yo0URviyOQ-mAUigq8YQAYdGCX6EEgC_oTMM_af5NSGqzl_zpTvjd13JMXdndvtUBaWMdZn4Fftuo7I3cM1_6YyoIamIzSlESGxNwfoUthQa9Cz0jMdCpCTp_qlQByTJ9S2Puz0OiQrT/s1600/100_0939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8yo0URviyOQ-mAUigq8YQAYdGCX6EEgC_oTMM_af5NSGqzl_zpTvjd13JMXdndvtUBaWMdZn4Fftuo7I3cM1_6YyoIamIzSlESGxNwfoUthQa9Cz0jMdCpCTp_qlQByTJ9S2Puz0OiQrT/s400/100_0939.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our path to Nashville.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIGv-QYAu-ZkHsVbAOG9mqxG36ycVBVzVTx1Pk7i9srpQSrn8hfBwCFlM7SN5hUNkajDTBZmf7ZsI10s8KOx9KH9V1cIByDkJKDZDGcHmtOBdKImrXPcFtRi3DxM7viRhP1M-Xn0qu3eBB/s1600/100_0937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIGv-QYAu-ZkHsVbAOG9mqxG36ycVBVzVTx1Pk7i9srpQSrn8hfBwCFlM7SN5hUNkajDTBZmf7ZsI10s8KOx9KH9V1cIByDkJKDZDGcHmtOBdKImrXPcFtRi3DxM7viRhP1M-Xn0qu3eBB/s400/100_0937.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Great riding.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnJ_aqWFfE-wIghjP_C288DHfUspDUV9n5Weo6Swpy1anHUwUF3wCeXsyZt30TV1lSqtxOPNu3NFAYTYrmYDk6uI2VgOiNEptvYOQxHdIjC9pum0MrthJDvzJZ3m9G0jdC9rUcp32j8NU/s1600/100_0931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnJ_aqWFfE-wIghjP_C288DHfUspDUV9n5Weo6Swpy1anHUwUF3wCeXsyZt30TV1lSqtxOPNu3NFAYTYrmYDk6uI2VgOiNEptvYOQxHdIjC9pum0MrthJDvzJZ3m9G0jdC9rUcp32j8NU/s400/100_0931.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You could see forever at some of the lookouts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbXzz5Ku3HV7qk75DF1d47gIoQlKS7vl5jdozhM-Xbfk6EPZZ3DI5vTqH0Ge3oXDOIyDOj59KTMonU-iNVUtd33wWUbsNHBlHbYU35FbdQHSWw1oiOQxIdbGgY_DaEptzUlreOYhgpu_kz/s1600/100_0926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbXzz5Ku3HV7qk75DF1d47gIoQlKS7vl5jdozhM-Xbfk6EPZZ3DI5vTqH0Ge3oXDOIyDOj59KTMonU-iNVUtd33wWUbsNHBlHbYU35FbdQHSWw1oiOQxIdbGgY_DaEptzUlreOYhgpu_kz/s400/100_0926.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lenore's grandma, Mrs Post.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Receiving our blessing for the evening.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Roommates.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chris liked my Columbus friends.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">America.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Don't worry, this is normal for us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Justin Hepkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057938469112280034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871325882331873445.post-66935317279742469662010-05-09T11:58:00.000-04:002010-05-09T11:58:47.205-04:00Western Tennessee Strawberry Festival Parade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokfFlqrWsz91SHLx37MR_BcpFfntWoCeSFchzwxOEvthd0iOACoeGi-vtkVYbU2Vc50eWiN1PcGoCY8_9HsnmxOBlni_s51sOMMa7SZiQg1ICuf7XQudJWf_rJVNYqvHGthoRGS3QOfJ7/s1600/100_0920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokfFlqrWsz91SHLx37MR_BcpFfntWoCeSFchzwxOEvthd0iOACoeGi-vtkVYbU2Vc50eWiN1PcGoCY8_9HsnmxOBlni_s51sOMMa7SZiQg1ICuf7XQudJWf_rJVNYqvHGthoRGS3QOfJ7/s400/100_0920.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">After getting up early to make our final preparations for the parade we biked the 13 miles back to Humboldt, the site of the 73<sup>rd</sup> annual Western Tennessee Strawberry Festival Parade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We decorated our bikes and support vans with balloons, streamers and chalk paint before traveling the 0.9 miles of the parade route.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thousands and thousands of people lined the road, all the schools in the area let out for the day and all of the business in town close; it was a pretty impressive turnout.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got the opportunity to meet both the Governor of Tennessee and Miss <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tennessee</st1:place></st1:state> before the real fun started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Biking slower than most of us probably thought possible we swerved back and forth, passed out candy and danced on our bikes through the throngs of people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of our riders and best dancers, Roshan, really stole the show and had the whole crowd cheering him on as he break danced in the middle of the street to the music being played by the float in front of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a lot of fun participating in and watching the rest of the parade while enjoying all of the fried fair food we could ever dream of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our destination for the evening changed multiple times throughout the day due to flooding again so no route for the day was ever marked, still 4 of us took the time to get out on our bikes and put 30 or so miles in before being picked up in the support vans and being transported to our evening accommodations in Holenwald, Tennessee (We all refer to it as Hole-in-the-wall), it truly is a small town in the middle of the nowhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Katie and I are currently getting our laundry done for our big weekend in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nashville</st1:place></st1:city>, which also happens to be one of the hot spots in town on a Friday night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can’t wait to ride out tomorrow and meet all my friends in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nashville</st1:place></st1:city> for a great weekend. No chain!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWTIC02EDFr5OonpdaksMnbHytvT5I0I0cc4pmKT8zD9NCDMk8dUKZZyXwykr5bBVGu4K6crbqNF5-eNAIMql7iY1wMof-TAwsM2PewMb7HoER4mMB5f-n9-uUzOKcsvRAN60Bcpfet5u/s1600/30329_784919448048_7707708_44097144_933242_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWTIC02EDFr5OonpdaksMnbHytvT5I0I0cc4pmKT8zD9NCDMk8dUKZZyXwykr5bBVGu4K6crbqNF5-eNAIMql7iY1wMof-TAwsM2PewMb7HoER4mMB5f-n9-uUzOKcsvRAN60Bcpfet5u/s400/30329_784919448048_7707708_44097144_933242_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Years of experience from the Jackson County Fair Parade.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHdglrnoUOPCsMhBxt05rWVC_MFjiyaLd-Bs2LsJ5dMh9hjOkVV3TV8G1GHFqsC6vGGf6K6r6u7bfMVUkBxGYK04fSwd_22rPhgfdNHd653eeKkpG6lsvLikiUoSNEm2d5vGxpFxeJqtE/s1600/100_0901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHdglrnoUOPCsMhBxt05rWVC_MFjiyaLd-Bs2LsJ5dMh9hjOkVV3TV8G1GHFqsC6vGGf6K6r6u7bfMVUkBxGYK04fSwd_22rPhgfdNHd653eeKkpG6lsvLikiUoSNEm2d5vGxpFxeJqtE/s400/100_0901.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our van will look good like this until the first time it rains. Sorry Enterprise.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTbt_Yg7KmFYezQ2tzcZZp4mYJ7b4iEwa30zdkP07NDU1FAdjvzjR2ChP04YOx3n71J95mjjwBxaaW9FBtw1IkK2a0CrL-QaYa-2SYc5iyBz96jLzH0YZ7CKjIorZugDMWN0uA5DWLaRk/s1600/100_0909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTbt_Yg7KmFYezQ2tzcZZp4mYJ7b4iEwa30zdkP07NDU1FAdjvzjR2ChP04YOx3n71J95mjjwBxaaW9FBtw1IkK2a0CrL-QaYa-2SYc5iyBz96jLzH0YZ7CKjIorZugDMWN0uA5DWLaRk/s400/100_0909.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Katie was ready to do some serious candy handing out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKFpqNh38YKEFT6x8tA2slxpRgSBR3CuP_gznuU0FxsIr6gC5_vnqo_2Prrh4nEZlfYhOj9yE4L37umvm6kxVciJwGG9a2wvxbaVXQywuAx7FisO-66AwrqZDAeUDfRMy01e7SQJf54_U/s1600/30329_784919468008_7707708_44097146_7856932_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKFpqNh38YKEFT6x8tA2slxpRgSBR3CuP_gznuU0FxsIr6gC5_vnqo_2Prrh4nEZlfYhOj9yE4L37umvm6kxVciJwGG9a2wvxbaVXQywuAx7FisO-66AwrqZDAeUDfRMy01e7SQJf54_U/s400/30329_784919468008_7707708_44097146_7856932_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The oligarchy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQb9DCAzv-lAqCfE3D6NqwzgCy-PqqevNioO3cnHxkp_74zE0GyLSVAf8TaZadzpb44QrSI_fUDmhk0-Qapa1FFWyEd9VIOrO5ueW68AXD3ZkG_B_pWEErEqLqbslTMJUNsjDDGhgtRe0/s1600/30329_784919512918_7707708_44097151_4622611_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQb9DCAzv-lAqCfE3D6NqwzgCy-PqqevNioO3cnHxkp_74zE0GyLSVAf8TaZadzpb44QrSI_fUDmhk0-Qapa1FFWyEd9VIOrO5ueW68AXD3ZkG_B_pWEErEqLqbslTMJUNsjDDGhgtRe0/s400/30329_784919512918_7707708_44097151_4622611_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">King and queen, although often mistaken for superheroes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwclESAwZSJgkB47da5BC00pNo0sF4oSEnQPABQqcTUAmOpXnB2mitPiRqD8suvhmKAj7wRwY9HOMzRBrkZ05OEsmMEOfKZJm-gQ8NSOvgT1YaBd3cKZsBApLRoW4NUm0KlVe6Gef-cRVv/s1600/100_0916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwclESAwZSJgkB47da5BC00pNo0sF4oSEnQPABQqcTUAmOpXnB2mitPiRqD8suvhmKAj7wRwY9HOMzRBrkZ05OEsmMEOfKZJm-gQ8NSOvgT1YaBd3cKZsBApLRoW4NUm0KlVe6Gef-cRVv/s400/100_0916.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Parading.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7Xq4xH_2vNkyPoGYVsCqrG7LQ7dlEs_u7CEljt3KJ5MscGyYepAmMhtk4E7dZ81vF__6dOUIsEbpzVv7tl3Xp__uRDZBRuhHyXAKcFhvZkDaJj76QeiGUckp4eCzto-iEcROVBzocBl1/s1600/100_0911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7Xq4xH_2vNkyPoGYVsCqrG7LQ7dlEs_u7CEljt3KJ5MscGyYepAmMhtk4E7dZ81vF__6dOUIsEbpzVv7tl3Xp__uRDZBRuhHyXAKcFhvZkDaJj76QeiGUckp4eCzto-iEcROVBzocBl1/s400/100_0911.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There was a few people out. It was crazy for 9 am on a Friday morning.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQjdUDmzePxLkIng3kj5E3EA50LHccnK8DFRT3m3-B1zDpumgTErX3Rr6Z0cMdPqVQicR5H5IfCT2UjOr5kesjdczJTknpQiRZKSoWA-Euw5agyQ50yfXx0ffUEPkU8D9bXbBxb6YoULqP/s1600/100_0923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQjdUDmzePxLkIng3kj5E3EA50LHccnK8DFRT3m3-B1zDpumgTErX3Rr6Z0cMdPqVQicR5H5IfCT2UjOr5kesjdczJTknpQiRZKSoWA-Euw5agyQ50yfXx0ffUEPkU8D9bXbBxb6YoULqP/s400/100_0923.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Back on the road to the next town.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Justin Hepkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057938469112280034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871325882331873445.post-9488145045533779932010-05-09T11:48:00.000-04:002010-05-09T11:48:18.085-04:00Milan, Tennessee<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4cK9B9XxJGOvPZqccnDkUdDq-nFg1lN3B3yyWSOo-ilvSc7tqpReKCP2qZZG6HiSP12AgwHsRAIMnSARnFU7FvbNoMbPOTh1nTTqIyEKqTmMkO33A0w9uddNrtmXb35o55HlEH_C-rVlL/s1600/100_0898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4cK9B9XxJGOvPZqccnDkUdDq-nFg1lN3B3yyWSOo-ilvSc7tqpReKCP2qZZG6HiSP12AgwHsRAIMnSARnFU7FvbNoMbPOTh1nTTqIyEKqTmMkO33A0w9uddNrtmXb35o55HlEH_C-rVlL/s400/100_0898.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">After an early battle with traffic and stop lights to get out of <st1:city w:st="on">Memphis</st1:city> and construction during the middle portion of the ride the cyclists finished the 93 miles for the day on a quiet section of highway as we all pulled into yet another Baptist church on the outskirts of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Milan</st1:place></st1:city>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We finally started to get back into some rolling hills after being mostly flat through Eastern Texas and <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Arkansas</st1:place></st1:state> so the legs took a little while to adjust before falling back into their natural rhythm for the rest of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the long mileage coming into <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Memphis</st1:place></st1:city> and then the crazy day off it felt good to get back into the routine of the ride again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The heat was definitely turned up for another day, approaching 90 degrees as we hit town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The church was a surprise stop as the place we were supposed to stay in Humboldt, just 13 miles away had to cancel due to flooding issues something. Water in places it’s not supposed to be is something we have started to know notice along side the road more and more often the closer we get to Nashville which has dealt with some of the worst of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The church we were supposed to stay with in Humboldt still brought dinner in for us, which was just another amazing display of generosity on this trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The rest of the evening was spent prepping for our big appearance in the Western Tennessee Strawberry Festival parade on Friday morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No Chain!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZR4lcdjofY5Xwe6_gtT5ivox-wB82Cl3BMUFSHRrpH5kZKV9_uYP1BttH5Ar_aK-5hWYLfCejBqOj1_5ap3jthHeQ1lloVdYJAs-mF6Yy2kfBUnfcPSvIN7alWgc6tAZx5l5Ca_rSkQTb/s1600/100_0895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZR4lcdjofY5Xwe6_gtT5ivox-wB82Cl3BMUFSHRrpH5kZKV9_uYP1BttH5Ar_aK-5hWYLfCejBqOj1_5ap3jthHeQ1lloVdYJAs-mF6Yy2kfBUnfcPSvIN7alWgc6tAZx5l5Ca_rSkQTb/s400/100_0895.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Water where is supposed to be.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8-IPxslY2aNu47SIWB-4fIj09L4sch_RDgr6uJI_1g139NuPeys7TyIwAV2K_7j8xsZxik7agof-6o07K2IXC7wpi48fobBjwabLf8vApEAQ9YqlwPyGqXX3HlInGagh0nvHHDUK3Fwv/s1600/30329_784919408128_7707708_44097137_1700643_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8-IPxslY2aNu47SIWB-4fIj09L4sch_RDgr6uJI_1g139NuPeys7TyIwAV2K_7j8xsZxik7agof-6o07K2IXC7wpi48fobBjwabLf8vApEAQ9YqlwPyGqXX3HlInGagh0nvHHDUK3Fwv/s400/30329_784919408128_7707708_44097137_1700643_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Water where it's not supposed to be.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvL8nhzSq1IQMUc2j65Y05Y5lZJpsotGp8jfhxTskjOQQR6CFKyWpA-ssdVKH0bas5i77nOUWg6gmCgXuxbrhg30tePoFcxsm2AoM3xOGPc7Pii00SNJEFYO3b_XC0s68QKlY-L7qtNmWM/s1600/30329_784919418108_7707708_44097139_5707442_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvL8nhzSq1IQMUc2j65Y05Y5lZJpsotGp8jfhxTskjOQQR6CFKyWpA-ssdVKH0bas5i77nOUWg6gmCgXuxbrhg30tePoFcxsm2AoM3xOGPc7Pii00SNJEFYO3b_XC0s68QKlY-L7qtNmWM/s400/30329_784919418108_7707708_44097139_5707442_n.jpg" width="383" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Don't worry Katie and Jody checked the integrity of all the bridges for the other riders.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmkifZw5VOgCHsBrAro8hLYSh1x8mum8u9F_JnEvevqpeUocoN10xY4nV8HnpLYWRgdhgbHrVg4uOXTgAngYdZCSKEnnjHmZTf76-S3RLQlAcb9BoIdJSUa84Y4yYm3Cyb-tIGmMOS0jw/s1600/30329_784919428088_7707708_44097141_6088877_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmkifZw5VOgCHsBrAro8hLYSh1x8mum8u9F_JnEvevqpeUocoN10xY4nV8HnpLYWRgdhgbHrVg4uOXTgAngYdZCSKEnnjHmZTf76-S3RLQlAcb9BoIdJSUa84Y4yYm3Cyb-tIGmMOS0jw/s400/30329_784919428088_7707708_44097141_6088877_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I wonder how this church really feels.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgJ5lxwl_PFfJZsAL55TG-gTXvdYA1VqxfU2SWPopqH4ZrUS1uv3zZs5xYrRdTcuqdpSQyA8e87qrIbPKdsPp4E33QZP_3g7upPbH69iP0MCOF09X-RcMiBCGVFdJ0pP0tHMz95L59AmC/s1600/100_0896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgJ5lxwl_PFfJZsAL55TG-gTXvdYA1VqxfU2SWPopqH4ZrUS1uv3zZs5xYrRdTcuqdpSQyA8e87qrIbPKdsPp4E33QZP_3g7upPbH69iP0MCOF09X-RcMiBCGVFdJ0pP0tHMz95L59AmC/s400/100_0896.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Parade prepping.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Justin Hepkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057938469112280034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871325882331873445.post-22180783730987417452010-05-07T18:11:00.001-04:002010-05-07T18:44:12.340-04:00Memphis Off Day.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35RL7ABWEfFaf1e7-0RF4KU_nhXr6mgiIN0CrLbapR2DHXLRazfDkpq2EMvaBqQLtp6FJGzztYjRsD9oVaG4H7OBHE3qYJgpYybED5n7cRQiqDykqxpPEShH9A8YAFFRMQ1yJfmUN7UyG/s1600/100_0824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh35RL7ABWEfFaf1e7-0RF4KU_nhXr6mgiIN0CrLbapR2DHXLRazfDkpq2EMvaBqQLtp6FJGzztYjRsD9oVaG4H7OBHE3qYJgpYybED5n7cRQiqDykqxpPEShH9A8YAFFRMQ1yJfmUN7UyG/s400/100_0824.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>"You can kill the dreamer, but you can't kill the dream."</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i> - Reverand Samuel "Billy" Kyles</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I hadn’t been doing separate entries for our off days but as Chris said <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Memphis</st1:place></st1:city> was truly “the surprise city of the trip” so far and we did so much I thought I would share. We started the day by giving our lecture at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine that was very well attended and received by the students. We had a lot of fun speaking about our mission and our ride before sharing a great lunch with the students. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The afternoon was spent at the National Civil Rights Museum located the historic Lorraine Motel, the site of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr in 1968. The museum chronicles key episodes of the American civil rights movement through its collections, exhibitions and educational programs. We spent about 3 hours at the museum but could have easily spent 3 days to take it in properly due to the shear volume of information. It truly was an inspiring and moving display of the legacy of the movement as I was brought to tears several times throughout our visit. The highlights of the museum for me included the movie <a href="http://www.civilrightsmuseum.org/store/products/The-Witness:-From-the-Balcony-of-Room-306.html">“The Witness” </a>which featured the Revered Samuel Kyles who was standing next to Dr. King when he was shot and also having the opportunity to actually stand in the motel room where Dr. King was staying at the time. It was breathtaking to be so close to such an important piece of American history which has played such a huge role in shaping our nation on so many levels. If you ever find yourself in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Memphis</st1:city></st1:place> area, I full heartedly recommend taking the time to visit this piece of history. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Our next stop was <a href="http://www.peabodymemphis.com/">the Peabody Hotel</a>, the grand hotel of the South as its known, to watch the world famous duck march which has taken place at 5 pm daily for the past 75 years. The Hotel was built at a cost of nearly 5 million dollars in during the 1800’s which at the time was an enormous price so you can only begin to imagine the beauty of the interior fully of dark woods and marble. The ducks spend their evenings in their penthouse accommodations so each day the Duckmaster impeccably dressed in a full red suit and golden cane arrives on the center elevator marches to the fountain located at the heart of the lobby and rolls out a red carpet for the ducks to perform on. As John Phillip Sousa played on the speakers overhead the ducks marched through the crowds of people that gather each day for the spectacle and headed directly for their waiting elevator car headed directly for their suite. It was a pretty awesome performance! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Next we headed across the street to <a href="http://www.kookycanuck.com/">the Kooky Canuck</a> for “dinner”, which was bigger for some than others. The Kooky Canuck has been featured in many magazines and multiple television shows including Man vs. Food for one reason, the King Kookamonga. This “sandwich” features 6 pounds of pure beef, on a fresh baked bun, topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese and pickles. It clocks in at right around 18,000 calories for the meal. 2 people have 60 minutes to finish the burger to get their picture on the wall (along side the likes of Joey Chestnutt) and a t-shirt. Our two finest eaters on the trip, Travis and Brian, made a valiant effort at completing the competition making quick work of the beef and toppings but in the end the shear amount of bun sealed their fate. We were all still pretty proud of their effort and the entire restaurant gave them a round of applause. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We capped the day by heading to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Autozone</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Park</st1:placetype></st1:place>, home of the Memphis Redbirds the AAA affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. As a lifelong Cardinals fan it was a lot of fun to enjoy an absolutely beautiful evening watching the future of their franchise from the left field lawn. The stadium is brand new and is located in the heart of downtown and actually reminded me a lot of the new Clipper’s Stadium in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Columbus</st1:place></st1:city>. The highlight of the night was still to come though as 4 members of our group (including me) were selected to take part in the build a burger contest which took place during the middle of the 5<sup>th</sup> inning. We were broken into 2 teams of 2 and dressed into bun costumes in the locker room area of the stadium then paraded out on to the field. Maggie and I were competing for free burgers for section 108 so we made sure to get them pumped up to cheer us on right away. After Maggie plopped down on the plate I rushed up and down the 3<sup>rd</sup> base line to place the burger patty, lettuce and cheese on her before doing a belly flop on her to complete the burger as the other bun. We were way out in front of Jen and Heidi so I made sure to make it a close race by doing somersaults during my last trip before winning! I finished the race by grabbing Maggie’s face and planting a huge kiss on her cheek which drew an audible ahhh from the crowd. We all had a lot of fun being the stars of the show for a couple of minutes and then headed back to share our prizes with the rest of the team. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We definitely got to cover a lot of ground during our 2 days in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Memphis</st1:place></st1:city> and I think we all had a great time doing it. Thanks to the organization and planning of the Memphis Hightailers it was a lot easier than exploring on our own. It definitely was my favorite city of the trip so far which as Chris said was a complete surprise. On to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Medina</st1:place></st1:city> tomorrow, can’t wait to get back on the bike. No Chain!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMNQaJC4w7K9nEzOuV_68KqYkiaO9N8c6PUMmgiNRHM6k1nU-1yvVbxWDrlIuS2NztFdjlRsTFAlOw2updWl2D8tssvkyCRHGcIvWBNK00amEheMDEgRsIRTukf2Y-rIyTJHfTev3Mbj_q/s1600/100_0814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMNQaJC4w7K9nEzOuV_68KqYkiaO9N8c6PUMmgiNRHM6k1nU-1yvVbxWDrlIuS2NztFdjlRsTFAlOw2updWl2D8tssvkyCRHGcIvWBNK00amEheMDEgRsIRTukf2Y-rIyTJHfTev3Mbj_q/s400/100_0814.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Med school lecture.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8h1AbFWXOg3GX5wzp9ZUImV8AueRKtd_Ahg5speaPeFfxlHxvIkerV1dloUo9McUdBTkuohRTZ4RKq9AA3KPyLKV5xeDW1e0I6Z8_lOHFA93fEUurCvSwTdpuPsrFJpp8hR6tuLISzkLf/s1600/100_0817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8h1AbFWXOg3GX5wzp9ZUImV8AueRKtd_Ahg5speaPeFfxlHxvIkerV1dloUo9McUdBTkuohRTZ4RKq9AA3KPyLKV5xeDW1e0I6Z8_lOHFA93fEUurCvSwTdpuPsrFJpp8hR6tuLISzkLf/s400/100_0817.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Everyone from Elvis to Johnny Cash have recorded here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfJwhH6fxc4YxnPWwSXiWa7UqRV0YTHP1z9vaOxc1mF4BYbFsxuw_AgXkJmtL1GLcQ-9pjoULbNc7TcYtJSffBqacCttZY7UffjGgT1P4HVOSfL7T3SJCeIUV7ogJ1x9Bnf9Vk9k4YxYt/s1600/100_0821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfJwhH6fxc4YxnPWwSXiWa7UqRV0YTHP1z9vaOxc1mF4BYbFsxuw_AgXkJmtL1GLcQ-9pjoULbNc7TcYtJSffBqacCttZY7UffjGgT1P4HVOSfL7T3SJCeIUV7ogJ1x9Bnf9Vk9k4YxYt/s400/100_0821.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The National Civil Rights Museum.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The balcony where Dr. King was shot. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There aren't any more photos from the museum because cameras weren't allowed which is good because it's definitely something everyone should experience on their own.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUAjH0HlBMssLGg6V538GSD4NPQR9NguxJdfU0XQ_BNQuRd5FjNZMaGunb5gPegKjIDQlrbGfnTaD8bR9vOm_s1zfLFtR8uOXDDO2A539haeQuhOLLEM6Xk8OLKb31yzmkeROgnM3aOzcs/s1600/100_0830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUAjH0HlBMssLGg6V538GSD4NPQR9NguxJdfU0XQ_BNQuRd5FjNZMaGunb5gPegKjIDQlrbGfnTaD8bR9vOm_s1zfLFtR8uOXDDO2A539haeQuhOLLEM6Xk8OLKb31yzmkeROgnM3aOzcs/s400/100_0830.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Duckmaster explaining the march.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ducks marching.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1m1T4rnxPaTCxWGkbAPtHbgq5Gk-Yn5QciS6SRlL-ht9lb8WNleTQ3306tOcdE1PcoYNPZ46hBVdSsftzoHtNaVu0cUKW58I-npgHHXui6WsGlGMrBNjFo_KvEXWXmDk44bLPkn2FbcZ4/s1600/100_0840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1m1T4rnxPaTCxWGkbAPtHbgq5Gk-Yn5QciS6SRlL-ht9lb8WNleTQ3306tOcdE1PcoYNPZ46hBVdSsftzoHtNaVu0cUKW58I-npgHHXui6WsGlGMrBNjFo_KvEXWXmDk44bLPkn2FbcZ4/s400/100_0840.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One huge burger.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEezWT9wUgAJj0zr9LYxTNH_7iU6MjpZzzSW9IXWEzvG0_YBLPYSH_JXizVVPdiiEtI7lAlsjc6zz3MzfUWBnIMpO4AvvkfuGSD2IGZODIlWQlwUAOg-RqOEjg37ly7O_nkjfMPaOWJVr/s1600/100_0841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEezWT9wUgAJj0zr9LYxTNH_7iU6MjpZzzSW9IXWEzvG0_YBLPYSH_JXizVVPdiiEtI7lAlsjc6zz3MzfUWBnIMpO4AvvkfuGSD2IGZODIlWQlwUAOg-RqOEjg37ly7O_nkjfMPaOWJVr/s400/100_0841.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Unbelievable.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTZ5HxQn1hJql0rAE1qd8rVyy4RPTdaHmGXfn42U9QlYP5r9JIX4MBJPpofZ2GKqnaSj7wb-KHzljHi_6cHVA5VsfPE7VRHnOYRPCNekbgEwc_w83Tmcp81_rkGqn_IQc3DOZwtzMyURR/s1600/100_0845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTZ5HxQn1hJql0rAE1qd8rVyy4RPTdaHmGXfn42U9QlYP5r9JIX4MBJPpofZ2GKqnaSj7wb-KHzljHi_6cHVA5VsfPE7VRHnOYRPCNekbgEwc_w83Tmcp81_rkGqn_IQc3DOZwtzMyURR/s400/100_0845.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tim with his own challenge.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjox33aKWuvHk-WPsdt-fztBSIx5mhhmtFNZ29uUuNcvPmrV0ETRHlLAYxa6luSBt_9m13YQEEVaLX-ldiix_6aVelrHns9J8mUEFJ4rNC32GGJ2dJTwa8nL8aOE5vleHzE2HVsiyg8Cejg/s1600/100_0852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjox33aKWuvHk-WPsdt-fztBSIx5mhhmtFNZ29uUuNcvPmrV0ETRHlLAYxa6luSBt_9m13YQEEVaLX-ldiix_6aVelrHns9J8mUEFJ4rNC32GGJ2dJTwa8nL8aOE5vleHzE2HVsiyg8Cejg/s400/100_0852.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Enjoying a beautiful night in left field.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Redbird.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSORPbzX1LOuTQ6pBc92WImYpGUkUvmrzQWMPMEX2G7uN_rPlOnlmC3galTrHW1tvDHMJiwJ_HV4ExJgOTTUV0F73DjZox5h79BAsu0BnwqoK3QAkv1kOqybZMGHRKXjeVniT46K4OlEM/s1600/100_0867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSORPbzX1LOuTQ6pBc92WImYpGUkUvmrzQWMPMEX2G7uN_rPlOnlmC3galTrHW1tvDHMJiwJ_HV4ExJgOTTUV0F73DjZox5h79BAsu0BnwqoK3QAkv1kOqybZMGHRKXjeVniT46K4OlEM/s400/100_0867.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Getting warmed up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The crew before we headed out onto the field.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pumping up the crowd.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpE0yQBfmp3hvL-XVLEwo7VVibW1XM3bTBPMLWUbbMnXCj0y8I39HDHItwU-R4LdmPARB2yh3gJTVmL_yGmtjEoZF0jyIsfK5OTSuXhDCBd7mG_LWOHPVoBSCu5H2SjSASS2ACuVRrGbYu/s1600/100_0879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpE0yQBfmp3hvL-XVLEwo7VVibW1XM3bTBPMLWUbbMnXCj0y8I39HDHItwU-R4LdmPARB2yh3gJTVmL_yGmtjEoZF0jyIsfK5OTSuXhDCBd7mG_LWOHPVoBSCu5H2SjSASS2ACuVRrGbYu/s400/100_0879.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Running the toppings.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTr2baZySvUKbmgcSLFwAlRSOj4zlZMr1qkDev-82jXsMqSMVgRqpCD9EZpzAi59mb0_X0hiAWc_QwzfuFEv7bnwSD5fpUnaMMSQLdr7AxN4FFpKxhIqpR2oGR-exVAMhsYUR5456SpxcI/s1600/100_0884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTr2baZySvUKbmgcSLFwAlRSOj4zlZMr1qkDev-82jXsMqSMVgRqpCD9EZpzAi59mb0_X0hiAWc_QwzfuFEv7bnwSD5fpUnaMMSQLdr7AxN4FFpKxhIqpR2oGR-exVAMhsYUR5456SpxcI/s400/100_0884.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Belly flop, pre kiss.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwj-sXcDKb5RqNsku-cI3H3HJaL3b0k2YNI-2hcDQ595MwRQ8LE3gbhIE-MEZVNR0v1eO3HaMhlXW-j-i2228f0ojA8ACPk8Oy8viuFN0tGGU9oIk7-baMVzyX_ft8YJrGCGqZVHDOn464/s1600/100_0888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwj-sXcDKb5RqNsku-cI3H3HJaL3b0k2YNI-2hcDQ595MwRQ8LE3gbhIE-MEZVNR0v1eO3HaMhlXW-j-i2228f0ojA8ACPk8Oy8viuFN0tGGU9oIk7-baMVzyX_ft8YJrGCGqZVHDOn464/s400/100_0888.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Victory!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Justin Hepkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057938469112280034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871325882331873445.post-65975500564495352532010-05-07T17:37:00.001-04:002010-05-07T18:31:26.411-04:00Memphis, Tennessee<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyXRncUYOTL41W18KHTVDOugBcE7wOC9tpwcTw7Q2LoL-JQhm1ZWkw5vw71kEkIofb24v5N1hub0mm53O7t5wUD-iTvLOJDDEzUncYgmzcFWN027r1MoBgEVecA7FDxOFNuByEb9KFQTTP/s1600/100_0756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyXRncUYOTL41W18KHTVDOugBcE7wOC9tpwcTw7Q2LoL-JQhm1ZWkw5vw71kEkIofb24v5N1hub0mm53O7t5wUD-iTvLOJDDEzUncYgmzcFWN027r1MoBgEVecA7FDxOFNuByEb9KFQTTP/s400/100_0756.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Another 103 miles down (208 miles for the 2 day total), and another day in the heat of the south. We rode about 30 miles before crossing over into Mississippi (new state #5) by crossing the Mississippi River, the climb up and over the bridge was pretty intense due to the heavy traffic and lack of shoulder but we still managed to stop and snap a couple of pictures at the pinnacle. Shortly after crossing into <st1:state w:st="on">Mississippi</st1:state> we made a left hand turn and headed north on Highway 61, a familiar road for someone who grew up in eastern <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iowa</st1:place></st1:state>. Another few hundred miles north on that highway and you could end up in my front yard but <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Memphis</st1:place></st1:city> was our destination for the day so I didn’t quite make it that far. Highway 61 was a busy four lane highway and we had to ride on it for about 35 miles before turning on to a quiet winding back road which took us around the south side of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Memphis</st1:place></st1:city>. We crossed into <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tennessee</st1:place></st1:state> just as we were approaching our destination for the night, the First Baptist Church of Germantown. I think we were all glad to see the church come in to view after the incredible number of miles we had covered in the past 2 days, 2 century rides in 2 days is a cycling feat even for the best riders and our front group road them hard both days. The ride wasn’t one of my favorite because of the weather and the road conditions but we were all in a good mood because of our accomplishment. Some members of the Memphis Hightailers, the local cycling team were waiting at the church to welcome us in with waters, Gatorade and pizza. They had also gone ahead and made reservations for the entire team at one of the best restaurants I have ever eaten at. The Rendezvous is located down a set of stairs in a back alley in downtown <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Memphis</st1:place></st1:city>, the directions we were given weren’t even to the actual restaurant but to the hotel across the street where we were to ask for directions on how to get there. The Rendezvous is famous for ribs and everyone from professional athletes, dignitaries, and the last 5 presidents could be found pictured on their walls as patrons. President Obama personally gets them shipped in to his family. The Hightailers picked up the bar tab for the night so we had a lot of fun even before heading to Beale Street which is world famous for it’s nightlife. <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Beale Street</st1:address></st1:street> is 2 blocks of bars, restaurants, and open containers reminiscent of <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Bourbon Street</st1:address></st1:street> in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">New Orleans</st1:city></st1:place>, we spent the night hopping from blues club to blues club sampling the local music scene before closing the night by doing some performing of our own at a dive karaoke bar.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL83C3kSYGxrCCzbmamj3kz8DNiI1_ruvhKmJMuG8-CN0Oku3qhNmRyVwYI2EGhvfOPt1NoGTEY2r_rVn_zMmw4Qe9SrFGhBSyyhbpYvSyUjRZix1-ZAR9_TiL3XLfACof5BRPj9MJjyKc/s1600/100_0759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL83C3kSYGxrCCzbmamj3kz8DNiI1_ruvhKmJMuG8-CN0Oku3qhNmRyVwYI2EGhvfOPt1NoGTEY2r_rVn_zMmw4Qe9SrFGhBSyyhbpYvSyUjRZix1-ZAR9_TiL3XLfACof5BRPj9MJjyKc/s400/100_0759.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We dipped into Mississippi for awhile.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMjNkMvUVjiCCGtjHvBUAozGM6GQ5jTQtjj_upj-ZL4s0Y77bUHOqLkrHHzwzbnmcGSnGljRZ6o39CLwUWAWiGrBeUYZ4muRLznLBLEelc7AmacK_W-6s1y_oCFP8VcDg86HK-i6bnfpH/s1600/100_0767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMjNkMvUVjiCCGtjHvBUAozGM6GQ5jTQtjj_upj-ZL4s0Y77bUHOqLkrHHzwzbnmcGSnGljRZ6o39CLwUWAWiGrBeUYZ4muRLznLBLEelc7AmacK_W-6s1y_oCFP8VcDg86HK-i6bnfpH/s400/100_0767.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fancy kitchen. Amazing ribs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqbJ6ErTnmTVudLH-zdJWrhyPX__B9wxSYtgI2y39VFTm8XFQyOuCC-_cNDwoz0cgT8qd0Qt4nvcdAdeAt4vjcJxnOLWXrVqmVSBSBwYSdSn4l8AOf6B_upvpFGCMUrZDZcOX3FnwRUxF/s1600/100_0774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqbJ6ErTnmTVudLH-zdJWrhyPX__B9wxSYtgI2y39VFTm8XFQyOuCC-_cNDwoz0cgT8qd0Qt4nvcdAdeAt4vjcJxnOLWXrVqmVSBSBwYSdSn4l8AOf6B_upvpFGCMUrZDZcOX3FnwRUxF/s400/100_0774.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Beale St. at night.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The bars were so welcoming of us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0x9p4BGM-21ZCYTfjDidvJFfF9V_P6pys5Fm0pj0lTfFa0ug3dhRsMw32SAKT9fz-NJIwODJYXU2KlDic7-bcu5qOWhJt586utx_Jofd-HHT0pTXcgtzWdhw_3lWieieYqgSbA58FKhE/s1600/100_0809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0x9p4BGM-21ZCYTfjDidvJFfF9V_P6pys5Fm0pj0lTfFa0ug3dhRsMw32SAKT9fz-NJIwODJYXU2KlDic7-bcu5qOWhJt586utx_Jofd-HHT0pTXcgtzWdhw_3lWieieYqgSbA58FKhE/s400/100_0809.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A couple of tired cyclists.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The congregation of the church we stayed at was super serious about their pickleball. We were woken up at 630 am by a group playing and I don't think they stopped the entire day. They had multiple state champions and some had even competed at the national level. Pretty awesome.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Justin Hepkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057938469112280034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871325882331873445.post-39036859376413012902010-05-03T21:25:00.000-04:002010-05-03T21:25:34.384-04:00Marvell, Arkansas<span id="goog_2008983311"></span><span id="goog_2008983312"></span><br />
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</div>Humidity + Sun + Heat + 103 miles = a long day on the bike. The ride to Marvell started out great on a beautiful bike path out of Little Rock that included crossing the longest pedestrian only bridge in the United States and great views of downtown. The next 93 miles weren't horrible in terms of road conditions but it was definitely the first time on the trip when we had to deal with true heat which approached 90 degrees by the end of the day, especially when combined with the humidity. We passed through some heavily wooded areas early but the last part of the ride was dominated by open fields. The most interesting part of the day though occurred around mile 70. A man pulled up beside us at a stop sign as we were about to make a turn on to a different highway and asked if we needed any help crossing the bridge, being a group of experienced cyclists we balked at the offer and without knowing what lay ahead said that we could handle it on our own. We made the turn on to the highway and rode about a mile before we noticed what concerned the driver, no shoulder on the busy highway for the next 6 miles on a narrow bridge that extended the entire distance. We began peddling across with caution and then realized that we weren't being passed by anyone, when we looked back over our shoulder there are driver friend was, trailing by just a few feet with his emergency flashers on protecting from traffic. The parade of cars behind him was amazing but we truly appreciated his generosity in helping us across the bridge. The rest of the ride into Marvell was pretty uneventful and we finished our 4th century ride of the trip in right around 5 hours of riding. Marvell is the second smallest town we have stayed in but the church we are staying at served us an amazing dinner and the people have been great so far. Tim gave one of our lectures at Little Rock Central High School before leaving town this morning, one of the most historic and largest high schools in the country. The high school is famous (or infamous) for the events surrounding its desegregation in 1957 when nine African-American students, known as the Little Rock Nine, were denied entrance to the school in defiance of the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court ruling ordering integration of public schools. This provoked a showdown between the Governor Fabus and President Dwight D. Eisenhower that gained international attention. We're all going to bed pretty early tomorrow as we have another 100+ mile day tomorrow into Memphis, Tennessee (Including 2 new states!). No chain!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1oaXEPn7uNW4SnUV6QRlj_3atQkNO1n-aGXTsh9kNEcCrTmGtBMzd5-8QgQk5W3-vkEU4ZwDOoaOE4GDufo9VmRxBP3K-6QT-BjsmmPG9eLGJg0rUf7JZPjm2SzgfkSJIUqmojHMWvxt-/s1600/Central_High_in_Little_Rock_11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1oaXEPn7uNW4SnUV6QRlj_3atQkNO1n-aGXTsh9kNEcCrTmGtBMzd5-8QgQk5W3-vkEU4ZwDOoaOE4GDufo9VmRxBP3K-6QT-BjsmmPG9eLGJg0rUf7JZPjm2SzgfkSJIUqmojHMWvxt-/s400/Central_High_in_Little_Rock_11.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Little Rock Central High School. A national historic monument.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGlKSpR0tePp2_bXu0Wu98wuEfdeCAoSqaXsXjFpD7Dbp3feG8AFFx7a5ANuw8hk8lGpOogJiWkym6opltlct60l1nOpHUbaZ-asaY-Bi8madf_4gQZoBqnrsfqesiDu2UVu08p-T1Jy12/s1600/100_0737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGlKSpR0tePp2_bXu0Wu98wuEfdeCAoSqaXsXjFpD7Dbp3feG8AFFx7a5ANuw8hk8lGpOogJiWkym6opltlct60l1nOpHUbaZ-asaY-Bi8madf_4gQZoBqnrsfqesiDu2UVu08p-T1Jy12/s400/100_0737.JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It really was a big dam bridge.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPow_KnHWQzQjmLA3P2aDM6U3Jj3Zv8XnSbHh2fpHg3ajyx0RfCZs3uGsr5xNbFsbEjbaVhwxyuqszYgK3Iljhfhv-sqiteoCTRxnMZBIGDELrbEYWG8GasCsD9mI5zv7pAxv5X3CU8l0n/s1600/wideshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPow_KnHWQzQjmLA3P2aDM6U3Jj3Zv8XnSbHh2fpHg3ajyx0RfCZs3uGsr5xNbFsbEjbaVhwxyuqszYgK3Iljhfhv-sqiteoCTRxnMZBIGDELrbEYWG8GasCsD9mI5zv7pAxv5X3CU8l0n/s400/wideshot.jpg" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">the bridge.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPlHC276Y1qVN9Jh4VIUnEfw3XDn8onQTeqpqFCN9UCs8TrA7FMv96R4oFpI4jiGScG2l8xDGDQwpIBTISKuUZYQQYmouDgomiVGzhnQBtxY8b0QQ7g_3io-GjGDXYY0qCakq56-Tr6o7/s1600/100_0747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPlHC276Y1qVN9Jh4VIUnEfw3XDn8onQTeqpqFCN9UCs8TrA7FMv96R4oFpI4jiGScG2l8xDGDQwpIBTISKuUZYQQYmouDgomiVGzhnQBtxY8b0QQ7g_3io-GjGDXYY0qCakq56-Tr6o7/s400/100_0747.JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The bike path on the way out of town.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnfjCq-9kXZ4I_Z_dm6uOlJW2NHy8odCI8-8_4Ro-pu2P6yqaz9jgHzG8kD-gpkbXBYwiLjGhGr9mQukfaO3rCbxGQvAjsVOh8mfEtV8Yr4pQKFjKOwlDmM6vZwlygsf9L1fofl9_LLIZ/s1600/100_0750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnfjCq-9kXZ4I_Z_dm6uOlJW2NHy8odCI8-8_4Ro-pu2P6yqaz9jgHzG8kD-gpkbXBYwiLjGhGr9mQukfaO3rCbxGQvAjsVOh8mfEtV8Yr4pQKFjKOwlDmM6vZwlygsf9L1fofl9_LLIZ/s320/100_0750.JPG" tt="true" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Downtown Little Rock</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEO94TSRpx-9eicKrO_DFaiRIYdBD4jw9culDkMCMLUOzkwffdhSI_SD541skV0Vl6tptsCxQNDosdBZr0D8PiOYZygs-0xN-qVyPRqLmGvqusoh-7Sc53RQbaZr_6h7LStcuikVNgfeYn/s1600/100_0749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEO94TSRpx-9eicKrO_DFaiRIYdBD4jw9culDkMCMLUOzkwffdhSI_SD541skV0Vl6tptsCxQNDosdBZr0D8PiOYZygs-0xN-qVyPRqLmGvqusoh-7Sc53RQbaZr_6h7LStcuikVNgfeYn/s400/100_0749.JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Along the way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5x2Y_9YyOawAbH4AMWVq_zAs7P1odV4T8v0ZNXtGwN8EtZtkNbkU57VtqSeEAwroJUxUT7Kv597TVUJFt888mpMzHzuOPOGTgO2ZzvVlZfblylxVwgooWfjZ4IXvYdJoxf4JbB7bi48EW/s1600/100_0751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5x2Y_9YyOawAbH4AMWVq_zAs7P1odV4T8v0ZNXtGwN8EtZtkNbkU57VtqSeEAwroJUxUT7Kv597TVUJFt888mpMzHzuOPOGTgO2ZzvVlZfblylxVwgooWfjZ4IXvYdJoxf4JbB7bi48EW/s400/100_0751.JPG" tt="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Katie picks only the finest stops for lunch.</div>Justin Hepkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057938469112280034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871325882331873445.post-74077592716238997632010-05-02T18:06:00.001-04:002010-05-02T20:38:47.793-04:00Little Rock, Arkansas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_OAeCIUBNniDRBlE-IGvBJm-B_83UgxxHJf8mQorhHKgr61LL8PyLdZ46X-a4p4DBIqtzEIa0sixGHZ2DdF-Wpwpjv3Q8qqtXqRTKt3tVOsgL136_NrPcsoMwPAauouQF4xav93VXfOkD/s1600/100_0733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_OAeCIUBNniDRBlE-IGvBJm-B_83UgxxHJf8mQorhHKgr61LL8PyLdZ46X-a4p4DBIqtzEIa0sixGHZ2DdF-Wpwpjv3Q8qqtXqRTKt3tVOsgL136_NrPcsoMwPAauouQF4xav93VXfOkD/s400/100_0733.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>"Ah Home, Let me go home, </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Home is wherever I'm with you..."</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">- Lyric by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros</div><br />
As predicted by the local television station and the riders as we rode through thick muggy air on the way out of Hot Springs the sky was about to explode, luckily we made it into town before the real action started. As we peddled out of the church we had stayed in the night before a quick downpour got us presoaked for the 52 mile ride that laid before us. Riding with the humidity so high sort of felt like pushing through a headwind as it was difficult to maintain the speeds we had grown accustomed the past few days. Intermittent showers kept us wet throughout the morning. The roads were beautiful once again as we continued to pass through heavily forested areas and up and down rolling hills. With the short mileage we hit town right around noon which was perfect timing as the rest of my family arrived at the same time! With the day off on Sunday they though it would be a great time to come and see me as Little Rock is the closet we get to home for me along the trip. My mom and dad drove the 11 hours down from Iowa and my brother and his wife drove 6 hours over from Kansas City just to see me. I love all the other riders on the trip but sometimes with the amount of time we spend together in close quarters it's great to get away with your family, especially since I don't get to see them together very often at all. We spent the afternoon touring downtown Little Rock including a trolly tour before heading to dinner at a real authentic hole in the wall barbeque joint. That's where the real fun with the weather began, torrential downpours, high speed straight-line winds and some hail combined to make for an interesting night. A town not far from Little Rock recorded 10 inches overnight and flooding is a major issue in the area right now. Hopefully when we hit the road tomorrow there wont be any major detours as the ride is already scheduled for 100+ miles on our way to Marvell, Arkansas. On Sunday we headed as a family for Pinnacle Mountain State Park, located just outside of the metro area to spend some time together before my brother and sister had to head home. My mom and dad are spending one more night with me in Little Rock before we all head out in the morning. My legs appreciated the break but the closer we get to Columbus the more I want to just keep riding. Can't wait to get back at it in the morning, No Chain!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2z-mohEwufFsykJ9BRMiQaVlsSgftlOu2lkCPoJbRZis5VmboT8lyD9G2q36JTdrqWsWf7k4Us_o6rOciWozkIPzxlMm3bw1WTscXYBn9uSvQfsJYHq_crsFiFc9xK0xWR0C211s2PvV/s1600/7865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2z-mohEwufFsykJ9BRMiQaVlsSgftlOu2lkCPoJbRZis5VmboT8lyD9G2q36JTdrqWsWf7k4Us_o6rOciWozkIPzxlMm3bw1WTscXYBn9uSvQfsJYHq_crsFiFc9xK0xWR0C211s2PvV/s400/7865.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Good news: I hit a jackpot at the Casino across the street from where we staying.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bad news: It was on the penny slots.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlmhWA1HuZJuARZBmTS7h92QJ6rbNgfiDp5lV-6hcdvDTWD1p03lxv2WZ-IZlJFD9ad4tK0Y0-YpX0rNvt_CGVsCuhIfLWG6NHMHWGJU_YqPtZnxaMpFm83Y85caX87AySgAsVxYIHAvnB/s1600/100_0725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlmhWA1HuZJuARZBmTS7h92QJ6rbNgfiDp5lV-6hcdvDTWD1p03lxv2WZ-IZlJFD9ad4tK0Y0-YpX0rNvt_CGVsCuhIfLWG6NHMHWGJU_YqPtZnxaMpFm83Y85caX87AySgAsVxYIHAvnB/s400/100_0725.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Breakfast on the way out of Hot Springs, and people wonder why I'm not losing a ton of weight.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeWLQHlLLkTox8-eODiz2FiKB4rbFd8YqtQi14vbSLn4j5QpnVMQ9AeNCrRF3AHIYM4yCsh7TLwEMhope2hK-QJGQbnlO3I-r49CnnUcYhBIQcQfowooYdFyxQ0ZfVh__NyB_I33qm7B4/s1600/100_0726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeWLQHlLLkTox8-eODiz2FiKB4rbFd8YqtQi14vbSLn4j5QpnVMQ9AeNCrRF3AHIYM4yCsh7TLwEMhope2hK-QJGQbnlO3I-r49CnnUcYhBIQcQfowooYdFyxQ0ZfVh__NyB_I33qm7B4/s400/100_0726.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Waiting to leave the dryness of the overhang.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWEdQ1tzI7eSzCiacXCLESArZN-ZvsTlwzOAxYX0cuauWOUFLRf8tieotSQKREi5K16AsiT0JSaQCp2CyZLzm2THB_XxfWfLIC-TQfpQCIcs2TrWy9N9dajGAmXz-rTwvBymuBimFVZo5/s1600/100_0727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWEdQ1tzI7eSzCiacXCLESArZN-ZvsTlwzOAxYX0cuauWOUFLRf8tieotSQKREi5K16AsiT0JSaQCp2CyZLzm2THB_XxfWfLIC-TQfpQCIcs2TrWy9N9dajGAmXz-rTwvBymuBimFVZo5/s400/100_0727.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On the road to Little Rock.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhar-PwgyfxnF4Lpfpy0T0P7LbSmuKqgUZQYFvt6DS2arB0M4uPwQ3Hk4vZsygv5brpKgprgtod0oTuG6riqxgbxIGpTnLAud27dfKGOFp-GE1dnsywwsZtbOpVLlV1eNrmZrKWK8ir_PBD/s1600/100_2412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhar-PwgyfxnF4Lpfpy0T0P7LbSmuKqgUZQYFvt6DS2arB0M4uPwQ3Hk4vZsygv5brpKgprgtod0oTuG6riqxgbxIGpTnLAud27dfKGOFp-GE1dnsywwsZtbOpVLlV1eNrmZrKWK8ir_PBD/s400/100_2412.JPG" width="300" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pouring.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My brother and sister.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhri4pNXbM8ozyUdOpiqiJKg40FwYUGnWezSFyneCs-MB0aUvuZ8DQUM5_BwwNSFzldYX3TqHVRVSw06IIE4NuDxaGbY_rYOhc74k8a64TOrhZxVRQab2o1CAsqfCqdvhbxLXFnj2ftFf/s1600/100_0735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhri4pNXbM8ozyUdOpiqiJKg40FwYUGnWezSFyneCs-MB0aUvuZ8DQUM5_BwwNSFzldYX3TqHVRVSw06IIE4NuDxaGbY_rYOhc74k8a64TOrhZxVRQab2o1CAsqfCqdvhbxLXFnj2ftFf/s400/100_0735.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Family.</div>Justin Hepkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06057938469112280034noreply@blogger.com1