thirtytwo16

Yes, the sign says Fat Mountain Road

Instead of doing a daily journal for the 2009 Pennsylvania Perimeter Ride Against Cancer, I am just going to write a bit about my highlights of the ride. I was able to take copious amounts of notes during the 2007 ride, but I didn’t seem to find the time this year. There is no shortage of stories and memories, and I’ll detail some of them here. But none of us really needs to read about my perspective on every little detail of the week. However, I am going to break it up into three digestible posts instead of one really long entry.

There are countless stories about the people on the ride and the memories and emotions they shared with everyone. It’s this sharing of experiences, combined with the extreme physical output each day of riding, that brings the whole group close enough to consider each other family members by the end of the week.  What people say and do each evening is very close to being considered sacred, and anything I write would only cheapen what each person exposed and would possibly betray the trust in the room.

Additionally, my words will never do justice to the efforts and selflessness all of the volunteers on the ride who cook the food, give us water, lift our spirits with jokes and basically tend to our every need. And the Freeds? How they pull this all together with such grace and modesty is nearly incomprehensible. Raising a beer to/for them each night isn’t nearly enough. If you ever see them on the street…give them a hug. Much love to all the people who offered floor space and service along the route.

On with the show.

As in 2007, life for Stacy and I was completely chaotic leading up to the ride. There was debate up until the last minute as to whether Stacy and I would actually be able and/or willing to leave the kids for a week to hop on the bike. But in the end, we decided that we made a commitment (on several levels), and bailing this late in the game would let a lot of people down…especially ourselves.

We left Ocean City on Friday night and headed to Hazleton so we could spend Saturday doing our final packing and prep for the upcoming week. We ran all over town getting food and other supplies. Our errands were done in the early evening, and we headed to Dave and Selene’s house in Emmaus. The plan was to meet up with Maurice, Taylor and a few other people for some food and beer at Tap & Table…a fine food and fine beer establishment. Great place.

After filling ourselves with food and beer, we headed back to Dave and Selene’s for one final beer at the bar in their house. Stacy and I then crashed on the futons downstairs. Before we knew it, we were running out in the pouring rain to get ourselves, our gear and our bikes over to South Mountain Cycles where we were to meet Maurice and Co. to load into his van for the trip up to Burlington.

We arrived in Palmerton and had our Grand Depart there, which consisted of loading the trucks, vans and buses with people, gear and bikes. All sorts of family and friends were there to take part in the ceremony and to see us off.

Eleven of us loaded into Mo’s van for the several hour, rainy drive up to Burlington. Judy took one for the team and drove the whole way. The trip up seemed to go fast. Jokes were shared, work was done, beers were downed and sleep crept in here and there. We arrived in Burlington in the early evening and had some good bar food and beer before heading to the YMCA to set up for the night.

YMCA gymnasium sleeping

After getting our sleeping arrangements set, we had the first of our fine evening group meals. Lots of stories and emotions were shared as usual. It was also interesting to have my first taste of several Miller Lites in a long time.  I had always wanted to visit Burlington, especially Nectar’s, which is about two blocks from where we had dinner. Soon enough, about six of us were over there having some nice, hoppy Long Trail Ales. I’m just glad they let me in since my wallet went missing earlier in the day…and which would remain out of my possession the whole week.

Morning came VERY early (5:30) and nearly everyone rolled into the center of town in search of caffeine. After some milling around, most of the group started on their journey. As in years past, our group was the last to roll out. We hadn’t gotten 10 miles out of town before Joachim, Plunkett, Pryor and I stopped for breakfast. Our group stopped at least seven more times throughout the day. It was a lot of stopping, but our speed between the stops allowed us to roll in at a decent time.

Plunkett, Taylor, Joachim, Trish, Kenny and Pryor inside Nectar’s

The route through Vermont into New York was absolutely amazing. The scenery was breathtaking. But more than that…we didn’t have any real climbs at any time on the 92-mile route. Just nice rollers through the country. I had expected some serious mountains in “The Green MOUNTAIN State,” but Eric and Bob managed to find the best route through it all!

For the second time in a few months, I got to ride a ferry during a bicycle ride. This one took us across Lake Champlain into New York. Stacy rolled in while I was in the shower. Today was her longest ride ever on a bike, and she kicked much ass. Same for my sister. She hammered it. Stacy’s dad and Barbara came by to see us after the ride in Ticonderoga. They stayed for a bit, wished us well and headed on to Vermont to see Barbara’s daughter and family.

It must also be noted that it seemed that both mine and Stacy’s sunglasses were lost with my wallet. I remained sane because of the fact that nothing was too lost since all items were likely together, but I was still pissed that for the second year in a row, I was without my favorite comfortable shades for the ride. I rode without glasses for the day, and gave Stacy a pair I borrowed from Maurice. But they didn’t help her…she still managed to sunburn her eyeballs. No joke. Ultraviolet Keratitis, so said Kenny, the emergency room doctor riding with us. I didn’t believe him (despite her raging red eyes), and asked him several times if he and Stacy were both joking me. But they weren’t. Later that night I found an extra pair of shades for Stacy to wear the next day, and I borrowed Mo’s for the rest of the week.

Maurice and Stacy finishing the first day!

I wouldn’t say I’m a creature of habit, but I do find comfort when I know how certain events will unfold…especially when beer is involved. Like clockwork, people gathered in the back of the Penske truck and cracked many beers. Once I was showered up, I parked myself in the van for some good recovery beverages. Then we headed off to dinner. And then for some serious sampling of local flavors, which included local personalities and regional beers: several of us headed to a local bar and literally drank them out of Genesee Light while playing pool and fusbol.

(Read on to Part 2, which includes the fallout from an evening of Genny Light…)

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 26th, 2009 at 9:53 am and is filed under Cycling, Family, Nostalgia, Observation & Blathering, Random, Working Out. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.