Rest day in Cleveland

Went to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I am not a big music buff. I came into my marriage owning 3 albums, one of which was Israeli Polka songs (really). Yet I found the museum fascinating. Spent 3 hours there. Then walked around Cleveland and University Circle.

And since Larry B did not believe I had lunch with Lebron, I have included a selfie of me and him in front of the arena. He is tall so the cropping might not be perfect!

Tomorrow I start my final push through PA. People say the Allegheny Mtns are terrible. Worse than the Rockies because of how steep the roads are. We shall see!

Last night my high school friend, Jane, gave me a tour of what she designed at the Cleveland Museum of Art. For background, Jane had to drop out of Tulane University for financial reasons. A year later she got a job at MIT and started taking classes there. Then she transferred to a new job at Columbia where she took more classes and then graduated from there with a degree in Applied Math and Architecture. She then had various jobs in different data and computer management roles. But her passion has always been art. She was offered an incredible opportunity a few years ago to head up the technology side of the Cleveland Museum of Art. They had a blank chalk board and let Jane redesign how people can experience art within the museum. BTW, the Cleveland Museum of Art is a huge institution with incredible collections. Jane, as Chief Information Officer created Gallery One. I can’t even begin to explain all the interactivity that Gallery One intertwined throughout the museum. All I have to say is that all the top museums are either flying in to see her program, or they are flying Jane around the world to speak to them.
Follow your passion!

Friday
Cleveland OH to Gibsonia PA
110 Miles
Travel Time 12 hours
Saddle Time 9 hours

Picture of Jane and her girls from last night. Jane drove us 3 hours away (felt that way) to show off a town that she thought would be interesting for me to see (looked like any CT town). But the ice cream was delicious. Jane’s girls were a delight at dinner and loved hearing my stories about Jane in high school, including the years she was in a gang. I got to learn that both girls are excellent violinists and one of them just performed in an orchestra that was back up to Ben Folds! Listen to it during our 5 hour drive.

Today I learned where corn oil comes from…see pic

My difficult choice today was if I made it this far, where should I stay? Option 1, Barry Shepard, the best man at my wedding. Option two, Cindy and Scott Rice, the parent’s of one of Matt’s closest friends from college. They live 3 miles from each other. Decision: The Rices. This trip is about meeting new people when you have the opportunity. Had a great time and a very filling Italian dinner.

Tomorrow, Barry is going to follow Where’s Ken app on this Blog and track me down for breakfast. Major rain coming my way.

Day 41
Saturday
Gibsonia PA to Laughlintown PA
Miles 66
Travel Time 11 hours
Saddle Time 6 hours

Today I had tough decisions to make. I basically have two options with roads. Either the quiet, beautiful, windy, hilly back country roads. Or the more direct, highly trafficked, small garbage infested shouldered main highways with rolling hills. While riding the back roads I have to constantly stop to recheck directions. And many of the hills were over 10% incline including one today that was a 21% climb. My first 40 miles, mostly on back roads, took 6 hours! But it was safer. While I used back roads to avoid downtown Pittsburgh, I really only have main roads to get me going east to Philly. I’ll be on rte 30 for next few days.

Barry did meet me for breakfast. He timed it perfectly to catch up to me just as I was going thru the town of Oakmont (home of the famous golf course).

When I stopped to eat my lunch outside a Walgreens, a guy Randy walked up to me to talk. He had done some bike touring in Maine and Vermont. He gave me some info on the roads and MTns I am going to be on. He also mentioned that I might hit a lot of traffic in 10 miles because I will be passing Steelers Training Camp. Well I couldn’t resist that. I biked there and waited over an hour for the players to hit the field. But in respect for Uncle Allen, I couldn’t just bike by.

Day 42
Sunday
Laughlintown PA to Breezewood PA
70 miles
Travel Time 8 hours
Saddle Time 6 hours

Week 6 576 miles
3,262 completed. Roughly 300 to go

Yesterday was another premature release…..of my blog. I updated the data to yesterday’s post, for those following that stuff. But I will finish the stories and add pictures to today. I will send separate post for flight 93 memorial pictures.

Yesterday I saw my first Long Beach Island t-shirt! However when I asked the man if I could take his picture, and I explained why, he said he didn’t know where LBI was! It still counts as an LBI sighting.

At Steelers Training camp I was sitting next to the Bush family. The grandmother inquired about my funny looking sneakers. I explained the concept of biking cleats and then it opened the usual discussion about my trip. At one point they asked if I was doing this for a charity. I explained that I am doing the ride for myself, but I am raising money for Habitat for Humanity along the way. Later, as I was leaving, they handed me $20 for Habitat! FOR ALL OF YOU ENJOYING MY BLOG, DONT FORGET THERE IS A DONATE BUTTON ON THE TOP! There is a picture of St Vincent College from afar, where training camp was held. I also learned that Rolling Rock is no longer made in Latrobe PA!

I made it to my destination of Ligonier, but the only hotel was sold out. They called Ligonier Country Inn , 4 miles further, and they had rooms. After checking in, I sat at the bar having dinner, talking with the barkeep. Then the owner CJ came to find me. He had heard about what I was doing and he wanted to hear all about it. Turns out his wife Maggie had ridden solo from there to the Florida Keys to raise money for a local pool. Then she did a solo trip across Canada. He had some fascinating stories about her journey including the fact that a journalist interviewed her at the beginning of her trip and then he wrote in the paper about this woman riding unprotected across Canada. The Royal Canadian Mounties were immediately alerted and watched over her. And somehow the whole trucking community took her under their wings and would communicate thru CBs of where she was, and they bought her meals all along her route.

This morning I did something I never did before. I passed up on a free Sunday brunch buffet at the hotel! It didn’t start until 8 am and I needed to get on the road. As I left the hotel at 6 am, I turned East and immediately started climbing. My Sunday brunch was a 4 mile 9% climb. Followed by many more hills. Tomorrow I start off climbing another mountain. BTW, PA is beautiful. Driving on turnpike or rte 80 limit your exposure to the amazing rolling hills.

I got to the Flight 93 memorial at 8:30, but the gate didn’t open until 9. I thought I saw in small print that people biking across the country could go around the gate. I proceeded to bike the park’s 4 mile road to the crash site and walked around all alone. When I was standing there reading the first informational sign at the site, a hummingbird flew up and hung a few inches from my face for about 10 seconds. It was weird. Think whatever you want. I included pictures of how people are using the disaster for their own needs.

Tentative plan. Gettysburg mon, Lancaster tues, philly wed, LBI fri. But that can change. Anyone have friends in Gettysburg or Lancaster? Does anyone have Kelly McGillis’s address?

Day 43
Monday
Breezewood PA to Gettysburg PA
76 miles
Travel Time 10 hours
Saddle Time 6 hours

Nothing major to report today. Had lots of choices for dinner last night (see pic). Today I took the suggestion of many of you and I am making the best of my last few days. Spent today touring Gettysburg. Tomorrow Lancaster.

Along the ride today I stopped at two gas utility workers, Kent and Danny. They were spray painting markings on the road. I asked if they could spray paint my “Seattle 2 LBI” sign I just added to the back of my bike. I wanted the letters to show better. They said the paint wouldn’t work. But they went thru their tools in the truck and found a heavy duty marker that did the trick. Spent a while swapping stories with Kent.

Day 44
Tuesday
Gettysburg PA to Lancaster PA
78 miles
Travel Time 10 hours
Saddle Time 5:30

Easy riding day.

Crossed the Susquehanna River, saw Susquehanna bank, Susquehanna antiques, and Susquehanna flowers. No sighting of the hat company!

Here is an example of why the people I have met have defined my journey. As I was getting close to Lancaster I get a text from Scott Rice. Scott and Cindy were the people that hosted me in Pittsburgh, parents of Matt’s college friend Jon. Scott asks how my ride is going and whether I have housing for Lancaster. I respond that ride is going well but I don’t have a place lined up yet. A few minutes later he says he has a couple of possibilities, but dont “hold my breathe”. 15 minutes later, “I’ve got some interest”. Then a few minutes later he gives me the address and phone number of Suellen and Butch Mencer. I call Suellen and this is when I learn that she went to high school with Scott, but that they haven’t seen each other in 35 years!!! They have been FB friends and last communicated a few years ago….Awkward! But they were great hosts. And best of all, Butch is an engineer specializing in farm equipment. So Michael M, I got more answers on why some bushels are round and some square!

My soggy duck friend Steve called. He summed up my feelings on for these final days. “I’m happy that this is almost finished, but sad that this will end”. ( or something like that)

I also got an email from Jen, the wife of the CT man that we saw biking Portland to Portland. She was driving each day ahead of him. She has been following my blog and sees many similarities in our journeys and they would like to compare notes when we both return. Their blog is www.portland2portland.org. He wrote a poem about our encounter on Day 26.

I got to Lancaster expecting to spend the day searching out the Amish. But instead, I found the downtown really interesting with some great galleries. So I searched out a bike store to have them do a final tune up and watch my bike as I walked around.

Biked past ACME’s big competitor.

Day 45
Wednesday
Lancaster PA to Havertown PA
58 miles
Travel Time 6 hours
Saddle Time 4:30 hours

I’m really stretching these last few days out. A real easy, beautiful ride today thru PA country side, and mostly in the shade! The roads I selected had great shoulders. The ones near Lancaster were worn down from the Amish carriages! Saw lots of Amish on their wagons and scooters heading to work early this morning. Also spotted a hot air balloon taking off in the distance.

Tomorrow I’m going to bike thru Philly and get closer to LBI for the final time trial on Friday. Anyone in the area is more than welcome to come to the finish, which should be around lunchtime Friday. Just let me know. I better get there soon because my bike is falling apart. Today my rear blinking warning light must have fallen off at some point. And my bike fell over at one spot and the handlebar phone holder broke. Thank god for mini bungees!

Had more visitors to my bedroom last night. This time cats!

Two addendum’s to yesterday’s blog.
1)If you go to day 23 at www.portland2portland.org you will see the poem the CT cyclist wrote about our encounter. Keep in mind that the blog is written by his wife who rides in the car each day!
2) I’m embarrassed to admit that I referred to the hay as bushels not bales! I need to bike back to the Midwest to continue my education. The reason why the bales are round is because the technology allows the large round ones to be more tightly wound, which keeps the air out of the middle and prevents spoiling the hay. However, farmers have difficulty stacking the round ones. So new exciting farm equipment now can make even larger bales, in a rectangular shape!

Day 46
Thursday
Havertown PA to Voorhees NJ
29 miles
Travel Time 5:30
Saddle Time 2:30

Got to spend yesterday afternoon and evening with my old friends the Amdurs, or at least the better half, Rachael and Jeremy. Rach had left the key to her house for me, and I got to relax in their backyard. She came home early from work and we had a ton of time to catch up. Then we grabbed Jeremy and headed out for a delicious sushi dinner followed by frisbee catching exhibition by Stella. And of course frozen yogurt to conclude evening activities.

This morning I had breakfast with “Bobby” Nadeem Bezar. A high school friend that I haven’t seen in 32 years. We have been FB friends and he has been a vocal supporter of my blog. Fun catching up with him. We had played varsity baseball together and he shared with me that when he was coaching kid’s baseball he use to refer to “how Kenny Fuirst played second base”. He said I would get down on one knee (which you are not supposed to do) but that I would never let a ball get by. And the kids use to refer the Kenny Fuirst stance! Ironically, I remember playing 3rd and outfield, not second base. But I trust Bobby’s memory more than mine.

I get asked a lot (from my guy friends) how is it to go 7 weeks without the warm comfort of my wife. Well with only one day left, I couldn’t hold back any more. I found an escort! Coincidently I met Ariel at the house on Smedley Street that Sue and I first lived in when we lived in Philly. I didn’t need Ariel to escort me around the world, I just needed to get to the Ben Franklin Bridge. She got me most of the way there and just gave me directions on how to finish. But like most people in her profession, she was a rip off artist. I got to the bridge but the ramp she sent me to was closed for construction. I had to bike a few blocks around to approach the bridge from the north to get on the other ramp. Got over bridge only to discover that Governor Christie had built stairs on the NJ side! Bastard! BTW, Ariel claims to be an unemployed graphic designer who graduated from Vassar. Does she think I was born yesterday?

So there was no “Welcome to NJ” sign when I arrived on Camden side of bridge. But as I was standing there trying to figure safest way to quickly get out of Camden, when Paul showed up. He said he worked with Natasha and she was a big cyclist and could give me directions. He said his office was around the corner at the Rutgers Camden campus. I literally followed him down an alley to their offices. They are Urban Studies professors. Natasha is from Germany and we spent some time discussing how cultures outside America encourage people to take journeys and walk abouts!

I am getting a lot more thumbs up and honks from drivers as I get closer to LBI. I had one women, Susan, follow me into a parking lot because she wanted to hear about my trip. I have 60 miles for my final day tomorrow.

Friday
Day 47. (Actually day 48 when you count the day I flew to Seattle and biked to Pacific to dip wheel)
Voorhees NJ to Harvey Cedars NJ
53 Miles
Travel Time 6 hours
Saddle Time 3:40 hours

Week 7 294 Miles
Total 3,556 Miles

20 nights in hotels/motels
12 nights with friends, or friends of friends, or friends of friends of ……
9 nights of Warm Shower hosts
6 nights camping out

Replaced 1 rear wheel, some spokes, one chain, two cables, three tires, 6 tubes (all flats were in week one as a result of the glass I hit day 1, the patch to fix it, and my errors when replacing tube). Ran out of toothpaste this morning so my projections were off by one brushing!

On my final ride I had three cars pull over to give me a high five, a congratulations, or a hug. I was also surprised by my Fraternity brother Vince M and his nephews and mother cheering for me on the side of the road.

I stopped by a hot dog stand that I had come across during my training. I spoke with the 64 yr old owner and swapped stories. He just completed a 6,000 mile motorcycle ride around the country. He was 3 days behind me at Glacier.

I was greeted at the finish line by my family, Goose and Mrs Goose, Soggy Duck Ken O and Sophie, and David and Lisa 7 layer cookie Goldsmith. The photographer that has been with me for the entire ride is finally captured in a photo.

I have written most of these facts prior to last day figuring this night I will be spending my time with my family. I have a few more posts coming. But you blog addicts are going to have to find someone else’s life to follow soon.