Hopkins 4K for Cancer

June 20, 2002

Day 19 (63 miles) Jefferson City, MO to
After 120 mile day of riding everyone’s worst fear flashed to life as the drone of the florescent gym lights teased the closed eyes of now, Hard Core cyclists. The prospect of the day’s breakfast initiated the creaking of bones and the stretching of tense muscles from yesterday’s adventure. The second leg of the trip has begun and the role of scapegoat has transferred from Jenn to Kelly. It is now Kelly’s turn to navigate through the constant nagging questions about directions, surprise detours and luminous weather conditions from Jefferson City, Missouri to Longmont, Colorado.

I was lucky enough to have driven the day before, so my legs were fully recuperated and ready to ride the 60 miles to Central Methodist College. Ryan, Thayer and I kept a steady, relaxing bike pace through the Missouri countryside. To our delight we discovered that by mooing loud enough, we could create a cow stamped. Despite the stupidity of this trick, it filled the time, as we passed numerous farms and cattle on our way through Missouri. After about 35 miles of rolling hills we stopped for lunch in a town with a population of 100 people. Everyone seemed to be on the verge of delirium, as everything at lunch became funny, from the wrestling match between Travis and Ryan, to Gary’s first fall off his bicycle. The rest of the day went relatively quick as small games of “Which Would You Rather” occupied our minds and kept us peddling.

When we arrived in Fayette at Central Methodist College, we were thrilled to discover air conditioning and dorms rooms, complete with our own bathroom. And as if the day couldn’t get any better, Jenn Parker’s mother graciously offered to take us all out to the “best restaurant in town” to celebrate Jenn’s 22nd birthday! The “best restaurant” in Fayette, the Fountain Restaurant, had to call in some extra help as to accommodate the enormity of our group. Despite it’s modest appearance the Fountain Restaurant had a first class menu with entrées ranging from beef tenderloin pasta to grilled salmon. After we all sang “Happy Birthday” to Jenn in a horrible combination of off key notes, we tried to fit our enlarged stomachs through the front door of the restaurant.

Slowly, we made our way up two blocks to the college green and had our second 4K Pow Wow. We sat in a circle and celebrated the end of Jenn’s leg by recounting our favorite memories from the first leg of the trip. Favorite memories included, dinner at the Outback steakhouse, riding through Pittsburgh, and staying with the Keating family in Chicago, to name a few. After each one of us extolled our heartfelt gratitude towards Jenn for getting us to Jefferson City, we all rushed into the air conditioned college to watch some of Adam’s digital pictures and Mark’s video footage.

As soon as my head hit the pillow in the upper bunk bed of one of the dorm rooms, I instantly fell asleep, dreaming of the blackberry crisp from the little Fountain Restaurant in little Fayette, Missouri.

- Leah Blom