Hopkins 4K for Cancer

June 12, 2005

Clinton, IL
Today’s trip started early, 600 AM early. After a long day of biking and going to bed before midnight, 600 AM is still not fun when we’re used to 700 AM or later. We had to be out of the YMCA by 645 AM and surprisingly we made it! So it was off to McDonald’s across the street for breakfast. We heard about the first hurricane of the season stirring in the Gulf and that we’d also get some rain. Everyone packed their wet weather gear and we hit the very long road ahead of us. It would be our first century since the accident, 100+ miles.

To be honest, the clouds and drizzle, and lack of wind (!) made for one of the best rides of the trip had it not been for the distance. Wind it seems is the most hated amongst the riders, next comes heat or perhaps large mountain climbs, but heat is just exhausting so the rain was very much welcomed. The road conditions were decent as well, which was good considering braking or quickly turning on wet pavement to avoid debris or holes in the road could potentially create accidents. I actually was behind a rider in our paceline who went down after locking up the front wheel because of braking too quickly. To avoid him, I locked up my rear wheel and slid somewhat sideways in his direction before going into the gravel of the shoulder. Everyone stopped and looked around. Rider unhurt, no pile up, close call, lesson learned.

The rest of the trip was uneventful. Physically, we were not suffering, even at speeds of up to 20 mph. Today was a mental challenge fighting boredom, monotony, and sometimes sleepiness. I actually looked forward to passing through small towns because the road would curve giving us a fresh environment to ride through. Otherwise, it seemed like just endless cornfields. The corn, by the way, is still young and only about a foot high. Another thing to note is the number of boats we saw along the road being trailed to somewhere. I’d like to know where the water was because a beach detour is always an option on the table. One last thing to note is the large section of SR 54 that was newly paved for miles on end. That was certainly a highlight of our day, but the best was yet to come.

At the last water break, one of the groups walked into Powerhouse Pub 10 miles out of Clinton to use their restrooms and not only did the people inside let us use the restrooms, but the customers were extremely interested in our organization and why we were riding. After giving them brochures, some of them just pulled out their wallets and even donated. Their generosity to strangers exemplified how we touch the lives of people we meet on the road, but also how they touch ours and underscores the importance of the Hopkins 4k. Thank you!

It would seem like milkshakes and ice cream while biking is a bad idea and I would almost have to agree with that statement, but these are treats we actually look forward to son the 4K. It isn’t uncommon to stop by at least one ice cream place once during any given day. Parents, if you read this and we ask for more money, it’s for the aforementioned stops. Now that the secret is out, back to today’s ride. We cycled a few miles through the city of Clinton before coming upon the high school where we would stay for the night. Lo and behold, right across the street for the high was a Dairy Queen! Our eyes just lit up and our cheers could be heard by people had they been standing outside the DQ. It was the end of our longest day yet and a DQ awaited us. Simply amazing. It was agreed that we would visit, but only after showers.

The dinner at Clinton United Methodist and Presbyterian Church made the long ride today totally worthwhile. Although last minute changes gave our host very short time to prepare for our arrival, the members of the church still welcomed us with an amazing meal. After dinner, we once again shared our mission and stories with the church members. There was a strong sense of camaraderie and hope as local community members shared their experiences with cancer one by one. I believe all the riders were inspired again by these stories and have renewed our individual dedication to the cause.

David and Jennie