Hopkins 4K for Cancer

July 23, 2007

by Gregory Gotimer
Today the 4K left the hot tubs of Benton to travel 50 miles to Lee Vining, a small town of about 300 people just outside the east gate of Yosemite National Park. Knowing that we had a short day ahead of us we took the liberty of waking up extremely late … 7 AM. At our morning meeting Jerome as always gave us directions, however, today he had decided that we were probably all tired of looking at pieces of paper, so he would simply recite the directions for us. “Go to Lee Vining, ask someone where the Community Presbyterian Church is, it may be 50 miles, it may be less, or it could be more … I guess we’ll find out when we get there.” Not exactly the detail that we have come to be used to on the trip, but the directions suited everyone well and we all found the church (which was about 50 miles away). Before departing Jerome also told us that it may be some hills. He was right, 29 miles into the trip we found the top of the hill, we knew it was the top because there was a sign that told us we had reached the 8,139 foot summit (we began at 5,300 feet.)
Aside from the unexpected mountain, the day went fairly well until Arun managed to bend his derailleur into his spokes, while he amazingly didn’t fall or damage his wheel, it led to me and Rob having to finish the climb as a group of two to go get the van for Arun and his bike. After getting to the van Rob and I had to wait for Alice, Tom and Chris to finish the climb (they had waited for the van with Arun). This hour wait led to Rob deciding that MREs are the perfect medium for expressing his culinary genius. He prepared a meal of hash browns with bacon, imitation boneless pork rib and to wash it all down a lukewarm chocolate mocha, made from fortified cocoa powder and instant coffee.
Though Rob’s work was spectacular, it did not compare to the dinner that we had donated from the Lee Vining Mobil Station. The Whoa Nelly Deli donated a spaghetti dinner to the riders. Run by a former gourmet chef the Deli is located in the mini mart and offers such things as, world famous fish tacos and filet mignon with jumbo shrimp in a chipotle hollandaise sauce.
We were all glad to have a place to sleep and shower at the Community Presbyterian Church, despite the showers having the coldest water anyone had ever been in. Though we did not have a dinner with the church today, tomorrow they are hosting a dinner for our day off, something that we are all more than ready for.