Menk's Across America - Journal Entry #8
By Jeremiah Menk
August 5, 2002
July 31, 2002
Our final day of biking went well. As I biked along I tried
to reminisce about past memories and events during our ride,
but I was distracted by a constant itch. Two days after my
second crash, I realized the severity of my actions. I landed
in a patch of poison ivy. I have poison ivy over my entire
body. I managed through the last day and enjoyed it as best
as was possible. The route was nice, Maryland had shoulders
that were ten feet wide during most of the ride. We stopped
in the morning at a creamery for breakfast and managed to
fit one more ice cream stop near the end of the day.
Dad probably described the ride the best. He said riding
bike across America was like reading a book. Each day unfolded
before us like a new chapter. We immersed ourselves in the
sites, sounds, smells, tastes (if you count Ben drinking bad
water), and touch (if you count poison ivy) of the US. We
discovered that the sites of the US were much more apparent
from a bike. Once a friend asked me if this trip was supposed
to bring my parents closer together or separate them farther
apart. I asked Mom and Dad and they both replied that it depended
on which way the wind was blowing.
I have probably jeopardized my hopes of being in the Olympics.
I am on steroids to try to relieve the agony of my poison
ivy. Hopefully I won't be tested for performance enhancing
drugs. Most people we encountered that were also riding their
bikes across the US were retired. I am happy that I took the
time to join my family during this trip. I would like to thank
Skinny Ski, our friends and relative were able to follow our
trip with ease. Now I have to go sit and itch and itch some
more. The most important thing I learned during the trip was
to not crash twenty feet through poison ivy, that and a good
sense of humor is one of the most valuable qualities a person
can possess. It has allowed my family to enjoy many activities
together.
We rode 3,420 miles over 39 days from Puget Sound to Chesapeake
Bay. We biked six miles further than Dad's original plan and
seldom stayed at our planned destination. During the trip
we heard, "If we ride a little further we will be in good
position for tomorrow." By being flexible we were able to
adjust the trip according to how we felt at any given time.
Our days typically started around sunrise and concluded around
1 pm. The rest of our day was spent seeing sites, reading,
napping, and annoying each other. All in all, the ride was
everything I expected and more. Hopefully sometime I will
be able to experience an adventure like this again.
Mary's Summary
I can't believe it's over and I rode the whole way! The
best part is we're still speaking to each other and have some
great stories and memories. Thank you Skinny Ski for allowing
us to share our family adventure. Ride On, or should I say
Ski On!
Steve's Final Top Ten List
- Maryland has wonderful shoulders.
- When your tubes keep blowing just put on a new
tire
- Packing up after finishing a bike tour is harder
than packing up to start one.
- In Pennsylvania, they think moving over for a
bicycle is moving closer to them.
- It's not the finish, but the journey that makes
a great ride.
- Don't crash into poison ivy.
- When the locals at the bike shop tell you it's
a steep hill, believe them.
- You can't cross the Ohio River on the old railroad
bridge.
- You can do over 50 mph on 14 percent grade descents.
- Even a long bike tour is too short.
Ben's conclusion
When Dad asked me if I would take the job again for the
same monetary compensation, I thought for a second, and then
asked him if it had to be with the same people. Actually I
have enjoyed the trip and probably will never have as good
(or easy) of a job again. When you spend seven weeks with
three other adults in an 18 foot trailer, you learn a lot
about them. Most of the stuff I learned about my family was
good; but fortunately, as I was made aware by visiting other
parts of the country, I don't have to live in that small of
a space. As for the biking, I wish I would have gotten more
in, but I always do. The mountains (east or west) were by
far my favorite place to ride. You work hard to get up the
mountain, but get rewarded by the fun ride down. It reminds
me of skiing. For the camping part, if you have a chance to
follow an Adventure
Bicycling map, do it. The maps are clearly marked and
easy to follow, allowing the rider to adjust the length they
ride more easily, and still find a suitable campground (they're
so good I used easy twice in the same sentence). They also
show gas stations and stores, which saved me more than once.
Thanks Skinny Ski, and I'll see everyone later.
Photos
Photoset: July 31
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