July 8th~SnR #acaLewisClark Tour of Discovery #NatlParkService Mt Rushmore
Day Jul 8
AM Clouds / PM Sun
84°F High, with a chance of rain at 20%. Wind is ESE at 11 mph. Humidity: 51% UV Index: 9 – Very High
Sunrise: 5:19 am Moonset: 11:01 am Moonphase: Waning Gibbous
When we left Badlands National Park in SD and hiked one final time through the trails.
Finally got into Keystone, ND; I took a right instead of a left and gave us the scenic tour of Custer State Park by going around the back way through winding, twisting turns that doubled back on themselves around trees and rock towers. It was gorgeous. But just like the early days of South Dakota everything was beautiful. I wonder what the people of SD do everyday waking to such beauty in their backyards. Is it the same to them or same ‘ole, same ‘ole. Interesting question.
We didn’t see any bison on this day but they’re out there, for sure. We did see a few antelope and a couple of mountain goats with a couple of kids in tow beside the road while visiting Mt. Rushmore.
Speaking of Mt. Rushmore the Lakota people were just recently given back the land of the Black Hills that was taken from them when the treaty was broken many years ago. They were awarded $17 million, the price as assessed back in the 1800’s. The Lakota said keep your money, just give us the land back. The issue, I’m told, is still in contention.
At Mt. Rushmore we had another fantastic guide in Ranger Bill Jacobsen. Every YC was enthralled with both his delivery and the messages he conveyed on the history. Well spoken and now a well respected Ranger. My God, we love the National Parks. The Rangers who give the tours are extremely knowledgeable, well mannered and patient with every question. I love it. We’re always reminded that, as people of color, this is our history also. Behind every effort to create America was a person of color and of many cultures. You just have to look beyond the surface. Visit a Ranger, they’ll let you know. This won’t be out of textbooks conjured by people with an agenda but facts from studied historians that love to tell it like it is.
As I recounted to Mahlique: some people that don’t take the Ranger guided tour are watching the movie while the Ranger reads you the book. There’s always more to the story in the book.
We’ve moved into an information deadzone. We are camping at Center Lake in Custer State Park in South Dakota. 73,000 acres of forest, mountains, plains and wildlife. The site is primitive so there is no electricity but there is potable water that doesn’t come from a well. The YC’s liked that. All the campsites we’ve visited so far have been outstanding.
July 6th~Day 12 of the SnR #acaLewisClark Tour
I awoke at 4am. It had rained all night and continued to do so until 6:30 CDT. That’s when I awoke Suepinda so we could make a dry run to the toilets. Today’s forecast: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Northeast wind 9 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
I want to take this time to pack up the tent but then we’d have to sit in the van and wait for everyone else. What fun would that be? For now, a little more sleep.
Jul 6
We packed the wet tents and headed toward our next stop of Medora, ND to camp and visit Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the Paha Ska – White Hills (well known as the Badlands). We learned the Lakota word for it is Mako Ce Wankankil (Mahko-Che Wha Khan Kil).
We took a ride just through town to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park was a great visit. There were some good things about this happenstance president and his conservationist ways. After the tour we learned of his early struggles with asthma, the tragedy of his wife and mother dying on the same day and how he felt rejuvenated by visiting the Badlands of ND. He loved the area so much he made it a national treasure to be preserved. From there we went to see the ND Badlands and spent the whole day there admiring the amazing and desolate sites.
We stayed the night at Sully Creek State Park in ND. It was a nice campsite at the base of a cliff. We quickly setup tents so they would dry from last night’s rain. The ground was gray and muddy. Horses were nearby and our noses pleasantly reminded us of that fact.
When the tents were complete and lunch was had we visited Theodore Roosevelt National Park and learned of his early life. In the visiting center there was the cabin that he stayed in during his visits to the Badlands. The cabin was mostly the original beams with the exception of the header. Some of the furniture was original.
We visited the ND Badlands and had our first encounter with the prairie dog colonies. We hiked along a trail that went above a river which reminded me of a picture out of the Grand Canyon. We saw prairie dogs and bison by the roadside.
Jeimy was nicknamed AJ for Adventurous Jeimy as she loved to explore.
During one of the hikes through the Badlands we found a cute and small horned toad. Picked him up, watched him then let him go.
Racing Downhill with Bob
I finally got to ride with Bob as he was pulling up the rear on a day that I was left at the van tying up a few loose ends for accommodations. When I finally caught up with the group Bob and I took an opportunity race downhill. We acquired a speed of 44 mph. Not my best speed so far but a good time to say the least.
July 5th~SnR #acaLewisClark Tour Day 12
We spent the day learning by seeing and doing. The visit was to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center where there was a walking tour of exhibits dedicated to North Dakota and the L&C Corps of Discovery tour. The YC’s were very interested in the history and enjoyed donning costumes to reenact scenes from the past. Fort Mandan was particularly interesting because it was completed during a time when the temperature was -44* F. Talk about motivating factors. The guard posts could only be manned in 5 minute intervals!
The tour was the bulk of the day. We camped at Lake Sakakawea State Park. By the time we arrived only the primitive sites were available. Which meant, to some degree, the YC’s had to do a little detox on the technology and talk and play with one another. This was a good thing. This morning, one electronic gadget was taken from each. What remained was the item that would take photos. But how primitive is running water less than 200 ft away and an outhouse less than 500 ft away? Oh, and by the way, America’s definition of camping is brining along your air-conditioned living room with the flat screen television, possibly satellite hookup, and all that can fit within. I guess you can say it’s a rolling beach house. But those of us with tents are definitely in the minority.
It began raining just after cooking was completed so dinner was had within the tents. A practice we don’t want to repeat when we get to the National Parks. It stopped soon after and the kitchen area was cleaned up. Just after 11pm CDT it began to rain again. It didn’t stop.
Happy 4th from SnR on the #acaLewisClark Tour
Happy 4th from SnR on the #acaLewisClark Tour
Today is a rest day so I only awoke at 6:30 CDT. Nature has a way of creating its own alarm clock when you’re hydrating so vigorously. Some of the YC’s visited a Native American cave dwelling.
Today there is a forecast of thunderstorms so if they come we’ll weather them in the tents.
19:22
Update:
The storms didn’t come but the storm winds did and they came strong! So strong, in fact, that the boy’s tent blew over and both arching poles were severely bent. Serious Bummer! So, as I was speaking with the campground host, who strangely enough is African-American, I had to run off and begin tent repair. Because at the time it looked as if the thunderstorms were still on their way.
The Marmot tents that we have come with an emergency repair tube that helps you when you bend a support tube. The wind bent two so I had to use the repair tube from the girl’s tent. With the rubber mallot left at the other campsite I had to beat the bent poles into submission (and correct shape) with a vice-grip plyer that Mahlique had found two days ago. Repair tubes in place and a little duct tape and we’re back in business. What would have been an “haha” moment for the boys if it had happened to the girls became a valuable lesson for the boys. I like learning moments.
The YC’s spent the day blogging and journaling to catch up on days missed. They had to because we were not going to take them into town unless they completed at least two day’s worth of entries. We had shopping, laundry and lunch to get while in town and they got right to work at it.
During that time Frida, the wife of the campground host, came to see us. She was still moving around their camper when we stopped by earlier. The two of them give Suepinda and I hope that we can volunteer in the state and national parks as hosts. Up to this time we’d never seen an African-American couple performing this wonderful and needed service to the campgrounds. Harold and Frida have been volunteering in state parks for six years. They also do the National Parks. They take their grandchildren out to the parks and teach them all they know. They have a great time. They’ve been to all 50 states but claim to have volunteered in only 48.
My duty in town was laundry. What we learned last year is that people don’t respect the hard work that goes into doing laundry. They take it for granted that their dirty, balled up socks and underwear magically get freshly cleaned by the laundry fairy. You put it in the bag, your mom or someone carries it away and the bag comes back with your clothes nicely folded and smelling wonderfully sweet. Well, just like (hold your ears) Santa Claus, The Tooth Fairy, and the Easter Bunny that myth was dispelled.
As it got toward evening (hard to tell here) we all ate as a group and also enjoyed the company of our French Canadian neighbor. His wife and he are from Quebec. Sammy and Khin engaged him in conversation speaking French.
We saw the Mandan dwellings which were a great and interesting site. They were replicas but the structures were extremely sturdy. Soon it was getting dark and time for the fireworks display so we heading down the hill and picked up Frida and headed back up the hill by van to take in the spectacular view. For at least 30 miles away you can see people partaking in a traditionally American experience. One half of the horizon was alight with explosions. This was a sight never before seen by anyone on the tour, specially us adults. A grand close to the evening, indeed. I hope your fourth was just as cool.
Endless Journey- Khin Aye
Khin
This trip has been physically and mentally challenging for me. We’ve been cycling for 10 1/2 days straight and finally we’re taking a break for a while. It’s been extremely hot and since we have been cycling an average of 70-80 miles each day, it’s been especially frustrating on the hills. I never knew it would be so difficult until I actually experienced waking up everyday at 6 in the morning and cycling until I reached another town which takes about 7-8 hours.
While I’m desperately cycling as fast as I can, it seems like an endless journey since it’s deserted and it seems like there’s hardly any civilization unless you reach a city. So far I have been seeing full fields of corn, wheat and farmland. It may not be my ideal utopia but the landscape is beautiful, full of mountain like hills and fresh non toxic environment that is rare to find these days.
Although, sometimes I wonder why I’m on this trip. I feel incredibly strong to be doing this and fascinated by how much I have accomplished. In addition, I like the experience of staying away from home for a very long time and having time for myself. Traveling with just a bike is a memorable experience. It has been a truly incredible trip although it has only been 2 weeks and the journey has just started.
July 3rd, 2012 – Maysa Guthrie
Maysa
Today we rode 42 miles, a half day since we’re going to have a ten day break from riding, finally. The ride was nice and there were many hills that were up, but mostly down. Everyone was excited for the break! I’m so glad, since we’ve been riding ever since Day 1: June 24th and haven’t had a day off.
After lunch, we packed everything back to its place in the van and trailer. My butt was sore and I was so tired that right after I got in the van, immediately I fell asleep; I had 3 long naps!
Later that noon, we arrived at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, in Mandan, North Dakota across the Missouri River from Bismarck. It’s a beautiful campsite and that night I went swimming in the lake and had a ton of fun! There were a lot of early fireworks and the view was really pretty since there was a full red moon that keeps vanishing.
Joseph’s blog 7/3
Having a great time on the tour.
Today we rode 40 miles. The whole terrain was nothing but hill after hill. At this point, 40 miles felt kind of like 60 miles. Although there are many challenging days ahead, it is cool and exciting to see places I have never been to before. Most towns we have cycled through are cool and all have an interesting character to them.
The thing I like about this week is that we have 10 days off of biking in order to see the some of the most famous sites in North and South Dakota and to learn more detail about American history up close and personal that was not possible in classes. I am having so much fun with the friends a have made on this trip.
First day of riding; and post blog~Kyvon Brown
Kyvon
So today we left from Council Bluffs Iowa. This ride, actually, was not that hard. I was extremely surprised that I didn’t cramp, since I had to completely stop riding on the first section of the ride during the UGRR tour. Personally, I’m proud of myself, because I did not think that I would make it through the whole entire ride. Once we started riding though, I realized that I could easily finish without having to stop and stretch.
After riding for a while we all took a break and met a man from the town that we stopped in. After having a short conversation with him, we invited him to ride with us. He rode with us for a couple of miles and told mr. Brogden about a huge cross-state ride that had about 30,000 riders, he told us that it was one of the largest cross-state rides in the U.S.
Ride Day #5~ SnR Cyclists continue to chew up miles on #acaLewisClark tour across the west
What I noticed last night was that not only are we on a schedule (although, not yet keeping to it as perfectly as we would like) so is the wind. We rise begin cycling and almost like clockwork the wind begins picking up during the 8am hour and continues on until somewhere in the 9pm hour (there roundabouts); seriously! It’s done it for the last 4 days that I’ve noticed. Hopefully, it won’t prove me wrong tomorrow.
So, after a beautiful sunset last night there was a storm coming thru the campsite at Northpointe Recreation Center but it wasn’t the type we normally experience out east. It was a dry lightning storm. We battened down the tents and listened as the wind rustled and whipped everything in its path. When asked what they thought about the storm the girls answered “what storm?” Seems they slept right thru it. It must be great to not have a care in the world.
The morning’s ride began with an uphill out of the park. It was a fitting warm up; just enough of an incline to wake you up and not have you mind it so much. Being DFL Leader (DF2L) I now have a DFLL in-training with Itza, my co-pilot. Suepinda was able to join us today and we all rode DFL with dragonflies buzzing about us like dolphins to a ship. We had a combine truck pass us and we did something different in moving onto the other side of the road since he was taking up much of the shoulder and road at the same time. I think he appreciated that, as did we.
With the wind in our faces the three of us caught up with Kate and rode beside her for a number of miles. Itza and I started a game to break up the monotony by racing downhill as fast as we can while I call out the current speed. We were impressed with our best time of the morning with 37 mph; an improvement from yesterday’s robbery of 24.9 mph. But eventually we found another hill where we were able to get up to 40 mph. Suepinda and Kate got up to 37 mph. Their best time to date! We didn’t tell them that 40 was faster than 37, but I think they knew.
Me being a lover of grande vistas I took lots of pictures but realized they meant nothing without the context of a cyclist in the picture. Oh well. But South Dakota, I would say, is home to the rolling hillsides. Miles and miles of rolling hills. What a site. I can’t wait until I see mountains in the background or grande vista. Working on my Spanish this summer: learned to say “Hola, vaca negra, hola, vaca kaffe”
To remind us that we are in the very deepest of the country we only witnessed a few oncoming vehicles and almost NONE coming up behind us for miles. Wow. That’s why I’m DF2L. Because in the country, to quoting one of my favorite movies, “no one can hear you scream”. As we rode on eventually more vehicles past us and two of them were trucks carrying hogs. Dripping, oozing, leaking a foul substance that clung to the road like a paint. And being up wind we began to travel what we now call the “Trail of Stench”! The wretchedness lasted consistently for almost two miles as we could not get away from the headwinds which faithfully brought to us every molecule of that strange substance.
At the campsite tonight the youth cyclists played “Ninja”. A game where they get two moves, defensive and offensive to either block or hit the other opponent’s hand. That’s all I can explain but it looks fun.
Tomorrow we plan to continue with the tailwinds and make good time to Fort Thompson.
Ride Day 2~With the Wind at our Backs
Today began at 6:30am with a nice cool morning of just under 74* We ate an oatmeal breakfast and headed out of the Lewis & Clark State Park for a fabulous ride with the wind at our backs. We saw a dead mocassin that someone went out of their way to ensure was dead. We also crossed “Dead Frog Lane” while leaving the park. Well, that’s what we called it because there was carnage. It reminded me of what it would be like if sea turtles had to cross a highway to get to the sea. yea, it was that bad.
Now that I’ve depressed you, let me tell you of a guy Suepinda and I met at the park which just goes to show you that leadership training comes in all forms. He had a young man out camping to get him away from home and be out on his own, well, with him and his girlfriend. But the point is that people see the need for young adults to be guided and given the opportunities that they, themselves, won’t get otherwise. Because at this stage in life teens have stopped listening to the expert advice of their parents and outside intervention is of great help.
The youth cyclists are doing fantastic! For the second day they have completed over 70 miles and are staying enthusiastic with lots of energy at the end of the day. Speaking of Jeimy she tells me that she never sweats and is superwoman! I must agree that she is outstanding and is right up their cycling with Bob B.
As usual, Itza says she actually feels great and cannot wait until tomorrow. She’s so excited. She also rides with Bob. But that’s not surprising. Her and Jeimy only held back last year to make sure I didn’t pass out (hahaha).
My daughter Maysa is certainly the rockstar of the group. She was a last minute add on and is having the time of her life! With no training at all she is riding in the middle pack of cyclists and smiling every (hmm… not every step, is it?) rotation of the wheel.
The boys, Mahlique, Kyvon and Damaris are certainly very strong riders. Showing their prowess by catching up with us after they took a rest break at the local Burger King in Souix City, SD.
Sammy rides hard and strong and takes it upon himself to wait for the meanderers (those who take their sweet time). Well, at least that’s what he’s telling us.
Joseph actually accepted Bob’s challenge of a race during the last section of the ride before making camp and, of course, got dusted. But he was proud of the fact that he was brave enough to do so and laughed the whole time.
Khin surprised herself by going over 20 mph during a part of the last leg. During the first ride she was dogging it with the gremlins holding back her wheel. With the wind at her back she was definitely sailing!
Lastly, and I mean lastly. Kate and I are having the time of our lives bringing up the rear and making sure that no one is left behind. Riding on what Itza calls “endless roads” as they went on and on into the horizon as far as you could possibly see and then disappeared into the haze.
I began working today at 1pm so my cycling experiences ended at the Souix City Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. The place where the only person of the entourage of pioneers died. But there are other wild stories that I hope the youth cyclists will tell. I know a little bit of a guy the group met named “uncle Steve” who was with a friend bar hopping on their bikes. Yikes!! He was given my number to call but I didn’t get it.
Tonight we’re sleeping in the actual campsite of Lewis and Clark as camped along the Missouri River at the Lewis and Clark Heritage City Park in Elk Point, SD.
First Ride Today – Following the Lewis & Clark Trail
Today’s ride was a good ride but somewhat tiresome. It has to be the fact that I stayed up too late making final preparations on several bikes. We awoke at 6am and the cyclists were ready to go. I think we made record time in gathering up our sleeping gear and rolling the bikes out to the street.
As I said we stayed at the Council Bluffs YMCA as the guest of Executive Director, Leo McIntosh, who was extremely gracious enough to take the time out of his evening to see that we were comfortable. Then he met us in the morning for a helpful send off.
At our first break we met Kyle who is training for the RAGBRAI (The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, is an annual seven-day bicycle ride across the state. Heading into its 40th year, RAGBRAI is the oldest, largest and longest bicycle touring event in Ithe world.) He was kind enough to ride with us all the way to our second stop for lunch and even joined us for a sandwich. He said he enjoyed riding with a large group, which he doesn’t do often.
We rode 72 miles today with 2 stops (1 at 25 and the other at 40). We rode from Council Bluffs, IA to Onawa, IA with a crosswind that was just high enough to slow you down to 9-10mph. I, of course, stayed in the back to ensure that no one needed parts (I’ll continue to milk that story until someone else takes it from me). We camped at the Lewis & Clark state campground. For a change from last year we arrived early, ate well (portable stove this year with spaghetti!!) and I am able to give you an update before 1AM. Life is good.
Time for me to get a few sleepy winks. It’s 9:30pm your time, 8:30pm here but I’m pooped! This will be a first for me bedding down THIS early.
13 hrs later SnR youth cyclists arrive at the first overnight stay @ camp Trimble! Tomorrow the rest breaks will be shorter!
Wonderful home of my bother and sister-in-law in Indiana. Our first stop on the tour.
Everyone’s excited about the upcoming tour. One of the many discussions was the “National Park passport” that Bob has where he gets a stamp for each visit to a National Park. He was happy to say that he will be getting quite a few more on this tour. Suepinda and I decided to get one, as well, to record out visits as we’ve had a few that would have been included that Bob didn’t. That made him laugh as he said Suepinda had better hurry and because we’ve got a lot of ground to make up and he’s not stopping to wait for us.
After a long ride we finally reached the wonderful home of my bother and sister-in-law, Brad and Jen, in Indiana. Our first stop on the tour. It was that final stop of a not-so-grueling, but long, trip across NC, WV, KY and then Indiana.
Normally a quick 10.5 hr journey it expanded to 13 because each stop became a joyous visit to the restroom, coffee shop and snack counter. I don’t think we want to continue having lengthy stops like this or we’ll never make it to our destination to start cycling. hehehe
My mother-in-law had cooked a good Thai noodle dish for the crew and Brad grilled chicken legs to round out the meal.
After dinner we sang “Happy Birthday” to newcomer youth cyclist, Sammy. Afterward the girls dropped out of sight with my nieces to play “Just Dance III” and the boys went off to play a round of basketball with my nephew, Dillon, while I played with the very little ones a game of cat and mouse.
To round out the night we collected music to play on the van’s MP3 player. We’re ready to roll in the morning.
Spoke ‘n Revolutions 2012 Westward Expeditionist Tour
We begin this summer’s westward tour on June 22, 2012 leaving Chapel Hill for Council Bluffs, Iowa. Once there we’ll be following the Lewis & Clark Trail to Bismarck, ND before heading southwest toward the Black Hills to pick up the Buffalo Soldiers’ 1896 bicycle route .
The Lewis and Clark Expedition, also known as the “Corps of Discovery Expedition” (1804–1806), was the first transcontinental expedition to the Pacific coast undertaken by the United States. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson, it was led by two Virginia-born veterans of Indian wars in the Ohio Valley, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.
Buffalo Soldiers originally were members of the U.S. 10th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army, formed on September 21, 1866 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
The nickname was said to have been given to the “Negro Cavalry” by the Native American tribes they fought; the term eventually became synonymous with all of the African-American regiments formed in 1866:
▪ 9th Cavalry Regiment
▪ 10th Cavalry Regiment
▪ 24th Infantry Regiment
▪ 25th Infantry Regiment
Spoke ‘n Revolutions Youth Cyclists are proud to commemorate the role that the Buffalo Soldiers played in the early stages of America and to remember the good and the “not so good”. Noting that Black people have been leaders in American endeavors even before the creation of the country. Aligning culturally relavant history to youth cyclists and the community that follows their journeys.
We will also pay homage to York, the first black man to cross the continent north of Mexico and who also played a meaningful role in our young nation’s first exploration of the American West. He faithfully performed his share of the duties required of every member in order for the expedition to reach the Pacific and return*. He had his own rifle. He was a full member of the expedition.
This is pretty close to what we will be doing this summer. The only possible route change will be in week 3. We are trying to figure out how to get from Bismarck to Billings. The route I mapped out below is one I made up so we could have an opportunity to head south west and hit the Bad Lands. Going this route also gives us more time on the Buffalo Soldier route. This, however, adds a few extra days to the total trip. If we don’t head southwest we will just cut directly west from Bismarck to Billings and pick up the Buffalo Soldier route there. We will still hit Theodore Roosevelt National Park .
Itinerary
6/22 – Drive 12 hours to Bloomington, IN – stay @ home of Brad & Jenn Trimble
6/23 – Drive 6 hours to Council Bluffs, IA
6/23 – Lewis & Clark Monument Park & Western Historic Trails Center-Council Bluffs,IA
6/24 – 1st day full ride to Lewis & Clark State Park to spend the night – Onawa, Iowa
6/25 – Day 2 ride past Winnebago and Omaha Indian Reservations thru to Sioux City to Elk Point, SD for the night
6/26 – Day 3 ride past Spirit Mound, Lewis & Clark Lake Regional Visitor Center, Santee Indian Reservation to Niobrara, NE State Park for the night
6/27 – Day 4 cycle to Fairfax, SD for the night
6/28 – Day 5 cycle to Snake Creek Recreation Area for the night
6/29 – Day 6 cycle pass/thru Crow Creek Sioux Indian Reservation to Fort Thompson, SD for the night
6/30 – Day 7 cycle thru Lower Brule Sioux Indian Reservation, thru Fort Pierre National Grassland to Fort Pierre for the night
7/1 – Cycle to Akaska, SD for the night
7/2 – Cycle past Cheyenne River Indian Reservation and Standing Rock Indian
Reservation to Pollock, SD for the night (visit Pocasse National Wildlife Refuge)
7/3 – Cycle thru Sunburst Lake National Wildlife Refuge to Emmons Co. ND, near Fort Rice for the night
7/4 – Cycle to Bismarck, ND arrive early. Visit Fort Lincoln State Park stay the night to celebrate 4th of July.
7/5 – Cycle from Bismarck, ND to Dickinson, ND, stay the night
7/6 – Spend the day in Theodore Roosevelt National Park
7/7 – Cycle from Belfield, ND to Bowman Haley Lake to spend the night
7/8 – Cycle from Bowman Haley Lake to Belle Fourche, SD to stay the night
7/9 – Spend the day by van traveling to Black Hills National Forest, Custer State Park, and Badlands National Park. Drive to Moorcroft, WY (Buffalo Soldier Route)
7/10 – Cycle from Moorcraft, WY (75 miles) then drive to Sheridan, WY for the night
7/11- Cycle from Sheridan, WY (50 miles) then drive to Billings, MT for the night
7/12 – Drive to Big Timber, Spend night in Tetons
7/13 – Spend day in Tetons & Head to east side of Yellowstone National Park
7/14 – Spend day in west side Yellowstone National Park drive to Bozeman, MT
7/15 – Cycle from Bozeman, MT to Twin Bridges, MT (leave Buffalo Soldier route in Three Forks, MT)
7/16 – Cycle from Twin Bridges, MT to Grant, MT
7/17 – Cycle from Grant, MT to North Fork, ID (visit Sacajawea Interpretive Center)
7/18 – Cycle from North Fork, ID to Hamilton, MT
7/19 – Cycle from Hamilton, MT to Missoula, MT (Missoula is where Buffalo Soldier
Route began and intersects with Lewis and Clark, visit Adventure Cycling Headquarters)
7/20- Cycle from Missoula, MT to Lowell, MT
7/21 – Cycle from Lowell, MT to Ferdinand, ID (Nez Perce Indian Reservation)
7/22 – Cycle from Ferdinand, ID to Pomeroy, WA (possible visit to Nez Perce National Historic Park)
7/23 – Cycle from Pomeroy, WA to Touchet, WA
7/24 Cycle from Touchet, WA to North Roosevelt, WA
7/25 – 7/26 -Cycle from North Roosevelt, WA to Portland, OR (pass Celilo Falls Overlook, Beacon Rock State Park, and Fort Rock Campsite)
7/27- Cycle from Portland, OR to West Port, OR (visit Fort Clatsop National Memorial & Salt Works Camp)
7/28 -Cycle from West Port, OR to Seaside, OR
37 days total, 30 days cycling, Over 2000 total miles cycled
This concludes the first leg of our summer tour. These dates are approximate wherever possible, we will move the dates up if we can ride more on days that are flatter. Our goal is to reach Seaside, OR by 7/28. If our financial situation allows us to continue on next we will travel from……
Seaside, OR we will continue south towards San Francisco (another 840 miles) then drive east another 160 miles to reach Yosemite. We hope to ride an additional 10 days down the Pacific Coast Trail to reach San Fran on the 7th. Spend a full day/evening in San Fran then drive to Yosemite on the 9th of August. Stay in Yosemite the 9th and 10th. Drive back to NC beginning on the 11th. We should reach Chapel Hill, NC on the sometime on the 13th.
***This section of the tour is optional as it is meant to be more relaxed, fun, and carefree. If you would like your teen to continue on they may do so. If not, you will need to purchase a ticket for them to return to North Carolina leaving out of Portland on the 26th of July in the evening or on the 27th in the morning. If they can cycle a bit longer you may also consider purchasing a ticket out of San Francisco for 8/7 in the evening or anytime on 8/8.
7/29 – Pacific Coast Trail, Seaside, OR to EE Wilson Game Area (Monmoth, CA)
7/30 – Cycle from EE Wilson Game Area Monmoth, CA to Cottage Grove, OR
7/31 – Cycle from Cottage Grove, OR to Myrtle Creek, OR
8/1 – Cycle from Myrtle Creek, OR to Medford, OR
8/2 – Cycle from Medford, OR to Crescent City, CA
8/3 – Cycle from Crescent City, CA to Arcata, CA (stop in Redwood National Park)
8/4 – Cycle from Arcata, CA to Humbolt Redwoods State Park in Honeydew, CA
8/5 – Cycle from Honeydew, CA to Westport, CA
8/6 – Cycle from Westport, CA to Gualala, CA
8/7 – Cycle from Gualala, CA to Pt. Reyes Station, CA
8/8 – Cycle from Pt. Reyes Station, CA to San Francisco, CA (spend day/night)
8/9 – Drive to Yosemite National Park, CA
8/9 – 8/10 Spend in Yosemite National Park, CA
8/11 – 8/13 Drive back to NC
15 additonal days, 10 extra days of cycling, additional 840 miles
Final Total: 52 total days, 40 days of cycling, approximately 2900 miles cycled!!!!!
An Appeal
I’m making an appeal. To say things are tense would be a great understatement. Because things have been tense before but not like this. Not at all. Maybe it’s the economy or just that I haven’t done a good enough job of telling how amazing these kids are. It’s probably a combination of both. Lord knows I’ve tried but I’m not a writer or a very good story teller so a few things get lost in translation.
What I’m trying to say is that we didn’t’ get funding from our major donors this year. A new donor was discovered and they gave generously but we needed the support of a few more. So, this close to the game, in the 11th hour, we’re at risk of not doing the Buffalo Soldiers and Lewis & Clark tour.
In all honesty, this grass roots effort is just roots at this point. The idea of getting teens on bikes was crazy during the time when they’re starting to drive. But it worked because we’re tapping into something that’s a core part of them. The idea of discovering new places and meeting new people. Travel. An opportunity that the majority of the teens in our group won’t get too often. Not under their own power, not where they feel in control. Pedaling every foot of the way until we reach the day’s destination. THAT empowers and excites them and that is what allows us to plant in their now fertile ground the idea that they are truly amazing individuals. That’s where we water it with leadership skills, team building exercises, history lessons and confidence. Telling them that whatsoever they put their mind to they can accomplish it.
When we weren’t riding Suepinda was working with each senior on their college application process, helping them develop their essays and brag sheets to tell their story of what sets them apart from the thousands of other applicants. And for a few of them the ride IS what set them apart, was the thing that gained them acceptance and for two of them scholarships. That work is hard and it encompasses over a hundred hours of activity with the teens and sometimes discussions with the admissions director.
In a nutshell, SnR is me and Suepinda. Camelia Lee joined us this year to assist in keeping us from going crazy. Rich Giorgi has a team that he works with on the bikes we use while he teaches the teens fundamentals of bicycle repair and Bob Brogden provides the history backbone. We have a plan to make this a fantastic program. More phenomenal than it is now and as amazing as the teens we work with because we know the donor funding model is not completely sustainable. And appeals like this, well, can be draining on a person.
So, here’s the appeal: If you believe in our mission and what we’re doing is great. If you believe that given the opportunity people rise to the occasion. And you understand that we provide that opportunity to teens please consider donating $5 or $10. That small contribution will be put to good use and will go a long way. It seems like a drop in the bucket but eventually the bucket fills.
Once you’ve done that, pass this appeal on to your friends and colleagues. Even to people you don’t think even likes kids. We can do this with your help. Thank you for reading this far. I feel silly and risk sounding foolish but I take that risk because I do it for the kids. 
110 Miles… Whew!!
SnR Cyclists’ 55miler!
Wow! I can’t say that enough. This past weekend the SnR Youth Cyclists completed their first 50 mile ride of the season from Chapel Hill to Asheboro, NC. This also happened to be the first 50 miler for our new recruits this year. They all performed marvelously! Again, I can’t say that enough.
The day started off in typical fashion for SnR. The veteran cyclists know this to be a ritual: schedule a start time and blow past that time by 2-3 hours when checking bikes and gathering loose items and waiting for all the cyclists to arrive! Normally, it’s not that bad but for this special trip, where the cyclists will be mimicking a day in the life of an adventure cyclists, we were overly committing of our time then we decided to wait for Bob who had a previous appointment. With that done we headed out at Noon a whole FOUR hours beyond our start time and started out on our 5.5 hour journey (at least that’s what Google Maps predicted the trip would take).
It began with our normal route to Maple View Farm Ice Cream store on Dairyland. Then we headed east on Dodsons Crossing. Everything looked familiar because we used this route for our 30milers. We started to get into uncharted territory when we hit Staley, NC. When we stopped for breaks we realized how warm it was. The day’s ride was a beautiful 70 degrees and the breeze kept us cool along the way. As the day wore on the length of time we were cycling started to weigh heavily on Kate, one of our new youth cyclists. She’s physically fit but cycling uses a different set of muscles and those muscles were getting tired.
Houston, Rich and I continued to stay with her and traded turns in offering encouragement while the other group continued on their pace and soon were out of sight.
Suepinda and I are especially proud of Houston as he’s one of, if not, the strongest cyclist of the group and he stuck with Kate the whole way.
I don’t know how it happened but it did (Rich agrees he doesn’t know how it happened). I saw on the route sheet where it said left and we went right. So, 40 minutes later when we saw the same highway that we had already passed I knew we had gone into a humongous circle! We obtained directions from a nearby pedestrian who gave us good directions (hindsight being 20/20) but also vague directions. Seeing a passing police car I waved it down for directions and the officer was kind enough to pull into a church parking lot to review a map. When I walked up to it he was not longer in the car. Turns out when he pulled up there was a person behind the church that took off running so he gave chase.
When he returned he instructed me to bear right at NC 22 then bear right again and maybe another bear right at NC 22 then on to Cedar Falls Rd. He mentioned a factory that we’d be passing and so on. As it were, there were three bear rights and there was a factory (we saw the burned out factory) but it was not to the one he was speaking of. So, at the top of a hill we called in our lifeline and rode back down the hill to our agreed upon meeting place. We were done for the night. But, not exactly. Turns out that the tents we rented were in the OTHER CAR!
You could say we had our lessons for the day: Start early and make sure you have all of your equipment. LoL.
The next day the youth cyclists awoke in good spirits had breakfast and were on the road by 8:00am making the journey back. This time around I was driving the support vehicle, preparing lunches and water and Suepinda was cycling HER first 50 miles. Kate rode the first 23 miles then joined me in the van for encouragement and questions and answers. I let her know that she needn’t worry and eventually her “will” will overcome her muscles and do what they’re told during this tour. And that muscle memory will win out and all this will be easy for her. That’s exactly how it was for me.
The ride back took about 7 hours but it was relaxed and full of breaks. All of the youth cyclists were happy when they finished and were looking forward to the next training ride.
All of you fellow cyclists if you could remember when you first started cycling serious distances and what got you through it please offer words of encouragement to new cyclists Kate, Khin, Sammy, Damaris and the other veteran cyclists. Not that she’s discouraged but everyone can use words of wisdom every now and then.
Wild & Scenic Film Festival
There was a culminating moment for me last night at the Wild & Scenic Film Festival where I could have just had an outburst of excitement and joy. It was when the music for the W&SFF intro began. It’s this high note piano melody that if done with a slightly different tone arrangement could have gone into a horror film. I’m thinking Jason and a campsite. But in this instance it was beautifully done and we had listened to this music so many times that when the lights went down and the screen lit up all I could think of is that WE DID IT! YES!
Two years of wanting this to happen and two months of intense learning, arranging and planning have now reached its pinnacle and was being executed. That’s one of the greatest feelings in the world. The Masters of Ceremony, Lyle Estill, Tami Schwerin and Gary Phillips were exceptionally wonderful and we are so glad that they took the time out of their schedules to help us bring this environmental film festival to Chapel Hill, Carrboro and the surrounding area.
It was a great evening of inspiring films that showed how individuals can make a difference and affect positive change in their community.
Spoke ‘n Revolutions Youth Cycling (SnR) and The ReCYCLEry are excited to be the first to bring to Chapel Hill and Carrboro some of the favorite films of the Wild & Scenic Film Festival, the largest festival of its kind in the United States. We are proud to live in two iconic towns that are full of activists and people choosing to make a difference in the world. Spoke ‘n Revolutions and The ReCYCLery choose to make a difference in the everyday lives of individuals by building confidence, grooming future leaders and giving many the means to transport themselves to wherever they desire to go. SnR does this by taking teens on bicycle tours across our state and country so that they may learn about the environment around them, the community they live in and most importantly, themselves. The price of admission: Community Service.
The ReCYCLEry has been doing its thing for 11 years. Teaching the art of bicycle mechanics and self reliance by giving the community the means to have reliable transportation that they themselves earned through their own community service. In addition, The ReCYCLEry refurbishes bikes to be given away during the Christmas season and catastrophic moments when bikes were in need of replacement due to tornado or hurricane.
I’m happy to say that we are just as proud of our accomplishments as we are to have Lyle Estill of Piedmont Biofuels, Tami Schwerin of The Abundance Foundation and Gary Phillips of Weaver Street Realty to have been our Masters of Ceremony for the event. These three local environmental champions are affecting change in a community of change makers. We welcomed their participation in this inaugural environmental film festival.
Of the films featured at the historic Varsity Theatre in Chapel Hill was “A Corner Plot”; an inspiring story of what one man can do with a small plot of land in the middle of a bustling city. Also, there was the story of how Jen Slotterback and her husband were “Finding Their Way” in stopping their beloved park from being leased out to an industrial gas drilling company in a story on Fracking. And our personal favorite, the powerful story of the bicycle as a necessary means of transportation and empowerment in “My Own Two Wheels”.
Spoke ʻn Revolutions and The ReCYCLEry perceive cycling not only as a potential solution to many of the problems faced by North Carolina, but as part of a bigger strategy to reduce an environmental footprint. All of our refurbished bikes are built from Triangle area donations and saves useful bikes from entering the waste-stream. We help to empower the community by enabling economical transportation and providing youth an opportunity for some of the best project based learning and leadership training in the area. Empowerment of the people is a very important part of what we do. The Wild & Scenic Film Festival is a natural extension of SnR and The ReCYCLEry’s work to inspire you to act on behalf of the environment in any way you see fit.
see you next year. stay wild and keep it scenic.
Wild & Scenic Film Festival Intro
Video montage of festival films. Listen for the piano at 43 seconds in.
Food truck rodeo
Having a great time
Spoke 'n Revolutions Youth Cycling 