This morning we started off from Philadelphia with Charles Barkley in the formation headed towards Lancaster, PA. I got a little break and rode in a truck 20 miles down the road to link up with everyone. Hand cycles could not ride the first 20 because the route was along a narrow bike path. Mari got the full meal deal. For the record she says she kicked Barkleys butt.
The hand cycles and recumbants joined in and once we got out of Philly the fun began. Almost immediately we hit Mount Everest. Have you noticed this becoming a reoccuring theme in these blogs? We hit hill after hill, after hill...after hill. Sometimes you would think you had reached the top only to find out the hill kept going. I'm not sure what the elevation changes were today, but they were significant.
By the time we hit the lunch stop 25 miles later (45 for Mari) we were smoked. Even with pushers behind us, the hills took their toll on us physically. My arms and shoulders had given me all they had that day and it was time to jump in the truck to finish out the day. Mari had reached muscle failure and her body said "that's it!".
I mentioned pushers and I'm not sure if I mentioned how that all works. On the back of my hand cycle there is attached a hockey stick that comes out at an angle on the left side and extends up about two feet or so. A pusher will ride up along side of me and grab hold of that stick and by doing so, gives me a boost up the hills. Another rider will even at times ride along side of them, place their right hand in the small of their back and give them a boost as well. This is really the only way that going up these hills would be possible. Taking the hills in a hand cycle is all about momentum and it doesn't take long to lose that momentum.
Tonight it took a long time to get all the riders into the hotel area. Everyone was so spread out due to the hills. When we did get in, most folks got their rooms, showered up and went to dinner at the local American Legion post where a dinner was hosted. Good food.
Tomorrow's ride will end in Gettysburg, PA and we will ride in honor of Luke Finison. Luke is our eight year old friend and is bravely fighting a brain tumor. We love his spirit. Tomorrow morning we will post Luke's story of bravery.
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