JULY 23 HOME AGAIN

Smallest chapel in America

Our bike route today took us within 5 miles of Rome, NY---my hometown! I had never traveled on most of these mainly back country rural roads before, but the directional signs to all the towns were very familiar. I was back were I grew up, and what a welcome awaited me. As our group of riders pulled into Westmoreland, there were balloons, signs, several people gathered, and the MEDIA. TV news from a local Utica station was filming our arrival and then did an extensive interview with me about the Cross Country Challenge and the fund raising effort for the American Cancer Society. My hometown newspaper, the Rome Daily Sentinel, covered the event. My family was there also, which made it all very special. Following all the "hoopla" we had lunch before departing for Little Falls.

Mike relaxing on the road to Little Falls

My brother and sister-in-law decided to ride with us the last 30 miles. We said we would ride slowly and gave them a little head start. Then -as planned- we caught them and flew by hoping that they would think our pace was extroadinarily fast. They seemed a bit stunned at first, but quickly realized that it was all a joke. They rode well, and I'm sure enjoyed our stops for watermelon and ice cream along route 5 in Central NY.

The scenic group enjoying watermelon

The morning ride preceding lunch was WET from a steady rain and SLOW as we exited Syracuse through traffic lights, industrial parks, neighborhoods, and railroad tracks. We had an 85 mile ride in front of us and were in no particular hurry. Our arrival in Little Falls late in the afternoon gave us little time to clean our bikes and shower before route rap.

In addition to my family, I brought a guest to route rap today. He is a friend of one of my fraternity brothers who asked if I would introduce him to our group. His name is Alan, and he did have a chance to talk with several of our riders. He was an avid cyclist himself who had trained on the same routes we were now taking across the state. That is-- until he was struck by a car and left partially paralyzed. He can't cycle anymore, but he sure did enjoy this brief time talking with people who all have a common interest...taking a bike ride for the pure joy of it.

         - Bill

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