Day 77: THE FINALE | Petaluma, CA to San Francisco, CA

Today was the FINAL day of our trip, which started with a longer-than-usual morning. Our final coffee stop was at Dr. Insomniac’s, where the team enjoyed coffee and breakfast with each other for the last time. The ride itself was through the busy Bay Area, with a variety of roads, bike paths, and bike lanes. We had our final rest stop at a gas station before entering Sausalito and taking on a hectic climb to reach the Golden Gate Bridge overlook. Everyone took in some amazing views, and we started the final portion of our ride across to the Golden Gate Bridge, before reaching our friends and families in Chrissy Field. It was an emotional end to the day, as we said our final goodbyes and dispersed.

RIDE OVERVIEW

Mileage: 39.4 mi

Elevation: 1,723 ft

Points of Interest: Dr. Insomniacs, Golden Gate Bridge, Chrissy Field

Ride Dedication: Marian Lendas, Fransisco Juarez, Ben Lee, Kira Spedale, Bev Downs, Tracie Barreca, Olivo + Nicla Sivilotti, Seungpyo Yang, Xunqin Fang, Ruiping Wang, Roman Huchko, Bohdan Huchko, Scott + Wendy Fornek, Karen Scott, Vichi Kobel, Lauren Wardell, Li Ren, Yuting Li, Ivan Pidzamkiv, Linda Fornek, Ela Tchorz, Irina Ziminski, Steve Riccabona, Darlene Gagnon, Colleen Organ, Monica Trant, Zhang Aihua, Ruth McMichens 

Tales of the Trail 

The FINAL morning of the trip started bright and early after a fun night of dancing, celebrating, and signing! We were a bit slower this morning, but for good reason since it was our last time scarfing down oatmeal at dawn. Once we got out to morning circle, Andres gave his last speech as routemaster, and we all chose a ride dedication for our final ride. Soon after, we huddled up for the second-to-last time and got rolling.  The start of the ride was mostly flat with some rolling hills and bike paths. The first rest stop and final coffee stop was at Dr. Insomnics in Novato. We took our time drinking coffee, eating breakfast and scuffins, and enjoyed these last moments with each other. Some would say coffee stops have been a foundation of our trip, and we chose an amazing place with an outdoor patio and an active cycling community to enjoy our final coffee stop! 

After a delightful stop at Dr. Insomniacs, we made our way into more urban parts of the Bay Area, where we encountered busier roads, bike lanes, and bike paths – there was a great variety! At mile 23, we made it to our final rest stop at a gas station, where we fueled up, contributed to Eli’s potion, and took a picture in front of the gas pump to commemorate the last official rest stop. Once we got back on the road, we hit another bike path before entering Sausalito, which was busy with lots of cars and bike traffic. This was by far the most chaotic part of the ride, with bikes and cars all around us and a final climb as the views of the Golden Gate Bridge opened up to us in all its glory. We stopped at the Golden Gate Bridge overlook, where we were surprised to see Sam Michalak, our faithful VP, who trained us all year! We took in some amazing views of San Francisco across the bay, got some great pictures, and felt the surrealness of being so close to the end. Just before crossing the bridge, we had one final team huddle, with Matt starting us off and the rest of the team shouting at the top of their lungs. Soon after, we started our journey across the Golden Gate Bridge! Crossing the bridge was very chaotic, with strong winds, heavy bike traffic, and a narrow path, but we had amazing views of the San Francisco Bay. This was an insane moment for all of us, as we were experiencing the last moments of biking after 77 long days, but we didn’t have too much time to think, since riding across the bridge required an incredible amount of focus.

Once we made it across the bridge, we were a bit split up and made some wrong turns, but we finally rolled into Chrissy Field, and we were met by a cheering crowd of friends and family, who we were all exhilarated to see. After hopping off our bikes, we hugged our loved ones and felt the overwhelming support of all the family/friends who travelled to see us. Shortly after, we lined up and were handed flowers and medals by Stephanie’s parents, and we took even more group photos. Our families planned an amazing celebration for us with food and drinks, and everyone spent some time catching up with their family/friends before heading over to the van. We unpacked all of our bags, stacked our bikes in the van, and spent some final moments with each other. As we sat there, it started to hit that we would have to say goodbye. Some tears were shed, and emotions started to get heavy as we said our final goodbyes, and just like that, the trip was over as everyone went their separate ways. 

As a team, we’ve raised over $70,000, collected 22 portraits, and biked 4,717 miles for the fight against cancer!  We’re incredibly grateful to all the churches, rec centers, and communities that have given us a place to spend the night, donated meals, and supported our cause. This trip wouldn’t be possible without all the support we’ve received, and it’s amazing to feel the overwhelming kindness of people across the country.

Thank you to everyone who has followed the journals these past 77 days. We’ve had a great time writing them, and we hope you’ve enjoyed keeping up with the team!

“To see the world, things dangerous to come to, to see behind walls, draw closer, to find each other, and to feel. That is the purpose of life.”

— The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Day 76: A Long Day to Enjoy the Stay | Cloverdale, CA to Petaluma, CA

With an easy mileage day, prom, and soon end of the ride, we chose to take it slow and make one of the last days of the ride memorable with shenanigans. We spent a long time at our first rest stop of the day, doing numerous things including trying different foods, coffees, thrifting, and exploring the local area. After dealing with some hazards on the road to get to our final stayover of the ride, the team got to spend the last night writing heartfelt messages to one another and dancing to some classics to celebrate the last night of the ride.

quote of the day

“Today felt like a lemons lemons lemons lemons lemons day”

— Yuncong

ride overview

Mileage: 51.7 Miles

Elevation: 1,155 ft. 

Points of Interest: Healdsburg, Downtown Bakery & Creamery, Flying Goat Cafe, Healdsburg Plaza, Wendy’s 

Ride Dedication: Karen Scott

tales of the trail

The team’s goal for today was to take it slow. With the ride ending soon, it was a mutual agreement to make the day last by spending a longer time at rest stops to explore and make some final memories. The first rest stop of the day was in the city of Healdsburg. We spent a generous amount of time here getting coffee, bagels, and exploring the town. Many members of the team got bagels at Downtown Bakery & Creamery, and it was by far some of the best bagels we’ve had on this entire ride. Their combos on a bagel really hit the spot. Soon after, we tackled the Flying Goat Cafe next door to get some of the best coffee our team has had on this trip. Long story short, Healdsburg, CA is the place to be for breakfast. After enjoying our meals, there was a surprise! Alex had members of the team each write one letter on their chests to spell out the word “Prom?”, and Alex proposed to William at the Healdsburg Plaza! A late, but very welcome and creative proposal. Throughout the day, the team also took many selfies with one another as a challenge, and as a way to remember one another along these tiny moments on the ride. Before heading out of Healdsburg, the team decided to go thrifting for their promposal outfits to match the theme of “clown rodeo”. We spent hours trying to get the right fits for prom later tonight. It was fun being able to try on different accessories and seeing what people came up with. 

After spending most of the day in Healdsburg, the team finally left to continue the rest of the day. On the way to Petaluma, groups got tack attacked! Despite the roads not looking super bad, in one section, there were a bunch of scattered tacks, and one group got the worst of it! One group had three of the four members get a flat due to a tack! The group was efficient in fixing all three of their flats in no time, and it was a spectacle to see that many members in one group working on their bikes at the same time. Soon after, another group got a flat from one of the tacks! Not to fret, they also got it fixed in no time. After dealing with the tacky road, the team pushed onto the final stretch, facing some heavy headwinds and crosswinds. A nice, tough final stretch to end the day. 

Upon arriving at our stayover for the night, the team got ready for prom! People got into their outfits and got ready for the night. But before we could do that, we had to grab dinner! The team decided to get Wendy’s for the night, as it was quick and easy since we didn’t have a kitchen to make our traditional spaghetti and lentils. The Wendy’s was donated by one of our riders, Nicole! After we ate, it was time to get our prom on. Most of the night was spent signing each other's jerseys, journals, postcards, etc., writing heartfelt messages and professional signatures to have items to remember one another by. In addition to this, there was dancing and music, and we got to spend our last memorable nights together as a team, having fun.

Thank you to the United Church of Christ for being the final stayover location for our team! Thank you for being so communicative with the group and for being so willing to host us this year! 

cyclist’s corner

Today’s Riders: William Xu, Eli Kujawa, and Dev Dassani

Day 75: Sonoma Valley and Festival Fun | Fort Bragg, CA to Cloverdale, CA

Today was our third-to-last day together, which meant that we had to make the most out of it. The ride started with a trip to Denny’s for a delicious breakfast, which was needed after the previous day. The team decided to switch around bikes on the first stretch, which meant that we felt what it was like to bike in our teammates’ shoes! Some enjoyed it and others didn’t, but it was funny nonetheless. A good portion of the ride was spent biking through wine country, and we had the chance to stop at Jumbo’s Win Win, where they were kind enough to give us free soft serve. We had our last big climb and descent of the ride, and we made it to Cloverdale, where we had the chance to attend a local music festival with some amazing live music and food!

Quote of the Day

“Oh no… A whole sandwich before the climb... I’m gonna be a snail  ”

— Jessica

RIDE OVERVIEW

Mileage: 76.4 mi

Elevation: 4,753 ft

Points of Interest: Denny’s, Navarro Point Preserve, Jumbo’s Win Win, Cloverdale Festival!

Ride Dedication:  Djuna Archer

Tales of the Trail 

This morning started with a normal wake-up and an out-of-the-ordinary bike-switcharoo. For the first stretch of the ride, the team decided to try out each other’s bikes, and we all switched bikes based on frame size. The team also collectively decided to get breakfast at Denny’s, because why not enjoy the last couple of days? We all got to sit down and enjoy a scrumptious breakfast, which was an amazing way to celebrate our third-to-last morning with each other. Once we started the ride, everyone had time to adjust to each other’s bikes, and some people loved it, while others were not a fan of riding on different bikes. The bike-switcharoo still made for a really funny ride, and at least we can say we did it! We spent the first 18-ish miles on Highway 1, which meant we had more coastal views. The first rest stop was at Navarro Point Preserve, a beautiful lookout on the Pacific Ocean. We took some time to relax and enjoy some amazing views of the ocean, which would be our last until San Francisco, and we got to walk around the preserve for a bit. 

Once we got back on the road, the ride continued on Highway 128 as we made our way inland. This part of the ride was really flat, and we got some great views of even more redwoods along the Navarro River. We also had a quick pull-off for ice cream, where we tried It’s-It, a famous ice cream sandwich company from San Francisco. Their famous ice cream sandwich is a scoop of ice cream smashed between two oatmeal cookies and dipped in dark chocolate – it was delicious! The next part of the ride became a lot more hilly, with some bigger climbs as we entered Sonoma Valley – we rode by lots of vineyards! The second rest stop was at Jumbo’s Win Win, a restaurant with some pickle-flavored food. One of the workers heard about our mission, and she was kind enough to give us free soft serve, which was a treat! The next stretch had even more rolling hills, and we had a quick rest stop at Yorkville Market. The last stretch had a really big climb, which was followed by a big technical descent. This was also our last big descent of the ride! After the descent, it was only a couple of miles until we reached Cloverdale!

Once we arrived in Cloverdale, we were excited to find out the town was hosting a festival, with some great booths, food, and live music. We had the chance to talk to some community members of the Cloverdale Veterans Memorial Building, who were kind enough to host us in their building for the night. Once we freshened up and unpacked at the stayover, we made our way back to the festival for some fresh food and an amazing live music performance by a local band. It’s safe to say we had a very fun night, which included a lot of dancing and socializing, which was an amazing way to spend our second-to-last night together! Knowing the ride was coming to an end soon was very surreal, and these moments with each other meant a lot! 

Thank you to the community members of Cloverdale Memorial Building for giving us a place to sleep, setting up showers for us, and talking with us at the local festival – it was great to meet you all! 

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Riders: Nicole Tchorz and Jessica Fornek

Day 74: From Lake to Marsh to Pacific Ocean!| Humboldt Redwoods State Park, CA to Fort Bragg, CA

Today was a big day for our team; we hit the West Coast for the first time during our ride! It was a momentous moment for our team being able to see the Pacific Ocean for the first time after spending months on the bike. It’s great to see how far we’ve come as a team. We started from the Atlantic Ocean on the East Coast, but more accurately, a lake in the surrounding area, since we didn’t have direct access to the ocean, then we hit a marsh in Arcata Bay a couple of days prior, to now, meeting the Pacific Ocean! We had many great stops along the way today to get to the coast, including our ride out of the Redwoods and getting a little bit dizzy!

quote of the day

“In two and a quarter miles, turn around.”

— Ride with GPS

ride overview

Mileage: 91.7 Miles

Elevation: 6,960 ft. 

Points of Interest: Shrine Drive Thru Tree, The Redwoods, Daily Grind, Confusion Hill, Pacific Ocean 

Ride Dedication: Roman Huchko

tales of the trail

Riding out of the Redwoods today, the team stopped by the Shrine Drive-Thru Tree to ride our bikes through a Redwood tree! We spent a solid amount of time in this area, adding an extra 3 miles to our ride today due to the number of times we looped around to drive through the gigantic tree! It was a blast! We also took this time to explore the area, admiring wooden statues and entering tree-house-like structures. It felt like an amusement park, but for bikes! After our little adventure, some groups stopped at the Daily Grind nearby for some coffee, and there, we met Kiwi the pug! Kiwi was adorable and loved a good butt scratch, heading to whoever would pet her the longest. 

We were on the highway once again today, along with some busy roads with narrower shoulders. But all of the amazing locations we visited today made it worth it! After our ride out of the Redwoods, we had a rest stop at Confusion Hill! Confusion Hill is an attraction that includes something called the “gravity hose”. This structure gives visitors optical illusions, similar to the perspective on a gravity hill, it made us all dizzy! Another interesting fact we learned about this attraction was that it has a strong association with the animated show, Gravity Falls. Confusion Hill actually heavily inspired aspects of the Gravity Falls show! 

After getting all dizzy, the team hit the road again, but this time, constantly on our toes as we were on narrower roads and cars were inching right past us! After the busy roads, we had a climb, and right after, we had one of the windiest descents of the ride! Every couple of seconds, there would be a curve, turn, switchback; it involved a lot of technicality, and it was a spectacular descent to play around with countersteering on the bike and enjoy the forestry. Soon after finishing the descent, the team reached the West Coast for the first time! It was a highlight of the trip, being able to see the Pacific Ocean for the first time after biking for 74 days! The team stopped at the first pull-off to take pictures with the ocean in the background to commemorate the beginning of the end. Reaching the West Coast was a massive step for our team, and everyone was so excited and proud of one another for reaching it this far. Soon after, the team pulled off at a beach to get some much-needed pictures with the sunset on the West Coast; taking the iconic, “bike-above-the-head while facing the sunset” picture, which our team would see at the end of every team meeting during the school year! 

After admiring the sunset and the Pacific Ocean, the team finally reached our stayover for the night at the Mendocino Coast Parks and Rec Center. There, we were greeted by our hosts with a warm smile and given a BBQ donation for dinner! It was delicious, and sleeping in a gymnastics area was amazing, as we didn’t have to set up sleeping pads, as the cushioned padding was satisfactory for our team to sleep on. Thank you to the Mendocino Coast Parks and Rec Center for their hospitality and eagerness to host and meet our team!

THE Iconic Beach Photo (ft. Sofia)

cyclist’s corner

Today’s Riders: Yuncong Geng and Sofia Sivilotti

Day 73: Riding with Giants | Arcata, CA to Humboldt Redwoods State Park, CA

Today’s ride started on a bike path during a very foggy morning with views of the Arcata Bay. A good chunk of the ride was on Highway 101, with rest stops at Humboldt Botanical Garden and Shotz Coffee. The best part of the ride was biking down the scenic Avenue of the Giants, with amazing views of beautiful ancient redwoods towering over us. We had some side-quests at a farmer’s stand, famous trees, and gift shops. The day ended at Humboldt Redwoods Campground, where we had the chance to talk and relax after a fun day of biking! 

Quote of the Day

“The trees have been living for 2,200 years” - Hanxi

“That’s almost as old as unc” - William 

RIDE OVERVIEW

Mileage: 57.8 mi

Elevation: 2,081 ft 

Points of Interest: Humboldt Botanical Garden, Shotz Coffee, Avenue of the Giants, REDWOODS, Eternal Treehouse, Immortal Tree, Redcrest

Ride Dedication: Ruth McMichens

Tales of the Trail 

We started the morning on a bike path along the Arcata Bay, which was more of a marsh. It was incredibly foggy in the morning, which made the start of the ride very ominous as we rode through Arcata and Eureka. We had a chance to see downtown Eureka and the Carson Mansion, a famous Victorian-era mansion in the city. After a relaxing ride on the bike path, we hopped back onto Highway 101 and had a small climb. Our first rest stop of the day was at Humboldt Botanical Garden, where we fixed a flat and chilled for a bit before getting back on the road. We got back on the highway and had some small climbs before our second rest stop at Shotz Coffee, where we took more time to chill and get coffee before seeing the Redwoods! Once we got back on the road, it was only a short ride until we reached Humboldt Redwoods State Park. 

Humboldt Redwoods State Park spans 53,000 acres, with ⅓ of the park housing the largest area of old-growth redwoods left on planet earth. We biked on The Avenue of the Giants, a famous scenic drive spanning 31 miles known for its proximity to some amazing Redwoods. It was truly beautiful to see the Redwoods towering over us as we biked through this route, and their size can’t be captured in pictures – redwoods are a must-see in person! It was amazing to learn that these ancient trees have lived for thousands of years, making these giants even more of a spectacle! While we were biking through the Redwoods, we had the chance to stop at a local farmers’ stand where many of us tried their delicious blackberry popsicles. We relaxed at the farmers’ stand for a bit, where there was a cute dog, an amazing garden, and some great people. The farmers were even nice enough to give us some free cucumbers, which we pocketed to enjoy later! Some of us stopped in Redcrest, where we explored gift shops and visited the Eternal Tree House, which is a room carved in the stump of a 2,500-year-old redwood! A group of us had a little too much fun stroking wooden beards, and we found some cool-looking wooden sculptures. A group also got to see the Immortal Tree, a 1,000-year-old extremely durable redwood that has survived years of fires, lightning strikes, and floods. 

After a somewhat short climb and fun descent, we made it to the campground, where we checked out the visitors center and set up our tents in the midst of redwoods. We also found out the campground had showers, which is always an unexpected luxury on camping days! After setting up our tents, we had a lot of time to relax, talk, eat, climb up stumps, and sit around the campfire. It was great to have a lot of time to enjoy the campground and each other’s company.

Cyclist’s Corner 

Today’s Riders: Veronica Kozak and Katie Kobel

Day 72: The Tale of Three Climbs Pt. 2 | Weaverville, CA to Arcata, CA

Today, the team had a similar day to Day 3 of the ride, where we had three major climbs to tackle for the day. This time, our team was more prepared as we had spent days on the bike, and took on today’s challenge in some hotter weather. We were excited to keep inching closer and closer to the coast, as we got our first glimpse of Arcata Bay today, which is right next to the Pacific Ocean!

quote of the day

“Oh no… a whole sandwich before the climb… I’m gonna be a snail!”

— Jessica

ride overview

Mileage: 96.6 Miles

Elevation: 7,754 ft. 

Points of Interest: Straw House Resort & Cafe, Trinity River, Arcata Bay, Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary 

Ride Dedication: Ruth McMichens

Tales of the trail

We tackled three larger climbs today, once again (similar to day 3), but this time, more prepared, as our team has had 72 days of biking under their belts. We were better prepared both physically and mentally. After tackling our first and easiest climb of the day, the teams stopped by the Straw House Resort & Cafe to get some much-needed coffee while admiring the Trinity River nearby. There was a lot of pretty scenery throughout today’s ride, with the rock formations and greenery, all eventually leading us to a subway for lunch! Lunch was around the afternoon, meaning that peak heat was approaching, and fast. After the team ate, we tackled the second, more difficult climb of the day in peak heat. Everyone was sweating up the hill, but despite the heat and steeper climb, we kept on pedaling! 

After we descended our second climb of the day, the weather cooled down as we were slowly getting closer to the coast. The last climb of the day was accompanied by riding through a construction zone that lasted 1.5 miles. The groups were followed by an escort vehicle throughout the 1.5 miles as we climbed up the hill. Upon reaching the top of the hill, the teams were greeted with a sign stating there was a 7% grade descent! What a beautiful sight to see after a climb. After the descent, the team biked the last couple of miles to finally reach the stayover at Arcata Presbyterian Church. The last group who got to the stayover decided to bike some extra miles to reach Arcata Bay, get closer to the west coast, and reach a century ride! Funny enough, the team went to the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary! To get the team fed for the night, Williams' dad generously bought the team Pho! Thank you to William's dad for donating a good meal to the team for dinner tonight! 

Thank you to the Arcata Presbyterian Church for hosting our team for the night!

Cyclist’s corner

Today’s Riders: Stephanie Yang and Alex Ziminski

Day 71: California Heat | Redding, CA to Weaverville, CA

Today was short mileage-wise, but still very challenging due to a long climb and temperatures reaching up to 106°F. Two of the groups were able to make it through the day in good time, but the last group, unfortunately, dealt with a lot of flat tires, which made the day longer. Once we arrived at our stayover, we had some great food at Amei’s Hmong Kitchen, and we shuttled over to the local public pool for showers and a refreshing dip in the pool. Everyone had some time at the end of the day to relax and prepare for tomorrow's ride! 

Quote of the Day

Eli: “You did today!”

Katie: “Today did me” 

RIDE OVERVIEW

Mileage: 47.2 mi

Elevation: 4,916 ft

Points of Interest: Amei’s Hmong Kitchen, Lowden Park Pool 

Ride Dedication: Linda Fornek

Tales of the Trail 

We started this morning with a super-early wake-up at 4:30 am to beat the heat and get rolling on time, as today’s temperatures would reach up to 106°F. Even though we were all pretty sleepy, we still had some great views of the sunrise in the morning. We started the day on a short section of the Sacramento River Trail, where the last group unfortunately had two flat tires. We soon hopped on the Middle Creek Trail and started our shorter climb of the day. We passed by Whiskeytown Lake, and the flat tire group had to pull off for another flat tire, which meant we got to take a dip in the lake. Our first rest stop of the day was also in this area, and we fueled up before tackling a big ascent. This was a challenging 2,000-foot climb over 7 miles, which wasn’t new to us, but the high temperatures made the climb very difficult. We all felt the heat, and the temperatures only worsened. We slowly and surely made our way up to Buckhorn Summit despite the not-so-adequate temperatures, and we had a side-of-the-road rest stop in the middle of the climb. The last group experienced yet another flat tire, which put them far behind the rest of the team. We eventually made it to the summit and enjoyed a nice 10-ish mile descent before reaching some flat roads.

Once we made it to Weaverville, a group got lunch at Amei’s Hmong Kitchen and relaxed at Trinity Dance Studio, our stayover for the night. The owner of the dance studio was also kind enough to arrange showers for us at Lowden Park Pool. We all shuttled over and had some time to enjoy the pool, which was refreshing after biking in incredibly hot weather the whole day. Afterwards, everyone showered, and we did a portrait with a worker at the pool. Once we got back to the stayover, everyone dispersed to different spots for dinner, as some went to Burger King and others went back to Amei’s. After dinner, we ended the night with some relaxation time and an early bedtime. 

Thank you, Trinity Dance & Fitness Studios, for giving us a place to stay the night and arranging showers for us at the local pool!

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Riders: Jason Wang and Andres Villarreal

Day 70: Parting & Reuniting (Rest Day) | Redding, CA

Today the team lost a member, and gained a member. Micah had to leave to attend his RA training duties back at U of I, and William rejoined the team after his summer research! With our farewells and welcome backs, the team spent the day relaxing at Simpson University, making the most of our dorm space and dining hall meals!

quote of the day

““Do you just count or do you add an animal or something?”

— Nicole

tales of the trail

Although it was a rest day, our morning started at 2am when the team woke up to drive Micah to the train station to say their final farewells. Micah had to unfortunately leave the team for the last week to go back for his RA training at U of I. We got to say our goodbyes and wished him luck on his journey home, immediately feeling his absence once we all got back in the van. Once we got back to Simpson University, everyone went back to bed to sleep in. But later that morning, we had a teammate rejoining us! William left early in the ride to pursue research in Chicago over the summer, and he came back this morning to rejoin the team for the last week of the ride! We were all thrilled to welcome him back when he rolled up with his dad in the car, bringing along snacks for the team, and his bike in a box (that was shipped). 

Staying at the university dorms brought us all back to college life for just a little bit. With temperatures spiking high in the 90s, most of the team went their separate ways today to recoup and relax. We had every meal at the dining halls today: breakfast, lunch, and dinner! These meals were a nice replacement for the snacks we would use to fuel ourselves instead during rides. The day was spent with many people journaling, writing postcards, taking a trip to Costco/bike shop, and more! Later in the night, the team got to play a Kahoot that was organized by Sofia about the ride! It had questions about what happened on random days, what our bike’s names were, etc. and at the end, there was a surprise! The final question was a promposal to Veronica! It was a great way to end the night and remember small details of the ride, thank you Sofia for creating the Kahoot! 

Thank you to Simpson University for hosting our team for two days! The dorm rooms were amazing, reminded us of college life, and provided our team members with some privacy that we haven’t had in a while during the trip. The dining hall meals were also delicious and fuelled us well, thank you! 

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Riders: Harbin Li and Matthew Guibord

Day 69: College Life and Saying Goodbye | Mt Shasta, CA to Redding, CA

We made today a quick ride, with some easy descending in the morning, but the brutal heat and ascents still made today difficult. We had some great views of California’s landscapes, the Shasta-Trinity Forest, and Shasta Lake. It was great to stay at a university and have access to dorms and a dining hall, which we all really appreciated! We also got to enjoy our last night with Micah!

Quote of the Day

“I think we should take this building with us

”

— Eli (in reference to the dorms)

RIDE OVERVIEW

Mileage: 62.6 mi

Elevation: 2,851 ft

Points of Interest:  Shasta-Trinity Forest, Shasta Lake, Sage Dining Centre

Ride Dedication: Keith Reynolds 

Tales of the Trail 

We started the morning at 4:45 am, so we could tackle the day earlier, beat the heat, and get to our rest-day location. The ride started with some gradual descending on main roads and through some towns – we had a brief and bumpy gravelly downhill that reminded us all of the roads in West Virginia. We got onto the shoulder of the freeway, where we had some views of the Shasta-Trinity Forest, and we were mostly descending, which made the ride far easier. Our first rest stop was at a gas station, where we ate some snacks and hydrated before getting back on the freeway. We had some more easy descending before rolling into another gas station, and we made our stop quick to beat the heat. The next stretch proved to be more difficult, with some hard ascents in brutal California heat, where temperatures reached up to 105. However, we took on the hills valiantly, with our rest day in sight, and enjoyed some great views of the California landscape. After our final descent, we crossed a bridge over Shasta Lake and made our way to the final rest stop, which was another gas station.

Once we arrived at Simpson University, we had a great lunch in the dining hall, and it brought many of us back to our college days! After lunch, we all went back to our dorms and took some time to rest and relax before heading back to the dining hall for dinner. It was truly great to have our own beds after sleeping on many floors! After dinner, we all enjoyed our last night with Micah, learned about Veronica’s and Jessica’s team, played some basketball, and signed Micah’s jersey before he left us in the morning. 

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Riders: Micah Yoder & Hanxi Fang

Day 68: Early Rise, Thick Thighs | Klamath Falls, OR to Mt Shasta, CA

Today we finally rode into our final, and 16th state of the ride, California! While many of us are excited to see the coast soon, it also marks the beginning of the end of our journey as we make our way down the golden state. Throughout the day we had an amazing view of Mt. Shasta, as it slowly became more and more detailed as we got closer. We entered an interesting city (name), and also got the opportunity to meet with Lauraleigh, a 2015 rider!

quote of the day

“What’s the watt to aura conversion?”

— Micah

ride overview

Mileage: 81.9 Miles

Elevation: 3,329 ft. 

Points of Interest: California, Second Tallest Flagpole in US (in Dorris, CA), First and Last Coffee Lounge, Hebron Summit, Living Memorial Sculpture, Mt. Shasta 

Ride Dedication: Mike Angeli

tales of the trail

We were all excited to cross into our final state of the ride, California! Soon enough, we would be riding down the coast of the golden state. As we crossed into California, the team had to take our mandatory pictures at the Oregon-California border, with the California sign being marked with its state flower, the California Poppy, with its vibrant orange and yellow colors. After entering California, we soon after had our rest stop in Dorris. Here, the team got to see the second tallest flagpole in the U.S! Standing at 200 ft. the team got to gaze at the high flying flag while enjoying some nice coffee from the First and Last Coffee Lounge nearby. 

Throughout the day we saw Mt. Shasta became larger as we got closer to our final destination. We stopped at a scenic lookout to take in the mountain's beauty off the bike, then continued to the Living Memorial Sculpture, where we were able to meet up with Lauraleigh! Lauraleigh is an I4k alumni from the 2015 team, and she generously brought a ton of sandwich supplies for our team to have lunch! It was absolutely delicious and a much needed different type of sandwich compared to our standard PB&Js, so thank you! 

After lunch, the team rolled into an interesting city called Weed, CA. Contrary to what most people would initially believe, the City of Weed gets its name from the founder of the local lumber mill and pioneer Abner Weed, which the team learned during our visit. After exploring the City of Weed, we made it to our stayover for the night where we were provided with pizza and salad for dinner, and showers at the local wellness center nearby, donated by Ann! It was a pleasure meeting the community members at the St. Barnabas Episcopal Church. Thank you for providing us with a meal, showers, and place to sleep!

Cyclist’s corner

Today’s Riders: Andres Villarreal and Jessica Fornek

ANDRES VILLARREAL:

How are you feeling today?

I'm feeling pretty good. It wasn't a very strenuous day, kind of chill. Wasn't too hard. Long, but it was good.

Which chore have you been doing for the team in the past week? Can you share your process doing this chore?

I do the route master chore. So every afternoon, after we finish riding, I look at tomorrow's route, make any changes if needed. look at the construction, check the weather, make sure everything's good with the stay over, and then I kind of have to say a few words at morning circle.

What’s the best food you’ve eaten on the ride so far?

All of the food has been great.  Any donation is  greatly appreciated. I think the food yesterday, like the lasagna and the salad and the ice cream, chips and cookies that they gave,  that was a great meal. But, yeah, a lot of meals have been great, but that is the one that comes to mind.

Do you have a favorite accessory to wear with your ride uniform?

I mean, I don't have accessories, but I wear my buff every single day, and I wear it to cover my neck and, I wear it over my head and it covers my ears and part of my chin. So, yeah, I guess my buff.

Any favorite team memories so far?

I really liked Crater Lake, and suttling in the back of the van to Crater Lake. So we got to the campsite, and that was great, and that was  probably  the best sunset that we've seen on the whole trip. It was just really good. And then we got back, and still did a campfire and s'mores. It was great.

Anything else you want to talk about?

I'm looking forward to the final stretch of this trip, It’s been great!

JESSICA FORNEK:

How are you feeling today?

I'm feeling good. I sprained my ankle a few days ago, which is so typical for me, I've had a long history of ankle injuries, but it's actually healing faster than I expected. Yesterday I was not feeling good, and today I'm feeling a lot better, and I might be able to ride tomorrow. So I'm happy that it's healing quickly, and I've just been able to nap all day in the van, which has been really refreshing. I haven't sagged a full day at all this ride. So just having a day was like, super nice.

What’s the best food you’ve eaten on the ride so far?

The best food was either in Bend at Jackson Corner. I had  tomato soup, some eggs,  salad, and potatoes, and it was all so good together. Or the Thai place we just went to in Klamath Falls, that was also really, really good. I got the Pad Thai. It was great.

Do you have a favorite accessory to wear with your ride uniform?

Either a bandana or I've been wearing my buff recently. I like that. I just need something to cover my scalp, so whatever that may be, and it also keeps my hair cleaner.

Any favorite team memories so far?

One of my favorites was Fourth of July, lighting all the sparklers and fireworks, and just  playing some vibey music outside. Meeting Mike yesterday was really, really cool. I feel like just those moments where you run into people who have known us for years and they didn't even expect to see us. That's always really cool, and he was an awesome person, and had a great story to tell. So that was one of my favorite portraits and moments.

Anything else you want to talk about?

I’m just excited to finish strong and do California again. I'm excited to see the coast and get past the hot weather and into the cool. 

Day 67: THE LEDGE! | Crater Lake National Park, OR to Klamath Falls, OR

Today, we had a very fast ride out of Crater Lake, as we got to enjoy a 10-mile descent and take in the views of Klamath Lake on flat roads. We enjoyed a great meal at The Orchid Cafe, where we indulged in some amazing Thai food and coffee! We also got to do a portrait with Mike Angeli at The Ledge, an amazing human who has helped Illini 4000 in the past. The day ended with a dinner donation and some delicious huckleberry ice cream for dessert! 

Quote of the Day

Mike (from The Ledge): “Anyone here from outside of the States?”

Sofia: “Yeah, I’m from Ohio!”

RIDE OVERVIEW

Mileage: 54.6 mi

Elevation: 863 ft

Points of Interest: Crater Lake Resort, Klamath Lake, The Orchid Cafe, The Ledge

Ride Dedication: Katie

Tales of the Trail

The day started at Mazama Campground as we took down our tents, ate cereal, and prepared for the day. The ride started with a very quick descent out of Crater Lake National Park, which was our reward for the long climb the day previous. It was really great to coast for 10 miles and take it easy first thing in the morning. After our descent, it felt like we were back in the country, as the rest of the ride was flat. The first rest stop was at Crater Lake Resort, where we relaxed, got more breakfast, and enjoyed some coffee before getting back on the road. The flat roads were nice, and we had some great views of Klamath Lake right next to us, although we had to be pretty focused on the road due to heavier traffic. Our second rest stop was on the side of the road, where we quickly grabbed some snacks before finishing the ride. Micah also found a good number of license plates, which is kind of a normal occurrence.

We finished our ride quickly as we rode into Klamath Falls, where we stopped at The Orchid Cafe, an amazing Thai restaurant, where the team got some good eats and amazing Thai coffee. At the restaurant, the first promposal took place, as Nicole asked Jessice by running a route on Strava that spelled P-R-O-M (she ran the route in Crater Lake and it looked more like a P-Y-O)! After eating, we walked over to The Ledge to do a portrait with Mike Angeli, who also let us use his store as storage space for our bikes while we were eating. It turns out that Mike had hosted numerous I4K teams at his old rock gym, and us running into him was pure coincidence. We had an amazing, genuine, and philosophical conversation with Mike, and he made a lasting impression on the team with his stories! After we left The Ledge, it was a quick ride to our stayover, where we got some packages and were given dinner for the night. For dessert, the stayover hosts brought out a large bucket of huckleberry ice cream, which the team really enjoyed! We ended the night with an amazing view of a sunset atop the hill our stayover was situated on, with views of Mount Shasta in the distance (our destination for tomorrow)!

Thank you, United Evangelical Free Church, for giving us a place to sleep for the night and donating an amazing dinner! Another big thank you to Mike Angeli for showing us compassion and letting us store our bikes at The Ledge while we were eating! 

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Yuncong Geng

How are you feeling today?

I’m feeling eight out of ten. Today we had no climb, and I think I really enjoyed the descent and the view. I feel like I was in heaven when I biked down Crater Lake.

Which chore have you been doing for the team in the past week? Can you share your process doing this chore?

I'm with Harbin and Hanxi, and we're doing breakfast and cooler, and we just need to boil the water in the morning and portion the oatmeal or grits and put things into the cooler, and at the end of the day, we just need to bring things out of the cooler and put them in the fridge. That's pretty easy. 

What’s the best food you’ve eaten on the ride so far?

I still remember the meal at the church at State College. I feel like they have a very good potato salad and the meat is also very well seasoned. My favorite snack is Power Crunch Mint Chocolate. So usually I buy, like, a whole box, and I will put some of them in your (Nicole) bag secretly, but now I won't do that, because I know you don't like it.

Do you have a favorite accessory to wear with your ride uniform?

Yes, my lucky socks and my lucky penny. So my lucky socks are a pair of socks featured with Colorado and it's my lucky socks because I completed my first 90 miles and first century with them. The lucky penny was when I was very frustrated one day and Andres gave me it saying that it will bring me luck. So I put it in my wallet, and I carry my wallet while biking. 

Any favorite team memories so far?

I like the Independence Day. I feel like that day was surreal because we watched Interstellar together and everyone was kind of soaked in a same, like mood. I feel like we're all soaked in a similar liquid. We feel the same thing, and we kind of breathe together. After that, we had the fireworks, and everyone was so happy, and they played my favorite music. After that we had the phenomenal pie eating competition, and, our team didn't do well, but, I feel like everyone was crazy.

Anything else you want to talk about?

I want to shout out to our journal chores (Nicole and Dev). They've been working very hard. I know they're kind of behind. They spend their rest days working on the journals and yeah, they work very hard every day. So yeah, thank you.

*Thank you Yuncong! - Nicole and Dev!

Day 66: The Bluest Lake in the U.S. | La Pine, OR to Crater Lake National Park, OR

We hit a milestone today of biking over 4,000 miles!!! No better place to hit that milestone than in one of the bluest lakes in the U.S., Crater Lake! It was a chilly day, with most of us riding in multiple layers as we got closer to the lake. We encountered swarms of butterflies, and Crater Lake did not disappoint!

quote of the day

“I didn’t know West Virginia was a state until very recently”

— Eli

ride overview

Mileage: 87.4 Miles

Elevation: 4,566 ft. 

Points of Interest: Mill Town Espresso, Crater Lake National Park 

Ride Dedication: Tracie Barreca

tales of the trail

The morning started off frosty, with everyone riding in their sweatpants, under armor, and hoodies. This style continued on for half of our ride for the day, about 54ish miles out of the 87! Despite being on Highway 97 for most of the day until we got closer to Crater Lake, the smell of Pine was very strong. Everywhere you looked, bam, pine trees. This scent was nice in contrast to the smells we’ve had experience with in the past. To warm up from the cold, our first rest stop was at a drive-through coffee shop, where many chose to get a cup of joe. The day was comfortable with a larger shoulder to ride on, and once we got closer to Crater Lake, we started climbing. 

Riding up to Crater Lake, there were many butterflies along our path, both on the ground and flying around! These are the California tortoiseshell butterflies, which are known to swarm in large numbers, which was most definitely true. We biked through masses of them, and at one point, it felt like there were millions of them surrounding us as floating orange spectacles. It created a great awe amongst our team. Getting up to the lake, our team had great expectations for how blue it would be since every person we met commented on that, and once we reached the lake, we were able to confirm that Crater Lake is very blue. Definitely one of the bluest lakes that our team has ever seen, it was astonishing. We took this opportunity to recreate a photo of an older team that had all the members lined up, facing the lake. This is where we also ended up meeting the friends of an alumni rider from I4K! It was crazy getting to meet these people in Crater Lake along our ride. The world can be a small place at times.

After spending a while admiring Crater Lake, we kept biking until we got to our campsite, with some teams visiting the visitor center beforehand. To Katie and Eli’s delight, there were bear boxes at the campgrounds! They are huge fans of the bearboxes and got really excited. We love a good bear box. Once the team got settled at the campgrounds, we got into the van to shuttle back to Crater Lake and watch the sunset. It was gorgeous, one side, we had the sunset amongst the mountains, and on the other side, we had varying colors from the sunset with the moon above the lake. We took this time again to admire the lake and appreciate where we were as it got colder and colder. To end the night, we started a campfire, roasting marshmallows and snacking on whatever else we had, sharing stories and laughing around the campfire. It was a good way to end a good day. 

Day 65: Milk and Reflections | Bend, OR to La Pine, OR

Today was a really quick ride, but we had the chance to do some fun mid-day activities. A group of us had to chug a half-gallon of milk after losing a challenge, which made for an even harder but hilarious ride. Once we arrived at the stayover, we had the chance to shower, discuss our experiences and growth on the ride so far, and watch the 2007 I4K documentary that started it all!

Quote of the Day

“Oh! Nature Valley bars… they’re back again…” - Yuncong 

RIDE OVERVIEW

Mileage: 29.2 Miles 

Elevation: 1,116 ft. 

Points of Interest: T&S EspressO Awakening, Highlander Motel and RV Park, Vegetable Man of La Pine

Ride Dedication: Mimi Bentel

Tales of the Trail 

This morning, we had an early wake-up to get things rolling and finish up the day quickly. The first stretch of the ride was on the highway with a small climb that we all powered through since the day was so short. We eventually got off the highway and made our way to T&S EspressO Awakening, our first and only rest stop of the day! This wasn’t just a normal rest stop, as the group of us who got last place in the song challenge had to chug a half gallon of milk – some of us went for alternatives like soy and chocolate. This was an especially hard feat for the portion of us who participated in the spicy chicken sandwich challenge the night previous, as our stomachs weren’t doing too great, but we’ve built a lot of resilience on this ride and would not give up easily. We all lined up along the grass outside of the parking lot and got to chugging our milk as everyone watched in awe. Chugging the milk took quite a long time, and many of us were pacing along the trees wondering why we chose to partake in this challenge, but a good portion of us still managed to finish the milk (4/6), and we all made a great memory to look back on, despite what we put our stomachs through! The rest of the ride was fairly quick on flat forest roads.

Once we got to the church, we shuttled over to Highlander Motel and RV Park to use their showers, and we also got the chance to check out the Vegetable Man of La Pine Farmer’s Market, where some of us got fresh produce, and we also had the opportunity to do a portrait! Once we got back, we made sandwiches that were donated by the church, and we took some time to rest/relax. We also had the opportunity to do another teamwide “why we ride,” and we reflected on our experiences throughout the ride and how they’ve shaped us. It was great to hear everyone’s reflections and insights on the ride and how we’ve all gained new perspectives because of our experiences. We ended the night with pasta for dinner, and we also had a screening of the 2007 I4K documentary before heading to bed. 

Thank you, High Lakes Christian Church, for giving us a place to spend the night and donating us sandwiches for lunch!

Cyclist’s Corner 

Today’s Rider: Veronica Kozak 

How are you feeling today?

A mix of emotions, good, and not bad, just a mix of emotions. This morning was really fun. We had a short day today, so we took a longer coffee stop, and did a silly milk challenge, which made the morning really funny, and we got into the stayover really early, so it was really nice to have time today. I've just had a lot on my mind these past few days, and we had a really lovely why we ride circle today, and it made me a bit emotional, because as I was talking about my experiences this year, I remembered and realized it has been five years since my uncle passed, and I missed the date a few days ago, and that kind of sent me in for a loop, and it made me extra grateful to be here. So it's just been a lot of emotions today, but mainly just very grateful and thankful to be here, even as this ride is wrapping up. I'm very fortunate to be doing this again, and just grateful to continue spreading awareness about cancer.

Which chore have you been doing for the team in the past week? Can you share your process doing this chore?

I don't have a set chore, but at the same time, I kind of have many as ride leader, you kind of end up helping around with everything and anything you can, whatever dynamic or static chores need. You make sure the van's always in order, to make sure things are tidy and clean, that group dynamics are doing well. A lot of it is behind the scenes and isn't always openly out there. So it might seem like I'm not always doing much, but I always feel like I never have time, or not enough time in a day to get everything done that needs to be done. But I love helping people out with their chores and making sure the ride continues to go smoothly.

What’s the best food you’ve eaten on the ride so far?

Yesterday, during our rest day in Bend, there was this cafe called Jackson's Corner, and I had the most amazing tomato soup. I haven't had soup in months, ever since the trip started, and typically I eat soup quite often. I love soup, and so having that yesterday just felt very homey, and it was just a very good and hearty meal, and I felt very fulfilled afterwards. 

Do you have a favorite accessory to wear with your ride uniform?

I don't have many, but my bandana would be a good one. I struggled with it the first few weeks of the ride and didn't know how to tie it, but as soon as I found one that was the correct material and more flexible, it's been really nice to pull my hair back and to keep my scalp from getting sunburned and just keep my hair feeling a bit more clean. So I love my bandana.

Any favorite team memories so far?

Wow, there's been plenty. How do I choose just one? I really liked day 39. It was good, it was one of our camping days. I remember we passed through Leadville that day, and the group I had, the riding group I had for the day, was just all on the same page about just exploring and having a good time. We spent so much time in Leadville, I'm pretty sure we explored most of the city, and I just remember we visited a coffee shop and a visitor center and like, two bike shops, and an antique store, and then went to get food. Even though my eye was really irritated and bothered me the whole day, it was just such a fun day. We met some really cool people that day, like whether it was our waitress that called ketchup “chup” and was trying to find the eye drops for my eye, she was really cool. I just liked that day a lot, and our campsite was beautiful. We took a dip in the lake, and it was really cold and freezing, but it was so beautiful with the backdrop of the mountains. That whole day was just very fulfilling to be in that group and to have that memory. I think back to that day a lot and fondly, because I like taking a slower pace some days and just exploring and seeing the country and having those memories of meeting people and just having little moments in my mind of images where everything is just… still. I feel very happy with where I am.

Anything else you want to talk about?

I bought like six apricots today, and I've already eaten half of them, and I haven't had apricots in months. So this is amazing, and I also have a peach, and so I'm really excited to eat them during the rest stops tomorrow. If you ever need extra sweetness in your life, buy some fruit.

Day 63+64: It's Bendy | Ochoco National Forest, OR to Bend, OR

We had an enjoyable ride into Bend, and we got to see our final sights of the Ochoco National Forest as we hit a 30-mile descent. We also had the chance to visit the last Blockbuster on Earth and eat at King Buffet before getting to our stayover in Bend. During our rest day, a group got up early to enjoy a hike to Tumalo Falls, while others chose to sleep in. We also got the chance to explore downtown Bend, where we visited bike shops, stores, cafes, and restaurants! The night ended with a group choosing to scarf down a spicy chicken sandwich to win a free t-shirt, a picture on the wall of Wonderland Chicken, and the meal for free!

quote of the day

Yuncong: “There’s some beauty in randomness” 

Veronica: “Mmm so true queen”

ride overview

Mileage: 69.5 Miles 

Elevation: 2,006 ft. 

Points of Interest: Ochoco Reservoir, Prineville Coffee Company, Blockbuster, King Buffet, Tumalo Falls, Wonderland Chicken, Old Mill District

Ride Dedication: Scott Fornek

Tales of the trail

Day 63

We woke up on the Ochoco Campsite, ready for our upcoming rest day in Bend! Today was especially exciting because we all put on fake mustaches donated to us earlier in the ride, which made it a really funny start to the ride. The first portion of the ride was incredibly speedy, as we had a 30-mile descent that we absolutely flew through – I guess it’s nice to start the day at the top of a pass! We also got to pass by the Ochoco Reservoir, where we had a short stop before continuing on to Prineville, where we stopped for some coffee and did a portrait at a McDonald’s. For the rest of the ride, we had steady tailwinds and great views of Mount Hood and the Three Sisters Mountains, which are prominent mountains in Oregon! We enjoyed a quick side of the road rest stop, where we were met by Josh, a bikepacker we met going into John Day! 

The last rest stop of the day was at the last Blockbuster on Earth, and it was truly incredible to see a place that felt like a fever dream in all of our childhoods (besides Jason’s, maybe). The Blockbuster had some really cool movie memorabilia, including signed movie posters and a signed copy of the first Ghostbusters script! After leaving Blockbuster, we stopped at King Buffet for lunch and enjoyed a well-needed all-you-can-eat lunch special! Unfortunately, it started storming and hailing outside, and we had to shuttle everyone 5 miles to the stayover. After arriving at the stayover, some of us got to meet with family/friends, and we had a chance to set up for the night. We also got to meet the church president, Dave, who recommended some hikes for the next day. Everyone got to bed somewhat early for a restful night, as a group wanted to wake up early for a hike in the morning!

Day 64

To start off our rest day, some of us got up bright and early once again to go on a short hike. A small group of us went to visit Tumalo Falls, a gorgeous 97 foot waterfall in the Deschutes National Forest (but not before a quick McDonalds breakfast). After their short hike, we all regrouped back at the church to make plans for the day. At the church, we got to talk to some locals from the quilting group. It was a pleasure to be able to talk to such lovely people of the community, and they were so supportive of I4k! 

After meeting with some of the locals, we went to a nearby bike shop to look for some bike parts and visit the coffee shop across the street. Once we were all caffeinated, we visited the Old Mill District in Bend and walked around some shops to get souvenirs. Soon after, the groups split up once again to get lunch since everyone was in the mood to get something different. One group went to Jackson’s Corner, another went to get some Asian cuisine, and the last group went to Wonderland Chicken Co., where we were introduced to some spicy chicken, and a challenge for later… Following our adventures in the Old Mill District, the team spent time back at the stayover to relax and shuttle over to some showers that John and Denise let us use in their home! We met Denise earlier in the day with the quilting group and she so generously offered us to shower in her home. As we took turns taking showers, we got to chat with John and Denise, learning more about them and their own adventures. It was a pleasure to get to meet you guys, and thank you for opening up your home to sixteen of us to be able to shower! 

Later in the night, some members of the team decided to tackle a challenge that had been tickling their brains since lunchtime. At Wonderland Chicken Co., we were informed of their spicy chicken sandwich challenge. A challenge that had you eat a level 7 (the spiciest) spicy chicken sandwich in under 10 minutes. The reward? A free meal, shirt, bragging rights, and a photo on the wall of completed finishers. Our members are not ones to back away from a food challenge, so some of the guys took on the challenge and were able to complete it! With great pressure from the owner during the challenge, tempting them with a glass of ice during the challenge, the guys resisted and went on to eat their spicy chicken sandwiches in under 10 minutes! They were rewarded with a free meal, a shirt, and most importantly, their photo on the wall of finishers in the restaurant. They represented Illini 4000 in all its glory! Well done! Despite this being a major victory for the team, the guys spent the rest of the night shuttling back and forth between their sleeping bags and the bathroom. But it was totally worth it! 

Thank you to the Nativity Lutheran Church for hosting us for two nights in Bend on such short notice! Your hospitality is greatly appreciated!

cyclist’s corner

Today’s Rider: Micah Yoder

How are you feeling today?

I'm feeling pretty good. I got to tire myself out a bit by going pretty fast with my group, and I had a great time with the descent at the beginning, and also enjoyed our rest stops. At our first rest stop, we met a cancer survivor when we stopped at McDonald's, and it was interesting talking to him and hearing his life experience in rural Oregon. Then the scenery was all very nice today. It was, yeah, the beginning was nice.

Which chore have you been doing for the team in the past week? Can you share your process doing this chore?

So I've been on water jugs, PB and J box, and policing. So what we do with this is we make sure to first each night, clean out the PB and J box, primarily washing the utensils that we've used the day before so they're all clean, and have fresh utensils for the next day for the peanut butter and jelly at our lunch stop. Then also every two days or so, sometimes slightly longer, if we don't use or eat much food, cleaning out the entire box. Also, another part is policing. So when we're leaving a stayover, making sure that everything looks nice, taking out the trash, and making sure no one's left chargers and other stuff around the stayover, we also fill the water jugs, either in the morning or at night, and that's about it.

What’s the best food you’ve eaten on the ride so far?

The best food I've eaten on the ride so far has to be in Boise. I stopped by the market area, and they had these weird chicken and cheese filled phyllo pastryish dishes, which are very good. 

Do you have a favorite accessory to wear with your ride uniform?

Yep! So a while ago, I found a cone on the side of the road. I was planning on giving it to Veronica for I4Kristmas, so I originally started carrying it on my handlebar. But then I realized that it was either going to fall off or keep me from braking, so I decided to attach it to my head instead and put it on my head and left it there until I4Kristmas, but I found another I4Kristmas gift (which all of them have to be from the side of the road instead). So I abandoned my original plan of making a pinwheel holder and kept wearing it on my head, and now, about every rest stop we stop at, someone asks me about the cone, so I figure I got to keep it on until the end of the ride. 

Any favorite team memories so far?

My favorite team memories so far are probably just conversations around the fire or camping days, because I love camping and being outside. 

Anything else you want to talk about?

A while ago I got jelly from State College, and it's still in the PB and J box, because we haven't gone through it very quickly, but my favorite jelly has to be strawberry.

Day 62: Fossil Beds & Getting Ahead | John Day, OR to Ochoco National Forest, OR

Another scorching day in the heat was minimized by the scenery we had to distract us while on the bikes today. The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument made our team feel as if we were in a movie, but the grueling climb at the end of the day had us all beat, and ready to get into our tents for the night.

quote of the day

“Bring back dabbing”

— Katie

ride overview

Mileage: 85.3 Miles 

Elevation: 5,641 ft. 

Points of Interest: Dayville (OR), John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Mitchell (OR), Ochoco Pass 

Ride Dedication: Timothy Sashko

tales of the trail

It was another boiling day through Oregon, but the scenery made it bearable. Our first stop of the day was at Dayville Cafe, where people got their morning coffee to be energized for the day. Soon after, we entered the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, which was astonishing. To enter, we followed a road that went in between two massive fossil bed rock formations, and with some music? Oh it felt like a movie scene. We spent a good chunk of the day admiring the scenery of these fossil bends, making the climbs more bearable. Once we hit the top of that climb, we were rewarded with a descent with Bridge Creek Cafe. Many of us got food to refuel, and we also got to meet the owner’s dogs that were walking around the area, Moo Moo and Jay Jay (they were adorable)! 

The last stretch of the day was the toughest, with a 13 mile climb in awful heat. The worst part? There was no descent afterward! Our campsite for the night at Ochoco National Forest was at the top of the climb, which I guess meant we had a descent to start us off the next day, but it’s unsatisfying to put a lot of effort into a climb and not have a beautiful descent afterwards, but it wasn’t a big deal because it lead us to our campsite for the night! Once we got there, we all put up our tents, started the fire, and had our hotdogs and beans once again. During this time, Yuncong and Hanxi were giving members of the team lessons in Mandarin, as everyone was eager to learn. The pronunciation was difficult, but we learned a lot! Settling in for the night, the team fell asleep to a musical forest, with animals singing in every direction. 

Day 61: It’s Always Rainy in the PNW | Baker City, OR to John Day, OR

Today was somewhat challenging, with three lengthy climbs and variable weather (rain). Still, it was also an incredibly scenic day as we rode through Oregon’s national forests and got a taste of the Pacific Northwest. We also met some great bikepackers who made a lasting impression, and we had a fun lunch stop at El Cocinero, which had huge portions!

quote of the day

“I think I’m just a destructive person” - Nicole 

Yuncong: “Is that an infection, or new skin?”

Nicole: “I don’t think new skin looks like that”

Yuncong: “So should I remove the whole thing or leave it?”

Nicole: “I don't know… I’m just 19”

ride overview

Mileage: 80.1 Miles

Elevation: 4,942 ft. 

Points of Interest: Wallowa Whitman National Forest, Whitney and Austin (ghost towns), Strawberry Range, El Concinero

Ride Dedication: Emily Allred

tales of the trail

The morning started with Matt’s favorite wake-up music – Bagpipes! We packed up our stuff, and we were joined by another bikepacker who was also making his way across the country, but he was headed in the opposite direction from us. The morning was fairly easy, with a slow ascent as we entered Wallowa Whitman National Forest. The first rest stop was at a picnic area, where we quickly fueled up before getting back on the road. We had our first big climb of the ride, and a fun descent, with great views of the forest surrounding us. Our second rest stop of the day was halfway up the second ascent, and my group took some time to change out a tire before we started ascending again. We had yet another fun descent and passed by two ghost towns, Whitney and Austin, which we briefly peeked at as we rode by (there wasn’t a lot of activity). One group also had a great time talking to and riding with a bikepacker named Josh, who most definitely made a lasting impression!

As we were riding, our group spotted rain clouds in the distance, which prompted us to shelter under an awning for a bit. It's a good thing we took the chance to shelter, because it started pouring, and some of us took a nap to wait out the rain. After the rain had passed, we continued and finished our third big climb of the day, and we were treated to another fun descent with views of the Strawberry Range in the distance. At the bottom of the mountain, we stopped in Prairie City to eat at El Cocinero, which had insanely big portion sizes and left us with leftovers for days. After a late lunch, we finished out the ride with a quick 13-mile descent into John Day. At the stayover, we were given Subway for dinner by the church, and they let us use the showers next door! Earlier in the ride, Matt had challenged each group to produce a song, and we finally got around to listening to eachothers’s songs before heading to bed!

Thank you, John Day Methodist Church, for giving us a place to sleep, donating Subway, and finding us a place to shower across the street!

cyclist’s corner

Today’s Rider: Katie Kobel

How are you feeling today?

I am feeling great today. I was very nervous going into this day because I look at the routes way ahead of time, and it seemed like it was going to be hard, but my group made it a lot better, and it was still kind of hard, but I had a lot of fun with it, and it looked nice too.

Which chore have you been doing for the team in the past week? Can you share your process doing this chore?

So I run the Instagram account, so every day after we're done riding, I have to upload photos to the Instagram and keep everyone aware about what's going on, and to do that, at the end of the day, I ask everyone to submit their photos, which they don't usually do on time. So I try to post it at night, but sometimes I have to do it the next day if the team is not uploading their photos. 

What’s the best food you’ve eaten on the ride so far?

So when we were in Boulder, I think it was, we went to this restaurant called Tibet Kitchen, and I had some dumplings, and it was really good. It was recommended by Jason's friends that live nearby.

Do you have a favorite accessory to wear with your ride uniform?

So I used to wear this necklace that was an Aspen leaf, because my grandma had a similar necklace, and she lost it. So I always try to find it for her, and then I finally found it and bought it in Boulder, and I used to wear it every day, and it caused no problems, but then it started giving me a rash, so I had to stop.

Any favorite team memories so far?

So my favorite team memory is day nine. So that day, my team did not finish the ride because we were super far behind, and we kept taking really long at the rest stops, and then bad things kept happening, and it was so bad that it was funny. So that was my favorite day, and we had to get picked up in the van

Anything else you want to talk about?

I want to give a shout out to Veronica and Jessica, because they are great ride leaders, and they make people slow down when they're going too fast for me. 

Day 60: Following the Oregon Trail | Ontario, OR to Baker City, OR

Today the team followed the Oregon Trail, via the interstate. But it was great! We had many climbs, some descents, and a nice comfortable shoulder to not be affected by the cars driving past. As we rode throughout the day, it got hotter and hotter. Searching for some water, bathrooms, and AC, we stumbled upon a Community Center where we got to meet some wonderful people who helped out the team!

quote of the day

“It’s not even a fully flat-it’s a slow…medium…fast leak”

— Andres

ride overview

Mileage: 76 Miles

Elevation: 4,473 ft. 

Points of Interest: Snake River, Dixie (OR), Durkee Community Hall

Ride Dedication: Ben Lee

tales of the trail

Waking up early to beat the heat when it was already 70 degrees Fahrenheit at six in the morning! In addition to this early morning surprise, we had an even bigger one when Alex accidentally rolled out with his group with the van keys! The groups that hadn’t rolled out yet frantically called members of the group that had already rolled out to ask for the van keys back. None of them would answer their phones (rightfully so)! Eventually, we got a hold of Harbin when they were a few miles out, and their group biked back to the stayover so that Alex could return the van keys to the van driver for the day, so that they could follow alongside us for the day as our support vehicle :D 

The only path from Ontario to Baker City required our team to ride on the interstate for 50ish miles of the day. Although the interstate sounds scary, it provided big shoulders for our bikers to have a good amount of space between them and the cars. Some chose to shuttle these parts to not go on the interstate, while others got to enjoy some climbing and descents. Once we got off the interstate, we had a rest stop at Durkee Community Hall, where we met Diane and Mel! They were mowing the grass when they spotted us outside the building and opened up the Community Hall so that we could use the bathrooms, get water, and cool down! While we were there, we learned more about the history of Durkee and the Union Pacific Railroad, which was once used to deliver mail across the country, and had a stop in Durkee! Diane also gave the team many fresh burger patties to cook for dinner later that night! It was an amazing gift to the team for dinner later that night. Thank you to Diane and Mel for everything you provided the team with! It was a pleasure meeting you guys! 

As it got hotter throughout the day, the team was eager to get to the stayover. Tonight we stayed at the Churchill School, which was converted to a bike hostel! Once we got there, we explored the hostel and looked at all the art that the local community members made. We also met Jacob, a fellow bikepacker, who just started his bike packing trip in the States! It was awesome to meet a fellow traveler. Luckily, the hostel had grills outside to use, so we were able to cook our burger patties and some corn! The meal was delicious and served as a much-needed break from the spaghetti and lentils. Once the team was fed, everyone got ready to get some sleep for the day ahead. Thank you to those who hosted us at the Churchill School! The place was amazing, and it was something we’ve never seen before.

cyclist’s corner

Today’s Rider: Jason Wang

How are you feeling today?

I'm feeling pretty good today. We had a not too long day of 76 miles going from Ontario into Baker City.

Which chore have you been doing for the team in the past week? Can you share your process doing this chore?

So I'm the team mechanic. I usually just work on bikes. A lot of people are having strange creaking and clicking and squeaking noises, so it's just trying to figure out what those noises are and getting rid of them.

What’s the best food you’ve eaten on the ride so far?

I think the best food I had, very randomly, was fried chicken from a grocery store in the middle of nowhere. I don't remember what town it was in. I think it was when we were biking into Omaha. There was a coffee shop that didn't exist, so it was a  grocery store instead. Oh, and then there was a dude in the back that was making lunch foods, and he had the best fried chicken. I think I was also, I mean, it helps that I was super hungry at the time, but it was so good in the moment.

Do you have a favorite accessory to wear with your ride uniform?

Yeah, so I usually wear a giant rim on my helmet called the brim. It really blocks a lot of the sun, especially for hot days. It is a lifesaver, especially since I really don't like using sunscreen. It's really nice to have.

Any favorite team memories so far?

Yeah, there's quite a few. One that stands out was when we were, I think it was the same day biking into Omaha, where we took five hours to bike 18 miles. It was all because we kept making stops to do random things. The number of stops we made were too many count. But for example, we stopped by the Lewis and Clark Trail National Park Visitor Center. Then we stopped by a horse, we stopped by a gas station, we talked to a graffiti artist that was doing art for the city. That was really cool, but, yeah, that was a particular memorable day, because I don't think I've ever biked that slow before.

Anything else you want to talk about?

I'm looking forward to seeing more of Oregon, especially since my first time here, and our finish is coming up soon. It's kind of bittersweet where it's like, wow, I'm finally done biking every day, but also be the last days with the team.

Day 59: A Quick Ride into Oregon | Boise, ID to Ontario, OR

The team had a nice and quick day out of Boise, with low mileage and elevation gain. Unfortunately, a group dealt with flat tire issues, but we still made it to the stayover in a timely manner, and we crossed into Oregon, our 14th state of the trip! We were also graciously donated shower vouchers by Community in Action, and the showers at the truck stop were great!

Quote of the Day

Micah: “So if not based on logic, what is the foundation you live your life on?”

In unison:

Jason: “vibes”

Veronica: “feeling”

Sofia: “aura” 

RIDE OVERVIEW

Mileage: 62.1 Miles

Elevation: 851 ft. 

Points of Interest:  Oregon State Sign, Mackey’s Pub House, Love’s Travel Stop

Ride Dedication: Donna Riccabona

Tales of the Trail 

We had a normal wake-up in Boise, and everyone felt well-rested after a relaxing rest day. The day started fairly easy, with one group deciding to get coffee. The first stretch started on a bike trail, which made for some easy, gradual descending in the morning. The first rest stop was at a gas station, where some of Matt’s family were able to meet us and say their goodbyes, and the riders quickly fueled up before heading back on the road. The next stretch was an easy ascent leading into a fun descent, but unfortunately, the last group encountered numerous flat tires that prolonged the ride. Our next rest stop was at Tom’s Cabin, and we rested/fueled up quickly to get back on the road. The next stretch was really easy, as we had a gradual descent on country roads, and we made our last rest stop at EZ Mart, which was also a quick one. With the ride coming to a close, we crossed into Oregon as we rode over Snake River, and we took some pictures at the state sign – only one more state crossing to go! The first group had enough time to get food at Makcey’s Pub House, while others took naps at the stayover. When everyone was together, we made our way to Love’s Travel Stop to use their showers, and Community In Action, a non-profit organization, was gracious enough to donate us shower vouchers so we could shower for free! We shuttled back to the stayover, where we ended the night with some pasta for dinner, and Harbin and Sofia finally had a chance to read their birthday cards!

Thank you, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, for giving us a place to sleep for the night and letting us use your kitchen for dinner!

Cyclist’s Corner

Today’s Rider: Hanxi Fang 

How are you feeling today?

I feel pretty good. Today is only 60 miles, and we arrive at the church pretty early, and everything's just so refreshed. I feel I'm in a semi rest day today.

Which chore have you been doing for the team in the past week? Can you share your process doing this chore?

This past week, I did wake up chore, and this past week, there were a lot of camping days. The process is like, I set an alarm, and then I wake up 15 minutes before everyone else, but the thing is, because it's camping day, we were all in a tent. So sometimes, when my alarm was on, the whole tent was awakened. But anyway, I'll wake everyone else up by calling “wake up, wake up”. Although they prefer Harbin to wake everyone else up, because Harbin will usually say, “good morning, good morning”, which is more mild and oh, these two days, I've been doing the dinner chore. So when there's a food donation, I and my chore partner, we decide the portion you can have. When there's no food donation, like today, we just cook pasta and lentils and sauce and ask everyone to come and eat.

What’s the best food you’ve eaten on the ride so far?

I would say the day before yesterday, Matt's family, they donated a very, very good dinner. The chicken was impressive. It's so good, especially the skin of the chicken.

Do you have a favorite accessory to wear with your ride uniform?

Yeah, it's my wrist brace. I got a fracture from a fall more than a month ago, and without a brace, I can't bike now, but I can bike now, and I love my brace.

Any favorite team memories so far?

A lot of like, the whole family tree thing. Everyone's family, and we just call each other sister, auntie and you know, and also, the talk. The interesting conversations, like life stories when we are biking, it really makes biking a lot more interesting and easier, because especially when you're going uphill, if you're talking and listening to each other's story, you kind of forget how tiring it is.

Anything else you want to talk about?

Yeah, for example, I will say, I think after my crash, I became a much more safer rider, and I really learned from my lesson. One of the biggest lessons is that, like, I crashed 15 miles outside Champaign, which is silly, because I was too relaxed, because I think Champaign is around the corner. But the lesson I learned is that usually the accident happens when you are the most relaxed.

Day 57+58: A Return to Normalcy (Kinda) | Fairfield, ID to Boise, ID

Today was challenging, with high temperatures and gravel terrain, and the team was eager to reach Boise to enjoy the rest day after a tough stretch of the ride. Once we arrived in Boise, the team’s morale was much higher, and we got to open packages, enjoy a dinner donation, and celebrate Harbin’s 21st birthday! The next day was spent exploring and relaxing in Boise.

quote of the day

“What the heck was that” - Yuncong on gravel

“Maybe in our core we’re all lizards. Eli would be so proud” - Veronica

ride overview

Mileage: 92 Miles

Elevation: 2,595 ft. 

Points of Interest: Dawson Taylor Coffee Roasters, Basque Block, Jaialdi Basque Festival

Ride Dedication: Yuting Li

Tales of the Trail

Day 57

We started the morning in Fairfield City Park with a drive to get to the stayover and start our rest day as soon as possible. The start of the ride was very barren, and the first three rest stops were on the side of the road. The only notable part of the first stretch was the families of Mormon crickets (yes, they’re called this) we found on the side of the road. The fun/challenging part of the ride was the gravel section, which made for a lengthy gravel descent that some found exciting and others found terrifying. Temperatures also reached up to 96 degrees, and everyone felt the effects of the heat during the ride. Our lunch stop was at a gas station, and many of us got Krunchy Chicken for lunch before continuing the day. Some finished riding for the day, and some others chose to be shuttled for the last portion of the ride.

Once everyone reached the stayover, we were greeted by a large portion of Matt’s family, who all cheered us on! Once we were all settled in, the stayover served chicken for dinner, and we all feasted after a strenuous day. Many riders also received packages, as Boise was one of our maildrops, and we received many goodies and treats to enjoy for the rest of our ride. Big shoutout to Sunrise Cyclery in Logan, UT, for sending us spare tubes and other treats! After dinner, some of us walked over to the YMCA to take showers, while others used the hose outside the church. It was also a very special occasion for the team –  Harbin’s 21st birthday! Some of the team had a great night in downtown Boise celebrating Harbin’s special day!

Day 58

Today’s rest day ACTUALLY turned out to be a rest day for most of the team. Many of us spent our morning at Dawson Taylor Coffee Roasters, where we utilized the free wifi to get many of the tasks that we’ve been putting off, to get done. Nicole and Dev worked on journals, while others worked on finishing up their own journals, post cards to send, or adult things, like figuring out payments with apartment rentals, school, etc., for after the trip. We also spent this time walking around Boise, exploring the souvenir shops and getting a taste of the town. Ellie, an I4K alumni, took on the dauntingly smelly task of taking our jerseys and bibs to get them clean with laundry! She also gave each member of the team some cash to spend at the Jaialdi Basque Festival for dinner. Thank you Ellie for providing us with laundry to have clean jerseys and bibs for our ride, as well as for recommending us to go to the Jaialdi Basque Festival! The Basque Festival is an event that happens every five years in Boise, ID (great timing for us). It’s a celebration of Basque culture, a region spanning parts of Spain and France, with food, music, dance, and folklore. Our team spent some time at the festival and got to try out some of the cuisine! In addition to this cuisine, members of our team also had some dinner at our stayover in Immanuel Lutheran Church, having dinner with some local community members! It was great meeting people of the community and being able to spend some time with Bob, the pastor, who let us stay in the church.

Thank you to the Immanuel Lutheran Church for providing us with a place to sleep for two days in Boise, in addition to some meals! We hope to stay again in the future, should our routes continue to pass by Boise!

Day 56: Tonight, WE STEAL THE MOON! | Arco, ID to Fairfield, ID

With a high mileage day in sight, it was a question of whether or not the team would make it to the stayover before sunset. We had many fun plans for the day, such as visiting a well-renowned restaurant, and exploring Craters of the Moon. We also weren’t in a rush to get to our stayover location for the night, since it happened to be another camping day, but with a twist.

quote of the day

“We have free will… and this is what we choose to do” - Nicole 

Veronica: “What time is it?”

Jason: “Time is just a vibe”

Nicole: “It’s 11”

Sofia: “The vibe is 11pm”

ride overview

Mileage: 87.5 Miles 

Elevation: 2,168 ft. 

Points of Interest: Pickles Place, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, City Park (Fairfield, ID) 

Ride Dedication Judy Henry

tales of the trail

We started our frigid morning by warming up at Pickles Place, a restaurant in Arco that was recommended to us by a host at a previous stayover. The restaurant lived up to our expectations, serving amazing food, along with many different souvenirs they had on display, where many chose to get motivational pickle pens and pins. We spent about two hours here, making our hopes of finishing the day on the bike not likely, considering the high mileage for the day, and the fact that we all wanted to explore Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. 

When we made it to the Craters of the Moon, the groups wanted to visit some of the local caves and see some bats, but due to us visiting some caves earlier on our ride in our uniforms, we weren’t able to get permits to enter the caves since there was a risk of spreading white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease in bats that have resulted in a dramatic decrease of the bat population. Despite not being able to enter the cave systems, one group of riders decided to bike the 7-mile loop around Craters of the Moon, while the others took Gloria (our van), around the Preserve to explore. There was much to see as Craters of the Moon is a landscape that is dominated by basaltic lava flows and volcanic features, including lava rocks within craters. These lava rocks were interesting to hold as they look fragile with the amount of holes in them, but turn out to be very tough with a grainy texture. 

Later in the day, groups biked through 2 miles of loose gravel due to construction. It made for funny moments with people almost slipping on the gravel, but we had no falls. One of the last stops for the day was at a diner, where plenty of us got some milkshakes. To our surprise, two out of the four groups of the day were able to make it to Fairfield, ID before sunset! The first two groups booked it to make it to our final location for the day before sunset, with the second team arriving exactly at 9:05 p.m. (time of the sunset)!! The other two groups had to be shuttled the last couple of miles of the day in order to not ride in the dark. Since Fairfield, ID is a fairly small town, we had a special stayover location for tonight. We were camping, but not at a campground! We set up our tents at City Park in Fairfield, ID (where we got permission from the mayor), and slept at the corner of Willow Ave W. and 2nd St W. It was a funny experience being able to set up our tents in a city park for the night to get some rest.