TandemFamily: Week 2
22 September 23, 2019, Sunday
Layover: Evangola State Park
Today was a day of rest for us. We lounged around camp reading scriptures and walking along the lake shore. We were able to participate in Stake Conference by biking about a mile inland (away from the lake) to where we had some cell reception. We set up our chairs and watched Stake Conference via a hot-spot on my computer. All the talks were excellent, including Jemma Macon and especially President Dobbs. He spoke primarily to and about the youth, particularly regarding challenges, not being coddled, and being prepared for the future. My favorite quote was “Satan doesn’t care what you do with your life, as long as you don’t do anything.”
Last night we mapped out our course to Petersons house, I think we can make it there in time for General Conference if we do 40 miles a day. We’ll see how far we get tomorrow!
23 September 2019, Monday
Start: Evangola State Park, NY End: NY/PA State line Lakeside Campground
Miles: 47.5 Ave Speed: 9mph
Last night was somewhat difficult to sleep because the wind was quite strong all night. We were sheltered from the wind by trees but camped on a 20’ cliff above Lake Erie, aka: The Ocean. The wind created tremendous waves all night and I was also concerned that a tree may blow over on us. Just about everyone woke up about 5am and lay in bed until 6am. Surprisingly (perhaps because of the wind) there was no dew so all our stuff was dry. We had breakfast and were on the bikes by 9am, a record start so far!
That was the best part of the day, it deteriorated quickly after that. We were riding into a 15mph headwind, and there was a large thunderstorm forecast for late in the morning. The wind was blustery but consistent in its ferocity, and we had a few spits of rain now and then. However, around 11am the promised rainstorm arrived. We happened to be stopped taking a quick break under a sparse tree whin the light sprinkle changed to a heavy rain. We fled to the shelter of a huge tree nearby just as the heavy rain changed to a downpour. We grabbed our MSR Zing tarp and pitched it beneath the tree to shelter us from the wind and rain, but we were all soaked already. We ate a lunch of soggy peanut butter sandwiches huddled beneath the flogging tarp. Eventually the rain retreated to a drizzle and we once again started West. The terrain was rolling and gentle but the wind made for some painfully slow progress. My bike computer said we averaged 9mph, but I feel like every time I looked at it we were doing 5-6mph!
Our daily travel distances are primarily determined by where there are campgrounds. (I have never appreciated the luxury of camping wherever you want on BLM and National Forest so much before, I miss it!). Today we passed a camp at 25 miles but wanted to get more miles in. Then we passed another at 32, then another around 39. Ultimately we decided to push all the way to the state line, arriving at 5:00pm. It was a very challenging day and the kids all did amazing. I never heard any of them complain. Much of the day we listened to the Church History book Saints Vol 1 audiobook played on a Bluetooth speaker on each bike. It is exciting to hear all those stories and to be traveling exactly where the early saints traveled (although they were on a boat for this leg of their journey).
When we got to the campground John, the kindest campground host we’ve met yet, led us to a gorgeous site right on the lake but protected from the still-ferocious wind. We had a delightful evening bragging about and reveling in our muscle soreness and then spent 20 minutes running toward the water on the beach trying not to get touched by the crashing waves. I guess we still had more juice in us after all!
Everyone is crashed in their beds now, I will join them shortly. Tomorrow we hope to do another 40 miles, we’ll see how our legs and the wind cooperate though. I also hope to get a better seminary routine started tomorrow. We’ve tried to do seminary during our lunch break, but it is hard to get the right spirit. I believe it is largely because we are very casual, eating our lunch, not sitting in a circle, and not starting specifically with a song and a prayer. I had not appreciated before how prayer and hymns bring the spirit to a discussion.
24 September 2019 Tuesday
Start: NY/PA stateline End: Virginia’s Beach Campground, PA
Miles: 46.5
Once again we were camped right next to the lake but in a sheltered spot, so the wind and the waves kept me awake much of the night despite having earplugs in. The weather today was partly cloudy and quite windy. Fortunately the wind was not much of a headwind and the cycling was easier.
I started cooking breakfast at 6am and we were packed up and moving by 9am. I had my weekly phone meeting with the office at 10:30, so we rode for 90 minutes then stopped for a break. We couldn’t find a park, so we stopped in someone’s front yard, but it was huge and I’m sure they didn’t mind sharing the shade of their trees with us. Things are going pretty well back at the office, although there are learning pains as my new partners figure out their new roles and step into the responsibility of a business owner. Truthfully, I have been shirking responsibility and enjoying the mental freedom of not worrying about the business. I have often thought that I couldn’t stand working for someone else, but perhaps that is where I’ll find the most mental freedom? I need to find a balance right now so that nothing bad happens at the office due to my negligence.
After my meeting we found a Little Ceasars and feasted on pizza for lunch, then jumped back on the bikes heading west. We’re riding through the wine country and passing miles and miles of vineyards. We stopped at a farm stand and bought some produce, then at the Dollar General for non-perishable groceries. We tried to camp at one campsite but the host wanted to charge us $45 for each one of our three tents, so we left there and rode three more miles to a fantastic campground.
During the ride today my left Achilles tendon started “popping” but I have not had any pain. I assume it is strain from doing too much too fast on the bike. Hopefully it’s not a sign of impending doom and I can just pedal more lightly and it will go away. Two days ago Hyrum hyper-extended his knee and he had a hard time walking yesterday, but this evening he ran down to the playground and back without complaint. Otherwise everyone seems to be growing into the challenge of biking, even with the increased mileage the past two days. We have about 60 miles to get to Kirtland, so we’ll split that into two 30 mile days and take it a little more easy tomorrow.
25 September 26, 2019 Wednesday
Start: Virginia’s Beach Campground, PA End: Geneva Ohio, Warmshowers
Warmshowers Host: Burdyshaw
Miles: 36
After a great nights sleep and a lazy morning we hit the road at 11am. We took the scenic route through a Pennsylvania Hunting Area and enjoyed some solitude on dirt roads and saw a few bald eagles. We stopped at a park for lunch and had a great discussion about the origin of the Gospel according to St. Matthew.
There was road construction that blocked the ACA route we were following, so we detoured onto a road that went through a massive chemical factory and ended up riding 10 miles on a very busy 4-lane road with no shoulder.
Tonight we’re staying with Rick, a super nice retired gentleman who has toured all over the country. He is headed to New Zealand for the winter to spend time with a Warmshowers cyclist he hosted a few years ago. We did laundry in his basement and set up the tents in the back yard. The next door neighbor came over and visited while we were eating dinner outside, he rescues Chihuaua dogs and currently has 12 at his house.
I texted the bishop of the Kirtland ward and he connected us with a family who lives near the temple where we will spend Thursday and Friday nights. I really like warmshowers because it enables us to meet people we would never connect with otherwise, I wish there were an LDS version as well, that would be a lot of fun. Of course, then we would be meeting people like ourselves rather than seeing a broad cross-section of society.
26 September 26, 2019, Thursday
Start: Saybrook OH warmshowers End: Kirtland OH members yard
Miles: 36 miles
Sleep: Jackson’s
During the night Hyrum wet the bed, so at 6am I got his sleeping bag and clothes in the wash. It was convenient that it occurred when we were somewhere we could do laundry! We had a delicious breakfast of oatmeal pancakes and spam. We ran out of syrup and the little stores we’ve stopped at for groceries have sold pancake mix but we haven’t found any syrup that we’re comfortable stuffing into a pannier lest it explode everywhere. So we’ve been eating pancakes plain, which is surprisingly tasty, I suppose because we’re hungry. We’ve really started looking at the calories we’re consuming. This evening our dinner contained 4000 calories total, so equally divided it would have been 500 calories each. I figure we’re burning 3000-4000 calories per day, which would explain why we’re always hungry!
Our ride today was mostly uneventful. The roads here are very unfriendly to cyclists; most don’t have a shoulder and are lined with a curb, forcing us to ride in the traffic lane. Fortunately the drivers are courteous and generally pass at low speed and in the opposite lane. We had our first official crash today: We were turning into a parking lot that had a large lip to get over the curb, and the girls front tire washed out and the tipped over. Fortunately they were only going 5mph and everyone laughed it off. The parking lot had a Dunkin Donuts in it, so we celebrated the fall with a dozen donuts!
We had lunch on the lawn of a fire station and stopped for seminary at a city park. Yesterday I texted the Kirtland Ward bishop and asked if there were any families that would be interested in letting us camp in their yard, and he connected me with Joe Jackson. They have 8 acres near the Kirtland Temple so we’re camped there. They are super nice, today is their son’s 16th birthday.
Lately the little boys are crazy about Rook, and I’m shocked at how well even Greg can play. Most evenings are not complete without one or two quick hands of Rook before laying down to sleep. Which it is time for now!
27 September 2019 Friday
Start/End: Kirtland, OH – layover
Miles: 6.5
What a delightful day! We had a lazy morning around camp reading scriptures and enjoying breakfast, then we went and toured to the Kirtland Temple. The temple is owned by the Community of Christ, a group that fragmented of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints shortly after the death of Joseph Smith. I was very impressed with the workmanship of the temple. The woodwork inside is incredible, and to think that it was all done without the aid of modern tools is outstanding. They were truly dedicated and devoted to serving the Lord and receiving the endowment of power He promised to give in the temple. The Community of Christ has done a great job restoring the building and we enjoyed being able to walk in the places where such significant events took place, including the appearance of the Father and Son and the restoration of the sealing power. It was interesting to hear how much the two churches work together and both continue to use the building to this day.
After the temple we wandered the grounds and visited with a couple from St. George. They were so enamored with our travels that she gave Greg a $20 bill to buy ice cream for our family! We enjoyed a delicious lunch at Wrap Shack we went to Historic Kirtland, the historic sites managed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The church has really done a fantastic job of renewing or recreating these sacred places.
Because we have been listening to Saints Vol. 1, it was neat to hear the children ask the two young sister missionaries who were giving us a tour about details from the book, and then be shown where they happened or learn more details. I think this is an experience that will help the children incorporate a love of the gospel and an appreciation of the sacrifices made deep in their hearts. If so, any sacrifice Colleen and I make will be worth it.
28 September 2019 Saturday
Start: Kirtland OH End: North Olmstead, OH Marriott Townplace Suites
Miles: 36 miles
We had a sprinkle of rain starting at 5am, but it quit by 7am. No one seemed to sleep well last night, it never cooled off and the humidity was very high. I slept terribly myself. Last night we had invited our hosts, the Jacksons, over for dinner in their own back yard, but they already had other commitments. So we had hoped to have them over for breakfast, but that didn’t work out either so we had a huge breakfast for ourselves.
I had hoped that contacting the local Bishop would be a fun way to meet families, but our one experience made me feel like more of a beggar and we really didn’t connect with the Jacksons because they were so busy. I guess the difference between us reaching out through church and others inviting us in through Warmshowers is greater than I thought. Colleen and I brainstormed about ways we could phrase a request for hosting, but we could never come up with anything that felt like it would work. Every angle we took still felt like we were begging for somewhere to stay rather than seeking to meet outgoing families. So I don’t think we’ll try that again.
I know that the children will learn many important life lessons on this journey, but I’m not sure what they’ll be. One that I saw this morning was learning how to deal with each other and work together. The four boys were packing up their sleeping pads and bags inside the tent all at the same time. They all got frustrated because someone was sitting on their pad or moved in their way. Learning how to deal with the challenges and frustrations others cause is a crucial life skill. Of course, that lesson was accompanied by a fair amount of yelling and frustration this morning.
They are also learning how to manage and control their emotions. We had a couple bikes tip over today, and that causes frustration, anger, or fear that the kids (and us) then need to deal with. They are doing a great job learning not to blame or accuse others but instead owning accountability for their actions.
Our ride this morning was very challenging. We went up and down a lot of hills, and a couple of the climbs were incredibly challenging. We all had to push our bikes up, and that was hard work! I was soaked with sweat and even had sweat dripping out of the front of my helmet as I bent forward pushing my bike up the hill. After lunch we altered our route and headed up to the shore of the lake, and our afternoon was nice and flat.
This evening we are staying in a Marriott Suites hotel. That way we are just a couple miles from the church and we can rest and be ready for church tomorrow. So this evening we had fun watching some movies together. This is the third night we’ve slept indoors since we left Maas’s home in Washington DC in early September. Colleen really is one of very few women today who are willing to do this kind of project!