Night 7 8:00pm to 4:00am

Avon, Indiana to (the Ohio State Line in) Richmond Indiana

We awoke early again and went to the appointed Hand-off point on US 40.  I was still quite droggy and so I didn’t hear the communications with Team Two and before long Jon was once again on the road to lead out the first 40 miles.  With Greg still not at 100% we were once again going to break the nights ride into 3 sections, after Jon put in his 4 miles, we dispatched Allan who rode to Charlottesville before I mounted my iron horse to pedal the last 40 some odd miles to the Ohio State Line.  US 40 in Indiana is a wonderful cycling road and I heartily endorse it if you’re going to be cycling in that area of the country.  Unlike the two nights before there were no long climbs nor even short ones there were some rollers but I didn’t really face a climb of any stature until the last 100 yard to the border. We all had performed well that evening and I was particularly happy with my own performance, as I did was required without letting the Team down.

We were told that when we had finished our ride that morning that we were then to drive straightaway to Washington DC where we would join others at the CureSearch event and visit to Capital Hill.  I don’t like dog and pony shows much but this was important for the Team as a whole and for the little ones that we were riding for in particular. So,  off we went driving like people possessed for DC. 

I of course went sound asleep in the back of the minivan and slept almost undisturbed for quite a while.  We were dropping of a freeway somewhere in Eastern Ohio at a place called Ohio Valley, West of Wheeling W.V. on our way to a Denny’s for breakfast.  We all enjoyed eating that morning including Greg who managed to start putting some food in himself in an effort to regain his strength.   We had thought that this would be our last riding for the trip except for the last 30 miles that the entire Team would ride together, so we left after breakfast headed for DC again.  We had stopped for a late lunch somewhere in Eastern Maryland when phones came out and the entire Team Will discovered that with people riding extra time et al we had left a leg from Chambersburg, PA to Laurel MD not ridden. So we abandoned the thought of a restfull evening and left immediately for Chambersburg where we began to ride yet another 120 mile segment after catching only what sleep we had achieved in the vehicle. 

Afternoon/Evening 8

Chambersburg Pennsylvania to Laurel Maryland

We again looked like a circus clown act evacuating the minivan in Chambersburg. 6 grown adults in various states of dress, 4 of us still in our cycling gear from the night before, preparing to had out for another 120 miles. 

Jon took out the lead with Greg giving it the old college try before discovering that he wasn’t quite all there yet on the strength chart. Allan jumped out to join him and the two of them made there way through Gettysburg before making a right turn that they shouldn’t have in Central Gettysburg proper which was another couple of miles we had to make up to return to the route.  Once back on the route we were doing OK time and mileage wise even if we had to deal with some inconsiderate drivers we were still doing what was required for achieving the mileage we needed in the allotted time.  Finally with about 30 miles left I joined Jon on what could only be called the hilly part of the ride. We were riding a road that was at 90 degrees to the flow of the local creeks and rivers. So we would dive into the valleys and then be faced with 14% climbs up the other side as we worked out way Southeasterly into Maryland.

Finally after riding through the sunset in the rolling hills of Maryland North of DC we rolled up to a corner with about 4 miles to go.  Where upon Greg felt like he had enough to finish out the day and he came out of the van to ride with Jon the final miles and I retreated to the back seat.  We finished out the leg riding to the junction of the route with Interstate 95 Somewhere near Laurel.  We all piled back into the minivan and headed for downtown DC where a hotel room awaited us arranged by CureSearch.  We arrived about 10:30 checked in, ordered a couple of pizzas to be delivered and took welcome showers as we hadn’t showered that morning after our first ride of the day.  We wolfed down the pizza before heading off to sleep that was going to be way to short, as we had a 6:00am wake-up call.