Cleveland Rocks!!!

Today was a pretty great day! We rode to Cleveland a mere 67, flat miles! The weather was beautiful and the roads were relatively flat, but anything seems flat compared to New York state. Very few of the bikers have many nice words for the state of New York, except for the two natives.

We started out from the church today before 7, a record time for us. We rode past Lake Erie all day. It looks like and ocean, though not as clean or as nice. After 35 miles, we had lunch at a state park. There was a sandy beach where riders played frisbee, skipped rocks into the water and did some sun bathing. We couldn't have asked for a better day.

A few brave souls did jump in the water that was banned for children and the elderly because of pollution and most importantly, e-coli bacteria. Really safe. Jeff decided to jump in the water and then let us bury him in the sand. I think he rode the worst 30 miles of his life with sand in his pants.

We rolled into the city before 2:30 and enjoyed some warm showers and space to sleep. We all made plans for dinner at 4:30 (we are hungry bikers) and almost ate the restaurants out of pizza. A few riders went to the Indians game while others decided to walk to a food CoOp for some organic food...yum!

We are staying at CASE Western Reserve University tonight and were told by one of the people living in the dorm that we have another flat day with only two hills and we drop in elevation by 300 feet. It's also a short day, 60 some miles. I think that we are all excited for tomorrow.

Only three days till we get a break and another mail drop! If you didn't get your package mailed out in time for Friday, don't worry, you can send it to our next mail drop. Just check out our website for the information.

Well, it is way past my bedtime at 10:30. Have a great night and we'll keep you posted!!!

Goodnight All!
Anna

June 4 - Houghton to Buffalo

Saturday's ride from Houghton to Buffalo was our first during which it rained continuously from start to finish. There were few hills, but a wrong turn that almost all riders made at Seneca and Transit just outside of Buffalo made it along day. We don't know whether it was because of the rain or because of budget cuts that have rendered Buffalo a city without street sweepers, but flat tires devastated riders during the last ten miles of the trip. One large group of 15riders had 20 flats during that last stretch. Thankfully, Matt Young was around to change each of those in under five minutes and the group still arrived atWestminster Church before the 5 p.m. shower deadline at the Jewish Community Center across the street.The quote of the day comes from Matt Lawlor. Matt arrived as part of the group of 15 riders. He was covered in dirt, his face in particular, which he explained had been kicked up by the tire of Jeff's bike, behind which he had ridden all afternoon. Matt was eating an apple while riding out in the van withMatt Bender to pick up Emily Roller and Danni, whose tubes and tires had just exploded across the street from West Seneca West Middle School. He said, "My lips are making my apple dirty." His dirt-covered lips literally left stains on the white flesh of his apple as he took each bite.

--matt bender

Birthdays?

Hey parents and friends of riders... If your rider has a birthday coming up, let me know at danielle.lovell@gmail.com. Then we will be extra sure to plan some kind of surprise. Even if it is a cool card.

More updates are forthcoming.

And HAPPY 21st LORRAINE! (two days ago... but still special)