Day 9 was a little crazy because I rode in the van. I was in charge of chalking for the other cyclists. Needless to say the van messed up one turn and unfortunately got a team off track by 10 miles. I felt like the worst human being in the world. However, we got them back on track and into Athens, Ohio. We stayed in a Catholic Church. It had just been remodeled and I swear there had to be multiple famous chefs there because the food was amazing! The people were so lovely and supportive as well. The next morning we were off to Columbus. My group was Adam, Zach, Sarah L, Flora, and I. It was a solid group. I enjoyed it very much. We were flying it felt like for most of it. The night before in Athens I got my bike tightened up and got a new bike seat and I could tell a major difference. My tush felt sooo much better! We had to get up at 4:00 a.m. that day to head to Columbus. It was a 93 mile ride. The farthest we have gone yet. In a few days we have a century ride (100 miles)!!! I'm a little nervous about it. haha It starting to flatten out a little better than the way it was in the mountains. We are having some definite wind happening though. I'm used this, being from the midwest. We have nasty wind in Kansas. I keep warning the eastern folk that it could get worse as we go farther over west. Also, these people have never heard of Runzas, Raising Canes, and Dorthy Lynch dressing. This needs to change! haha all of Nebraska's fortes!
As we were approaching the outskirts of Columbus we literally had to ride our bikes on the worst road possible. So bumpy and full of holes. SO ROUGH! Then we through an interesting part of Columbus and then we arrived to the city. Zach is from Columbus and just graduated from Ohio State University, so he was going to give my group a tour of the campus. It started to get really hairy and intense as we started to hit the city. You have to be completely focused on riding and what is going on around you with the cars. We have to stay tight as a group so we can act like a car. haha We finally got to campus and rode our bikes around. It was a giant campus and was beautiful. Was a little difficult to ride because of all of the people running around there, but we made it happen and it was sooo worth it. Later we rode past the football stadium and Zach ironically saw one of his friends that plays on the football team. We took a picture with him and some of the football coaches for OSU. It was SO cool! Then we saw that gate was open to go onto the football field. So we asked the woman standing at the gate if we would be able to go inside and look at the football field. She said yes as long as we didn't put our bikes on the turf. So we were able to walk down into the tunnel and out onto the field. It was soo cool. We took a ton of pictures. My group was the only one to do this, so that made it very memorable! :)
I'm currently sitting in a Baptist Church in Columbus. I'm currently typing this blog in the CapCity Cafe Room. They even made us coffee. It is soo great! Later we are going to go deliver a scholarship to a girl that lives here in Columbus and later we are meeting up with the Seatle ride for a dinner tonight provided by the 4K. Should be really great.
Day 10 was dedicated to a wonderful woman and fighter named Sofia Ulvan. She was a foriegn exchange student who camed to Arapahoe a few years back while I was in high school. When she went back to Sweeden she found out she had cancer. She has been fighting ever since. She is a fighter and continues to fight everyday. Day 10 and 93 miles are all to you Sofia! Just know you are not fighting alone!
Cancer Changes Lives... So Do We!
Day 9 and 10 out!
So long from Columbus, Ohio.
~Halle Stephens
As we were approaching the outskirts of Columbus we literally had to ride our bikes on the worst road possible. So bumpy and full of holes. SO ROUGH! Then we through an interesting part of Columbus and then we arrived to the city. Zach is from Columbus and just graduated from Ohio State University, so he was going to give my group a tour of the campus. It started to get really hairy and intense as we started to hit the city. You have to be completely focused on riding and what is going on around you with the cars. We have to stay tight as a group so we can act like a car. haha We finally got to campus and rode our bikes around. It was a giant campus and was beautiful. Was a little difficult to ride because of all of the people running around there, but we made it happen and it was sooo worth it. Later we rode past the football stadium and Zach ironically saw one of his friends that plays on the football team. We took a picture with him and some of the football coaches for OSU. It was SO cool! Then we saw that gate was open to go onto the football field. So we asked the woman standing at the gate if we would be able to go inside and look at the football field. She said yes as long as we didn't put our bikes on the turf. So we were able to walk down into the tunnel and out onto the field. It was soo cool. We took a ton of pictures. My group was the only one to do this, so that made it very memorable! :)
I'm currently sitting in a Baptist Church in Columbus. I'm currently typing this blog in the CapCity Cafe Room. They even made us coffee. It is soo great! Later we are going to go deliver a scholarship to a girl that lives here in Columbus and later we are meeting up with the Seatle ride for a dinner tonight provided by the 4K. Should be really great.
Day 10 was dedicated to a wonderful woman and fighter named Sofia Ulvan. She was a foriegn exchange student who camed to Arapahoe a few years back while I was in high school. When she went back to Sweeden she found out she had cancer. She has been fighting ever since. She is a fighter and continues to fight everyday. Day 10 and 93 miles are all to you Sofia! Just know you are not fighting alone!
Cancer Changes Lives... So Do We!
Day 9 and 10 out!
So long from Columbus, Ohio.
~Halle Stephens