July 30th. Day 62 out of 70. I was in the water van that day and we were on our way to Yakima, Washington. I was in the water van with my teammate, Lindsey. It was a very hot day for my teammates to be riding. It got close to 97 to 99 degrees out. It seemed like Nebraska weather, but not for Washington. A local said that it was very normal to be this hot! Lindsey thought of a great idea for the rest of the team while we were chalking. She wanted to chalk on the road and write "Who are you riding for?" Lindsey had a big list of each member of our team and who they are constantly dedicating their rides for. So through out many of the climbs we periodically wrote different names to help remind them who they are fighting with. I am just as guilty of this, but I sometimes forget to stop and think of why I started this ride in the first place. I get caught up in the little things and worry about my legs hurting or how exhausted I am. However, so are they or even worse they are no longer with us. One teammate said in our dedication circle one morning about his friend that recently passed away in January. I believe he was around 23 years old when he passed away from cancer. He threw out the comment that his friend will never get to experience the little things that most people just take for granted. He will never get to have a real job, get married, have a family, and live life. However, we all do. We have the opportunity to do it right now. Not tomorrow, but today. This trip has made me realize more than ever how short life really is. It has also has made me realize how LOVE everyone around you. Love them like you have never loved them before. For real, you never know when the last time you will get to see them.
So my 4K team heard some pretty saddening news on Day 62. Another non profit organization called Bike and Build had one man pass away from being hit by a vehicle. 2 bikers were a part of this accident. The girl, Bridget is now stable, but her teammate Patrick didn't make it. It is really hard to hear this story because it was caused by something that the bikers had no control over. They most likely were doing everything they were suppose to do. It was just a freak accident. Unfortunately, a teen was driving and was distracted by her phone and hit the bikers. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Bike and Build community, Patrick's family and friends, Patrick's team, and all bikers/people out on the road. Please be safe to keep those the ones you love still in your life.
July 31st. Day 63. In honor of respecting the Bike and Build community and team, the 4K didn't ride our bikes to Packwood, Washington. We were able to sleep in until 8:30 a.m. It was great to get that much sleep. On our drive to Packwood we were able to see Mount Rainier. It was so beautiful. It was so high in elevation because it had so much snow on the top of it. Later in the afternoon, half the team went to a lake to go swimming and another group stayed back. I worked on some matenece stuff on my bike and walked downtown to a local coffee shop and got on the computer and listened to some music. I worked on some stuff for classes in the fall and of course shopped. It was a nice day of relaxing. During this time we also saw an elk across the street eating from a tree. Pretty funny to just see it walking through town. On our way back we also got to talk to a group of 4 guys who were all biking from Canada to Mexico. They are hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. They were pretty inspiring. It was also nice to know that we weren't the only crazy people out there. haha
August 1st!! Day 64. In one week I will be arriving in Portland, Oregon. That is way crazy to me. Today I spent my last van day in the host van getting food in Centraila. That is where we are staying tonight. I was in the van with Adam. We were pretty lucky because Applebee's was very gracious to us and gave us 50 dollars worth of it. I am now just laying down on a cot that they provided for all of us to sleep on. Tomorrow we have a 112 mile ride into Astoria, Oregon. I will officially be in the last state! It will be our last long ride as well. I can't wait to see the ocean for the first time either. That is coming up in just a few days!
Stay tuned. Less than a week remaining!
Peace from Washington!
Tomorrow Oregon! :)
~Halle Stephens
So my 4K team heard some pretty saddening news on Day 62. Another non profit organization called Bike and Build had one man pass away from being hit by a vehicle. 2 bikers were a part of this accident. The girl, Bridget is now stable, but her teammate Patrick didn't make it. It is really hard to hear this story because it was caused by something that the bikers had no control over. They most likely were doing everything they were suppose to do. It was just a freak accident. Unfortunately, a teen was driving and was distracted by her phone and hit the bikers. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Bike and Build community, Patrick's family and friends, Patrick's team, and all bikers/people out on the road. Please be safe to keep those the ones you love still in your life.
July 31st. Day 63. In honor of respecting the Bike and Build community and team, the 4K didn't ride our bikes to Packwood, Washington. We were able to sleep in until 8:30 a.m. It was great to get that much sleep. On our drive to Packwood we were able to see Mount Rainier. It was so beautiful. It was so high in elevation because it had so much snow on the top of it. Later in the afternoon, half the team went to a lake to go swimming and another group stayed back. I worked on some matenece stuff on my bike and walked downtown to a local coffee shop and got on the computer and listened to some music. I worked on some stuff for classes in the fall and of course shopped. It was a nice day of relaxing. During this time we also saw an elk across the street eating from a tree. Pretty funny to just see it walking through town. On our way back we also got to talk to a group of 4 guys who were all biking from Canada to Mexico. They are hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. They were pretty inspiring. It was also nice to know that we weren't the only crazy people out there. haha
August 1st!! Day 64. In one week I will be arriving in Portland, Oregon. That is way crazy to me. Today I spent my last van day in the host van getting food in Centraila. That is where we are staying tonight. I was in the van with Adam. We were pretty lucky because Applebee's was very gracious to us and gave us 50 dollars worth of it. I am now just laying down on a cot that they provided for all of us to sleep on. Tomorrow we have a 112 mile ride into Astoria, Oregon. I will officially be in the last state! It will be our last long ride as well. I can't wait to see the ocean for the first time either. That is coming up in just a few days!
Stay tuned. Less than a week remaining!
Peace from Washington!
Tomorrow Oregon! :)
~Halle Stephens