Archive for August, 2016

Cambridge Ohio

Bill, Beverly & Peter at Guernsey Kitch

Peter and I strolled the Main Street of Cambridge, Ohio looking for a good beer. Peter is a beer snob, and he often finds someplace that offers IPA beer in every little town we visit. Sure enough, we found Guernsey Kitchen. Peter went into his spiel about what saints we are biking across America to provide affordable housing to families in need. Sometimes people will listen attentively and wait for payment.. Sometimes, they will shower us with effusive praise and allow us to drink for free. This was the latter. Beverly was so impressed, she not only gave us beers for free, she prepared a cheese and sausage plate to accompany our beers. All on the house. Here we are with Beverly.

Guest Blogger: Peter Asmuth

Editor’s note: I am doing the Fuller cross country bike ride with my friend, Peter Asmuth.  He recruited me and did it last year.  He is also providing updates to friends and family.  He agreed to let me post his dispatches.  We pick up Peter’s reports in progress.

Farmer Pete

One of the axioms of the Fuller Center for Housing is, “living simply, so others can simply live.” Along the way, you do come to realize how little you actually need to be completely content with your situation. So, when nature calls, you look around and make do.

The other day, I was “in the field”, after ignoring the warning about the fire ants that someone casually mentioned. When I got to the showers that evening, my ankles had a dozens of bites, which extended up to, but not past…the leggings; reason #24 to never ride without them. 🙂

Today, was a nice 83 miles with next to no wind. I could tell that the wind might be a real problem in these parts, as there are hundreds of wind turbines dotting the landscape; and they’re all facing the direction that we’re heading, just poised for that thirty mph head wind. Today, they just stood there barely moving, which was fine by me and the folks back in Craig, Colorado operating that coal fired generation plant.

After about 40 miles we crossed the Indiana state line and entered the eastern time zone. The landscape is quite flat and a mixture of corn on one side of the road and soy bean on the other. Every now and again, to break up the pattern, they reverse the corn and soy bean sides, which doesn’t really bring any relief from the monotony.

I came upon a livestock auction house with a bunch of trucks parked in the lot and, although I didn’t think that I needed a cow, I went in to check out the action and talk shop with the boys. The auction wasn’t going to happen for a hour, but a nice fellow gave me the nickel tour of the place and told me how the process works. I learned something, too. Who else knew that cows have horns, just like bulls?

BTW, everyone must have gotten the corn quiz question correct. It’s one ear per stalk, for the reason stated. And you can buy it for $.18 in the store. How does that business model work?

The next two days are going to be pretty tough; 100 plus miles, back to back. Some of you have asked, “How do you do it, Pete?”

Like all successful people have discovered, you break it down into manageable segments. The first 20 miles, you’re not even thinking of the ride; your fresh, fed, and the morning sun is greating the new day. And you get to enjoy it all on your bike. What could be better?

Somewhere along the second twenty miles, you’re 1/3 of the way. And the difference between 1/3 and 1/2 is only 1/6, which is practically nothing. Soon, your 2/3 done and the mental gymnastics start to give way and you realize that it’s hot, you’re tired, and the last quarter is going to take a lot longer than you want. At that point, you put the distances and the time in familiar context. Why, the last 15 miles is just the distance from the Capitol to home or that’s no longer than one song: Led Zeppelin’s ‘Stairway to Heaven.’

I’ll let you know how my method holds up, tomorrow.

Made It

I completed my day one of the ride, 75 miles.  It actually started out well.  The weather was cool and overcast.  There were a few hills, but not much.  I felt empowered.

We passed through some small farming towns and it was very scenic at the beginning.  I felt like the bicycle gods were smiling on us.

Over time, however, the sun began to peak through the clouds, the temperature rose and the scenery got pretty one dimensional.  Miles and miles of corn on one side of the road and soybeans on the other.

At the 67th mile, I was riding alone and spotted a rare shade tree.  I pulled over and sat under the tree.  My butt was as sore as could be and my knees were giving out.  The last 10 miles were a steady incline and I didn’t think I could take any more of that.

Then I looked at the route on my mobile phone and saw that I was at about the highest point in the ride and the rest was down hill overall.   That gave me the boost to go on.  And, although there were still a few up and down hills, the ride was easier.  I am still sore, though.

Here’s the scenery for about 65 of the 75 miles….

The road from Peoria to Gibson City