tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66375431945095691012024-03-12T20:53:19.721-07:004K for CancerThe Hopkins 4K for Cancer is a completely student run, non-profit organization dedicated to uniting communities across the country in the fight against cancer. The group’s mission is three-fold: spreading awareness, raising funds, and fostering hope. Each summer, the students of the Hopkins 4K undertake a 4,000-mile, two month bicycle trek from the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California.Danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15888852052611175614noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6637543194509569101.post-47091693529284660872008-09-13T18:18:00.000-07:002008-09-13T18:24:23.291-07:00Apply for the 2009 Team!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXFwDQJb8V_jwSdC4MKL3D_LpTvF_MhQX4aWZcH4jDnUlZO7dL9rHT5LrJkvV-rMi5-WC8hpfM7knMH0wJusN_V-AMZTmDLih2DQiBo7m7rZ4kKf2e-3EiBnh4OBM4IaSWELsRBV6G5hZ/s1600-h/Day+36+-+Rocky+Mtn+Natl+Park+%2857%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXFwDQJb8V_jwSdC4MKL3D_LpTvF_MhQX4aWZcH4jDnUlZO7dL9rHT5LrJkvV-rMi5-WC8hpfM7knMH0wJusN_V-AMZTmDLih2DQiBo7m7rZ4kKf2e-3EiBnh4OBM4IaSWELsRBV6G5hZ/s320/Day+36+-+Rocky+Mtn+Natl+Park+%2857%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245681507608076306" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Do you want to join in the battle against cancer by having the experience of a lifetime biking across America?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.hopkins4k.org/files/4kApp2009.doc">Click here to apply</a> for the 2009 team, and let you hearts, and legs, make a difference.</span>Danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15888852052611175614noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6637543194509569101.post-52293442677914539732008-08-01T13:58:00.000-07:002008-11-12T17:22:18.037-08:00Thanks Again!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEismjZ7cSBMTwkYrQyjvAx609-qxBhOAw0QKd1fvwc41nfH4Yi3a8lFQyR9Bk_9KtS8Wa_I8laofqe2e6K02aBfgdxMZqJQZKdx_vWZY0BfKgxVaY5Inj7lDjddXyghrdccUj6uzZgGb2UT/s1600-h/101_1822.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEismjZ7cSBMTwkYrQyjvAx609-qxBhOAw0QKd1fvwc41nfH4Yi3a8lFQyR9Bk_9KtS8Wa_I8laofqe2e6K02aBfgdxMZqJQZKdx_vWZY0BfKgxVaY5Inj7lDjddXyghrdccUj6uzZgGb2UT/s320/101_1822.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229657684380240770" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Thank you to all our friends, family, and supporters from home and across the country who have made this amazing experience possible!<br /><br />I've uploaded a <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/4k4cancer">final album</a> of pictures that runs through our spectacular arrival ceremony at the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, CA!<br /><br />All the riders will be sifting through their own photos and the team has organized a way to share them all with each other over the Internet, so ask your rider for the thousands of photos still to come!<br /><br />Also, every team member will be contributing their own journal entry for our final day into San Francisco, and they will all be posted over the next week or so.<br /><br />Thanks again!Danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15888852052611175614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6637543194509569101.post-50115211661128700432008-08-01T11:01:00.000-07:002008-08-01T11:14:34.659-07:00A Crazy Busy Day - San Rafael, CA (Day 62)It was a process leaving Stockton this morning, mainly because the hosts were so nice and we decided to play some games before circle-up. One of the community members offered to lead us on his bike out of the city. It is always fun to caravan as a group, but unfortunately by mile 20 we realized we were way behind schedule and would have to begin a shuttling process earlier than expected.<br /><br />With such time restraints, a team dinner to make that night, and a complicated and important day tomorrow, Meg "da Leg Leader" and I decided to get some work done. We jumped in with Rob's parents at the lunch stop that they set up for us (thanks Mr. and Mrs. Kasten!!!) to go ahead and begin chalking out the 40+ turns for the next day. Though San Rafael is only about 20 miles north of the Golden Gate, the directions were complicated since we had to avoid the California highways.<br /><br />The project became much more difficult than we had anticipated, and after about 3 hours of driving around getting lost and discovering non-existent bike paths, Meg and I decided to join the rest of the group (which had spent the last few hours shuttling over the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge) at a great team dinner provided by Mrs. Gotimer (again, we love parents!)<br /><br />Though the chalking and re-routing process went till about 4am, with some vital help from Thomas, Clare and Anna, and though no one on the team had time to shower, the adrenaline-pumped anticipation for our day into San Francisco kept everyone on their toes and ready...<br /><br />-DanDanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15888852052611175614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6637543194509569101.post-63641743236976222552008-08-01T10:51:00.000-07:002008-08-01T11:01:11.604-07:00The Brewing Church - Stockton, CA (Day 61)We finally reached sea-level (well, 15ft) today in Stockton, CA. The ride from Diamond Springs was great, especially because I was part of Team Broadway- we belted it out all morning and afternoon. You would be surprised how well you can sing on the bike with wind blowing in your face. (Note: though I sing a lot, and especially in groups like this, I really, really can't sing - ask the other group members.)<br /><br />It was so weird knowing we were so close to our goal - the landscape honestly eerily reminded us of something out of Kansas or Nebraska. All we could see for miles was fields of gold, though in California that unfortunately means dried crops. As we got closer to Stockton, however, we came upon some fruit trees and vineyards. Jess took one for the team and picked a bunch of grapes. Though they were very tart and obviously not meant for consumption, they hit it home for us that we were finally in California.<br /><br />Though we got lost right before we hit Stockton, and I got flat tire (I've lost count of how many of those I've gotten on this trip) it was nice getting there for another great community dinner and homestays. After having some of the church's home-brewed beer, "St. Anne's Ale," Jesse and I settled in with our host, Sarah King, who shared with us the powerful story of her son who lost his battle to leukemia 30 years ago when he was only 20 years old. It is in memory of her son, she told us, that she hosts young men from the 4K every year.<br /><br />A truly powerful story to have with us tomorrow on our last full day of riding into San Rafael.<br /><br />-DanDanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15888852052611175614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6637543194509569101.post-34632513465645720082008-07-24T22:11:00.001-07:002008-07-30T19:06:28.911-07:00An Incredible New Host - Diamond Springs, CA (Day 60)Today was finally the day we began our journey back down to that amazing thing we dream about called sea level. Other than two climbs, which were nearly nothing compared to all the climbing we’ve done through Nevada and into Lake Tahoe, it was so glorious and thrilling down hills for most of the day into Diamonds Springs.<br /><br />The first highlight of the day was Echo Summit, at which we all tried to yell and hear an echo, but to no avail. We yelled enough to make an effective scene, though. As we descended, we saw countless burned out patches of trees, reminding us of the ever-present danger of forest fires in California.<br /><br />We were excited to meet our hosts in Diamond Springs, anticipating our first real community dinner and interaction in well over a week. Our expectations, however, did nothing to prepare us for the overwhelming hospitality, generosity, and kindness that we found at the Solid Rock Faith Center in Diamond Springs.<br /><br />In addition to an amazing dinner, the church, along with the gym that provided showers for us, donated $2000 to our cause, which is something well beyond what we expected. Again, our appreciation for this community cannot truly be expressed in words. Pastors Sue and Don Pritchard were incredible.<br /><br />The community also organized home stays for us, and Ondrej, Rob and I had the pleasure of staying with Mary and Pat Frost at their beautiful home overlooking the California valley. They also provided more hospitality than we could thank them for, and shared the story of their son, a many-time Iron Man and tri-athlete.<br /><br />Without hesitation, I personally would say Diamond Springs, even as a brand new host for the 4K, was one of the greatest days we have had all summer. Their generosity and understanding of our mission is immeasurable.<br /><br />-DanDanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15888852052611175614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6637543194509569101.post-8353055927656492892008-07-24T21:51:00.000-07:002008-07-24T21:53:19.503-07:00California Vacation - South Lake Tahoe, CA (Days 58-59)On the day out of Fallon, we found that reading road signs is harder than expected. We left Fallon bright and early at 7 am. Like every other day in Nevada, we followed the biggest road we found. This turned out to be route 50 Alt, not route 50, which heads toward Reno instead of Carson City. By the time we realized this at the first water stop 20 miles in, we were at least 15 miles away from our intended destination. Turns out that the van drivers noticed the turn, but followed our route since they saw riders. We were following the route because we saw the vans on it! In any case, this erroneous turn tacked on another 18 miles to our route, turning out already challenging 91 mile day into another 110 mile day.<br /><br />We really knew we were in Nevada when we passed through Carson City, and saw a sign for marriage licenses down the street. The other interesting feature of Carson City was the towering mountains which we would climb shortly. Compared to the Rockies in Boulder, the Sierras stand nearly 2000 feet higher from base to peak. This made for an impressive display, towering over everything nearby.<br /><br />As we arrived at our final climb into Tahoe, my bike odometer already showed 98 miles. We watched the Baby Bear/Hubie race begin; a rather uneventful start. We started up the mountain soon afterwards. After 2 months of biking, even the 11% grade did not feel awful. What WAS awful, however, was the 40 mph wind which played with us, occasionally helping along with a tailwind, but mostly destroying our speed as a headwind. After over an hour, I finally arrived at the top of Dagget Summit, 2400 feet higher, and 8 miles closer. The cheering was incredibly intense as each person arrived and joined, but it was indeed an amazing feeling. I can only imagine if the euphoria approached the triumph of successful chemotherapy. After just a few short miles of descent, we were in view of the lake. We arrived at the Lake Tahoe Presbyterian Church extremely late, but very happy.<br /><br />On our day off the following day, I decided that hanging around was not quite what I wanted to do. Considering the absolutely amazing views just outside the door, I decided to go for a short bike ride to look around. Before I knew it, I was already halfway up the (extremely steep) hill above Emerald Bay. Considering the absolutely amazing view, I decided that I might as well spend the day biking around the entire lake. From reading the placards, I found out that Lake Tahoe is the third biggest lake in North America- 22 miles long and 12 miles wide. At 1600 feet deep, it contains enough water to cover the state of California in 14 inches of water. Its bottom is in fact lower than Carson City. The water is so clear, objects 75 feet deep remain visible. The gorgeous deep blue color is due to the color of the sky; during stormy days, the water is gray or nearly black. Following my extremely long but rewarding day, I finished off with some yummy Chinese food and went to sleep.<br /><br />-James GaoDanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15888852052611175614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6637543194509569101.post-24862558159016343652008-07-24T21:50:00.001-07:002008-07-24T21:55:10.575-07:00Change(s) in Scenery - Fallon, NV (Day 57)110 miles. Mostly downhill. I thought it would be easy, but I was wrong. This morning we woke at 4am to a lovely mix of songs courtesy of Hubie. You know it’s early when you are already awake and moving about when the rooster crows.<br /><br />The desert was absolutely beautiful during the sunrise, however, making most of us forger we were running on little sleep. After a few miles, we took a long descent onto the desert floor, and the terrain changed from canyons and shrubs to mostly sand. Anyone on the team will tell you that today was not only filled with many scenery changes, but also some very weird sites.<br /><br />Our lunch stop was set up under a very large tree. Yet this wasn’t just a tree to provide us with some much needed shade. We dubbed the tree the ‘Shoe Tree’ because hundreds and hundreds of shoes were either hanging from its branches or strewn about underneath. We debated for a while what sort of cult-like activity people out here were up to with this tree, but no consensus was reached.<br /><br />Following the tree, and after another nice downhill, we again found ourselves biking in the open desert. My group of Yogi, Meg, and myself started noticing some odd warning signs posted on fences lining the road. Meg got curious, stopped her bike in the middle of the road, and decided to walk over and check them out. The signs said something along the lines of “Restricted Area – Keep Out,” so we immediately decided it must be some top secret military nuclear site. Sounds cool, right?<br /><br />We came upon some really spectacular salt flats near the end of the day, and saw hundreds of messages written out on the sand with rocks along the road. We dubbed it ‘western graffiti.’ A long day, but, as always, some amazing sights along the way.<br />-DanDanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15888852052611175614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6637543194509569101.post-2507848329204457212008-07-24T21:37:00.001-07:002008-07-24T21:38:35.326-07:00An Isolated Day Off in the Desert - Austin, NV (Days 55-56)Austin, NV is said to be one of the most isolated towns in America. The ride from Eureka was mostly flat, but of course a nice head wind made it become a challenge for all the groups. Knowing there would be two large climbs at the end, we tried to move fast through the day. I rode with Hubbie, so in anticipation of his ultimate climbing battle with Baby Bear (Henry) going into Tahoe in a few days, we made sure to pass his group, stay longer at the water stops, and then pass his group again. Effective demoralization of the opponent.<br /><br />The two climbs were challenges, but nothing we hadn’t seen or conquered before. As we began to downhill, the town came up fast, since the entire town is built on the ridge. Austin was once a booming silver mining hotspot, but has since dwindled to a population of about 300 people. Donna White, our host at the Austin Baptist Church, has been touched very personally by cancer. Her son battled the disease for nearly 30 years, before dying of natural causes. She understood the power of our mission, and was a gracious host for our two nights in town.<br /><br />There is only so much to do on a day off in such a small town. We spent the first night putting together a drive-in movie on the church yard, which required Taylor to climb onto the roof to hang a sheet for the screen. It was simply awesome. On the day off, most of the team ate upwards of 3 meals at the local diner, and some of us made it out to the local pool in a naturally heated pool (the sun is really hot out here). All in all, a great few days out in the Nevada desert.<br /><br />-DanDanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15888852052611175614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6637543194509569101.post-41380807061647791952008-07-22T23:51:00.000-07:002008-07-24T21:33:31.737-07:00San Francisco Arrival Schedule!<strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Friday, July 25</span></strong><br /><strong>Late Afternoon – </strong>Arrival in San Rafael, CA to the Lucas Valley Community Church.<br /><strong>Night – </strong>Team dinner.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Saturday, July 26</span></strong><br /><strong>6:15am (approx)</strong> – departure from Lucas Valley Community Church<br />(Guests are welcome to come see us off it they would like)<br />2000 Las Gallinas Ave<br />San Rafael, CA 94903<br /><strong>8:45am</strong> – Estimated time of arrival at the observation point on the north (Sausalito) side of the bridge. Team will stop for regrouping, photos, etc.<br /><strong>9:00am-9:15am</strong> – Crossing of the Golden Gate Bridge.<br /><strong>9:15am-9:30am</strong> – Estimated time of arrival at the beach at Crissy Field on the south (San Francisco) side of the bridge.<br /><strong>9:30am-10:30am</strong> – Arrival ceremony hosted by the American Cancer Society, including a toast, tire-dipping ceremony, pictures, and breakfast.<br /><strong>11:00am-1:00pm</strong> – Final team Pow-Wow on the beach, followed by van clean-out and claiming of lost items. (Family and friends, during this time we ask that the team have its final moments alone.)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Sunday, July 27</strong></span><br /><strong>1:00pm-5:00pm</strong> – BBQ at the house of rider Judy Penati. All are welcome and asked to RSVP through your team member.<br />128 Lyford Drive<br />Tiburon, CA<br />(There is a ferry from Pier 41 to downtown Tiburon from where the Penatis have offered to shuttle people to their house. Street parking there is available.)Danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15888852052611175614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6637543194509569101.post-61222792925972547782008-07-22T23:29:00.000-07:002008-07-22T23:30:52.451-07:00Friendliest Town on the Loneliest Road in America - Eureka, NV (Day 54)<p><br />Today, we began what I have been looking forward to for a long time – the 'Loneliest Highway in America' – aka Route 50 through Nevada. Though we felt there were more cars to justify the title, it was still a fun experience.<br /></p><p>My group of Ondrej, Rob, Ben, Katie, and myself felt very free riding down the road, and we positioned ourselves effectively to reduce drag and fly openly down the road. We got a lot of support in the form of honks and cheers from many of the cars that passed us, which really helped make the long day through the dessert a lot of fun.<br /></p><p>It was a long day, and the groups arrived rather staggered, but Eureka, NV is known as the “Friendliest Town on the Loneliest Road in America,” and it sure lived up to its name. We were hosted at the school's gymnasium, and were treated to delicious burgers, shakes, and Mexican food at DJ's diner. All in all, another good day in a nice, small town. </p>-DanDanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15888852052611175614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6637543194509569101.post-54865229191503341682008-07-22T21:55:00.000-07:002008-11-12T17:22:18.299-08:00A Little Caving to Start the Day - Ely, NV (Day 53)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi68SGIrEH7fRc2uBAA0fEqI_xX9gnvAd0XSN_nSIHwqPtFN91SAIAn3GAkudc0PTY8EN-KFMwTAesvMfo_-SWq5r0hRok0q8oi4GCN9_uYWor0OEZfcKnRZm1d4JSGZBmPbivnXS1tG7Zc/s1600-h/CIMG1698.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226072602700577010" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi68SGIrEH7fRc2uBAA0fEqI_xX9gnvAd0XSN_nSIHwqPtFN91SAIAn3GAkudc0PTY8EN-KFMwTAesvMfo_-SWq5r0hRok0q8oi4GCN9_uYWor0OEZfcKnRZm1d4JSGZBmPbivnXS1tG7Zc/s320/CIMG1698.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Today had an interested start! To start with, there was a frantic, false wake up, because some people forgot to reset their clocks yesterday when we passed into Pacific time zone (woot! Last time zone!). However wake up was still extra late, because we stayed late in order to check out a guided tour of Lehman Caves in Great Basin National Park 5 miles up the road. We had an awesome tour of the caves and an awesome tour guide, Roberta. Roberta is herself a breast cancer survivor, and was very touched by our mission and purpose. She was also extremely impressed; she told us a story of a 60 mile walk she participated in once that was supposed to raise awareness for the challenge of dealing with breast cancer and joked that the walk was even harder than her struggle! The caves were beautiful, even though they were extremely damaged from years of tourists breaking stalactites and stalagmites (Roberta tought us all about all kinds of cave formations!). Lehman Caves are most famous for their rare Shield formations, but I think the beautiful curtains were my personal favorite.<br /><br />It was a fun ride into Ely, we stopped at a neat roadside restaurant for our lunch stop where we left a signed dollar bill as a memento for them to add to their entire wall of signed dollar bills! When we finally arrived in Ely, we were welcomed by a free public BBQ across the street that we were kindly allowed to crash. It was an awareness and publicity effort for a new coal power plant they want to build 20 miles out of the city. After the BBQ and refreshing showers, a bunch of us checked out the local karaoke bar for a bit of fun before bed!<br /><br />4K Lovin,<br />Anna E. S. Johnston</div>Danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15888852052611175614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6637543194509569101.post-33423828488297423422008-07-22T21:30:00.000-07:002008-07-22T21:31:26.272-07:00Welcome to the Silver State - Baker, NV (Day 52)<p><br />This morning we woke up to Yogetta's bike strung up to the basketball hoop behind the school in Milford. Though we liked to say it was a mischievous local, the 4K yellow rope kind of gave it away as an inside job. The culprit is still on the lose. No arrests have been made.<br /></p><p>Today was the day of the three uphills, with three equal down hills. This is the topography that 4Kers love, because we always look for that reward after a climb. After each summit, we descended into beautiful (and empty) valleys. I think the entire team finally realized we were truly in the middle of the desert.<br /></p><p>Near the end of the day, we began to enter Great Basin National Park, and out of the dry terrain came a large lake. Only a few more miles down the road, after I had been complaining the entire day about not seeing any major wildlife crossing the road, we saw a heard of maybe a dozen antelope (or a similar animal, sorry I'm not an expert) run across the road maybe 20 feet in front of us. All three of us struggled to get our cameras out, but I think Greg was the only one to actually get a shot of them on the road. It was really exciting.<br /></p><p>Of course, the greatest part of the day was reaching the Nevada state border, and the Pacific Time Zone! We are that much closer to west coast. Though Baker was a tiny, tiny town, the hospitality was huge, and we were treated to great lodging and a nice community dinner. Time and time again, it is always the smallest towns that show the greatest kindness towards the team and our cause. </p>-DanDanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15888852052611175614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6637543194509569101.post-37478833795329485272008-07-22T21:29:00.001-07:002008-07-22T21:29:50.658-07:00A Run-in with a Rake - Milford, UT (Day 51)<p><br />This morning we said goodbye to the last major city we would see in a while. The ride to Milford, UT, our last stop in the state, was pretty short by current 4K standards (somewhere in the 50s) and only a little uphill. As always, a scary-looking storm cloud was on our tail for the entire ride, so we decided to push it the entire way.<br /></p><p>Near the end, there was a ridiculously steep hill, and we had a right turn to make at the end. My team sees this little boy in his yard playing with a metal rake (don't ask me why). After Clare, Amy, and myself pass the yard, the little boy runs out to the street and smacks Meg right in her ribs with the rake. She was a little shaken up, a little angry, but mostly shocked. I guess we experience something new every day.<br /></p><p>It was great staying at the Milford High School, since not only were there nice showers, but also the community pool right next door. Of course, most of the team took a nice cool dip before settling in for the night. Without a community dinner, we decided to use the school kitchen to make delicious (and maybe even nutritious) grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, and tuna melts. Even though we love dinners where we can interact with the community and share stories, some team-bonding food making is always fun!<br /></p><p>-Dan</p>Danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15888852052611175614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6637543194509569101.post-3793259004241603052008-07-22T21:26:00.000-07:002008-07-22T21:28:02.021-07:00Into the Festival City - Cedar City, UT (Days 49-50)<p><br />Today we made it to Cedar City, UT! We started out the morning with a steep 6 mile climb out of Bryce Canyon and onto a plateau. Laughter could be heard from the top of the summit as 4kers approached the summit sign which read 7777 feet. For the next 20 miles we descended from the plateau down an amazing bike path through Red Canyon. The bike trail was long and winding and we could see fellow riders far below as we skirted the red cliffs and arches characteristic of Utah's rugged landscape. Our day ended with a 14 mile climb and two of the later groups found thunderstorms waiting for them at the top. The van drivers faced the dreaded task of informing some riders that they would have to cut their lunch stop short in order to outrun the approaching rain. Our consolation prize was a beautiful 20 mile downhill that ended somewhat unexpectedly 4 miles from the bottom of the hill as an 18-wheeler had crashed minutes before the first group arrived. It was around a sharp curve and it made us all appreciate our experience. The truck driver was fine, but the crash made us all really think twice about biking safety.<br /></p><p>For all of you parents with a tendency towards nail biting who are reading this, all 28 of us made it into Cedar City safely and on time (at least for the most part.) Upon arriving, we were welcomed at the Episcopal Church where we will be spending the next two nights. We just came back from dinner at the Cedar City Catholic Church where we had a delicious dinner of lasagna, salad and as a treat for dessert, strawberries whipped cream and shortcake. Cedar City is having a fair tonight with live music, a car show and tons of vendors with various treats, jewelry and local goods. We are all excited to fall asleep in our warm sleeping bags, our bellies full of Utah hospitality, and our bodies rejuvenated for Zion National Park and all of the other activities that await us on our day off tomorrow. It's good to be in Cedar City!</p><p>-Sarah and Katie Biggart</p>Danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15888852052611175614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6637543194509569101.post-69741707163055682902008-07-22T21:24:00.000-07:002008-07-22T21:28:56.799-07:00A Short Day With a Little Present from the Winds - Tropic, UT (Day 48)<p><br />It was nice to hear that after two very hard and long days, we would be treated to a nice 40 mile journey into Tropic, UT, right outside of Bryce Canyon National Park. Unfortunately, the weather never cooperates with us. The first 20 miles was slightly uphill, but we were met with a nasty headwind that made it feel like a serious climb the entire way.<br /></p><p>We were able to down hill the rest of the way into town, where we got to stay at Bryce Valley High School. It was a beautiful school, fit with showers, plenty of air-conditioned sleeping areas, cooking facilities, and wireless internet. Since it was a short day, the group got to take a nice nap in the afternoon before getting together with some music and tie-dye aprons to make burritos. After dinner, a bunch of the team members went to the park to explore around and take in the beautiful sites. Since we were told there would be some significant climbing the next day, most the team (at least myself) hit the hay early, awaiting another challenging yet rewarding day on the 4K. </p><p>-Dan</p>Danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15888852052611175614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6637543194509569101.post-90607576452728145372008-07-22T15:44:00.001-07:002008-07-22T15:45:41.916-07:00A lot of Climbs - Escalante, UT (Day 47)<p><br />It is time to tell the non-sugar coated truth of the Hopkins 4K for Cancer. People who snore are persecuted and ostracized. I do not enjoy condemnation and humiliation for an act I cannot control, and if you ever heard my Dad, you would understand that it is purely hereditary. That being said, I was woken up in the middle of the night because of something I cannot control to be asked to stop doing something I cannot control. Yes, I am bitter about the anti-Snorites. But it was a glorious morning. Biking when it is cool outside is surprisingly refreshing.<br /></p><p>Leaving Loa, all I had in my head was Tom's stunning rendition of The Kinks song Lola modified to Loa, L-O-A, Loa. Pretty clever, eh? My group was Judy and friends, the friends being Benji and me. The day started innocently enough. We breezed through to the first water stop; the terrain was predominately downhill with little rolling hills. It was quite relaxing. But honestly, that never lasts long.<br /></p><p>We entered the Dixie National Forest after the water stop. We climbed and climbed and then climbed some more. It was beautiful though. Utah is the strangest state ever (in terms of landscape). You bike through deserts that are next to forests and canyons and the entire state seems like a grab bag. It was nice to see some green after the desert.<br /></p><p>After the fake summit and the real summit at 9600 feet, there was an incredible downhill (don't worry Mom, I was safe). There is no better feeling than cruising after busting your rear to get up a mountain. Then we got to the most exciting part of the day. The name of the trail was the Devil's Backbone. Does not sound good. The parents reading this just cringed. But it was awesome. The trail was definitely wonky. It was a ridge that was ridiculously gusty and serpentine with 14 percent downward grades. But we took it slowly and it was unlike anything I have ever seen.<br /></p><p>There was a mean little climb after the backbone. But everyone was cheering each other on, and it was one of those moments that you realized how much better you are than when you started. When we finally got into Escalante, we found out there was a water main break at the State Park, so we couldn't stay there. So Judy and friends went to Subway and ate delicious sandwiches and then ice cream sandwiches that have 500 calories, which is wonderfully irrelevant when you bike 80 miles in a day :)<br /></p><p>We showered in a reservoir and it was delightful. Some people went to Georgie's diner. She let us camp out in her yard. That's all folks.<br /></p><p>I snore loud, I snore proud,<br />ABF</p>Danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15888852052611175614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6637543194509569101.post-1410711093967536412008-07-22T15:42:00.000-07:002008-07-22T15:44:08.556-07:00The Loooongest Day - Loa, UT (Day 46)<p><br />After a short ride into Green River from Moab, we were all ready to take on our most challenging day of the trip. We woke up dark and early at 3:50 AM and got ready to welcome the sun. I remember last year waking up in Green River before 4 AM and having one of the hardest days of the trip into Capitol Reef National Park. Today we would be going to the same campground where the 2007 team stayed and then continuing on for another 26 miles.<br /></p><p>The beginnings of today were rather pleasant, before the sun finally topped the hills to the east we had already ridden 10 miles and had but 113 to go. In the morning we welcomed the sun, to warm us on the brisk morning, but the very sun that took the chill off of the early Green River morning, would heat our route to well over 100 degrees by late afternoon.<br /></p><p>Dan, James, Clare and I were 27 miles into the day when in the distance we saw a stand alone rock formation. We decided to take guesses on how far away the rocks were. Seven miles later when the rock was still sitting on the horizon I was out of contention for being the closest, at mile 13 we had finally reached the rocks which seemed to be just down the road over half an hour ago. James and Clare were close with their guesses of 10 and 15 miles respectively while Dan overshot by 7.<br /></p><p>Things seeming to be closer than they really were was a theme of the day. We arrived at a waterfall in Capitol Reef at mile 90 and were all feeling like this day was going to fly by. We dropped into the waterfall for a swim and so began the physical challenges of the day. The challenge at the waterfall was to swim behind the falling water. I was the first to accomplish this after my third or fourth attempt and was treated by an amazing view of the back of the cascading waterfall. In time everyone else who cared to try swimming back made it and we all agreed that it was well worth the effort. After basking in the mid-day sun for a few minutes to dry off we were back on the road to lunch part two.<br /></p><p>Mile 95 brought our second lunch stop of the day at the camp ground where the '07 team had stayed the night. We were treated to homemade pies, ice cream and Henry Weinhart's soda at a little cottage that served as a gift shop at the campground. Leaving lunch was 7 miles of steep climbing, something that we have grown accustomed to ever since we crossed the Rockies. What we were not accustomed to however, was trying to climb in 100 degree weather after 100 miles of biking. Those seven miles took our group nearly two hours and the mid-afternoon had painfully turned into the early evening.<br /></p><p>Topping the climb we had only 18 miles into Loa, we were already at our second longest day on the trip and had climbed more feet than any other day. We were in Southern Utah baking in the sun and still had 18 miles of slight uphill to finish the day. When finally arriving in Loa we were beaten, burned and overall demoralized. While it was satisfying to know that we had actually finished a day of 123 miles with nearly two miles of vertical climbing, there was no cheer or joy. We were physically exhausted beyond belief and food was scarce due to the town of Loa closing at 8 and most groups getting in around 7.<br /></p><p>Finishing the day drove home the point that sometimes days are just hard and even though they end, you do not necessarily feel refreshed and renewed to take on the next day. This day will make tomorrow more difficult than it should be and the day after as well, but all said and done, 123 miles is a badge of pride that we can all wear. When we look at hard days in the future, they will come nowhere near comparing to this brutal day. There are obvious parallels to individual battles with cancer, some days are better than others and some days seem like they will never end, but weeks later when you look back you can grow from the struggles that you have already endured.</p><br />-Greg GotimerDanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15888852052611175614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6637543194509569101.post-37783470612497276242008-07-13T13:59:00.001-07:002008-07-13T14:01:39.221-07:00Photos, Photos, and More Photos!I love to hear that people read our blog and check out the pictures multiple times a day (parents, you know who you are)<br /><br />Photos from the road are uploaded about once a week, so make sure to check out the most recent updates at <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/4k4cancer">http://picasaweb.google.com/4k4cancer</a>!<br /><br />-DanDanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15888852052611175614noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6637543194509569101.post-33508740138893061072008-07-13T13:57:00.001-07:002008-07-13T13:58:33.300-07:00Next Mail Drop - Austin, NVOur next mail drop will be in Austin, NV. Please make sure all letters and packages arrive by <strong>Friday, July 18</strong> to the following address. Thanks again!<br /><br />Austin Baptist Church<br />Attn: Hopkins 4K for Cancer – Rider's Name<br />P.O. 183<br />Austin, NV 89310Danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15888852052611175614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6637543194509569101.post-69830180650109630102008-07-13T13:50:00.000-07:002008-07-13T13:51:48.128-07:00Sampling the Interstate - Green River, UT (Day 45)This morning, we left Moab, UT after a day off filled with adventure, suspense, and intrigue. The day before, a number of us partook in a myriad of outdoor activities ranging from ATV riding, mountain biking, dirt biking, rafting, and hiking through Arches National Park. Moab as a community is particularly interesting because it offers some of the most unique vistas on earth; the community caters to the adventure seekers (like us) looking to enjoy the terrain that the area has to offer. Part of the Colorado Plateau, the area consists mostly of red-tinged rocks formed over millions of years of wind, pressure, and most of all, water.<br /><br />Speaking of water, the morning started off by our group visiting a natural spring and filling our bottles with delicious natural spring water tapped from the underground water deep inside the red rocks of Moab. Much of the team was concerned about parasites or water contamination... not me. The crystal clear water was truly satiating, a beverage that really hit the spot.<br /><br />The first part of the route started on a bike path that took us to the entrance of Arches National Park. Eventually the bike path deteriorated to the point where it was unusable; my group of three riders decided to crawl under a barbed wire fence that divided the bike path and the state road and ride along the road. Eventually, we reached our first water stop: the Moab municipal airport. The second leg of the day took us to I-70, where we were aided by a brisk tail wind all the way to Green River, UT. The short 50 mile day ended in Green River at around noon. We were served lunch by the staff of the Green River Community Center. Their staff consists of a number of AmeriCorps volunteers who assist in their summer children's program. It was interesting to hear their story because in many ways, they were going through a similar experience as us. We are both groups of volunteers spending our summers together for a specific cause.<br /><br />I was particularly impressed by the generosity of the town. In a town with a 40% poverty rate, the community welcomed us with food and shelter, even when resources are stretched as they are. It is the spirit of a town like Green River that I will remember fondly when I look back on this trip.<br /><br />-Hubert LeeDanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15888852052611175614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6637543194509569101.post-50938016950219814062008-07-13T13:44:00.000-07:002008-07-13T13:48:43.084-07:00The Changing of the Guard - Moab, UT (Days 43-44)Today marked the conclusion of my duties as leg leader, and in the epitome of bitter sweet endings, we left Colorado. To me, and I think a lot of riders will agree, Colorado was a turning point for the trip. Crossing into the state, the distance that we traversed on our bikes became abundantly clear: we were “out West.” The arid western landscape gave way to the Rockies once we reached Boulder, and then the second half of the trip began. I had never seen such awe-inspiring terrain in my entire life. From Boulder to Naturita, it was without fail that around every bend there was a unique and incredible view. It was truly unforgettable.<br /><br />With that said, crossing into Utah was difficult. The vast difference in scenery was welcomed by most, but it was also clear that we were entering challenging territory. One of the riders told a story about how her mom reads all the blogs and doesn’t buy the fact that everything is peachy, and hunky-dory, and whatever other fluffed up adjectives we can conjure up. I thought that was funny because it is true that we avoid talking about the hard times, the exploding tires at 100 degree water stops, the swarms of terrorizing mosquitoes while we’re playing hide and seek with cell phone service in rural towns so we can try to talk to our girlfriends/boyfriends before bed, the saddle sores, the snoring, and the five day old bag of breakfast sausage that we gamble with. So in the spirit of the 4K journal entries, I won’t talk about barking like a dog on my way up the last big climb before Utah because I was delirious, or about hitting a pothole going down the mountain at 40 miles per hour. I won’t talk about the tourist trap “Hole “N the Rock” with its excessive use of apostrophes on the “”N” and out of place petting zoo with a wallaby that my team got sucked into. For that matter, I won’t talk about having to check for snakes in the abandoned gas station where we stopped for lunch. But because I know my grandma reads these entries ritually (Hi Gram and Gramps!) I’ll just talk about how excited I was to get to Utah and see Arches National Park, and to meet our gracious host Pastor Howe at Moab Baptist Church, because that’s what Moab brought to us.<br /><br />As sad as it was to part with Colorado, I know that Utah will bring unique and exciting experiences, and I’m happy to hand my leg leader duties off to Meg so that she can get up 10 minutes before wake up to start hunting down riders who are sleeping in the most obscure of places!<br /><br />Honestly, I conclude my leg with extreme satisfaction, and the minor bumps along the road pale in comparison to the magnitude, gravity and enjoyment that the 4K brings: no fluff.<br />With limited muttering and sarcasm (Tom, your impression still needs work,)<br /><br />-Jesse RichterDanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15888852052611175614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6637543194509569101.post-46549875142336187272008-07-11T14:33:00.000-07:002008-11-12T17:22:18.842-08:00Article in the Moab Times-Independent<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjBvSfYCl6ez85q5TpGVqoNNsBQPBKRj79u92V9r6X-XNLWsM7DrRmD-9HAi8mLTWgx0hp-C5zVAZNssQKUupOue7DkB5ABLK10QI9Nw8hfOalumlARSDXd3rSfDKN4juQAzwq52U8Lt3/s1600-h/28_hopkins1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjBvSfYCl6ez85q5TpGVqoNNsBQPBKRj79u92V9r6X-XNLWsM7DrRmD-9HAi8mLTWgx0hp-C5zVAZNssQKUupOue7DkB5ABLK10QI9Nw8hfOalumlARSDXd3rSfDKN4juQAzwq52U8Lt3/s320/28_hopkins1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221873673407981698" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bicyclists ride cross-country to help fight cancer</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">by Ron Georg<br />contributing writer</span><br /><br />As the 25 riders on the Hopkins 4k for Cancer bicycle tour across the United States gathered into a circle in the Moab Baptist Church parking lot on Tuesday morning, their friendly banter stopped abruptly. They were getting ready to ride, and it was time to focus on their purpose.<br /><br />Holding hands and facing each other across the big circle, they shared stories about the people they’re riding for. After each story, they fell silent. Without any cues, another rider would break the quiet, offering another testimony in soft, reverent tones.<br /><br />The ride has a three-pronged mission – to spread awareness, raise funds, and foster hope. The morning dedication helps the riders maintain their own sense hope, according to rider and spokesman Daniel Ingram.<br /><br />“When we dedicate our rides, it’s very important to us,” Ingram said. “On a hard day, biking up a mountain, if you keep in the back of your mind that you’ve dedicated your ride to someone back home, or someone you met along the way that’s battling cancer, it helps get up that mountain.”<br /><br />Before the mood in the circle grew too somber, Ingram steered the riders back toward their purpose, announcing it was time to hit the road. He broke the spell with a quick call-and-response: “Where are we from?”<br /><br />“Baltimore!”<br /><br />“Where are we going?”<br /><br />“San Francisco!”<br /><br />The riders unclasped their hands to clap, and with a quick cheer they gathered their bikes and rode off in small groups. Out on the road, they spread out to avoid impeding traffic. In clusters of three or four, without any banners to announce their purpose, they become anonymous cyclists on the road.<br /><br />Even in a group, riding a bike over distance is an individual challenge. “Every day biking 80 to 100 miles, it’s hard to do that if you don’t have a real purpose,” Ingram said. “Biking for a reason really helps, it’s powerful.”<br /><br />The reasons to ride were powerful enough to inspire Yogeeta Manglani to overcome a major obstacle to participate. “When I signed up for it I didn’t know how to ride a bike,” Manglani said. “I mean, I did, but on a smaller bike, and it had been a long time. When we got these bikes, I was like, uh-oh, I think I’m in trouble. I went on a training ride, and I went straight into traffic.”<br /><br />Manglani has since become comfortable enough on the road to appreciate that traffic isn’t all the same. “We’ve gone through some cities, like Moab, that are so bike friendly,” she said. “You do go through cities where people seem to just want you off the road.”<br /><br />Cancer hasn’t impacted Manglani personally. She said communicable diseases were bigger issues when she was growing up in Dubai. However, she has been impressed by cancer’s prevalence in this country, especially because she is a public health major in college.<br /><br />“The cause is something that’s really close to my heart. Once I got here, everyone knows someone who’s got cancer,” she said. The ride, she explained, provides her with an opportunity to help address a gap she sees in cancer care. “I feel like prevention isn’t stressed enough in the U.S. health system. The amount of money they spend on research is enormous compared to the amount they spend on prevention.”<br /><br />Throughout the ride, the cyclists will spread their message, which includes information on prevention. “Most of the places we stay are at a church or community center,” Ingram said. “That’s our time to share our stories, and allow them to share their stories with us.”<br /><br />While they didn’t have a chance to give a presentation in Moab, they still didn’t let an opportunity slip past. As they’re getting ready to leave, rider Jessica Arms handed Moab Baptist Church Pastor Cole Howe a handful of pamphlets, and she asked if he can work their message into his own.<br /><br />The church hosted the riders from their two-night stay in Moab, as well as their one-day rest. “We can’t give them money, but we what they really need is a place to stay, and we can offer that,” Howe said. He added that while the church isn’t fully equipped as a hostel – it doesn’t have a shower – he can point them to all the resources they need.<br /><br />Ingram said that sort of hospitality is the norm. From free burgers to bike service to lodging, the riders have enjoyed the kindness of strangers. Manglani even told of a woman who gave them the run of her house, and then handed her a set of car keys with no instructions beyond “enjoy yourselves.”<br /><br />By the end of the ride, Ingram expects to bring in $100,000. That includes the $4,000 each rider is required to raise before the event. While that amount is up from last year’s $3,500, it didn’t dissuade Greg Gotimer from signing up for a second trip.<br /><br />“You start sending letters out, thinking, $4,000, this is going to be tough,” he said. “It’s amazing how many people will donate $100.”<br /><br />This is the seventh year the Hopkins 4K has come through Moab. While Moab isn’t on most cross-county routes, Ingram said his group seeks a more scenic route, which is how they rack up 4,000 miles between Baltimore and San Francisco. They’ll reach the West Coast on July 26.<br /><br />Most of the riders on the trip range in age from 18 to 26 and are students at Johns Hopkins University. More information about the ride, the riders and the cause is available at the ride website, www.hopkins4k.org.Danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15888852052611175614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6637543194509569101.post-38371374170978291752008-07-07T17:34:00.000-07:002008-07-07T17:36:39.370-07:00Next Mail Drop - Cedar City, UTOur next mail drop will be in Cedar City, UT. Please be sure all mail arrives by <strong>Saturday, July 12</strong> to the address below. Thanks again for the support!<br /><br />St. Jude's Episcopal Church<br />Attn: Hopkins4K for Cancer - Rider's Name<br />70 N 200 W<a style="DISPLAY: none; TEXT-DECORATION: underline" href="" target="_parent" jstcache="56" jsvalues="href:$addrurl" jsdisplay="$features.embed&&!$title&&$laddr&&$addrurl"></a><br />Cedar City, UT 84720Danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15888852052611175614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6637543194509569101.post-49121790889776409132008-07-07T17:28:00.000-07:002008-11-12T17:22:19.029-08:00Article in the Glenwood Springs Post-Independent<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJ4tHxtiX8t4DUQ7gJ6kZxM9n0j_CL7cDzWsi5llepx_B2go7pcgPqtXYN5iaZftCIBwKQoTqEnME2kaVzA9hbBYcbMbIMQy4t4C_rC6G0hV7bUr3lO1OF7vFnYMgA2R2LhCo1UFT-rw_/s1600-h/bilde.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220434895000010066" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="186" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJ4tHxtiX8t4DUQ7gJ6kZxM9n0j_CL7cDzWsi5llepx_B2go7pcgPqtXYN5iaZftCIBwKQoTqEnME2kaVzA9hbBYcbMbIMQy4t4C_rC6G0hV7bUr3lO1OF7vFnYMgA2R2LhCo1UFT-rw_/s320/bilde.jpg" width="318" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Crossing the country for a cure</strong><br /></span><strong>Bikers ride coast-to-coast to raise money, awareness for cancer</strong><br /><em>By </em><a href="mailto:jcaspersen@postindependent.com"><em>Jeff Caspersen</em></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.postindependent.com/article/2008892293375">http://www.postindependent.com/article/2008892293375</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>WEST GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — Judy Penati’s grandfather and aunt have battled cancer, but that’s not the first thing she mentioned to explain why she chose to cycle cross country to raise money to fight cancer. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The Johns Hopkins University sophomore-to-be had other reasons for applying to part of this summer’s incarnation of the Hopkins 4K For Cancer, an annual cross-country ride with a mission of raising funds for and spreading awareness of the fight against the oft-deadly disease.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>“I was kind of inspired by the people who did the trip before me, and it’s such an incredible cause,” said Penati, who along with a team 24 others — most college students — enjoyed a night’s respite at the Church of Christ in West Glenwood Springs Tuesday. “Also the thrill of biking cross country, knowing I can do it.”</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>That’s not to say her grandfather and aunt don’t often find their way into Penati’s thoughts, nor her in theirs.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>“I know they check out the blog everyday,” the neuroscience major said, referring to a journal housed on the Hopkins 4K website, <a href="http://www.hopkins4k.org/" target="_blank">http://www.hopkins4k.org/</a>. “A lot of people do. I didn’t expect that so many people would check it out.”</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>This summer’s Hopkins 4K team is the seventh to trek from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., to San Francisco, Calif. Co-founders Leah Blom and Ryan Hanley, both JHU students, started the entirely student-run effort back in 2001, and it’s blossomed into quite the annual operation.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Twenty-five cyclers and three support vans make the two-month, 4,000-mile trip tick. Depending on terrain and the day’s conditions, riders log from 70 to 110 miles a day and make temporary homes of churches, community centers or schools in various communities along the way.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>But, when idle, the Hopkins 4K-ers do more than just catch up on sleep.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>“We hold community dinners, we’ll sit down the community members and interact,” said Daniel Ingram, who’s cycling as well as handling media relations duties for the team. “It depends on the community.”</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Due to last-minute lodging complications, such functions weren’t on the Glenwood Springs agenda for the Hopkins 4K team prior to its Wednesday morning departure for Paonia.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The group of riders — most from JHU — have heard countless touching tales along the way. Some from people at the community functions and others simply in passing.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>“One woman was just saying how her daughter is fighting one kind of cancer and her niece is fighting another,” Ondrej Juhasz, a 2006 JHU grad, recalled. “She asked if we could dedicate our ride to her family.”</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Ride dedications are a ritual for the Hopkins 4K group. Every morning, before cycling off to their next destination, riders form a circle and dedicate the day’s pedaling to someone touched by cancer — whether it’s a person they know personally or someone they met along their summer journey.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>For most, it’s the people with whom they cross paths that make the trip.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>“It’s been great,” said Ben Margolis, a pre-med major at JHU. “We’ve stayed in a school building with no one around. We’ve been in a school building where the principal came and cooked us all dinner. We’ve been in a church with 25 to 30 people. It’s all about hearing stories and spreading awareness.”</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>And that might just mean more than the $100,000-plus they hope to raise for various cancer organizations. </div>Danhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15888852052611175614noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6637543194509569101.post-37210212198995645512008-07-07T17:27:00.001-07:002008-07-07T17:27:48.622-07:00A Wet Day Through the Canyons - Naturita, CO (Day 42)<p><br />Today saw the formation of Team Mountain Men, which included us men with overgrown and unkempt facial hair (sorry Mom). This included Tom, Andrew, Jesse, Ankit, Rob, and myself. We of course only communicated in grunts and growls.<br /></p><p>The day involved two significant climbs. On the first one, I saw a biker a good distance ahead. Thinking it was a 4Ker, I pushed myself to catch up, only to find out it was in fact a 66 year old woman. Amazed, I biked alongside her for the rest of the climb. It turns out she was training for a bike ride she wanted to do with her son into Moab, UT. It was inspiring (and a good kick to my ego) to see this woman pushing the physical limits of the body at such an old age.<br /></p><p>The downhill after the climb lasted a good 15 miles into a beautiful canyon, where we had a great burrito lunch at a rest stop. Following this year's tradition, it started to rain and we all huddled under a shed before be forced back on the road. After a few more miles of pleasant, yet wet and cold, downhill, we all learned the downside to being in a canyon – you have climb out of it. I found it weird when, at the top of the climb, instead of being at a picturesque peak, we looked out onto rolling plains.<br /></p><p>We got what turned out to be one of our last glimpses of the snow-capped Rocky Mountains before continuing on to the little town of Naturita, CO. While sitting around at the school we were staying at that night, a few local kids came by with their BMX bikes to show us some tricks. We tried to imitate the wheelies, unfortunately to no avail. The only cool thing we could show off was our mud-covered bikes and bodies from the miles of wet and muddy riding.<br /></p><p>We were treated to a great barbecue dinner and drinks at the local saloon, before hitting the hay, some of us later than others. </p>-DanDanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15888852052611175614noreply@blogger.com0