*Written the day after*
It ended up raining throughout the night. Getting a room at a motel for the night was the right call. It was still slightly raining earlier in the morning so we took our time getting up and having breakfast. By the time we were ready to go the rain had subsided, despite the gloomy gray clouds still encompassing the entire sky.
We got rollin' at around 10 am, hoping our day would be dryer than the one before. Luckily it was. In fact it ended up being our best day yet in terms of mileage, knocking out 62.9 miles. Most of the day was spent riding along the North Coast Inland Trail. It was a beautiful and easy ride, the perfect mixture of bright greenery and flat geography, a touring biker's heaven.
We stopped for lunch at a dollar general a little after noon. Shortly after pulling in the parking lot, a lady approached us and asked us how far we were going. We told her and she responded with the usual amazement. She immediately followed up, asking what cause we're doing it for. Initially I thought it was a little odd because usually people ask why we're doing it or if we're doing it for a cause. Most don't assume there's a deeper motive right off the bat. I assume this is the case because people have no evidence or reason to assume one way or the other, whether we're doing it for a cause or just to do it. But for whatever reason this lady seemed to already know which I assume is why she asked right off the bat, which cause that is. We told her and she immediately became visibly emotional. The tone of the conversation switched to a much more serious one- it was no longer small talk banter.
She began telling us a story. It started with her nephew's best friend who committed suicide some years ago. Her nephew has since went on to graduate while on a full scholarship at a very prestigious university in Ohio. With three degrees and valedictorian honors. Afterwards he went on to Yale Medicial School, again on full scholarship and stimulus. She told us this is where he is today. While holding back tears and with a crack in her voice she proudly said that he is studying the brain.
In just a few seconds the parking lot of this dollar general felt like a very different place. Being met with such compassion and deep appreciation for what we were doing truly adds tangible meaning to what we're doing. To see, meet, hear and feel someone else who has been affected by mental illness adds a certain type of reality. She emphasized to us how it touches everyone's life in some form or another and that it's important we talk about it and work towards solutions. This lady's nephew and other instances of mental illness in her immediate family growing up were just a few concrete examples of how it has affected this lady's life. She was right in saying "it's not just those affected by it, but it's also everyone around them who are also affected." I was very thankful that she shared a bit of her story with us.
She said she'd make sure to tell her nephew about what we were doing, thanked us and wished for us to have a wonderful trip.
After that, we got to our host's house for the night right outside of Toledo, OH. Bob and Colleen were absolutely wonderful hosts. We had access to a full kitchen to ourselves for the first time on our trip so we took advantage and got some real food to eat for the night. Owen cooked up some very tasty spaghetti with sausage and red sauce. Special thanks to him for cheffin' it up.
Bob told us all about the trips he and his wife had been on, as well as shared stories of prevous riders who they had hosted before. They've hosted cyclists ranging from a man who'd been on the road for 7 years, to a 17 year old in high school who was riding across the country himself. When we were about to leave for the supermarket, he offered for us to take his tandem bike. None of us had ever ridden one before so we seized the opportunity.
On the way to the supermarket:
On our way back, french loaf in my backpack:
Before we left the morning after, we made sure to get a picture with Bob.
Thanks again Bob and Colleen for being awesome hosts!
Stats for the day
Stats that matter:
Flies in my eye: 3
Flies in my mouth: 1
I really should start wearing my glasses while I ride I just love being able to see everything without a lens between my eyes and the world. Worth it trade off thus far, a fly here and there won't hurt anyone.
Till tomorrow
- mike
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