Drove through Kansas. A whole lotta nothing until the very east side where it actually had some beautiful rolling meadows. And cows. Lots of cows and pastures.
Protecting the cyclist with direct follow is one of the most intimidating things I have ever had to do. Drivers in Missouri and Kansas are insane! They try to cut you off and distracting the cyclist to the point of injury. Even semi-trucks blew by whose backdraft caused the bike to wobble! I don't have road rage, but I sure had an inkling manifest during this session.
Side note: We stopped at an A&W where I got a cheeseburger. Never had one before. It was amazing lol
At one point, one of the crew members from another shift decided to hop in with us on one of the sessions because it was one of the hardest parts of the trail.
Unfortunately it backfired and he became delirious without sleep. I decided I would fill in for his shift because I had gotten an incredibly amazing amount of sleep. I ended up driving around 20 hours that day.
The second day after I was absolutely fried.
Illinois time stations consisted of good hospitality. We ended up at one called Effingham, Illinois. Quite the name. They gave us carabiners with hand sanitizer on it for me to forever remember haha
There was also another time station at a McDonald's that gave us free extra value meal cards and a Unite Dairy gas station.
Still having no idea what session I was on, we passed through Ohio University's campus. It was BEAUTIFUL. Clearly one of the most underrated campuses I would claim. Through hills/mountains and red brick roads.
When we got to Maryland finally, we had a time station (check in point), in a town on Deep Creek Lake that was also very pretty.
There was also another time station at a McDonald's that gave us free extra value meal cards and a Unite Dairy gas station.
Still having no idea what session I was on, we passed through Ohio University's campus. It was BEAUTIFUL. Clearly one of the most underrated campuses I would claim. Through hills/mountains and red brick roads.
When we got to Maryland finally, we had a time station (check in point), in a town on Deep Creek Lake that was also very pretty.
We finally reached our breaking point here. By breaking point I mean losing our freaking minds.
Steve, Brandon, and I were sitting inside the McDonald's watching Bob (another crew member) talk on the phone. The next time we all looked up, a kid with a bike helmet, pink iPad, and tall socks takes the seat RIGHT beside him. There were 3 other tables.
Steve started dying laughing. We got into such a deep belly laugh that our abs started to hurt and tears were falling down our face. It's an inside joke that we will remember and chuckle at for a while.
Steve, Brandon, and I were sitting inside the McDonald's watching Bob (another crew member) talk on the phone. The next time we all looked up, a kid with a bike helmet, pink iPad, and tall socks takes the seat RIGHT beside him. There were 3 other tables.
Steve started dying laughing. We got into such a deep belly laugh that our abs started to hurt and tears were falling down our face. It's an inside joke that we will remember and chuckle at for a while.