Going Home in Style

Boxed bike heading to O'Hare last Tuesday.

Bank Address Correction

Bill & I just realized that we had a typo on the bank address for donations to the Megan's Grace Fund. The street address is 1001 Lake Street, not 71001. If you had sent in a check that has not yet cleared, this is probably why. Hopefully the Post Office will get it there. The complete address is listed below. Thanks again for your support.

Megan's Grace Fund

Community Bank of Oak Park River Forest
Attn: Sean Olis
1001 Lake Street
Oak Park, Illinois 60301

Afterword

We had a great BBQ last night after the victory ride up Lakeshore Drive. Thanks to Dr. Bill for the escort. Thanks to Bill & Sarah for coordinating everything and hosting us at their beautiful home here in Beverly.

Seeing Megan and her kids (Emily, Will, Molly, & Lizzy) at the finish line was priceless. Megan has been the inspiration and motivation behind this whole trip. Her journey has been arduous, and, although she won't admit it, the success of her treatment is a tribute to her strength. Her battle with cancer has brought her family closer together and made all of us reevaluate our priorities. The daily chores and inconveniences become much easier to deal with, we are able to celebrate life and allow ourselves to be inspired by someone like Megan. The love, support, and prayers of her family and friends, and, of course, the great caregivers at Northshore Hospital, have helped Megan get through this difficult time. And in the words of Megan: "The people who have walked alongside me on my journey rode alongside you on yours." So thank you again to Megan and family for the inspiration, and thanks to the supporters who have been riding alongside.

Here's a breakdown of the trip:

Sunday, July 26 - Sunday, August 9

Day 1: Longmont, CO to Fort Morgan (97 miles)

Day 2: Yuma, CO (62 miles)

Day 3: Stratton, NE (90 miles)

Day 4: Arapahoe, NE (75 miles)

Day 5: Hastings, NE (90 miles)

Day 6: Lincoln, NE (104 miles)

Day 7: rest day (Lincoln)

Day 8: Shenandoah, IA (86 miles)

Day 9: Creston, IA (74 miles)

Day 10: Albia, IA (86 miles)

Day 11: Washington, IA (79 miles)

Day 12: Adela, IL (83 miles)

Day 13: Princeton, IL (84 miles)

Day 14: Joliet, IL (89 miles + train to Beverly)

Day 15: Lakeshore Drive to Evanston, IL (25 miles)

Total mileage: 1,125

The Bike: Raleigh Sojourn (an apt name)

Weight (bike plus gear): 85lbs

Favorite Fuel: Hammer Perpetuem

Flat tires: 1

Mechanical problems: 0 (new chain in Washington, IA)

Days Camping: 0 (the tent was just for show)

Ave. Speed: 12.5mph

Top Speed: 33mph

Ave. Speed of Sprinting Farm Dogs: 21mph

My Top Sprint Escaping from Farm Dogs: 22mph

Hardest Day: Shenandoah, IA to Creston, IA- major farm hills, hot sun

Second Hardest Day: Adela, IL to Princeton, IL- rain, all day, 10 hours

Best Day: Yesterday, the finish

Second Best Day: Princeton, IL to Joliet, IL- the 61 lovely miles along the I&M Canal Trail

Best Meal: Burger, fries & coffee at the Filling Station, Bishop Hill, IL

Second Best Meal: Breakfast at Northshore Cafe, Trenton, NE

After Party

The McMahon-Kilcullen Crew at the Finish Line --

We had a BBQ celebration -- Palauan style -- back at my ranch -- Megan bake a cake -- "The Hammer" is a nick-name that seems to be sticking --

More pix from when Pat and Dad riding along Lake Shore Drive today.

Patrick and Bill enjoying Palauan chicken BBQ and a few cold ones.

Day 14: The Finish Line

Mile 1,125 -- Beverly to Northshore Hospital, Evanston 26 miles along beautiful Lake Shore Drive (my dad, Bill, Sr, rode wingman with Pat on the final stretch).

Megan and Patrick (and my little Kimberly) at the finish line.

Day 13: Princeton to Beverly, Chicago

Patrick rode up to my house around 5 pm today; he said it was the best day yet for biking -- he pumped out 89 miles for a ride total of 1099.3 miles so far (he wanted to go around the block to get the even number, but I threw him in the shower). He rode the I&M Canal trail to Joliet, and then jumped the Metra train to my stop to avoid the dangers of metropolitan Chicago drivers. Here he is on the back deck enjoying a cold one. Unbelievable accomplishment; tomorrow is the easy ride up the lakefront to Northshore Hospital.

I&M Canal Trail

Patrick has made it to the nice 61.5 mile I&M Canal Trail, which is a former towpath. The trail is a bit muddy but beats the roads. This should bring him right into Joliet, Illinois.

Paved portion of the I&M Canal Trail

Day 12: Aledo to Princeton, Illinois

Patrick rode about 87 miles to Princeton, Illinois today -- for the most part in a driving rain storm. He has logged 1,009.5 miles thus far, and tomorrow is the home stretch until he gets to my house. Sunday will be a nice ride up the lakefront path to the "finish line". Let's pray for no rain tomorrow.

The Filling Station

Patrick stopped off in Bishop Hill, Illinois to get lunch and dry out a bit. He found a great spot to eat at The Filling Station, where, Pat reports, they not only gave him a free meal, they donated $30 to the cause. "Great folks, Cubs fans to boot," he writes.
Patrick leaves his mark.

Rain, rain, go away

Pat had to hide out in a greenhouse this morning in Viola, Illinois while a mid-summer squall passed by; he reports that his rain-gear seems to be made for the light afternoon showers of the Rocky Mountains rather than a midwest monsoon.

Day 11: Washington, IA to Aledo, Illinois

Pat rode to Aledo, Illinois today for a 83 mile day and 926 miles thus far; Pat sent in this pix from the road to Aledo, "Ngermelengui flashback," he writes.

Land o' Lincoln

Patrick just texted me; he had a rest stop in Buffalo Prairie, Illinois -- so far Illinois has been flat, good roads with little traffic. He is in the home stretch now.

Pat Finn?

Patrick reached the Mississippi River at noon today; it is a perfectly balmy 73 degrees; He has travelled 892 miles since leaving home 10 days ago on an adventure that would inspire Old Huck. Cool Paddle Wheel Boat -- too bad it can't paddle east to Chicago. Hard to see but the boat has a sign advertising "Happy Hour on Fridays" -- Pat stoically resists temptation and reluctantly pedals on.

Road to Mississippi

Near Riverside, Iowa - Patrick is having a nice ride, no traffic this morning. Plus an added benefit of friendly bike signs.

Cool barn art along the way today.

Day 10: Albia to Washington, IA

Pat rode about 78 miles today to Washington, IA. He found a great bike shop. Rita, Rodney & crew @ Rider Sales in Washington, IA hooked him up with a new chain- old one was stretched. They also gave him directions to Hawkeye Motel & bridge to Illinois.

Day 9: Creston to Albia, IA

Pat rode 86 miles today to Albia, Iowa for a total miles completed so far of 764 -- which is about 3/4 of the way done. Pretty damn good. Pat reports that the road was pretty bad again today, but the weather was better. He rode the gravel shoulder for much of the way -- but there were portions of paved shoulder. He made more frequent stops where he ate more, which seemed to help. He looks to power on to Washington, Iowa tomorrow and cross into Illinois sometime Thursday.

Georgetown, IA -

More obligatory veneration. Pat with St. Pat (note similar beards).

Lucas, IA

Lucas, IA: Pat reports from the birthplace of Miner & Labor leader John L Lewis: "Welshman, but we'll forgive him." For more on the famous Mr. Lewis - click here.

New Seat, Same Old Feelin'

Pat rotated into a new seat from the old school leather he has been using; he reports new seat, same chaff.

Iowa's Rollers

Pat topped out over 30 mph on some of these; of course, on the opposite side he bottomed out at 2-3 mph - just enough to keep from tipping over. These were the hills from yesterday; note no shoulder, gravel conditions -- now imagine a Big Rig cruising past your left shoulder at 55 mph -- not fun.

Tuesday Morning

Pat reports in today that Highway 34 is much better east of Creston -- nice shoulder and decent road conditions -- he asked around and people say that the road should be decent up through Chariton -- which would be a decent day's ride in these hills and heat. Also, he feels much better after a good night's rest. More updates later in the day.

Day 8: Creston, IA

Pat rode a tough 74 miles today -- hot, humid, hilly, and, last but not least, filled with yappy farm dogs. It might have been the hardest day yet because the roadway was not bike-friendly at all -- gravel shoulder and lots of vehicles. He is going to search out a better roadway for the eastern trek across Iowa. Give him your thoughts tonight and tomorrow - he will need them.

Shenandoah, IA

Pat pedaled 84 miles today to Shenandoah, Iowa through the many hills of Missouri River Valley -- He has a grand total of 603 miles under his belt for the ride so far. Below is his cozy accommodations for tonight.

Young Man River

Crossing the Missouri River...

... And entering the Hawkeye State.

Day 7: Onward Bound

Pat took off from Lincoln, NE this am -- his goal is to cross the Missouri and sleep tonight in Iowa. Here is a pix he sent from Nebraska City, NE of the "Mayhew Cabin", which was a stop on the Underground Railroad.

I thought my rig needed a little bling, and I had been singing a tune from Cool Hand Luke while pedaling across the plains:

"Get yourself a sweet Madonna/dress her in rhinestone/put her on a pedestal of abalone shell/Doin' 90 I ain't scary/cuz I got the Virgin Mary/assurin' me that I ain't goin' to hell..."

(or something like that).

Today I ran into a Palauan girl named Scarlett at the local Walgreens; turns out Ida and I know her brother Tommy, who lives in Longmont, and Ida used to work with her sister Debbie. And Scarlett knows Ida's brothers, Kendall and Jesse, who live in Wayne, NE. Small world.

I'm getting ready to head into Iowa in the morning; not sure of the final destination; I'll see where my legs take me.

Rest Day

I slept well at the lovely Holiday Inn (Lincoln, NE). Thank you to all the followers and contributors- it keeps me going. Special thanks to Megan for the inspiration (this ain't nothing compared to what you've endured), Bill for being my "cyber support van", and Ida for holding down the fort.

Some thoughts on Nebraska:

• the people are very kind
• it's not flat
• yes, there is a lot of corn
• feed lots stink (the largest one I've seen was actually in eastern Colorado)
• the small towns are dying (the old timers tell me that young people move away because there's nothing left for them except farming)
• and don't bring up the subject of college football unless you have time for a long lecture.

I'll post more later; time to check the laundry. Peace.