CORVALLIS, OREGON
I rode with a group of college students from the 4K for Cancer riding to Portland on their second and third days in Pennsylvania. This trip had been planned for quite a while, and I hoped to see them again in Oregon. Once Jamie Roberts was killed, I knew that I must see them, if not for their sake but for mine.
Aaron Hoxworth sent me their turn-by-turn directions, and I told him I would ride the route backward from Corvallis to Eugene to find them. I started my day by riding from my hotel to a rental car facility in Portland, driving it back to the hotel, then barely squeezing the bike box in the car. But it fit.
I drove to Corvallis and arrived later than I wanted to, but it was the best I could do. Wheels down at 10:00 a.m. I followed my preloaded map and directions. I had ridden only about 11 miles when, out on a country road next to the Willamette River, I saw four riders coming to me in the distance. As I passed, they called out my name. I did a U-turn and congratulated each rider for making it to Oregon.
We rode together for a little more than two miles, then I turned around and went back to find the second group. There, too, I was met with warm greetings as I turned and rode with them. And I did the same for groups three, four, and five. Once I hooked onto the last group, one with Ki Young Kim in it, I was enjoying a good conversation when I saw the second group off to the side of the road. I told Ki Young I would drop off and ride back with them.
First, Caitlin Epps was sitting on the ground, bike upside down, spinning the wheel and trying to true the wheel. Then Ashley Arnold took over. I was really impressed. On Day 2 they struggled with changing flats, and here they were truing a wheel. Chapeau!
Once back on the road, I took them the way I came, which was over a wonderfully old rickety wooden bridge in Corvallis. Unfortunately, that meant we missed coming off the newer bridge and seeing the mark to the lunch stop. It was only one more mile to the Boys and Girls Club – their hosts for the night, but it was noon. And we were the only ones there. My bad.
A quick phone call and we discovered where lunch was. Another mile back – bonus miles – and I got to meet the rest of the team. It was good to see them happy and I spent some private time with Caitlin. I said goodbye to Aaron, and not many more, because after an impromptu game of barefoot soccer, most of the riders scattered into town.
I was so happy to see them. They have come a long way – much further than 4,000 miles on a bike.
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