Day 3 "Soldier Down!!"

Today we crossed our first state line - I took the sprint by a 1/2 tyre width from JW (and the 10 points.)

The Turk was struggling today until she plugged in her new best friend (the iPhone.)  All of a sudden she was climbing like a monkey.  Or maybe biting her tongue made the other pains lessen?

JW and Anna Catherina Berge (Cat) winner of 2005 Race Across America Women's Division.  Cat is riding across the U.S. with us this summer.

"Team" Bicycle-Heaven riding across the U.S. this summer include Terri (aka the Turk, Bicycle-Heaven co-owner with Matt Hamlin,) Jim (Emergency Physician caring for Baptist Health System Emergency Patients) and 2 soccer players Will (10th grade Reagen HS this fall) and JW (9th grade Reagen HS this fall.)

One soldier (Will) didn't start today with the stomach cramps he had over night.  He is doing well tonight and should be back on the bike in for Day 4.

Day 3 was a Pactour "rest" day of 90 miles.  We left Spokane and did some gentle climbs to Idaho, then cross the Priest River and rode 20 miles of winding rollers along the river, maybe the most beautiful 20 miles of the ride so far.  We are overnighting in Sandpoint, a very cool town.  Northern Idaho is absolutely gorgeous - I can see why the many Bicycle-Heaven triathlete customers loved Coeur d'Alene triathlon last year.

The Turk was struggling for the first 50 miles today, then turned her iPhone music on and suddenly was dropping JW and Jim on the rollers.  Her old "best friend" (TV) just may be upset when she gets home with her new "best friend." 

The family has a "Green Jersey" contest during the ride - 2 points for a City Limit Sign, 5 for County Signs, 10 for State Signs.  Wills first concern when we figured he couldn't ride today was "Oh no, JW's going to get all the points today.  I had to take a few to keep JW from pretty much eliminating Will.  After 3 rides the scorecard reads JW 37, Jim and Will 17, Terri 2.

In the previous post we mentioned 1% rides.  Any ride of 30-35 miles on this trip (ie between rest stops) is a 1% ride.  The trip is 3400 miles long so these rides are 1% of the distance.  Gives perspective since it is hard to think of riding 3500 miles, but when you think of riding 35 miles 100 times it seems more manageable.

Today's topic was Family.  The quote we discussed was "To the world you may be just somebody, but to somebody you may just be the world."  This reminds us to thank all who are reading along, who are thinking about our journey - all your morale and support is appreciated and needed!!!