Pactour Day 21 "There's Always Something to Do On Pactour"

We think the Turk got a little nervous when we pulled into this plant.  Or perhaps any fate other than Pactour would be acceptable at this point?

Will

JW

Yesterday the boys discovered they were getting "glove tans" (or maybe they realize the trip end is almost in sight and they don't want funny tans going back to school)  So, now they aren't wearing cycling gloves.  They have reached snobby roadie status now, for sure.

A few days ago we went by Rossville Road.  Today we entered the town of Rossburg (Will took the city limit sign sprint."  This is probably the most feared town in all of cycling, where you go to live after being dropped on too many group rides.  For those outside the joke we call the "Ride of Shame" the "RoSs"  This is what a rider does on a group ride when he/she has been dropped by the group so many times, that he/she rides 200 meters behind the group, regardless of what speed the group is riding at.  Refusing to get back on, even if the group slows to wait.  Suffering is one of the beautiful things about cycling so the RoSs is actually a good thing, sometimes.

Tonight we were treated to an outdoor backyard barbeque in Troy, OH.  Dan is standing and he is the farmer who is leaving us today because it is going to be too hot for the turkey's the next few days and he and his wife (seated next to the Turk) will be hard at work for the next few days to try and save the Turkey's.  The food and company was outstanding.  Someone mentioned that we were having burgers and beer and the "Turkey Burgers?" comment was just outside appropriate.  2 things sunk in at this party.  1. The gravity of what we are all doing.  Dan and his friend Doug have ridden together the entire way "the Ohio Boys" and we have all ridden with them.  Outstanding people.  Doug gave a little speech at the dinner and nearly burst into tears as did others.  Doug's brother cannot recall Doug crying in the past.  That is how powerful what we are all doing together really is.  2.  The work that goes into a party such as this is alot.  And the PacTour crew essentially does this for breakfast and lunch, every day, setting up in 20 minutes, tearing down in 20 minutes, leaving no trace.  Unbelievable.

The Turk was in tears.

You might think Pactour would be easy.  Nothing to do but ride your bike.  Just follow the maps given to you.  All your meals are done for you (except dinner and you get to go out to dinner every night.  Your bags are transported for you.  Massages are available.  You get to stay in a motel everynight.  No decisions to make.

You'd think there would be alot of free time.  Maybe bring a good book, or do a bit of business each day.  Maybe see the sites in town when you get in at night.  Etc.

Well, there really is no free time.  Take a typical day for the Slausons.

5:45 alarm(s) go off.

5:50 wake boys and do their body fat/weight analysis.  Get JW in the shower and tell Will to get things cleaned up into the luggages.

6:00 back to room.  body fat/weight on Turk (now showered) and Jim.

6:05 call boys to make sure JW getting dressed and Will in shower

6:10 clean up all bags.

6:15 Jim in shower

6:20 Turk dressed/chamoised and over to boys room to get JW out of bed and light a fire under JW

6:30 Jim dressed/chamoised, bringing bikes down to van

6:50 Done with breakfast.  Jim done bringing computer bags, luggage, bikes, soccer ball to van.

Get JW out of bed again.  Light another fire under Will to get him moving

Put on cycling shoes and give bags to motel van

7:00 on bikes

9:00 First rest stop.  Family eating, Jim filling water/gatorade bottles

9:15 on bikes.  Lighting fire under Will to get moving

11:30 2nd rest stop, see above

1:30 Lunch, see above (Jim now eats)

3:30 last rest stop, see above

5:30 To Hotel.  Boys/turk bring bags in while Jim washes bikes.  Jim fixes cable on Turks bike, changes tires on Jim's and Wills bikes (things wear in 2000 miles, you know.)

6:00 Boys showered, Turk bathing.  Jim getting tomorrows clothing ready and todays into dirty clothes

Laundry started (every 2-3 days)

6:30 massage perhaps

7:30 dinner

8:00 write about day

9:00 - 9:30 lights out - Turk in bed at 8:00 tonight.

So amazingly, no free time.  You gain even more respect for the crew, how do all the above, plus get up earlier to get breakfast and motel van ready each day, clean up and help riders with maintennance and other issues after ride, etc.  Plus ride every other day.

The story is similar in the support crew vans/trailers.  Everyone is always doing something, all day long.  Reminds me of when you are a kid and you look at your parents and say "I can't wait until I'm grown up and have lots of free time...."

Today we rolled from Wabash, IN to Troy, OH (a nice easy flat 131 miles.)  Troy is 40 miles from Will's birthplace (Dayton) and 50 miles from Jim's college (Miami.)  To honor this JW got triple stateline points for taking the Ohio border, Will got triple countyline points for taking the Miami County sign.

Tomorrow we should have our first real rain of the trip which will be interesting.  150 miles from Troy to Athens, OH (Home of Ohio University with famed Halloween celebration.)  A few rollers, but the real challenge (beyond the distance) will be the rain.  Should be interesting.

Tonight we had the outdoor party mentioned above.  Dan Hurley and his friend Doug Collins "The Ohio Boys" have friends in Troy who planned this as a party for Pactour.  Well, also as mentioned is a sendoff for Dan and there were more than a few tears shed tonight.  Doug and Dan are lifelong tight buddies who almost made it across the U.S. cycling together, but "real world" intervenes sometimes.  These are fantastic individuals (as are all of the Pactourians) and I suspect more than a few more tears will be shed at the end of the saga.  JW of course noticed that Dan's wife ?Shawna Hurley was wearing "Hurley" brand clothing.  Nice touch Hurleys.

The family rode all the miles together today and the goal is for the boys to do the whole ride tomorrow, and the Turk to see how she is doing at lunch before committing.

Down to 5 days of riding and each time we wear a cycling kit it will never be worn again by the Slausons on 2007 Pactour.

Until later.

Jim