Grand Arrival

Well, we made it to D.C. more or less in one piece. Friday was definitely a very tough day for various reasons, but it was great to get to DC and have a large crowd and lunch waiting for us.

We started early. Our last camp site was the only one that we had to shuttle to, so Fred took the first group of riders down to the trail at 6:30 a.m. He came back to get the rest of us and all of the gear and all was smooth sailing, or so we thought. Unfortunately, we had a few minor complications that slowed progress and resulted in Brad and Lisa taking a different route than the rest of the crew.

We rode hard. The crew on the C&O made great time, especially considering it was 100 degrees and HUMID! Brad and Lisa enjoyed a little healthy competition on the W&OD trying to make up for lost time.

Brad and Lisa frantically trying to get on the trail to catch the others.

We finally got to D.C. an hour late but folks were waiting patiently to greet us at the Capitol. How wonderful it was to see them! Nate got a flat on the mall, and by the time we got the bikes into the vehicles, there were two more flats. It turns out the D.C. streets were harder on tires than the rough canal path!

Mary riding across the bridge finally entering Washington, D.C.

Folks were so patiently waiting in the hot sun for our late arrival.

It was wonderful to see everyone and they were so supportive and forgiving of our stinky sweaty condition.

Words cannot express what a wonderful experience we enjoyed together and we made memories that will last a lifetime. The ride was tough, but it was worth it. We believe in the cause and had wonderful support from all of you. So, from the bottom of our hearts,

THANK YOU!!!!!

More pictures!

Below is more photo "catch-up." Click on the photos to see a larger image.

Riding across the bridge to meet with the folks from Somerset County on Day 2. The District worked on this viaduct and the views were AMAZING!

It's amazing how much water one can consume when spending all day on a bicycle! We seemed to need to refill our "bladders" (hydration packs) at every stop. As a result, we renamed our trip "Tour de Port-o-Johns".
Day 2--Somerset CD met us in Meyersdale, PA to present us with a $500 check!
Still Day 2--Breaking for a minute before heading through another tunnel.
One of many breathtaking views along the route.
"Freddy Bear" (one of his many, many nicknames) making salmon omelets on Tuesday morning. He was always up before the sun getting our coffee and grub prepared.
The Newbies decorated Brad's bike during the night and he wandered around for more than 2 hours the next morning before noticing. He may be bald but he's still a blonde! Starting out on Day 3. Can you believe how big the smiles are after we did a 72 miler the day before? Everyone seems eager to get back on the bikes!
Going through the long, dark Paw Paw tunnel. People had freaked us out about how scary it would be and we decided that it was cool but not near as scary as the hype.
The view on the other side of the tunnel was incredible.
Mary the wildlife counter tries to point out turtles to Nate and Brad. She kept count along the trip but the big highlight was the black bear she chased down the trail!
By the end of the day on Wednesday, our bikes were dirty, squeaking and tired. Brad and Nate took a couple hours to clean and lube our chains and get the bikes back in working conditions. The trail was rough on them, so we appreciated the clean up!
Arthur didn't always say much, but some of his actions spoke louder than words. He, like the rest of us, was exhausted by this point! (The end of Day 4).
Lisa and Naomi having a "mature moment" on White's Ferry.

We Made it!

Well, I hope none of our faithful blog viewers have been insanely worried over the last 10 days wondering if we fell off the planet!

The last three days of the ride were both brutal and wonderful. We enjoyed more wildlife, scenery, fresh air, friendly folks, time with friends and good food!


Tuesday night after our last blog post we made our way to Ft. Frederick State Park where we had a beautiful camp site set right beside the Potomac River. Contrary to the River's condition in D.C., it's a beautiful, clear river at this spot, and served as our only shower for the night. While we swam in the river, Fred worked up an amazing dinner....nothing less than "Mashed Potato Sundaes." This was a margarita glass filled with garlic mashed potatoes, topped with beef fillet tips in brown gravy with a side of fresh squash and other vegetables. Nate had purchased two massive pies during the day which we also devoured.


Wednesday was a 50+ mile day. All in all, it was a good day but we did encounter our only detour (5 miles on a hilly, paved, windy two-lane road without a shoulder) and our first flat tire. The detour was hot and made us very thankful for the shade provided by the trees along the rest of the trail. The day ended in Harpers Ferry where we stopped to check out the cute, historic town and have ice cream (again). We then pedaled a few miles to a youth hostel where we were delighted to find hot showers and Fred bustling around a full service kitchen. We camped outside but had access to all the facilities inside which was a treat. Dinner for the night? Pork loin (mmmmm....), fried green beans with onions and roasted red potatoes. We were all pretty tired by this time so after Brad fixed Lisa's flat, we called it a night early.


Thursday was our shortest day. We were in need of a break by this point, so were glad for the rest. We slept in past 7 (wahoo!) and then Fred made full use of the kitchen, cranking out pancakes, eggs and sausage. We hit the trail mid morning and had a relatively leisurely 25 mile ride to White's Ferry (with a lunch stop along the way and another swim in the river).


We camped our last night outside of Leesburg, Virginia. We were so close to home we could nearly smell it, but we knew we would have to pedal hard to make it in by the 11:30 meeting time on Friday. We swam in the pond, played basketball with some local kids and enjoyed a big steak dinner followed by lots of stories, laughs and memories around the lanterns (no campfire that night). Amazingly, even though it was the last night of our week together, we were all still friends!


Enough chatting, time for some pictures! Some are from previous days as we didn't get to post many on the road.

Day 1 - Little did we know at this point we were still riding uphill!

Our resident mechanic working on Lisa's tires. He was a good sport about helping everyone.

Ah, the tents. We learned to set these up and take them down in record time!

Chef Daddy Hammon whipping up rice pilaf our first night. Mmmmmm!

An early morning departure on Day 2. This campsite was WONDERFUL!

More than Half Way

Whew....where to start. The last two days have been pretty brutal but we're holding up well. All of the riders are still pedaling along and we still like each other so those are accomplishments in themselves!

Yesterday was our longest day. We biked 72 long miles from Rockwood, PA to Paw Paw, WV. Our first stop of the day was at the Meyersdale Train Station where we met with the Somerset Conservation District. What a great stop! They met us a mile before the station to show us a bridge they had worked on with the local RC&D Council. The bridge was one of the best views of the entire trip. They then fed us, had the Historic Train Station opened especially for us, and presented us with a $500 check. WOW--Thanks Somerset CD and partners for the best stop of our trip so far.

About 15 miles later, we FINALLY crossed the Eastern Continental Divide. Were we ever glad to see that sign. We had been on a slight upgrade to that point and were so glad to finally head down hill we were nearly giddy. After a gigantic lunch in Frostburg, we flew the 16 miles downhill to Cumberland where the Great Allegheny Passage trail ended and the C&O Canal trail started. We stuffed ourselves with ice cream and headed out.

The last stretch was tough. The trail is rather muddy with a lot of ruts which slows things down some. We finally made it to camp around 7:30 where Fred was patiently waiting with yet another great meal. Some of Lisa's friends kindly shuffled us to their home to get hot showers and even did our laundry and brought it back this morning....talk about service!

During the night a racoon got into our trailer but thankfully all he got to was our trash. Thankfully Fred heard him and scared him away before he found the "big stash."

Well, I've written too many details about yesterday so will sum today up briefly. We started out today on the long Paw Paw tunnel which was long, dark and a little spooky. We've been on the C&O for a little over 30 miles so far and finally found wireless so Mary could send eNotes. We've got about 10 more miles before camp and we're ready for a restful night to prepare for another big day tomorrow. Fred hasn't told us what is for dinner yet--apparently it's a surprise but we don't need plates. Hmmmm....we'll have to tell you tomorrow what it is.

Time to pedal on friends....

30 miles down, 228 to go!

Well, we survived our first trek! We all met last night in Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania and camped there at the state park. Who knew it took a Uhaul trailer to carry all the gear needed for such an expedition? Chef Daddy Hammon was kind enough to tow it along behind his vehicle for the week.

We started out mid-afternoon after spending the morning getting our bikes ready, doing last minute adjustments and prepping for the big trip. Today we rode 30 miles, not counting the crazy 5 miles of hills to get out of the park and onto the trail.

We made it the whole way without any major breakdowns or flat tires....success!

Tonight we're camping at one of the world's best campgrounds...primitive sites on one side of the river but if you ride your bike a mile out, you can get to hot showers, a bike wash, and wireless internet.

Chef Daddy Hammon lived up to his name and made Cajun grilled salmon, rice pilaf, and fresh corn on the cob for dinner, following and appetizer course of chicken salad on pretzel crackers with cheese and crackers. Needless to say, this is some of the best camp food we've ever eaten!

Tomorrow is our biggest day. We'll ride 72 miles to Paw Paw, West Virginia. Wish us luck.

Ridin' High in O-HI-O

Talk about a perfect day. Lisa, Brad, Nate, Mary and Claudia trekked out to Ohio over the 4th of July weekend (it wasn't too far of a trek for Brad and Claudia) to join the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts for their Team 509 ride. Our great friends from Ohio organized the ride to raise money for the Renovation Ride. We had 12 riders in total, and two support vehicles, one of which was driven by none other than Chef Daddy Hammon. Everyone made it the full 52 miles, and a couple folks rode even further because they couldn't follow the directions!

The weather was perfect, the scenery was gorgeous, and the company was good too! We stopped at Price Organics where Tom Price told us all about his impressive composting facility. The Delaware SWCD filled our bellies and water bottles and presented a $500 check at that first stop. Thanks Delaware SWCD!



Next up was NACD President Elect Steve Robinson's farm. Steve wanted to have a big cookout but was given strict instructions by Mindy and Kent that we only wanted PBJs. The PBJs were excellent (although I think one of Steve's burgers would have been good too!). As usual, he was a great host and sent us on our way fat and happy to wrap up the last 20 miles.



We finished up mid-afternoon still smiling and injury free. Ok, so some of us waddled a little the next day but overall, everyone was in good shape.



We had a fun weekend and it was great preparation for the "big ride" that is just around the corner. Fred proved that he's a great "sag wagon" driver, and patiently followed us all day, shielding us from traffic and taking pictures of the riders and all the conservation practices we passed.


A HUGE thanks to our friends in Ohio for organizing the ride and being such strong supporters of the 509 Capitol Court Campaign and the Renovation Ride. Check out their pictures on their website at http://ofswcd.org/2008_team_509_bike_ride.htm.

A Great Day for a Ride

First, we have to apologize for being so slack about posting to our blog. I wish we could say that we have just been on our bikes every day and haven't had time in front of the computer. Unfortunately, we've been in front of the computer doing non-bike related activities, like working.

Regardless, the Renovation Riders have been doing what they can to get the training miles in to prepare for the big week that is right around the corner. Last week the Newbies saddled up for a 20 mile ride after work. Lisa and her buddy Nate also spent Saturday afternoon busting mud puddles on the C&O Canal path. Their 50 mile ride started at White's Ferry (note how clean they are in the pictures), went into Georgetown and then back out the W&OD trail to Vienna. What a day!

Below are a few photos of the day. It was a beautiful and we're getting stoked for the big ride.

On the ferry pre-ride. This is actually the starting point for our last day on the big ride.

A few miles into the ride. See all the spots on Lisa's shirt and face? It was a lot muddier than they expected!

A stop at beautiful Great Falls.

Did we mention it was a little muddy?

This weekend, the riders are headed to Ohio where they will join Team 509 for their 50 mile ride to raise money for the Campaign. More pictures and posts to come. We promise to keep you updated during the actual ride.

If you have any additional donations to send our way, be sure to get them in the mail this week so we can put them toward one team or the other pre-ride. We need your support!

Ohio SWCDs Pedal for NACD

Not only is the Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts among the leaders in state fundraising efforts for NACD’s 509 Capitol Court Campaign, they are also organizing a local ride to raise additional funds for the Renovation Ride. The Federation will host a 53-mile ride on Saturday, July 5, 2008 in Ohio, with stops planned at Price Organics and at the Robinson Farm, home of NACD President Elect Steve Robinson. The tour will include beautiful scenery and offer a showcase of conservation and farming practices in both Union and Delaware counties. Several of NACD’s Renovation Riders plan to join in on the ride.

To join Team509 for all or part of the Ohio tour on July 5, or to sponsor, contribute funding or provide assistance during the event, please contact Mindy Bankey at (614) 784-1900 or mindybankey@ofswcd.org. NACD extends a big thank you to Ohio’s conservation districts for their support!

Penny for your thoughts, dollar for a mile?

Hey folks, we’re so glad you’re coming to visit our blog. We would love to hear from you and receive support during the training phase. So “penny for your thoughts” translates to: Please leave a comment on the blog. To do so, just click on the Comments link at the bottom of the post. Not only will you be able to read what others wrote, you will also be able to leave a comment there yourself. Your message will be available for others to read, and will be forwarded to the riders. Let us know your thoughts!

Now, to the real business…..dollar for a mile. You may be hearing buzz in your state about folks who are contributing $1/mile for the Renovation Ride. That’s $258 to be precise! Just be glad we’re not charging for the training miles or you’d all be broke! If you’re not hearing the buzz, we want you to start it. Will you help by encouraging friends, family, neighbors, and others to contribute $1/mile?

For those who haven’t heard the news, our NACD officer team voted to move forward on construction and renovations during the August recess so we have some serious money to raise. Help us meet our $280,000 goal. If you need help spreading the word, check out the humorous Renovation Ride PowerPoint and flashy flyer available on the NACD website at http://www.nacdnet.org/events/509campaign/ride/. Rumor has it, there’s a picture of Bob Cordova on a bicycle—and he’s wearing a cowboy hat to boot!

Till next time…..give us your thoughts and your dollars too.

Announcing Chef Daddy Hammon

The Renovation Ride Team is thrilled to announce they will be joined on their trip by the one and only CHEF DADDY HAMMON! Who is that, you ask? Well, he is known to many of you simply as Fred Hammon, SWCD Administrator from Ohio. However, he also happens to be the father of Mary Hammon (a rider on the newbies team), as well as an excellent chef.

Fred has agreed to take the full week to be our #1 cook, fix-it man, doctor and cheerleader. He'll be cooking, shuttling, repairing, supporting...you name it! We are so grateful that Fred has decided to drive our support vehicle, and we think Mary is looking forward to some quality "Dad time."

Hats off to Fred. Send him your encouragement, he'll need it!

Get Out and Ride!!!

Welcome back to the Renovation Ride Blog! We've been in touch with many of you recently, discussing ways to energize your state to support our ride. You can also say we've "been in touch" with our bikes!

The Renovation Riders have been putting the miles in, rain or shine. We're training on flatland, on hills, in the city, in the country...you name it. We are each pedalling as much as we can trying to get ready for the big ride. The photo on the left was taken right before we all headed out for a group ride the last time Brad came to D.C.

We're trying to do our part. Are you? If you have ideas to keep the momentum for the Ride going, please let us know. We have $20,000 more to raise to meet our ride goal, and more than $150K to go to meet our overall goal to renovate 509 Capitol Court. Keep that money coming!

As always, thank you for your support.

Meet the Riders

Welcome to our Renovation Ride blog! If you've come this far, you probably know that five NACD staffers have committed to riding 258 miles in the five days leading up to NACD's Summer Board Meeting and Legislative Conference to raise money for the 509 Capitol Court Campaign. We realize we all may not be around to enjoy the renovated office once it's finally complete, but we believe enough in the cause to commit to training for the big week and investing our own time and dollars to prepare. We want to thank you for your support to this point and encourage you to keep the money coming! Enjoy our blog.

For our first post, we want you to meet the riders.

OLD PRO: Brad Ross
Brad is NACD's Director of Member Services, and is based in Ohio. By far the most experienced rider in the group, the Renovation Ride is Brad's brainchild. He has done several rides to raise money for various causes over the past 20 years, but this one is very close to home. He's been involved in with districts at some level his entire career and is committed to the cause.

Random fact about Brad: He raised and trained quarterhorses to pay his way through college.


OLD PRO: Arthur Ganta
We call him the money man, but technically, Arthur is NACD's Director of Finance. While he's not quite as experienced as Brad in the cycling arena, we're counting on Arthur to ensure that we raise enough funds to get NACD's Headquarters renovated by the end of the year. Arthur has been with NACD since May 2005.

Random fact about Arthur: The only time you see his mean streak come out is in tennis and badmitton. He also speaks seven languages.


NEWBIE: Lisa Lerwick
Lisa loves competition and loves the outdoors. The Renovation Ride gives NACD's Director of Communications a chance to compete against the Old Pros to raise the most money and spend a full week camping, riding and hanging out in the great outdoors with her NACD buddies. Lisa has also been with NACD since May 2005.

Random fact about Lisa: A native of Wyoming, Lisa graduated in a class of nine people. Talk about small town!

NEWBIE: Naomi Watson
She has a great attitude and an uncanny sense of humor. NACD's Accounting Assistant Naomi Watson is not only participating in the ride herself, she's also convinced her husband to come along for the event. She hopes the ride will help her accomplish her quest to become more athletic and outdoorsy.

Random fact about Naomi: Naomi is a skilled musician who studied the clarinet for many years.

NEWBIE: Mary Hammon
The newest NACD member on the team, Mary joined NACD as the Communications Associate in June 2007. She's been stocking up on bike gear and figuring out how she can strap groceries to the back of her bike to live the full car-less D.C. experience. Conservation must run in her blood...her dad has spent his entire career with conservation districts.

Random fact about Mary: Mary grew up with three brothers and is a serious competitor when it comes to video games.