Popeye the Sailor Man

I wasn’t sure how to start; it’s been an eventful couple of days!  (And I was worried I wouldn’t have anything to write about…) I guess chronological order is the way it’s going to have to be!

We left you guys in Farmington, Missouri, and since then, we’ve made it over the Mississippi River into Illinois, and by the end of today will be in Marion, Kentucky, now you can see where things can sometimes get a little confusing. 

         We crossed the bridge over the Mississippi River where we also crossed the state line into Illinois. The first town in Illinois we came too happen to be Popeye the Sailor Man’s hometown!  I was wondering why I suddenly had the incredible urge for a spinach salad...

Who else can say they have physical evidence of there father-in-law to be posing like Popeye, it’s really too bad I didn’t have a pipe on hand as a prop…  We can only hope there are many more photo opportunities such as this one. Oh wait... Here's another!  (P.S. if you look back to some of the previous post of us in Yellowstone, I do believe there is a photo of Arch and Skip pretending to be Lewis and Clark!) L-E and I got in on the action too!

Although it was difficult to get L-E to pose as well as Arch did!

Early this morning, very early this morning, Mother Nature gave us quite the wake up call.  At 5:15 AM Skip and I were startled awake by one of the biggest thunderclaps I have heard in a long time.  I believe Mother Nature had something in mind for us because it wasn’t long before we were both up and on our way to find our coffee fix.  Skip needs quite a bit of caffeine to bike 100 miles a day. At a local Kroger's Doria was there to help us!

  Well it turns out that Doria is also a teacher at Head Start, a not-for-profit membership organization that is dedicated to helping low-income families and their children off to the best start possible.  Doria has been with the Head Start program for 21 years, her daughter also teaches, and her son is in finishing up his education.  Doria is a single mom, and a great person; she even made sure we didn’t go back to the hotel empty handed since Arch and L-E were still in bed. 

I have attached a link to the Head Start website for anyone who is interested in finding out more about this great program.

This will be a short stay in Illinois, since today we will be taking the ferry over to Kentucky! Our next stop for the night will be in Marion, and hopefully our directions today will be much clearer than the ones that tried to navigate us into the ever elusive Canondale.  

Arrival in Farmington Missouri

We arrived in Farmington this afternoon after quite a few ups and downs.  By ups and downs I mean hills of course!  It's still a surprise to Skip at how much more challenging this roller coaster is to crossing the Continental Divide 8 times...  So when skip pulled in, it was a fast shower and quickly over to the closest restaurant for some sustenance.  

Skip burns an average of 7000 calories  day, so you can imagine how much he needs to eat, or at least tries too!  Sometimes, you just can't sit down and consume that many at one time, so he stops at least twice a day in small towns along the way.  We also make sure we always have fruit or some other type of snack Skip can grab when we catch up to him during the day.  Arch and I also have a cooler of ice and drinks available.  We also use the ice on Skip, trying to keep him in working order all the way to the finish line.

The finish line is creeping up on us, we are still thinking we will be arriving close around the 18th of September in Yorktown Virginia.  That's two weeks!  We will keep you all posted on how we are doing, and should plans change, (in which they constantly seem to be doing), you guys will be the first to know!  So if you or someone you know is still thinking about getting involved in the fight to find a cure for Parkinson's disease, pleas do.  It's never too late to make a donation, or spread the word of Skip's great journey across the country!  If you'd like to become a part of the welcoming party in Yorktown, please e-mail me at coasttocoastforpd@hotmail.com, or if you have any other questions!  Hope to hear from you soon! 

Change of Plans

The plan was to make it to Ellington, MO from Marshfield,  about a 130 mile trek.  Skip has been able to cover 160 miles in a day, so setting this goal didn't seem out of reach.  Unfortunately the terrain made it seem impossible!  We have entered a landscape I would like to refer to as Rollercoaster Roads, where it seemed that the ups lasted a lot longer than the downs. 

 Skip has had so much fun biking here, the mountains were a great challenge, and the scenery was amazing, but the beauty of the rolling hills and constant challenge of making that big 11% climb, only to find another right around the bend, gives him a new sense of satisfation at the end of the day.  So when plans were made the night before, no one really knew what the challenge would be.  Arch and I caught up with Skip in Summersville.  I decided to hop on the spare bike and join Skip, knowing it would be quite the ride, but liking the idea of finding out how strong I really was!  20 miles, and three or four of the biggest hills I had ever climbed, we arrived in Eminence, MO.  Wow, and Skip had been doing this all day!  I have to admit, it was a great feeling getting to the top, realizing you mad it,and then having the reward of being able to sometime reach 40 miles an hour on a bike, on the way back down the other side.  

After a stop at the local grocery store to refuel and rehydrate, we pressed on... Arch had come back with the car to check on us after he had scouted out our original destination.  He came bearing some bad news.  The one hotel in town didn't take dogs!  We were only about 4 miles outside of Eminence, and had about 20 more to go, into a town where L-E would be sleeping in the car.  It was getting late, by Skip's calculation, if he continued on his own, he still wouldn't make it in till about 7PM, and his knee was acting up on him, which might slow him down even more.  We decided to make the 4 mile journey back to Eminence where L-E was welcome and we would be able to have a good meal before the restaurants closed.  

I think we were all thankful for the change of plans.  It was awesome to able to bike down a couple of the hills I had biked up, and find myself amazed that I had actually done that!  I have always had an unmeasurable amount of respect for what Skip is doing, and it grows everyday.  

A day off in Marshfield, Missourri

Skip icing his knee

After a few thousand miles on a bike there are bound to be a few bumps and bruises.  All in all, Skip has been in good shape, knock on wood!!  All the prayer's and well wishes must be getting through.  We make sure Skip gets ice on his knee as soon as he gets in off the bike.  He also takes arnicare orally, and we also apply a topical arnicare cream on his sore muscles.  

Since we were taking a day off, we took a drive down to Springfield, Missouri so Skip could get his bike in for a little tune up.  Not just Skip taking a little beating!  

 We were lucky to find Alan, who took the time to make sure everything was in working order.  We'd like to thank you all again for your professional and expert advice.  

P.S we looked up SAG Team, click HERE to find out too!

 A&B Cycle

Traveling with a four legged mascot

Meet Bob and Naren from the Holiday Lodge on 2701 North Broadway in Pittsburg, KS.  Two good people, who made an exception.  Anyone who has traveled with a beloved pet will know that sometimes it can be hard to find lodging that will accommodate them.  So far, other than having to pay the non-refundable pet fee, we've had reasonably good luck in finding places, for the most part! 

 We realize not all places will take in a "60" pound Golden Retriever, no matter how well behaved, and if you know L-E, she knows her manners!  L-E has learned and diligently practices these manners daily.  Her current repertoire includes sit, down, stay, heel and off, she also won't jump up onto the bed or couch without looking at you with those big brown eyes as if to say, "pretty please, I'll be good, I promise"! She is always good, always loving!  We learned from Opera how to sit patiently and wait until it's okay before wolfing down super.  So patiently, that there have been times when either Skip or I have forgotten to give her the a-okay, gone to finish up an errand and returned to find her still patiently waiting.  Skip has also taught her to chase her tail... one thing I thought she didn't really need to know, but he also taught her to High 5!  She is so good at it now, you really just have to put your hand up, and L-E is more than happy to oblige you.  L-E is a great dog, and we don't know what we would do without her.  

 I must admit though, there were a couple oddities in trying to find a place to stay... One place, which I won't name, although I doubt I will try again  if I come across it, rudely told me it would be a $100, non-refundable dog fee... per night!  Another place let me know that they had a no-pet policy, but that it didn't look like it would be getting too cold that night, and that the dog should be alright to stay in the car... Interesting. 

Arch arrived in Pittsburg, KS and began the search for a room.  He got lucky when he found the Holiday lodge.  Bob had a no pet policy, but when he heard our story, and got our promise that L-E would be on her best behavior, he let us stay!  We are very thankful, they had great rooms, clean, and they were very interested in our journey, so thank you Bob and Naren!  Especially from L-E, who felt very welcome!

With Love, Ashley and L-E

I would just like to personally thank all my family and friends out there that have supported us, and helped us out in anyway they could.  It's hard to describe the feeling you get when you look back onto all the people we've met on this journey.  Not only the people here, but the people back home who are working behind the scenes, or the friends that have help us along the way.  We never knew exactly where this could take us, and there were times when we doubted we would be able to make it happen... but because of the collaboration of many, the support and belief you've all had in us, we are on an amazing adventure.  

To go across the United States, in the hopes of shortening the road to a cure for Parkinson's Disease, all started with an idea, with Skip's desire to challenge himself in the extreme, and a hope that we can make a difference.   The help and support we have received has shown us just that!  Anyone can make a difference, and no matter how small you may think your part in it is, it's not.  Without all the little things people have done to help us along in this cause, it wouldn't be as big as it is. 

So here is a little thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, to everyone along the way;

(it's in no order other than how good my memory is, and if I forget anyone, don't think you are any less important!!! )  Arch and Cindy, all of the Bailey clan, My mom, Deb Jones, Shirley, Wendy and Cody Jones, Rudy Verner and his family, Josh, Bobbi Shay and her Inn, Pat and Nicole Boyle, Showplace Productions,Jon, Hannah, Michael, Puffer, Dereck, Maria, Vanessa, and everyone from Chicago, Ron Taylor and Jim Pettus, and all of PATCO, Team Fox, Adam, Dale Peterson, Peter Pletcher, Dorothy Cox, The Rodeway Inn, Lauren Fisher, Cheryl, Denis and Cody, Jenny Underwood and Gordon, Stephanie and Barbera Goila, Glenn, Sara, Alanna, Pat Duncan, Val, Elisa and Steven, Angele, my Homo-wner, and I wish I had written everyones names down!

I hope you all know how much this means to us! 

My biggest thanks goes out to my Husband to be, Skip.  It all started with his ideas and determination.  He is my rock star, and I am so proud to be a part of this along side him.  Thank you my love, you are amazing

Larned, Kansas

   We reached Larned in the early afternoon yesterday to find that Arch had already found us a great deal in a room.  We’ve come to realize that Arch has a great way with people, and good people seem to gravitate towards him.  So after a hot day fighting against the wind, it was wonderful to find Arch lounging in the Presidential Suite at the Rodeway Inn.  While talking to Brenda who happened to be working at the front desk, about Skip, who would be arriving a little later due to the fact that he was on a bike, and about journey across the US for Parkinson’s disease, she gave upgraded us to the Presidential suite for the price of a regular room.  She was so thoughtful; feeling that after such a long ride, Skip would be in need of the whirlpool that was came with the room.  So if you happen to be traveling out this way, and are looking for a great place to stay, please stop into The Rodeway Inn in Larned.