The Historian
06-08-08, 07:03 PM
By Friday, I'd decided I wasn't able to complete our tour from Pittsburgh to Washington DC. I conked out in Williamsport, MD, unaware that my chest and back pain was a broken rib from my accident two days before. This left me, and Neil F., 100 miles from the ending point at Milepost 0 on the C & O Canal behind Thompson's Boathouse. With me unable to ride, and tentative arrangements made to ferry me to DC, Neil F. turned to me and said, "If you aren't riding, I'm going to finish the ride tomorrow."
"A century?" I said.
"Yeah."
"Why? It's going to be over 90 degrees and humid. Besides, you have all weekend to get the miles."
"I miss my wife. I haven't seen Martha in a week, and I want to be with her." Neil sounded very determined, and there was an intensity to his gaze that underlined his words.
That said, we set to work. "JAGraham" volunteered to drive down from PA to transport me and to run SAG for Neil F, and I helped Neil prepare for his ride by offering suggestions on food, pacing, hydration, and other matters. Neil F, however, did most of his own planning, and did so with a greater attitude of determination than I had ever seen before from my friend. I also tried to arrange for a couple of other Bike Forums members to meet him on the ride; in the end he missed them, and so he rode alone.
Saturday morning at 6:16 AM Neil F. rode off from the Red Roof Inn in Williamsport to the towpath trailhead, carrying a reduced touring load, but still burdened with tent and sleeping bag in case he didn't make it. Judy and I had my gear out of the hotel room soon after and we began our day of Neil-chasing. The first sighting was on the road detour around the closed portion of the towpath shortly after 8:00 AM. Already the temperature was in the upper 70s:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2035/2562168613_679b54f87e_b.jpg
We next caught up to him at the 20 mile mark at Taylor's Landing, where we provided him water. Note the sweat pouring off of Neil's brow. Note also the condition of the towpath - this wasn't a smooth asphalt century, but a struggle against gravel. mud, roots, and rocks:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3161/2562171397_f1d2fc2290_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3265/2562998302_b8464f0822_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3187/2562999238_1be6242753_b.jpg
We arranged to meet at the 35 mile mark at Antitem Creek, and brought Neil more water, apple juice, a breakfast egg and cheese sandwich, and a milkshake. We also splashed water on him to keep him cool in the 80 degree heat:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2040/2562178275_cc048e9299_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3096/2563001238_e49e586dea_b.jpg
Brunswick was next, nearly the halfway mark. We arranged to meet Neil F. at the train station and take him to Beans in the Belfry, a coffeeshop in a desanctified church, for an air-conditioned lunch. By now it was over 90 degrees and oppressively humid. Neil had shed his camping gear in an attempt to lighten his load, and his shirt to feel less sticky.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3051/2562179899_3421ba11ec_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3180/2562181869_a456d34164_b.jpg
After a long lunch and a brief nap, Neil set off again just before two. He, Judy, and I escaped Brunswick before a train car derailment closed the local roads and the towpath. We continued to play Neil-chaser the rest of the day, running from Point of Rocks to White's Ferry to Pennyfield with water, apple juice, and the occasional snack to keep him fueled. By Pennyfield at mile 20 it was clear Neil was determined to nail the century; there was nothing half-way in his eyes when you spoke to him. Judy and I said goodbye to him and headed off to Great Falls, milepost 20, for another sighting, only to see Neil flash by us at 16 MPH. We hurried back to the chase car, afraid Neil would beat us to Thompson's Boathouse.
As we drove, we got a call just after 7:00 PM from Neil saying he had passed Milepost 10. We struggled through Georgetown traffic and arrived near the boathouse by 7:35. I called Neil's wife; she had been alerted by Neil shortly before I called, and was leaving in ten minutes. Judy and I went to the boathouse and waited. A few minutes before 8:00 PM a familiar looking figure, very tired, very sweaty, and very dirty, emerged from the crowds on the marina that abuts the towpath.
"Neil!" we shouted.
"Hey, where's Milepost 0?" he asked.
Judy and I walked with him towards the milepost. "Ride with me. Both of you."
"Neil, I can't" I said.
"Come on, we're a team."
And so I wobbled a hundred feet or so on my bike to the milepost. I posed for a photo with Neil and Judy, manic smiles on our faces. And then Neil turned to his wife, took her in his arms, and the hundred miles of mud, gravel, dirt, heat, sweat, and pain melted into nothing.......
"A century?" I said.
"Yeah."
"Why? It's going to be over 90 degrees and humid. Besides, you have all weekend to get the miles."
"I miss my wife. I haven't seen Martha in a week, and I want to be with her." Neil sounded very determined, and there was an intensity to his gaze that underlined his words.
That said, we set to work. "JAGraham" volunteered to drive down from PA to transport me and to run SAG for Neil F, and I helped Neil prepare for his ride by offering suggestions on food, pacing, hydration, and other matters. Neil F, however, did most of his own planning, and did so with a greater attitude of determination than I had ever seen before from my friend. I also tried to arrange for a couple of other Bike Forums members to meet him on the ride; in the end he missed them, and so he rode alone.
Saturday morning at 6:16 AM Neil F. rode off from the Red Roof Inn in Williamsport to the towpath trailhead, carrying a reduced touring load, but still burdened with tent and sleeping bag in case he didn't make it. Judy and I had my gear out of the hotel room soon after and we began our day of Neil-chasing. The first sighting was on the road detour around the closed portion of the towpath shortly after 8:00 AM. Already the temperature was in the upper 70s:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2035/2562168613_679b54f87e_b.jpg
We next caught up to him at the 20 mile mark at Taylor's Landing, where we provided him water. Note the sweat pouring off of Neil's brow. Note also the condition of the towpath - this wasn't a smooth asphalt century, but a struggle against gravel. mud, roots, and rocks:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3161/2562171397_f1d2fc2290_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3265/2562998302_b8464f0822_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3187/2562999238_1be6242753_b.jpg
We arranged to meet at the 35 mile mark at Antitem Creek, and brought Neil more water, apple juice, a breakfast egg and cheese sandwich, and a milkshake. We also splashed water on him to keep him cool in the 80 degree heat:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2040/2562178275_cc048e9299_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3096/2563001238_e49e586dea_b.jpg
Brunswick was next, nearly the halfway mark. We arranged to meet Neil F. at the train station and take him to Beans in the Belfry, a coffeeshop in a desanctified church, for an air-conditioned lunch. By now it was over 90 degrees and oppressively humid. Neil had shed his camping gear in an attempt to lighten his load, and his shirt to feel less sticky.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3051/2562179899_3421ba11ec_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3180/2562181869_a456d34164_b.jpg
After a long lunch and a brief nap, Neil set off again just before two. He, Judy, and I escaped Brunswick before a train car derailment closed the local roads and the towpath. We continued to play Neil-chaser the rest of the day, running from Point of Rocks to White's Ferry to Pennyfield with water, apple juice, and the occasional snack to keep him fueled. By Pennyfield at mile 20 it was clear Neil was determined to nail the century; there was nothing half-way in his eyes when you spoke to him. Judy and I said goodbye to him and headed off to Great Falls, milepost 20, for another sighting, only to see Neil flash by us at 16 MPH. We hurried back to the chase car, afraid Neil would beat us to Thompson's Boathouse.
As we drove, we got a call just after 7:00 PM from Neil saying he had passed Milepost 10. We struggled through Georgetown traffic and arrived near the boathouse by 7:35. I called Neil's wife; she had been alerted by Neil shortly before I called, and was leaving in ten minutes. Judy and I went to the boathouse and waited. A few minutes before 8:00 PM a familiar looking figure, very tired, very sweaty, and very dirty, emerged from the crowds on the marina that abuts the towpath.
"Neil!" we shouted.
"Hey, where's Milepost 0?" he asked.
Judy and I walked with him towards the milepost. "Ride with me. Both of you."
"Neil, I can't" I said.
"Come on, we're a team."
And so I wobbled a hundred feet or so on my bike to the milepost. I posed for a photo with Neil and Judy, manic smiles on our faces. And then Neil turned to his wife, took her in his arms, and the hundred miles of mud, gravel, dirt, heat, sweat, and pain melted into nothing.......