The start of the trip on May 28, 2010 at Bay View State Park on Puget Sound. We only had a dim sense of what lay ahead. We are so thankful for all the support we received and for the wonderful people who helped us along the way.
The destination at Kettle Cove on the coast of Maine. It is true that the journey is better than the destination. There is always a sense of melancholy at the completion of any venture. While I would have loved to continue on to other sites and experiences we are all drawn to that most wonderful place in the world...home.
Thanks to all for their support and all success and blessing to the Mission Scholarship Foundation.
A family enjoying the beauty of the Maine coast line.
The spandex clad Katie taking a dip in the Atlantic. Gerry did so as well but we have edited all of those pictures out in order to maintain good taste.
Some of the Maine fishing fleet at anchor in Kettle Cove.
Dipping the tires again, this time with Katie looking.
When we got into Maine we changed our route. Essentially we were doing the straightest line to the Atlantic. As a result we ended up hitting the coast at Kettle Cove State Park just south of Portland. This made the Maine portion of our ride two days rather than 4 or 5.
Not in the best light, but the gang on the edge of the Atlantic. From left to right, Tom, Katie (Lancette) and Gerry. Yes I wore the same jersey every day.
Dipping the front tires into the Atlantic along the rocks at Kettle Cove.
Dipping the front tires into the sand beach at Kettle Cove.
I screwed up and put this picture in twice.
The site of our last campsite on a lake in Maine. The lake is in the background but did not come through too well. We did more tent camping in the last two months than I have done in the last 20 years. For the most part the campgrounds were great and well maintained. These too are a wonderful part on living in the good old US of A.
While this is not the best example I could have presented the churches, particularly rural churches, of New England were very beautiful. The freedom of religion is alive and well in America and hopefully always will be. De Tocqueville commented that America is great because America is good and he cited the churches of America as an important part of America's greatness and goodness. Let's hope America is always good.
One of the covered bridges on our route. This picture was taken sort of over the shoulder from the car thus the reflection.
Another covered bridge.
Near the top of Bread Loaf pass in Vermont was the Mountain Campus. This is part of Middlebury College and was founded by the great American poet Robert Frost... two paths diverged in the woods... The Frost homestead is nearby. One of the locals told us that as the story goes Mr. Frost was inebriated one night and fell down in a nearby filed and commented "that looks like a bread loaf." One of those stories that even if it isn't true is a good one.
Some of the help we got along the way included some minor repair to the bikes. All in all we had very few problems and surprisingly only three flats. When we needed help there was always someone there. This is Kelly form the Bike Center in Middlebury, Vermont. He and his partner did a great job of getting us back on the road in a timely fashion. Doesn't Katie look like a biker dude?
Give me a V !!!! No that's not what Katie is doing, but we were happy to be moving on to Vermont and the New England states. As it turned out Vermont was Katie favorite state for many reasons.
To get from Ticonderoga, NY to Vermont one takes a ferry across lake Champlain. Johnny, who has worked the ferry for decades, was our guide today.
There are no reservations for this ferry so we got there early just in case there was a long wait. Well that wasn't a problem as you can see. Our car and a motorcycle were the only customers at 7:30 AM. Bruce, the cycle rider had hiked the continental divide trail years earlier from New Mexico to Montana. We met quite a few people who had done quests not unlike our own. Tom is ever ready with the camera.
Our apologies for there being so much time between posts. We did complete the ride hitting the Atlantic just south of Portland, Maine and then drove 56 hours to get back to Montana three days later. First we want to make some acknowledgments before posting our last pictures and ending the story.
We Must First AcknowledgeOur Thanks to…
Our donors and supporters: There are scores of people who have already generously supported the Mission Scholarship Foundation with their financial and in kind support. The purpose or the Tour de Mission was to raise money so that more Mission High School graduates would have the opportunity to pursue a post-secondary education. Through the generous contributions, both financial and in-kind, the Mission Scholarship Foundation has a strong base from which to realize the dream.
The Mission Scholarship Foundation Board would like to thank the following individuals and organizations for their support of the Mission Scholarship Foundation.
Endorsements:
St. Ignatius School Board
St. Ignatius MEA/MFT
Salish-Kootenai College
St. Ignatius Indian Education Committee – St. Ignatius, Montana
The Adventure Cycling Association – Missoula, Montana
Glacier Cyclery – Whitefish, Montana
The Bicycle Hangar – Missoula, Montana
Big Sky Bicycles – Missoula, Montana
Ronan Telephone – Ronan, Montana
Ronan Dodge – Ronan, Montana
Lower Flathead Valley Community Foundation – Ronan, Montana
Mission Valley Security – Polson, Montana
Glacier Bank – Polson, Montana
Insty Prints of Polson – Polson, Montana
Montana School Equipment Company – Great Falls, Montana
Galusha, Higgins and Galusha – Missoula, Montana
Frontier Insurance Adjusters - Great Falls, Montana
The Hostetter-Habib Foundation – Boston, Massachusetts
NAPA Auto Parts – Pinedale, Wyoming
Allied Waste Service – Missoula, Montana
S and K Technologies - St. Ignatius, Montana
Doug Martin-MT PreferredProperties – St. Ignatius, Montana
MissionValleyOldTown DevelopmentCorporation – St. Ignatius, Montana
Alpine Artistry – St. Ignatius, Montana
Total Screen Design – St. Ignatius, Montana
Rod’s Harvest Foods - St. Ignatius, Montana
PolsonBay Golf Club – Polson, Montana
MissionMountain Golf Course – Ronan, Montana
Mission Valley Dental - St. Ignatius, Montana
MHS Football - St. Ignatius, Montana
Mission General Store - St. Ignatius, Montana
Allard’s Trading Post - St. Ignatius, Montana
Bulldog Wear - St. Ignatius, Montana
Lake County Bank - St. Ignatius, Montana
Mission Athletics - St. Ignatius, Montana
Stuart’s NAPA - St. Ignatius, Montana
MissionMountain Cenex - St. Ignatius, Montana
Pierce Construction - St. Ignatius, Montana
Tribal Health Department - St. Ignatius, Montana
Little Guy Wrestling - St. Ignatius, Montana
Bev’s Bloomers – Ronan, Montana
deVeer Designs – Polson, Montana
TEA Students - St. Ignatius, Montana
Allard Auctions - St. Ignatius, Montana
Sabine Floral - St. Ignatius, Montana
Individuals:
Brenda Arlint - St. Ignatius, Montana
Tammy Demein - St. Ignatius, Montana
Dan Durglo - St. Ignatius, Montana
Adam Hawkuluk - St. Ignatius, Montana,
Jo Phillips - St. Ignatius, Montana
Mary Lou Keast - St. Ignatius, Montana
David Keast - St. Ignatius, Montana
Ken Scott – St. Ignatius, Montana
Mel Krantz - St. Ignatius, Montana
Lloiyd Phillips - St. Ignatius, Montana
Jackie Spidel - St. Ignatius, Montana
Lyle Cronk – St. Ignatius, Montana
Justy - St. Ignatius, Montana
Backy Ashley – St. Ignatius, Montana
Trail Bundy – St. Ignatius, Montana
Gene Posivio – St. Ignatius, Montana
Kay Krantz - St. Ignatius, Montana
Dylan Evans – St. Ignatius, Montana
Loren Erickson – St. Ignatius, Montana
Ken Hill – St. Ignatius, Montana
Geraldine Felix, St. Ignatius, Montana
Izzy – St. Ignatius, Montana
Mary Kudlouk – St. Ignatius, Montana
Jamie – St. Ignatius, Montana
Monte Wicka – St. Ignatius, Montana
Fred Gariepy – St. Ignatuus, Montana
Amanda I – St. Ignatius, Montana
Jackie Spidel - St. Ignatius, Montana
Rose Bow – St. Ignatius, Montana
Cody and Bakely Phillips – St. Ignatius, Montana
Trudy Samuelsen – St. Ignatius, Montana
Guy Gies – St. Ignatius, Montana
Monte Azure – St. Ignatius, Montana
Raymond Matt – St. Ignatius, Montana
Nerby Family – St. Ignatius, Montana
Lois Dumont – St. Ignatius, Montana
Jim Durglo – St. Ignatius, Montana
Aileen Plant – St. Ignatius, Montana
Gary Hill – St. Ignatius, Montana
Peter Matt – St. Ignatius, Montana
Ken Ahlbourn – St. Ignatius, Montana
Spencer Ahlborn – St. Ignatius, Montana
Briar Ahlbourn – St. Ignatius, Montana
Maurie Ahlbourn – St. Ignatius, Montana
JaNeal McDonald – St. Ignatius, Montana
Spike Grant – St. Ignatius, Montana
Phillilp and Monique McDonald – St. Ignatius, Montana
Sierra Esslinger and Claire Stefanatz – St. Ignatius, Montana
Marilyn and R.C. Murchie – St. Ignatius, Montana
Walt and Louise Shock – St. Ignatius, Montana
Lou Rice – St. Ignatius, Montana
Stacey Pule – St. Ignatius, Montana
Stuart Morton – St. Ignatius, Montana
Stephanie Trudeau – St. Ignatius, Montana
Lane Wheeler – St. Ignatius, Montana
Dennis and Gaye Wheeler – St. Ignatius, Montana
Jill Valley – St. Ignatius, Montana
Steve Allard – St. Ignatius, Montana
Andy Fisher – St. Ignatius, Montana
Isabel Seery – St. Ignatius, Montana
Jim Newberg – St. Ignatius, Montana
Karen Kleinklaus – St. Ignatius, Montana
Carol Harbin – St. Ignatius, Montana
The Hawkaluks – St. Ignatius, Montana
Rob and Erin Allard – St. Ignatius, Montana
Bella Dally – St. Ignatius, Montana
Chelsea Kay – St. Ignatius, Montana
Greg Shock – St. Ignatius, Montana
Justin and Christy Krantz– St. Ignatius, Montana
Andrew and Karen Fisher – Arlee, Montana
Dave and Lindy Wordin - Montana
Mr. and Mrs Tom Ross - Missoula, Montana
Allen Tabish – Missoula, Montana
Lynn Delacaris – St. Ignatius, Montana
Joann Roullier – St. Ignatius, Montana
Michael and Teri Dinnell – St, Ignatius, Montana
Jerry Berseth - Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Jack Rockser - Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Tom and Shirley Mlsna - Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Larry and Kristi Milligan - Great Falls, Montana
Roger and Marleen Clark - Fall Creek, Wisconsin
Wally Walter – Fall Creek, Wisconsin
John and Lynn Gunderson - Fall Creek, Wisconsin
Dick and Michelle Krueger - Fall Creek, Wisconsin
Crow and Claudia Niemuth – Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Janet and Bert Wagner – Kearns, Utah
Jack Marlette – Fall Creek, Wisconsin
Andy Niedzweicki – Fall Creek, Wisconsin
Von Melville - Fall Creek, Wisconsin
Dr. Steve Kimball - Green Bay, Wisconsin
Terry and Emily Nolan - Ponte Verde, Florida
Rita Jugoditz - Cincinnati, Ohio
Tom and Sandy Nolan - Havre de Grace, Maryland
Gerry and Lisa Nolan - West Glacier, Montana
Dennis and Chris Cramer – Pinedale, Wyoming
Mark Hostetter and Alex Habib – Boston, Massachusetts
Special thanks to all who attended the Mission Scholarship Foundation Chili Feed and Silent Auction. *SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO DENISE MARKS FOR PREPARING THE FOOD!!! ALSO TO MEL KRANTZ AND LETA WICKA FOR SERVING!!
The support drivers:A special thanks to Gary Edington, Lisa Nolan and Tom Nolan for their support of the riders along the Tour de Mission. Without their generous, kind and timely support we could have never accomplished the ride. Each brought a unique contribution to the ride that has greatly appreciated by the riders.
The school boards:The Tour de Mission does not happen without the full support of both the St. Ignatius and Dubois School Boards. Both boards were gracious in their support understanding and supporting the commitment to the foundation.
My partners:Riding across the country in support of a worthy cause with two of my children was an experience and a gift for which I am greatly appreciative. Having Mackey along for the first 900 miles was a treat. Mackey chose to return home to work and spend the remainder of the summer with Mary and Lisa. That was the right decision for him and he made the decision right by following through and working hard all summer.
I am so proud of Katie for her accomplishment and grateful for her company along the way. I can’t imagine having done the ride without her company. Katie has all the attributes of a great team player. She is tough, supportive, smart, funny, wise and dependable. Through the good times and the occasional hard times Katie was a steady influence of optimism and reason. Thank you Katie for going the distance.
All the Help Along the Way: One of the impressions we came away with all along the ride was the fact that we live in a great country filled with wonderful people who are always willing and able to lend a helping hand. It would be impossible to mention all those folks here and hopefully we have referred to them throughout the blog. In any event we are eternally grateful for all the fine folks who helped us along the way with food, shelter, directions, advice, insight, local history flavor and culture as well as encouragement. What a country !!!
God: With God on our side all came out well in the end. Our biggest concern was safety. We are so thankful that God kept us safe while riding over 3,500 miles with cars, trucks and semi’s. We consider the safe and successful journey that we took a gift from God.
A Look Forward for the Foundation: Though the hard work and generous contributions of scores of people and organizations the Mission Scholarship Foundation has a very strong base to build from. The work of the foundation is far from over but I am sure has a very bright future in providing hope and opportunity for many deserving young men and women. There are already plans and action taking place to have an alumni donations board in the new Joyce Easter Commons in St. Ignatius High School. For anyone wishing to make further contributions or to find out more about the Mission Scholarship Foundation please contact Cody Philips (Executive Director) at theLake County Bank in St. Ignatiusor Jason Sargent the principal at Mission High School.
We have tried to send some local history your way on our trip. Today we rode into Ticonderoga New York which sits right across Lake Champlain from Vermont. Fort Ticonderoga has played a big part in America's early history including the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. Fort Ticonderoga is a classic star shaped fort with a ditch surrounding the out ramparts. This is a picture of one of the walls with the main building inside.
Katie just prior to being impaled on the wall as she storms the fort.
Taking down the flag at the end of the day. You see a little bit of Lake Champlain in the background.
Tom and Katie at the fort.
This is two things: One - A vision test. Two - A brief description of the main events in which Fort Ticonderoga played a part.
On We Go: If all goes well we are down to the last 5 days of riding. We have about 340 miles to go crossing Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The forecast is for lots of climbing and heat. We are looking forward the rides, completing the trip and returning home to all our friends and loved ones.
Just a nice little stream. There are lots in the Adirondacks but none that have the beautiful clear water of the Rockies.
Crossing the headwaters of the Hudson River.
Not far above this crossing is a lake that locals claim as the ultimate source of the Hudson River.
As I said earlier there are a lot of ice cream places in the Adirondacks. Making the connection to our Montana roots I couldn't pass up a picture of this one.
Hello mudda, hello fadda, here I am at, Camp Granada... That is the feeling one gets when riding through the Adirondack Mountains. That and sore legs. There are private camps in many places along with lodges, cottages, the usual for rural mountain communities. The heat has stepped back but only a little. It got up to 92 degrees today.
Tom and Katie happy anticipating ice cream later. There have been about 1,000 ice cream places along the way.
Racquette (sp?) Lake - Racquette lake is the French name for snow shoes.
Another mountain lake
The Moose River.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Right after arriving at the Selkirk Shores State Park it started to rain. The puddle is where the our tent was pitched.
You never know what you are going to run into. When we cam into Osceola NY the little berg was packed with folks attending the 35th annual turtle races. This is part of the sell-out crowd attending. Isn't it great what folks will invent in order to spend time together?
More Turtle Race enthusiasts. I hear that ESPN is going to cover it next year as long as Labron James isn't a free agent again.
Please scroll down - I don't know why.
Yes, the WORLD FAMOUS Osceola Hotel. I think Butch Cassidy was gunned down by the Sundance Kid in an upper room here. Either that or this is where Grant and Lee signed the armistice.
Katie is really happy because her turtle won the reptilian congeniality award. Snickers, her turtle, works for world peace.
One of our favorite parts of Sodus Bay was where we lodged for the night – Sodus Point Charters and Lodge. Tom, the owner, took pity on us after a long ride in the blistering heat and humidity and gave us a great deal. Camping out in the heat after a long ride was just not a very appealing option for us this night. Tom made us feel like we were right at home. For breakfast we had the run of a very well stocked kitchen. The accommodations were excellent. Everything was in great running order and immaculately clean. There was even a TV with a remote in the bathroom. Who needs a magazine?
The lodge is right on the main street in town and looks like it came off the set of Red Green. This picture is of the main reception and relaxation room in the lodge. Most of the deer in this shot were taken by a female bow hunter. Elk, lynx, grizzly bear and caribou also adorn the walls.
A sample of the lures used for lake trout on Ontario.
Lures, reels, heads and a wood canoe that I would love to have. We rode on to Port Ontario today. I am sitting in the car blogging as it has been raining for the past 2 to 3 hours. Off to bed. I hope it’s dry. Tomorrow we leave Lake Ontario and start making our way to the Adirondack Mountains. I look forward to the beauty of the mountains and hope that, after all the flat riding we have been doing since entering Michigan, we can regain our climbing legs. Bonzai.
