A D V E N T U R E C Y C L I S T J A N U A R Y/F E B R U A R Y 200 3 A D V E N T U R E C Y C L I N G.O R G 13

CycleAcross

Maryland

ith a few dozen otherCycle Across Marylandriders, I have just had alunch break on the

grassy bank of a stream where we watcheda great blue heron fish the shaded waters.My new riding buddies, Jeannine Lukensand Mike Kreft, have been wading.

As they dry off, Mike tells how lastyear he cycled solo from Maine toWashington — a feat that left him feelingmildly heroic. The last day all he neededwas to get a bike box and pedal to the air-port.

"A bike shop in Seattle gave me abox," he recalls. "I had to fold it and strapit to the rear rack, with my other gear.Then in a run-down neighborhood southof Seattle, I stopped at a fruit stand forsomething to eat. After seven weeks on theroad I looked pretty scruffy."

As he selected some peaches, Mikesays, the fruit vendor gave him and hisroad-worn gear a wary look. Finally theman pointed to the folded box.

"‘Do you live in that?" he asked.Jeannine and I roar at the thought of

the cycling hero being taken for homeless. "Hey, I got a million stories," Kreft

says. "Want to hear about the time I spentthe night in a port-a-potty?"

Swapping stories and sluggingGatorade under the July sun, we roll onour way, continuing south on a two-wheelodyssey almost the length of Eastern ShoreMaryland with a foray into neighboringDelaware. Six days and 300-plus mileswould take us from the town of North Eastto Salisbury, through working farm coun-try, with soybean and corn fields and silversilos spiking the horizon.

We’d experience early-morning fog,temperatures rising to over 100 degrees,

and the blessed relief of an overnightdownpour. We would spin past snowyegrets in marshy wetland; watch boats bobat anchor in blue-water marinas; and passhome after home where split-rail fenceencloses the family riding horses.

From the gently rolling hills of north-ern Maryland to the flatlands in the south,we’d ride on back roads whose names sug-gest the sights: Big Woods Road, SilverLake Road, Blackbird Landing Road, DuckCreek Road, Paddock Road, Black StallionRoad. We would visit historic towns andpedal by quaint clapboard churches.

It was a setting unique to CycleAcross Maryland, CAM 2002, but a back-drop for the universal attractions of allcross-state rides. Which, of course, are thepeople you meet and the bragging rightsyou earn as you go the distance together.

CAM-araderie For me, new to CAM and traveling

alone, the bus shuttle from the end pointto the beginning gave me a start at meetingthe 600 friendly strangers who wouldshare the next six days (or, for those onMini-CAM, the next three) with me.These were gregarious folks — a goodthing, as we’d be tenting cheek by jowl onschool lawns en route. (Those wanting tosleep indoors would bed down side by sidein school gymnasiums. A minority whoprize privacy and comfort had reservedmotels nearby.)

On the bus, CAM veterans Chris andKeith answered questions about earliertours. Jessica and Jeannine, also first-timersfrom Pennsylvania arriving solo, proved tobe kindred spirits as we traded tales of bikeadventures. On arrival, Jessica, Jeannineand I helped each other lug our duffle bagsand pitched our tents together.

As I retrieved my bicycle from thebike truck, I felt that buzz of excitementinevitable for me in a crowd of cyclists. Afellow working over a silver triplet with ared extender bike on the back especiallypiqued my curiosity. He introduced him-self as Darin, flashed a smile and said hewas riding CAM with his three children,ages 9, 7, and 4.

Bikes, the common bond amongstrangers. I wheeled my mount to the ten-nis courts, our bike compound overnight,and leaned it against a fence with hundredsof others.

Zip, Zip, Zip Newbies fall quickly into the CAM

routine. As somebody warned me, onceyou start hearing those tent zippers around5:30 a.m., forget going back to sleep. Tomy surprise, I was dressed and cheerfullyheading to breakfast by 6:00 the firstmorning. I had my gear ready for the lug-gage truck and, buddied up with Jeannine,was on the road by 7:15. Hundreds of rid-ers — Marylanders, no doubt, who knowwhat to expect in July — had already left.We were all trying to crank out as manymiles as possible in the cooler hours beforenoon.

And wisely so. At 2:30 p.m., when wepulled into our host site, St. Andrew’s, aposh Delaware boarding school where themovie “Dead Poets’ Society” was filmed, Ifelt a little dead myself. At our lakesidecamp I wanted to lie down anywhere in theshade, like one guy already prone on his airmattress. But I dutifully set up my tent andrevived myself with a dip in the water.

So CAM started hot and humid andgot hotter. On Day 3 of riding, tempera-tures on the road simmered over 100degrees. It was a layover day, a welcome

Rising to the cross-state challenge:A hot time with 600 of my closest friends

By Susan Weaver

W

GR

EG

SIP

LE

A D V E N T U R E C Y C L I S T J A N U A R Y/F E B R U A R Y 200 3 A D V E N T U R E C Y-

C L I N G.O R G 1514 A D V E N T U R E C Y C L I S T J A N U A R Y/F E B R U A R Y 200 3 A D V E N T U R E C Y C L I N G.O R G

break from packing up tents before head-ing out in the morning. A few people tookthe day off from cycling. PrettyChestertown with its tony shops and his-toric homes on the Chester River beck-oned a few miles and a free trolley rideaway.

But most folks chose to ride, eitherthe 55-mile loop or the ambitious 100-miler. Some tackled their first century thatday.

With the help of CAM support staff,I spent the morning with another photog-rapher, shooting pictures of riders as theycycled through the harbor town of RockHall, past sunflower fields, over a weath-ered wooden bridge and out onto EasternNeck Island, a wildlife refuge. From aboardwalk through the marsh I spotted atrio of mute swans on the ChesapeakeBay. We could feel the heat already.

Later at the lunch stop in aChestertown park near the marina, I meta CAM legend. Sandy-haired 71-year-oldJoe Howard and his wife Mary, CAM reg-ulars since 1993, are famous for turningthe event into a family reunion. This yearthere were 16 Howards riding, includingnine grandchildren, most of them blondand tan and all good-looking. Theyoungest, Emily, 10, had just graduatedfrom a single-speed to 21 speeds, thanksto Grandpa, who has bought 22 bikes forhis children and grandchildren.

"I figured I can’t leave much to mygrandchildren, but if I can inspire a love ofbiking, that’s something," Joe told mewith quiet pride. His first CAM was partof his cycling comeback after being hit bya car in 1989 while riding. He still wears abrace on one leg.

Now as some of the family gathered,Joe and Mary were wondering about theprogress of Jennifer, 18. (Jennifer was thefirst Howard I met. Grandpa Joe, she saidon Day 1, had a standing offer of $100 toany grandchild who completes a first cen-tury.)

"She’s having knee problems," Joereported. "I told her maybe she shouldpass it up today. I don’t know what shedecided."

So far as they knew, she was still out

on the route.

24 Hours of AdventureAfter the bluegrass concert that

evening I walked into the bathroom at KentCounty High School and heard these wordsto live by: "I’m always telling my son, atti-tude is the difference between an ordeal andan adventure."

It was Lisa Fronc, a CAM regular andone of the ringleaders of a contingent knownas the Bare Naked Bikers. (Newbies likemyself may not understand all CAM lore,but Lisa and the other BNBs were fullydressed whenever I saw them.)

Anyhow, I am adopting Lisa’s aphorismfor the rest of my life. I found opportunity tothink on it during memorable Day 4.

Jeannine and I got a decent start around7:30 a.m. on a 64-mile day that would earnus metric century bragging rights, and proveto be the hottest cycling yet. As we rode,Jeannine, upbeat and easygoing, regaled mewith her recent exploits on Bike Virginia.We made an unofficial stop, in tinyCrumpton, to investigate a porch full of dec-orative junk, including a full-sized, rustedsuit of armor standing at attention by thefront door.

At a water stop Jeannine lost a lensfrom her sunglasses, and we caught up withJennifer Howard, who’d taken the day off to

help at the rest stops. We were excited tohear she’d finished her century. She’d rid-den the last 15 miles in pain, but refusedto sag.

Wishing to avoid the sag van our-selves, we set off again with two others,John and Carol, whom we tried to teachthe basics of drafting. We were a raggedpaceline, but having new folks to chatwith took our minds off the heat andhumidity.

In Greensboro, our lunch stop at 40miles, I slid into a chair on the long frontporch of the restored Riverside Hotel.There I was handed a Ziploc bag of melt-ing ice.

"Your face is really flushed; put thaton the back of your neck," said Kathleen,a fit-looking triathlete and middle-agedlike me.

She explained how the ice-pack wascooling the blood to my brain. The iceand shade and some lunch revived me.

With a sore ankle, John, however,was talking about the sag wagon. Beforewe could yield to temptation too,Jeannine, Carol and I iced and filled ourwater bottles and took off. Our friendMike had joined us and at 6’2" he made agreat windbreak. Headwinds from thesouth picked up, and I don’t recall a scrapof shade in the next ten miles.Somebody’s on-bike thermometer read103 degrees. Slowing, Carol told us to goon without her.

At 14 miles to go, Jeannine wantedto detour to a town where she might gether glasses fixed. Mike and I went withher — my ulterior motive, to find sometrees and lie under them while Jeanninedid her errand. Better than that, Mikelocated an air-conditioned library where Isat in the vestibule, eating Oreos anddrinking water while Mike checked his e-mail. Then I went in and was amused tohave the librarian tell me she’d eaten herlunch outside and didn’t really think itwas too hot out.

With glasses repaired, we slogged on,Jeannine and I trading pace in the head-wind. We remarked on some ratherpiquant chicken farms and watched theroad for the neon orange and green

arrows that reliably marked each turn.Mike went ahead to catch a farm tourpromised from our host site inFederalsburg. A mile from the end, theMaryland State Police car that accompa-nied CAM every day passed us. We gaveit a thumbs up.

At 3:30 p.m., we rolled into ColonelRichardson High School. Rock musicover a loudspeaker created a festivalatmosphere, and kids with more energythan we had were rocketing down a giant,inflated slide. We leaned our bikes againstthe wall and stepped under a contraptionthat showered us with cooling mist.Nirvana!

Then Jeannine and I lay on the grassin the shade with our legs propped againsta wall, to drain the lactic acid, with someguys who were doing the same thing.Joyously we commiserated about the ride.

They had done the century the daybefore and claimed that this day’s 64miles were harder. We were thrilled.

The Coming StormAfter that night’s succulent roast

chicken dinner and talent show, CAMleaders warned of an impending stormthat (good news) would break the heat.The bad news: We could expect thun-der, lightning and a downpour. If wewanted to, we could sleep in the gym.Figuring it would be hot in there,Jeannine and I chose to chance it in ourtents.

I covered my bike with garbage bagsand, like Jeannine, turned in early. Folkswith more staying power were watching“Patch Adams” on an outdoor screen.As I slipped into shorts and a t-shirt —in case we had to dash indoors in the

middle of the night — I heard a rumbleand saw lightning in the distance.

Tired as I was, I couldn’t sleep but layon my air mattress, listening. Lightningand thunder came closer and closertogether. Wind blew and rain pelteddown. I watched through my tent screento see if anyone was running for it. I sawno one.

Eventually the thunder and lightningtapered off. Again I tried to sleep. Turningto get more comfortable, I touched thetent floor and felt a stream of water run-ning through my tent. I mopped up withmy towel and wrung it out through mytent door. Oh well, my air mattress, like araft, was keeping me up out of the wet andmy clothes were in zippered plastic bags.At last I slept.

With the morning light I woke andpulled off my soggy flannel sheet. I wasamazed — my legs were orange from theknees down! On my air mattress I foundthe gelatinous remains of a beta carotenevitamin I must have dropped. Laughingout loud, I crawled from my tent.

"Hey, Jeannine, wanna see some-thing funny?!" She poked her tousledblonde head out her tent door. I showedher my orange legs and headed for themobile shower truck. There everyone wastalking about the storm. It was all part ofthe adventure.

CAM ConcludesCool, overcast weather had never

seemed so appealing as it did on Day 5,when we broke camp and headed for ourfinal host site, Salisbury University’sgreen campus. The 52-miler was a pleas-ant romp and a chance to reflect on theweek’s adventures and personalities.

I told Jeannine about saying goodbyeto the father with the triplet, Darin Via,and his kids and wife Terri — a greatexample of parents who nurture cycling.Before they departed after Mini-CAM,Darin told me that they hadn’t planned tobring four-year-old Megan.

"But when we rented the titaniumtriplet and brought it home, she burst intotears. ‘I want to go!’ she said. So there Iwas in the garage, putting on the exten-

BBiirrdd wwaattcchheerrss Some of the group take abirding break on Eastern Neck Island

PA

UL

ME

TZ

GE

R

CCAAMM SSccrraappbbooookk

What would other CAM riders remember

from this year’s Tour? Some folks remi-

nisce…

HHeerr ssiill lliieesstt mmoommeenntt:: "I spent 45 minutes

looking for my cycling glove in my tent,

only to find it Velcroed to the back of my

bike shorts!" - Barbara Petro

AA mmaarraatthhoonn rruunnnneerr ttaacckklleess hhiiss ffiirrsstt bbiikkee

ttoouurr:: "I worried before CAM about being

able to complete the journey and feared

that I wouldn’t fit the ‘biker’s look.’ I was

amazed to see that men and women of

all ages, sizes and shapes enjoy

cycling…and that with bikers, everybody

is a winner just for riding." -Jeff Miller

AAnn eeaarrllyy ssttaarrtt:: "You know how we get up

at 5 each morning… Well, the first time I

rode CAM, I did it with my friend Pat

Snyder in 1995. One night I got up to go

to the bathroom at 2 am. I came back to

my tent to find Pat rolling up her sleeping

bag and grumbling that she felt as if she

didn’t get any sleep!" -Linda Cotugno

TThhee nnaakkeedd ttrruutthh aabboouutt tthhee BBNNBBss:: "I had

an awesome time. With about 15 core

members ranging in age from 33 to 65,

The Bare Naked Bikers thrive on CAM

each year. It’s our adult summer camp.

We see it not only as a physical challenge

but for the mental getaway. We are no

longer dad/mom/husband/wife, we are

biker chix and dudes. We usually pick the

longer and the century routes for the

sheer sweat of it.

"This year our theme was Hawaiian.

We had tikki torches around our screened

gazebo, where each year an Elmo balloon

flies the whole week and where we

served up many evening refreshments,

had evening massage and chat sessions.

Henna tattoos sported our BNB name,

and we were 25 again." -Diane Dear

II sshhaallll rreettuurrnn:: "The last day in

Salisbury…there was a great lunch and

sad goodbyes. I was very gloomy driving

home on a beautiful afternoon with the

top down. Just thinking that I won’t be

able to hang out with this…group of peo-

ple who all shared their stories and time

for a week. I vow to return next year and

enjoy the whole sweaty experience

again." -Marcel Taube

A D V E N T U R E C Y C L I S T J A N U A R Y/F E B R U A R Y 200 3 A D V E N T U R E C Y C L I N G.O R G 1716 A D V E N T U R E C Y C L I S T J A N U A R Y/F E B R U A R Y 200 3 A D V E N T U R E C Y C L I N G.O R G

22000033 EEvveennttss

CALIFORNIA: AAmmeerr iiccaa’’ss MMoosstt BBeeaauuttiiffuull BBiikkeeRRiiddee -- LLaakkee TTaahhooee, 800-565-2704,www.bikethewest.com. June 1.

COLORADO: BBiiccyyccllee TToouurr ooff CCoolloorraaddoo, 303-985-1180, www.bicycletourcolo.com. July20-26.

CCyyccllee TThhee DDiivviiddee, 800-755-2453, www.adventurecycling.org. July 12-18.

PPeeddaall TThhee PPeeaakkss, 800-795-0898, www.cycleamerica.com. June 21-28.

FLORIDA: BBiikkee FFlloorriiddaa, 407-343-1992,www.bikeflorida.org. March 15-21.

FFlloorriiddaa BBiiccyyccllee SSaaffaarr ii, 407-788-BIKE, www.floridafreewheelers.com. April 5-10.

GEORGIA: BBiiccyyccllee RRiiddee AAccrroossss GGeeoorrggiiaa,770-921-6166, www. brag.org. June 14-21.Also: Georgia Bike Fest: October. SpringTune Up: April 11-13.

IDAHO: SSPPUUDDSS,, 888-733-9615,www.cyclevents.com. August 31 -September 5.

BBiiccyyccllee IIddaahhoo, 800-412-8432, www.oregonbicycleride.org.

ILLINOIS: AArroouunndd IIlllliinnooiiss BBaacckk RRooaaddss,, 815-467-5748, www. jolietbicycleclub.org.August 9-15.

INDIANA: TToouurr iinngg RRiiddee IInn RRuurraall IInnddiiaannaa,812-332-6028, www.triri.org. June 22-28.Also: September Escapade: September 14-19.

IOWA: RReeggiisstteerr’’ss AAnnnnuuaall GGrreeaatt BBiikkee RRiiddeeAAccrroossss IIoowwaa,, 800-474-3342, www.ragbrai.org. July 20-26.

KANSAS: BBiikkiinngg AAccrroossss KKaannssaass,, 316-684-8184, www.bak.org. June 7-14.

LOUISIANA: CCyyccllee ZZyyddeeccoo, 800-346-1958,www.cyclezydeco.com. April 10-13.

MAINE: TTrreekk AAccrroossss MMaaiinnee, 800-499-LUNG,www.mainelung.org. June 13-15.

LLiigghhtthhoouussee TToouurr, 207-743-9018,www.canamwheelers.com. July 3-10.

CCooaassttaall TToouurr MMaaiinnee WWhheeeellss, 207-743-5993,www.coastaltour.com. July 13-18.

MMoooossee TToouurr MMaaiinnee WWhheeeellss, 207-743-5993,www.moosetour.com. August 3-8.

MARYLAND: CCyyccllee AAccrroossss MMaarryyllaanndd, 410-360-6755, www.onelesscar.org. July.

MASSACHUSETTS: VVoollvvoo HHyyaannnniiss PPoorrttCChhaalllleennggee, 800-718-3536, www.hpchallenge.org. May.

MICHIGAN: PPAALLMM, 734-669-0172,www.lmb.org/palm. June 21-27.

MMiicchhiiggaannddeerr, 517-485-6022,www.railtrails.org/mi. July 12-18.

WWAAMM, 888-857-9474, www.wishmich.org.July 24-27.

DDAALLMMAACC, 517-882-3700, www.dalmac.org.August 27-31.

MINNESOTA: MMSS TTrraamm, 800-582-5296,www.mstram.com. July 27 - August 1.

MISSOURI: KKaattyy TTrraaiill RRiiddee, 800-334-6946,www.katytrailstatepark.com. June 23-27.

MONTANA: CCyyccllee MMoonnttaannaa, 800-755-2453,www.adventurecycling.org/tours. July 19-25.

CCyyccllee tthhee DDiivviiddee MMoonnttaannaa, 800-755-2453,www.adventurecycling.org/tours. August19-15.

NEVADA: TThhee ““XX”” RRiiddeess, 800-565-2704,www.bikethewest.com. May 3-4. Also:CCoommssttoocckk SSiillvveerr CCeennttuurryy:: June 28.OOaattbbrraann:: September 21-27.

NEW YORK: AAddiirroonnddaacckk AAddvveennttuurree, 607-423-2769, www.adirondackbicycletours.com. August 3-9.

BBoonn TToonn RRoouulleett,, 315-253-5304, www.bon-tonroulet.com. July 20-26.

NNeeww YYoorrkk CCiittyy CCeennttuurryy,, 212-629-8080,www.NYCcentury.org. September 7.

CCyycclliinngg tthhee EErriiee CCaannaall, 518-434-1583,www.nypca.org/canaltour. July 6-13.

BBiikkee NNeeww YYoorrkk, 212-932-BIKE, www.bikenewyork.org. May.

FFaannyy RRiiddee, www.fanyride.com. July 20-26.

NORTH CAROLINA: CCyyccllee NNoorrtthh CCaarroolliinnaa,919-361-1133, www.cyclenorthcarolina.org.October 4-11.

NORTH DAKOTA: CCyyccllee AArroouunndd NNoorrtthhDDaakkoottaa iinn SSaakk aakkaawweeaa CCoouunnttrryy,, 800-799-4242, www.ndparks.com/Trails/candisc.htm. August 2-9.

OHIO: GGrreeaatt OOhhiioo BBiiccyyccllee AAddvveennttuurree,, 614-447-0971, www. goba.com. June 14-21.

TToouurr ooff tthhee SScciioottoo RRiivveerr VVaalllleeyy ((TTOOSSRRVV)),,614-447-1006, www.tosrv.org. May 10-11.

OKLAHOMA: OOkk llaahhoommaa FFrreeeewwhheeeell, 918-592-BIKE, www. okfreewheel.com. June 8-14.

OREGON: CCyyccllee OOrreeggoonn, 800-292-5367,www.cycleoregon.com. September 6-13.

OOrreeggoonn BBiiccyyccllee RRiiddee, 800-412-8432,www.oregonbicycleride.org.

PENNSYLVANIA: PPeeddaall PPAA, 215-513-9577,www.pedalpa.com. July 12-19.

SOUTH DAKOTA: MMiicckkeellssoonn TTrraaiill TTrreekk, 605-584-3896, www.mickelsontrail.com.September 19-21.

UTAH: CCyyccllee UUttaahh, 800-755-2453,www.adventurecycling.org June 7-13 andSeptember 6-12.

VIRGINIA: AAmmeerr iiccaann EExxpplloorreerr, 800-755-2453, www.adventurecyling.org. Sept. 13-19.

BBiikkee VViirrggiinniiaa, 757-229-0507, www.bikevir-ginia.org. June 20-25.

WASHINGTON: CCyyccllee WWaasshhiinnggttoonn, 800-755-2453, www.adventurecycling.org. July 26 -August 1.

WISCONSIN: GGrreeaatt AAnnnnuuaall BBiiccyycclleeAAddvveennttuurree AAlloonngg tthhee WWiissccoonnssiinn RRiivveerr,, 888-575-3640, www.bikewisconsin.org. June28-July 5.

NNoorrtthhwwooooddss ttoo CCaappiittooll TToouurr, 608-244-6598,www.bikenorthwoods.com. June 21-29.

SSpprroocckkeett’’ss AAnnnnuuaall GGrreeaatt BBiiccyyccllee RRiiddeeAAccrroossss WWiissccoonnssiinn, 888-575-3640,www.bikewisconsin.org. August 3-9.

WYOMING: TToouurr ddee WWyyoommiinngg, 307-742-5840, www.cyclewyoming.org. July 20-25.

NATIONAL & REGIONAL: BBiigg RRiiddee AAccrroossss AAmmeerriiccaa, 877-287-6471,www.bigride2003.com. Summer.

GGrreeaatt BBiikkee CChhaalllleennggee,, KKiiddss AAccrroossss AAmmeerriiccaa,417-332-8900, www.kidsacrossamerica.org.April 26 - May 3.

NNeeww EEnnggllaanndd CCllaassssiicc, 877-627-9579 (ext3679). July 12-13 and July 12-18.

NNeeww EEnnggllaanndd AAddvveennttuurree,, 800-727-9711,www.newenglandadventure.com. August10-15.

SSaannttaa FFee BBiiccyyccllee TTrreekk, 505-982-1282,September 14 - Oct. 3. www.santafecentury.com

AAmmeerr iiccaa BByy BBiiccyyccllee, Various cross-countrybike events and regional events. 888-797-7057. www.abbike.com.

IImmaaggiinnee TToouurrss, Various cross-country bikeevents and regional events. 800-924-2453.www.imaginetours.com.

CANADA:BBrraauunnssttoorrmm, Touring With Brauns, 519-586-TOUR, www.touring.brauns.com. June 21-28.

MMoonnttrreeaall BBiikkee FFeesstt, Velo Quebec, 888-612-BIKE, www.velo.qc.ca. Tour la Nuit,Metropolitaine and Tour de l’Ile. May 31-June 8.

INTERNATIONAL: IIrreellaanndd -- EEmmeerraalldd TTrraaiill, 866-255-3637,www.emeraldtrail.com. May 10-17.

Bring your friends along.You’re a member, why not get your friends excited about yournext bike trip. You can start by sending them a free issueof Adventure Cyclist or better yet, give them a gift mem-bership. See us online at www.adventurecycling.org/friend,call (800) 755-2453 or fill out the form below.

Adventure Cycling AssociationSign my friend up!

Send to: Adventure Cycling Association PO Box 8308-ZA Missoula, MT 59807

friend’s name

address

city, state, zip JAN2003/AC

PLEASE PRINT

■■ $30 individual membership ■■ just send a sample issue (no charge)

credit card # • • • exp. date

daytime phone ( )

friend’s e-mail

tell them the magazine is from

■■ payment is enclosed ■■ visa ■■ mastercard ■■ amexP

HO

TOB

YTO

M B

OL

der…"Terri followed CAM in the family car

so Megan could rest for part of each day’sride. Megan and her brothers all said theyliked CAM. The boys especially liked ridingby a parade when they got on the marchingroute by mistake. I imagined the crowd mak-ing a fuss over them.

Darin said Travis, 9, had started time-trial racing earlier in the year.

"WWLD!" Travis piped up.Darin laughed. "That’s what I say to

Travis when he starts whining that it’s toohot."

"What would Lance do?" Travisexplained, not needing to add that at thatmoment his hero was winning a very hotTour de France.

So it went on Cycle Across Maryland.We all had our own personal triumphs andtalked bike-talk and met folks we won’t for-get. Even motorists were generally courte-ous, and when I raised a hand off the bar ingreeting, they waved back. If you and I hadthe time, and 64 miles to ride together, I’dtell you more about it.

Susan Weaver wrote “Everything But the Guide,” abouta self-guided tour in France, in the January/February2002 Adventure Cyclist.

WWeett aanndd wwiilldd Riders cool off for lunch; theplace to be on a hot July day in Maryland

PA

UL

ME

TZ

GE

R