HELLO Annapolis!!

We made it! It's 11:00pm local time and we are in Annapolis. We are heading to the finish line right now (yes I'm in the van blogging!) Can't wait to see the riders coming in throughout the night and all day tomorrow. All the excitement and emotion is going to be amazing!

Lunch with Danny from West Virginia

We took a right off of race route US 50E just past the sign for Belgium, down the narrow paved road to Danny Harbert's house. He was expecting us. We were greeted with smiles, hanshakes, and hugs as he welcomed us into his home. He had 'supper' prepared and waiting (it was 12:30pm).

Ryan met Danny during Ryan's bike trek across country last year and they have been in touch ever since. When we entered West Virginia, Ryan gave Danny a call.

We heard stories of Danny working in the West Virginia coal mines and looked at the nature photos he takes (amazing photos of bald and golden eagles)-- and of course ther was much laughter the entire time. With our belly's completely full, we reluctantly left Danny's house. It was hard to leave as he made us all feel so welcome. Danny said he had two rules for guests, feed them well and give them something to take with them when they leave. He made and gave Rafiel and I necklaces similar to the one he had given Ryan a year ago (Ryan hasn't taken it off since). Back to RAAM work. But what a wonderful and unexpected surprise. I won't forget it.

Tree Tower in Decatur County Courthouse

Decatur County Court House near Greensburg, Indiana.

Locals say that this is not the original tree, it is the third offspring of the original tree (which was cut down). When officials were talking about removing the tree as part of the court house restoration, the kids in town petitioned against it and got enough signatures to save the tree.

When asked how the tree got there to begin with, one local responded, "If you’re a far right Christian you believe that God put it there."

Big Timing Board at Time Station #39

Time stations vary in RAAM. Some are fully stocked with people, food, and festivities. While others are next to a cornfield on the edge of a small town. The purpose of the time stations, which are every 30-70 miles, is so that RAAM officials can track the pace of the riders. This particular time station (photo) was at time station #39 in Bloomington, IN. Times are posted for all to see...quite literally! Crew must call in to RAAM race headquarters in Tucson, AZ to let them know the exact time a rider passes a time station. In the case where the time stations are "personned", the RAAM volunteers will mark the rider time but the rider still has to check in.

There are a total of 55 time stations from west coast to east coast. We are currently at time station 44 in Athens, Ohio. 446 miles to Annapolis!

Rider Inspiration - Beer, Donuts, and a "Pitchfork"

We in media van #3 are all about working hard and having fun which seems to be the same motto as many of the teams and riders we have had the fortune to travel with over the past week. It’s day six for the relay teams and day nine for the solo men’s teams and they certainly have been working hard. So we took the opportunity to pass some fun onto the riders today. First, Ryan
donned hawaiian leis and carried a red rake (it was supposed to be a pitchfork - we were going for Tour de France devil costume - best we could do at the dollar store). Ryan ran alongside Team Summit rider David Ophel (photo)and got a big smile from David. Then we dangled a beer can on a string in front of solo rider Holger Roethig. We think he found his "happy place". And finally tempting Team FARA's John Lockwood with powdered donuts. We're pretty sure he still has powdered sugar on his face ;-)

Link to YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQbkxcdROWs

Mission accomplished - smiles all around for riders, crew, and media team!

I'm Comin' Lizbef!!

This one goes out to my friend Laura (aka: Lizbef). Thinking of you in Bloomfield, Indiana!

Shout Out: Joe Sippers Cafe in Effingham, Illinois

This shout out goes to Joshua Loy, Alexander Evans, and everyone working at Joe Sippers Cafe on 4th. I found them on my phone navigator (thanks Lucy!) and thanks to Joshua's killer veggie egg wrap, I got a great start to my day. And Alexander's 16oz americano coffee got me through the entire state of Illinois. Thanks guys!!