Across America by Bicycle, Part 7: Return to Seattle.

Posted on June 3, 2020May 12, 2020 by Pete Schloss

The weather on the morning of May 30^th, our second riding day, was a carbon copy of the first day, cold and rain.

Over the course of the Summer we never had the option to defer a day’s ride due to the weather. Sub-freezing cold (Wyoming) or sweltering heat (107 degrees in Mississippi), driving rain or gale force winds… it didn’t matter. We had a schedule of reserved accommodations and hosted events to attend. Skipping even one day would throw the entire schedule into chaos.

Seattle lay 135 miles ahead of us, too far for a single day. We would arrive in Seattle on June 1^st after overnights in Port Angeles and Edmonds Washington.

The ride to Port Angeles was 50 miles. Our accommodations were at a Day’s Inn.

Dinner was hosted by the St. Joseph’s Parish Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary in the town of Sequim. This was the first of many dinners provided to us on our bicycle “pilgrimage” by parish churches. Pun intended, I quietly referred to our hosts as “Ladies of the Knights”.

As fate would have it this was the home church for the daughter of my grandfather’s brother. Kathi Hagstrom and I had connected by phone and email, but never met in person. After dinner we visited at her home and would return for a visit 7 years later. Sadly, she passed away in 2019 a victim of cancer.

From Port Angeles we rode 63 miles to Kingston/Edmonds, a day that included the new experience of a ferry crossing. We waited in line for the ferry, bikes in hand, along with the more traditional transportation.

In Edmonds we dined courtesy of Catholic Charities of Seattle and spent the night of the 31^st at the Convent/Rectory of Christ the King Parish.

June 1^st was a short 13 mile day as we were scheduled to be guests for a lunch and afternoon presentation and tour of The Aloha Inn Transitional Housing facility.

Aloha Inn is a Catholic Charities sponsored resident-managed emergency shelter with supportive services for up to sixty-six homeless adults and couples without children. Aloha provides these folks with the opportunity to obtain work and save money to secure a home and get back on their feet. Residents are required to contribute 15 hours of work each week for the program in return for their room and board.

The residents have a direct role in the management of the facility. Services include: Housing counseling, Employment assistance, Individual counseling, Drug and Alcohol recovery support, a medical clinic, and monthly legal clinic.

We older riders did not mind a short day now and then. The younger ones had to find ways to creatively burn off their excess energy.

…and of course there was Mass. I have very few regrets from the ride, but one of them is that I did not keep notes on Matt’s thought provoking daily sermons.

Next: Seattle to Castle Rock.

Peace Everyone. Pete

Across America by Bicycle, Part 6: We Have Lift-Off!

Posted on May 31, 2020May 12, 2020 by Pete Schloss

True to our expectations our rain gear was needed on the morning of May 29^th. The air was also thick with adrenaline driven excitement and anxiety. Our bikes and gear were loaded for the 26 mile drive to the Makah Indian Reservation and Cape Flattery.

We had with us a large banner that would be prominently displayed at the events we attended over the summer across the county.

The sixteen of us assembled for a group picture before we walked the half mile trail that would lead us to the platform overlooking the Cape.

The view, enhanced by the sound of waves crashing upon the rocks, was exhilarating. More pictures and it was time to return to the vans, unload the bikes, and ride.

The ride across northwest Washington featured narrow roads and no shoulders. Huge logging trucks often blasted past us at speeds exceeding 60 miles per hour.

The margin between us and a disastrous encounter with one of those trucks measured in inches. We got used to it. Our Guardian Angeles developed ulcers.

26 miles qualified as a very short day, but no one was complaining. We regrouped at the trailer park in Clallam Bay where a shed had been made available to us for overnight storage of the bikes.

Whether the ride of the day was a short couple of hours or a butt numbing 100 miles, the afternoon always included Mass. We would gather in whatever space was convenient and Father Matt would unpack his mobile alter “kit”.

He would spend some quiet time pondering the events of the day and craft a 5 minute homily that was relevant to our mission and our experiences. These were among the most treasured of moments.

Day one was in the books with everyone safe. It was a good start.

Next: Part 7, Back to Seattle.

Peace Everyone. Pete

-The message of our mission was always on our minds. In my own effort to quantify poverty in America I drew an analogy from the bicycling that lay ahead of us:

May, 2010. “The Circle of Lives”

A bicycle wheel is 700 millimeters in diameter. That works out to 27.56 inches. The circumference of that wheel is 86.58 inches, or in other words, approximately 7.25 feet. There are 5,280 feet in a mile, so a bicycle wheel rotates 728 times each mile. Our across the United States journey to raise funds and awareness for the cause of ending poverty is 5,000 miles. Therefore, the wheels on each bicycle will rotate 3,640,000 times over the course of this mission. As there are 12 of us riders intending to complete the entire crossing… our combined effort is approximately 43,680,000 revolutions. That is approximately how many people in the United States now live below the “poverty line”. If the thought of the number of times these bicycle wheels will spin as we cross the North American Continent is mind-boggling, then imagine that every one of those revolutions is a hungry child, a homeless father, a destitute mother… a life on the margins of despair.

Across America by Bicycle, Part 5: To Cape Flattery Washington

Posted on May 27, 2020May 12, 2020 by Pete Schloss

May 27, 2010. Read on a wall at the bus depot in Seattle: “A man in the station, old or young, or maybe a woman, sitting on cold ground, scared, with hungry eyes, and worn shoes. Don’t worry, you are still loved. We wait together. You asked for change, I offered you my heart and my soul. You just wanted change.”

We only had the day of the 27^th to take in a few of the sights of Seattle.

On the 28^th we drove 135 miles northwest to Clallam Bay Washington, located about 26 miles from the C4C starting point of Cape Flattery, the farthest northwest point in the 48 contiguous States.

It was damp and bone chilling cold. The skies were foreboding. It seemed certain that our foul-weather riding gear would get immediate use on the 29th, the day of our “launch”.

As concerning as that might have been it paled in comparison to what we beheld as our first two night’s “accommodations”. We were to be lodged in a mostly vacant logging camp comprised of 60’s era mobile homes. Christine and I shared our “home” with 4 other C4C members.

Level? Like a carnival fun-house. Water? Cold but running. Bathroom? Well it did flush. Heat? None. Mattress? Lumpy and with the faint odor of blue cheese. Under the bed, I dared not look.

Suzanne and Kathy at Kansas City Catholic Charities were in charge of arranging accommodations. They did their best. Our route would take us to many places less-traveled, and Cape Flattery was one of them. To their credit we never had to camp. Their resourcefulness guaranteed us 3 meals and a bed. The variety of accommodations made every day a bit like opening the “surprise” in a box of Cracker Jacks.

Over the next 100 days we found ourselves lodged in:

Cabins…

Convents…

College Dorms…

A Retreat House…

Motels (some of which appeared more accustomed to charging by the hour than by the day)…

Home stays…

Resorts…

…and even an incredibly palatial hotel in Miami Florida.

We celebrated our arrival at Clallam Bay with the first of many group meals to come. Forget organic… forget vegan… just “comfort food” shared with friends. Tomorrow the real work would begin.

Next: Part 6. We Have Lift-Off!!!

Peace Everyone. Pete

Across America by Bicycle, Part 4: Send-Off to Seattle.

Posted on May 24, 2020May 25, 2020 by Pete Schloss

On Sunday May 23 2010 the St. Francis Xavier parish came together to offer blessings to the C4C members.

It was a somber moment as we contemplated leaving our homes and families. We were mindful of the dangers that lay ahead for each of us.

After Mass Catholic Charities of Kansas City hosted a sendoff luncheon. This would be the last pre-departure event.

Most of the members flew to Seattle later that week. We were to assemble there prior to driving to Cape Flattery, our Memorial Day weekend departure point.

5 of us were tasked with driving the vehicles and equipment from Kansas City to Seattle, a journey of over 1,800 miles. Bethany Paul and Jeremy Ruzich drove one of the vans, while Stephen Belt and Carol Beckel drove the other van with trailer in tow. Christine and I drove the SUV which would be our “chase car” during the rides.

Christine and I passed through South Dakota where we made the obligatory stop at Wall Drugs.

We passed through Butte Montana where long deceased members of my family had been employed in the copper mines.

Onward we drove through Idaho and into Washington where the majesty of the northwest was on full display.

We arrived in Seattle on May 27^th where we joined other members of the group.

The day before leaving for Seattle I was given to contemplation and I began journaling my thoughts… tapped out over the course of the next 3 months one finger at a time on my early generation palm sized iPod:

May 23, 2010, Unanticipated Sacrifices

Tomorrow my wife and I drive to Seattle, Washington. We are transporting one of the three vehicles that will provide support for me and the other C4C bicyclists. My professional life will be “on hold” until September 13^th. We will miss the near daily contact with our children and grandchildren. Our clothing and personal effects for nearly 4 months have been packed into two “carry-on” sized bags. Space is at such a premium that we have focused on carrying the minimum of such things as socks (4 pair), shoes (one pair), long pants (two), shorts (one), and enough “unmentionables” to get us from one wash day to the next. These items are separate from our bicycle specific clothing. Except for 3 nights in July when we pass through Kansas City, we will not enjoy the comfort of our own bed for nearly 110 days.

We have been mentally and emotionally prepared for the anticipated sacrifices. Sacrifices of comfort… sacrifices of family… sacrifices of finances… sacrifices of privacy…. But, as tomorrow has drawn near I have been troubled by an annoying disquiet. I have pondered this to the point of distraction because it has caused me to be more critical, a bit less adaptable, and according to my wife, a bit more annoying (than usual). I have come to the conclusion that my reactions are the product of some unanticipated sacrifice.

For most of us, childhood was punctuated by the litany of “When I grow up, I won’t have to …”, “When I grow up, I can … whenever I want to.” The light at the end of the tunnel of childhood was self-determination and control. As adults we continue to embrace the illusion of achieved mastery of the management of our personal kingdoms. Such “mastery” is an illusion, since most of us have schedules, employers, responsibilities, duties… but these are shrouded in the trappings of our “rights”, and our “command” over our homes, persons, and property. We are comfortable in the illusions of our personal security and control.

Tomorrow, I leave the camouflage of my “grown-up” security. I again must accept being told when to rise, when to sleep… when to eat, and even what to eat. I will be a nearly anonymous servant. In some respects I have accepted a vow of 110 days of poverty and obedience. Since I will travel with my wife I hope to avoid the vow of chastity. The loss of the illusion of control over my life is a sacrifice that I had not anticipated. It will take some getting used to, now that I am a “grown-up”.

Next: Part 5. Cape Flattery Washington.

Peace Everyone. Pete

Across America by Bicycle, Part 3: Promotion and Preparation.

Posted on May 20, 2020May 12, 2020 by Pete Schloss

In 2010 46 million people in the United States lived in poverty. 15% of the population… one in every six people. Worse: 22% of children under the age of 18 lived in poverty.

Next to the Federal Government, US Catholic Charities is the largest social safety net provider in the Country, delivering services to over 12 million people from its 2,600 locations.

In 2010, its Centennial year, US Catholic Charities announced an initiative to reduce poverty in America 50% by the year 2020. Father Matt saw in this the prospect of making his departure from St. Francis Parish (SFX) and 3 month sabbatical into something grand and good. Matt often focused upon a core message in the Gospel of St. Matthew; Our duty to feed the hungry, clothe the naked… minister to the needs of the poor and forgotten. Father Matt saw that bicycling across the United States could draw attention and contributions to the Catholic Charities campaign.

Matt had already established himself as both an adventurer and gifted fundraiser. In 2004 he sought to reduce or eliminate the SFX parish debt. Seeking donations, Matt kayaked from the headwaters of the Missouri River over 2,300 miles to St. Louis. He raised nearly a quarter of a million dollars.

“Cycling for Change” was Matt’s creation and his message:

“I can not think of a better way to spend my sabbatical than by helping those most vulnerable across the country… Our Cycling for Change Team is a small group of pilgrims helping those in poverty all over the country by supporting the work of Catholic Charities and raising money to expand the services of the Caritas Center in Kansas City.”

The C4C campaign stood exclusively upon two pillars; raise awareness and raise money. There was a third pillar, individual in nature. It was the pursuit of an adventure. I confess that but for “the adventure” I would not have committed to those first two “pillars”.

2009 and 2010 lay before us heavy with an array of events, duties, and tasks.

In addition to phone and in-person solicitations I sent out over 150 letters and countless emails to friends, family, and colleagues in the legal community. Christine engaged in similar personal fundraising efforts. Together we raise over $25,000.00 on behalf of C4C.

There were meetings and committees.

I began assembling the tools and supplies to be our bike mechanic on the road, including building and “trueing” spare wheels for the group.

We began cycling together, joining the SFX parish “Flying Fish” bicycle group in organized metro rides.

Matt spoke at Kansas City’s Irish Fest.

We staffed a booth at the Tour of Missouri event.

We rode together in the 2 day MS-150 event.

We sponsored and headlined our own C4C group ride event in Kansas City.

There were informal C4C gatherings that cemented our group identity.

A grand fundraiser was hosted at the Boulevard Brewery in Kansas City.

A weekend retreat was held at Conception Abbey in northwest Missouri. … and there were (many) training rides. The most significant being in Colorado; a week in June to give us experience riding roads and highways in the mountains.

Until the June 2009 Colorado ride Christine had been content to let me pursue C4C on my own. No thought had been given to her personal participation. She was not a “cyclist”, however Christine was an organizational wizard and gifted manager of people. She accompanied us to Colorado for the fun of it, but by the end of the week everyone acknowledged the virtues of including Christine as the chief “cat herder”.

Matt’s original vision was to ride from the farthest northwestern point of the contiguous 48 states, Cape Flattery Washington, to the southernmost point, Key West Florida. (We traversed the Card Sound Bridge which is just north of Key Largo, the farthest southeastern point.)

Matt is a person of vision, but not necessarily detail. As of June 2009 others had begun to assemble the day-by-day routing and logistics. Christine became an active part of that planning after the Colorado ride.

C4C was taking shape in a serious way, inertia enough that Catholic Charities of Kansas City secured an SUV, two large vans, and a dual axle trailer for our use on the campaign across America.

Next: Part 4, Sendoff to Seattle.

Peace Everyone. Pete

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May, 2010. “The Circle of Lives”

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May 23, 2010, Unanticipated Sacrifices

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