Body Parts Musings

Is it age? (How can I know? I’ve never been this close to 60 before!)
Is it my impending 60 mile ride?
Is it spring turning to summer and the change a new season brings in the air?
Whatever the cause, I find myself reflecting on body parts these days.

Today I did a 17.5 mile ride and afterwards I was no worse for the wear. However, later in the evening I did some kind of fancy foot twist that resulted in a very black and blue second toe. It hurts like mad! And it’s swelled to double size. Is it broken? Who knows!

The toe bone is connected to the foot bone, the foot bones are connected the ankle bones, and so the song goes. Just how important is a toe anyway? If I broke a toe could I still ride 60 miles?

I think about such things often these days. Which other body parts could I damage and not allow injury to stand in the way of attaining my goal? Certainly I couldn’t ride if I broke an arm. What about a bruised nose? Hum, I guess I could still ride as long as it didn’t swell to the size of my face. And so these musings go - you catch the drift.

Perhaps these body musings are some sort of self protection mechanism. They usually flow through my mind during my training rides. They do keep me more attentive to potential biking and road hazards.

Tomorrow I will celebrate these body parts musings and ride on!
And same thing the next day.
And the next.

Why All The Fuss About Kathryn?

May is for celebrating mothers, so it seems fitting to share reasons for the big fuss about my mother, Kathryn Hess, and my 60-mile ride.

I celebrate my mother's 50 years of unwavering resourcefulness as a single parent/grandparent. Resourceful is the perfect description for her! At age 35 when she was suddenly widowed with 5 young children, Mom sacrificed much to provide a stable and secure life for us! Without thought of personal comforts, she dressed turkeys for other families’ Thanksgiving tables; rose early to cut, clean and peddle asparagus; and managed a work crew in tomato harvest for Campbell’s Soup Co. In the dead of winter, she forked silage to feed our beef cattle (once with such vigor she penned herself in the silo until one of us kids heard her shouts). She bantered with cattlemen and managed stock investments with confidence. Motivated by a strong desire to provide a “good life” for us, she appeared to love all work and have endless energy.

I celebrate my mother's belief in Biblical adage - “it is better to give than to receive.” Generosity is her code word for happiness! It takes a quick response to outwit her for the tab when dining out. I greatly appreciate this generous spirit plus her unselfish hospitality. All are welcomed to her table. Even as a busy young widow, serving Sunday guests at a table laden with an abundance of tasty delights, was her mainstay. To say she has hosted 1000's of guests is not presumptous.

My mother is a hard one to thank! It's nearly impossible to give her a gift without receiving something in return. But finally, in my 60th year, I've found a way by doing this 60-mile ride to honor her and to raise funds for other single mothers who do not have the strong extended family and church community support that surrounded me and my family. (Maybe I did learn something about resourcefulness from Mom!)

Mother's can-do spirit is alive and well even in her 87th year! Last week when discussing how far she will ride with me, a distance of about one mile, she emphatically declared, "riding only 1 mile isn't worth getting on the bike!" Mother's goal is to ride 5 or even 10 miles with me. Her dogged determination keeps her active and motivated to reach out beyond herself even now and sensible or not, she's ready to push herself in new ways.

So a ruckus thank you for my mom's faith, love, generosity and unwavering resourcefulness is what's behind the fuss about my 60 mile ride in her honor. That and my dream to raise $60,000 for homeless and at-risk single mothers who lack the social, emotional, spiritual and physical resources that blessed my mother’s life as a single parent these past 50 years.

Let me know you're riding with me and I'll add you to the list!

30-Mile Ride and locations to meet Kate

Locations to join me are noted below in red with my estimated arrival times. Each of these locations have space for parking.

30 Mile Tour Cue Card Map

FOLLOW HERITAGE BIKE ROUTE SIGNS TO MILE 3.4
0.0 R Riverview Elementary School (front) Kate's estimated departure times: 6:00 and 9:15 AM
Follow Driveway to Rear of School
0.3 L Market Street (SS)
0.7 S Marietta Pike (Rte. 23) x Rte. 441(TL)
1.1 L Donegal Creek Rd.
1.9 L Long Ln. (SS)
2.3 AMISH FARM STAND
2.6 R Iron Bridge Rd.
3.4 R TRO Iron Bridge Rd. @Union School Rd.(SS)

BEGIN FOLLOWING 30 MILE MARKINGS
4.5 S X Kinderhook Rd.
5.0 R Bridge Valley Rd.(SS)
5.5 COVERED BRIDGE (CAUTION)
5.7 L Miller Dr.(Blind Corner to Right)
6.1 L MARKET/DELI
6.3 L Farmdale Rd. (SS)
6.7 L Siegrist Rd. (SS)
7.1 COVERED BRIDGE (CAUTION)
7.5 L Pinkerton Rd.(SS)
7.9 GREEN ACRES B&B
8.5 S X Kinderhook Rd.
9.8 (F)Groff's Golf Course
10.0 L Koser Rd. Donegal High School:Location for riders to join Kate. Estimated arrival times: 7:00 and 10:15 AM
Located at Rte. 773 & Koser Rd

10.7 L Mt. Joy Pk. (Rte. 772) (TL)
10.8 R Waynesboro Rd.
10.9 R Union School Rd.(SS)
11.0 L Gibble Rd.
11.8 S X Musser Rd.(SS)
12.2 L Kraybill's Church Rd.(SS) Kraybill Mennonite School: Location for riders to join Kate. (Park in the front of the school.) Estimated arrival times: 7:15 and 10:30 AM

13.0 R Colebrook Rd.(SS)
13.4 L Airport Rd. - WATER STOP & Kate’s Childhood Home: BEST location for riders to join Kate. Estimated arrival times: 7:30 and 10:45 AM WGAL may be there to greet us at 7:30.

The six mile stretch between this location and the next water stop at Bossler's Mennonite Church features a few gentle hills and country roads with minimal traffic.

14.7 R Endslow Rd.(SS)
15.2 R Donegal Springs Rd.(SS)
15.3 L Landis Rd.
16.5 R Grieder Rd.(SS)
17.6 L Bossler Rd.(SS)
19.0 S cross Maytown Rd. (Rte.743)(SS)
19.8 BR to remain on Bossler Rd.@ Haunstein Rd.
20.4 Bossler Mennonite Church - WATER STOP: Location for riders to join Kate. Estimated arrival times: 8:15 and 11:15 AM

21.3 BR to remain on Bossler Rd.@ Oak Rd.
22.8 L Buttonwood Dr. (FAST TRAFFIC!)
23.0 L Stone Mill Rd.(SS)
24.3 L Stacktown Rd.(SS)

BECOMES HERITAGE BIKE ROUTE C
26.8 L W. High Street (SS) to Maytown Square
27.1 R thru Maytown Square onto Rte. 743
*28.3 S cross (Rte. 441) becomes Decatur St. (TL)
28.5 L Market St.
29.0 S thru Square of Marietta
L thru 'S' Curve TRO on Market Street
30.5 L Into Rear Entrance of Riverview E.S.
30.8 F Finish of 30 Mile Ride at front of school

* Optional Route to front of Riverview E.S.
28.3 L River Rd. (Rte. 441) (TL)
29.6 R Riverview Elementary School (front)
F Finish of 30 Mile Ride at front of school

KEY
L- Left Turn
R- Right Turn
S- Straight Thru
BR- Bear Right

62.5 Mile Route and locations to meet up with Kate

For those of you taking this route, you can link up with me at the starting point or at the Bridge of Hope water stop at the end of the farm lane where I grew up. See the locations below in red.

If you miss me at both places, I’ll surely see you at the party in the evening!

________________________________

62.5 Mile Tour Cue Card Map

FOLLOW HERITAGE BIKE ROUTE SIGNS TO MILE 3.4
0.0 R Riverview Elementary School (front) Kate's estimated departure time: 6:00 AM
Follow Driveway to Rear of School
0.3 L Market Street (SS)
0.7 S Marietta Pike (Rte. 23) x Rte. 441(TL)
1.1 L Donegal Creek Rd.
1.9 L Long Ln. (SS)
2.3 AMISH FARM STAND
2.6 R Iron Bridge Rd.
3.4 R TRO Iron Bridge Rd. @Union School Rd.(SS)

FOLLOW 30 MILE MARKERS TO MILE 7.5
4.5 S X Kinderhook Rd.
5.0 R Bridge Valley Rd.(SS)
5.5 COVERED BRIDGE (CAUTION)
5.7 L Miller Dr.(Blind Corner to Right)
6.3 L Farmdale Rd.(SS)
6.7 L Siegrist Rd.(SS)
7.1 COVERED BRIDGE (CAUTION)
7.5 L Pinkerton Rd.(SS)

FOLLOW 62 MILE MARKERS TO MILE 28.9
8.5 S X Kinderhook Rd.
9.8 (F) Groff's Golf Course
10.0 L Koser Rd.
10.7 L Mt. Joy Pk. (Rte. 772) (TL)
10.8 R Waynesboro Rd.
10.9 R Union School Rd.
11.0 L Gibble Rd.
11.8 S X Musser Rd. (SS)
12.2 L Kraybill's Church Rd.(SS)
13.0 R Colebrook Rd.(SS)
13.4 L Airport Road
13.4 L REST STOP Maytown Airport--BRIDGE OF HOPE WATER STOP & Kate’s Childhood Home: Kate's estimated arrival time: 7:30 AM WGAL may be there to greet us!
14.7 R Endslow Rd.(SS)
15.2 R Donegal Springs Rd.(SS)
15.3 L Landis Rd.
16.5 R Grieder Rd.(SS)
17.6 R Bossler Rd.(SS)
17.8 R Colebrook Rd.(SS)
18.0 S Turns into Nolt Rd.
18.9 R Harrisburg Ave. (SS)
19.4 BL under RR bridge & immediately
19.5 R Route 230 (SS)
19.7 L Snyder Rd. @Wissler Jeep (USE CAUTION)
21.2 R Mt. Pleasant Rd.
21.9 REST STOP Mt. Pleasant B.C. Church
United Disabilities Services - 917-4617
22.4 L Risser Mill Rd. - CAUTION HILL Gravel (SS)
23.0 R Milton Grove Rd.(SS)
24.2 L Meadow View Rd.
28.1 R Cider Press Rd.(SS)
28.4 L Camp Rd.
28.9 L Creek Rd.

FOLLOW NIGHTMARE TOUR MARKINGS
BL to remain on Creek Rd. @ Church Rd.
29.6 REST STOP Tree Top Golf Course
Millersville International House -
30.5 R Colebrook Rd.(SS)
30.9 L Sunnyburn Rd.
31.7 R Cold Spring Rd. (VERY SHARP)
32.3 L Harvest Rd.
34.2 R Trail Rd.
35.6 L Mt. Gretna Rd. (Rte. 241) (SS)
37.5 BR onto Koser Rd.
37.6 R TRO Koser Rd. (SS)
38.4 L Mapledale Rd.
38.7 L Valley Rd.
39.6 S X Elizabethtown Rd. (SS)
40.1 L Old Hershey Rd. (Blind Spot to Left)
41.6 R REST STOP ON HILL TO LEFT
No Longer Alone Ministries - 330-8894
41.9 R Aberdeen Rd.
42.9 R Mill Rd.(SS)
43.0 L Cassell Rd.
44.3 R Route 230 West (SS)
45.3 L Industrial Rd.
46.4 L Zeager Rd. (SS)
46.5 R Bossler Rd.
46.7 R Hess Rd.
47.9 R Hill Rd.
48.2 R Hillsdale Rd
48.9 L Sawmill Rd. (DON'T CROSS BRIDGE)
49.4 R Covered Bridge Rd.
49.5 L Becker Rd.
51.0 R Turnpike Rd.
51.3 L PA 441 south, Falmouth
53.8 R REST STOP 2nd St. thru Bainbridge
RRALF for Garet Spiece - 951-0171
55.5 BR Locust Grove Rd.
56.5 R River Rd.(SS)
61.4 R Decatur St.
61.6 L Market St.
62.1 S thru Square of Marietta
62.6 L thru 'S' Curve TRO on Market St.
63.1 L Into Rear Entrance of Riverview E.S.
63.4 F Finish Metric Century Tour at Front of School

KEY
L- Left Turn
R- Right Turn
S- Straight Thru
BR- Bear Right