Chuck's Big Ride

My Proposed Ride Schedule

I've mapped out a ride schedule that I plan to fairly closely stick to.  That is, as Tennessee Ernie Ford would say, "God willin' and the creeks don't rise" (if you're under 50 you might want to ask someone who Ford was).  The mileage for each day is the best approximation I have from consulting the Adventure Cycling and Google maps, so they're not exact, and days may shift a bit due to weather, and unexpected occurances.

I'm hoping that a number of folks from Bellingham will join me on the first day's ride—or at least part of it.  I'll leave the Fairhaven Village Green at 9am on Monday, June 15.  The first day shows up as 79 miles, but is relatively flat—about the same elevation gain as a ride to Lynden.  We should arrive at Newhalem in the late afternoon.  There's a campground at the National Park for those who might want to stay, or plan to continue over the Cascades with me.

If there are other times anyone can join me, I'd love to have the company.  So, here's the proposed schedule:

Monday, June 15 - Fairhaven to Newhalem - 79 miles

Tuesday, June 16 - Newhalem to Winthrop - 72 miles - lots of climbing, but a nice descent on the East side

Wednesday, June 17 - Rest Day

Thursday, June 18 - Winthrop to Riverside - 54 miles

Friday, June 19 - Riverside to Wauconda - 40 miles

Saturday, June 20 - Wauconda to Kettle Falls - 60 miles

Sunday, June 21 - Rest Day

Monday, June 22 - Kettle Fals to Ione - 49 miles

Tuesday, June 23 - Ione to Sandpoint - 80 miles

Wednesday, June 24 thru Sunday, June 28 - Back to Bellingham (not on bike) for Chuckanut Writers Conference

Monday, June 29 - Sandpoint to Heron - 40 miles

Tuesday, June 30 - Heron to Libby - 60 miles

Wednesday, July 1 - Libby to Eureka - 70 miles

Thursday, July 2 - Eureka to Whitefish - 51 miles

Friday, July 3 - Rest Day

Saturday, July 4 - Whitefish to Apgar - 30 miles

Sunday, July 5 - Apgar to St. Mary - 48 miles - Going to the Sun Highway

Monday, July 6 - St. Mary to Cutbank - 66 miles

Tuesday, July 7 - Cutbank to Chester 66 miles

Wednesday, July 8 - Chester to Havre - 61 miles

Thursday, July 9 - Rest Day

Friday, July 10 - Havre to Malta - 89 Miles

Saturday, July 11 - Malta to Glasgow - 70 miles

Sunday, July 12 - Glasgow to Wolf Point - 50 miles

Monday, July 13 - Wolf Point to Circle - 53 miles

Tuesday, July 14 - Circle to Glendive - 49 miles

Wednesday, July 15 - Glendive to Beach - 40 miles

Thursday, July 16 - Beach to Dickinson - 61 miles

Friday, July 17 - Sunday, July 19 - in Seattle for a board meeting (again, not by bike)

Monday, July 20 - Dickinson to Bismark - 102 miles

Tuesday, July 21 - Bismark to Linton - 60 miles

Wednesday, July 22 - Linton to Mobridge - 73 miles

Thursday, July 23 - Mobridge to Gettysburg - 56 miles

Friday, July 24 - Gettysburg to Pierre - 63 miles

Saturday, July 25 - Rest Day

Sunday, July 26 - Pierre to Chamberlain - 85 miles

Monday, July 27 - Chamberlain to Lanke Andes - 83 miles

Tuesday, July 28 - Lake Andes to Yankton - 70 miles

Wednesday, July 29 - Yankton to North Sioux City - 65 miles

Thursday, July 30 - North Sioux City to Missouri Valley - 80 miles

Friday, July 31 thru Sunday, August 2 - Hastings, Nebraska for Dee's H.S. Reunion (in motorhome)

Monday, August 3 - Missouri Valley to Red Oak - 72 miles

Tuesday, August 4 - Red Oak to Creston - 54 miles

Wednesday, August 5 - Creston to Chariton - 57 miles

Thursday, August 6 - Chariton to Ottumwa - 55 miles

Friday, August 7 - Ottumwa to Mt. Pleasant - 53 miles

Saturday, August 8 - Rest Day

Sunday, August 9 - Mount Pleasant to Monmouth - 58 miles

Monday, August 10 - Monmouth to Galva - 47 miles - DESTINATION!!

Chuck's Big Ride

I began a ride of approximately 2400 miles from Bellingham to Galva, Illinois, my hometown, on June 15th, and you can follow my (almost) daily posts below. Unfortunately, the ride ended at 1480 miles when I was knocked down by two dogs.  The fall resulted in broken ribs and many scrapes and bruises.

I pledged $1 per mile to each of three foundations—Whatcom Community Foundation (WCF), Book Industry Foundation (BINC), and Galva Foundation for Educational Enrichment (GalFEE). I encouraged others to pledge any amount per mile to the foundation(s) of their choice, and many did. 

You may still pledge.  

PLEDGE HERE

If you already pledged, there's information in a post below on how to honor your pledge(s) directly with the foundation(s) you chose to support.  Thanks!

 

Beth Golay, who does the great daily bookseller newsletter "Books & Whatnot" wrote about this great program she discovered called Storymap.  She has generously created a Storymap for my ride, using clips from my blog.  Have fun playing with it.

 

 

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Thanks,

 Chuck

Thanks To My Sponsors

I want to specially thank two sponsors of my ride.  Fairhaven Bicycle has been terrific in providing special service to my bike — a great Specialized Roubaix.  John Hauter, owner of the shop has been an active member of the Fairhaven community for longer than the thirty-five years we've been part of it.  I'm extremely grateful.

Cirrus Cycles, makers of the BodyFloat Isolation Seatpost, have provided me with the greatest accessory on my bike.  I no longer dread riding over chip seal or uneven surfaces. I've ridden with it for a few hundred miles, but I'll give it a real test on this ride.  And, though they've provided the seatpost, I'll give you honest feedback about what I think of it.  As I told Charlie Heggem, I already loved my bike, and this seatpost just increased my adoration of it.