by The battle against cancer continues and we need money to wage that battle. That means I was back to raising money for the Jimmy Fund through the Pan-Mass Challenge. The ride is merely the reward for raising money. (If you would like to contribute to the fight: https://egifts.pmc.org/DC0176.
The Pan-Mass Challenge was trying to come back to normal for 2022. The last two years with re-imagined rides was “problematic” for me. I’ve got an active imagination. For 2020, I pedaled over 700 miles at the beginning of August. I went even bigger in 2021, pedaling over 800 miles for the Tour de PMC 2021.
Friday
Coming back to normal would mean a mere 300 miles of biking over three days. We stayed overnight in New Lebanon, New York on Thursday night. The next morning we pedaled a few miles to the border of the New York and Massachusetts at West Stockbridge.
We targeted a 6:30 am start to try and get ahead of the forecasted high heat and humidity. The Kid, Lance, Dan, Miggy, Reno, and Bene joined me in Team Kinetic Karma kits. We joined forces with Bikes Fight Cancer for the day’s ride.
We did manage to get just ahead of the heat. The sun stayed behind the clouds for most of the morning. The humidity was oppressive, even without the heat. My wife set up a rest stop at Jester Lane at the top of the first big climb. Fortunately, the sun didn’t break through the clouds until we reached the top of the Route 66 climb. That climb has no trees and we would have roasted in the hot sun. Johnny from BFC set up shop at the top of the Route 66 climb. His breakfast sandwiches were delicious.
As we crossed the Connecticut River on the Norwottuck Rail Trail, the sun finally broke through the clouds and the temperature soared. We were in the farmlands of the river valley and we were feeling the heat. Into Atkins Farm for second breakfast: the donut stop. Time to say goodbye to my wife and daughter for the weekend. A goodbye donut.
We were really feeling the heat after this third stop. Legs were tired. Sweat was dripping off everyone. The top tube of my bike was gross. BFC set up a stop at the Palmer Library. This was a much needed respite before we started grinding out the last 15 miles along Route 20 into Sturbridge.
There was the finish at the Sturbridge Host Hotel. PMC registration, a cool dip in the pool and refreshments were waiting for us. But not before WBZ-4 interviewed me and Miggy. Look for us at 1:29 in the story.
Saturday
We woke at dawn. Thousands of riders united in the fight against cancer. Wearing the same jersey to show that we were united in our fight. United in our ride. Team Kinetic Karma had cat ears mounted on our helmets to celebrate our pedal partner, Zinnia.
Thousands of PMC riders poured out of the Sturbridge Host Hotel onto Route 20. All of us headed to Bourne. 108 miles to go. But first a quick stop at the first corner. Jared has a supporter on that corner. We have to stop for our supporters. Sheila is on that corner every year at the crack of dawn. I elbowed my way in. (Just like I did to Miggy on the WBZ interview.)
Back on the road through the Whitinsville stop and the Franklin stop to another team tradition in Sheldonville. One of our fallen teammates, Danno, used to live at the end of Cherry Street. We’ve traditionally stopped to have a beer to toast Danno’s life. Thanks to Jo for getting the beer to Danno’s this year and making a sign.
A short way down Cherry Street, we discovered a second offering from his former neighbors. We had to stop, again. I think Danno would appreciate us stopping and having a second beer.
A couple of sips of beer to get us to lunch in Dighton and on further to the Lakeville stop. Waiting for us in Lakeville was our Pedal Partner, Zinnia. She had been waiting in the oppressive heat for some sweaty knuckleheads to show up. She was a great motivation to get us through the last 25 miles of the ride.
And 25 miles later we crossed the finish line at the Mass Maritime Academy in Bourne.
After a shower, food, and beverages, we posed for a team photo along the Cape Cod Canal.
Off campus to Dave’s house for some more winding down time and an early bedtime. We’d need some rest for the third day of cycling.
Sunday
The morning came early. It would be more accurate to say the pre-dawn wake-up came early. It wasn’t fair to call it morning. We needed to get our bags back to MMA by 6:00. Missing that deadline would mean no change of clothes in Provincetown. Thanks to Caleb for shuttling us and delivering our bags.
It was a 5:00 am rollout from Dave’s house with just a small tint of dawn in the night sky.
It was about 12 miles from Dave’s house to the Cape Cod Canal. Thousands of PMC cyclists had already biked over the bridge and down to the canal. We met up with several other Team Kinetic Karma teammates who had chosen to stay at the MMA campus overnight. The sun was up, so we could capture a team photo.
Along the Cape Cod Canal, into Sandwich, and a hard left turn up to the top of the Service Road. That’s a rollercoaster of ups and downs into Barnstable and the Barnstable rest stop.
There was my dad and stepmom with a table set for the team. Nothing better than salted watermelon on a hot day of bike riding.
Sunday is an explosion of color during the Pan-Mass Challenge. Teams in their kits, grouped in pacelines or conversational groups for 80 miles stretched out along the Cape.
Team Kinetic Karma’s next stop was Nickerson Park and the Brewster rest stop. We had an eye out for a teammate who was in spectator mode this weekend. We never saw her.
We leave Nickerson Park along the Cape Cod rail trail. It’s always a tricky part of the ride. The trail is great for riding a bike away from traffic. Today it was choked with thousands of cyclists heading to Provincetown. And occasionally with a very annoyed cyclist or runner going in the opposite direction.
Up next, at the top of a hill, before the Wellfleet rest stop is another team tradition. The Davis family is stationed, handing out Twizzlers to cyclists needing an extra boost after climbing that hill. The family has some extra treats for us. We trade for them with the gift of a sweaty hug and a picture to remember us by.
On through Wellfleet and in to Truro. The toughest part of the day lay ahead: Route 6 into Provincetown. The road is flat. It’s exposed to the wind and there is almost always a strong wind. It’s just a question of direction. Wind into the face is brutal with tired legs. Today it’s strong, gusty wind from the side, trying to knock us over before we crossed into Provincetown. Then the choice, a shortcut straight into Provincetown or a right turn out into the rolling roads through the dunes of Race Point. We turn right.
Our last stop was gathering for a photo at the entrance to Herring Cove Beach. A champagne toast.
That’s just a warm up toast for the big one at the finish line. A toast to each other. A toast to supporters braving the heat at the finish line, just waiting for a glimpse of their friends or family. A toast to the fight against cancer.
Thanks to the thousands of volunteers who helped make the Pan-Mass Challenge happen. Thanks to my wife and kids for their help in moving me, Team Kinetic Karma and our gear along our routes.
Three days. Almost three hundred miles. A weekend full of good times, laughs, tears, joy and suffering.
Until next year…
