Day 7, July 7 - Two Rivers, WI (view pics)

By Rich Zilinsky

Great times, great friends, and great memories!

This was my fourth year participating in the final day of the David Browne Ride and, like past years, a very memorable day. I always look forward to the challenge and hope that I can participate every year. When the route for the last day was announced for this year’s ride I was uncertain that I would be able to make it. Because I live in the Chicagoland area, the starting point was about a 4-1/2 hour drive from my house. Luckily, I was able to travel with two other friends (Vic & Jess) that would ride as well. A big thanks to Karen for driving our vehicle to the end.

We made the trip up on Friday night with enough time to set up our tent and enjoy a couple smores with the other riders before calling it a night. It had been awhile since I camped with only a sleeping bag to lie on so the ground was a little harder than I remember it to be. We awoke early Saturday and packed everything up with enough time to grab some food before we headed out around 8:00am.

The ride itself was probably the best terrain and scenery of all the "last-day" rides. I had given Slovic some ridicule over the past years about the last day being "too easy" or "too hilly" or "too short". Well, this year he planned the best route of all last day rides. Previous years, the last day has ranged from 26 miles to 76 miles, from rolling hills to very challenging hills. This year the length was 63 miles with mostly rolling hills and a couple of challenging ones. The only thing that wasn’t in our favor this year was the head/cross wind (which Slovic has no control over); but we were able to overcome that.

After about 5 hours in the saddle, the ride ended with a cookout and a DQ run by Mr. & Mrs. Browne. Soon after filling my belly with hot dogs, I decided to take a dip in Lake Michigan with a bunch of the other riders. The water was refreshing but a little cool. We then packed up the truck and headed back to Chi-town for some much needed rest. Surprisingly, my body was not as sore and tired as some past years. I’m not sure why, maybe it was all mental.

The day left me with many laughs and many fond memories. I have made many friends over the years and it’s always great to see them. It’s always better to hear the stories in person that you read about on the website. It truly is a great group of people that make you feel welcome the moment you meet them. Everyone is always so nice and supportive.

I encourage all "casual" riders to consider participating in the last day if they can. Personally, my training is usually limited and, somehow, I find my way to the ending point every year. The pace for me is casual and the time and miles go by faster when you’re riding with a great group of people! Plus there are always frequent rest stops along the way to rejuvenate and grab some food. It’s amazing how many calories you burn riding 63 miles. Come on out next year, I’d love to meet you!

Day 7, July 7 - Two Rivers, WI (view pics)

By Derek Johnson

Day 7, the last day of the Ride, is a very bittersweet day. There is a great sense of satisfaction in finishing the Ride, but also a feeling of melancholy, as the Ride is over for another year. Being the Grateful Dead, Jimmy Buffett-loving guy that I am, I prefer to focus on the positive things of Day 7. Last day riders arrived this day, and they always bring a renewed sense of energy and purpose. I also got my Chewie back from last year, Margaret, who navigated us safely through the treacherous Two Rivers area. Conditions for the final day were not ideal. In fact, the wind was angry that day, my friends... like an old man, trying to send back soup at a deli. But all riders persevered, partially due to the promise of unlimited hot dogs, but also because that was simply what we do. We keep on keepin’ on. And while the 2007 Ride has come to a close, next year’s Ride gives us another great event to look forward to in 2008. (Besides Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the release of Indiana Jones IV, of course.)

Day 6, July 6 - Penninsula State Park, WI (view pics)

By Karen Nissen

Wow! What a week it has been. It’s my first year riding with this group and now I can completely understand all the great stories that have been generated from previous years. This is such a great group of people to ride with and just getting to know everyone has been fantastic.

I think everyone had been looking forward to the day off. We are kind of a banged up bunch. As the "team nurse," affectionately referred to as KRN, (pause for effect) RN, I have gotten to hand out ibuprofen, get ice for ice bags and even bandage some interesting wounds (thanks Slov!) It was great just to sleep in today and meet everyone for breakfast then go off in our own directions. Some of us rode our bikes, while others hopped in the van, but the whole day was just a nice relaxed pace. Riding my bike in Keens with Speedplays was definitely interesting (I blame that on my power on the hills!)

After breakfast Slov and I went to the Maritime museum in Sturgeon Bay then caught up with some of the other riders in Sturgeon Bay for ice cream. There is really nothing better than sitting next to a beautiful lake eating ice cream on a hot summer day with friends. Just enjoying the day off, while getting a little bit of a nice relaxed ride in was great and as we approach the last day, I look forward to riding with such a fantastic group next year.

Day 5, July 5 - Little Stugeon, WI (view pics)

By Scott Ostervik

Today was a great day!! Tough on the bike but that goes without saying... Started off at the hotel which was hard to leave. Pancakes, eggs, biscuits and gravy... And it was a continental breakfast! We had a slow start but I decided to "take off" the front for a few miles. This was only to spite Karl since he took one of his patented short cuts. I was able to head his group off and ended up waiting for about a minute for them to catch up. They did stop and take pictures so that's why I was able to take the long cut and still beat him. I was actually anticipating that would happen so the plan worked perfectly. Stayed with the "slow" group for a while. After that it was smooth sailing into lunch. Had a longer lunch and at the waterfowl preserve. Very nice. We all were craving Moo-lattes after that but to no avail. Not a single DQ the rest of the way. 60 miles, no DQs!! Anyway, we continued to the next rest stop after the turn through Green Bay. Alas there was a go cart track. Let's hit it!!! That was a TON of fun. I had the biggest smile on my face the entire time and couldn't stop laughing. It was awesome!! Slov started in front and ended up winning. I mean, how can you get a round him!! After that we worked our way through an 18 degree temperature drop and 40 mile an hour winds. We quickly sought shelter, The Shell station. We hung out only for a few minutes, got a hold of the lead group and found out they were only a few miles ahead. They got caught in the rain and it let up for them. So we decided to tank the Shell and headed onward. Well as we got to the busy intersection it started to sprinkle. Do we head onward? Let's try to catch up. Well it started to get worse. RUN AWAY!!! We high tailed out of there and got back to the Shell will minimal damage. A little wet and kinda cold, we sought fulfillment in Starbucks Frappuccinos and Little Debbies. After that it wasn’t too bad. We finally made it to the camp ground. The tents were already going up and we finally got somewhat settled. A few of us decided to hit town and found a pizza place to grab some pizzas. I’m in the van stealing wireless internet from someone. So that’s it in a nutshell. Enjoy the rest of the trip!!

Day 4, July 4 - Menominee, MI (view pics)

By Isaac Pischke

After hitching a ride with my girlfriend up to the Upper Peninsula (Thanks Kerry!), I joined the rest of Team 242 for a delicious meal at a bar and grill, The Thirsty Whale, compliments of Renee, a teacher at Holy Spirit Central School, and a great night’s sleep in the Holy Spirit gymnasium in Norway, Michigan. People started stirring around 5:15, as several alarms sporadically went off. The mood this morning was very chipper and eager, somewhat surprising as most of the team rode 80+ miles for 3 days straight!!

It was a perfect morning ride. We had a tailwind, sunshine, and perfect temperatures for the 45 mile trip to Escanaba, Michigan, along US 2. We enjoyed a great sandwich bar from the moving van.

After lunch we took M-35 southwest in hopes of reaching a campground in Peshtigo, WI. We now had quite a breeze blowing off the lake, which was always a head or side wind. I was fortunate to be in quite a large pace line, so I luckily didn’t have to fight the wind a whole lot. We stopped at a diner for some hand-scooped ice cream. It really hit the spot!

After hammering for quite some time, Phil, Liz and Jen pulled us over in the moving van. We had been noticing some dark heavy clouds and they suggested we take cover there. We didn’t have much time to talk about it when the wind picked up, blowing sand everywhere. Then a few drops came, followed immediately by a down pour. We just made it in to the truck before sheets of rain came down.

Fearing a wet campsite and future downpours tonight, an executive decision was made to not go to Peshtigo and instead get a hotel in Menominee, MI, which is where I sit now. Some enjoyed a massive Perkins breakfast while my dad, sister, Anna and The Bruce and I enjoyed a Chinese Buffet!

The northerners up here are very friendly. We got a lot of waves and "happy honks."

Congrats to The Bruce and Kirsten, who both completed their first Century rides today!!

Tomorrow will be about a 110 mile journey to Potowotami State Park.

By Tom Owenby

It is splendid to be back in the Midwest. I flew in from Seoul (by way of Dubai, New York, Chicago, and Milwaukee) on Monday/Tuesday. I rode with Karl and his dad from Milwaukee to Norway, MI on Tuesday evening, arriving around 2:00 AM on Wednesday morning. I hit the road with the rest of Team 242 this morning. I thought that I might be tired, but I was so excited to be back with such a fantastic group of folks that I felt nothing but joy and excitement. This year’s crew is top-notch, with many of the stalwarts from past rides and a lot of fresh faces filled with amazing talent and passion.

The weather at the start of the day was great. Temperatures were in the low 60s and the skies were quite clear. In the group that I was riding in, spirits were high and speeds were reasonable-just how I like it. There was good conversation all around, with Becky, Karl, Jen, and Tyler dropping humor and knowledge. Shortly after the second pit stop, we happened upon the Island Casino. Although virtually none of us had our IDs with us, we decided to hop in and try our luck. The security guards were very understanding and let us get to it. The Bruce had his first experience gaming and won four dollars. I won ten dollars playing blackjack, leaving the team as a whole up seven dollars. High rollers, unite!

When we hit the road again, a deer quickly ran in front of Becky and Karl. Thanks to fortuitous timing and fantastic bike handling, they were able to avoid a collision. To celebrate, we considered joining the Fourth of July parade in the next town, but upon further reflection we sheepishly decided to continue down to Escanaba for lunch. Cold cuts, fruit, and a tall glass of milk were on the menu. A yummy situation in every way.

The winds shifted after we finished lunch, leaving us battling a horrible headwind through the afternoon. Even though our legs began to get a bit heavy, we kept pushing on toward the finish. As we battled the headwind, our gazes shifted to the skies. There seemed to be a large storm cell moving in from the north. As soon as Karl stated, "I smell rain," we knew that we should try to find shelter as quickly as possible. Thankfully, we found a nice little restaurant in Cedar River. We dined on some great Blue Bell Ice Cream. I added a grilled cheese sandwich to the equation and achieved gastrointestinal bliss. The rain was coming down in sheets for half an hour or so. It was impressive to behold, especially from the warmth of the café.

After the storm passed, we hit the road again. The headwind had lost quite a bit of its punch. This really helped us to make it to Menominee. We were planning on camping, but due to the uncertain weather we ended up at a hotel. I’m not complaining;)- Most of the team headed to a nearby Perkin’s and did some serious damage. It was a welcome end to a fantastic day. I have been looking forward to this day since the end of last year’s ride and it didn’t disappoint. Three days remaining, and Team 242 is sure to make the most of it.

Day 3, July 3 - Norway, MI (view pics)

By Kirsten Wineke

Wow, what a great day! After two days of cold headwind and bouts of rain, we had sunny skies and wind at our backs. This whole trip has been an adventure for me. Not only has it been challenging, but it is absolutely beautiful in the northwoods. Today we took on 82+ miles, and it was the first day I was able to finish the route. A couple of us have been sitting out some miles due to sore knees and other biking related injuries. All are in good spirits, though. It's a gift to be with so many supportive and energetic people on this ride! Also, our hosts have been extremely hospitibal. Norway, MI is one of the friendliest towns I've been in. Too bad we're only here one day! Here's to the few hundred miles we have yet to go. May they be as awesome as the first!

By Tom Wineke

The ride has been wonderful so far; we all were warned that day 3 would be a sore and tough day, ha. Apparently that is to come later in the week. Every day gets better primarily because my butt has went numb to the point of not feeling it and we didn’t have to ride straight into the wind. Tonight we are stationed at Norway, Michigan in Holy Spirit School. The hospitality has been wonderful with fresh towels and showers that didn’t involve contorted positions to get all clean. The lady that is ensuring we are behaving in school has taken a liking to us so much that she brought us out to The Thirsty Whale for dinner. Lights out.

Day 2, July 2 - Watersweet, MI (view pics)

By Phyllis (SAG Rider in the big truck)

What a day!!!!!!

It was cloudy and over cast. We were all loaded and ready to go by 7am’ish

It is so awesome to watch the riders head out, what a group!!!!!

Andy bought a MOOSE HAT for his helmet!!!!

Lunch time was rainy & cold.

The guys really liked the bath rooms, white and one solid piece of plastic!!!!

The MOOSE HAT HELMET guy feel off of his bike leaving the lunch stop, that was just the start of many sore riders.

Day 2 ended in Home of the NIMRODS, Watersmeet, MI

Day 3 will be better

I am loving this ride as long as I do not need to ride 100 miles.

By Wendy Vredenburgh

We left Washburn bright and early - out of the church school and on the road again by 7:00 AM after a good night’s sleep and a great breakfast. It seemed a little warmer but still not what any of us had anticipated for July, with it being in 50s and 60s. Again, our sag support was great and we clipped of the first 30 miles or so easily, pedaling through Ashland towards Hurley and Ironwood MI. At one of our rest stops at a convenience store in Cedar, WI, we met Gary, a 72 year old man pedaling from Detroit to Tennessee loaded up with 50 lbs of gear- a seasoned world traveler on his bike, he had pedaled many thousands of miles, including a recent trip from Alaska to Argentina. He said he had many stories to tell, we said he should write a book, maybe he will! By lunch the rain began and we arrived at the stop chilled and hungry. We had lunch and naps in the back of the moving truck before getting on the road again. I was still comfortably resting on the luggage in the back of the moving truck as a few of us started out from the lunch stop- suddenly everyone started laughing and yelling and those of us in the moving van clamored to see what the commotion was-there was our fearless leader, Slov, literally upside down in the ditch-his helmet covering moose hat still on providing for a soft landing- somehow he had trouble clipping out of his pedals - he can explain- and had tumbled off his bike into the ditch much too our amusement. Slov was unhurt aside from a bit of road rash on his leg which was tended to by his nurse wife and a bandage attached with electrical tape. The rain stopped and it warmed up a bit and we pedaled onward - highway 2 in Michigan to Watersmeet was quite nice, with a wide paved shoulder, little traffic and beautiful scenery. We all arrived in the thriving metropolis of Watersmeet safe and sound and tired.

Day 1, July 1 - Washburn, WI (view pics)

By Andy Boryczka

Day 1 opened with a nice cool day and everyone was really ready to go! We actually left at 7am sharp which was very exciting. We seldom leave on time but this group is really motivated.

Catastrophic Mechanical Failure - Wheel! Sunday night Greg diagnosed my wheels with dangerously bad bearings. He tried emergency surgery but we had put the wheel set on hospice. The front wheel hub exploded about 2 minutes into the ride. Luckily I was close enough to the church to catch the truck and switch out my bike with one we had on reserve for when Thomas arrives from Korea. Unluckily it didn’t have clipless pedals on so I had to ride the first 50 miles in my sandals. This was considerably more difficult than I figured. But when we did catch the truck we switched out the wheels with my defeated ones and I was back in business.

Getting out of Duluth was tricky, but the ride was beautiful. We were lakeside for much of the day and we rode through a national forest. We completed a 6.5 mile climb at the end of the day that was tough but really fun to do. We have a really great team this year and another great support team. I couldn’t be happier!

By Bruce Boldon

Day 1 is a day I’ll always treasure - because I completed my longest ride ever! My previous longest ride was 30 miles, so I more than tripled it. As my bio says on the site, I’m more of a runner than a biker, until now. It was beautiful departure from Duluth. We crossed a very long and high bridge over the tip of Lake Superior that gave me vertigo. Unfortunately most of the ride was intro a strong, cold head wind and with lots of hills.

One of the sag stops included a visit from Great Gray Owl that watched us from a nearby tree. It seemed just as interested in us than we were of it. Many photos were taken that should appear in the gallery section. Our fantastic sag crew provided some needed relief and we were glad to see them. Cannot thank them enough!

I’ve developed a sore IT band than was painful during runs, now it is noticeable while biking. I’m getting some excellent advice on how to treat the injury from very seasoned athletes on Team242. I found the motivation to finish when looking ahead and seeing all the awesome Team242 jerseys on riders holding a perfect line on the road. Ended the day with a Moo Latte from Dairy Queen - Team242 is back!

Day 0, June 30 - Duluth, MN (view pics)

By Mindy Mulryan-Gehin

Today marked the start of the Team242 Northwoods Expedition Dave Ride. Tom, Kirsten and I arrived at Karen’s place a little before 9 AM to find the large moving van ready for us as well as Karen, Andy, Liz, Jen and Phylli working hard in the living room to finalize last minute details. Amanda and Greg worked feverously to get the gear organized and packed. It was a site to see. Meanwhile Andy left to arrange for the transportation - oops, minor problem, Enterprise didn’t reserve the proper vans (we should have had 2, 15 passenger vans - we ended up with 2 mini-vans). No biggie - we modified as needed, lawn chair solved all the problems.

Finally, we were on the road! Our first stop was the Norski Nook in Osseo. There had been much talk of this place and their pies; it is now clear why. Huge, phenomenal, calorie-loaded, tastefully, blissful pie! YUM! Quick stop at the local SuperValue and we were back on the road, next stop, St. Paul Airport! Due the previously mentioned van rental ordeal, we had to swing by the airport and drop off one of the mini-vans. Aric so kindly picked us up, and once again, we were on our way north. Shortly before 9:30 that night, we pulled in to the Peace United Church of Christ - aaahh!!! We unloaded the gear, bikes, food, etc. and everyone started to prepare for the fun week ahead!

By Tyler Weig

So it begins... I made my way up to Madison from Des Moines Friday afternoon just in time to grab some great cooking and hospitality from Karen and Andy. This morning I made a quick stop at Target and Menards to grab some last minutes goodies and awwwwaaaay we were. I’m come to find out I’m beginning to know my way around Madison fairly well... about time considering I’ve been up here a half a dozen times since last year’s ride.

I’ve been looking forward to seeing what Northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan have to offer. As we made our way north, I was not disappointed. It’s impressive! Seeing Lake Superior as we came into Duluth made me realize why the route has taken us to this beautiful location. It should be a great ride along the shore of Lake Superior tomorrow!