Ride for the Rivers 2012

As SRLT celebrates its 50th protected property, through a variety of venues we are recognizing some of the people and programs that were key to our success.  Long time board member and former president, Cliff Andrew hit upon a novel way to merge his personal interest with a way to raise money and gain public exposure for SRLT.  As a feature for our website, we asked Cliff to reflect back on the Ride for the Rivers and share a few photos.

Cliff Andrew and bike, Harpers Ferry

In 1996, at age 50 I ran my first 26.2 mile marathon, the Marine Corps in Washington DC, and swore I would never do it again. But six years later at the request of my older brother, Adair, from St. Louis, I ran a second Marine Corps Marathon, this time as a fundraiser for the Scenic Rivers Land Trust. Over the next three years I ran three more (two New York City Marathons, and a single Colby B. Rucker Wilderness Challenge) the last a grueling 26.2 mile cross country marathon traversing three SRLT scenic rivers beginning at the Brewer Pond easement on the Severn River through the Bacon Ridge Natural Area easement on the South River back up the Severn Run Natural Area on the Severn and west to the Patuxent Wildlife Refuge on the Patuxent. In these four foot races I raised $10,000 for the Trust.

In 2008, at age 62, I rode the first of three 380 mile bicycle rides over four days. Starting from Washington DC along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal paralleling the Potomac River through Harpers Ferry WV to Cumberland MD where I connected with the Great Allegheny Passage, climbing the Eastern Continental Divide at Big Savage Mountain, and then descending the Casselman River to the Youghiogheny and finally to the Ohio River at Pittsburgh PA. My first ride was solo, the second and third with my two daughters, Amalie and Hallie. I absolutely loved these treks, steeped in history of 18-19th century America, immersed in natural beauty, reconnecting with my family, and relishing a true biophilic experience. After raising another $15,000 for the Trust, I felt it was time to move on.

Training ride during Hurricane Irene

Therefore, in 2011, I decided to pick up where I had left off with a 480 mile bicycle trip from Pittsburgh PA through the rolling hills of OH to Indianapolis PA. In July and August I began training with six cycling runs of 60-120 miles: in south Anne Arundel County - South, West, Rhode Rivers; in west Anne Arundel County - Severn, Patuxent Rivers; in Harper's Ferry WV - Potomac, Shenandoah Rivers; along the B&A and BWI Trails during Hurricane Irene; in the southern Eastern shore - Blackwater Reserve, Miles, Choptank, Tred Avon Rivers; and finally in the northern Eastern shore - Chester, Sassafras, Bohemia Rivers. On September 14, I disassembled and packed my bike and flew to Pittsburgh.
September 15: En route I reflected that the trip west over the mountains envisioned by Jefferson in 1800 by canal was soon superseded by railroads picking up where the canal ended in Cumberland, and that what took me four days by bicycle, could be accomplished in four hours by car, and a mere 40 minutes by plane.  The flight was uneventful with any concerns about shipping a boxed bike unfounded. I had never assembled a road bike before, but with the assistance of "Bike Maintenance and Repair for Dummies", which I downloaded to my Kindle and read on my Droid, I was able to get the wheels back on and make it to the Airport hotel,  but found that I would require professional help to finish the job.

September 16: I got the bike 90% back together and in the process came to understand why the book is called “Bicycle Repair for Dummies.” I needed professional help for the remaining 10% (gears and brakes). There was a Droid phone app for that. When I learned that the Trek store in Pittsburgh didn't open until 10AM l knew it was going to be a long day! Bike fixed, I started out at 11AM (4 hours late). The first day was divided into three parts: first following the Montour and Panhandle Trails which petered out to something less than a goat trail, then descending to the Ohio River valley after climbing over a last WV mountain - loved the former after barely surviving the latter, and finally following the great Ohio southwest. I knew that some of my ancestors travelled by river boat down the Ohio from Pittsburgh in the late 18th century, and one was captured by Indians. I could feel history as I pedaled and it kept me going. I arrived in New Martinsville WV with lights on after 9PM, and the hot bath never felt so good.

Storm clouds gathering on the Montour Trail

September 17: I left WV, crossing the Ohio River and headed down OH-7, visiting my 3rd cousin in the house built in 1829 at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio Rivers by our 3rd great grandfather, Colonel and Congressman Levi Barber. However, the rolling foothills rising up from the Ohio River following the Muskingum were very steep and very difficult for me, much more than the previous railroad grade (100ft/mile) of the previous year’s Great Allegheny Passage. I dragged into McConnelsville with 200 miles down 300 to go.

Ohio foothills

September 18: On day 3, I made 105 miles from McConnelsville to London, Ohio. My overall impression was that the history, scenery, and wildlife were striking (I even saw a hawk capturing a snake) but the hills, coming up out of the Ohio and Muskingum Rivers over the 2nd and 3rd days were brutal on these 65 year old legs. Started at 7AM and pulled around 8PM.  Decided to try for extra distance on the fourth day, so I would have time on day five to pack the bike for the flight back.

Barber House, Marrietta, OH

September 19: The rain had held off until the fourth day. I continued down the Prairie Grass Trail to Xenia and then connected with the Mad River Trail into Dayton. This brought back memories to 1962 when as a Boy Scout I hiked the median strip (they allowed that then - what was my father thinking) of I-75 between Dayton and Cincinnati carrying a sign "50 Miles with Vigah!" Almost as bad as biking 20 miles down US-40 in the pouring rain! One more day 80 miles to Indianapolis!

Entering Dayton, OH

September 20: I started the fifth day an hour before dawn, Indiana roosters crowing, but didn't reach US-50 until daybreak. I was trying to complete the last 80 miles early enough to get my bike packed to take back with me, but, alas, the old legs couldn't keep the pace, and Google-Maps for cycle routes is not quite ready for prime time, so the bike will have to be shipped later. Overall, it was a wonderful experience: I once again was able to immerse myself into a "biophilia" type experience, strengthen myself physically, mentally, and "spiritually", recharge my batteries, and raise some funds for a well-deserved cause. If you gave to SRLT, thank you. If not, it's not too late, or go find a similar group dedicated to preservation of what is left of natural areas and contribute a little of time or money. Our grandchildren will be glad you did!

Indianapolis!

Postscript: Two final points are necessary: First, Thanks to the wonderful staff and volunteers at the Scenic Rivers Landing Trust; To Alyssa for posting my daily blog on the internet; to the truck driver from Chestertown MD who, unrequested, pulled over to pick me up after two flats; to the 60 year old Trek clerk in Pittsburgh who helped me put my bike together when the mechanic was late; to my 3rd cousin no matter how many times removed who showed the hospitality of a brother; to the 70 year old farmer in Junction City OH who proved that local knowledge trumps Google-Maps for bikes; to the woman who, upon seeing me come into the Xenia OH Taco Bell drenched to the bone, said "Oh, I think I have a Cincinnati Reds plastic rain poncho in my car"; to the man in south central Indianapolis who, on my last day, let me fill my water bottles from his hose and them put ice in them. To all of them I say “Pay it forward!”

Second, I saw and was immersed in two worlds on this adventure: a natural world of beauty and awe that is rapidly and irreversibly disappearing; and the manmade world of concrete and steel that is replacing it. Google-Maps for bicycle trips tries to take you to the former, but, of necessity requires passage through the latter to connect to them, and at some considerable risk to the participant. I was lucky. I have concluded that there currently is no transcontinental bike trail for the cyclist, and have decided, just as I moved on from running, to move on from biking. So what’s next?

Well, I have been reading Bill Bryson’s “A Walk in the Woods”. If you haven’t done so, please get a copy and read it. It is truly one of the best books I have ever read. On September 3, 2012, I will drive to Springer Mountain Georgia, where I will meet my brother, Adair, who started all this with me ten years ago with our first SRLT fundraiser marathon in 2002. We plan to backpack over two weeks covering 160 miles to the foothills of the Great Smokey Mountains North Carolina. We plan to do this every summer for the next 15 years or so picking up each time where we left off, ending up some 2160 miles later at the summit of Katahdin in Maine. I’ll be turning 80 if I make it that far. It’s a goal. “Packing for Preservation” We’ll see. Let us know if you would like to join us…   -Cliff Andrew