IGNITE THE SPIRIT
CHICAGO-TO-PITTSBURGH
RIDE TO FIGHT CANCER
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The Ignite the Spirit Chicago-to-Pittsburgh, Ride to Fight Cancer Team.
Cliff Gartner, Pat Brennan, Dave French, Mike Lopez, Sean Butler, Ben Marasa, Alex Diaz, Pat Reardon, Matt Straley, Gabe Sanchez, Bob Rubert, Me- Chuck Judy, Mike Wadas, Juan Coriano Jr,
DAY 1 CHICAGO TO SOUTHBEND
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| Our route. South Bend IN, Auburn IN, Bowling Green OH, North Olmstead OH, Youngtown OH, Pittsburgh PA. Total milage approx 530 miles. |
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| Morning prep loading the trucks. |
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| This year we added support with an RV Compliments of Jim O'Connell |
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| Getting this show on road |
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| Heading out of Chicago south on King Drive |
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| A few riders joined us for the first leg. Picture here on the right is Tom Holland and Claus Jensen |
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| Crossing Wolf Lake on the Illiana Marina Trail |
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| Taking one of our first breaks of the day. |
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| The bike trail with tree cover was a cool welcome to a hot day in the saddle. This trail just south of the Indiana Dunes. |
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| Not a rail crossing, just someones house. |
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| Pat Brennan having a great time |
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| We're on a Mission... and it's for sale. |
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| Cresting one of first hills of the day. |
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| Southbend FD giving us a long and gracious escort into Southbend |
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| Assembling for a picture outside of Notre Dame Stadium |
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Soutbend FD
DAY 2 SOUTHBEND TO AUBURN
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| Dave is ready for another day |
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| Pat Reardon doing some morning stretches. |
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| The escort out of Soutbend |
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| The escort took us along the St Joseph River in Southbend |
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| Mike Lopez making turn. Check out that pin wheel light on the front of the ladder. |
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| The clouds |
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| Foggy morning start |
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| My favorite morning shot so far. The morning light was very eerie and beautiful. |
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| We stopped for a break at tractor parts yard. |
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| Mike Lopez |
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| Rich Pinskey, Pat Readon, Matt Straley and Mike Lopez at the Goshen FD |
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| Dave French and family in Goshen. Dave French is from Goshen. |
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| This is Dave with Danny Sink. Dave and Danny's fathers played high school football together in 1953-54. |
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| Our group with the Goshen FD |
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| Mike Wadas |
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| Gabe Sanchez fixing a flat for Dave French. Gabe was jumping in there throughout the day fixing flats. |
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| Buggy UP! Traveling through Amish country. |
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| Dan tuning the bikes. |
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| Taking a break in Amish country |
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| We stopped at a home in Amish country. The owner graciously showed us their newly build chicken barn housing 14,889 chickens! These chickens were only 3 months old. They expect about 14,000 eggs daily once the chicks get up to production. |
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| Old Ford at Rome City FH |
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| They dont make like that anymore. |
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| Jim posing with the old ford during our stop at Rome City In FD |
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| This is the Mid-America Windmill Museum in Kendallville, IN |
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| Soy and Corn fields all along the ride |
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| Here come the hills |
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| Auburn FD We arrived |
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| 9/11 Memorial outside of the Auburn FD |
DAY 3 AUBURN IN TO BOWLING GREEN OH
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| Alex Diaz is sporting a helmet cam today. |
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| Pat Readon |
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| We arrived in Bowling Green. First stop a cool beverage at Howard's Bar |
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| We caught this artist Bao painting a mural in the back garden at Howards. #Boaism1 #baoist_art |
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| Pat Readon explaining the fine points of bike tuning to Sean Butler |
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| Rich Pinskey taking Jim's RV for a test drive. |
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| All of us fit in the RV to tonights trip to dinner |
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| Dinner at Bowling Green FD |
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| The group with Bowling Green FD |
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| Working on some razor sharp tan lines |
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Mike caught this action shot of me.
DAY 4 BOWLING GREEN TO NORTH OLMSTED OH
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This was the longest day 107 miles. We headed out early at 7am.
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| Sean and Dan are ready for the day. |
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| Morning preparations |
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| Gabe and Alex |
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| Sean likes todays ride |
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| Gabe |
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| Alicia from our "super support team" also attends this school |
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| Juan |
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| Pat fixing his shoes |
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| Cliff |
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| Pat |
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| We rolled through Milan Oh birthplace of Thomas Edison |
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| Inn and store keeper Sam |
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| The Edison statue on the town square. |
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| Matt Straley was here. |
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| Lunch in Milan |
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| Thomas Edisons home |
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| Giving in to nature. |
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| The amazing Alex Diaz enjoying evey mile. |
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| Original mile markers stand along the North Coast Inland Trail |
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| We came across this Bird Sculpture in someones front yard made by Oberlin College Students. |
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| An annual tradition, Mark and Alicia made their signature steak tacos for everyone. Today at the North Olmsted FD. |
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| Eating outside on the fire house patio |
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Our group with the North Olmsted FD
DAY 5 NORTH OLMSTEAD OH TO YOUNGSTOWN OH
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| Bob and Jim checking over the bikes before we leave |
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| Matt and Gabe patiently waiting to get this day underway. |
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| My steed. This year I decided to try out Schwalbe Pro One tubeless tires. Happy to report I did not get any flats. |
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| We stopped in to say hello to a FF group in training near Kent |
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| Many old barns on the route. |
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| Boston Mills Ski Center near Peninsula OH |
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| The guys cresting Hines Hill Road |
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| Pat Reardon |
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| Cliff, Pat and Juan |
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| Pat Brennan |
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| Juan |
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| This is what it looks like when your phone takes a picture through your jersey pocket. Reminds me of old Kodachrome film. |
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| Steve Sacia from Stow OH helped us navigate a detour on the trail. |
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| Bob is at it again. |
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| Alex still loving it. |
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Juan resting his power calves.
Outside Camp Ravenna. Ohio National Guard Training Center |
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| Break time |
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| Weeping Willow |
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| Coming into Youngstown |
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| Allen McCamen and Chrissy May hosted a fabulous dinner for us in Youngstown |
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| Yes they are fans. |
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| Our Youngstown gathering |
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| Staircase in the Youngstown Double Tree hotel. It's in the remodeled historic Stambaugh building. |
DAY 6 YOUNGSTOWN OH TO PITTSBURGH PA
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| We started on the trail today |
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| Rest stop with many Mosquitoes |
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| Matt Straley guiding us to Pitt. Matt worked out the entire route for our trip. |
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| More hills |
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| Break time at Al's Corner near Beaver |
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| Bob Bomben at it again. Keeping us up and running. |
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| Stopped in to visit the Beaver Falls FH |
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| Wow they have bunk beds. |
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| Rest stop before we join the Ambridge riders |
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| Our amazing support crew. We could not have made it here without them. Jim O'Connell, Dan Bomben, Rich Pinskey, Alicia and Mark Jadwin |
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| Our reflection as we draft the escort heading into Pitt |
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Picking up day several day riders in Ambridge FH. They helped guide us into Pitt.
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| More hill please. |
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| Riding along the Ohio River on the Three Rivers Heritage Trail |
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| The now vacant Western Penitentiary |
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| Western Penitentiary |
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| The mightly Ohio river |
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| Coming up on Heinz field |
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| Submarine exhibit at the Carnegie Science Center |
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| Congratulations! We arrived! |
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| Our group with the day riders. |
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| Hurray! |
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| Pitt rush hour |
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| Posting success at the hotel lobby |
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| View of downtown Pittsburgh from our room |
DAY 7 WE RESTED
My GPS Garmin Data from the Ride
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| We rode the Incline to Mt Washington |
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| All wood car with a copper ceiling |
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| View from the observation deck looking down at Pittsburgh and the Ohio, Allegheny and Monongahela rivers. |
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| We headed to the Northside to get a few drinks and catch a Pirates game. |
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Pirates vs Brewers. Pirates won.
La Fin |
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