I'm going "home". That's right. The 2nd weekend of June I am riding one of Pennsylvania's Bike MS fundraisers; Escape to Lake.
I've ridden BikeMS in 6 different states so far, and each ride has it's own, unique personality. Pennsylvania has several BikeMS events all across the state, something the other states I've ridden in don't share. I can't wait to see what the biking culture is like in Pennsylvania, in a place that has so many different rides and routes. If Oregon had that many rides, I would be a very, very busy biker! I visited Erie on a family vacation when I was just 14 years old. Other than that one time, I haven't been back since my birth days. I remember the long drive at being incredibly green and lush with dense trees with thin trunks. But that was back then, back when Oregon's landscape was still heavy with old growth. Those early teen years, the unforgettable years of the Spotted Owl debate were really the last years of thick trees in Oregon. I wonder how Pennsylvania will look to me now. Will the trees look just like the trees I am used to on the west coast? I've been pleasantly surprised and amazed with some of the landscapes on MS rides (hellooo Valley of Fire State park!) and disappointed with others (ahem, Best Dam ride, your Dam was not the best dam!). This the first ride I've been curious about.
I don't ride in the heat much, and I certainly don't ride in humid climates much at all, so this ride may pose some new challenges. The weather will determine how far I ride. The route looks amazing, and more hilly than I expected and more hilly than I can get riding around Seattle. I'm very excited about riding in the area, however. I can't wait to see the trees and landscape and compare how it differs from places I ride on the west coast.
Donating is easy! All you have to do is click here and follow the "donate" now buttons to donate to this ride.
A large portion of donation money goes to research. I've seen more progress in disease-modifying drug developments than in any other area. A person diagnosed with MS today has a much better prognosis than a person diagnosed with MS 20 years ago. It took a lot of money, a lot of research, and a lot of participation and involvement from people already living with MS to get there. The MS Society played a big role in that. The whole diagnosis process is much improved as well. Before the MRI, a professional couldn't make a confident and timely diagnosis at all. With improved techniques, diagnosis is faster and more accurate than it's ever been. I am proud of these advancements and would like to think that the money I've raised over the years impacted them. But there is so much more to do.
Maps of day one ride options:
Help me choose!