Bike America 2K4 Diary, May 18-20, 2004

May 21, 2004
News Photo 2023

Drew Mitchell takes a break on the California-Nevada state line.

by Lori Scott Fogleman

Baylor University sophomores Chad Anderson and Drew Mitchell are spending more than half their summer bicycling 3,700 miles across the United States to raise funds and awareness for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas.
Their journey, called Bike America 2K4, will take the business majors through California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky and Virginia. By the time they complete their trip in mid-July, the students hope to have raised $37,840 - or $10 a mile - for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas, where Anderson serves as a Big Brother. For more information or to donate, go to Bike America 2K4.
As they pedal across America, Anderson and Mitchell are filing a diary from the road so fellow Baylor students, faculty, staff and alumni can keep up with their progress. Alums along the way are providing support and lodging for the students.

To reach Anderson and Mitchell, e-mail them at Chad_Anderson@baylor.edu or Drew_Mitchell@baylor.edu or contact Lori Scott Fogleman, director of media relations, at (254) 710-6275 or Lori_Scott-Fogleman@baylor.edu.


Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - Sacramento, Omo Ranch, Placerville, CA
Well, today was a pretty long day. We woke up at 6:30 a.m. and started biking around 7:30 a.m. after Nick's great egg breakfast. We biked today from Sacramento to Omo Ranch, Calif., which was around 70 miles. In the morning, Chad and I played the "morning game" to see who could get the best reactions from people from saying, "Good morning." Along the way we stopped at Placerville for a quick lunch at a grocery store and a little rest. We also used the public library there to get some e-mails sent off.
We then biked on a ways uphill and around 7 p.m. started to look for a place to spend the night. We ended up pulling up to a gate and Chad went down to ask a man if we could stay in his nice big yard. He said yes and also offered us nice warm showers, which we gladly accepted. Thanks, Jeff, for the great hospitality.
We also gave a card out to bunch of people today, many nice people along the way, like Stan and Wes. Tomorrow we bike straight up Carson Pass. Goodnight!


Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - Omo Ranch, El Dorado Mountains, Kirkwood, CA
Today was another beautiful day. It was all uphill, however, and every time we started to go downhill, we wished we weren't because then we knew we just had to go back uphill again.
We started just outside of Omo Ranch about 8 a.m. We had a quick breakfast and headed up through the El Dorado Mountains. We biked 40 "uphill" miles today and camped out on a meadow just outside of Kirkwood, Calif. We were both very hungry from a day of little food so we made two Ramen Noodles each, oatmeal and also Carnation Instant Breakfast. On the way up Chad got two Snicker bars from the nice lady in Cook Station. Those were very nice. We stopped and had lunch around 1:30 p.m. about Vista Point around Peddlers Hill. We had bagels and peanut butter. We then got to 8,000 feet in elevation, climbing a little over 5,000 for the day.
We camped in a great place where there was snow all around us. We got in our tents by 7 p.m., talked and looked at tomorrow's map. We fell asleep by 8:30 p.m. Day three down and over with. Good night!


Thursday, May 20, 2004 - Kirkwood, CA, Carson City, NV
Today we started up the hill to get over Carson Pass. We biked pretty much uphill the whole way, dropping in Kirkwood, Calif., just in time for some beautiful scenery. We hit Carson Pass, just a little over 8,500 feet in elevation and then hauled it down the hill. We passed a guy named Mike, who was headed up the hill, who had been on the same trail we are going on over 7-and-a-half weeks ago. Sunday would be when he reached San Francisco. It was good to get advice from you, Mike.
We then high-tailed it into Carson City, Nev., almost running out of water as we dropped a few thousand feet in elevation and stopped at a little bakery right before Carson City. Getting into Carson City was nice because we were starving. Thanks to the manager at Wendy's, we were able to both have nice meals on the house. Thanks again! We then went into Raleys and got $10 worth of food donated from Eddy. Thanks, Eddy. We were able to stock up on some very nice nutrient-filled protein bars.
We are now at the library in Carson City and about to keep heading east. Don't know where we'll stop for the night, but it's about 4 p.m., and we figure we have about three hours or so of biking left. Legs are feeling better today as they were hurting earlier. Our backsides are pretty sore, but Chad's knee is making it through. Thanks, and stay tuned!


In Him,
Drew and Chad