On Sunday morning our Defiance hosts delivered us back to Kissner’s, where owner Karl Kissner had opened specifically to serve us a buffet breakfast, with custom-ordered eggs. Past president Jean Hubbard again hosted us, along with several members of the Defiance Rotary. Their support, including a MESA donation of $1,000.00, was a great start to our day.
After routine bike and equipment checks, we received final instructions from Hill Billy, who assured us today’s route was “reasonably flat.” We chuckled and rolled our eyes, but it turned out to be true. The sky was still clear blue and hot, but not as bad as Saturday.
It being Sunday, our faster “A” team decided to leave late so some riders could attend an early church service. Their timing was perfect, passing the main group and arriving only about 10 minutes ahead, instead of the normal 30.
We rolled into Ottawa for lunch with the Ottawa-Glandorf club, home of our rider-philosopher Ken “Preacher Man” Pollitz. The Ottawa-Glandorf club and president Mike Ruhe presented MESA with a check for $1,000.00, and Bill Pepple was interviewed by the local Fox News station. We then headed out to Findlay for the last leg of our 68-mile day.
In Findlay we convened at the city limits and rode “en masse” to the picnic pavilion of the Hancock County Council on Aging, where MESAfest would celebrate MESA’s 30th birthday. We were greeted by the Findlay Rotary and MESA chairman and past district governor Jim Schroeder. After meeting our hosts and being politely escorted to showers, we returned to the pavilion to enjoy MESAfest. On hand were various MESA and District 6600 notables, including Dave Dougherty, who drove his motorcycle from Mansfield as part of the fledgling MESA motorcycle tour. A Lima TV crew recorded the festivities, complete with an interview of Jim Shrader and a tour of MESA’s Findlay warehouse. As it turned out, Pepple’s interview in Ottawa was aired on the 6 o’clock news, and the Tour and MESAfest led the 11 o’clock news.
Monday morning we were again treated to a buffet breakfast by the Findlay morning Rotary Club. Although encouraged otherwise, numerous riders contributed their own “happy bucks” to express the fun, comraderie, and Rotary spirit they were enjoying on the ride, and their gratitude for the selfless hospitality of the clubs and individual host families along the way. Findlay Flag City Rotary President Matt Klein presented MESA a check to send us on our way.
The ride out of Findlay to North Baltimore was a cyclist’s dream. Overcast skies, a tailwind, and straight slightly down-sloping roads that pushed the A-Team’s average speeds to nearly 25 mph…over 30 mph for Herb and Eric on their tandem. We were reminded, however, of the inherent dangers of country roads, as one rider—despite slow speed and care—slipped on gravel and went down while negotiating a corner. Fortunately, a scraped knee, scraped elbow, and well-tested helmet were the only consequences. (And yes…helmets are obligatory for on the MESA tour, where safety is a paramount concern).
In North Baltimore we were greeted by none other than our own support driver and MESA warehouse director, Gary Davis, along with Rotarian Jim Miller. A brief pit stop at the beginning of the Slippery Elm hiking-biking trail got on our last leg to our lunchtime destination in Bowling Green.
We met the Bowling Green Rotary club, including president Dinah Vincent, at the Stone Shelter at Bowling Green City Park. We feasted on Honeybaked ham sandwiches, but watched with apprehension as thunder rolled in the distance, the skies began to darken, and the winds began to pick up. Quick glances at our cell phones showed 2 storm fronts charging in from the west. Sure enough, the first front hit before lunch was over.
The rain couldn’t dampen the Rotary spirit, however, as Vincent presented Bill Pepple with a check for MESA in the amount of $500.00. We are profusely thankful to each of the clubs who have hosted us, not only for their hospitality, but for the generous support of the MESA mission.
After the first storm front passed through, we launched our assault on Waterville. But even with Preacher Man Pollitz leading the charge at 26 mph, we were stopped in our tracks only half-way there by the faster-charging second front. We found shelter under garage overhangs and in barns to escape gale-force winds (strong enough to blow the cornfields flat), enough rain to feed Niagra Falls, and lightning strikes long enough to whistle “Singing in the Rain.”
Fortunately, in about 15 minutes the front dwindled to a light rain. The last 8 miles into Waterville were wet but fun…another memorable experience to add to MESA Tour lore.
We were a group of soggy fish to be greeted by the Waterville Rotary, including District Secretary Jerry Peacock…but smiles all around. Especially when President Mike Carroll presented a $250.00 check for MESA.
With that boost we pushed the last 9 miles into Perrysburg, arriving early enough to clean our bikes and enjoy some liquid refreshment before our hosts arrived to pick us up. The skies cleared, the temperature cooled, and after cleaning up (and drying out) we were ready to enjoy the hospitality of the Perrysburg Rotary at the Carranor Hunt & Polo Club.
Hurricane weather is no match for the sunshine of Rotary fellowship and the joy of teamwork in a worthwhile goal.Kurt Anderson
You guys have a great mission and I´m proudly happy to have taken part in a bike ride with Bill pepple when visiting your district last year!
ReplyDeleteBest regards to all the friends I have made there!
Leonardo from Brazil