Day Five: April 14, 2004

From: Mile 156: Bedford, Pennsylvania

To: Mile 173: Shanksville, Pennsylvania

Total Distance: 18 miles

Topography: Nearly a non-stop severe mountain uphill climb. Trucks and cars are warned to remain in lower gears during the duration of their descent when coming down to Bedford.

Weather: The rain finally breaks, but the cold and wind does not. As they climbed the mountain, light rain mixed with dense fog, and road construction to intensify the push.

Major Landmarks: Early morning prayer and offering ceremony at Crash Site of Flight 93 from 9/11 Mount Ararat (elev 2464 ft)

The Ride:
Ceremony: 10am; The riders staged a one mile approach up to the Temporary Memorial where two Buddhist Monks from the Drepung Gomang Monastery in India, who are riding on the tour recited prayers, and led the group in Buddhist Mantras. The group¹s Ride Leader- Rinpo Tenzin- led the Riders up to the Memorial where they attached a Tibetan flag, Tour T-shirt, and 18 khata (prayer scarf)-one for each Rider to the chain link fence already covered in hats, shoes, tshirts, flags, banners, and patches.

Start: 12:30pm

End: 2:30pm reached summit

Total: 2 Riders: 13

Casualties: NONE
Sonam Wangdu: Potential ligament damage in knee. Inflammation made it impossible to continue ride. Status: Indefinite; maintains position on the DL Khedup Ritzekura: worked past yesterdays pulled leg muscle and rode the day Status: back in the

Pack Standouts: Rinpo, Gendin, Tashi, Norbu, and Rabka shred Mt Ararat like it was a down hill tobogon run in less than an hour. Once they realized they had reached the end of the day¹s riding they chose to do half of the next days allotted distance. Their commitment and intensity was contagious as three other riders followed suit and the rest eventually caught up. At the conclusion of the days ride, Parzival Herzog-member of the Canadian tandem team and Tashi chose to ride the 4.5 miles from the adjusted end point of the day back to the United Church of Christ just out side of Shanksville for one last burst of adrenaline.

Rating: Simply Amazing. Nearly covered 2 entire days worth of riding in less than an afternoon. These guys are getting strong, and fast!!!

Host Family: Pastor Jay Shaffer United Church of Christ: Shanksville, PA

Meal: Momo Chembo from dinner once again for lunch because you can never have too many!

Wake Up Time: A possible late start tomorrow as only 14 miles remain on the uphill climb around the Alleghany Mountains.

Presentation: United Church of Christ 730pm Screening of film and political discussion of current issues facing Tibetans inside TAR.

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