Day Nine: April 18, 2004

From: Mile 221: Greensburg, Pennsylvania

To: Mile 273: Butler, Pennsylvania

Total Distance: 52 miles

Topography: After leaving Greensburg, nothing but the old up and down mile, by mile stretch. Lots of hills but all taken in stride.

Weather: Damn Hot! Temps threatened to clip 90 degrees.

Major Landmarks: Pittsburgh Zoo, the riders at the Velodrome, and all the bridges and factories on the outskirts of Down Town Pitt. East End Food Co-Op, Pittsburgh, PA sponsored Lunch (The Little Guys staying alive after a WholeFoods arrival just 2 miles down the way).

The Ride: Start: 10am

End: 4pm Total: 6 hrs

Riders: 14 (including MaryAnn- Friends of Tibet)

Casualties: Just Jigme¹s lunch break.

Standouts:
Jigme Norbu: after missing a turn for our lunch break, and a freestyle navigation of the outskirts of Pitt, Jigme pressed over 15 miles ahead of the group before finally stopping. As he put it: "the people here are so nice!"
Samdup: Finished the route first.
Rinpo: after a blowout on a downhill stretch, he joined our host T.Lyle for the final 6 miles and of course our GuestRider- MaryAnn, who paced out the group and was the only one who caught a glimpse of the "Welcome to Butler" sign signifying the finish line. Unfortunately for her several riders had already whizzed by it, so she had to climb one last hill to get them to stop.

Rating: Smooth day, except for the lunch incident.

Host Family: T. Lyle and Betty Ferderber, who have come through with so much in the way of food, accommodation on their Organic Foods Farm in Butler, and a welcome place for us to spend our 10th day to rest.

Meal: Organic Mexican ala Betty, Nice salsa!!!

Wake Up Time: Whenever we want to!

Presentations: Chatham College, PA Beckwith Hall; 7:30pm Sponsored by Friends of Tibet, Pittsburgh Dave Ackerman Thomas Merton Center: covered the event

Quote of the Day: "If you want there¹s a Hot Tub in the Big bathroom upstairs" We Love Betty!

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