Maryann Pernorio,
CPA, MBA
MPernorio@aol.com
Maryann Pernorio ( MPernorio@aol.com
), a member of NBW (Narragansett Bay Wheelmen), has just completed in August of
2001 a cross-country
bike trip to raise money for the Diabetes Association. The trip
started in June. She is very excited and happy about both
her trip and the fact that she was able to raise over $51,000 for this very
worthwhile organization.
It
was much more than being the first to finish... --
M. Pernorio
Biking almost 3,600 miles across America for diabetes
was an incredibly awesome experience. I raised more than $51,000
for the Diabetes Foundation of Rhode Island. The following glimpse
into my 50-day bike trek experience begins with my back wheel dip into
the Pacific Ocean on June 16th and concludes with my front wheel dip
into the Atlantic Ocean on August 5th. With a fully supported bike
tour company, America By Bicycle, I biked from Astoria, Oregon to
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, covering ten states, two countries, and
averaging 80 miles a day.
The first official day of the cross-country bike trek
began with a Ceremonial Wheel Dip at Sunset Beach in Astoria, Oregon on
June 16th. Accompanied by several fellow riders and filled with
much anticipation, I biked down to the beach. As I arrived and the
vastness of the Pacific Ocean emerged, I quickly took my bike shoes and
socks off, rolled up the bottom of my tights, and carried my bike on my
shoulder onto the beach. I was so inspired and felt tremendous
emotion as I walked to the shore. Reaching the water with much
excitement, I dipped my back wheel into the Pacific Ocean. With
the coldness of the water lapping at my feet, I had the most amazing
feeling when I realized that I was finally beginning my dream of more
than eight years, to bike across America for a cause.
As if earning the rite of passage to travel east, my
fitness level was immediately tested by the first eight consecutive
riding days. These days required riding more than 600 miles, including a
116-mile riding day in the most extreme heat to John Day, Oregon. As
we began the journey east, I marveled at the tranquil beauty of the
Columbia River. I felt quite small on a bike among the enormous
Cascade Mountains, especially when the tall, evergreen trees opened up
and revealed a most memorable sighting of a rugged snow-capped peak
called Mt. Hood. This immense mountain decorated the landscape for
miles. Being from the east and having never in my life climbed a
mountain pass on a bike, I was a bit apprehensive. For sure, I
would encounter tremendous heights, altitude, and rough roads as I
climbed through the Cascades and Rockies. Therefore, it was very
important throughout my journey to stay focused on my goal. That
goal was to raise awareness of diabetes and to finish the bike trek so
the more than $51,000 of funds raised could benefit the more than 16
million Americans suffering from diabetes. It was much more than
being the first to finish every day or beating my best time. For
me, it was pacing myself to the finish and accomplishing the dream held
within my heart for more than eight years. While climbing my first
mountain pass at 3,995 feet in the Cascades, I realized early on that
this trip required much more than physical endurance. The sheer
drop-offs as the road twisted and turned through the mountains was
visually dramatic and quite intimidating. Climbing and descending
mountains awakened a new feeling within me. It was going to take a
tremendous amount of courage and mental toughness to overcome this
feeling. Determined to succeed and to ride every mile, I took one day at
a time and stayed focused on my goal. By doing this, I overcame
some of the most difficult obstacles. Facing the many
uncomfortable moments at extreme heights in the mountains, I
successfully climbed and descended more than nine mountain passes to
make it to the east.
The next nine consecutive riding days further tested
me with more than 700 miles and many significant mountain passes,
including the Tetons (8,431’) and Togwotee Pass (9,658’) in Wyoming.
In particular, the Teton Pass had the most difficult 10 percent
grade climbs and screaming descents. Climbing 10 miles to the top with
the last 1.5 miles at a 10 percent grade was unbelievably difficult.
Descending for five miles at a 10 percent grade was even more difficult.
Even though I feathered my brakes, I never really knew for sure
how hot my tire rims were getting. At one point when I looked down
at my speed, I was concerned to see that I was going about 38 miles an
hour on this winding road, which was exceeding the maximum of 35
suggested by the bike tour company. For one brief moment in time, I
thought that I might be in danger. My bike was becoming harder and
harder to slow down and as it picked up speed it was shaking as if it
would break apart. I thought that perhaps I would crash from the
excessive speed or have a blow out. At that minute, I decided to
make myself stop at all costs. I put on my brakes as hard as I
could manage and eventually slowed enough to put my left foot on the
ground. When I touched my rims, they were quite hot. It was a
smart move to stop at that point to cool my rims. What an exhilarating
and frightening experience. After this experience, I would
never look at a mountain in quite the same way again. The climb to Teton
Pass will be remembered for a life time. Among the many scenic views
experienced this week, I saw the enormous Snake River Gorge in Twin
Falls, Idaho. It was a lovely rock canyon cut deep by the Snake River
and covered with patches of green grass as smooth as velvet. As I
climbed out of Jackson Hole, Wyoming into Grand Teton National Park, I
was inspired by the wonderful views. It was one of the most
pristine landscapes featuring mountain peaks laced with snow and
drenched by the sun as it rose up over the Tetons. The Fourth of
July was one of my most challenging riding days. This holiday
would be a long, tiring day because it was our ninth riding day of this
tough week and consisted of a 120-mile ride to Casper, Wyoming; the most
miles I ever rode in a day. In addition, I encountered
temperatures near 100 degrees, the most extreme head winds, and flat
desert terrain with only scrub brush for miles. Tremendous mental
strength was the formula for success.
For the remaining almost five weeks of this
bike trek, I can say that each day brought different challenges and
surprises. Strong head winds seemed to be the major obstacle in
Wyoming and South Dakota. The endless cumulative climbing day of
9,200 feet through Wind Cave National Park, Custer State Park, and the
Black Hills of South Dakota brought the most beautiful reward when I
reached the magnificent monument of Mount Rushmore. Minnesota,
Wisconsin and Michigan’s exquisite country views provided a sense of
peacefulness but its roads were the roughest for biking. It was
tranquilizing to view the many miles of tall, healthy, corn fields with
silhouettes of farm houses and multiple silos in the distance. Ontario,
Canada displayed many acres of farmland, herds of cows, well trained
dogs, beautifully kept homes, and neatly trimmed lawns adorned with wild
flowers. On the last rest day draped in blue-hooded rain jackets,
a few fellow riders and I enjoyed the cooling mist from the roaring
Falls as we sailed aboard the Maid of the Mist in Niagara Falls, New
York. Vermont and New Hampshire re-awakened my mountain climbing legs
with steeper climbs than the west. The familiar charm of these
places awakened in me the reality that I was getting closer to home.
On my long awaited final riding day, August 5th, the
police escorted all riders down to Wallis Sands State Beach in Rye, New
Hampshire. We were all anxiously anticipating the final roll down to the
beach, because for the last 50-days we went through a lot of pain, a lot
of hard work, and even moments when we wondered if our bodies would
cooperate. As I began to follow the riders in front of me, I
looked into my rear view mirror. It was so exciting to see the
long stream of riders behind me sporting their matching jerseys. As
I turned onto Route 1A and the Atlantic Ocean burst into view, I felt
the most amazing emotions well up inside of me. At this point, I
realized that this was it and that I was going to be accomplishing my
goal. Within minutes, I turned into Wallis Sands State Beach and
tears of joy began to flow. As I approached the beach, I began to
recognize some of my family, friends, sponsors, and the Executive
Director of the Diabetes Foundation of Rhode Island cheering for me. It
was my first glimpse of family in over 50 days. Several family
members embraced me with tears as I passed. Continuing towards the
beach, I walked carefully onto the sand, lifted up my bike, carried it
down to the shore, removed my shoes and socks, and walked into the
water. At this point, I proudly dipped my front tire into the
Atlantic Ocean with tremendous elation. Cameras were flashing
feverishly. I then took my bike, lifted it up over my head, and
beamed a great big smile. The expression on my face told it all.
I was extremely happy to be finished. With much perseverance
and prayer, I made it to the finish safely and reached my goal. Now
the more than 16 million Americans that suffer every day with diabetes
will benefit from my completion of this most extraordinary physical and
mental challenge of biking across America.
Maryann Pernorio
----------
For
more information about this challenge,
you may contact Cherie Kearns,
Executive Director,
at the Diabetes Foundation of Rhode Island at (401) 725-7800. To make a
donation to DFRI, send a check made payable to "Diabetes
Foundation of
Rhode Island‚" to:
Across
America Bike Fundraiser for DFRI
209 Cottage Street
Pawtucket, RI 02860
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