FIRST LEG OF THE GREAT AMERICAN RAIL TRAIL COMPLETE!!!

When we visited Todd’s physiatrist (physical therapy doctor) for his three month Botox injections which manages his tone (dystonia- involuntary stiff contracting muscles), we talked about Todd’s injection schedule. We wanted to plan it around our trips cycling the Great American Rail Trail and make sure his body was at its optimum best when we rode. The injection peaks after a week or two and remains high for a few weeks until its efficiency decreases towards the end of the three month period. What he said after we shared our plan of cycling 2,000 miles across the country as we raise awareness for the need for accessible trails for the disabled, made us smile. He said, “I would not recommend doing that. I’m not going to tell you not to do it,” and I cut him off, “It would’t matter what you advised, we are going.” Then he said, “At least let me consult with some of my colleagues to see if it would be a good thing or a detrimental thing for Todd’s body.” And Todd said, “Because they have gone on an extended cycling trip, as a quadriplegic or even able bodied and they would know?” The doctor smiled. I told him that we already know that Todd can cover a good 30 miles a day on his adaptive e-assist trike, and that is not after he gets into great cycling shape, which we expect to happen before too long. As we walked down the hall after our visit, Todd said,  “The number, 2,000 miles,  sounded overwhelming so he could probably not even fathom himself covering that many miles on a bicycle, let alone “as a cripple,” as Todd affectionately calls himself. 

And here we are, 435 miles later, having covering Maryland, PA, West Virginia, and half of Ohio, and we are feeling real good. Todd’s body feels strong and he is so happy, with his broken body’s ability to perform. He set a goal and is on track to making it happen.  I feel accomplished as 5-6 newspapers and TV stations covered our trip and our mission, hoping to inspire others. Our shuttler and bike mechanic on our team, Rod Mann, put 3,200 miles on his van as he pulled our utility trailer of bikes. Lots of petro! Our overnight accommodations consisted of a combination of friend’s homes and farms, a rented PATC cabin, (Potomac Appalachian Trail Club), a state park and a KOA campground. 

We did this leg of our trip at an amazingly beautiful time of the year, early spring, and we were rewarded with so many sensory gifts: Spring flowers filling hillsides of trilliums and pink and purple Dame’s Rocket lining the sides of the trail. The air was thick with the fragrance of honeysuckle and wild multi-floral rose. We saw deer and thousands of turtles on logs in the canals, beaver, herons, brilliant song birds like indigo buntings, frogs and owls. There was some hardship on this trip, but nothing major. Temps were in the 40s one or two days, where Todd had to wear long underwear and a wool hat, but no rain. We had some stiff head winds a day or two, and two flats. The temperature was perfect in the 70s for the most part and every time we took a break to come home and do some chores (like put in the garden), it rained. And every time we set out to do another big stretch, the sun came out. We were followed by a halo of sun and good weather. We were blessed and taken care of, in so many ways.

Our team of helpers were amazing. My girls, Beth Ellen Pennell from Maine and Leslie Krater from the Laurel Highlands in western PA, did an amazing job on food preparation. We all did some cooking and freezing before hand, but they put together delicious meals, did the shopping, and even the cleaning up (Rod washed dishes a lot!). Walt Krater, as well as the others, helped with Todd: getting in and out of the van, on and off of his trike, walking to from every place, attaching his walker onto his trike and getting it off, etc. They helped me back in my RV, level it up, set it up and tear it down. Crazy amounts of work which I could never have done myself. I only hope they had as much fun as we did despite the “work.”

We were fortunate to host one of our favorite veterans, Danny Stein, on one stretch. He accomplished cycling 150 miles on the GAP trail, on a borrowed manual trike. He did very very well too and his compromised body did great and the time in the natural world did his mind and soul good too. 

Todd was ahead of everyone most of the trip, and we only caught him when he stopped to pee. He did so well. On the day we covered 38 miles, Todd said that he could have done 10 more miles if there were enough hours in the day. That comment made me realize that this cycling is so good for him. I really enjoyed cycling with my husband, side by side, chatting about what beauty we were seeing or points of interest.

Another thing that fascinated was that every section of trail was unique and different. From one end of the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP), from Pittsburgh to Cumberland, MD, it changed. As well as on the C&O Canal. But in Ohio it was really obvious. The GART in eastern Ohio is a series of individual trails and all were different. Almost everyone that we passed on the GAP and C&O were going the whole distance. I do believe that these two bike trails are the best and most popular in the entire country and they are so close to home. We cycled the C&O in its entirety when Sierra was 1 1/2 and I was 6 months pregnant with Bryce. There are campgrounds every 5 miles with a picnic table and a water pump. When Sierra was a baby on this trail, it was 105 degrees, but we swam in the Potomac River or slopped in the water pump every few miles to keep cool and when we rode we created enough wind to keep us cool. But on this trip, it was in the lovely temps most of the time.

It is hard to decide which section of trail we enjoyed the most. On the C&O, there were restored locks and aqueducts and lock houses and ancient monster trees that line the sides of the trail. It curves and winds and is far more interesting than the straighter rail trails. But on the GAP, there are restored train stations and platforms. On some sections in Ohio, the trail coincided with a route that the Amish used with their horse and open buggies and rode their e-assist bikes with their skirts and ear muffs. 

We met with newspaper reporters and photographers and tourism folks along the way for interviews and photographs. This was a very important part of our journey and one that I plan to continue with as we head across the US. We are also hoping to connect with veterans groups or disabled folks so they can come out and see Todd’s bike and learn about adaptive cycling, accessible trails and how being in nature is so healing.   

Our helpers plan to continue in September as we finish the trail in Ohio, continue across Indiana and hopefully Illinois before we end for the year. BUT, if life gets in the way, we may be looking for a shuttler, or another helper. Also, if anyone has folks or friends along the GART route in these states that may be interested in helping host us, let me know.

Thank you, dear ones, for your support of Todd’s journey as he travels this Road to Recovery. As I have always said, I need to do something good for others and make something positive out of this life-changing tragedy of a spinal cord injury. Cycling the Great American Rail Trail gives Todd and me and everyone our lives touch, a great deal of hope and that is worth everything. 

Here are some of the published stories about our ride. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is yet to come.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/cyclist-overcomes-spinal-injury-rides-115200715.html, and the Centre Daily Times in State College posted it as well https://www.centredaily.com/news/article305223026.html

https://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/lifestyle/couple-tackles-cross-country-cycling-trip-one-by-bicycle-and-one-by-adaptive-trike-due/article_e822caa4-e76c-5740-bf7d-8a5791b4b4a3.html

https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/berks/schuylkill-co-man-recovering-from-spinal-cord-injury-takes-inspiring-cycling-journey/article_50f43f3c-0396-4a95-8dc8-c88f4d8dc59f.html?source=facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawKfN5tleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETF6VUlmbDNmS1lqdUpTZ0EzAR7G66dRGUzyUclceOkAuz96YJFLQYBcG2sSJZxzwYh1Iqcaczx4oaWMaPxC-A_aem_qaweQgc9MxkVhXR8IyVOGg

Challenging the limits of disability, Todd Gladfelter begins his 2,000-mile Road to Recovery Ride