Biking D.C. And Proud to Be an American

Adam and I made it to Washington D.C. this week!

When walking around the monuments, we kept seeing groups of 8th grade students following around a teacher with a colorful umbrella so they wouldn't get lost. I don't think I've been back to D.C. since our 8th grade class trip so many, many years ago. It hasn't changed much, though there is this beautiful World War II Monument now, but it is one of those places that no matter how old you are, there is an element of excitement to be there.

I remember even as an eight grader, I was in awe of the White House, of the Lincoln Memorial, of Arlington National Cemetery. Now, though, visiting during our 50 State bicycle tour, the impact is even greater.

When planning this trip, we were excited mostly for the national parks out west. We couldn't wait to see Rocky Mountain National Park, Yellowstone, and the Grand Tetons. Though we are still excited about all of the scenery, we've found that the most exciting thing on the trip so far has been the people we meet. If you've read any of our past Patch articles or blog posts, you'll have seen what a huge part people have been in this journey through America. People have given us food, lodging, donations, and sponsorship, but most of all, they have given us pride.

Let me explain.

Before this trip, I know many people, including ourselves, were uncertain of who we would meet and we were warned to be careful. I don't think it's too far-fetched to say that some people are even losing faith in America and Americans. But if what we've experienced on this trip gives us any indication of what type of people Americans are, then we should be proud!

When we left, my brother told me to, "go find yourselves and America." I'm not sure if I fully grasped what he was trying to say, but then I remember reading a friend's comment after one of our blogs about the generosity we we have experienced. She wrote, "It re-awakens my pride in being American." That one comment alone makes this trip worthwhile.

We've accomplished something we didn't even set out to do! So it may be cliche, but I am proud to be an American. Standing next to Adam, staring up at Abraham Lincoln the other night, I got the chills. I'm glad we took the time out of our busy riding schedule to see the monuments and be able to reflect on our journey and the people we've met so far.

Adam and Christy will be stopping home soon after the first leg of their trip!! They plan to bike into Madison on April 23, have an event at Clinton Country Club on April 27, another event at Scranton Library on May 2, and a Family and Friends Ride on May 7. Check out the PDF with this article to find out more about the events.

To find out more about their trip, check out Adam and Christy's blog at http://giveabike.blogspot.com/ or their Facebook Page at https:/ /www.facebook.com/giveabike. To see where they are, you can check out this map at Track My Tour. Christy will be writing occasional stories for Patch as she and her husband make their way through the U.S.

Madison Patch is proud to be the Connecticut sponsor for Adam and Christy's trip. If you'd like to sponsor their trip, visit this page on their website.