Mother Nature Hates Us

What a wonderful country we live in. We live in a land of great freedom and a large bounty of corn. For weeks now all I can see has been corn fields. Not a terrible sight (unless it's flooded - thanks mother nature). We get so excited to see soybeans or other things as we bike that I never thought were enjoyable to bikepast before. I must just be spoiled with my training being by the beach and ocean.
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The real purpose of this post has been weather. Most of you know, the weather is continuing its childlike tantrums and throwing them right at us. We have made progress though. We went from the freezing rain in New Hampshire to the thunderstorms of the northeast to the eventual tornados of the Midwest. I would just like to share how this affects our daily routines. It makes them stink! Literally and figuratively.
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Rain. From the first night in Belfast where it was cute and unfortunate to now Iowa where it is laughably predictable every day, the rain has reared its head and at the very least spit at us. It makes our bikes wear down fast, which leads to our mechanic being way too busy for his own sanity and health. It makes our clothes smell like sweat and wet dog. And it makes everyone have a pretty negative mood overall. We seem to be moving past the rain as an enemy, though. By the time the rain is accepted in this group, mother nature will probably give us scorching, dry heat.
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Thunderstorms and wind. Bad separately, but as I learned today are not terrible together. Winds from the west are the best, but winds from the east we like the least. My friend Mark is a professor at Central Michigan and taught me that western winds don't bring storms often, but winds from the south and east do. So storms aren't normally accompanied by headwinds, thankfully. There was a time a few nights ago that it got unreal though. I cannot tell you how fast the winds were going, but I can share a few texts I sent after the center of the storm passed us...
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To my family: "Just wanted to say that I praise the Lord for my tent. It's small and it's simple, but we just had hurricane weather for the past 30 minutes. I'm under a large pavilion tonight in it, but the wind nearly flipped it with me inside. I was holding a wall of it up against the wind. The waterproof sprayed walls were no match for the rain coming at me nearly horizontal under the pavilion, but only mist was able to come into the tent. Now I'm in a lake under the pavilion. I am still dry but my tent is laying in an inch of water. What a wonderful waterbed this is."
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To Natalie: "Take the tarp off your tent, they said. You're safe in the pavilion, they said. The rain won't go sideways, they said. All misinformed. It rained sideways... 50mph wind is a guess. My tent just collapsed on me the wind was so hard. Felt like a hurricane.
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As you can guess, rain, wind and lightning are not the best camping weather. We have been pretty understanding about it but luckily our route leaders are doing their best to get us accomodations inside for most nights knowing it has rained on us so often this trip. Thank the Lord for them. Fixing our bikes and helping us sleep indoors as much as possible. They're the only reason many of us are strong enough to press on. They are 50% of the motivation.
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Lastly, the tornado warning. During a United States womens World Cup game against Colombia, too? Me and a few others ran two blocks in the rain with tornado warnings due to one touching down in a nearby county, after which we were "stuck" in the pub for the next few hours. Tomorrow we are supposed to get a tornado watch. Luckily, we get tailwinds with our bad weather. Everyone is trying to beat the storm to camp, but it's a 95 mile day... Wish us luck and strong tailwinds.
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God bless.
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It's raining

Propelling a bike across the country is a difficult task to ask of most people, but this group laughs at the task. Riding a bike (nearly) every day for 3 weeks through storms and torrential rain knowing that 7 more weeks of cycling is left of the trip is mentally fatigueing, but this team just keeps waking up earlier to make it through the day faster. Riding through rivers and lakes that are now called Indiana and Illinois are outlandish and unpredicted, but I call this the best summer of my life.
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It's weird to think that we are over 3 weeks into my trip and I'm now through Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. I have made such amazing friends who I never knew existed before May 27th. There are people who are retired as well as people getting college credit. There are people who plan to self support themselves on their bike after reaching Seattle as well as people who don't know what happens after the trip. We all have such important differences that make us unique, but our individuality makes us a closer group.
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In 3 weeks, people know more about my life than I would care to share with my blog readers. We stick up for each other and are always rooting for people who need it. I don't have much of a story here. I just haven't written in a while and my teammate Kay told me I was a good writer. She is one determined rider and one great friend. She is always there to talk to me when I need it. Unfortunately, she got hurt the other day in an  collision with another biker. I hope she gets back out there soon, because I miss my riding partner. Maybe it will be tomorrow. Keep her in your thoughts and prayers.
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Best of wishes to those who sent letters and items in my care package. It was astounding and perfectly timed after a rough day. I will post again shortly when more stories arise. God bless.

Cleveland

It's still early, but it feels like biking is the only thing I know how to do. Social interactions become difficult. Talking is mumbled and misunderstood. Conversations lead to either chaotic nonsense or something that we deal with while biking (aka the road, the weather, or extraneous details about the ride). I have had some rough days since Lake Ontario, but some truly amazing ones as well. Going to Niagara for the first time in years was amazing. Buffalo as an adult became pretty sketchy, but still astoundingly beautiful (with delicious wings and an awesome theater district).
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After Buffalo, we had a shorter day to a campsite in Lake Erie. Then a long day following Erie into Ohio. 95 miles set my new high for a day of biking. Looking back on it, I think of it fondly. When it was happening, I struggled. I guess sitting in a hostel in Cleveland knowing you don't have to bike until late Monday morning will give you unsurpressed optimism. The long day included heats over 90, strong headwinds, and a thunderstorm to wrap up the whole day. It was a big bag of fun. I ached that night arriving at camp, but got plenty of sleep before the short 63 miles to Cleveland.
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I can't wait for everything going on in Cleveland this weekend. Plenty of fun activities today with free food, free tickets to Jurassic World, and then celebrating birthdays of some teammates while out on Cleveland. Tomorrow night I plan to go watch the Cleveland Cavaliers game in their stadium on the jumbotron because they have a viewing party there. But not exciting is tomorrow morning. We get to visit the MS clinic in Cleveland. We tour the building and facilities to start. After the tour, because of everyone's generous donations and my teams success in fundraising, we are able to present a huge check to the clinic that they don't know is coming. It's going to be an amazing feeling and I cannot wait to cry seeing how much good this money is able to do for these people.
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Speaking of people, we have met so many people touched by what we are doing. We volunteered on Buffalo to help a lady with MS around the house. Reed and I built a spectacular cabinet for her to put in her kitchen. We accomplished so much that morning before heading out on our bikes for the day. People have been astounded by our courage and donated while just passing on the street. We have met people who had friends with MS and a lady who had her husband pass away due to it. I feel great hearing from people in my life about how I am a role model for them moving forward, but that is slightly trumped when strangers approach you with such passion for a change. People are truly touched by every donation, which is why it is important to continue to donate. Every dollar we raise from here until Seattle will be donated to the MS clinic in Seattle. My goal is to give them the biggest check they have ever gotten from us. I'm working my butt off (literally) to raise money while on the road, but you are still able to donate, too. If you would like to donate or know someone who would go to:
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http://biketheusforms.org/cyclists/detail.asp?cid=656
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Or send a check to:
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Bike the US for MS
PO Box 10001
Blacksburg, VA 24062
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The checks can be written out to Bike the US for MS with Zachary Wasielewski in the memo line. Once the letter has been received by the organization, they will post your donations to my cyclist website (the one above). Also, any donations are tax deductible: Bike the US for MS Inc. is a 501c3 tax exempt organization; tax ID #27-2192426
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Thank you and God bless

Lake Ontario

I'm sorry that I don't have much news. We made it into New York and to Lake Ontario. Its so beautiful here and New York was a struggle going through the Adirondacks. I hope I have more news and stories soon. It's just been wake up, ride, eat, and sleep for a week. Thanks for the prayers and thoughts.

Biking for a Cause

This post is going to be hard to do. I'm feeling tears building now as I sit in this busy cafe. I've had an unpredictable few days travelling the mountains in New Hampshire. As many of my pictures on Facebook have shown, it rained the entire time in the mountains.
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As I was biking two days ago, I started sobbing. Not because of the numbing fingers. Not because of the trouble seeing through the fogged and rainy glasses. Not even the painful and struggling muscles in my legs. I was bawling for the people with MS, because I knew that those things in some form or another are what people deal with daily and very unpredictably. When I started this trip, it was to fight for those who couldn't do it themselves. I had no idea I would be able to connect so much with these people fighting day after day with MS. Believe me, my journey is tough, but my pain ends when the biking does. Imagine this being a nonstop struggle through your life.
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I'm raising money and awareness for these people. The donations I collect from here on out go directly to these people living with MS. This organization donates to research for a cure as well as assistance to those to help make their daily lives easier. Ramps, handicapped vans, renovations, etc. Every dollar goes to that, guys and gals. You might not know anyone struggling with this disease, but I can say without a doubt that each person who does is deserving of assistance. If you are lucky enough to have the extra money to donate, please do. Donating to me, the team, or a different cyclist. I do not care. The donations just need to get to those in need.
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This brings me to one final word. Meg (Bike the US for MS awarded the Diamond award this year for the amazing assistance she has provided the organization over the years) and the town of Thetford are some of the greatest people. Meg was diagnosed with MS in '96 and has been fighting ever since. She's the most uplifting and sweetest person. When she found out we were staying in her town a few years back, she made sure that they did everything to provide us assistance. Her town has definitely gotten on board, too. They have welcomed cyclists every year with open arms and all they can offer. This year is was after our longest toughest day with cold, rain, and mountains. We climbed those last hills reading motivating signs telling us how inspirational we are and how we are the change in the world. When reaching the top, we were welcomed with applause, warm towels, and homemade food from people all over the community. It was so touching. They let us stay inside even though we were wet, smelly, and muddy. People around the community even drive cars full of cyclists to their own houses to feed them, wash clothes, and let them use hot showers. These people were unbelievable. One woman was driving past us just to stop at each cyclist and wish us each luck and another man found some rain pants left at his house so he drove 50 miles to catch up to us and make sure we got them. I have so much love for the family that took me in for a few hours. This is the love I wish to see in the world. It all starts with one person.
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Thank you and God bless to those who have been praying, reading, helping, and donating. My cyclist page for donations is:
http://biketheusforms.org/cyclists/detail.asp?cid=656