This entry below was written by Rudy Granaghan, the Project Manager of North route 2012. Rudy is the reason our team is so successful and the last journal could not be dedicated to anyone else besides him! 

We made it. 38 in. 38 out. What an incredible journey it has been. Sunday was the day that I had been looking forward to since May 17th, the day that I left Fort Worth and flew out to Seattle to begin my summer. Come to think of it, it was they day I had been looking forward to since the moment I found out I would be PM for the North Route. It was the pinnacle of the entire trip that every cyclist and crew member dreams of when they sign up for JOH. As I sit here in the van on the way back to Charlotte for crew debrief, it is hard not to get emotional when thinking about all the amazing times our team had on North Route 2012.

Sunday morning came early as I woke up to get prepared for the big arrival at our Nation’s Capitol. I woke up, showered, and put on my Mountain Khakis and crew polo for the last time. I started getting my van ready for all the cyclists to load their bags up for the last time as well. I knew one thing I would not miss is unloading those bags every day! I looked at the white board that I had prepared every day and the words that it said that I prepared the night before. Day: 68. Date: August 5, 2012. City: Washington D.C. Rack Point: 4,000 miles by 8/5/12. Had we really come that far? It was so surreal to me. Our team had cycled and driven (the crew at least) from the prominent landmark on the West Coast to the most prominent landmark on the East Coast. That morning we were graced with the presence of a few men that had made everything possible. These are the men who we learn the names of while associates of the fraternity. Bruce Rodgers, Jim Karlovec, Thomas Sayre, Durward Owen, and Ken Kaiser were all with us during our last circle up to ride those last ten miles with us into DC. It was an emotional circle up, to say the least. It was more than likely the last time I would ever be with that group of men in the same setting again.

As we concluded our prayer that morning, led by cyclists Chris Cooke from Virginia Tech, the crew starting heading to mark their turns so the cyclists could get on the road to stage up. I loaded up my van and got on the road so I could make it to stage up in time to head over to the hotel to drop off the bags. When I made it to the hotel, some of the staff from Push America were there help unload everything and take it up to the meeting room. After that was all said and done, I headed back to stage up to prepare for the big arrival.

At 10:45 A.M. sharp, the cyclists kicked off the ground and clipped in for the last time as we headed toward the Capitol via police escort. My crew van with all of my crew followed behind the cyclists as we made our way down the streets of D.C. honking, yelling, and waving to everyone as they snapped pictures of us. If there was ever a time that I have felt like a celebrity, that was it. After a few miles we passed the Washington Monuement on our left, then made the right turn onto Constitution Ave. There it was. The United State Capitol was directly ahead of us, staring us in the face. Everything our team had worked for, all the fundraising they did, all the training (or lack thereof), all of the people we had met, all the hard work we put in came down to that last mile into the Capitol. We made our way up through a crowd of cheering people, 1500 I believe it was, and parked our van as the cyclists made their way with their bikes through the cheers and yelling of all our supporters. They posted up in team picture formation for the last time and waited patiently as the ceremony began with Chad Coltrane congratulating all the teams. Jim Karlovec, the first project manager for the journey who mapped out a route from his dorm room at Bowling Green State University, addressed the audience as well. Then it was my turn. For some reason, I wasn’t nervous that day as I addressed a crowd bigger than I ever have and probably ever will. Here is what I had to say:

Wow. It seems like it was just yesterday that I was stepping on a plane getting ready to start my summer off. It seems like just yesterday that these 30 men were kicking off their summer, cycling across the Golden Gate Bridge on a cool, early June morning. I told them that morning that the journey they were about to embark on was going to change their lives. It would be a tough journey with many tests, but with it would come great reward. I want you to take a good look at them now, because these men aren’t the same person as they were two months ago. They built relationships with each other and broke through barriers. They showed true empathy for people with disabilities and spread awareness for them all along the way. This team was absolutely exceptional during friendship visits and changed lives while their lives were being changed simultaneously. We met some great people along the way, and I’m sure they are so eager to share with all of you some of their experiences.

There are so many people I want to thank. First off I want to thank my team of cyclists who worked hard every day on and off the bike to make this journey an unforgettable one. I want to thank my crew for keeping the men safe on the road, and working behind the scenes to ensure everything went smoothly. Without them, none of this would be possible. I want to thank Wes Clarkson, the Director of Logistics for helping me along the way and providing me with the necessary information I needed to get these men here. I want to thank Andrew Matznick and Kyle Rutledge for helping with North team orientation, as well as Dave Knavel for leading the PM and Crew Chief training in Seattle. I want to thank Chad Coltrane for showing me what passion is in his love for Push America. I want to thank my chapter brothers who are here today who came out to support me, Will Jung, and our archon Garrett Lucas. I want to thank everyone from the North route in 2010 who came out to support me as well.

When I rode the journey in 2010, I had an incredible role model to look up to in my PM, Drayton Perkins. Drayton has always been a resource to me in life, and inspired me to come back and be a project manager. His love and passion for Push America is contagious, and I have so much respect for you and everything you have showed me. Thank you, Drayton.

I remember almost three years ago when I first joined Pi Kappa Phi and heard about Journey of Hope. My big in the fraternity, Dalton Goodier, had just gotten back from riding the South route in 2009, and could not stop talking about. That is when I knew that I wanted to do something as great as this. One evening at dinner with my parents, I told them about JOH and that I wanted to do it. They were all for it. My parents have been my biggest supporters in my endeavors with Push America and the Journey of Hope. Thank you so much for always supporting me in doing what I love, because when it comes down to it, that is what is most important. Thank you to all my family, Mom and Dad, Brian, Chris and Megan, for coming here to today and showing your support of me.

I’m sure there are many more people I could think of to thank, but I don’t want to take all day and only have a short time up here. So thank you to everyone, including all of our wonderful sponsors that supported us along the way.

I won’t ever forget my experiences with Journey of Hope. They have taught me so many things that I take back home with me and use every day in life. I won’t ever forget the cold wind blowing off the Golden Gate Bridge. I won’t ever forget the day these men conquered Kirkwood, cycling from sun up to sun down.  I won’t ever forget the long morning in Nevada with nothing but hundreds of miles ahead of you on the lonliest road in America. I won’t ever forget the climb up Loveland Pass, or the walls of corn in Nebraska and Iowa. I won’t ever forget our stop in Grand Island and the rich history it has with Push America. I could go on and on about what I will remember, but most importantly, I want ever forget the things that Push America has given me and the people I have met through it. Pi Kappa Phi and Push America have given me more opportunities than I could ever hope for or imagine.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful and committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

4,000 miles. 68 days. 13 states. 55 cities. Countless lives touched. The journey goes on forever.

After the other project managers spoke and many pictures were taken, the cyclists were allowed to go meet with friends and family that had come out to support them that day. I was blessed to have so many people out their supporting me that day. My mom and dad, brothers, and sister-in-law all came out and it was great to see them for the first time in almost three months. I found my PM from 2010, Drayton Perkins, and had an emotional moment as we saw each other for the first time in two years. I spent some time there just in awe of the great sight it was. I took pictures with my teammates, as well as a picture with the guys who came out from 2010 North route. It was an incredible moment.

That afternoon the team spent time with their families until we met up again in one of the ballrooms at the JW Marriot for a congratulations from the new National President. He congratulated all the team members and also gave his inaugural address to us and the members of the 53rd Supreme Chapter who were in attendance. Afterwards we all headed into the grand ballroom for the Arrival Banquet and Anniversary Celebration. I was privileged to hand out the Bruce Rogers Award that night to the leader of our team and most influential person on our route. Nick Brady, from Arizona State University was given the Bruce Rogers Award for his outstanding attitude and contagious personality that molded our team together. He was someone that I could always go to for advice and someone I knew always had my back no matter what. Thank you, Nick. More awards were given out, then TJ Sullivan came up for a special presentation to all the Pi Alphas. TJ wrote a Pi Alpha creed that we all recited for the very first time. It was a great moment that I will never when hundreds of Pi Alphas from all different years recited something that bounded us together in unity for Push America and Pi Alpha. The banquet ended shortly after, and that was it. The journey that seemed like it had just begun had come to a conclusion.

I look back on my two summers spent with Journey of Hope, as well as the three years I have been involved with Push America, and can not be more thankful for all the things it has taught me and opportunities it has given me. I have met some of the most incredible people through it who show me what having a passion for something is all about. To anyone who is reading this, if you have the chance to participate in the Journey of Hope in ANY way, I want to encourage you to do so. To my team, I want you to never forget everything you have learned this summer and the incredible people you have met. It has been a privilege serving you this summer, gentlemen.

You see, I am a Pi Alpha, and I have learned the true meaning of fraternity.

 The last day of riding has finally come and thousands of miles have been crossed for our entire team. Today we traveled to Bethesda, Maryland and 70 miles was the barrier which we had to be crossed to be 10 miles from D.C. We woke up at 6am ready to ride and after our crew chief lunch we were on the road cycling over the mountains one more time. Everyone did a great job as we worked our way across the state of Maryland. The crew marked turns and prevented red flags and the cyclist pushed themselves to make it to lunch at their lodging destination. In their pace lines of three everyone bonded on their bikes one last time and enjoyed their last real ride. All of the fundraising they have done and goals we have worked for are coming to an end with that ending being Washington D.C. tomorrow. Everyone finished today at Landon School, thanks to Russell Gagarin, with a gigantic smile on their faces. We are starting to realize the accomplishments we have conquered.

                We were welcomed by a delicious lunch by two Pi Alpha ride-alongs. They provided us with some giant cheese steak sandwiches as a trophy to our accomplishment and completion. Today was a day to recognize our accomplishments and to see the others teams who have dedicated themselves this entire summer just like we have. We had our All-team dinner today with the South, Build America, and Transamerica teams and we were also joined by old Pi Alphas from the past. Hearing their stories about their rides and what the feeling of success we will have tomorrow will be like got everyone so much more hyped up for their ride into the capitol. This trip is finally coming to an end in one day and we are ready to turn around and cycle right back to San Francisco where we first met. Our team is our new family and one which has been through thick and thin to accomplish the same goal. It has been an amazing trip and we are so happy to call each other brothers.

 Day 66 and its crazy to think the Journey of Hope and the family we have made during our time together is about to come to an end. Our last friendship visit was today and our last 75 mile ride. We woke up at 6am and departed for Hagerstown, Maryland by 7. Today was another day of climbing with a rack point established to keep everyone going at a decent pace. With many mountains approaching the climbing became more intense with steeper and longer climbs. This did not stop the team though and soon they were at mile 50 when the crew received the call that everyone must be racked due to time constraints. We all understood why we had to quickly be racked and soon we were at lodging sponsored by Lisa Lynn at the Potomac Center.

                Our friendship visit would be at the Potomac Center as well as dinner. Thank you Lisa Lynn for sponsoring dinner as well! At three the team headed to the nearby cabins to help their new friends to dinner in the gymnasium. The team had the chance to work with the Potomac center and feed those who are unable to feed themselves. We bonded for hours with tons of new people we have just met and they were just as happy to meet us as we were to meet them. Every new friend we make is a great one and we are very blessed for this chance. Our team put so much work into friendship visit and the last of energy was put into the Potomac Center. Working hands on with people that have a disability really is mind opening and the North route team truly understands the ideals they were taught.

                Today was a day of bonding and ritual once the dinner and friendship was over. It was a great finishing event and the team will always remember the organizations they have worked with along the Journey of hope North route.

 A significant day to a journey is when you cross a mark, for our team cycling across a state line is just like this idea. Today would be the last state line we would cross for our long journey and this would be the Maryland state line. It was the normal procedure once we woke up and the team soon departed for Cumberland after the 6am wake up. We cycled 60 miles today and had some beautiful scenery to join us as we rode. With the mountains now upon us the Midwest was a memory in the past. Cycling up a mountain is no easy task but we all pushed ourselves to our limits to make it to the top of each climb. A mountain is a very rewarding feat because once you make it to the top you receive the sensation of quickly riding down the steep terrain. This experience is unreal. There were many large climbs like this one today but the team remembered what they did in the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra and mimicked that effectiveness.

                We soon reached our lodging at the bottom of a five mile downhill ride and welcomed by the sight of a hotel. Our lodging was sponsored at the Best Western Braddock Inn and organized by Doug Easton. Today was a very relaxed first day in Cumberland but also a fun one. Once we relaxed at our lodging we moved to dinner which was overlooking a lake and the mountains. Our dinner was sponsored by the Cumberland Rotary Club and Barb Rapson. The Rotary club was great to sit with and talk with as we ate our delicious dinner for stuffed chicken and many other choices. Once dinner was finished we were surprised by a man who wanted to film our team for a PBS TV section in Cumberland. This was very cool and a new experience for some as most of the team was interview by the camera.
 

After dinner we met as a team to clean the vans and to pass out the gag gifts we purchased the night before. This proved to be a hilarious hour of fun and the team gained a new sense of satisfaction from the event.

Today was a very quick day but also a nice ride into Maryland. The events were little but the team always has the chance to build more relationships with each other when there are fewer events in a day. Our first day in Maryland was great and now we only have 3 days till we will be standing on the capitol lawn.

 Today is our last day in the state of Pennyslvania and we ended it with a bang. We woke up at 6am and were on the road by 7am. We had a few in today’s ride to Uniontown, Our Project Manager Rudy would be riding and our Historian Mark would be riding as well. Nicky Brady decided to take of the PM position for the day and he did a great job with organization and time flow throughout our days ride. Due to the fact we had a lot of sponsored events today the team decided it would be best to rack out of the city in order to reach their destination for their sponsored breakfast. Our breakfast was at Chick-Fil-A and sponsored by the Scharnikow family. Everyone received a drink, a delicious chicken biscuit, and also two mini biscuits. This meal proved to be a first for a majority of the team and they soon wished they had been to the fast food franchise before.

                Once the team had their great breakfast they once again racked to make their way out of the congested city to be put on their route for the day. The destination to begin cycling was about five miles from breakfast and soon enough we were on the road. Our ride had quite a few big hills in our paths but with our excitement to reach Uniontown we soon were making our way from 5 to 15 to 25 miles all the way to 35 where we finished at the Uniontown Area YMCA for lodging sponsored by Bill Poninsky. We also were met by cyclist Andy King’s family which organized a delicious lunch for the team to enjoy before we headed to our fun filled events for the day.

                Our event had nothing to do with cycling but it was still an adventure that was waiting to happen. In past summers North route cyclist Andy King worked as a White Water Rafting guide and we surprised the team with an epic trip down the river. There were six of us in each boat and we were joined by no guides in our boat. Do to the rainfall the week before we were also surprised by bigger rapids to flow down. Over each rapid we were paddling with all of our might to keep the boat afloat and to prevent losing any brothers as we made our way down the river. The team had excitement they’ve never experience and for the next couple hours the team was loving every moment of the river that we were quickly flowing down. Once our extreme and wet ride down the river was finished we were bussed back to our vans where would gather up and head to dinner.

                Today our dinner was sponsored by the Knights of Columbus who had some of the greatest hospitality during the whole trip. The Knights provided the team with huge plates of spaghetti and meatballs and ended the meal with some homemade brownies. The food was great but what made the night one to remember for the team was the long and detail conversations from the Knights who met spent their afternoon getting to know us. Once the dinner was completely gone the team went and played games like horse shoes and football to pass the time. Once the visit came to an end we moved into picture formation and were quickly surprised by a check of $500 which was being donated by the Knights for Push America. They also provided us with tons of water to help everyone during the last few days of our journey.

Uniontown was a great town to visit and we look forward to coming back next year and for many years to come.