Page 16 The Shoreline ' September-2009
Still Riding Across America for OWLS
By Trish Slope
Although the actual "Ride Across
America" has come to ari end, OWLS
will always look back on this summer
as one of amazement. One person, one
dream, and an invitation to become a
part of a journey of a lifetime. That's
what Paul Rudershausen, marine
research assistant for Center for Marine
Sciences and Technologies (CMAST),
did for the Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter
when he offered to take his dream of
biking across America and open it up
as a fundraiser for the shelter.
OWLS was hit extremely hard
financially over the last year and a
half, as were all non-profits, so any
opportunity to raise money was
definitely well received, and Paul's
OWLS Hero: Ride Across America's
Paul Rudershausen pictured with the
mountains in the background as he
wends his way home.
New York for many people likely
evokes strong opinions, whether
negative or positive. To tell the
truth, it's got many sides. I mean
one minute you're glaring at people
shoving you in China Town and the
next you're on the subway on your
way to Broadway.
If you only have, say, three days,
the things you absolutely have to do
are as follows. Take a ferry to Ellis
Island and the Statue of Liberty. Get
caught in a downpour on the way
back from Ellis Island and wish you'd
brought an umbrella. Make sure you
hit a few shops because New York is
idea seemed like an interesting one. All
fundraisers have the basic groundwork
necessary to get them off the ground,
and "pedaMwildlife" was no different.
Mailings were done, media releases
were sent out, logistics planned, and so
on. The difference with this one is in the
journey, not the end result. Paul set up
a website to promote the fundraiser for
OWLS, but the website has become so
much more. His blog created a window
for all of us to experience what he
experienced, to see what he saw, and
even to feel what he felt.
As we got closer and closer to Day
One - the kick-off of this phenomenal
journey - the anticipation was growing,
and the farewell party was but a
memory. Paul's gear was packed, we'd
ironed out all of the last minute details
and communication lines were put in
place. Supporters all across the country
logged in to read how Day One and the
start of the journey would begin, only
to find out that due to traffic delays
- weather and airlines mishaps - Day
One was not to be. As quoted from Paul's
Blog - Day One - "In my daydreams I
thought it was a long way across the
country, I didn't dream it would take
so long to get there. I felt a little like a
tape-less horse in the 5-hour plane ride
Saturday... I hope the day delay won't
negate my chance to get to Yellowstone
Park... If you like wildlife, Yellowstone
is one of the premier places for wildlife
viewing in the continent." Even on the
first day, Paul is busily calculating and
recalculating the number of miles per
day he needed to cover to make his
journey home in the 34, now 33 day trip
he had mapped out.
Right off the bat, Paul had experienced
in Day Two what he refered to as "a
benchmark by which others on this
journey - and throughout life - are
measured... relative to the Cascade
climb in '09." He tells us in his blog that
the day started out reasonably enough,
even with time to take a refreshing
swim in the Santium Creek, but then
"the Cascades showed themselves."
On a brutally hot day, making 6 mph
for 2 hours up a 4% grade, he ran out
of water. For the grace of God and a
few strangers who stopped and gave
him water, he made it to his camp sight
and collapsed into bed - too tired even
for dirmer.
A note received from one of those
strangers read, "Paul, as one of the
strangers who saved your life on
Monday's trek over the Cascades, I was
happy to see online that you had made
New York Trip
By Cierra Tomaso
rightfully famous for its variety of
shops. The Toys 'R Us has an indoor
ferris wheel, by the way. Grab a slice
of NY pizza—nothing beats NY pizza.
Take the subway a lot, too. You might
meet some interesting people, or you
might get lost and end up rushing. It
really can go either way. The buses,
however, are normally a safe bet.
Central Park is a must-see as
well. The Alice in Wonderland
statue is amazing, and the lake is
pretty. However, if you want to eat
somewhere, I can't really recommend
the Boathouse restaurant. We waited
a fairly long.time, the .food.was.in
small proportions, and there was a
hair in the butter. Plus, the service
was awful and the food overpriced.
However, there's a cafe in the same
building that was cheaper, but we
didn't eat there.
If you like carousels, you have to go
to the one in Central Park. But please
make sure you have quite a long
time to find it. During the summer, it
stays open later. And get directions.
Because if you don't, you will likely
be wondering Central Park for hours.
And if you're us, you'll be wearing
awful shoes, be already tired, and be
carrying ions of bags.>
it despite the gruesome ride. You were
such a gracious person, I only wish I
had been able to give you more water.
I was caught totally imawares about
your water shortage, and while one
doesn't really expect to meet someone
on the pass riding a bicycle by, ha ha,
that was very interesting. It sounds like
you've got quite a road ahead, and quite
a fantastic journey awaiting. I can only
be envious of what you'll be seeing as
you go along. Take care, God Bless, and
best of rides to you!" Juli
By Day Eleven, Paul was making
progress, traversing across state number
three, every day experiencing new
wonders as well as new struggles. Some
days began with a tailwind helping him
over the next hill, while by the afternoon
the wind was in his face pushing him
back. The wildlife and views that he saw
were unparalleled, like the golden eagle
silhouetted against the rays of the setting
sun as they lit up the cliff rocks of the
Flaming George Reservoir Dam.
It was a phenomenal journey made
by a phenomenal person and shared
by all who took the time to visit
www.pedal4wildlife.org. Thanks Paul
- you're one in a million!
After that, you may want to get a
carriage ride and have a tour guide tell
you a bit about New York. The next
day, seeing Broadway is something
you can't miss. Believe me, you won't
regret it. Going to the theater may be
expensive and getting tickets may
be an ordeal, but it's really quite
an experience. On Broadway, we
happened to see "Mary Poppins,"
which was really good. But I've heard
all of them are very good.
So if you want to visit the city that
never sleeps, I encourage you to go
for it. Remember your map and have
fun. .