Day 94, Miles Ridden Today (Friday): 16 Miles Ridden Overall: 2,969 Camping: $0, We are staying overnight at the Ohio Dreams, in Burtler, Ohio (compliments of Ohio Dreams management)
- To track online our current location, see instruction on the “Ride the Nation Route Plan” page
- Also, follow us on Twitter, search “ridethenation”
- Check out our blog on www.bmxmania.com for exclusive details you won’t find here.
We awoke in a sweat Friday morning after another hot night of tent sleeping. Again, we took cold showers and dressed and then broke down our tent site. We loaded everything on our bikes and headed towards Ohio Dreams. We received a message from our daughter, the Editor, that we were invited to “pool time” Friday afternoon @ 2pm.
Before we left, we decided that we’d move to a closer campground for Friday night to Saturday morning so that we could arrive in less of a full out sweat when we picked up the kid. We found a KOA close to Ohio Dreams and sent them an email, asking them to hold one tent site for Friday night. We got an email back, saying that they required a two night minimum stay on weekend nights; if we didn’t want to stay both nights @ $28/night, we still had to pay for 2 nights. Pff!
We arrived @ Ohio Dreams after riding through the heat of the day over several hills. We couldn’t wait to see the Beast and see what she thought of her camp week. She ran up to us full of smiles and began babbling about all the cool stuff she’d been doing. She was most excited to tell us how she worked hard on manualing and jumping in the “trails” section of the camp. At that point, one of her counselors joined us and told us how hard she worked as well and that she really improved over the 6 days she had been there.
- To track online our current location, see instruction on the “Ride the Nation Route Plan” page
- Also, follow us on Twitter, search “ridethenation”
- Check out our blog on www.bmxmania.com for exclusive details you won’t find here.
We awoke in a sweat Friday morning after another hot night of tent sleeping. Again, we took cold showers and dressed and then broke down our tent site. We loaded everything on our bikes and headed towards Ohio Dreams. We received a message from our daughter, the Editor, that we were invited to “pool time” Friday afternoon @ 2pm.
Before we left, we decided that we’d move to a closer campground for Friday night to Saturday morning so that we could arrive in less of a full out sweat when we picked up the kid. We found a KOA close to Ohio Dreams and sent them an email, asking them to hold one tent site for Friday night. We got an email back, saying that they required a two night minimum stay on weekend nights; if we didn’t want to stay both nights @ $28/night, we still had to pay for 2 nights. Pff!
We arrived @ Ohio Dreams after riding through the heat of the day over several hills. We couldn’t wait to see the Beast and see what she thought of her camp week. She ran up to us full of smiles and began babbling about all the cool stuff she’d been doing. She was most excited to tell us how she worked hard on manualing and jumping in the “trails” section of the camp. At that point, one of her counselors joined us and told us how hard she worked as well and that she really improved over the 6 days she had been there.
As we walked toward the pool and talked, I casually looked up and gasped. OH MY GOOD GOD! In front of me was the BIGGEST, BADDEST, BESTEST Slip n Slide I’d ever seen! IT WAS HUGE! And scary and I could barely wait to try it out! As I got closer, I started losing my nerve. A few of the camp kids had climbed the 90 steps to the top and their bodies came rocketing down the big white slide, arched into the air above the pool and then landed with a giant splash! I was terrified and … a little scared … but I still wanted to do it As I tackled my fears, the Beast wasted no time in demonstrating how to jump off the end of the slide.
I told Frankenbutt that I’d watch a few more take on the challenge before I’d go. Without much ado, Frankenbutt started heading up the endless stair case. I was nervous watching him but then wished I had gone up at the same time. Maybe I wouldn’t lose my nerve if he was there to encourage me.
As he neared the top, I turned on the camera portion on my phone and took a few test shots of other campers flying down and off the slide. Then, I saw Frankenbutt coming down and I caught his graceful dismount just as he was in midair. When he returned to me, he said, “You’ve gotta do it! It’s AWESOME!”
So, I pulled off my shoes and sunglasses, kissed my daughter good bye, left my camera with Frankenbutt and headed up the unending stair case. At the top, the people at the pool side looked very small. I was definitely starting to talk myself out of it. Then, I remembered how good it has felt to fly down hills @ over 40mph. I remembered how much I love rollercoasters. I decided, “it’s now or never”. I plopped down at the start of the slide, took a deep breath and let my body slide forward. WOW! In no time, I was sailing down the slope, flying off the scooped upward end and plotzing into the pool below. I LOVE IT! I felt like I was 10 years old! There is no medicine in the world that can take years off you like that! When I returned from the water, I found out that Frankenbutt had videotaped my slide run. We posted it on you tube and you can find it by copying and pasting this address in your browser: http://youtu.be/2HvZ7IT-0T8. You can also go on www.youtube.com and search “ridethenationfamily” videos, if that address doesn’t work. We only have a few posted, so it should be easy enough to find this one.
Soon after my slip ‘n slide adventure, the skies opened up and a rain storm let loose with a fury. Everyone piled out of the pool and into the game/snack area inside. After the rain let up, counselors called for their kids to join them at designated areas outside. The Beast had “pliotechnics” (sp?) and she gleefully went to the outdoor skate park to do a variety of jumping exercises that help increase your track skills. Frankenbutt and I joined some of the office staff for hearing more about the amazing programs at Ohio Dreams.
Soon after my slip ‘n slide adventure, the skies opened up and a rain storm let loose with a fury. Everyone piled out of the pool and into the game/snack area inside. After the rain let up, counselors called for their kids to join them at designated areas outside. The Beast had “pliotechnics” (sp?) and she gleefully went to the outdoor skate park to do a variety of jumping exercises that help increase your track skills. Frankenbutt and I joined some of the office staff for hearing more about the amazing programs at Ohio Dreams.
I was thrilled that there is actually a BMX RACING program at Ohio Dreams. We had enrolled the Beast at Woodward West when she was 9 years old and even though we emphasized that she wanted BMX racing training, they re-classified her into mountain biking and freestyle since they don’t really have a racing program. Ohio Dreams was a much better, more exclusive training program that the Beast just loved! We are so glad that she had this experience and we can’t wait to tell everyone about the amazing facilities they offer. Even their dorms and cafeteria are top notch … this is not the summer camp of our childhoods! (here is the Beast with Program Director, Justin Travis)
Well, after just one night at Ohio Dreams, I haven’t yet figured out what I want to be when I grow up … but I definitely know WHERE I want to grow up! Hmm, I wonder if they offer an all adult summer camp?? I’d definitely do that!
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