Desh Gully lifts his bicycle over his head after completing the trip from Sandpoint, ID. to Thompson Falls last week. Alex Violo/Valley Press
The 28 cyclists, one of three Journey of Hope teams pedaling across the expanse of the United States this summer, have embarked upon their journey to spread a message of acceptance and awareness for those with disabilities. All three teams are composed of members of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, an organization with membership at universities in states throughout the country.
The college cyclists arrived at Thompson Falls High School in the early afternoon of Friday, June 12, after starting their day across the state line in Sandpoint, ID. The team, part of the Journey of Hope’s, TransAmerica trek, started their cross-country journey in Seattle and will finish off their summer in Washington D.C.
According to Desh Gully, a cyclist with the group from Long Beach, CA., the team left Sandpoint around 6 a.m. and traveled 90 miles to get to Thompson Falls. On Saturday they headed to Missoula and the group got a well-deserved day off on Sunday. “We did 90 miles today, our average is 80 miles per day. Tomorrow we will do a century, 100 miles,” Gully said. Gully added their was substantial preparations for the summer journey with the organization’s website recommending participating cyclists undertake 1,500 miles of training before the trek.