Day 32

I met Tandy McConnell, class of 1980, for the first time last night as we met briefly to discuss details of the morning’s bike ride. I knew in the first few moments of meeting him that he was a kind-hearted generous man. I should have been able to read this in his personality, since he drove from Charlotte in order to participate and offered to bike no less than 30 miles!




Today, the relay departed from the Secret City Commemorative Walk at the Civic Center in Oak Ridge, TN. The walk is dedicated to thousands who founded Oak Ridge between 1942 and 1949, who worked in the nuclear research facility or made another contribution to their community through their work. Among the names are Fay and Charley Hale, who attended Berea College. Fay worked as an educator and Charley in the national lab.

As we walked through the monument, becoming more aware of the city’s past and paying respects to the lives that formed it, the clouds above us rolled into thick gray formations. A storm was on its way. Within the first 10 miles of our mostly uphill relay ride, the rain came. First the sky fired warning shots of water and then it came crashing in buckets. As each drop pelted against the windshield of the Berea College van, Tandy, who was biking approximately 10-12 mph up hill and 30+ mph down hill, was getting hit with the same drops without a shield for them to splat against. ---He kept going. Prior to the ride, as we anticipated rain, he insisted that he wouldn’t stop unless it ‘really’ stormed. He never stopped. With in time the rain ceased, leaving Tandy soaking wet.

After about 23 miles of vigorous peddling, we gave Tandy a short break in Wartburg, TN as we stopped to deliver a proclamation of friendship to Morgan County. The County Executive, Becky Ruppe and her assistant, Carol, met with us briefly and spoke highly of Berea College.

Just up the road in Sunbright, TN Tandy located just about the only restaurant in the area, Lou’s Diner, where we stopped for lunch. We indulged in some good home country cookin’, including the unforgettable ‘corn nuggets.’ The locals in the diner were more than friendly and eager to tell us of the diner’s recent filming by the Food Network just last week! For Lou’s Diner, having visitors from the outside is becoming a commonality!

After completely stuffing ourselves, we returned back to the relay route only to be faced with more twists, turns, and steep hills! I’ve personally dubbed Tandy ‘the AMAZING TANDY,’ because of his determination, optimism, and triumph throughout today’s course. I was personally thoroughly impressed with his skill. As it turns out, I wasn’t the only one who noticed either! An innocent cow grazed in a field nearby our route. As Tandy rode past, her head followed until he was out of sight! Additionally, despite all the obstacles; the rain, the cold that came with the rain, the dogs rushing after him (he told me not to worry about the dogs), the MAC trucks prepared to take over the road, and some rude drivers, he didn’t complain. As I trailed behind him slowly and carefully in the decorated van, I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of ammunition he had inside of him, pushing him to continue. So, I asked him why he chose to participate in the relay. His answer; he wanted another way to give to Berea College, because Berea had done so much for him.

Today, the Amazing Tandy completed about 53 miles, mostly uphill, biking from Oak Ridge, TN, through Wartburg and Sunbright, bringing us to our final destination in Huntsville, TN. With the city sign in plain view, Tandy threw up his arms in celebration and personal accomplishment. –What an amazing way to celebrate a birthday, Berea’s birthday!

Thank you Tandy!
-Crystal