Today’s ride was a 70-miler into Huntington, West Virginia, meaning that the team crossed its second-to-last state line, and entered out 12th State. Shortly after crossing the line we met up with the police, who escorted us to City Hall, where we were greeted by representatives from the Mayor’s office, alongside faculty from Mountain State Center for Independent Living. From there, we rode up a steep hill to Huntington High School, where we lodged for the night.
Our friendship visit for the day was dinner at the Mountain State Center for Independent Living. It was amazing to hear about the work they do and services they provide to help people with disabilities live as independently as possible; some of these services include assistance navigating around town and grocery shopping. We were also extremely impressed by the level of activism this particular center displayed when it came to equal opportunity for people with disabilities. The clients there shared with us their passion for peacefully protesting on a regular basis in town. Overall, it was a great first day in West Virginia.
Author: Jared Chan, Cyclist (Iota Phi Chapter, Loyola University New Orleans)