Navy cyclists stop in Rockwood on cross-country trip

Oct. 3—ROCKWOOD, Pa. — Participants in the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1983's cross-country bicycle ride stopped in Rockwood on Monday as they neared the end of their journey to raise money and awareness for veterans' groups.

Members of the group got off the Great Allegheny Passage and stopped for a quick refresher in the Rockwood American Legion Post 279 parking lot before they got on their way again.

The day's goal for the cyclists was to travel 72.5 miles on the GAP from Ohiopyle, Fayette County, to Cumberland, Maryland. They had only a couple days left before they complete their 3,400-mile cross-country trip on Thursday in Annapolis, Maryland, the site of the Naval Academy.

"We're a group that likes to challenge ourselves to do great things," said Naval Academy alumnus John Hults, who in 2018 proposed the idea of a cross-country bike ride to raise awareness and funding for veteran support groups.

For the past five years, members of the group have completed legs of the journey before combining it all into one cross-country trip this year.

The cyclists departed on Aug. 23 from Whidbey Island, Washington. After each day of riding, they rest in a hotel before setting out again the next morning.

Along the way, they stop at spots such as the Rockwood American Legion where they are welcomed by locals and their support team, which sets up a refreshment area with water, sports drinks and snacks.

"It's just been incredible support all across the country," Hults said.

Tasha May, club manager for Rockwood's Post 279, said it was "an amazing experience to support these guys and these women." The local Legion members provided food and accommodations for the bicyclists and were "thrilled to have them," she said.

Christine Smith, whose husband Dixon is one of the riders, said the group has made about 130 stops since the beginning of its trip. She organizes the rest stops along with Melissa Stitt, whose husband Peter is also a rider; Hults' wife Lee; and others.

At each stop, Rich Woodford, another alumnus, has a large Penske truck full of the group's luggage and gear for bike repairs and other work.

The 22 veteran groups benefiting from the ride include Tunnels to Towers, Naval Services FamilyLine, EOD Warrior Foundation, Samaritan's Purse and Team Rubicon.

A complete list and ways to donate can be found at www.navy-cycling.com/take-action.

The large group of riders that began the journey thinned out by the middle of the trip, but many more are expected to tag along to finish the trek. A core of about 15 alumni — the average age of which is 61 to 65 — has stuck it out for the entire 3,200-plus miles so far.

Among them is Chip Ressel, a retired Navy commander, who on Thursday in Rockwood said that the experience of reuniting with his former classmates to accomplish a common goal has "been just unbelievably rewarding."

"It's been an exciting thing to do," he said.

Ressel added that one aspect of the trip that he has enjoyed has been getting to truly see and experience the country. The cyclists have traveled through a handful of national parks, met a variety of people, and been overcome by the beauty of the U.S. and the friendliness of the people they met, he said.

"It's given us a really good feeling that what we did to protect the country was worth it," Ressel said.

Several of the cyclists talked about how great the camaraderie among them has been.

John Hults noted that building relationships among the class of 1983 is one of the goals of the trip — the other two being keeping physically fit and supporting veterans.

"The camaraderie is amazing," Melissa Stitt said.

After the riders make it to Annapolis later this week, their work won't end. They have a goal of raising $1.983 million in 10 years and have collected more than $500,000 thus far.

For more information about the ride and the group, visit www.navy-cycling.com.