Seven Hours Behind the Mask
- Richard Webster
- Jul 20
- 4 min read
Ken Webster left home on July 20 with a simple plan: point the bike east and see how far he could go.
The morning started at about 60 degrees, but the air-quality reading was around 132. Ken chose to wear the RZ mask he had been testing, even though he knew it would be a long day. His shoulder and hip were also still sore from the fall he had taken two days earlier.
He did not know exactly where the road would lead. Lake Michigan was the hope. Getting there and back would be the test.
A Cold Start and an Uncertain Plan
Ken made it onto the road, then quickly realized 60 degrees felt colder from the bicycle seat. He turned around for his jacket, put the mask back on, and started again.
There was no support van following him on this training ride and no carefully chosen turnaround point. For the day, the goal was simple: keep moving east and see what happened.
The Bridge He Wasn't Sure He Could Cross
The route brought Ken to a construction zone where traffic narrowed near a bridge. From the bicycle, the crossing looked uncertain.
Then someone did more than give him room. A driver stopped the line of cars at the light so Ken could cross safely.
“Thank you, Jesus,” Ken said once he was safely across.
It was a small moment in a long ride, but it stayed with him. Sometimes encouragement arrives as a message. Sometimes it is a stranger holding back traffic when the road ahead looks uncertain.
East Until the Road Met the Lake
Ken continued through Grafton, still following the same idea: go as far east as he could.
The final approach led him through Lion's Den Gorge Nature Preserve, where a quiet boardwalk curved through thick summer growth.
Then the trees opened, and there it was.
“Usually when I say I'm going to try and do something, I usually end up doing it,” he said, looking out at the lake.
Reaching the water was a victory. It was also only the halfway point.
The Long Ride Home
Ken had worn the mask all the way to the lake, and the air-quality reading remained high enough that he kept it on for the return trip.
Ken has been using the mask during outdoor training when smoke and poor air quality make the conditions more difficult. It stayed comfortable enough for him to wear throughout this ride without keeping him from pedaling.
Affiliate disclosure: Richard Webster, Ken's son, may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to the buyer. Any commission helps with the website and the costs of the trip.
About ten miles from home, the wind became the next challenge. A 15 to 20 mph headwind pressed against him on Highway 60 and made every mile feel longer.
Then the road tilted upward.
“It ain't going to stop me,” Ken said. A few moments later, facing the hill, he added, “Let's get her done.”
Seven Hours Later
Ken returned home after roughly 55 miles and about seven hours on the bicycle. The cool morning had become an 86-degree afternoon. He had used all his water. One lens had fallen out of his glasses, forcing him to ride part of the way with one eye closed. His shoulder and hip were still reminding him of the recent fall.
Still, he had ridden to Lake Michigan and back.
By the Numbers
The final route showed just how much ground Ken covered. Ride with GPS recorded 55.6 miles and 1,940 feet of climbing between Hartford and Lake Michigan. The elevation profile also shows a demanding rise during the final miles, when the headwind, heat, and long day had already taken their toll.
Ken's cycling app recorded 55.61 miles in 7 hours, 4 minutes, and 49 seconds, with an estimated 2,917 calories burned. Ride with GPS listed 5 hours and 53 minutes of moving time. The difference includes the moments Ken stopped at the lake, worked through the bridge crossing, took photos and videos, and checked in along the way.
The full map makes the accomplishment easier to see: one continuous route east from Hartford to the Lake Michigan shoreline, followed by the long ride west back home. It was one of Ken's strongest training days yet and a meaningful test before the nearly 600-mile journey begins.
The day was not perfect. That is exactly why it mattered.
Every difficult mile gave Ken another chance to test his equipment, his judgment, and his determination before the nearly 600-mile Lake Michigan trip begins. It also offered another reminder that the ride is about more than reaching a destination.
Every Mile Can Help a Child
Ken is preparing to bike around Lake Michigan to raise money for Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan's Purse. The fundraiser's $6,000 goal can help cover the $10 shipping and handling cost for 600 shoebox gifts going to children around the world.
No gift is too large or too small. Small gifts add up, and every contribution can help move another shoebox toward a child.
Your encouragement matters too. Please leave Ken a comment and like this post, then return to Facebook and like or comment on his update there. Knowing people are following the journey gives him real encouragement as he prepares for the road ahead.
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