02 February 2014 Update

Nothing new to report. The winter weather is here to stay (at least for now) here in Iowa. I have been focusing on finishing my research, and getting thing set up for summer so no training yet. I have enjoyed seeing the list of cyclists growing on the Bike the US for MS website. It looks like we will have a great group this coming summer.

No updates on fundraising either. I still need a lot of help. I started sending out fundraising letters to the family and friends and have things posted on craigslist to sell so hopefully things pick up within the next couple weeks.

06 January 2014 Update

Happy New Years everybody!

Over the holiday break I had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with my friends here in Iowa. As well as time spent watching over my friends pet, Snout.

This winter is really proving to be a cold one, with temps down to -22° F with wind chills in the -40s. It has put me in a mood more to curl up and read than to ride. Several of the books have been about cycle touring. I have also been testing my phone to see how easy it will be to update on the road. It is not convenient to type on a smart phone, but it will work to do quick updates until I can get to a computer and add some detail to them. Now that Christmas is over, I started putting together a list of gadgets and gizmos that would be nice to have for the tour. Maybe I will get lucky and get one or two for my birthday in May before I head to Maine to begin the ride.

Fundraising as of 06 January 2013

$245 raised of the  $4300 ... $4055 to go
I want to thank everybody who has donated so far, and those who have pledged a donation and haven't gotten around to it yet. It means a lot and its going to a great cause. 

In other news: I decided I was going to relocate my old travel journals here to this site. So you will slowly start seeing old posts from 2007 and 2012 appearing here from my previous trips. I am still new to Blogger so will do my best to keep things organized.

15 December 2013 Update

There really isn't much to update yet, so posts will be sporadic for the first couple months. I haven't really begun training yet, but I have starting cutting back on sugary drinks and increased the amount of water I am drinking. This is just healthy overall so naturally will help me prepare for the ride. Though I know from experience I will return to stopping for cokes again when I am on my ride (as I did on my last one). I have also cleaned off the exercise bike and have it in front of the tv ready for use, just haven't used it recently. I downloaded an app to do updates from my phone so will be testing that as well. To see exactly what I need to do to update while on the road.

No news, no new donations since last Sunday. I put together some fliers that I want to distribute. I just need to get in to the lab to borrow a decent color printer to print them out. I have been passive in social media, which will have to change as well.

Bike the US for MS

In the introduction I mentioned past and future adventures. The majority of  this blog over the next 9 months will revolve around updates on my next adventure. This adventure will be cycling the Adventure Cycling Associations Northern Tier route with the organization Bike the US for MS. This means not only will I be spending 69 days cycling almost 4300 miles. I will be fundraising money for research and awareness efforts for Multiple Sclerosis. We will also have stops along the route where we will perform service projects for people who have been diagnosed with MS.

My fundraising goal for this trip is $4300 by 20 May 2014. I am going to need all of your help to pitch in just a little for this great cause to help me reach my goal. Please visit
My cyclist profile page
on the Bike the US for MS website to learn more about donating. All donations are tax deductible, Bike the US for MS inc. is a 501c3 tax exempt organization with a tax ID# 27-2192426.

I will be posting updates on fundraising, so check back occasionally to see how I am doing. I also hope to as time draws closer post my progress with getting myself back into shape prior to this adventure. I finished my last bicycle tour in August of 2012 and have let myself get out of shape since then. I blame it on buying a car and not using my bicycle to commute everywhere. As for training now, its almost non existent. The weather here has been in the teens and single digits. As I write this it is 15 degrees F (-9.4 degrees C) and snowing. Not much bike riding today.

Fundraising as of 08 December 2013

$70 of $4300 ... $4230 to go
Thanks for those two who have donated ... but I am going to need a lot more help.

Deciding to Start Again

There really isn't anything special about a random Sunday that happens to fall on the eighth of December in 2013. For me anyway. It just happens to be the day that I find time to sit down and begin typing. I considered waiting and starting a blog on New Years Day or on my birthday or some day of significant change but I have tried that and the blogs of the past never ended up following through. So I sit here on a random day starting a new blog to tell my side of the story.

Because in the end that is all we are ... Stories, and while we can, we might as well make them good stories. I stole that from the doctor as I will others I am sure. One thing I am sure you are aware of already in the second paragraph of the first post, I lack grammatical expertise. I understand this and apologize in advance. However, I am starting this more as a way to put updates on "paper" and not at all to be considered an actual "blogger".

Through the first couple weeks, a lot of things are going to be changing both with layout and appearance but hopefully by the new year everything will have been settled. I am new to this so please be patient.

The main reason I am starting to blog again is that after playing around with other social media, I found that I really wasn't interested in using any of the others to post updates on my adventures. Two of my previous adventures were posted on Trailjournals.com and crazyguyonabike.com but this time I wanted a place where I could continue on after the adventure ended.

16.07.2012 Salmon, ID

Day 53: LRFS to Salmon, ID

Monday July 16, 2012, 100 miles (161 km) - Total so far: 1,716 miles (2,762 km)

Not the earliest of starts, but I hit the road heading north. It felt great being on the bike again but at the same time I learned real fast that my climbing legs had deserted me. I reached Challis, ID and it was a perfect stop for a restroom/stretch/water break. While coming out of the grocery store I met a guy traveling around the west coast with his dog and was currently hopping around the different hot springs in Idaho. We got to talking and he was kind and bought me some lunch. We chatted for awhile sharing stories and then I realized I better get going since I had no idea where I was going to stop for the night. It was my first day back so I did not want to push it too hard.

The route north on 93 provided some beautiful riding but at the same time some questionable stretches through narrow canyons. I was lucky and hit minimal traffic so it made it to be a pleasant ride. Had I hit traffic it would not have been nearly so. I rolled into the Salmon River RV Park and it was getting to be time to start planning on where I would find a place for the night. I decided that it was early enough that I would push on for Salmon, it was only another 22 miles or so. 

As I started getting closer to Salmon the sky took a turn for the ugly. Huge black clouds were blowing in fast behind me and I found myself racing the storm to Salmon. I really didn't think I would make it and was desperately looking for adequate cover. Luck would be on my side today, I spot a gas station to on the side of the road and rush for the canopy. Within 5 seconds of pulling under the canopy the sky just opened up and the hardest rain I had seen in a long time just emptied on the town. I waited around under the canopy for a little over a half an hour hoping it would let up. Eventually it did ease up and I ventured the rest of the way into town. Still in a light rain I start looking for a place to stay. The choices, several motels or a campground. Being the first day back on the road, tired, hungry and wet I just say screw it and get the motel. 

I wasn't planning on doing a hard day right out of the gate but once the sky starts turning like it did it is quite the motivator to turn miles in a hurry. 

11.07.2012 to 15.07.2012 LRFS

Day 48-52: Getting Back to My Bike

After some fun filled adventures with Tas, it was time for me to resume my ride. She dropped me off at the Greyhound station in Las Vegas, NV and we said our good byes, she to head back to Texas and me back to Idaho. During the short time I waited for my bus there was one drunk couple thrown out, 2 ambulances and one additional dispute as well as a family who couldn't read directions and decided to cause a scene showing their ignorance. The drama that is Greyhound.

I took the Bus back to Pocatello, ID. I spent a couple days visiting with some of my new friends that I met at LRFS. While there I found an awesome barber to get a nice hair cut and shave. I then got a ride back to Idaho Falls, ID to my friends house. She gave me a ride to ARCO, ID and my friend Kathy picked me up there and I rode back to LRFS with her. So after a Greyhound bus and 3 rides I have made it back to LRFS and my bike.

I spent one more night at LRFS visiting with the Central Washington University crew that was there and tomorrow I am back on the road heading towards Missoula, MT and then the coast.