Moved to Tumblr

This blog has moved! I know I already said that, but I'm serious. Click this link to see where I'll be updating from here on out.

Crossed Washington!

So just like that, goodbye Washington! I pulled into Spokane this afternoon, and will press on to Coeur d'Alene this evening.

Meanwhile, it's become abundantly clear that blogspot is terrible with the iPhone, so the blog has moved! Please check the Riding for ROMP tumblr for regular updates. And I swear they will become regular!

Off I Go!

Panoramic view of the sunset on my last night on the ferry. Yowza!

It was my first time leaving southeast without getting on an airplane, and it was a glorious trip. Can't thank Adam Andis enough for the hospitality in Sitka.

Had two solid days on the ferry camped out in the solarium, just like this.

My good friend Beau was kind enough to take me on a hike up Deer Mountain during a surprise six hour layover in Ketchikan.

After a long, restorative weekend with family in LaConner and friends in Seattle, I'm finally hitting the road in earnest. I've already got a couch to surf on in Marblemount tomorrow, right at the base of the Cascades. Then it'll be a quick hop over the Cascades (I'm afraid I'm lying to myself about just how quick a hop it'll be, but time will tell), then on toward my parents' house in the panhandle of Idaho.

Pretty slick jersey, eh?

Thanks so much to everyone who's contributed to the ride so far. I'm already almost up to the halfway point of my goal! Might just have to up that to two dollars per mile...

Multiple people suggested I take the cheesy pictures of the rear wheel in the Pacific, soon to be followed by that front wheel in the Atlantic. How could I resist?

My Uncle Bill is kind enough to ride with me a bit tomorrow morning. Off I go!

Sailing Tomorrow

I'm happy to report I got a little coverage in our local Juneau Empire over the weekend. Many thanks to Melissa Griffiths for helping get the word out. I've got enough donated to get me into Montana. But I've still got almost $3,000 to go! Hit the Donate Here link above to help push me into Wyoming.

Sunshine in Sitka!

My old bicycle is riding smoother than it ever has, all thanks to head mechanic Mike Bly (this man is an American hero) and the good people at Cycle Alaska. You have bike needs in Juneau? They're here to help.

Just spent a lovely weekend in Sitka. Saw some great music at the Homeskillet Festival and even a little surprise southeast sunshine. Tomorrow I sail to Bellingham and the real adventure begins. This is starting to feel very real...

Will I find any scenery along the way better than what Sitka has to offer? Seems unlikely, somehow.

Getting Ready, Feeling Able

One month from today I'll be cruising by British Columbia on the Alaska Marine Highway, hours away from arrival in Bellingham where the pedaling shall commence. As with any big trip, I've been oscillating between excitement and nervousness. Now's (what I hope will be) one of the hardest parts for an indecisive person like me, as I determine what gear is really necessary to invest in. I can kill hours online reading passionate testimony for bringing along almost any product, only to find another blogger bemoaning the same.

The bottom line is, whatever gear I end up with is going to get me there. Some particular model of shoe, mirror or tire is not going to make all that much difference. The hours of daily pedaling will.

Me and my beautiful Raleigh Wyoming, taking a break in front of the mighty Mendenhall Glacier.

Training for the ride is coming along. I ride to work every day, and try to take a couple nice long rides on the weekend. In two weeks I'll be done with work, and will have no reason not to put in 40-50 miles a day. It'll be good exercise but something tells me no matter how much I train, the first week or two on the saddle are going to be a serious physical challenge. The downside is that living in Juneau, I can't very well experience the conditions I'll see down south. While the summer heat is covered in the news as though it's ubiquitous nationwide, here in the Tongass we're having one of our coldest summers on record. If the bike seat and the physical exertion aren't enough to do me in, the temperature surely will be.

A typical view looking down at the pedals in rainy Juneau. Xtratufs will not be my choice for cross-country touring footwear

Which is why it's great that I'm not doing this ride just because I want to. My own desire to bike across the country is a strong motivator, but now I've got a fantastic cause I'll be raising money for along the way. People are giving their hard-earned money on the promise that I'll ride into the Big Apple, so gosh darn it that's just what I'll do.

For about a year I've had a vague hope of finding a cause to raise money for along the way. I'd heard that arranging such things can be complicated, and how do you go about choosing from all the worthy organizations in the world? Then the music of global connections brought ROMP and I together. I never would have heard of the Range of Motion Project if my sister hadn't couchsurfed with Greg Krupa in Antigua for the better part of a month.

Lo and behold, his brother founded the organization, whose brilliantly simple mission is to take used prostheses from the U.S. and get them to (perpetually under cared-for) amputees in developing countries. The more I learn about the organization, the more I'm in awe of their work and excited to be associated with them at all. Their flagship clinic in Guatemala is now completely run by Guatemalans, allowing them to care for people year round.

ROMP takes on projects all around the globe, and every penny you donate toward my ride goes directly to their wonderful organization. How can a person put their money to better use?