Day 23 - Sponsored by Chaim Van Prooyen

Today's route from Tupelo to the Tennessee river, exposed at times part of the original (old) Natchez Trace, and showed off impressive Indian mounds, with the Pharr mounds being one of the largest and most important in the region. Eight large dome-shaped burial mounds are scattered here over a ninety acres area. These mounds were build and used in 200 A.C.E. by a tribe of nomadic Indian hunters and gatherers, who returned at times to this site, to bury the dead with their possessions. Further up on the Parkway was the Bear Creek Mound, a village site occupied as early as 8,000 B.C.E. by hunters, who stayed only long enough to prepare their kill. These people shaped a large mound and built a crude temple on its summit, to house their sacred images.

After having done the entire Boeing fleet on my odometer, from the 707 to the dream liner, I cross the Mississippi Alabama border and log my first 1,000 miles. By late afternoon I reach the Tennessee river, and since there is no place to stay for another thirty miles up the road, I decide to hang it up for the day, and explore the area. Whenever I tell people here that I camp in the woods, their response almost always is the same: copperheads, rattlesnakes and cottonmouth. They tell me that they are everywhere, and I listen to their personal experiences of snake encounters. I have yet to encounter one myself, but when out for a walk in the forest, watch carefully where I step, especially when picking up logs and branches for firewood.

By nightfall there is not much going on. In places like this there usually is no phone signal, or electricity so the only thing left to do is, to crawl inside the tent, the size of the length and width of my body, open up the vents, and sweat it out till day break.

Day 22 - Sponsored by Ms Ellen Balk

Almost a day ahead of schedule, I left camp at the crack of dawn. Today's mileage would again be around 75-plus miles to Tupelo, Mississippi. A park services advisory discouraged cycling the Parkway near Tupelo between the hours of 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, due to heavy motorized traffic. Again the early morning hours were cool, and helped put some effortless miles on the board. Not that I was in a hurry, but it would allow for more sightseeing stops, and meeting and visiting with people along the way.

As a cyclist, I have a love hate relationship with our four legged man's best friend, the dog. I love them when they let me pass on my bike without a fuss, but hate to have to outrun them when they chase after me. While they were not at all a problem on the West Coast, the minute I started cycling the South, they were abundantly on the loose. Most of the time their bark has been bigger then their bite, but one never knows, and don't really want to find out. Even on the Natchez Trace Parkway, I encountered several dogs either abandoned or lost, but always kept to a safe distance. So far they have not caused me any harm or major hardship, but one morning when taking a wrong turn, and being chased by a seemingly vicious dog, it took a bit of courage on my part, to turn around and face the assailant for a second time, to get back on track. I always imagine the dog owner watching me from inside the house, enjoying his "harmless" guard dog giving me grieve. Simple pleasures I suppose!

After a brief stop at the visitor center I made it to Tupelo, Mississippi, birthplace of Elvis Presley, and found an econo-motel to spend the night. With the upcoming three days being more remote, I picked up some groceries and tasty snacks to satisfy my sweet tooth, and thus additional weight to schlep along.

Day 21 - Sponsored by Dds Linda Darian

Today's ride went from Rattliff Ferry campground to Jeff Busby. At about the halfway mark, I stopped at Kosciusko, birth place of Oprah Winfrey, for lunch and a library stop. There I met Brendan and Bronzeman, two local students, curious about my comings and goings, and after our talk, poised in doing a related school project on water. The library stop took up a lot of time, and by four o'clock I hit the road, to make it another thirty miles! With all the sightseeing stops, and gradual elevations, I had to step up the pedal power to make camp before dusk! The ride was very scenic with a lot of historical markers, notably French camp, and beautiful horse pastures and wild turkeys roaming on the side of the road. How could I not stop to enjoy these moments?

Jeff Busby was void of people, and a dark forested camp ground. With my headlight strapped to my head, I sat up camp and enjoyed a cold meal inside the restroom facilities, to avoid all the bugs. My legs were already marred enough by spider-bites, mosquitoes, flee-bites and fire-ants, and this shelter away from all those critters was a welcome relief. Inside the tent, under a star studded sky, I listened to the sounds of nature, covering the entire spectrum of audible frequencies, with every sound bite amplified. This varied and fascinating play, or perhaps courtships of bird-calls and -responses by these feathered creatures, was something I had never heard before. What was behind all these different voice boxes I will never know, but won't soon forget!

Day 20 - Sponsored by Wendy Wert

Today's route went from Rocky Springs to the Ratliff Ferry camp ground. I never know exactly where I end up when taking off in the morning, as it depends a little on how my day progresses. Key items always are: Where can I find water, food, a camp ground or a place to sleep? So far all has gone well, and I am about thirty miles ahead of schedule. The Parkway meanders and undulates with medium size hills. A stubborn headwind and always hot summer sun, keeps the ride to an average of 12.5 miles per hour. For the first time on the trip I had some rainfall, which actually felt pretty good while coming down, but then afterward the humidity kicked up a notch.

Sunday traffic was polite and patient, and even around Jackson, where traffic was a lot busier with weekend travelers, it was not a problem. Groups of motor cyclist were going up and down the NTP and often would wave to me, as if I was one of them! How cool is that! The route went by the shores of the Ross Barnett Reservoir, the Pearl river and the Cypress swamp, all beautiful water stops. And did I mention the beautiful lillie pads all along the shoreline? Monet would have loved it here!

By seven o'clock I made it to my final destination and checked in at the campground store. It was there that I met Mark, proud owner of five "puppies", who took an interest in my story. After we talked choices of beers for a while, he commented that if interested he would cook me up some grits, as I looked awfully skinny to him. He then pulled out his wallet and a twenty dollar bill, as a donation for the cause! Do I say more. The people of Mississippi rock, time after time!

Day 19 - Sponsored by Temple Israel, WB, MI

At long last I made it to the Natchez Trace Parkway. My usual day begins with a 6:00 am wake-up call, followed by picking- and packing-up camp, a solid breakfast, and filling-up all four water bottles, two bottles with water and two with an electrolyte mix. Also the "juice" in my iPhone has to be set for at least 80% to make it through the day, to take pictures, communicate my HeyWay application, and pilot me on and off the route. For today all of that is in order, where this is not always the case. Cycling the Parkway early in the morning is ideal, with little traffic, a cool breeze and some wildlife still visible on the side of the road. By noon the sun is beating down the open road and burns the right side of my body all to crisp! The Trace is the story of Natchez, Chickasaw, and Choctaw Indians following traditional ways of life, of French and Spanish people venturing into a world new to them, and of people building a new nation. All along the Parkway are historical markers and trails, retelling of the history along the route. The old Trace was used by travelers, merchants, messengers and adventurers, in a way I fit the bill for all four, but most importantly as a messenger for the Blue Planet Foundation.

Day 18 - Sponsored by Robert Palmer

Today is an off-day to catch up on things in Natchez, MS. This historic town sits on top of a bluff overlooking the Mississippi river. Antebellum mansions, mostly restored, are still abundant here and all around the region. After a routine visit to the library to update my blog, and some great "service with a smile" assistance from the librarian Marianne, I started to make my way over to the Parkway. En route, I stopped off at the local bike shop Trippe's Automotive, where I met Chris the owner, and Mike, both avid cyclists. When I was about to leave, Mike invited me for a beer and burger over at his friend's house, and offered to take me to the Parkway later on that night. Dinner at Tommy's house turned out to be a great time with great food and newly made friends, and I for one was grateful to have been invited to join the party.

Day 17 - Sponsored by Sylvia Saperstein

Today was the first cycling day of the rest of my journey. From here on, it will be the Natchez Trace Parkway to Nashville, than the Blue Ridge Parkway to Washington DC, the Chesapeake Byway to New York, and the Lakes and Locks Passage to Montreal! You can sponsor a byway or part of a day-trip, but please do what you can to support this important cause. Every dollar matters and will be matched by a anonymous donor, doubling your donation.

Louisiana, land of hog farms, catfish and Cajun shrimp. By nine, I was ready to take on the road, so I thought. Packed my BOB trailer to the hilt, and hit the pavement. With most of the weight in the trailer now, it was a very heavy pull and I needed to repack, to more evenly distribute the weight between the two panniers and the trailer. Rookie me! Today was extremely hot, meaning in the upper nineties, and much more humid than I was accustomed to. Add to that a hefty head wind, with little shade and only a few towns to stop and cool off, and you have a long enduring day. There was a lot of roadkill of frogs, turtles, snakes and armadillos, almost always right smack in the middle of the bicycle shoulder, adjacent to the highway. How does that happen? I also noticed more crosses on the side of the road, from motorists being killed in traffic accidents, and lots of empty beer cans and bottles, perhaps the reason for these tragic deaths. Today's ride made for one of the toughest cycling days so far. After seven hours in the saddle, and lots of water and electrolyte drinks, I finally rolled into the historic town of Natchez, nestled on the shores of the Mississippi river.

Day 16 - Sponsored by Andrea Church-Kreisa

After driving and napping through the night, I arrived in Alexandria, Louisiana, my final driving destination. One day ahead of schedule, I dropped off my Prius at the Hertz rental car agency in town. The hybrid Prius, on average used a little over fifty miles to the gallon, saving me more than $100 in gasoline, and more importantly, substantially reduced carbon emissions. We have come a long way from the covered wagon to this fuel efficient mode of transportation. Thank you Hertz for accommodating me, and serving my needs, it has been a great and comfortable ride in more than one ways!

With five flat tires under my belt, it was time to switch to the armor-all Armadillo tires and I found one at Red River Cyclery! We talked tires and Blue Planet Run and back at the econo-motel I prepped my bike and gear for the next 2,000 miles of trekking. The Natchez Trace Parkway is still eighty miles away from Alexandria, a one way commute for tomorrow.

Day 15 - Sponsored by Ellen Hanson

Memphis Tennessee is home to music legends, Elvis Presley, B.B. King and Johny Cash. Recording studios galore, and a long list of sights to see, but only a few hours to explore. After all this is not a vacation, but a "tour de water" to raise funds for people without excess to safe drinking water! Graceland the homestead of Elvis Presley, king of rock and roll, is buzzing with thousands of visitors, paying homage to this famous rock star. This museum like theme park boasts his home, his car collections and airplanes, platinum recording albums, Elvis costumes, his guitars and many other memorabilia. Then it was on to downtown and the civil rights museum, next to the Loraine hotel, where Dr. Martin Luther King was slained and now memorialized, a somber and sober place of remembrance. And last but not least a visit to Beale street, where life music reverberates from every restaurant and cafe. Memphis, a swinging and historic city with much to do, but for now that was all I had time for.

Day 14 - Sponsored by Malka and Ross Wolman

Today was a long driving day from Siloam Springs, Arkansas to Memphis Tennessee. First on the list was my long overdue laundry at the Soap Opera laundromat in town. You got to love the name! Meandering roads and rolling hills carved today's route through the Arkansas Ozarks. Alpine like pastures with grazing cattle and lush green deciduous forests, contrast the dry and dusty deserts and prairies of the previous days. I made a stop in Hardy, AR and talked to the local chainsaw artist there. Then it was on to Hoxie, AR and arrived near the outskirts of Memphis by 12:30 am, to finally catch a nap on the side of a quite road, after battling a hort of blood thirsty pesty mosquitos. Such is life on the country road!

Day 13 - Sponsored by Cheryl Waldbaum

Ooooklahoma! A great musical and a beautiful state. After reading-up about Oklahoma City, I was looking forward visiting this town, and was not disapointed at all. It was Sunday morning, and a nice quiet time to tour this midsize metropolitan on bike. The city boasts lots of sculptures, a great botanical garden, a concert hall, and an art museum with a very large Chihuly glass sculpture, hanging from the ceiling in the entry way. Then there is Bricktown, and a memorial museum commemorating the 1995 federal building bombing, killing 168 people. An outdoor symbolic memorial of quiet reflection. After spending several hours here, I checked out the library, but as has been so often the case on this trip, there were no open computer slots. So I decided not to wait, packed up and continued on to Tulsa, OK and Siloam Springs, AR.

Day 12 - Sponsored by Priscilla Yonemura

Today's ride is back on Route 66 from Tucumcari, NM via Amarillo, TX to Red Rock Canyon state park, OK. I stopped at the Cadillac Ranch to admire the graffiti art of a row of eight Cadillacs half way burried in a stretch of bare land, a little set back on the side of Highway 40 also known as Route 66. Spray cans were standing by for visitors to add there own signature. Near the Texas stateline, in the town of Shamrock stood another Route 66 historic landmark, the Conoco gas station and drop-in cafe. That night I camped out in the canyon, which was shaped some 260 million years ago by wind water and natural forces. Today was another scorcher of a day reaching temperatures around the 100'F, and even in the canyon it was not much cooler!

Day 11 - Sponsored by Bahram Mirzaagha

New Mexico is well known for hot air ballooning, and because I was there, and always wanted go up in a helium balloon, I left at the crack of dawn for our launch site near the Rio Grande. It was a perfectly clear and beautiful day, to glide 2,000 feet up in the air, and watch the scenery go by all around us and down below. Back on the ground, I hiked along hundreds of petroglyphs in Rinconade Canyon. These images were carved in basaltic lava by ancient Pueblo indians centuries ago. After the two hour hike, I enjoyed a stroll in Old Town and concluded with some fine wine tasting at Casa Rondena on the outskirts of town.

Day 10 - Sponsored by Melvin Pincus

On the way to Albuquerque the weather was pleasantly cooler with an occasional rainshower. During my stopover at El Malpais the cloud bursts crescendoed into a rainstorm, which was a spectacular sight being viewed through the panoramic windows from the inside of the observatory. The vast landscape between Flagstaff and Albuquerque featured lava flows, window rocks, mesas and mountain ranges. After crossing the New Mexico stateline, I followed the mother road through Gallup with a visit to the Richardson Trading Post, and thereafter continued to Grant, Los Lunas and across the Rio Grande into Albuquerque.

Day 9 - Sponsored by Willem Van Prooijen

Today I met up with Greg, a longtime friend, and spend the day out and about strolling around delightful Flagstaff. We visited a bicycle store to inquire about a BOB-trailer and came across AZ Bikes in downtown. Bryce Wright the owner, was very helpful and accomodating, and pointed us to a local dot com company, that happens to sell exactly what I wanted. Two hours later my "BOB" was assembled and ready to take on the road. Now a proud bike trailer owner, I will be able to take my pack off my back and carry more water and food for the longer day trips. After a long overdue haircut we stopped at the Print Raven to see if they could make me a banner for the trailer. Without hesitation Ed and Betty the shop owners, and Leona took an immediate interest in the Blue Planet cause and went to work. Within an hour they wipped out a great looking vinyl banner. Not only did they make it on a moments notice, they gave it to me for free. Flagstaff you made my day!

Day 8 - Sponsored by Hertz Rental Car

Today was a short bike ride to the Hertz Rental car agency in San Bernardino, to pick up my rental car for the next ten days. Hertz Rental Car had generously, at no additional charge, upgraded me to a Prius to make my ride more economical and ecological. Initially I had wanted to ride the entire route 66, but without a support vehicle, to carry enough water in the extreme heat during the summer season, it was not recommended nor safe to ride this portion of the route. As it turned out temperatures ranged from 104'F to 111'F, which is average for this time of year. On my way to Flagstaff, I stopped for Lunch at Jimmy's broiler in Victorville and made some delightful new Blue planet fans. After lunch the Amboy crater was on the menu for a short hike in the heat, and a quick stop for some Route 66 nostalgia, at the newly renovated Roy's Cafe a little bit further down the road.

Day 7 - Sponsored by Lisa Nash

Today I had a little bit of a later start than usual, but being at the Viceroy hotel I wanted to take full advantage of the wonderful luxury and amenities. Before going on today's ride, I biked up and down the Santa Monica pier, and from there made my way to the west-to-east starting point of Route 66. Sunset boulevard, Beverly hills, Hollywood, Rodeo drive, Dodger stadium and China town were all part of the route. Temperatures soared to 99' and the heat reflection from the asphalt road made for a hot ride. A tail wind pushing me right along under an almost full moon, finished off the day and it was almost nine o'clock when I checked into a roadside motel in Realto. When I told Neil, the attendant there, what I was biking for, he immediately responded with a 50% room rate discount and handed me two bottles of water. A welcome surprise. The first leg of the trip had come to an end and six hundred miles are now behind me. The next segment will be from Natchez, MS to Nashville, TN. In the meanwhile I will be driving for the next ten days to get there.

Day 6 - Sponsored by The Viceroy Hotel

Because yesterday was another century ride, today's distance would only be 75 miles. The cool seabreeze and the auroma of seaweeds in the tidal zone were refreshing. An endless string of RV's were parked on the side of the road, and drones of black wet-suited surfers, were in the water, waiting for the big surf! The rolling hills and the tailwinds continued all the way into Santa Monica. I arrived by 3:00 in the afternoon, early enough to enjoy a stroll along the beach. Five hundred miles are behind me with roughly 2,000 miles still ahead, and I am having a blast! California may be in a financial slum, it's scenery, beaches and vistas are rich and a feast to the eyes. The Viceroy hotel, across from the Santa Monica pier, treated me to a free stay, a wonderful reception, and some fine dinning. After having roughed it for the last several days it was a wonderful retreat! Tomorrow will be another day!

Day 5 - Sponsored by Dominique B. Brown

By today all the lost miles were caught up and beyond. I had planned to stop at Santa Barbara but decided to continue on to the Carpenteria hiker-biker campground, another fifteen miles further down the coast. While the early part of the route from Lompoc to the coast was filled with killer uphills and a 7% grade downhill, once back on the coastal route it was a tailwind pushing me to a confortable 24-miles per hour pace. Going through town in Santa Barbara, it was crowded with tourists, and the traffic lights at every intersection, made for an annoying ride, having to go stop-and-go, and in-and-out of the clipless pedals. At the hiker-biker campsite several of the other cyclists, trekking the same route, were setting up camp and after having settled in, we went into town for some icecream and an exotic beer. This would be the last time we stayed in the same place as for most of them, the trip was coming to an end, for me it was just the beginning.

Day 4 - Sponsored by Tony & Kathryn Roon

Today's route went from Kirk Creek to Ocean Dunes. After leaving camp at the crack of dawn my first objective was to find a breakfast place. Thirty miles down the road I did. The morning rides are cool, and the coast is covered under a heavy layer of fog. Soon my rainjacket is soaking wet and my glasses are covered with a fine mist and have to come off! At the breakfast place I talked Blue Planet Run and Ride with the locals and other guests, and the hearty breakfast and friendly conversations warmed me up for the rest of the morning. Back in the saddle the miles are clicking away towards San Luis Obispo. More inland the weather turned hot, and in the middle of an uphill, at the heat of the day my first "flat" reared it's ugly head. Fortunately it was the front tire, so I did not have to take all my gear off the bike. Eleven miles later another flat, this time the rear tire! After the repair it was time to put the pedal to the metal, because the sun would soon set. I got the last spot on another hiker biker campground, the price was right,"free," but overcrowded, noisy and close to the waste diposal site! Another hundred plus miles was behind me, and despite the noise, I slept like a log!

Day 3 - Sponsored by Mary Ann and Bill Valade

For the next several days I had to catch up on the forty miles lost due to the late start the day before. By 6:30 in the morning my paniers were packed and back on the bike. Hiker biker camp was still asleep, so there were no goodbyes. I chose to take the scenic route along Pebble beach, adding a seventeen mile detour. It was definetly worth the extra distance. Onward the roller coaster ride followed the coast to Big Sur where the long uphills slowed me to a 6-mile per hour pace. At every turn the hills kept going higher and higher until finally "the reward" of a close to 40-mile per hour meandering downhill. What a thrill! By 7:30 pm, after 102 miles, I made it to Kirk creek hiker biker camp. No potable water, no showers!

Day 2 - Sponsored by John and Elaine Bosin

Because of the mechanical problem, I had a later start than plannned and therefore had to shorten the route. After Phil at sprockets tuned up my bike, Pam drove me, by car, out of town and put me on course for a 55-mile ride to Monterey. The route went through strawberry fields, acres of artichokes and stretches of sand dunes! Sea lions were sunbathing on docks and beaches, the wind at times was fears and the sun stood high in the sky. For lunch I met Kelly and Matt who were on their final days cycling down from Seattle. We off-and-on rode together and that night camped at the hiker biker camp ground in Veterans park in Monterey! Several other cyclist joined our camp for the night and we would meet again each night at hiker biker camp grounds down the coast.

Day 1 - July 26, sponsored by Perforce Software

My entire blue planet run team met me for breakfast at the Front Door Cafe in downtown San Francisco. At 9:00 am we said our goodbyes and I turned the corner with 80 pounds of baggage. The route went from San Francisco to Santa Cruz by way of devils slide, a challenging long uphill. At Half Moon Bay I met up with Peggy, a blue planet runner and supporter, who treated me to lunch and a "flat tire" Belgian beer.

After some mechanical problems I made it to Santa Cruz by 7:00 pm where Pam hosted me for the night. I was treated beyond expectations, with a wonderful meal, a great night sleep, a ride to the bicycle shop and tons of cycling advice. What a great way to get started!

The San Francisco marathon

This Sunday, six of the Blue Planet runners met up for the San Francisco marathon event, and held their second reunion since the 2007 Blue Planet Run. This is now becoming an annual tradition! The city by the bay boasts a magnificent marathon, and therefore was a perfect occasion to rendezvous and do some running. Since my recent tibia tendon strain had not completely healed, I was not sure whether or not I could take on the task at hand, and thus promised myself to be careful and take it slow and easy on marathon day. “Listen to your body,” I remembered the pros say.

The race was well organized and the 21,000 half- and full marathon runners were let out in waves, with the first ones leaving at 5:35 in the morning. Half an hour later it was our turn and six minutes after six, we crossed the starting line. For the next four hours it would be one foot in front of the other, and that’s how it was for the first eight miles or so. Chaim and Adam, both half marathoners, started out at the same time, but soon disappeared ahead of me in the masses of runners. On the middle of the Golden Gate Bridge, blanketed in a thick layer of fog, my dreaded injury started to nag me a bit, but by slowing down my pace, was remedied for a while. After the bridge, the course entertained several steep inclines, and by mile marker twelve the pain became so unbearable that it was clear to me that there was no way I could run another 14 miles, and thus decided to call it quits at the half marathon finish line.

With my half marathon medal in hand, and the thought that this was the first time I ever forfeited the race, I could no longer help myself and started running back to the 12.5 mile marker, where the half marathon split off from the marathon course. There I jumped back on the course and picked up where left off with 1.8 miles added to the total distance. Shortly thereafter I passed the half marathon marker for the second time, but now on the marathon side of the course. At the following aid station, the medic explained that my condition was Achilles tendinitis and that it will be very painful to run on, but that it would not rupture. With that knowledge and the hope that he was right, a compression rap and two Tylenols, I was back on the road. In the mean while the fog had lifted and the sunshine was warming up the landscape of the Golden Gate gardens. The slightly hilly terrain was flanked by large trees, a magnificent waterfall, and a brilliantly colored flowering garden. Ah, it is good to be a life, and on the run … it least for the moment!

An hour later, the electronic mat at the finish line clicked off my timing chip and this enduring San Francisco marathon had finally come to an end. I picked up my marathon finisher medal and while this certainly is not my best run, it is one I will remember for a while. After all it was a twenty-eight miler, and how often do we get to take home two medals?

Safety first and foremost

Days are zooming by like hours on a pendulum. I am busy preparing, contemplating and fantasizing about my upcoming eventure. Do I have the strength, tenacity, and endurance to pull it off? Can I raise an adequate enough amount of money to make a difference? Will my friends and family, and anyone else that will read my messages and blog of daily encounters, be inspired to be part of the solution on a subject that is in my core being since I participated in the Blue Planet Run? Ten more days and all the pre-ride pandemonium will be set in motion for a 2,500 mile 50-day transcontinental voyage.

At the moment, life for me is hectic and in full anticipation. It seems that there are not enough hours in the day. On top of that, I self-diagnosed a strained anterior tibial tendon, most likely incurred running down a steep hill earlier this week. " Par for the course" as they say and I hope that it means what it means, "sure success". For now it hurts a bit, but definitely no showstopper.

This week I bought an iphone, got an Garmin etrex device as a birthday gift, and will carry with me several other electronic gadgets. How did we ever manage without them? If only I can remember what cords go with what, and keep them from tangles and knots, my ride should be as smooth as a … you know what I mean! Having said that, when on the road, safety will be my main concern. When drivers behind the wheel are on their cell phones and let their fingers do the talking, and ladies fancy their faces with lip gloss and eye-mascara while navigating their Hummers, we cyclists better be on the lookout at all times.

Just recently being out and about on the bike, a middle aged woman in her shiny convertible mini-cooper flashed by me, cell phone in hand and a chiwawa pooch on her lap, seemingly in control of the wheel!  If I only had my camera! Adorable? Yes! An accident waiting to happen? Sure thing! So, I will be wearing a reflector vest, helmet, a road id bracelet, have a rear view mirror and a very bright pulsating light. It will put an extra few pounds on me, but as the saying goes, "safety first and foremost". And when you see me pedal stroking up and down these scenic country roads, please  give me some room and share the road!

By the end of the month, I will begin my safe drinking water campaign and journey, with the hope that many will be with me and see the need for speed to save lives, and help with a $10 donation. When that happens I will be able to call this “Rudy” initiative a success, and will ride off into the sunset with a big smile on my face! 

Le tour de l'eau

On July 28 my solo bike ride gets under way from San Francisco, to take me on a 2,200-mile cycling adventure. My mission is to raise $20,000 for the blue planet foundation thereby helping others with access to safe drinking water, which symbolically translates into $10 per mile.

In order for this Blue Planet Ride to be a success I have visions of greener pastures and passages across America with every mile paid for with a $10 bill. Imagine a road of "green Hamilton's" across the land, from the Golden Gate Bridge, down the scenic California coast, along the Natchez Trace parkway, the Blue Ridge parkway and up the Lakes to Locks passage to Montreal, Canada. What a beautiful sight that would be! And even more beautiful will be the results and happiness it will create for all those people that are suffering every day, because they lack access to safe drinking water. So please come along, follow my blog adventure and help solve this human crisis with a $10 donation, and in doing so make this world a better place for all to enjoy! Every dollar will be matched by a anonymous giver.

Donate in honor of a special occasion, a family member or a friend, and that someone special will receive an e-gift card. Click here to see the gift card message. To donate click here. If you prefer to pay in cash or by check please write "Rudy event" on the check or envelope. Thank you!