As we leave for our journey pedaling across America tomorrow, we finish our preparation and gather our things, ever conscience of a very limited space restraint, and pack up our cars and our bikes and head to Yorktown. As I drive from Charlottesville to Yorktown, a two and a half hour drive, I am reminded that I am currently moving in the negative direction, and what takes two and a half hours in a car will take 3 days to undo as we stop in Charlottesville on the 3rd of June. Regardless of the melting pot of nervous, excited and terrified emotions in my head right now as I am only hours from meeting 20 new people I will spend the next 60 days with and officially starting the epic journey that is Bike the US for MS, I am writing to first inform any who may be concerned that Caleb and I both have met our fundraising goals of $3,000 each. We would like to thank from the bottom of our hearts all of those who have donated to give us the opportunity to embark on the adventure of a lifetime, and more importantly support an amazing cause. We could not be doing this if it weren’t for our generous friends and family who have supported us ever since we first suggested the ludicrous idea of bicycling across the United States.
We have been asked many times while discussing the details of the trip with people who are concerned, what does one take with them on a two month long bicycle trip from the beaches of Virginia to the San Francisco Bay? The answer we gave is, not much. With 24 riders and only one trailer and one van to support us, each rider is allotted a space about 3 feet wide 2 feet high and 2 feet deep. In this space we must keep, all of our clothes, all of our camping and sleeping gear, food, and any personal items like laptops, books , toiletries ect. The consensus advice was, bring everything you need, but only things you need. So here’s what I brought: 3 pairs of biking shorts, 2 cycling jerseys, 2 pairs of shorts, 3 t-shirts, 1 pair of jeans, 7 pairs of socks/underwear, my chucks and Vibram Fivefingers, camping towell/pillow, sleeping bag, sleeping bag, tent and groundcover, bike, biking shoes, toiletries, laptop and camera. Thats pretty much it. These items will be all I need to make my way on my bike to San Francisco. Luckily if there is anything I have forgotten I can pick it up at home when we ride through.
We have now been briefed on the every day procedure for our riding. In short, the trailer will be leaving every day at 8:00 AM, riders are on there own to leave either before or after the trailer leaves. The trailer will be stopping roughly every twenty miles along the route to provide some cold water, shade, and a place to rest for a while. It is up to the rider how much he/she wants to take advantage of this, they could leave at 5 in the morning and ride the whole way unassisted by the trailer or leave at 11 and ride alone. It might be a little hectic this first few weeks while we are still getting used to the process but in a month Bike the US for MS will be a well oiled machine.
I would like to thank everyone again who helped us get to this point whether it be contributing to our fundraising or just giving a word of encouragement we couldn't have done it without you. Thank you for reading, I assure you I will be posting more starting now. Tomorrow we leave for the adventure of a lifetime, two months from tonight we will be spending our last night together under the California sky. I am enjoying today, looking forward to the next two months and excited to finish what I have started. Tomorrow we leave for our grand adventure.
