LIFE ACROSS AMERICA 2010

Hi Everyone,

Guess what?  One more day!

Today we rode about 82 miles … with lots of climbing!

Pretty much similar to what we did yesterday … we descended down into Brattleboro, VT … and then this morning we had to come up out of the Hudson River Valley(?) … anyway it was a lot of climbing.

Today I was pretty much by myself … until later in the day … when I hooked up with … Mike and Carol (from Hawaii & riding a tandem bike)

It was a lot of fun for me … the climbs were “slower” and the “downhills” were much faster … we had a lot of fun! (and best of all I made it all way the way!)

Also today … Gail, Adella & Amber met me at the Comfort Inn … what a really neat treat! (I haven’t seen them for 49+ days!)

It was great “catching up” on what has been happening in their lives … and … on their 3 week cross country car trip to 25 different states!

Tonight … ABB … is having our “closing” celebration at the hotel.

It should be an incredible time for all!  It was an incredible time … Matt G. from ABC, flew up from Washington D.C. to Boston, MA., and then drove up to Manchester, NH, to present an award from ABC to me for the Life Across America blood drive!

Each of the cyclists had the opportunity to speak and talk about what they had learned from other cyclists on this trip.

They were several “skits” and quite a lot of singing done by the men, led by John Keith on guitar, singing songs and verses they had written!

I’ll catch you all … up … on the doings!  (a little later!)

Well, I finally was able to upload the pix from last night … I hope you enjoy them!

Larry F.

P.S. Don’t forget to check out the pix at: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/08-03-08%20–%20Manchester%20NH/

Hi Everyone,

I rode 80 miles today and with lots of climbing!

We were worried all day about the rain and thunderstorms! (However, I made it in just in time, so I didn’t get soaked.)

What a pretty ride! A beautiful state! (check out the pix from today, if you want to get an idea of how spectacular the views and scenery were all day long!)

Brattleboro, Vermont, is a unique little town with lots of history attached to it!

It’s raining and pouring now … boy, am I glad I’m inside and dry!

Today I rode with Tracy for about 45 miles of climbing … Miss T … thanks for the company!

Tomorrow, we have another long day … about 86 miles… and we have to climb out of here … on our way over to Manchester.

Larry F.

P.S. You can check out the pix at: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/08-02-08%20–%20Brattleboro%20VT/

Hi Everyone,

Today started out as an overcast, cool day and a flat tire in the parking lot.(when I was trying to put air into my front tire and it blew the stem off!)

The ride today was 76 miles long!  It had some climbing … which prepared us for tomorrow. 

It had some very long downhills! Through a very scenic, very beautiful green area! (Along the Mohawk River)

We rode along a wonderful “bike trail” for many miles.(today was a paved trail experience, very nice!)

At our last sag stop … my roommate Paul’s wife … Karen and many of his friends (see pix) set up an incredible food fest for the cyclists!

Then it was off to Latham, NY and checking in to the hotel!

Only 3 days left … Brattleboro, Manchester and then Portsmouth! (But who’s counting?)

You can check out the pix at: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/08-01-08%20–%20Latham%20NY/

Larry F.

P.S. Once again … I want to thank ABC (America’s Blood Centers) for “Life Across America 2008″ and for recognizing each blood donor who have given a blood donation to help others! 

I want to say a “personal” thank you to you!  I wouldn’t be alive today without your compassion!

You are a special type of person who cares about your fellow citizens! 

Over the years … I have spoken to many blood donors and when I thanked them, they’ve always expressed their concern that they are donating blood for “someone” out there who needs their blood, yet, they never know the recipient whom it goes to … and when I say “thank you” and tell them that I’m one of those blood recipients “out there” who’s life was saved by a blood donation … just like theirs … they are visibly touched and grateful for the personal connection! (as I am!)

So, once again I’m saying “thank you” for your blood donations … because “Giving Blood Really Does Save Lives!

Also, a special thank you to all of the blood center employees who give so much on a weekly basis to help our donors, process the blood, and provide a readily available safe blood supply for all of our citizens!

Hi Everyone,

Sorry I couldn’t upload the post and the pix last night … the server at the hotel wasn’t working.

It was a great day … a day of 79 miles and a nice day … except for the 25 mile ride in the heavy downpour … which soaked a lot of us!

It was a great evening … what a pretty, scenic, little town!

I met Off Scott Beach of Little Falls, NY … police department (see pix)

We went over to Stewarts … a local ice cream parlor for some ice cream … after dinner!

Larry F.

P.S. Checkout the pix at: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/07-31-08%20–%20Little%20Falls%20NY/

Hi Everyone,

It was another long day … 95.6 miles!

Luckily for us it was an overcast, yet, a dry day!

We rode along the Erie Canal on a state provided bike trail … it was very beautiful (see pix)

I enjoyed today … I was able to ride with Lauren and Denise who our are a couple of our fastest cyclists!

They took compassion on me … especially, on the rollers and hills!

You can see the pix … at: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/07-30-08%20–%20Liverpool%20NY/

Larry F.

Hi Everyone,

Well, we made it safely to Henrietta, NY, a total of 92 miles for me … because we had to ride to a local bike shop which added a few miles to the original 80+ miles!

It was a beautiful day … no rain … and not too hot!

I rode with Chris and Shirley (from the UK) and it was a pleasant ride!

Not too many pictures taken today … yet … you can check them out at:

http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/07-29-08%20–%20Henrietta%20NY/

Chris and I tried to save a turtle … but … he already looked like he was done for!

Larry F.

Hi Everyone,

Today was a fantastic rest day, I woke up early and had breakfast!

I then went on the “All American Adventure Tour” on the U.S. side of the Falls!

This consisted of seeing or visiting the following:

Whirlpool State Park, American Falls, Horseshoe Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Lower Rapids, Giant Whirlpool, Goat Island, Luna Island, Upper Rapids, Control Dam, Terrapin Point, Prospect Point, Three Sisters Island, NY State Observation Tower and I finished it off with a “heliocopter ride” over the Niagara Falls!

It was amazing … and … I should warn you ahead of time … I took lots and lots of pix of the Falls!

So if you don’t like pix of awesome gallons (on some falls it was 10,000 gallons per second, on other falls, it was 60,000 gallons per second, and on the big falls, it was 660,000 gallons of water per second … of rushing water over the Falls … please, if you’re not impressed by that much water … don’t go check out the pix at: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/07-28-08%20–%20Rest%20Day%20Niagara%20Falls%20NY/

Some of pix were underneath the falls, beside the falls, even with the falls, from on top of the falls, and finally from the heliocopter … looking down on … the Falls and the RIVER!

Wow!  All I can say is … what an incredible tour!

Now back to reality … tomorrow, we will starting riding again (80+ miles) … the good news is … we only have 7 riding days left!

To my friends and co-workers at NWC … thanks a million for the incredible blood drive that you held … 29 units drawn out of 35 attempts!  Great job!  A special thank you to all the DONORS … you are the best!  Giving Blood really does save LIVES!

Larry F.

Hi Everyone,

We made it to Niagara Falls … a ride of 73 miles!

Another amazing day on the road … without rain!

Check out the pix at: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/07-27-08%20–%20Niagara%20Falls%20NY/

What can I say about the ride from Brantford, Ontario … into … Niagara Falls?

It was a beautiful ride with good weather and lots of eventful “Kodak” moments … a drawbridge experience, a time trial experience, an incredible Niagara Falls experience, and a U.S. Customs experience!

The easiest way to explain it … check out the pix I took at the link above!

All of the cyclists seemed really happy to get back to the USA … even though we really liked Canada!

Sometime the route sheets are perfect and sometimes there are errors … yet … I must say the our staff this year have been incredible … and… are to be commended!

I remember coming to the Niagara Falls early in our marriage with my wife, Gail, and the Falls were awesome then and they are still awesome … an incredible experience!

Also today I met my roommate’s … a real sweetheart … what a delightful lady … and she has a good sense of humor!

Tomorrow is a “rest” day and I’m really looking forward to it! 

Larry F.

Hi everyone,

Today was a 66 mile day!

It was an eventful day because of the “thunderstorms” … they were all around us!

And the eventual “rainstorm” finally descended upon us … forcing us to take cover in a park shelter which had a roof … and … in a Wendy’s, until the rain subsided … and we could make it to our hotel in Brantford!

We had a great dinner tonight and tomorrow we will be riding 71+ miles into Niagara Falls, USA!  We also had a birthday cake for John (our guitar playing, song singing, man) His wonderful wife sent it to him to share with the rest of us for his 58th birthday!)

Hopefully, it will be a sunny and beautiful day … because this time we have to ride across and into customs … one at a time … just like the vehicles! (I’ll let you know how much fun it is tomorrow!)

Don’t forget to check out the pix from today at: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/07-26-08%20–%20Brantford%20Ontario%20Canada/

Guess what?  Only about 8 riding days left … but who’s counting? 

I’m looking forward to seeing my family and friends in the near future and I want to thank all of our donors and ABC for helping me make the Life Across America 2008 possible!

Larry F.

Hi Everyone,

I made it today … 83 miles … we are now in London, Ontario, Canada!

They actually closed the bridge down for us … so the cyclists could cross the bridge in safety!

Don’t forget to check out the pix at: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/07-25-08%20–%20London%20Ontario%20CA/

It was an amazing day … we all felt pretty “special” when we were able to cross the bridge on our bicycles!

There is only 10 riding days left!

I’m so thankful to be a part of this ride in 2008 …  I’ve been getting lots of feedback on the Life Across America nationwide blood drive … lots of good news!

I’ll try to keep in touch …

A special “thank you” to my son, Alex, who tried to give blood for the 1st time yesterday!  When I get back we’ll go donate a pint of blood together!

Once again … it’s hard to believe that on the 10th day of this trip … we were in Boise, Idaho … and now on the 40th day of this trip we are in London, Ontario, Canada!

Thanks to everyone for your help on Life Across America 2008!

Larry F.