LIFE ACROSS AMERICA 2010

It’s hard to believe that it’s the 4th of July already!

Today, is a relaxing day … a day of washing clothes, cleaning the bike, eating a nice breakfast, re-sorting our luggage to make it look smaller and weigh less!(that’s always hard to do!)

Catch up on phone calls, re-working the blog, etc.

Then, if there’s time I would like to do some sightseeing and  tonight watch the fireworks from the Ramada Plaza. (the fireworks are being shot off up on the hill behind the hotel, so we should have a ringside seat to the fireworks display!)

Thank God … my roommate was able to recover quickly from his “ordeal” and now he’s pretty much back to normal … although he’s not going to ride on Saturday to Lush, WY with us!

As I sit here reflecting and contemplating my life and the many stages of it … there are many things I am thankful for:  my family, my friends, my life experiences(the good, the bad, and the ugly), the challenges that I’ve gone through and “survived”, and my belief and testimony of Jesus Christ!

It’s been an amazing “life” so far and I can only hope that my contacts throughout it … will continue to leave a lasting “postive” impression on those with whom I’ve shared my “accident story”.

One thing I’ve learned on this trip so far is … most people say that “seeing is believing”, yet, I’ve learned in my life and specifically on this Life Across America journey is … the “believing is seeing” … if, you can “believe it”, then you will see it happen in your life! (whatever your challenge is, there is always “hope, which springs eternal … if … you have the “faith” to believe it will happen!)

I also have a new perspecive of the saying “endure to the end” … each day we get up with a set goal in mind, a route map in hand, clear directions of what “pitfalls” to avoid, with sag wagons to help us along the way with food and water, and …. yet …. we still have to get on the bicycle and pedal (over and over again) until we get there!

Then we wake up again the next day and do it all over again!

One of our cyclists Mr. T … gave a verse out of Eclessiastes at dinner last night where he stated King Solomon feelings about how sometimes we can “do it alone”(yet, it’s much harder!), we can stand as two (back to back) and can conquer our challenges … or … we can have 3-4 together (as in a rope with 3 or more strands twisted together, which is unbreakable!)

Well, that is what this bicycle trip is all about, some days you are riding alone!(you can do it by yourself, however, it is much harder!)

Or you can ride with two cyclists together.(switching off and giving the other cyclist a chance to rest!)

Yet, when you have 3 or more cyclists who are working together … then it really begins to be “fun” and the synergy created becomes more than the whole!

This whole experience created by “Life Across America” and “America By Bicycle” has shown me what our family and social lives can and should be like!

When we all pull together and reach out to help each other get to our goals … then the resulting “joy of life” is really in the “journey” and not just getting to a “destination”!

To all my friends, family, and especially to each of America’s and Canada’s “donors” (which are just a small part of the world’s “donors”), I want to say “thank you” for donating blood, platelets, plasma, and other blood products!

And to once again, emphatically state … “Giving Blood Saves Lives” … of which my accident story is a living example of the compassion and goodness of 110 anonymous donors! 

Also a special “thank you” to each of our local blood center employees … the CEO’s, the doctors, the technicians (each one of the many blood center workers) who come to work every day (working day in and day out without much recognition) … you are an amazing, compassionate, caring group of human beings! 

Thank you for my life!

Larry F.

I’ll upload the pix later today, so check them out at: no pix today, sorry!

P.S. Today I pre-entered all the dates up to the end of the ride … unfortunately, I didn’t expect it to make it harder on the viewer … yet, it is, sorry about that!

What you’ll have to do now … is … once 5Aug08 entry appears, slide down to the bottom of the entry and click on previous entries … until you get to the current date and the current entry!

I’m putting this explanation in on the 5Aug08 entry!

Larry F.

Whoopee, we made it to Casper, WY, and the wind Gods were kind to us today!  (A tail wind for most of the 120 miles!)

I had a radio interview with Brian Scott, on KTWO/KWYY, GAPWEST Broadcasting, a local Casper talk show at about 8:30 a.m. this morning! (What a nice guy!)

It was a very long day, yet, a very rewarding day for each of us. (One of the best things for all of us is that tomorrow is a “rest day”!

Some of our cyclists are leaving after today and some of joining us. (Since this day concluded our 2nd leg of our long journey to New Hampshire!

Today I received a phone call inviting me to visit with the staff and donors at United Blood Services in Casper, Wyoming.

So when I rode my bicycle directly to the blood center, it was quite a surprise for them and for the donors. (check out the pix, it should be obvious that we all had quite a bit of fun!)  Thanks for the OJ and water!

The phone calls and e emails are starting to come in about “Life Across America 2008″ and I’ve been invited to stop in Douglas, Wyoming to see their famous Jack-o-lope park and meet with the local Douglas PD!

 I had a great day!  And I would like my roommate (PM) to know that we were all praying for his quick recovery and are looking forward to seeing him back on the bike in a couple of days!

Also to share my testimony of Jesus Christ and how grateful I am to be able to say “thank you” to each donor that I meet along this trip, I want each of the donors to know how special they are and how much good they do for others when they make the decision to donate blood or platelets! (Thank you to Susan Dunn and Pat Sherwood for the many times they have donated platelets!) (see pix)

Larry F. (Don’t forget to check out the pix at: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/07-03-08%20–%20Casper%20WY/

What an incredible day!  Dubois to Riverton, WY!  84 miles… counting the bike ride to breakfast and back!

Today was mostly downhill, with an occasional “roller” hill thrown in, plus some headwinds!

I rode the first 30 miles by myself, since everyone had already left breakfast.

It was a good day for me and later on I hooked up with some other riders and we rode a “paceline” together for over 50 miles!

Working out the pix, check them out at:

http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/07-02-08%20–%20Riverton%20WY/

Larry F.

Another incredible 88 mile day from Jackson to Dubois.

Lots of climbing, lots of downhills, with some headwinds.

The morning started out pretty chilly, yet, warmed up quite a bit just as soon as we started climbing.

The downhill from the mountain peak to Dubois was very enjoyable and a lot of fun.

The uphills are not usually fun, yet, have to be done to enjoy the descents.

Today was the first time I’ve ever been in a “cottonwood storm” where the cottonwood trees shed their blossoms! (It looked like a snow storm of cottonwood “white” blossoms floating around!

I’m trying to upload the pix from today, yet, server availability limits how much can be done.

Check out the pix at:

http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/07-01-08%20–%20Dubois%20WY/

(The best way to view the pix is by clicking on “view all” and then looking at them on the “slideshow”, that way you’ll be able to view them with a larger picture and see the captions easier!)

Larry F.

Well, it was a hard ride for everyone (88 miles) (from Idaho Falls to Jackson, Wy)

Lots of in your face wind, at your side wind, and lots of climbing, all day long!

The final climb was a “toughie” for everyone. (10 % + climb)

Lots of our cyclists made it through without any problems, however, a special recognition award goes to our newest cyclist from Utah, who is riding a recumbent, and he made it to the top without stopping.

Yet the final downhill was worth it … a very fast downhill! (if you know what I mean!)

I stopped in Victor, Idaho and had a blueberry blast slushie … (I’ve got to have carbs and then more carbs to gain the recovery “energy” needed to get up and do it again tomorrow!)

I received a call today from Mr. Al Whitney, from Ohio, who has an incredible record as a “platelets” donor and is trying to set up a donation for the end of the ride in NH. (Another one of the many incredible donors that we have in the U.S. and Canada, who go out of their way to give blood/platelets in order to help save others lives! (A big thank you to Al)

Also someone backed into one of our cyclist’s bike when it was lying on the ground, a few minor scratches and seat adjustments to be rideable! (no injuries to cyclist)

Larry F.

Check out the pix for the day at: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/06-30-08%20–%20Jackson%20WY/

A 38 mile ride from Blackfoot, ID to Idaho Falls.

A five man, 1 woman cyclists paceline made the time go a lot faster that it seemed.

After arriving, our rooms were ready and then I was off to an afternoon with my girls and grandchildren.

It was a real pleasure to have a break in the middle of the day.

Tomorrow we’re off to Jackson, WY and lots of climbs over an 88 mile ride.

Larry F.

The pix are uploaded now, check them out at: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/06-29-08%20–%20Idaho%20Falls%20ID/

This was a hot, long, bicycle ride!  Yet almost everyone made it without too much trouble.  Yet it was not an easy ride.

I heard a rumor that that 6 of our cyclists did a paceline for 100 miles!  Not an easy achievement.

Unfortunately the hotel did not have a good server and I was unable to upload comments and pix for this day.

So I’m doing it after the fact.

Larry F.

Check out the pix for today at: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/06-28-08%20–%20Blackfoot%20ID/

It was a great ride today, a short 38 miles going over the Snake River and seeing the Falls.

Also we still had a few “flats”, yours truly had his 1st on the road flat and was able to fix it with the help of several friendly cyclists.

Today was a leisurely laid back kind of ride and a short ride.

Everyone was taking it easy because tomorrow we have a 110 mile ride into Blackfoot, Idaho.

Our tour leader taught us a great drive chain maintenance class today for those who were interested in keeping the bikes in great working shape.  It was a very good class and it’s very obvious he really knows what he’s talking about.

On the way in I had a flat, then we all rode over the Rock’s Bike Shop at 334 E. Main St. where we were able to pick up some necessary bike items.

Larry F.

Don’t forget to check out the pix at the link below:

http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/06-27-08%20–%20Burley%20ID/

Here are the pictures from our dinner and scavenger hunt results:

http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/06-27-08%20–%20Burley%20ID/Dinner%20and%20Scavenger%20Hunt/

Hi everyone,

Another amazing today!  This time there were lots of “flats” and bike “challenges”.

This was a great day for pictures, spectacular views, huge gorges, large rivers, and another great “tailwind” for most of the day!

It was another day of having to deal with road construction where they were getting ready to put down “fresh oil” on top of the new chipseal for a half mile section of the highway. 

Almost all the cyclists made it through before they started, yet a couple had to be transported by the “road guys” who were really nice about it!

One thing I should say here … or … say it again, it I’ve already said it!  The staff have really gone out of their way to make sure our cyclists have plenty of food and water, etc., at each of our sag stops.

Also today was living proof that flats will happen again and again, as will bicycle “challenges” and each time the “staff” was there to help each individual cyclists.

So here’s a big Hoorah for each of them and a BIG thank you!

Well, it’s time for “rap”, so I’ll check in with you later. (And dinner too, Ummm, I can still smell those chocolate chip fresh baked cookies that were ready to eat at 5 p.m. today in the lobby.

Don’t forget to check out the pix for today.

Also I just got word that we will be having 3 “blood drive” in South Dakota, thanks to our great blood center employees on the route!

Larry F.

Don’t forget to check out the pix at:

http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/06-26-08%20–%20Twin%20Falls%20ID/

What an incredible day!  The day after a “rest” day!

Only a 50 mile ride … with an unbelievable “tailwind”.

Yes, that’s right, the wind was at our backs the whole trip in to the motel.

Everybody was flying today … we all had the wind beneath our “wings”!

It was mostly very gradual with a slight uphill and the tailwind helped each of us a lot.

Our rooms were ready when we arrived and so early showers were the order of the day.

Some cyclists even stopped at the Smoky Mountain pizza and pasta for some lunch on the way in.

I must admit it’s an amazing feeling to be able to have the “faster” cyclists come whizzing by you and have the opportunity to “catch their wheel” and accelerate up to their speed! (even if it’s only for a few minutes!)

The flip side of that immediate euphoria that you feel … is … the other side of the coin, when they put the “hammer” down and either quickly “jettison” you off the back … or … very gradually start pulling away!

Then you watch them slowly or quickly leave you gasping for air and wondering why you can’t ride like that any more?  Are you getting too old?  Are you just out of shape?  Are your legs just not working properly?

Or is it … they are younger, faster, and just “flat-out” darn good at what they do so well … “spinning” in any gear either uphill or downhill!

I have a lot of admiration and respect for each of the cyclists who are on this AAN2008 ride … they are an amazing group of people!

Thank you for being here this year!  Check out the pix at: http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/06-25-08%20–%20Mountain%20Home%20ID/

Larry F.

Here are some more pix from rap and dinner:

http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/06-25-08%20–%20Mountain%20Home%20ID/Dinner%20pictures/