LIFE ACROSS AMERICA 2010

Good morning,

I’m now in Astoria, OR, awaiting the start of LAA2008 on Monday morning.

on 14Jun08 we were in Eugene, OR, at Lane Memorial Blood Bank for the World Blood Donor Day blood drive!

We met with Chris and Glenda on Friday night(13Jun08) after driving up from Santa Rosa,CA, lots of miles!

Friday night we stayed at the best bed and breakfast inn ever, in Eugene, OR! (it was Glenda’s home) So lots of thanks and kudos to Glenda for taking great care of us!

We arrived early at Lane Memorial Blood Bank and was greeted by Chris, Flo, John, and lots of their hard working staff.

The blood drive started at 0900 hrs and went until 1300 hrs!

I met some incredible donors! (see photo link below) or go to LAA2008 blog link.

I was able to say “thank you” to many 1st time donors, Sherry, Michelle and many returning donors!

It was a great blood drive and there were over 41 units donated and many referrals.

I spent all my time shaking hands and saying “thank you” to each of the donors … letting them know that it was 110 donors just like them that donated just one unit of blood each … which saved my life!

For which I am eternally grateful!

Thanks to Chris and the Lane Memorial Blood Bank staff who go out of their way to make each donor feel special! (I had many donors tell me that staff like Bonnie, John, Cheryl, were the reason that they liked coming back to donate each time! What a testimony of customer service!

I must say each of our donors are incredibly giving people and the one thing that many of them told me about giving blood was: “it’s so easy, everyone should do it!”

Larry “I’m happy, I’m enthusiastic and I’m glad to be ALIVE!” Frederick

http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/06-14-08%20–%20EugeneOR/

Hi everyone,

Tuesday was an incredible last minute rush trying to get everything done in order.

First of all, thank you to all the “donors” and thank you to all the blood centers I’ve been hearing from recently.  I’m in awe at the incredible work you do on a daily basis! 

Thanks to Chris at PK Racing who was able to finish the “bike fit” with the minimum of difficulty, making sure the bike fit the body, etc.

Thanks to DJ & Mitch @ SR Cyclery who did his best to make sure the LiteSpeed was in tip top condition and the wheels were in “true” form for the 50 day trip ahead.

It’s hard to keep track of all the “last minute” items that have to be done to make life on the road a lot easier, and I’ve found out the hard way … once you’re on the road, you can’t go back to pick up the missing items!

Thanks to Jack, Charlie, Jackie and my cycling friends who wished me farewell and good luck!

A special prayer for my 90 year old cycling buddy, Lynn McClintock and his wife, Ranie! (Lynn is going in for microscopic back surgery next week to fix a pinched nerve.)  He says he’ll be back riding again by 1Jul08.  What an incredible mentor and inspiration to all of us who have ridden with him!

Just a little update to say hello.

Larry F. 

http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk118/larryjfr/Life%20Across%20America%202008/06-10-08%20–%20SR%20Pre-ride%20pix/

I’m still working on the LAA2008 and starting to pack and figure out how to create a link to the pictures, etc.

Once again, thanks to John O. for all of his help in getting everything setup!  Like moving everything (all the files I’ll need to my laptop etc.) and explaining how to do things in HTML.

Since all my grand-children are coming to our house this next week … it’s going to be very busy and fun!

Larry F.

Hi everyone,

Another exciting day closer to “start” day!

I just wanted to say “thank you” for the good-bye party (thanks DZ) that my co-workers had for me before I left.  It was very touching and I’ll never forget that special (ice cream high) feeling I had as many of them came up to me and said good-bye.

You are a very special group of women and men who have a special understanding of what it takes to be a successful company in today’s world!

I most appreciated the nice card with your “notes” on it.  It touched me so much I just wanted to “hug” everyone!

Then it came time to say “good-bye” and “move on”!  (Which I did in my usual way, quietly walking out the door, just as I was gettiing to my car I saw one more co-worker whom I needed to say good-bye to and I did so without fanfare.)

Then I got into my car and drove off, leaving behind a thousand memories, thinking to myself … “I’ll never forget them and I can only hope that they will remember me!”

Looking forward to hearing from you on the “blog”.

Here’s the NWC pictures!

Hi all,

Today is my last working day at NWC until I return.  So there’s lots to be done.  Saying good-byes to friends and giving “virtual” hugs to everyone.

Making sure I send “thank you” notes to those who donated and cleaning out the desk, etc.

What can I say?  It’s been an incredible 5 year “ride” here at NWC, every day a new day and something different, if you know what I mean?

What an incredible crew of men and women, you are awesome!

And to DT in the awesome auto dept., “take a deep breath”, it all works out for the best!

OK, well that’s it.   I’m done. Good-bye.  (Please say some little prayers for me or light a candle, or just send “postive, uplifting” thoughts on the blog!)

Remember my little jingle that I sing as I’m climbing the Mountains … “I’m happy, I’m enthusiastic, it’s going to be a great day!”

Larry F.

One day at a time!  One pedal at a time!

Singing “I’m happy! I’m enthusiastic! It’s gonna be a great day!”

Now that I’m down to only 2 days left at work (NWC) before I start the last minute preparations of the last week before send-off!

I have mixed feelings.  Feelings of the unknown, of saying good-bye to my friends at NWC, and feelings of the excitement. (of what lies ahead on my 3,630 mile journey)

Yet, I’ll do the same thing I’ve done before, “first put my faith in Jesus Christ” and take the first step of this incredible blood drive/bicycle journey, LAA2008.

(The first step is always the hardest!) 

Then I’ll do the same thing “over and over again” (pedaling) until I get there!

I want to say thank you to my family and friends.  Also to all my friends at ABC, AbB, NWC, the community blood centers and the new friends I will meet on LAA2008.

I want to say thanks each of you who have sent me emails with words of encouragement, you’re the best!

I still have about 100 items on the “to do” list, so I’d better get started!

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Larry F.

I’ve spent the last 3 weeks working hard trying to get the website www.lifeacrossamerica.com and www.lifeacrossamerica.com/blog up and running.  I couldn’t have done it without John Oblad’s help! So here’s a big “thank you” to John!

It’s amazing how many items are now on the “to do” list!

Also doing some training “rides” to help prepare for the start date of 15Jun08 in Astoria, Oregon.

Thanks to Christina Stockdale in Eugene, Oregon @ www.lmbb.com for the invitation to come to their blood drive on 14Jun08, which coincides with World Blood Donor Day.

A great big ”thanks” to all the past and current “donors” and a big thank you to the future “donors” who are planning to donate blood.  Larry F.

Welcome to Life Across America (LAA 2008) this is my first post.

I’m still in the beginning stages of preparation for the Across America North ride with www.abbike.com .

The kickoff date is 15Jun08 in Astoria, Oregon and the finish date is 4Aug08 in Portsmouth, N.H. (3630 miles)

Larry F.