Blue Planet Ride

The 2011 Blue Planet Ride

2011-07-03T12:45:00.000-04:00

To follow me on my 2011 Blue Planet Ride through North America click on this Tour de Water link. From there you can follow my 108 days journey through eighteen states, across some of the most scenic and challenging terrain.

Random thoughts of water

2011-04-26T15:40:00.003-04:00

During last year's Tour de Water in Europe my Blue Planet Run friend David, with whom I biked part of the way, came up with a fun project to create awareness about the lack of access to safe drinking water for so many people all around the world. He carried with him a spiral sketchbook for the purpose of having a daily water posting written by a random person we would come in contact with. A store clerk, a gas station attendant, a warmshower hosts or a newly made friend. He approached them with a smile, introduced himself and explained the purpose of our trip. Sometimes a bit hesitant other times spontaneously they would take on the task at hand and put their prosaic and crafty ideas on paper. Depicted above two such special memories and wonderful Blue Planet moments.

Norre Alsley in Stine Denmark wrote: water is important because it cleanses the body of waste matter, and is a life essential for healthy living. Jessica an icecream vender at Il Gelato in Neuruppin, Germany wrote: Water is a life essential and without it you can't order any ice-cream here! Some were flavored with humor others more serious or with a focus on the environment but the message was clear and everyone knew the most important thing: WATER IS LIFE!

Almost time to make some new tracks

2011-04-23T13:12:00.011-04:00

Time is flying and we are now down to ten days before "lift-off". The ride will kick-off on Tuesday May 3rd to begin a 108 days, 7,834 miles and 18 states, tour of duty. This is more miles than I have ever done in one year! It will cover parts of the South, the Pacific Coast, including the San Juan islands and British Columbia and returns via the Northern route across Glacier National Park back to the Great Lakes region. I will mostly be camping, using the national parks, city parks and the outdoors along the route as daily base camps. Since it is a self-supported solo ride it means that I will be doing my own navigating, communicating and raising awareness for the global water crisis. All essentials including two sets of cycling clothes, rain gear, bicycle tools, and a daily ration of food and safe drinking water for the three months long ride, will have to fit in two rear panniers and my BoB trailer. No Sherpas here to help carry the load!

For the last several months I have been busy planning the trip, creating the route and shopping for gear. Together with my friend Nick we completely overhauled the bike and during that process discovered that the rear rim had cracked from all the abuse during last year's ride and needed to be replaced. We also changed to a 12-32T cassette and three new chainrings to get me down to 24 gear inches in anticipation of all the climbs across the Rockies. At the bike store the shop owner, a veteran touring cyclist, explained that my bike was not really designed for long haul trekking and that I should consider purchasing a touring bicycle engineered for that purpose. I thought about it but in the end opted to stick with my eighteen year old Trek. Only time will tell whether that was a wise decision.

The mission of this Blue Planet Ride is to raise awareness and funds for sustainable global water projects and ultimately help end a humanitarian crisis causing two million people, mostly children, to die every year from water born diseases. I start my journey with the hope that many will see the need to save lives and support and follow my ride either electronically or on the road. Like previous years, I am looking forward to making new friends along the way and raise another $10,000 for water projects. Please tell your friends and give if you can. For daily updates click the Facebook or Twitter button on the sidebar of this blog.

Tour de Water 2010

2011-04-09T22:41:00.005-04:00

In retrospect, politics aside, the year 2010 has earned high marks on my personal Richter scale, with numerous highlights and shattered cycling records, in distance, total vertical elevation and weight loss. Yes, by the end of my Tour-de-Water, more than twice the distance of the Tour-de-France, I had lost eighteen pounds. Where as the year before I got my kicks on Route 66, this year my cycling journey took me across the ocean to discover the less traveled roads of Europe. This self supported, carbon neutral pedal powered cycling tour of duty, mostly solo and partly with my blue planet friend David, turned out to be another amazing, adventurous, and at times challenging journey of a lifetime.

The voyage started out in the rain from the familiarity of my childhood neighborhood near Amsterdam and returned there on a hot summer day some ten weeks later. The route connected the dots of over fifty major municipalities via bicycle lanes, brick and cobble stone city streets, dirt and country roads and main and minor highways. I biked along the shores of the North Sea, Baltic Sea, Adriatic Sea, Mediterranean, Atlantic Ocean, and the English Channel. Further inland the route followed the river Danube from Austria to Croatia and at times traveled alongside the rivers Elbe, Weser, Vltava, Drava, Lubljanaca, Arne, Garonne, Loire, Seine, Maas and Rijn, on their way north or south to an ocean or a sea.

For accommodations we tried park benches, playgrounds, beaches, camping sites, secluded parking lots and mosquito infested cow pastures. In Hyeres, France we stumbled upon a small yet quiet park with a seemingly welcoming thick grassy lawn, but learned a valuable lesson when the sprinklers went off at two in the morning and chased us soaking wet to dryer grounds and onward to a less hostile environment. By four fifteen in the morning we found a cozy resting place on a scenic outpost overlooking the beach. In Holland, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Hungary and Slovenia I arranged “sleepovers” hosted by warm shower friends, an e-network of global cycling enthusiasts, opening their doors to traveling cyclists. In France I found refuge in chambres d’hotes, youth hostels and an occasional bed and breakfast.

Day-trips through Copenhagen, Berlin, Dresden, Vienna, Budapest, Zagreb, Florence, Arles and Bruges were rich in history, art and architectural masterpieces, and the scenic landscapes of Schleswig Holstein, Bohemia, the Apennines, Tuscany, Cinque Terre, French Riviera, and Brittany were a feast to the eyes.

Along the way, in Mauthausen Austria I paused to pay respect to my grandfather and the many holocaust victims that perished there, and later on in Belgium and France remembered the fallen heroes of the battlefields of Normandy and Flanders Field (where poppies blow. between the crosses row on row. – by John McCrae). And did I mention the tantalizing fruit of the vine wine tastings in Germany and Bordeaux, France? The gelatos and paninis of Italy, creperies and pattiseries of France, beer and pommes frites in Belgium, Dutch herring and cheese pancakes, Czech and Hungarian goulash, and last but not least all the exquisite home cooking and the variety of beers, brewed to perfection in each of the thirteen countries?

It has been a great year, and a blessed journey, with wonderful people all along the way and across the hundreds of kilometers, who supported and reached out to my Tour-de-Water cause and me. I feel fortunate and am grateful for that. Thank you, Dank je wel, Merci beaucoup, Danke schon, and Toda raba!

Day 8 - Sponsored by Sylvia Saperstein

2010-06-20T19:41:00.004-04:00

An early breakfast of muslich, yogurts and a variety of cold cuts and cheeses on freshly baked buns started off the day on the right foot. From the all-you-can-eat buffet I made myself a care package of bananas, apples and egg salad sandwiches, all courtesy of the hotel. Well fed and stockpiled with mid-morning lunch and afternoon snack packs I was ready to take the ride on the road and crank out the miles.

I exited out of town through the city center and stumbled upon the marzipan house. A must stop for me, having been addicted for many years to this sweet almond paste. The place was huge and filled to the rafters with marzipan bars, figurines made from the same sweet almond nectar, and gift boxes galore all within my reach. I munched on some free samples and left the store with a handful of goodies for later in the day!

The weather cooperated with warm, sunny and slightly windy weather mostly in my favor, and the hilly route on smooth country roads, adjacent to rolling fields of wheat and soy, made for an enjoyable ride. This Schleswig Holstein region is perfect for cycling and the terrain is sometimes referred to as little Switzerland, but I don't think it quite compares.

Half way down the stretch in Lensahn I stopped for a break and found an Italian ice cream parlor. It has now become tradition to have one ice-cream cone a day and this time I tried a scoop of apricot. While the caramel gelato in Haren is still in first place, today's fruity flavor is a definite contender and tied for second place with the white chocolate mouse from Hamburg.

By seven o'clock I made it to the ferry terminal in Puttgarden for the crossing of the Baltic Sea. The vessel carried a lot of weight from cars to freight liners, and as I was parking my bike in the belly of the ship a bullet train look-a-like pulled in right next to me. The crossing was only 45 minutes long, and gave me just enough time for a sandwich and a Carlsberg beer. After debarking in Rodbyhavn in Denmark I biked for another 15 miles to the city of Maribo. Vilkommen til Danmark. Vand er liv. Videregive den! Water is life. Pass it on!

Day 7 - Sponsored by Rose Singer

2010-06-20T18:17:00.004-04:00

I was up by the crack of dawn, had breakfast with the host family, and by eight o'clock, headed with Christian, for the ferry terminal to Hamburg across the Elbe river. It was a beautiful warm and sunny morning, and a perfect way to start of the day with a river crossing. The 35-minute ferry boat float, costing less than three euros, passed by the Hamburg container harbor and fish market and terminated near the center of town. Many bike commuters were on board the ferry catching a few sun rays on deck before getting in to work. After disembarking in downtown Hamburg, I found a park bench under the sun and lounged for a while overlooking the Binneralster. As I was about to head out of town, I spotted an ice cream stand near the Starbucks Taj Mahal and not long thereafter made good on my ice cream-a-day tradition. Today's flavor was a white chocolate mouse.

By late afternoon I had progressed another 165 miles since Oldenburg and arrived in the beautiful city of Lubeck. Without a warmshower host and having a slight cold, left over from the rainy days, I opted for a room at the Wakenitzblick Hotel, to get some rest. The price was right and the food plentiful and tasty. All in all another perfect day.

Day 6 - Sponsored by Paul Saperstein

2010-06-20T16:38:00.004-04:00

From Oldenburg the ride journeyed through the port city of Bremen along the river Weser. Two years earlier I had been here for the 2007 Blue Planet Run on our travels around the world. So it was somewhat reminiscent for me to now bike through this city of tales, passing once again by the impressive city hall, Parliament buildings and St. Peter's cathedral. Like so many historic towns in Germany, Bremen boasts an abundance of sculptures around the city square and in parks and flowering gardens. I took my time taking it all in.

This year's bike ride is different from last year's experience in that the cobble stone roads within the city limits of the towns in Germany have been a challenge. The medieval brickery makes for an uncomfortable and slow going and shakes the panniers vehemently, causing regular adjustments. On the other hand the bakeries, and eateries along the way more than offset the discomfort of the road conditions.

I traveled north to Buxtehude and rode on top the river dikes of the river Elbe flanked on the west side by acres and acres of apple orchards. Further down the road this peaceful and green farming landscape with beautiful farm homes was interrupted by the industrial aircraft giant Airbus who has made it's home here with an assembly plant for the airbus 380 complete with controversial airfields and runways. I arrived at Christian and Catherina's house by six in the evening and enjoyed wonderful hospitality, dinner and a hot shower. That evening we talked bike vacations and toasted with a local apple cider wine.

Day 5 - Sponsored by Henry van de Werken

2010-06-20T14:32:00.003-04:00

Tanja and I said our good byes and while she was going home on the train, for me it was the long road ahead to Copenhagen. First stop was the beautiful city of Oldenburg in Germany and by noon I crossed over the border past Oude Pekela. For the occasion I had changed into my T-Mobile jersey, a gift from the cell phone giant.

To stay on course I use a Garmin eTrex. It navigates me and keeps me on course. At times I ignore the suggested route as it is programmed to take the bypasses, avoiding busy traffic through the towns. The Garmin is set for bike traveling so it circumnavigate around freeways and main highways and instead takes country roads and off-the-map routes, often adding an additional twenty miles a day. Today was my longest distance so far and the cyclometer retired at 102 miles.

At exactly 6:00 o'clock in the evening I arrived at my warmshowers host Dietmar, who treated me to a healthy fruit and vegetable salad followed by dinner. After sharing in the duty of doing the dishes there was still enough daylight to go for a guided tour through the Old town of Oldenburg, rich with history and beautiful architecture. My well informed friend and guide showed me the sights and explained the history in amazing detail. We walked around town to a small Jewish Temple standing near a memorial site commemorating a synagogue that was destroyed in 1933 during Kristal Nacht. A sobering moment. At the end of the walk we sat down at a restaurant for a glass of German wine and caught a glimpse of a world soccer cup game in progress.

Day 4 - Sponsored by Maribeth Koss

2010-06-20T11:39:00.003-04:00

It is Saturday and an off-day reserved to tour the city of Groningen and meeting up with relatives I haven't seen for eight years. We met under the Martini tower near the town square and had a traditional mid- morning coffee and Dutch pastry treat. My father rode the train in that morning and so we had a pre- father's day and wonderful family reunion. In the afternoon we visited the local synagogue for a unique clarinet and guitar concerto. Before the intermezzo nineteen clarinetists performed on seven different types of clarinets and after the break seventeen guitar players entertained us with wonderful melodies from Brahms, Bruderl and Isaac Albeniz. The evening was concluded at an Italian restaurant for appetizers, and an elaborate spicy rijst tafel dinner at the Jaffa Indonesion restaurant.

Day 3 - Sponsored by David Pincus

2010-06-20T10:38:00.002-04:00

The rain has finally subsided and the change of weather made for an enjoyable ride. We followed part of the eleven-city bike tour, sometimes paralleling the canals of the same number city skate route. This ultra long distance ice-skating event, occasionally held when winters are cold enough for the canals and lakes to freeze over, is a one of a kind event, drawing contenders from all corners of the country. Many skaters won't finish this event and the winner becomes a national hero!

In the city of Leeuwarden we stopped at the outdoor market and met a local cyclist who guided us through the town. A quick stop at Us Mem, a statue of a famous Frisian cow, bred for her superior dairy production was added to the agenda. We followed the country road through Dokkum and Lauwersoog to the north coast of the province of Groningen. From that point on it was down wind and we flew through the countryside and made it to our final destination of the day by six o'clock. In the city center of Haren I spotted an Italian icecream parlor and decided to try the caramel waffle cone. A nice treat and a great way to finish off the day. That evening we were welcomed at the cozy home of relatives of Tanja and feasted on an appetizing and healthy pasta dinner with a savory glass of wine.

Day 2 - Sponsored by Ross and Malka Wolman

2010-06-20T07:38:00.001-04:00

After tightening some screws and greasing the bike chains, dry and rusty from the copious amounts of rainfall from the day before, we were ready to get back in the saddle. The winds had picked up and gave us a good work-out through the Noord Holland polderland. The route followed the river towards the North where eventually we connected with the Afsluit dike. This dike some thirty kilometers in length is an ingenious and ambitious Dutch water project from the nineteen thirties to safeguard the country from floods and water inundations. It is flanked on one side by a now fresh-water lake called the IJselmeer, formerly called the Zuider Sea, and on the other side the North Sea, and connects Noord Holland with Friesland. On top of the dike sits a four-lane highway with on the seaward side a separate bike path and herds of sheep grazing the grassy slopes. With a northerly wind this would be a tough haul, but fortunately this time around the wind was in our favor and pushed us at a comfortable cruising speed of 40 km per hour.

The route continued from the Afsluit dike through the Friesian polderland, populated by sheep, cows and world famous Friesian horses, and further inland through scenic villages like Bolsward and Sneek. After being douched by a cloudburst of rain a lunch break was in order and we found refuge at a fish store in Bolsward where we dinned on the new raw herring of the season. Still somewhat wet and cold we continued on our way, got drenched again and finally made it to Wygaart where we met our warmshower hosts Pier, Marit and Jelle.

When Pier gave us the choice of pasta or pancakes for dinner we opted for the later which turned out to be a great choice. The pancakes with home-made strawberry, cherry and plum jams were prepared to perfection and soon the rain and bad weather had faded from our memory. When my iPad, and Tanja's iPhone came on the scene, both Marit and Jelle were spell bound for several hours. Later that night Marit serenaded us with beautiful tuba music.

Day 1 - Sponsored by Tanja and Tessel Jarigsma

2010-06-20T05:59:00.003-04:00

The 2010 tour de water is finally here and started this morning as planned at eight in the morning from the city of Lisse, known for it's tulip gardens and nearby Keukenhof. It was a special departure for me, with three generations in tow. My 88 year old dad leading the pack, me sandwiched in the middle and my niece Tanja following close behind. We tracked along a country road and before long rain was pouring down our faces. A blessing from the sky perhaps, since it is after all a Tour-de-Water. "Water is leven. Vertel het verder!" Water is life. Pass it on!

This first cycling day traveled north, across the Noth Sea canal locks through the beautiful city of Alkmaar, famous for it's cheese market, and onward to Broek op Lange Dijk our final destination for the night. In this quaint village in the middle of Noord Holland we were hosted by Jos and Maria, friends I found on the warmshowers website. Their hospitality was over and beyond expectations. Besides a hot shower, a healthy organic meal complete with wine and herbal tea, they took us on a late evening boat ride through the Oosterheem zorgtuinderij where Jos was enthrusted with the cultivation of organic vegatables on several islands, only reachable by boat. These wetlands are a waterfowl and bird watching paradise.

Almost ready to take the test

2010-06-13T03:13:00.001-04:00

The time has come again to go for another roundabout. This time it will be Europe and having upped the ante over last year’s ride a bit, I have to question myself whether or not I have pushed it beyond my limits. But to quote Elder Regal Black Swan: ”The only way to pass any test is to take the test”, and thus I go yonder. The voyage will begin from the familiarity of my childhood neighborhood near Amsterdam and will return there seventy days later. I feel fortunate to be able to undertake this journey in support of the Blue Planet Foundation’s important initiative. When I finished the ride last year I was elated and grateful, because of all the positive encounters and energy that came my way. Will this year’s European bike journey be able to repeat that? Only time will tell. Please let your family and friends know about this water mission and forward them my blog link, because in order to reach my fundraising objective we will need all the support we can get.

Together, wifi permitted, we will explore, over fifty major cities and a multitude of different cultures. While riding the Dutch countryside, I will be your personal tour guide, as I know this country like the back of my hand. Some destinations will be personal, like the city of Mauthausen in Austria, where my grandfather died in a concentration camp during the Second World War. Other day-trips through Berlin, Dresden, Budapest and Florence will boast rich history, art and architectural landmarks. The route will follow major waterways including the Rhine, Danube and Rhone and traverses through scenic landscapes in Cinqa Terra, the French Riviera, Arles, and Flanders Field, where poppies blow, between the crosses, row on row, … (by John McCrae). And did I mention the anticipated endless fruit of the vine tasting parties in the rolling hills of Italy and France? My carbon neutral pedal power adventure will take place during the time of the Tour de France and World Cup soccer. I will undoubtedly spend time looking for the Dutch soccer matches wherever they may play on the silver screen, and dress up with my orange bandana in support of this Dutch powerhouse team. They may even go all the way this time around. Hup, Holland hup!

Places without races

2010-05-27T13:32:00.006-04:00

With 8 days to go I am already contemplating all the ins and outs of the upcoming bicycle adventure. This Blue Planet ride is about places not races. Most of my athletic destinations over the last several years were about cool city marathons and opportunities to improve my personal record. This time around it is about blue planet moments in the true sense of the word. So sit back, relax and watch the world go by carbon neutral on pedal power! With my camera by my site, I hope to capture the special moments as I see them.

If you know of a town, sight, local food specialty, brew or special event, on or near the route, tell me about it. If you have relatives in any of the 50 plus metropolises I am cruising through and you would like me to go there and have their picture taken, leave me a post or email with the details. If your employer is into corporate social responsibility and is looking for opportunities to support a great cause either by a matching fund drive, a sponsorship or a donation, tell them about this initiative and steer them my way. And last but not least if you haven't yet, but would like to be involved help make this world a better place for so many who are struggling daily due to sanitation problems and lack of safe drinking water, take a moment and click the donate now! button on the sidebar of my blog. Your donations will save many lives and improve living conditions, and that is what this campaign is all about. All corporate sponsorships, donations and pledges will go 100% to water projects in third world country. None will support expenses for my ride!

The plan is to blog weekly in places where I can find a computer to upload my pictures, and update daily on twitter and my Blue Planet Ride pages on Facebook. Please take a moment to join, by clicking the thumbs-up icon for free uninterrupted entertainment from the road!

It is not about the ride

2010-05-24T19:02:00.009-04:00

Another year, another Tour de Water. This summer I will attempt to circumnavigate Europe. The ride measures over 4,200 miles, is twice the distance of the Tour de France, and journeys through fifteen different countries with various languages, cultures and customs. It means that I will be biking, navigating, communicating, camping, raising awareness, and hopefully make many new friends along the way. I will be a messenger, bike mechanic, athletic director, operations manager, adventurist and tourist all in one. In the end, I hope to raise another $10,000 for water projects around the world. So come along and follow me on Facebook, Twitter and this blog where you will be able to witness around the clock, commercial free adventure cycling in action.

Aside from the scenic beauty, the places of interest and natural wonders, it has been the people I met along the way that really made last year’s endeavor such a positive experience. From the casual acquaintances to the "lifesavers" that somehow showed up whenever I most needed a helping hand. It was that spontaneity and generosity of total strangers caring and giving of themselves that stood out the most. Thank you to all who supported the cause and encouraged me along the way. Together we raised over $11,000 for global water projects. The net effect of the money donated is that it will provide safe drinking water and ultimately reverse the number of people with deadly water born diseases. Furthermore it will afford women and children in third world communities to go to school and live healthy and normalized lives. Our involvement shows that we care and gives hope to those in need. Thank you for that. Water is life. Pass it on.

Day 50 - Sponsored by Marja and Jan de Baare

2010-05-24T15:11:00.014-04:00

Today will mark the end of my 2009 tour-de-water bike adventure. At least for a while, this will be the last time I hook up the trailer, panniers and other life support needed to pedal the wide and open spaces and scenic byways. It has been a daily routine firmly implanted in my core being since the beginning of the ride. Packing and unpacking, everything had its place and needed to fit in the limited luggage arrangements. Weight was a concern, but then again if it would fit or could be stowed it was going, and on average I was lugging some 120 pounds of carry-on. My sixteen year-old Trek touring bike was holding up well and doing the job, trekking like a true mule, in the good sense of the word!

By 8:30 I was ready to hit the road and was in for a scenic treat on route to my final destination. Back on the main road in Willsboro the terrain gradually became steeper and steeper, leading up to the Ausable chasm near Keeseville. This tourist attraction sometimes referred to as the little Grand Canyon of the East, boasts three rainbow falls, plunging a hundred feet deep into the sandstone gorge and Ausable river. From there it carves a way through the foothills of the Adirondacks and out into Lake Champlain. The downhill was long and resilient and soon turned towards the lake where the terrain flattened out for the remainder of the trip. In the meanwhile the weather had become more turbulent and delivered a stubborn headwind. So whatever gained by elevation loss was negated by the wind. I crossed the border at Rouses Point where the friendly customs agent took a great deal of interest in my trip itinerary and warned me of the poor road conditions ahead. Once in Canada the plan was for my brother, a resident of Montreal, together with my father, who had flown in from Amsterdam for the occasion, to meet me somewhere at a yet to be defined location outside the city. By dusk that plan came to fruition and somewhere on the side of the road with nothing but fields of corn as a backdrop was the end of the line. Before we packed it in there was a breef victory reception complete with Heineken, smoked fish and a traditional Dutch treat called "gevulde koek" hand delivered from the Netherlands. A dream come true finish for an unforgettable journey! Heerlijk Helder Heineken!

Day 49 - Sponsored by Nel Achilles

2010-05-23T23:10:00.008-04:00

Fall is upon us and the New England canvas will soon be changing into a display of vibrant tints of yellow, orange, crimson and flaming reds. Bold brush strokes of bright and luminous colors will emblazon the landscape to celebrate the end of summer with a spectacular victory lap. Although only in it's beginning phase, this year's painting of the deciduous forest foliage has set into motion and shows much promise of yet anoher masterpiece. Morning temperatures are dipping lower ever so slightly one day at a time, and bare legs and arms from earlier days now need warm-ups during the first few hours of the ride. My sleeveless vest, bought on the Blue Ridge Parkway as a souvenir has become part of my daily attire. But apart from the waning daylight, this is a terrific time of year to be out and about. Not too hot, but not too cold either.

Today's ride followed the road alongside lake Champlain, a natural border between New York state and Vermont. A wrong turn after the historic town of Ticonderoga took me on a treasure hunt through the foothills of the Adirondacks. The scenic route paid a visit to the quaint little hamlet of Ironville claiming to be the birthplace of the electrical age. All and all the expanded side trip was well worth the extra calories burned. As the evening, progressed the miles kept clicking away on my cyclometer, passing through Crown Point, Westport and picturesque Essex with stately Victorian homes converted into magnificent bed and breakfast places. Too expensive for my meager budget! The overlook from the road onto the ferry dock below with a stunning view of the lake, made for a picture perfect moment. A stop at the turtle island cafe in Willsboro turned out to be a fine dinning experience presented by award winning chef David Martin. If in Willsboro don't miss it! By the time I finished my meal it was pitch black, but now I had a lead on where to spent the night ... just another eight miles on a foggy and dark dirt road. After I told the innkeeper about my water mission he instantly lowered the room rate and upgraded me to a suite. So here we are, my last night on the road. Woa!

Day 48 - Sponsored by Regine Treschak

2010-05-23T17:24:00.011-04:00

Another day, another byway, and for this trip it will be my last one. I have been pretty content freewheeling around the country for the last 47 days, and am actually in no hurry to get to the finish line. Today's ride will go north from Albany to Whitehall, along the Lakes and Locks Passage, touted in travel advertisements as the great Northeast Journey. The scenery is bound on the east by the upper Hudson River and Champlain canal and on the west by an elevated terrain of the Adirondacks Mountains. There is water everywhere in the form of lakes, rivers, canals and waterfalls. What a blessing! To my surprise the bike lane conditions on the shoulder of the road were far from ideal and often bumpy, full of cracks and potholes, sometimes repaired but mostly unattended. This US Route 4 could stand some stimulus funded road repair!

As I passed through Waterford, the annual tugboat roundup was under way warranting a quick detour to take in this local spectacle. Tugboats were lined up from stem to stern alongside the canal and a fair like atmosphere filled the air with sound bites of local music and tantalizing tasty delicatessen. Further down the road in Stillwater a restored and well-preserved Blockhouse built in 1927 was open to the public, replicating the early 18th Century blockhouses of the region. At the town of Schuylerville I got off the bike to make my acquaintance with the homestead of general Phillip Schuyler. A historical landmark visited by notaries such as George Washington and Alexander Hamilton. Luck had it that the tour guide was still on duty and offered me an elaborate private tour. What a treat! When I stumbled across a little roadside motel in Whitehall it was time to call it quits for the day. Across the street was a local diner with homegrown cooking and an assortment of old fashioned brews.

Day 47 - Sponsored by Judy Pincus

2009-10-09T17:09:00.033-04:00

While the hurricane weather has past, summer weather did not return and fall, with cooler temperatures, is in the air. After taking the bike and baggage four flights down the elevator at David's apartment, I pedaled south to Battery Park to pick up a rental car to get me out of Manhattan. Similarly as on the way in, bridges and tunnels across the Hudson River didn't allow for bicycle traffic on the way out. A leisurely ride through Rockefeller Park near the ferry terminals, and along the Esplanade with scenic views of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, marked the end of my New York City cycling experience.

Today's travel follow the Hudson River north, across the Washington Bridge, to Fort Orange, better known today as Albany, NY. Almost four hundred years ago, Dutch colonists controlled the Hudson Valley, and signs of this distant past were still present, most notably in Kingston, then called Wiltwyck. History here tells of the conflicts between the Dutch settlers and the Esopus Indians and the struggles and successes of the Peter Stuyvesant administration.

Day 46 - Sponsored by David Pincus

2009-09-28T02:21:00.029-04:00

Rain on the tail end of hurricane winds was forecast to persist for the rest of the day. I left David's apartment shortly before noon, after a relaxing and delicious mid-morning bagel and lox breakfast with Leslie. First on the agenda was a ride down to Ground Zero, where thousands of people had gathered earlier in the morning for the eighth 9/11-memorial service. The enormous pit, where the World Trade Center towers once stood, was still largely visible, but construction for the Freedom tower and five skyscrapers, with in the center a memorial and museum are now well under way. From here, my cycling excursion went through the financial district, along the East River, to the United Nations building where we had kicked off the Blue Planet Run two years earlier. This time around, the weather was nasty, and the wind and waves coming off the river splashed and crashed on the otherwise pleasant pedestrian and bicycle path. My new rain jacket was doing its job, and kept at least my arms and upper body dry! Then it was on to Central Park, for some "soggy" picture moments at the Bethesda Fountain, in the heart of the park. For the return trip, I followed Broadway, via Time Square, and all the way back to the Lower East side.

I loved weaving in and out of traffic, surrounded by yellow cabbies, racing to beat the traffic lights on the next block. Urban cycling at it's best! It was almost theatrical and certainly amusing to see these hundreds of people armed with their umbrellas, en masse, crossing the busy intersections, battling gusts of winds, flaring up from time to time. Many umbrellas didn't survive these forces of nature, and incapacitated with their wings clipped, littered the sidewalks near and around trashcans. Totally drenched from the non-stop rain, yet enthralled with this almost despondent yet spirited experience, I got back to the apartment by 6:00 pm ready for a hot shower and a change of dry clothes. That night, looking out from the apartment's window, two shafts of bright lights pierced into the gray and cloudy sky. A tribute in light, originating from near the Trade Center Ground Zero site, in memory of all those who died during the September 11 tragedy.

Day 45 - Sponsored by Ken Van Gilder

2009-09-19T14:39:00.051-04:00

Even though Pennsylvania and New York state have hundreds of miles of scenic byways, there was not a quiet biker friendly country road void off motorists, for the next 150-miles, to connect Oxford to New York City. I needed some expert advice, and found it at a bicycle shop in Downingtown, PA. Ken, part owner of the Downington bicycle shop, enthusiastically went to work for me, calling some of his contacts and "Googling" the information highway for maps, but in the end concluded that there wasn't an easy way to get there on a bicycle, in a one or two-day ride. Resigned with the idea of taking it day-by-day, I bought a rain jacket and a pair of cycling booties in preparation for the upcoming rain days, and received a generous sponsorship boost from the Downingtown Bicycle shop. It was a nice ride back home, through Amish farmlands, to Oxford, PA, where mushroom farming is steadily on the rise and being cultivated, mostly for culinary purposes.

With limited time, and a dreary weather forecast for the next several days, I was running out of options on how to get to the Big Apple, and across the Hudson, in a timely manner. Ultimately it was Leslie who solved my problem, by offering to drive me into New York City, as long as she would be back by 3:00 pm the next day to pick up Avi from kindergarten. By nightfall we packed the car, and around 10:00 o'clock turned the corner, towards the turnpike, the Holland tunnel and Manhattan, where we arrived a little after one in the morning, at cousin David's cozy apartment.

Day 44 - Sponsored by Leslie Wolman

2009-09-19T07:32:00.016-04:00

Some of the towns along the Chesapeake Byway date back to the mid-seventeen hundreds, and boasts beautiful colonial and Victorian homes and historic government buildings. Between these historic towns, the Chesapeake Byway traverses through long stretches of farmland, producing endless fields of corn stalks and soybean crops. Many of the field-crops were marked with cardboard signs, indicating the type or variety of produce it is growing. Other businesses along the route, advertised fresh crabs baited from local waters on Maryland's eastern shores.

The flat and lowlands with idyllic maritime hamlets, settled alongside waterways for local trade, was somewhat reminiscent of Holland. A gusty Northerly wind was blowing in my face. If only this would be a tail wind I could really cover some grounds in a short amount of time, but instead I was pushing slowly forward into a head wind, mostly induced by a fleeing hurricane Fred. The route today went from Centreville, a town depicted in the novel Red Kayak by Priscilla Cummings, to Chestertown and Chesapeake City where I originally had planned to spend the night. As the weather deteriorated, and still being one day behind schedule, I felt the urge to travel beyond my final destination, and found a warm welcome some twenty miles further North, at the home of Leslie, Molly and Avi, wonderful and hospitable relatives, in Oxford, Pennsylvania.

Day 43 - Sponsored by Wendy Grinberg

2009-09-18T18:13:00.018-04:00

Having never been to the city of Annapolis, home of the USA naval academy, I had no idea what to expect. All I knew was, that across the Chesapeake Bay, the Chesapeake Byway began, another scenic route void of major traffic, and I was looking forward and ready to explore the hinterlands of Maryland. You can only imagine my surprise when a gas-station attendant told me that the only bridge across the Bay, connecting Annapolis with East Maryland, did not allow foot or bicycle traffic. "You will have to go north via Baltimore," was his somewhat sarcastic remark. Abashed but undeterred, I decided that no matter what, I would find a way, and that going 150 miles out of my way just wasn't an option. With that thought in mind, I cycled into town and was pleasantly surprised by this historic and picturesque maritime town.

After having biked up and down and around the historic district, I made my way to the visitor center, to see if they had a solution to my problem. As I explained my situation to the two volunteers on duty, they responded with a, we-love-a-good-challenge attitude, and started looking for maps, yellow pages and other transportation information. It did not take long before they came to the same conclusion as the gas-station attendant. There simply was no way to get across the Chesapeake Bay on a bicycle. One of the volunteers, Ed Wood, who celebrated his 47th wedding anniversary that day, and was not supposed to be on duty, said: " I have an SUV and will take you across the bridge, if you can get all of that, pointing at the bike and trailer outside the window, in the back of the car." Having done that before, with less space than an empty SUV, I took the task at hand and shortly thereafter we turned the corner out of the parking garage, towards the William Preston Lane Memorial bridge, destination Stevensville, on highway eighteen.

Once on the other side, it was still a fairly long bike ride to the town of Centreville, where I checked in at a newly established bed and breakfast, on 104 Kidwell. I was only the second guest there, and the innkeeper hadn't officially opened the doors yet for the public. Although not fully prepared to have guests, Barbara left for the grocery store later that night, to buy all the food on her shopping list, in preparation for a wonderful and elaborate home-cooked breakfast the next morning.

Day 42 - Sponsored by Mariette Vanderzon

2009-09-18T13:29:00.022-04:00

Today was Labor Day and the Washington and Old Dominion trail was fairly well traveled by rollers and strollers, and recreational- and more serious bikers. The weather threatened to rain but held out, and by the time we reached the Capital City, turned into a mellow somewhat sunny Monday morning. Rick and Mariette accompanied me on bike into town and guided me along the W&OD, across the Potomac River to the National Monument and Lincoln Memorial. We cycled around DC, passed the White House, the Capital and onto Central Station from where they sent me on my way to Annapolis.

Within less than an hour after we said our goodbyes, the sky opened up and forced me into my rain poncho from earlier days. The weather front was the result of hurricane Fred, a category three tropical depression, and had been predicted to stay around for the next several days, dropping the temperatures to below normal for the season.

The directions were fairly good for a while, but once crossed into Maryland, the street names and landmarks were no longer congruent with my instructions, making me go into circles. Most of the locals only added to the confusion, but at last I found someone barbecuing on the front porch, who invited me up for some tea and Dutch windmill cookies, and advised me to take highway 450 instead. With more rain coming my way, I decided to chance it. Labeled a snow route, this wide shouldered state highway, with the exception of bridge overpasses, was reasonably safe to cycle. By eight o'clock it was almost dark, and the road was wet and semi-busy with vacationers returning home from their Labor Day outing. I pushed the pedal to the metal and soon found a motel outside the city of Annapolis. A hot shower and a change of clothes was all it took, to forget about the rain and the less than ideal weather conditions during the later afternoon. Altogether it turned out to be a great day cycling the nations capital, with newly found friends.

Day 41 - Sponsored by Rick Studley

2009-09-18T08:51:00.025-04:00

By six in the morning the alarm sounded and it was time to take care of business. Last night I realized that I had left my bike shorts in the men's room of the restaurant, and this early morning needed to get back there to rescue them, before the cleaning crew arrived. While the campground was still sound asleep, the world around it was right awake. Numerous deer, from buck, doe and fawn, were grazing near the roadside, and the sunrise was a spectacular slow-motion movie of a hazing red and orange rising planet. Today was the final day of my 650-mile ride atop the backbone of this great mountain region. The historical markers along the way to Front Royal retold stories of geological formation and civil war history. A multitude of wild flowers and butterflies completed the landscape and an glorious bright blue sky brought out their brilliant colors. Elevations mostly fluctuated between 2,000 to 4,000 feet, and as usually, prevailing headwinds were in the air, pushing my gluts to the max.

At 6:16 pm, I finished the Shenandoah Skyline. It was a tough day with long up hills, including the highest point of the Skyline. And there, in Front Royal stood my favorite fast-food restaurant, if there is such a thing, waiting for me to dish up on its all-you-can-eat salad bar buffet. As it turned out, there was no salad bar buffet here, so I left and came upon an Italian restaurant, Villa Giuseppe a few blocks down the road. After having strategically parked my bike where it could be seen from a window seat, I enjoyed a Peroni and the special of the day, followed by some scrumptious Tiramisu for dessert. Just when I was about ready to leave, Rick and Mariette walked in. They had seen my bike and trailer parked outside, and wondered about my whereabouts. All three of us being bike enthusiasts, gave us something in common and I moved over to their table, inquiring about directions to Washington DC. With nightfall on the way, they offered me a ride to near the W&OD, which evolved into an offer to spend the night at their home. I gladly accepted and we somehow managed to add my bike and gear to their already cycling gear packed Subaru.

Day 40 - Sponsored by Ed Heidicker

2009-09-16T10:54:00.024-04:00

Today is the beginning of a two-day bike ride on the Shenandoah Skyline. It is more or less a continuation of the Blue Ridge Parkway starting up, where the former left off. Because of Labor Day weekend, traffic was busier than normal and at the park entrance, they informed me that all lodges and campgrounds were full! With no exits to escape off the Skyline to nearby towns, I had the rest of the day to figure out where to find refuge later that night. The plan was to make it halfway up the Skyline to Big Meadows, a paradise for big game watching, in hopes that they would be able to squeeze me in at the campground. If the last two days of the Blue Ridge Parkway is any indication of what is yet to come, I will be in for the ride of my life. Someone told me that you haven't seen bears until you get to the Skyline! My only reaction to that was to quote a now famous, but dumb remark: "Bring them on!"

The road surface on the Skyline was courser than I had been accustomed to on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and on one of the down hills, going into a hairpin turn, at thirty-five miles per hour, the pavement was loose with gravel, and caused my bike to shake uncontrollably, reverberating from the front to the back where the Bob trailer reacted by sweeping it's weight back and forth, pushing me into the opposite lane and almost out of the saddle. Somehow I remained upright and was able to slow down enough to return to the right lane. Close call is all I could think of, as my heart rate quickly thumbed up a few notches.

By five-thirty I made it to my destination. Deer were roaming the alpine meadow, followed by a flock of people chasing them down, armed with telescopic lenses, for a picture perfect moment. I settled in at the camp store to have dinner and a one-on-one, to figure out where to spent the night. Almost done with both, and not having come to any conclusion, Ed walked up with his, as he calls him, Regal Beagle Charlie. He sat down at the picnic table next door, and soon we were involved in "serious" conversation. As it was getting darker, Ed inquired where I was spending the night and trying to be humorous, I retorted: "Don't know, the campground is full, probably right here under the pick-nick table!" I gladly accepted his invitation to park my tent on his campsite, and before long was enjoying a front row seat around the fire that Ed had stoked up for the night. Charlie and I became best of friends and another perfect day came to an end.

Day 39 - Sponsored by Mary Ann Abramson

2009-09-12T08:16:00.019-04:00

An elaborate breakfast of cereal, eggs, hash browns and toast, at the campground restaurant started off the day on the right foot. More head winds and hills were on the menu, and I figured I might as well bulk up for the ride, as my food-supply had dwindled down to power bars, shot blocks, a few instant oatmeal packs, tuna cups and some Ramen noodles. I could see the end of the Blue Ridge Parkway now, and it was surely a bittersweet. Of course I needed to move on, but at the same time this National Park had become part of me, because of all its wonderful and rich experiences, and I wasn't eager to let go.

Today's route would finish in Afton, a rural town home to June Curry, also known as the cookie lady, the patron saint of cycling enthusiasts, who for the last thirty years has opened her doors in support of thousands of transam riders. Unfortunately I had to pass her by, as I was told that she was not in very good health these days. Sorry to have missed you June and many thanks for all your genuine support and hospitality.

At the Parkway terminus, I met Tom and Barbie from Toronto, while I was setting up for a bike picture next to the Parkway entrance. Barbie called me from the back of their Harley, and asked if I wanted her to take my picture. Sure thing, that would be so great, me and the bike at the end of a long parkway journey! They congratulated me on my successful completion of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and I for one was glad I ran in to them for this celebratory Blue Planet moment. After the picture ceremony we talked about my Tour-de-Water mission. Barbie made a comment about Tom's mustache that he has had now for thirty years, and that he should shave it off as a fund-raiser, since there is a great smile behind there, that she has never seen! I added that the number thirty was very significant in the water world, as it only takes $30 to provide safe drinking water for life for one person. We left it at that, and ended up at the same roadside motel, where Tom offered me an ice-cold beer before we said our good byes! And that is the life of my vagabond existence each day, meeting all these wonderful people along the way, some just for a moment, and others that will become life long friends. Life is just fabulicious!

Day 38 - Sponsored by Charles Mayne

2009-09-11T21:55:00.022-04:00

There are now only two days left on the Blue Ridge Parkway, but as it turned out, these final 120 miles had a lot of hill climbing in store. The climb began almost immediately at the start of the Jefferson National Forest with a long gradual uphill to Peaks of Otter. For a while, the Parkway runs parallel to the Appalachian Trail and intersects this famous hiking trail on several occasions. Arriving at Peaks of Otter, a helicopter rescue was under way, causing the road to be temporarily closed for a good forty-five minutes. At this point, I am halfway towards my destination and ready for a break anyway, and from the visitor center watched the ambulance to helicopter transfer in action for a while.

By 3:30 in the afternoon, the road was cleared and the next thirty-miles of the ride, went first up to the highest elevation on the Virginia Parkway and then down to the lowest point of the Blue Ridge. It was one of the toughest workouts uphill to 4,000 feet, followed by a thirteen mile thrilling downhill to 650 feet. When I got to the bottom near the James river, I was cold and my hands were cramped from pumping and squeezing the breaks, as gravity from the weight of the trailer was constantly trying to push me beyond my comfort zone. Upon arrival at the Otter Creek camp ground it was still light, and I spotted a nice camp site near the restroom facilities, to stow my trailer, out of sight from any wildlife. After having gathered enough firewood from fallen branches and having set up my tent, it was time to start a fire to warm-up and keep the insects at bay. With the help of a few sheets of paper ripped out of my camping guide, the little twigs soon caught fire, fueling the bigger branches and larger logs. The evening darkened and a few more vacationers on motorcycles rolled into camp. Labor day was around the corner and tomorrow this place will be filled for the final summer holiday of the year.

Day 37 - Sponsored by Ed and Anita LaBiosa

2009-09-08T08:48:00.018-04:00

I was awake way before daybreak, and snoozed for a while longer before breaking up camp. By 6:45, under a vermilion red sunrise, similar to the sunset the night before, I began my ride North towards Roanoke. It was cool and brisk on the down hills, and soon my fingers were stone cold, and my face tight and wet from the morning dew. These early mornings at 3,500 feet made me realize that fall was in the air and that the higher temperatures experienced at the beginning of the trip, are day by day, slowly starting to fade away. By 11:00 am I took a break at the Smart View picnic area, overlooking an alpine meadow with grazing cattle and distant mountaintops. I wasn't alone for long. Adam a serious road cycling fanatic, as he called himself, stopped by for a chat. He told me that he was pretty hardcore when it comes to cycling, but that he had the utmost respect for us cross-country trekkers, carrying all that weight up and down these hills day in day out. While he admired my ability to do what I do, I was envious of his speed, strength and power to ride the way he did.

I told him that I was hearing some clicking sounds coming from my crankshaft, and attributed it to my chain being stretched, because of pulling all that weight. He recommended a bike shop in Roanoke and gave me directions to the place. Again it would take me out of the way and short of my daily miles, but if the chain broke in the middle of nowhere, I would have a bigger problem on my hands. As we talked some more, a car drove up and parallel parked next to us. After a little while, the visitors from next-door, Ed and Anita approached us and introduced themselves. When they learned of my dilemma, they spontaneously offered to help me out. The plan was for me to bike to Roanoke Mountain, some three cycling hours away, and settle in at the campground. Ed, a semi professional landscape photographer, and his lovely companion, were on their way to Mabry Mill to take some pictures there, and offered that on their way back home could come and pick me up, and take me into town to the bike shop.

Shortly before five o'clock Ed and Anita knocked on my tent-door, loaded the bike in the SUV, and drove for quite a while into town, to Cardinal Bicycle, where Robert, the bike mechanic, spent 45 minutes taken my bike apart and tuning it up. The problem was not what I thought it was, but the clicking sound was arrested, and now the bike felt in better shape than ever before. The evening was still young and Ed and Anita invited me to join them for dinner with their friends. We ended up in downtown Roanoke at Table Fifty, and after a delicious main course and a local brew, they drove me back to the campground via The Roanoke Star, a famous landmark since the late forties. It was a beautiful evening and the view from above, under The Star and an almost full moon, made for another perfect memorable day!

Day 36 - Sponsored by Paul Jones

2009-09-06T23:42:00.021-04:00

The morning came way too soon. I had laundered, showered and enjoyed a good night of rest in Winston, at Paul and Mary's home. After a hot breakfast, some delicious home baked apple pie, and a morning of blogging, it was time to get back on the Parkway. Mary had made me a care-package of Clif bars, two large size zip-lock bags full of mini cheese rounds, a generous portion of home made cake and some handpicked figs from the back yard. At 3:30 pm, Paul dropped me off at the Blue Ridge Parkway, at the exact same spot we had stopped cycling the night before.

My goal for the day was to ride fifty miles to Rocky Knob before dusk, and for a while it looked like an achievable objective, as the terrain was rolling along gently. With all the additional groceries and Mary's spare laptop borrowed for the rest of the trip, I had definitely reached my maximum poundage. The trailer was heavy and vehemently protested the load. It was harder to control, especially on the down hills and it slowed me down to a crawl on some of the steeper up hills. I could also now feel my knees burn more and more, under the heavy pedal pull and push.

By eight o'clock, after a glowing red sunset, it was dark and still a six-mile uphill away from my destination. I turned on both taillights, my headlamp and two flashers on my helmet and vest, and must have looked like a Christmas light parade. On approach, deer grazing on the side of the road, disappeared into the woods or darted across the road, propelling themselves forward with ease and grace. A beautiful spectacle to see them almost in synchronized flight disappear without a sound, side by side, into the abyss. By nine on the dot, I reached my destination and found a spot in an an almost empty campsite. The sign at the campground entrance stated that it was unlawful to feed all wildlife, and to put food items and cosmetics safely in the car with the windows and doors shut. Not having that luxury, I took the bob trailer and parked it safely inside the men's restroom. After setting up camp and having some munchies, without wifi, phone or email signal, and no one to talk to, what better thing is there to do than to get a good night of sleep.

Day 35 - Sponsored by Mary Chervenak

2009-09-01T13:28:00.007-04:00

My plan for today was to ride seventy miles to the Virginia border, and with a little help from my friends it came to fruition! No miles lost, but none gained either on the catch-up game. The day started out with rain and a heavy fog, and seven miles into the ride with another detour, due to bridge construction. I had a solid breakfast in Boone and followed the bright orange detour signs out of town, back onto the Parkway. A dog chase with me being victorious was the only great challenge. Alpine meadows with cow and horse pastures painted a picturesque landscape.

I have been looking forward to today's ride because Mary and Paul, friends from the 2007 Blue Planet Run, were coming out to meet me on the Parkway. Mary, an accomplished cyclist and triathlete, had brought her bike and Paul his new camera. I almost missed our meeting point, but at the last moment noticed Mary napping on top of a pick-nick table as I was flying by, on a down hill, in a hurry to be on time for our get together. We rode for over three hours and dueled up and down the rolling hills. By 7:00 pm we packed it in and drove to Paul and Mary's home to spend the night. The ride home, packed to the rafters with bikes, buggy and baggage was a bit reminiscent of when we ran around the world. I found a comfortable spot in the back on the floor and reloaded with veggie raps, chocolate chip cookies and a carbonated key lime pie flavored soda. A hot shower, a cold beer, clean laundry and a real bed completed todays ride. Another great day, indeed!

Day 34 - Sponsored by Karen Perzyk

2009-09-01T13:08:00.008-04:00

Another beautiful day on the Blue Ridge Parkway, cycling from Skyline Village to Boone! Twenty miles into the ride I crossed over the Linville River and stopped off at the Linville Falls visitor center, to enjoy a leisurely hike in the Pisgah National Forest. The falls were a little bit out of the way but definitely worth a visit. A playful interlude between a tranquil shallow river and a narrow wall of rocks and giant boulders, transformed this natural peace and quietness into raging waters. The backdrop of this outdoor drama was a forest with large hardwoods and pine trees, scores of rhododendrons, a forest floor carpeted with mushrooms and moss, and blueberries ripe for the picking. By the end of the day I ran into a roadblock, which put me on a crazy detour and further behind schedule. The end of the road came seven miles off the Parkway in Boone where I spent the night. Over the next few days I will have to catch up on some miles, but I am not in a hurry. It's so beautiful out here and that cannot be rushed.

People have been very generous and nice to me. Of course we talk about my water mission and I have handed out over 200 cards with my web address in the hope that it will result in many donations! Thank you all for wishing me God speed and a tailwind. So far 95% of the ride has been with a stern headwind. But it doesn't really matter, and some may even say that it builds character!

Day 33 - Sponsored by Henry van der Werken

2009-09-01T12:29:00.010-04:00

Dave dropped me off on the Parkway at the Folk Art Center, where I had gotten off the night before. This beautiful center boasts a great selection of arts and crafts, and I spent a little time there before the long climb of the day. Perhaps a bit of procrastination, before battling these long hills up to Craggy Gardens, and onward to Crabtree Meadows, Mount Mitchell and three miles beyond Little Switzerland, near the museum of North Carolina Minerals, where I spent the night at the Skyline Village Inn. At the Inn I had a delicious salmon dinner and a Blue Moon with a slice of orange, out on the terrace, overlooking the Smokies. The Inn keeper Mike gave me legendary service and hosted a terrific breakfast, included in the price. The next morning his wife made me a goodies bag, to give me some carbs for the ride.

It is becoming somewhat funny to me, that advice from people is almost always the same: "Once you get to this point or that point, the road will smooth out." It never happens. Every part of this Blue Ridge real estate is hilly with slow ups and thrilling downs, and I for one, think that is all par for the course! I am mostly in the moment on the road, make my rest stops, meet nice people, and have my picture taken with them in front of my Bike-and-Bob, sometimes in exchange for some cookies. Oreos please! At night I try to find a place to blog, look for a signal for my iPhone, so I can update my Facebook group friends at Run, Ride, Rally for Water, and answer phone calls before going to sleep. That's the life of a cyclist vagabond, always wandering and wondering, and restless to get beyond the next bend to go yonder! Ah, life is good!

Day 32 - Sponsored by David Pruiett

2009-09-01T11:48:00.007-04:00

Since it was still raining the previous night, and with very little to do, I tugged in early in anticipation of an early start in the morning. The rain was coming down hard for most of the night, but the tent held-up great without any leaks or wetspots. A cozy night in the rain sort of speak! I slept solid until 2:20 in the morning, when I was woken-up by some plopping and loud sniffing sounds. I now sat up straight in my sleeping bag, and listened attentively. Soon I realized that there was a bear romming around my tent within ten feet from me. My food was stowed safely in a metal container outside the tent, and there were no edibles on me, other than myself! Ha! After twenty minutes the bear turned away never to be heard from again. Ten minutes later I was again sound a sleep!

By noon the weather had dramatically improved and it was time to take my rain poncho back off. That evening I met Dave, after I got off the Parkway due to a threatening thunderstorm. Dave is the president of the local cycling club and when he saw me coming in town, trailer in tow, followed me to the parking lot, where I was about to get off for a bite to eat at a Chinese restaurant. We talked for awhile and decided to meet again later that night, for a wine tasting party at Divine Wine, a local wine store. We met again, and Dave brought me a snack-pack with cliff bars and electrolyte mixes, and some parts to fix my bike shoes, and then invited me to spent the night at his house. What a day! It doesn't get much better than that.

Day 31 - In honor of my parents

2009-09-01T10:53:00.007-04:00

It seems only natural that today's ride is in appreciation of my parents, as today I will ride to the highest point of my entire trip. For all of my life they have always supported me, no matter how crazy the ideas. So today is both a highlight and a moment of thanks to them for almost always being there for me every step along the way.

After a mile of downhills, the ride changed it's attitude, and went straight up for a solid four hours, and at the end, crowned the highest point of the Parkway at 6,047 feet! This may not seem very high in comparison to Mount Rainier, but on a bike with 120 pounds of gear in tow, it is quite the work out! As you can see in the picture, rainclouds are forming and shortly thereafter it all came down, with gusty winds creating havoc between the gaps. Being caught and captured by the rain I cycled for more than three hours, and was soaked to the bone when I arrived at my destination for the day, at Mount Pisca, again short of my goal. After a hot shower and setting up camp, I felt human again, and to top it all off, enjoyed a nice charbroiled trout dinner at a nearby restaurant, the only one for miles.

Day 30 - Sponsored by Bill and Alice Harrill

2009-09-01T09:55:00.007-04:00

My trip planner for the day had me going from Cherokee to Ashville. Although I was a day ahead of schedule and ten miles short of Cherokee, I soon found out that the distance and the long gradual climbs, would slow me way down, and made my planner unrealistic. On route, I read and learned much about the Cherokee Nation.

When the army began forced removal of Cherokee citizens from North Carolina on June 12, 1833 most Cherokees submitted peacefully to arrest and deportation, but hundreds refused capture and remained here after the Trail of Tears. Some families with white members held dual citizenship in North Carolina and the Cherokee Nation, and were excempt from removal. Other Cherokees obtained emigration waivers from Preston Starrett, a federal enrolling agent, who was married to a Cherokee citizen. The struggles of those days are now very well documented and dramatized in a local play called Unto these Hills.

After lunch and a short visit to the town of Cherokee, I finally entered the Blue Ridge Parkway. People warned me that the first eight miles were straight up, and they weren't kidding. I had my water and electrolyte drinks and hydrated regularly to replace my body fluids. When I realized that I wasn't going to make it to Asheville, I resourced my maps for an alternate stop for the night, and found a visitor center at Waterrock Knob.

Once at the viewpoint and visitor center, I was almost out of water and figured that this life essential resource would surely be available here to replenish. No such luck! Then I met Alice and Bill who have a summer home in the mountains and offered to go to the nearest town, 15 miles away, and buy me a gallon of water. Forty-five minutes later, they were back with water, ice cream, cookies, a Dr. Pepper, my favorite drink on this trip, and a four-pack of V8. I was amazed and felt blessed by their acquaintance. The night at 5,700 feet was cold but showcased a beautiful sunset and sunrise. I slept in the open under a star studded sky, and kept a watchful eye out for bears since this is bear country, and I was the visitor in their territory. No bear sightings that night. The following morning two campers came by in a VW-bus and offered to cook me some breakfast. Ah, the people part of this trip has been so heartwarming. Life is truly beautiful!

Day 29 - Sponsored by David Christoff

2009-09-01T08:48:00.005-04:00

Today's ride travels from Ducktown, Tennessee into North Carolina to Bryson City. A very scenic yet strenuous route, covering 75-miles of forested realestate. This South Western part of North Carolina is known for its raging four to five class rivers, and was the site of the Centennial Olympics for the various kayaking venues. The rivers here are running wild, and rafting and kayaking is a popular past-time. Flyfishermen are standing knee deep in the river, casting their lure in hopes of catching their limit of rainbow trout. The weather is gorgeous and the scenery a treat to the eyes. I love it here and follow the Nantahala river for most of the day, stop and go to catch those "kodak" moments. There is lots of climbing between the gaps, but so far the leggs are pumping iron! No concern there. I am more concerned with traffic on these one lane roads with no shoulder. Especially on the uphills, because my speed is much slower and makes control over the bike harder too. The down hills are a blast, but with the trailer weight pushing me , I can't go much beyond thirty five miles per hour, so I am riding off-and-on gripping the breaks, looking to avoid potholes and bumbs in the road as much as possible. Tomorrow I will be on the Parkway. No more trucks, dogs and what have you! Yeah ...!

Day 28 - Sponsored by Mark Steele

2009-08-30T00:04:00.009-04:00

Today was back to work after a fun weekend sightseeing in Tennessee. One day when climbing a pretty good size hill, a motorists yelled across the road from his car: "Looks like hard work!" And that's what it is, but at the same time a great deal of fun with an important mission. So back to hard work is really not so bad! Chaim and I went our separate ways in Cleveland, TN after an AAA stop, where I picked up some maps and a Trip Ticket to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Cycling the main roads here is a lot more hazardous I was told, and I found that to be very true. This single lane scenic highway I was on, with very little shoulder, going East to Asheville had a lot of commercial traffic, which in general was very polite and patient sharing the road. But one irate trucker cut me off after blasting his horn, and then threw a half empty soda can out the passenger window, fortunately missing me by a long shot.

The road passed by a dam supplying white energy for Chattanooga, and several lakes, and for a long time paralleled a river, interspersed with boulders, causing white water rapids. The sun was bright but overshadowed by large trees on both sides of the road and the later afternoon saw some relieve of traffic, which made the ride much more enjoyable. As I was looking for a place to pitch a tent, and none was in sight, and threatening rainclouds were rolling towards my direction, I found refuge in a road side motel in Ducktown, TN. The minute I closed the door behind me, the sky opened up and rainfall flooded the pavement.

Day 27 - Sponsored by Leslie Wolman

2009-08-28T23:55:00.010-04:00

We took full advantage of the elaborate breakfast at the hotel, before traveling by car to Chattanooga via Lynchburg, Tennessee where we visited the Jack Daniels distillery. A very interesting tour awaited us there in a small rural town, approximately twenty miles off the main highway. Cristal clear spring-water was flowing from an on site cave and a life-size bronze statue of Jack Daniels stood in front of it. No sampling of this world famous grain abstract today though, because the factory was in a dry county where no liquor is served on Sundays. Imagine that, you can make it but not drink it! The tour guide explained that all workers receive one bottle of Jack Daniels every first Friday of the month, which makes for a Good Friday and a bad Saturday!

After touring the center of town, and having some hot and spicy Jambalaya for lunch, we continued on to Chattanooga, where we arrived with enough time to spare for an evening cycling excursion. This city boasts a great Aquarium, the Chattanooga Choo Choo train station, a walking bridge across the Tennessee river and a beautiful park with the majestic Delta Queen river boat moored on the river nearby, all within biking distance.

Day 26 - Sponsored by Doug Hausken

2009-08-28T23:05:00.011-04:00

It so happened that we were in Nashville during the annual Dragon Boat and River Festival, organized by the Cumberland River Compact an environmental non-profit organization that believes in having both a strong economy and a healthy environment. By 9:00 am the dragon boats roared and riverfront park was crowded with rowing teams, spectators, vendors and sponsors. Blazing paddles, Huffin and Puffin and River Pi-Rats were some of the teams competing in this all day event. In the end it was the Nashville Outlaws who walked away with the trophy.

That night we met up with the Fradkin's at the Blue Bird Cafe, a small club and restaurant featuring original country and acoustical music, and one of the premier songwriters club in the country. Nightly songwriters shows, feature some of the best and upcoming musicians, and this evening was no exception. A delightful experience with wonderful lyrics and music, and great company!

Day 25 - Sponsored by Carol and Gary Fradkin

2009-08-24T23:14:00.009-04:00

Today is Friday and the final day on the Natchez Trace Parkway. A day of riding, with at the end of the road a shower, a bed and a change of non-cycling clothes! The morning hours presented some rainfall, just after I had picked up camp, and by ten in the morning it was once again warm and sunny. The road offered some challenging hills and the terrain was more rugged with beautiful vistas, waterfalls and bluff overlooks. Towards the end, it crossed the Tennessee Valley Divide the highest point, causing rivers to flow in opposite directions, depending on what side of the divide the river runs. Close to the end of the Parkway, I crossed over the double-arched bridge, that spans Birdsong Hollow, an engineering masterpiece awarded the prestigious Presidential Award for Design Excellence. After 444 miles I reached the northern terminus and the end of the Natchez Trace Parkway. It was a bit anti-climatic as I really enjoyed riding this beautiful part of the country. My friends Carol and Gary offered to make their home a stop-over point to shower, do laundry and a wonderful dinner. I gladly accepted their invitation and warm hospitality.

Day 24 - Sponsored by Leah Schmerl

2009-08-24T10:06:00.015-04:00

The hills are alive and continually rise and fall between 300 and 800 feet. The elevation is not really the problem, but the distance to it, makes for a challenging ride. I had a good night sleep, even though the tumultuous sounds of nocturnal creatures never ceased throughout the night. From the hooter sounds of barn owls, to the high pitch chirping audibles of the crickets, and a whole lot of other shrieks, thrills and whistles. Then there were slithery sound bites, and the noises of tree branches breaking off and crashing on the forest floor. An organic symphony without regards for rhythm. At morning break the birds and wild turkeys announced the new day. It is almost light again when I crawl out of my little abode and by 6:45 in the morning, I am back in the saddle.

Mississippi was an amazingly good time, Alabama was short and sweet, and now I am within 100 miles from Nashville, Tennessee. Rain and thunderstorms were in the forecast for the day, and barely inside the Collinwood visitor center the skies opened up and let it all out. Lucky me! To kill some time, I headed over to the library where all the computers were down, struck by a power outage, but shortly thereafter restored. That evening the ride terminated at the Meriwether Lewis State Park. A national landmark and burial place dedicated to this famous explorer, well known for the Lewis and Clark exploration and other political contributions. His tragic and mysterious dead at age 35 occurred here at this location, while he was traveling the Natchez Trace Parkway on a government assignment.

That night I set up camp nearby, with not a soul around. It took a little longer to start a fire since most of the wood on the ground was soaking wet from today's rainfall. But at long last it caught on, and the fire and smoke kept the mosquitoes at bay and made for an enjoyable evening!

Day 23 - Sponsored by Chaim Van Prooyen

2009-08-20T15:07:00.023-04:00

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

2009-08-20T14:30:00.008-04:00

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

2009-08-20T14:11:00.018-04:00

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

2009-08-17T16:30:00.015-04:00

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

2009-08-17T15:42:00.011-04:00

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

2009-08-17T14:44:00.011-04:00

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

2009-08-14T15:40:00.016-04:00

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

2009-08-14T15:00:00.011-04:00

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

2009-08-14T14:20:00.007-04:00

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

2009-08-14T13:23:00.016-04:00

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

2009-08-12T13:57:00.012-04:00

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

2009-08-12T13:12:00.013-04:00

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

2009-08-12T12:35:00.013-04:00

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

2009-08-11T14:09:00.009-04:00

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

2009-08-11T13:13:00.011-04:00

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

2009-08-11T11:47:00.019-04:00

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

2009-08-11T11:04:00.008-04:00

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

2009-08-08T13:09:00.014-04:00

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

2009-08-07T19:02:00.007-04:00

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

2009-08-07T18:32:00.004-04:00

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

2009-08-07T18:02:00.006-04:00

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

2009-08-07T17:28:00.014-04:00

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

2009-08-07T16:47:00.012-04:00

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

2009-07-28T04:33:00.021-04:00

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

2009-07-18T12:14:00.014-04:00

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, a middle aged woman in her shiny convertible mini-cooper flashed by me, cell phone in hand and a chiwahwah 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

2009-07-16T22:27:00.001-04:00

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!

Blue planet ride - route map

2009-07-16T22:26:00.000-04:00

The above map shows my daily "water" stops. Blue flags indicate the actual cycling part of the trip and red flags the route and major cities I am traveling through by car. For more detail on the bike ways go to Maps & Links in the sidebar. For inquiries on meeting me on the road for a presention, a townhall meeting, a fundraising local 5 to 10k run or a bike ride, please email me at: rudy@blueplanetrun.org

The Artist rendering of the "peloton" is by David Gerstein. Unlike the Tour de France, the "Tour de Water" will have no time trials or yellow jersey, but hopefully in the end will help bring sustainable and maintainable water solutions to local communities that today lack access to safe drinking water. For more information click here.

Water is life. Pass it on!

2009-07-14T22:28:00.000-04:00

Unlike you or me, over one billion people on earth have no safe drinking water. Women and children may walk up to 6 hours a day to get water, and even then, it may not be enough, or safe enough to drink. Many drink contaminated water and then get sick. 2.2 million human beings die each year from water borne illnesses. 6,000 people die every day and 240 children die every hour. But there is hope. Click this short video link and watch what is going on in front of our very own eyes, mostly unnoticed, and find out what we collectively can do to solve this crisis.

Solutions to rural unsafe water problems involve community organization, appropriate technology, hygiene, sanitation, transfer of ownership, change in behavior, and long-term maintenance. The solutions are available today; what was missing was the infrastructure to select, fund, manage, monitor, and share thousands of grassroots, community projects.

Blue Planet’s PWX organization scales local solutions to the size of the global water problem. An empowering human network that enforces collaboration of expert resources at very low cost to efficiently, transparently, and effectively focus on funding thousands of low-tech projects that are completely sustainable and maintainable by the communities they support.

Problems like access to safe drinking water can easily be solved for millions of people around the world in our lifetime. There are so many little things we can do to make a big difference in the lives of others. I hope that you will support the Blue Planet Foundation and its mission to do something about this humanitarian crisis! Thank you for all your wonderful comments, support and continued interest. Water is life. Pass it on!