The "Great Adventure" has begun

The "Great Adventure" has begun with orientation today. There are 35 riders for the complete trip with 5 or more add-ons along the way. We have 4 leaders: Andy Hiroshima from Ca, Michelle Sahli from N.Y., Christine Leininger, from Canada, and Gerard Boisse, Head Mechanic.
The group is quite interesting; from various countries such as Holland, Germany, Trinidad, UK, Australia and New Zealand. One of my roommates is from New Zealand and the other is from, guess where??? Richmond!!! How about that for a surprise; he lives in the Short Pump area and is a member of RABA, the Richmond Biking Club that I also am a member of.
We had a flat tire repair demonstration and ended this evening with the first of an every evening "Route Rap." This is the time where we receive a route sheet for the next days ride and the ride leaders discuss details about the route.
Tomorrow at 6:45 our journey begins. Pat is here to see me off and plans to meet me at Golden Gate Park where there will be a "wheel dipping" in the Pacific and a photo of the group. Everyone seems quite pumped...hope I can sleep tonight.

Training

Yesterday I had a great training ride with two of my buddies. My brother on the left and son on the right. You can check the ride stats on the GPS graphics below. You can also navigate to Motion Based website to slice and dice this info.

I dreamed of riding cross country while I was working and followed friends journals that were able to do it. After retiring March 2007 I began planning seriously.

Thanks to the support of my wife and family, and encouragement of friends my dream is about to become reality!

The count down is on. 5 days before I fly to the West coast. I will spend a week in the Seattle area seeing the sights with my wife. 14 days before I depart San Francisco on my bicycle headed for the East coast on June 1.

I have been training since January and am ready to get started.