2012 Cure For Cancer Tour

End of the year

2012-12-29T15:17:00.001-08:00

December 30, 2012

This will probably be my last entry in this blog as I wanted to personally thank those who not only contributed to my fundraising but also helped Diane Sawyer, Bobbie and myself along the way.
We have to start with Alicia O'Neill and Betsy Parker from the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF). They are a pair of beauts for sure.
Thank you Alicia for having people join us in seven of the 13 states we rode through on our 1,348 mile journey. From the time we had Betsy's sister and her friends join us at the starting line in Jacksonville on Father's Day to the finish line in Maine some 16 days later, your presence was felt.
Her sidekick -- Betsy -- not only helped plan a portion of the ride, but actually followed our exact location live on the computer thanks to Bobbie and her Geek Squad ability to maximize our smart phones. One day, as Betsy was watching while we were in South Carolina, we made a change in the route because of advice we had received from a local fire chief we met at a post office. Betsy immediately texted Bobbie and told her emphatically that we missed the turn, which was a short cut to our day's destination.
What can I tell you about Andy McVey from Wilmington, North Carolina. Not only did he call Bobbie while we were approaching the hotel in that city, but he said to be ready at 6:30 because he was taking the three of us to dinner. He showed up with a bag full of energy groceries as a welcoming gift. We have to get back to his town so we can repay the favor.
In New Jersey, my brother Bruce joined us for the segment leading to his house in Red Bank and, along with my sister-in-law Jill opened their home to Diane as well. The day sailing was theraputic for all involved as we had gone hard for 11 straight days.
The last Friday of the ride, Carmen Phaneuf, who lives in my old home town of Little Silver, made it a point to show up at Bruce's house at O-Dark-30 so she could ride a couple of miles with us. Carmen was bald at the time after undergoing treatment for the multiple myeloma and she wanted to be a part of what we were doing. I will tell you, after meeting her and another lady I will mention shortly, my life has changed for the better.
On the ferry to Manhattan, we met Neill Groom who wanted to know what Bruce, Diane and I were up to as we were all wearing MMRF shirts and he saw us come on board with our bicycles. Neill heard the story and within an hour donated $500 to the cause. (And then Bruce ran into him a week or so later in Red Bank when Neill was walking his dog and Bruce his).
In Manhattan, there were Diane and Dolores who led us around the island before handing us off to Tom Holland, who works with the MMRF on its endurance programs. Tom recently completed the Ironman in Hawaii so he knows a thing or two about cycling. I never did get Diane and Dolores last names.
At the beach in Connecticut, we finally met Alicia and Betsy and the people who work at the MMRF as they had a party for us Floridians. Then it was on to a massage they arranged as well as dinner in one of their local places.
The next day, we met four more riders at the train station who the dynamic duo (Alicia and Betsy) had arranged for us to ride with into New Haven, where Alicia joined us on her bike for a short distance.
Finally it was the last day and the minute I started packing the car for the last day of riding, I met Mike and Jean Dreyer who, along with their two sets of twins, wanted to be a part of this nonsense we started. Mike rode and guided us the last day to the finish line while Jean, herself a multiple myeloma patient, was there at the lighthouse to welcome us along with Alicia and what seemed like dozens of others.
Jean and Carmen are not really multiple myeloma patients -- they are multiple myeloma dominators as both are fighting this disease with everything they have.
We were invited to the MMRF gala in Connecticut in October and when we saw both of them at our table, it took me a couple of minutes to get my emotions in check.
I also have to tell Diane Sawyer, who did the ride with us, how much I appreciated having her along. While I didn't enjoy riding at a slower pace than what I had planned, she did force me to stop more often and that probably was why I never got dehydrated or got weak from not eating enough. Those were two major concerns of mine while training.
I know I probably left out a couple of people's names and I apologize for that. But you have to understand as you get older, you tend to forget. And today I am another year older. December 30 is also the birthday of LeBron James, Sandy Koufax, Tiger Woods, Matt Lauer and Michael Nesmith of the Monkees. Can you guess which one doesn't belong? Of course -- Koufax, he is lefthanded.
It's hard to believe that at age 61 I rode my bike from Florida to Maine. The facial reactions I get from people when I tell them of that ride are funny. I get this a lot: "You did what?"
Looking back now, I ask the same thing, "I did what?" But not once along the way did I ask to spend more time in bed -- I was always the first one up, dressed and at breakfast everyday. I guess people get that way when you have something to do, something to accomplish.
I wanted desperately not to do the ride because it would have meant that the Putz, my buddy Roy Gross, beat the multiple myeloma. But when we got the news on March 10th that he had passed the night before, the ride was set in stone.
So thank you to everyone who came in to my life, who donated to the cause, who prayed for our safety along the way and who continues to be a part of my life (read Carmen, Jean, Alicia & Betsy to name just four).
Let's hope for a healthy 2013 and that I won't have to do another long distance bicycle ride in memory of anyone else.

Happy New Year to everyone and thank you very much again.
Marty

The Video Is Complete

2012-08-21T13:55:00.001-07:00

August 2012 -- It is about six weeks after completion of the bike ride and after much editing, numerous discussions and frustrations about selection of music, the video is complete and is now part of this blog.
Bobbie is so incredibly talented and has so much patience to put it together -- I would estimate she spent more than 50 hours on it.
Turn your sound ON, press play and follow us along on a day-by-day journey from Florida to Maine.
Thanks for your support and I hope you enjoy the show.

Highlights Video

2012-08-21T13:43:00.001-07:00

Comments We Have Received

2012-07-07T08:58:00.000-07:00

Diane & Marty - you both are fine examples of teammates with determination to help others fight thru pain& illness . Thanks for scratching the surface of what I think & feel arriving at Nubble Lighthose. I had been kept posted by Ruth - following you on this blog only . Then I read it all while waiting to witness the joy of what you both did for many who suffer - families of Cancer. I know now that many will have some Hope thanks to your efforts an d your trip...the sunlight of the spirit above was very clear to me that day in York beach. I am so grateful he let me witness you make it in real time not just read about it. My words could go on forever, but space does not permit. What you did is truly god given amazing. Peace, Hope, Love. To you & everyone your trip will each out to! I love you my friend who entered my life in Maine with so much goodness, life, inner & outer beauty, great qualities too many to list ... My hope is our paths cross sooner than the years gone by; it's one day at a time - up to God like all things in his world. REBOS. XXXI. MD

Marty and Diane,
Marty, what can I say, you are amazing, and I know I have said it countless times, but you are..You are one of the most selfless people I have ever met..You have a true love for this sport of ours, now which you have taken to another level. One which many of us simply dream of...All I can say, is I wish I could have been with you..And congratulations on an incredible job well done...

Today the word hero is over used..But used in the context of what the two of you have achieved these 17 days, and who you have touched along the way, and the purpose you rode for..You are Hero's...Taking the selfless act of riding a great distance, in the memory of a friend, for a noble cause so others may not suffer as he had..Yes you are hero's..As cyclists, you represent the best of what this sport is...Cyclists as a rule have big hearts, are compassionate, team oriented, and there is a camaraderie found on the road, that cannot be found in other sports..Over these past 17 days, you joined an elite group in our wonderful sport, as well as became great example of ambassadors,
to what others should aspire to..In both of your writings, I saw a humbleness of sorts, which is also found in true hero's..Your focus was true and inspired..Take the time in the coming days to celebrate what you have achieved..

Diane, thank you for joining Marty on this journey, and maybe we can share the road sometime in the future..Your writing was heartfelt and inspiring...Like you I am a New Englander, my cycling roots came from the roads of NH, Maine, CT, and RI, which you traveled on the back half of your journey..You and Marty are a great team..These past 17 days you became a part of a unique fraternity in cycling..Those of us who choose to ride for others, put the heart back into this sport of ours, from your writing and your images, I can see you have an incredible heart..What you just accomplished these 17 days, is a life changing event..You now represent the best of what this sport is...

You are Hero's my friends...

Cheers!

-Jeff H.

Reflections On The Journey

2012-07-04T16:45:00.001-07:00

Bobbie keeps asking me if what I just accomplished had sunk in as yet and my response has been the same -- I don't feel like I've done anything except ride my bicycle from point A to point B. Just because point A was in Florida and point B was in Maine doesn't necessarily mean I've done anything other people couldn't do as well.
When I first thought about doing the ride, I was on the phone with Roy and told him, point blank, that when he dies, I was going to ride my bike to raise money for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. I had the kind of relationship with him that I could just about say anything I wanted and he knew exactly what I meant. He said, "thanks alot for writing me off already."
My response was that I was not writing him off, his life was no where near the end and that he was going to beat the disease. In fact, when Pam set up a Caring Bridge web site to distribute daily information to everyone about Roy's condition, my job was to keep him laughing, to get his mind off the battle he was going against. Granted the laughter was only for a couple of minutes each day, but it was something that I could do, that I was good at and I know he appreciated it very much.
Then I started telling people about my idea and the more I told, the harder it was for me to back out. Then I started this blog, contacted the MMRF, told my riding buddies in Miami about it and next thing you know, Father's Day, 2012 was upon us and off we went on the first leg into Georgia.
It's all a big blur now -- Georgia melted into South Carolina and North Carolina was the same until we got to the Outer Banks. Then it was into Virginia and quickly thereafter I was departing the ferry in Cape May, NJ to a raucous crowd consisting of Martina and her family with a sign welcoming me.
Diane and I looked at each other and said, can you believe we rode our bikes to New Jersey? The same was said each day as we entered another northern state and look at that, there's the Nubble Lighthouse in York, Me., and Alicia from the MMRF greeting us with a bunch of friends and family.
My friend Jeff in Pittsburgh is a long-time cyclist and he wrote to us often while on the ride. He said this is a life changing experience and that remains to be seen. I know I came across so many people who went out of their way to donate (remember the lady who stopped us and gave us $2 and Neill on the ferry to New York who gave $500?), to take us to dinner (Andy McVey in North Carolina), to ride with us (thank you Carmen, Mike, Diane, Dolores, Cristina, Chris and Wayne as well as Alicia, Betsy, the University of Miami graduate who's name escapes me at this moment and his friend).
Carmen and Jean are two multiple myeloma patients, each fighting to keep healthy and to beat back this disease which I didn't even know existed two years ago. Carmen rode just 3 miles with us the day we left for New York but she will continue to inspire me to make the most of every day I have left on this planet. As for Jean, wow, what can I say. I rode with Mike, her husband, on the ride into Maine and I learned the entire story of how she was diagnosed and how she is coping with it, especially when you consider she has two sets of twins, ages 12 and 9.
Jean says I inspire her -- maybe so. But she is just like Carmen, fighting to make the most of each of her days. Those two, I promise, will be a part of my life for a long time and I know we will stay in touch not only through this summer, but for many summers to come.
Today, July 4th, Diane has already flown home to Orlando and is getting back into her routine, which, unfortunately, calls for her to start looking for a new career after her position was terminated a couple of months back. After close to 3 weeks of driving, Bobbie shifted to the passenger seat and today was her day to spend walking the numerous outlet stores in Kittery. It was a far cry from going from point A to point B, and a lot more fun.
We are heading to the Boston area to see Neil and Ellen, who have the same business up here that Bobbie and I have in South Florida. Then it is to Bristol for a tour of ESPN on Friday before spending the weekend back with my brother and Jill (and more sailing on the river).
By the end of next week, we will be back in our own routine at home and even have our rent-a-dog coming to stay Thursday night (we take care of Allison's dog Madden when we can). Things will be the same -- mow the lawn, take care of the pool, clean the house, book new events and try to work down the debt we've accumulated over the years.
But a couple of things won't be the same: I have a new appreciation for the good health I have and hope to continue to have for many years to come and, sadly, I know now that the ride is concluded, my memory of Roy will start to fade. It is a fact. When both my Mom and Dad passed away, I thought of them many times each day, then it was just once a day, then once a week and so on. It's natural.
Today, I think of my parents and know that what I just accomplished they would be very proud of and that is what makes me happy -- that I continue to do the right things to make my parents proud of me.
PS -- Bobbie will be posting a video of the trip online in the coming weeks so look forward to that and if you haven't had a chance to donate to the MMRF, we would be glad to accept anything you would like to donate. The web site is listed in the heading on this page.
Thank you for reading, contributing and following this ride.

Bobbie and I brought "Roy" along with us the entire way and here we are at the finish.
Roy sent me this lifesize cutout about 15 years ago as his replacement for a new year's eve party we were hosting in Miami. He said he couldn't make it, but would send a suitable replacement. He has been with us stored behind the guest room door for 15 years.

The Grand Finale

2012-07-03T19:32:00.002-07:00

After 17 days, close to 1,400 miles and 13 states, Diane and I were the first (and only) team to arrive on the mat to complete The Amazing Race (East Coast Version).
We didn't win $1 million but collected close to $7,000 for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation of which I will now proudly say I am a "family" member.
We rode with Mike all of the way from Nashua to the Nubble Light in Maine, some 75 miles with the usual ups and downs but nothing like we had the previous day. Mike' wife Jean has MM and presently is in good health.
At the finish, Jean was there and gave me a huge bear hug, saying thank you for all that I've done.
I did nothing except ride my bike for a couple of weeks. I told her she and Carmen (from Little Silver) are my inspirations because while my ride is over and I went through some trials and tribulations, including getting hit by a mirror on the first day (you should have heard the explosion of the mirror on my left elbow -- boom! It sounded like my tire blew up, when in fact it was a kid who looked down at the wrong time and his rear view mirror hit my left arm just above the elbow. Nothing broken, but a nice a bruise which has already gone away.) Carmen and Jean are fighting the disease and will continue their struggle tomorrow and the next day and the next day and so on. I get to pack up the car and drive home to Miami. They inspire me to live every day as best as I can because you don't know if there will be another after today.
Today's ride brought the official bike computer total to 1,343 miles of actual riding. That, of course, doesn't count the five ferry rides in North Carolina, from Delaware to New Jersey and from Jersey to Manhattan.
There are so many people to thank, so many things to point out and many topics to cover but after celebrating with Bobbie, a bottle of wine and some fireworks over Portsmouth, NH, it's time to close down for the night.
Thank you everyone for following along on the ride. I have a lot of pictures on Facebook both on my site and Bobbie's page. I will have a couple of more blog additions on this trip before we head back to Florida.

With the Nubble Light behind, I was still strong enough to lift my bike over my shoulder. I think I saw Lance Armstrong do this once and I wanted to replicate it.

Diane and Jean talk about the same hometown they came from -- a small town in New England. Jean and Mike have 2 pairs of twins!!

Mike, Diane and Marty confer on the side of the road as to which direction they should take. Mike had the map, Marty had real time GPS and Diane had an opportunity to take a break.

It was an amazing journey and I thank everyone who participated with well wishes, encouragement and donations to the MMRF.

Hardest Day Of The Trip

2012-07-02T19:13:00.000-07:00

I knew it when I laid the route out -- today was going to be the hardest day of all. Count 6 climbs of more than a mile each and 2 climbs which were five miles long (when will it end?). I could almost feel my heart jumping out of my chest on that first climb up to about 1200 feet. It was so steep that Diane decided early that it was best to park her bike in the back of the van and ride to the top.
The map said 75 miles but when our turn-by-turn directions had us going on to Mass. 202, I was 100 feet up the ramp when I noticed the sign which said no bicycles. OOOOPS.
Now what?
Well after scrambling for an alternate route and after speaking to a construction worker outside a pizza place we had lunch, we added 18 miles to the day and finished with 93 miles. Not exactly what I had in mind, but it's behind us.
We also got wet for only the third time on the trip, this time a short cloudburst in one of the numerous forests we rode though on our way to Nashua, NH, our final night on the road before hitting Maine sometime around lunch tomorrow.
Once again it was the people we encountered along the way which made our day. Outside a country store just across the New Hampshire line, a Vietnam Vet approached me after reading the banner on the back of the van. He said he lost a number of friends from cancer and was wondering when it was going to hit him as well. He said he admired what we are doing and wished us the best.

Welcome To The Rollers

2012-07-01T16:58:00.000-07:00

When I laid out the route to Maine, I purposely chose to stick close to the coast because the longer we could delay the inevitable hills, the more mileage we would be able to knock out.
We came across one small roller (a climb quickly followed by a descent) at the border of North and South Carolina and didn't encounter another until the Pine Barrens of New Jersey.
I was telling friends that the highest climb we've had before Manhattan were overpasses across I-95 which we seemed to cross a bunch of times in the south. But today, the rollers began in earnest once we got off of the Farmington Canal Bike Path, which runs from Yale University in New Haven all of the way through into Massachusetts with a couple of short detours in areas the path is being constructed.
That path was in the woods, providing us with great shade on another hot day in the 90s in New England. For close to 2 1/2 hours we rode without having to worry about traffic except on the occasional cross streets. This was the same path we were on Saturday with Alicia and Betsy.
About 20 miles from our hotel, the path stopped and we had to return to the insanity of the local drivers. Interestingly enough, while we were in the make shift parking lot placing the banner on the back of the van, a couple of riders stopped and asked about the trip. They were in need of refreshments so our SAG wagon opened up and provided the pair some cold Gatorade and snacks. Once they learned what we are doing, they decided to give us $10 for the supplies to go toward the cause.
In those 20 miles, we had close to 6 climbs of more than 100 feet with a couple of short run-outs on the other side. Getting used to climbing, but I want my reward -- 30-40 mph on the downside but haven't seen it yet.
Earlier, I mentioned in this blog about a man I met on the ferry to New York who donated $500. I wrote to him and thanked him and told him how much I appreciated his donation.
His response: "Marty -- it's hard to know what are the right things to give to. It seemed like a bit of serendipiuty to see you guys on the board so I just went with whatever it was that caused that. Best of luck on the rest of your ride and congratulations for actually taking up a cause. The world needs more of you guys."
Thank you again Neill.

Put another state behind us today as we crossed into Massachusetts on the Farmington Rail Trail. Now all that remains are New Hampshire and Maine on Tuesday.

Onward and Upward To The Finish

2012-06-30T19:03:00.001-07:00

It's now been two weeks since we departed Jacksonville and all we have to show for it is close to 1100 miles as we sit in Farmington, Ct. tonight trying to relax after a long, hot day punctuated by a serious climb in the last two miles to get to our hotel.
We started at the Norwalk train station this morning meeting Wayne, Christina and Chris who are friends of Betsy and Alicia at the MMRF. They directed us along the beautiful coast of southern Connecticut toward New Haven where we were to pick up a rails-to-trails from the Yale Campus to the day's finish town.
Most of those reading this blog are not cyclists but I can offer this to you -- if you ever have a chance to ride on a rails-to-trails (converted railroad tracks replaced with pavement for joggers, cyclists and walkers), take advantage of it and do it. Most are scenic, flat and just beautiful. Today's was no exception going through some natural wetlands, forests and of course behind some factory buildings no longer active.
Betsy joined us down the street from her house and rode the longest she has ever gone on a bike, she said. We had lunch adjacent to the Yale Campus at Educated Burger which was good. Then we met Alicia a couple of miles down on the trail and off we went.
The pair -- Alicia and Betsy -- are truly a pair. Hard workers, always looking to get the word out about MM and quite devoted to the foundation. I can't say enough about how they have cared for the three of us since we left Jacksonville.

Our designated driver stands on the coastline of southern Connecticut between Norwalk and New Haven. She earned her "angel" wings she received from Betsy and Alicia at the beach party yesterday.

Betsy (left) and Alicia have been controlling my life for months now -- which is a good thing. They have coordinated so much on this ride that a simple thank you doesn't come close to express my appreciation for all of the things they have done for the three of us on this ride. Alicia is even going to the finish line Tuesday to greet us.

An Unbelieveable Day

2012-06-29T20:20:00.000-07:00

From the time Carmen showed up at Bruce's house at 5:50 a.m. to the time Alicia dropped us off at the hotel we are staying at in Norwalk, the day was filled with unbelievable happenings.
Carmen is a mid 40s mom who has already been through two stem cell transplants in her fight against multiple myeloma. She lives in my old home town of Little Silver and she wanted to be part of the ride so she joined us for only about 5 miles. You can see her on my Facebook page.
From there, Bruce, Diane and myself caught the 7 a.m. Seastreak to Manhattan and while on board, a conversation started with a couple of businessmen on the way to work. Seems like one man's friend is in stage 4 of multiple myeloma and the prognosis is not good. Next to him, a gentleman named Neil was listening to the conversation, heard what we are doing, and said he was going to donate to the cause. A short time later, a donation was received in the amount of $500!! Wow. Thank you very much Neil.
Dolores and Diane met us in Manhattan to escort us through the Bronx after riding up the Hudson River on the west side of the city. Bruce joined us all of the way until 125 street before turning around and taking the train back home. That was great and I really appreciate the time we spent together riding two of the last three days.
By the time we got into Connecticut, Tom joined us and led us to the beach party Alicia and Betsy from the MMRF had planned for us. When we rode into the park, about 15 MMRF folks were there cheering, ringing cow bells and making us feel very special. Thank you to everyone who turned out.
Waiting for me was Channel 12 to do an interview, which has already aired here locally. The first question from the reporter put me into a crying, choked up mode and it took me awhile to compose myself before I could talk.
Alicia and Betsy arranged a massage at Equinox in town and that was terrific as well.
And finally, to cap off the day, the two of them took us to dinner and we didn't arrive in our hotel until well past 10 p.m.
Special thanks have to go out to:

Alicia and Betsy from the MMRF finding us tour guides in Manhattan and planning out the entire day for us. It continues tomorrow as well
Tom Holland,the MMRF endurance coach who guides us from the Connecticut border to the party
Dolores and Diane who spent all morning with us guiding us around Manhattan and putting up with all of the photo "ops" we had to stop for.
My brother Bruce who had better things to do today but opted to ride his bike with us to Manhattan and then take the train back home to Red Bank
Alicia and Betsy again for making a big deal over the three of us, giving us all medals of distinction for our work so far. Bobbie also received a special honor -- an angel costume because she is certainly one.

A special mention should also go to the Dunkin Donuts person at the Mobil gas station just inside the Connecticut border. Today, the temperature was hovering about 97 all afternoon and Diane and I were out of water. So, Diane went inside to ask for some ice and was promptly told it would be $1. She told the guy what she was doing and he still refused. Ice is expensive these days I guess.
A young lady in line behind Diane saw what was going on, made her purchase and then asked for a cup of ice, which she received and promptly gave it to Diane.
I went inside a short time later and asked for a cup of ice. The same guy looked me straight in the eye, walked aside and brought me the ice. I told him I would return any ice I didn't use because I knew how important it was to him to keep a close watch on that inventory.

Local television Channel 12 in Norwalk interviewed me immediately after reaching our destination. Hope to get a copy of the finished show to place on the blog.

Diane and Carmen join me at the start of the day around 6 a.m. before riding to the ferry in Atlantic Highlands. Carmen is going to beat the disease and we are counting on her doing that. What a great outlook she has.

Kickin Back

2012-06-28T15:21:00.002-07:00

Not much to report today except we spent a couple of hours with Capt. Bruce and First Mate Jill on the Hannah Lee cruising on the Navisink River which separates Red Bank, Fair Haven and Rumson from Middletown. Directly across from the Fair Haven Yacht Club where the boat is docked sits Jon Bon Jovi's mansion. His neighbors include Maury Povich, Queen Latifa and Derek Jeter. This is not your low rent district.
Red Bank is an old town, built in the 1800s and is a suburb community for those who work in Manhattan. Commuters can reach the city by car, bus, train or boat, which we are taking Friday to the base of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Bruce and I grew up from 1955-1967 in Little Silver, the next town over and the present home of Carmen, a multiple myeloma survivor who has had two stem cell transplants and she is only in her mid 40s. She is joining us on the bike ride from Bruce's house to the first bridge, about 3 miles. I can't wait to meet her.
Red Bank was also the home of Count Basie, a world renowed musician from the 40s and 50s. The old movie theater here in town is now a playhouse named after him and tonight, Crosby Stills and Nash is playing there. We can walk to the venue if we were going.
The Count Basie hosts terrific shows during the year, especially in the summer when it is delightful to be in this area. Bruce loves the four seasons (weather, not Franki Valli) and that's why it is almost impossible for him to leave the area except during the grey months of winter.
And finally, a visit to Red Bank can not be complete without an Elsie's sub. In Miami, there was a place called Captain Jimmys on 8th street which we stopped at before going to a game in the Orange Bowl. That was a good sub. But it doesn't compare to Elsies. Last month, Bruce, who has free flying priviledges on United/Continental this year, flew down for a couple of days and surprised us with a couple of Elsie subs. Now that was a treat.

Who Says You Can't Go Home?

2012-06-27T19:06:00.000-07:00

I spent 12 years growing up in a town called Little Silver and went to high school in Red Bank, the town we are in at my brother's house. He never left the area except for 4 years in the Air Force and a miserable time living in Miami for a year back in the early 70s.
Today, Bruce met us in Lakehurst and led us back 31 miles to his house where we are going to lay low until Friday morning.
The ride from Ocean City (we spent the night in Atlantic City but drove south to start the day) took us through a couple of state parks and forests and it was great not to have to fight 18-wheelers and tour busses for space on the road. In fact it was so quiet on the road today that I actually was able to listen to music while riding for close to an hour.
We also encountered our first "rollers" of the trip. A roller is a short climb followed by a descent quickly followed up another ascent. Fortunately the dozen or so we rode were not large or long and we breezed through easily.
About an hour from meeting Bruce, we passed through the bustling town of Chatsworth, population 2 families. And both were involved with the restaurant, err., hot dog cart which was parked on the sidewalk of the main through street we were on. So, we treated ourselves to a scrumptous, undercooked hot dog and a cold can of Coke. I'll let you know when the taste disappears for good.
The hot dog, not the soda.
Wound up with 90 miles more today and my total on the odometer is just 2 dozen or so less than the 1,000 miles I had expected to be at already.

The "restaurant" in Chatsworth. At least the soda was cold.

Thursday is not a travel day unless you want to count the miles we will be sailing with Bruce on the river. Then we get another Massage Envy massage (second of three we are receiving) before heading out to Manhattan early Friday.

4 States in One Day

2012-06-26T19:37:00.002-07:00

It's a good thing the portions of Maryland and Delaware we passed through were small otherwise we wouldn't have been able to make it into New Jersey today after departing Virginia around 7:30 this morning. That's four states in one day and another 85 miles behind us.
We were pressed for time all day today because there was a strong headwind from the north at more than 18 mph which slowed our pace to under 14 all day. At first, we were shooting for the 12:45 ferry from Delaware to Cape May, NJ but that quickly was jettisoned because of the strong wind.
Another hour later and I was having second thoughts about making the 2:45 ferry because we were not going anywhere fast today.
Finally, with 9 miles to go and 66 minutes to get to the boat, Diane loaded her bike in the car and I set off on my own trying to make the departure.
All day, I have a real-time GPS going on my phone so those who are following on line can see the progress I am making. It also provides me a road map of where I am and gives me an idea of how much farther it is to my next landmark. However, my battery died at the wrong time and I had no clue as to my location and if I was going to make departure.
After much effort, I pulled into the parking lot of the ferry about 10 minutes before they loaded.
When we got to the other side, I became a little watery in the eyes as our friend from Miami -- Martina -- and her family were waiting on the Jersey side of the ferry with a sign that read, Go Marty Florida to Maine. I was humbled by that and really appreciated the gesture.
Instead of riding for another 2 hours, we sat and had a drink with her at the dock. Did I say I was touched by their gesture?
Anyway, because of the time spent sitting, Diane and I only rode another 45 minutes and while it didn't get us to OceanCity, we figured we had a full day.
Tomorrow, my brother is meeting us in Lakehurst, not too far from where the Hindenburg Blimp exploded during a storm some 60 years ago or more. My brother used to work at that airfield.

Martina with her sign -- so appreciated and so thoughtful.

And after more than 850 miles and 10 days on the road, we are in New Jersey.

Our Weather Luck Continues

2012-06-25T18:20:00.000-07:00

We beat a major rain storm into Chincoteague Island this afternoon completing a 75 actual riding miles day which brought our total since Father's Day to more than 800. I say actual because we cheated leaving Virginia Beach this morning, stacking the bikes into the van and driving to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel on which we were not allowed to ride anyways. So, if you are keeping score at home, add another 36 miles to the day's total.
Being an early bird, I was able to capture the sunrise on Virginia Beach before 6 a.m. and then here on the island, I captured sunset around 8:30. In between we saw pods of dolphins swimming close to shore, wild horses in the marsh lands here on the island and Diane saw a couple of Baltimore Orioles (and here I thought they were playing in Yankee Stadium tonight).
As for the ride, Bobbie said Roy is watching over us as again the prevailing wind was at our back and we cruised along for a couple of hours at 18 plus mph. When you are eating up miles at a good clip, it makes the day a lot shorter and easier.
Most of the ride was on Hwy. 13 which is a divided, 4-lane highway and for a majority of the 65 miles we were on it, the shoulder was extremely wide so Bobbie was able to hop-scotch with us all morning, going up about 5-7 miles and waiting for us and then repeating it again and again.
She stopped in one place adjacent to a SunTrust bank and Diane was happy because she had to take care of some banking business and her bank is, drum roll please, SunTrust. We were also able to fax Alicia the turn by turn directions we will use when we get to Manhattan on Friday.
I can't believe that we will be in New Jersey tomorrow afternoon. New Jersey!! Of course that is after we knock out Virginia in the first 15 minutes of our ride, then Maryland and Delaware before we hop on our next to last ferry ride of the journey.
A friend wrote and asked how I was doing because he knows I have not gone more than 9 straight days of riding before and tomorrow is day 10. I said my legs are good, my conditioning is good, even my shoulders are not locked up if you can believe it after being hunched over the handlebars for as long as I have been since last Sunday.
But without going into much detail, my left pinky is numb and has little or no feeling in it (no clue except to think I apply too much pressure on my left hand in the wrong spot) and the place which is in constant contact with the seat needs major attention. Did I say major attention? More than that.

Sunrise on Virginia Beach a couple of minutes before we spotted the pod of dolphins. The ocean, as you can see, was really calm.

Sunset (below) over the only road in or out of the island.

And the opportunity to take a solo shot against a field of wild flowers presented itself on a rest stop in Virginia (bottom picture)

I'm Getting To Be A Road Expert

2012-06-24T18:32:00.001-07:00

Cyclists are pretty well tuned in to the sounds of the roads, especially sounds that are picking up speed behind you while riding. Well, after close to 800 miles on this ride (75 more today from Kitty Hawk to Virginia Beach, and goodbye North Carolina) I have been able to distinguish happy drivers and those I will politely call country bumpkins.
Since Bobbie is only going 15 mph behind us most of the day, on country roads like the one we were on today, traffic has a tendency to build up behind her. So, when a car passes, you can hear the engine scream into higher rpms and as they pass the two cyclists, they fall into one of three categories:

The passive driver -- just accelerate and get going.
The happy driver -- a couple of beep beep beeps on the horn and a friendly wave or thumbs up and
The country bumpkin -- a loud, long horn blast followed by a get off the road or some other foul remark and every so often the middle finger salute. Not to profile this individual, but every one of the half dozen bumpkins who have shot me the bird so far has a pickup truck, diesel engine usually, and some kind of rack on the window for guns or fishing poles.

Don't you just hate it when two cyclists delay your trip by 45 seconds or less?
For a majority of the ride, we have been travelling on Rte. 17 or Rte. 17A which are four lanes so we can block one of the lanes and traffic can still go past. But there is always a loud noise coming from the other lane -- be it with loud mufflers, engine sounds or tires on pavements, making it almost impossible to communicate with walkie-talkies.
But today we hit the jackpot. After talking to a local citizen at the museum Saturday, we decided to see if we could catch a third ferry in North Carolina which would take us away from the highway on to the country roads we have been searching for.
Well we made it with 10 minutes to spare and we were treated to that country road winding through and past waterways and beautiful lakes and parks. We even passed a vineyard along with numerous cornfields (I thought I was in Iowa with Moonlight Graham).
Monday we have to transport the bikes across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel as cyclists are not allowed on the span. So the day's ride will be shortened by close to 30 miles but will still be challenging at 75 or thereabouts. I'm excited because we are only a couple of days away from my brother's house and on Thursday we get to take a break -- no riding, just resting.

Kitty Hawk & The Wright Brothers

2012-06-23T15:37:00.000-07:00

Almost halfway on this journey to Maine after a short ride from Cape Hatteras to about a mile from the Wright Brothers National Monument here in Kitty Hawk, NC., a distance of only 55 miles.
We started this morning from the entrance to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse park and discovered 10-15 foot high sand dunes butted up against the only road north south on the island. If you didn't smell the ocean, you might think you were in the middle of a desert as the sand was blowing across the street.
Friday was a good day riding because the wind was at our back. Today, the wind changed 180 degrees and now we were riding directly into the headwind which slowed us down considerably.
When the route went across the Oregon Inlet, the bridge was more than Diane wanted to challenge and she grabbed a ride across and into Nags Head. Since the road was one-lane in each direction, I tried to go as quickly as I could not to hold up traffic since there was about 6 inches of bike lane between the white line and the cement curb.
After a quick change, Bobbie and I finally got to the Wright Brothers National Monument after passing it once before in 1975. Interesting to see that the first powered airplane flight is shorter than the wing span of a 747 today. If you have never been here, it is well worth the $4 admission charge, unless you are 62 or over and have a Golden Eagle Pass from the National Park Systems. Then it is free.
So the hard miles begin again Sunday as we go to Virginia Beach. I have it about 80 miles and we are exploring the possibility of shortening the ride with another ferry ride.

Inside the Wright Brothers Museum in Kitty Hawk. One interesting piece of information -- part of the original fabric from the original plane was placed on board Apollo 11 and flew to the moon with Armstrong and Aldrin.

A New Land Speed Record

2012-06-22T19:12:00.001-07:00

Cycling can be a breeze, especially when you have 18 mph winds at your back, which we did today when we reached Ocracoke Island after a 2 1/2 hour ferry ride from the mainland of North Carolina.
Started out in Atlantic Beach early to make sure we made the 11 a.m. ferry and thanks to the winds at our back all morning, we did the 46 miles in about 3 hours, the fastest we have covered that distance so far.
The ferry was air conditioned so all three of us took time to take a nap in the lounge upstairs. Bobbie had on her wrist bracelets for sea sickness and she was okay.
Stopped immediately in Ocracoke for lunch and it was terrific. Sitting outside in a shaded area, drinking as much fluid as I could, we just relaxed knowing the total miles for the day was only going to be 74, though total distance was more than 100 miles.
Once out on the wide road, through the blowing sand and large dunes blocking the view of the ocean, Diane and I had Bobbie drive ahead to the next ferry and we just hammered the 19 miles in under an hour. In fact, at one point, I told Diane I was going to see how fast I could go and I burned out at 33 mph. Of course, it will not be an official land speed record because it was wind aided.
By the time we got to the hotel (one of only 2 we actually have to pay for; others are booked using either HIlton or Marriott points), the sun was setting but still enough light to view the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and the beach.
So that is where we are resting tonight -- Cape Hatteras.
Saturday we are going to visit the Wright Brother's Museum in Kitty Hawk as our ride is only 50 miles.
Sometime on Sunday we will pass the halfway point already. Hard to believe that we have come so far in such a short period of time.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse on the east coast and the largest brick lighthouse in the world. It sits about 1,000 yards from our hotel.

Another Perspective

2012-06-21T18:09:00.004-07:00

If you'd like to see and read a different perspective, read Diane's blog at http://www.sunnysongster.blogspot.com/

Don't Look Now, There Is A Cop Behind You

2012-06-21T17:42:00.000-07:00

Let's get the facts out of the way first:

120 miles on day 1
93 miles day 2
110 miles day 3
107 miles day 4
94 miles today

Other important facts:Number of times pulled over by North Carolina State Police (1)
We came across to the barrier island Atlantic Beach is located and Bobbie was doing her thing, blocking traffic behind her to protect the riders in front. Then I heard a police siren, looked back and sure enough, he was pulling her over.
I circled back and got between his car and Bobbie and he started talking.
Seems like someone in the lineup of cars behind her called the police to complain about someone holding up traffic. So after a couple of minutes, he gave us a couple of suggestions which we ignored and we both went our separate ways. Bobbie then drove ahead and met us at the hotel.

When we got to mile 50 today, we started looking for lunch and with nothing in sight for miles, we stopped under an overpass to get out of the hot sun. All of a sudden this single rider comes by and stops to talk. He is doing a charity ride of his own for Pancreatic Cancer. You think we are crazy? He started just east of Houston, Texas and is going to Baltimore. That, if you are keeping score at home, is more than 2,000 miles. And he is doing it alone with his support vehicle showing up every so often, hop scotching ahead and behind him along the way. They are camping all of the way through.
Sometime on the Outer Banks in the next two days, we will have passed the halfway point of this voyage. Unbelievable.
Someone asked me about the ride so far and I can tell you that there are a lot of boring times when all you are doing is pedalling and trying to get miles behind you. But then you get those moments when a car passes you, beeps the horn and yells out "Get the Hell Out of the Way Will Ya!". No actually, we get quite a few people who read the banner, pass Bobbie and beep the horn and give us a thumps up.
We did get our first middle finger salute late today on this island from a guy, in a pickup truck of course, who beeped the horn to get my attention, then showed me exactly who is No. 1.
In all of the miles, we have had 5 minutes of a slight drizzle and that was in North Myrtle Beach. As a service station owner, I have been tracking the price of gas and the lowest price so far was at Krogers in North MYrtle Beach at $2.99 for regular.

Chris from Texas joins Diane and Marty under a highway overpass near Camp LeJeune. He was heading to Baltimore on a 2,000 mile ride to raise funds for Pancreatic Cancer.

The Best Day Yet

2012-06-20T19:55:00.003-07:00

Where does one start to describe the fantastic day we had today going from Georgetown to Wilmington, N.C.?
Do we start with Andy who we found riding near Myrtle Beach who joined us for about 10 miles? Or do we bring in Andy McVey, an attorney here in Wilmington who came to the Hilton and then took the three of us to dinner because, he said, "we were rock stars."
Maybe we should talk about Tanya and Roy Walton who wanted to know who was parked in their driveway looking all hot and bothered and then donated $50 when they found out what we were doing.
Should we mention the lady who flagged down Diane right when we got to the NOrth Carolina border and handed her money for the cause?
Or should we talk about Pat at Massage Envy who took my weary body, had a couple of snap, crackle and pops come out of my shoulders and turned me into mush.
Why don't we start at the start.
The Hampton Inn in Georgetown is a terrific place to stay right on the water and adjacent to a terrific restaurant. We left there at 7:40 this morning with a 101 mile day scheduled.
Diane was strong from the start, recovered from dehydration. Today she was able to draft most of the day which saved her probably 20% or more in energy. She was so strong that late in the day, when the wind was from the back and the surging traffic in the next lane caused a suction in front of us, we actually held 18 and above for a good 25 minutes. And that, my friends, eats up the mileage.
Anyway, when we got to Murrells Inlet I saw a group of cyclists on the other side of the road and I invited them to come along. Andy, from Jacksonville, joined us and then met the rest of his family at the fire station.
During the ride, Bobbie received a call from Andy the attorney who said he wanted to take us to dinner. He has been in contact with the MMRF and he wanted to do something to help since his father died from the same disease in the mid 90s. What a great humble guy he is. Sorry we didn't have more time to spend with him because it was already 7 when we met and I had an appointment at 8:15 at Massage Envy. But we had time to eat Italian and it was great fun to be with him. Like I said, wish I had more time to talk more with him. (A special shout-out to Alicia at MMRF for the hookup; my kids will just go bonkers when they read all of the latest and greatest terms they use which I never did before).
So now, it is a bit before 11 p.m. and we are sitting in a bar/laundry a couple of blocks from the hotel. We decided that if we don't wash some stuff, we might as well burn it because the smell will never come out. Doing the wash in a sink and drying in the bathtub with a fan just doesn't make it. My biking jerseys were in desperate need of a solid cleaning -- or being made part of the landfill.
Tomorrow is a short day -- 93 miles as we approach the ferry to Ocracoke and Cape Hatteras which comes up Friday.
I can't tell you how many drivers read the banner on the back of the van (did I already give a special shout out to Paul Klugerman and Sign-a-Rama on Kendall Drive who donated it?) and then drive by beeping their horn and giving us a thumbs up. I don't know, maybe it is because I'm used to Miami drivers, but when I hear a car horn and look up, I expect to see another finger pointed in my direction.
So after 4 days, we have finished off 3 states, more than 400 miles and right now I feel great. Looking toward the Outer Banks when the mileage drops for a couple of days so we can enjoy the area.

That is Diane, Andy from Jacksonville and Marty in Murrell Inlet. He was out riding for fun when I asked him to join us.

2 states, 300 miles in 3 days

2012-06-19T19:17:00.001-07:00

Add Brenda from the Providence Baptist Church and fire chief David as two new friends of our ride. Brenda was stuck in traffic behind Bobbie's van (she always rides directly behind us with the banner on the back so people know there are riders ahead) and when I pulled into the church parking lot looking for a public restroom for Diane, Brenda pulled in directly behind us. If she didn't come by, noone would have answered the knocking on the door. So, not only did everyone get a bathroom break, but she got us more ice for our coolers and bottles and boy did we need it today.
Diane is dehydrated and decided not to finish the last 15 miles today, riding in with Bobbie to the hotel. At dinner she was cold, not a good sign. But she drank and drank tonight so she should be okay in the morning.
As for Fire Chief David, he suggested we take a detour from the shortcut to Georgetown, which added 9 miles to the route. But he said the road was nothing but bumps and we wouldn't like the ride, especially on bikes.
No body flagged us down today to hand us money. In fact, we received nothing in donations today from people we met. That's okay. We handed out 10 cards and told them about websites and how to make donations if they would like to support the MMRF.

Today's picture comes to you courtesy of a car repair shop outside Walterboro. We were riding past it when I saw it and had to stop and get the picture. If you haven't seen the movie Cars, you won't recognize Towmater. Unfortunately, the 1950s tow truck doesn't have an engine but the man I spoke with said he has one coming and is going to restore the truck.

Another Day, Another State

2012-06-18T18:32:00.002-07:00

You can mark off Georgia along with Florida if you are keeping score at home. Two states in two days -- can't get better than that.
After an overnight in Richmond Hill, Ga., about 20 miles from Savannah, our ride today was supposed to be 80 miles to Walterboro, SC., but somehow we couldn't find the road we were supposed to take and finished with 93 miles today.
But it was a great day. On one stretch of road, a motorist pulled up behind Bobbie and read the banner on the back of the van. Bobbie waved her around but she didn't go. Instead she pulled up next to Bobbie, who pulled off to the side, and she handed her $2. She said she has a lot of cancer in her family.
We are getting a lot of people reading the banner, which again I have to mention was donated by Paul Klugerman from Sign-A-Rama in Kendall next to Bankok Bankok. And after they read it, they pass Bobbie and beep their horns as they pass Diane and myself.
Diane has been the steady rider maintaining her pace the entire day. Sometimes I find myself a couple of hundred yards ahead and have to slow down more for safety than other reason. When cars pass the van, they see Diane but sometimes don't realize there is another rider ahead. So to be safe, I try to maintain a closer distance.
Late in the day today, we rode under a complete canopy of oak trees and Spanish Moss for a couple of miles. Terrific because the sun was hot today.
We passed a place in Georgia that carves totem poles like in Vancouver and then passed a house with old gas station signs plastered on the outside walls. Let's see if you remember Dino the Dinosaur, Flying A and Esso. They were there.
Tuesday we actually are going to stay in state with another 100 miler scheduled to Georgetown. Heavy miles to start but we have had zero elevation change, unless you count overpasses elevation changes. But we have had some good downhill run outs for half a mile or so when you can just coast down.
Our trip so far has gone over or under I-95 a bunch of times and our hotel tonight sits just on the west side of the interstate. We passed over I-16 in Georgia and won't see another interstate highway after leaving the hotel tomorrow morning until Virginia.
Surprisingly, we both feel strong and Bobbie enjoys the drive. The GPS I have on my phone gives me the map and location of where I am and Bobbie has the turn by turn directions. So, when things get a bit tricky with numerous turns, I call up the map, get BObbie's directions and can see when the next turn is going to be. Great system.
And so far, a great ride.

The Longest Day Is Over

2012-06-17T19:41:00.001-07:00

When I first mapped out the route to Maine, the first day was going to be 126 miles, by far the longest day riding. Well, it actually was 122 miles and it was 12 hours riding with multiple stops. It was a great first day.
To start with, we had 5 folks from Jacksonville join us leaving the airport area and rode to the Georgia line with us, about 22 miles. Betsy's sister was there as well as Mark who owns one of the Jacksonville bike shops. It was great to have an escorted ride out of town.
Two things will be the highlights of the first day.
At one stop in Glynn County, we found a brand new county park and stopped in to have something to eat. By the picnic area, we found sisters Judy and Robyn having lunch and getting lunch ready for their kids. When they saw the banner on the back of the van, they started asking questions and then offered us some hot bake beans, biscuits, devil eggs and chicken. Tremendous.
About an hour later, a lady flagged Bobbie down and she handed her some money for the ride. She said, Bless you, it is a wonderful thing you are doing. Wow. That was great.
Anyway, we found the hotel, got something to eat and now it is time to rest up. This was the second longest ride I've ever done, second to the cross Florida ride I did a couple of years back.

Tomorrow, we are off to Walterboro, S.C. with a bypass of Savannah. About 80 miles so it won't be as long as today.

That's Diane with me checking GPS.

It Starts Tomorrow

2012-06-16T18:08:00.002-07:00

It's 9 p.m. and we are less than 12 hours away from starting out.
Stopped at Molly's House in Stuart this morning and had a great talk with Louise Murtaugh, who hired us for her golf tournament two years ago. Molly's House is similar to the Ronald McDonald homes around the country -- when parents need a place to stay while their children are undergoing medical treatments, they have one. Louise has always offered us a room whenever we are in the area and we so appreciate the offer.
From Stuart, we met Michelle, Roy's neice, in Melbourne for lunch and we talked and swapped stories about her uncle for a couple of hours. She also gave us a huge bag of goodies to eat and snack on during the trip. Thank you Michelle.
And now, after a 3 hour drive, we are ready to wrap things up for the evening with an early morning start. Diane has all of her stuff in our van ready to go.
We might have a send off party in the morning with a couple of riders from the area joining us on the ride to Georgia, about 20 miles. But we will see when we get up in the morning.
So, after almost a year of talking about doing a long distance ride, here we are.
We've raised close to $5,000 so far which is what I am most proud of, including a donation today from Pennsylvania.
Keep posted-- pictures coming tomorrow.

Making Our Way North

2012-06-16T04:54:00.000-07:00

It was exactly 9 a.m. when we pulled out of the driveway Friday and now we are getting ready to drive to Melbourne after an afternoon and evening at the Hutchinson Island Marriott.
This trip would not be possible without the frequent mileage points we have accumulated over the years. All but two nights of the 21 days we are staying at hotels on this trip are paid for with either Hilton or Marriott points.
This hotel is nice, golf course on property and access to a wide beach. We sat at the pool relaxing for a couple of hours -- didn't feel like doing much.
Today we meet Michelle, Roy's neice, for lunch before heading to Jax for the night and meeting Diane.

A special shout out to Paul Klugerman and Sign-A-Rama for donating this banner which goes on the back of our van every day.