Open Blue Horizon, Circumnavigate the World.

Ronnie to race 2010 Singlehanded Transpac for "Hope for the Warriors"

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:53:17 +0000

Two weeks ago, Clean and Ed put my story--an injured vet of the war in Iraq looking for sailing opportunities--on the front page of Sailing Anarchy. True to the great sailing community, I received emails from individuals all over the sailing scene: industry people, avid sailors, and enthusiasts alike. My story seemed to resonate with a lot of people, and the amount of supportive messages that I received was completely overwhelming. One of these messages came from a former Marine and Vietnam vet who serves on the board of Hope For The Warriors™, a national non profit dedicated to supporting injured service members and families of the fallen. His boat is named Warriors Wish after one of Hope For The Warriors™ programs and he felt that perhaps there was a place for me on Team Hope For The Warriors™. Before I knew it, plans were set in motion for me to enter the 2010 Singlehanded Transpac, sailing Warriors Wish, a Jutson 30.

October 13, 2009- San Diego, California

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 23:11:39 +0000

An update! Finally!

Well, i've been home for two and a half months now, and have yet to update the site, so here it goes. I've seen my brother get married, got a job, purchased a boat, raced on several boats and am planning a new trip and a new year full of adventures and goals.

July 28, 2009- San Diego, California, USA

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 07:27:00 +0000

Almost 10 months to the day from when I left San Diego, i'm back. Things didn't go exactly the way I had planned (ok, nowhere even close to the way I had originally planned), but all in all, my first trip around the world will have to go down as a pretty good one. Leaving San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge on a Monday afternoon, I pedaled down the coast all the way to San Diego, some 600+ miles in all. The final leg of my trip was absolutely perfect, with good people and beautiful places. With this trip officially coming to a close, I will begin working towards my next set of goals, on an entirely new adventure.

July 19, 2009- Stockton, California, USA

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 07:25:09 +0000

The last few days have been a bit hectic but good. I caught a flight from England to New Jersey. and then onto California. Once in California, I had some bike issues and had to hitch hike a ride into San Francisco from the middle of nowhere. I spent my first night back in the US, camping out in Oakland. Yes, Oakland. I spent the weekend racing and working on sailboats, and plan to begin heading south from San Francisco tomorrow, headed to San Diego. I can't believe it, but this trip is coming to a close, with maybe just one more week on the bike before I make it home.

June 15, 2009- Mildenhall, England

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:51:20 +0000

I'm at the Air Force base in Mildenhall, so hopefully i'm just a couple of days away from being back in California. After having my bike stolen in London, I bought another bike the next day and prepared to continue my trip, meeting a girl in the process and spending a bit longer in London than I really anticipated. Becoming really excited about the thought of being back in the States.

Rotterdam, Holland to London

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 02:09:03 +0000

In what unfortunately turn out to be the last trip that I would take on my Cannondale, I cycled down the coast of Holland, Belgium and France and then boarded a ferry to England, where I rode to London. My bike was promptly stolen in London. But my last trip itself was great. I was able to cycle in 4 countries in 2 days at one point, sail from Holland to Belgium on a 43 foot sailboat, camp out with 3 other cyclists in France, sleep on the beach numerous times and see some old friends.

July 8, 2009- London, England

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:44:36 +0000

51* 32' N

00* 02' E

My bike just got stolen. It's gone.

Goodbye old friend

June 30, 2009- Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:44:12 +0000

June 30, 2009- Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Amsterdam. The world's largest red light district and home to more marijuana coffee shops than any other place on the planet. I've spent a week in Holland and should go into Belgium tomorrow. It's crazy to think that I am in the last few weeks of my trip.... Going sailing on Friday in Belgium!

June 26, 2009- Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 03:02:53 +0000

51* 56' N

4* 27' E

Finally made it to Holland. I'm in Rotterdam right now, Holland's second biggest city and Europe's busiest port. So far Holland is more or less what I expected, which is a very good thing. Really nice country and by FAR the most bike friendly place that i've traveled thus far. Standard commercial airfare back to the US is pretty far out of my price range, so I think the rest of my trip is going to be taking an interesting turn soon...

June 22, 2009- Koln (Cologne), Germany

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:44:13 +0000

June 22, 2009- Koln (Cologne), Germany

50* 57' N

6* 58 E

After 5 days on the road, I am in Cologne, one of Germany's oldest and largest cities. Seems like a pretty cool place, and surprisingly feels very different from the other places that i've seen in Germany. It was a pretty difficult trip to get here, but a good one as well. I have become thoroughly acquainted with Germany's summertime weather patterns. (Rain, sun, rain, sun). I should be less than one day's ride to Holland, where I will go to Rotterdam and then Amsterdam, before heading south to Belgium and France.