After a winter of traveling and riding I am back to Michigan to complete preperations for the bike ride. Thanks to all of my friends at Bikeworld for your support and encouragment! Tom and Ruth, you're the greatest! Uma keep Dr. G in line and Eva keep on running! Dan and Lila keep on truckin . . . and Lyla make sure you wear your helmet. Rode 23 miles today on wet pavement with temps in the thirties! God I miss the warm weather of San Antonio!! I felt strong though and had no incidents with cars or vans. Thanks to Laurie J. for her marketing and PR advice. Also, I would like to thank Mari for her wordsmithing.

Quote of the week......If you think you can or you think you can't you're right!
Henry Ford

Regretting coming back north so soon. Another month in Texas would have been good. Monday and Tuesday in Suttons Bay with morning temps in the teens and near 38 at high noon. Good rides downstate Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 40 to 60 miles every day.

Quote of the week......It's not about how hard you hit it's about how hard you can get hit and keep on fighting".
Rocky Balboa

I am now in Sacramento doing last minute preperations before I begin the ride next Tuesday. Unfotunatley on Tuesday night both of my bicycles were stolen out of my cousins garage.

Probably local kids from her neighborhood. AHHH!!! Went out and bought a new one on my credit card. Weather here is great, sunny and temps in the low 80's. Lots of good biking roads and I feel like I am getting back in shape again after fighting the cold spring in Michigan.

I have met some great people in the two weeks here on the west coast. The looks on their faces and words of encouragment are all that I need to get to New York City!! Brooklyn Bridge or Bust!!

Quote of the week......" A hundred years from now it will not matter how big my bank account was, how big my house was, or the kind of car that I drove.... but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child".
Unknown author

Yesterday was by far the toughest day of my ride. I started out in a drizzling mist with temperatures around 43. My ride took me into the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the ride was uphill all day except for a few rare occasions where there was a down hill slope.

I am about 40 miles east of Placerville and today I hope to get over Kit Carson Pass at 8573 ft. elevation. My legs feel very tired and I expect today to be the toughest day of this ride. I am looking forward to my day of rest tomorrow and plan on sleeping all day! I met some very nice people yesterday at a small carryout around Somerset.

Lots of well wishes along the way and an occasional motorist that is offended that I dare ride my bike on his highway! A special thanks to the Best Western in Placerville for the special " you must be crazy to ride to New York City but it's a good cause " rate. Good people!!

Quote of the week......" You get out of life what you accept out of life".
Me

I rode 61 miles today over relatively flat terrain (NICE) with temperatures in the low to mid 80's by afternoon. I have stopped for the night in Fallon Nevada. This town is quite a surprise. It's very green and beautiful. Fallon isn't as small I thought, they even had a Walmart and a Holiday Inn. Very nice people.

I started off this morning with a 5:15am wake up call for a TV interview on krnv tv channel 4 in Reno. Thank you Karen and Emily for your story. Consumate professionals and wonderful people too.

There were some flat areas where I was able to maintain a speed of 26 mph for about an hour-and-a-half due to a strong wind at my back but most of the ride was between 18 and 20 mph. Temps got into the low 80's by noon and by 12:30 the wind had shifted out of the south and I really had to work to maintain my pace.

Distance today was 73 miles, yesterday 123 miles (Arrrggghhh). I was quite taken with the beauty of this part of Nevada. Beautiful mountains and green valleys and almost no people. Rt. 50 is known as America's loneliest Hwy, but I would call it America's quietest.

When I stopped moving all I could hear was the wind through the sage and an occational bird singing. The only traffic was an occational semi, motor home on a scenic tour, or a rancher in a pickup truck driving from his ranch. I feel amazingly good today. I feel like I'm getting stronger every day. Tomorrow the goal is ELY, Nevada (pronounced eelee). 83 miles with hills.

I am in Wendover, Nevada. Got here yesterday. It's kind of a mini Las Vegas as there is nothing here but casinos. I rode 120 plus miles yesterday with a very stiff wind at my back.

Without the wind I could not have made such good time. I seemed to average around 26 mph all day and even hit 38 at one point on a long down hill stretch. Beautiful country and it was especially moving coming over a crest to see the salt flats looming below.

Should be in Salt Lake city tomorrow and I am looking forward to the rest before I am back on the bike on Wednesday. I am changing drivers for my SAG van and want to say thanks to my cousin Cliff for his patience and photographic skills!

Quote of the week......"It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then THE VICTORY IS YOURS. It can not be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell."
Buddha

I rode about 60 miles into Wyoming and am tired and hungry today. I crushed Parleys Summit Becky!!! Well I got to the top! I was very taken with Salt Lake City.

It is beautiful and surrounded by picturesque mountains. The folks at the CF office treated me like I was family and it was kind of sad to say goodbye. Nancy, Ashley, and Becky thank you for everything you do and good luck with your golf outing.

Thanks to Dave Parkinson for the leadership you give to CFF in Utah but also as a parent of kids with CF. Debbie from Shear Explosion thanks for the free haircut. Thanks to Jamie and Britt from KUTV 2 in Salt Lake City! Well done!

Left Little American Hotel this morning around 10am and got done riding around 4pm. A tough day. I rode mostly on I80 and it was a hair raising experience! Every time a semi went by me I would grit my teeth and hang on for dear life.

I kept trying to find a service road to ride on but they would inevitably end at some point and it was back up to I80 again. After about 81 miles of riding I threw in the towel and Jeff and I drove to the nearest city for the night in Rawlins, Wyoming. Temps were in the mid 70's and there was a cross wind of about 10mph.

The western part of Wyoming was desolate and resembled the badlands of South Dakota. Here in Rawlings things have greened up a bit and it is really beautiful with lots of deer and antelope playing!

Be sure to tune into the John Anderson Show a week from Sunday on internet radio. John did a very nice 4 minute interview with me that will air then. You can catch it at http://www.theothnetwork.com/aharvest/On%20The%20Horizon.mp3

Arrived into Laramie around 4:30 today dog dirty tired. I spent last night in Rawlins and have to say thanks to Sarah at the Holiday Inn Express for comping me a room. She has had personal experience with CF and didn't hesitate to help.

Thanks Sarah!! I Left Rawlins this morning and rode through some of the most beautiful country I have seen, The weather was in the 70's and there was a favorable wind at my back all day. The terrain was up and down all day with some hills; a bit of a challenge but nothing to compare to the Sierra's.

I came across a small hotel and bar called the Virginian. It had incredible old west ambiance. Evidently Owen Wister, the author of the book, stayed at this hotel in the late 1800's while he wrote the book. A local told me the book was about the town of Medicine Bow, Wyoming just down the road.

Antelope were everywhere today. I think the lush green and nice weather brought them out in droves and at times there seem to be more of them than the cattle that Wyoming is famous for. Laramie seems to be nice although I am too tired to go out and explore. I will be on Channel 9 in Denver on Monday to talk about CF and then off to Omaha. Tomorrow Cheyenne.....whoopee!!! 93 more miles.

I am looking for volunteers to drive my sag wagon on the following dates.... May 30th to June the 6th which is Omaha to Chicago and June 14th through July 14th which is Toledo to NYC. All interested parties can send me an email to b2b4cf@yahoo.com

I had a couple of days of internet black out here so I will try to catch up from where I left off on the journaling. I left Laramie, Wyoming on a Saturday and rode to Cheyenne. It was a pretty nice day, sunny with Temps in the upper sixties. Jeff and I decided that the safest route was to leave from the Lincoln Bust off of I80 which is also the entrance to Medicine Bow National forest. The day was partly sunny and temps were in the upper 60's and low 70's.

I think this area of Wyoming was one of the most beautiful spots I had ridden through and reminded me of the Garden of the Gods near Colorado Springs. Incredible rock formations in rolling hills and some million dollar vistas. The ride was kind of hard since some of the hills were pretty steep but as I got out of the National forest things leveled out and was relatively easy into Cheyenne.

Total miles - 41 a piece of cake compared to the day before. I did have a little excitement when a lightning storm rolled through and loud lightning strikes caused me to swiftly retreat to the safety of the van! After arriving in Cheyenne, Jeff and I decided to drive down to Ft. Collins Colorado the spend the night there and see the CSU campus.

Off to Denver on Sunday with a side trip to Boulder and the CU campus. Driving through Boulder brought back memories of the year I lived in there on 15th street. Jeff and I took a short trip to the Flat Irons and Chautauqua Park. I couldn't believe how nice it was. Too many people it but still had that Colorado allure. Jeff took a hike and I stretched out on the freshly mowed grass. As I looked up at the clouds I noticed two sail planes circling in the up drafts. It was hypnotizing to We headed off to Denver to track down the Sares clan, Mike, Matt, and Mark, my "brothers" from Toledo, Ohio I hadn't seen in years.

After my interview on Channel 9 news on Monday, Denver's finest I might add, Jeff and I headed up to Ft. Collins to get back on the bike. When we go to Ft. Collins I jumped on Rt. 14 and headed towards Sterling Colorado. It was cloudy and threatening and after about 40 miles I got my first flat tire on the trip. As I began to change it the dark clouds evolved into tornado like weather and Jeff and I bailed on the day. The ride from Sterling to Ogalala was on of the toughest of the trip. I had a steady 20 to 25 mph wind in my face all day and was hard pressed to maintain 14mph. After about three hours I began to have back spasms from straining so much but forced myself to get through the day.

Then on to North Platte and not much to report except more wind and back spasms. In fact my back is beginning to worry me and I have devised a maintenance plan to get through this trip. A massage every third day! Tough duty but someone has to do it! As bad as the previous two days were the ride from North Platte was good. There was a steady wind at my back, temps in the upper 60's, and good road all the way to Kearney, Nebraska. Since I am in Nebraska things feel better, More like Ohio, Michigan and FLAT!!!

The people are kind and generous in spirit. The heart of America for sure. I was met about 20 miles outside of Kearney by a reporter from Channel 4 news. He did a brief interview, thanks Nate, and I was back on my way to Kearney. After finding a hotel and cleaning the road dust off of my body Nate from channel 4 called me and invited me to join the evening news team live at 10:00 for another interview about CF. Thanks channel 4 NTV, Seth and Colleen for making me feel like one of the family, Thanks Jacy from Massage Health Clinic in Kearney my back is better!

I got off to a late start. A big storm blew through last night and today was much cooler. Temps in low 60's, partly sunny, and a strong wind in my face. I got off to a late start answering emails but was on the road by noon.

I road the Lincoln Hwy towards Grand Island. I think I never heard so many well wishers honk at me today. It was great and more evidence of the generous nature of Nebraskan's! After about an hour the wind eased up and I was able to make pretty good time. I had to make a pit stop in Grand Island at Wayne Cyclery to fix some bike problems and was greeted by John Wayne at the counter.

That's John Wayne. Yes John and his crew took good care of me and tuned up my bike gave me some freebee's and sent me on my way no charge! They really know their stuff and would highly recomend them to anyone in the area looking for a bike. I stopped for the night in Central City.

Quote of the week......"Embrace change and it will embrace you......fight change and it will fight you. Without change we do not grow and our potential becomes unrealized".
Me

After yesterdays extreme headwinds today was a blast. I left Wahoo around 10:20 and arrived in Omaha around 12:00 and covered 38 miles. Cloudy , drizzly, and temps in upper 60's.

I had a stiff wind at my back and I averaged around 22mph. I am enjoying Nebraska a lot. Feels a lot like Ohio and southern Michigan. I did another TV spot for
the local fox affiliate which went pretty well. Two days off ....yea!!!!!!

I will leave for Des Moines on Tuesday and plan on being in Chicago on the 6th of June, Detroit on the 11th, and into Toledo on the 13th. There will be a special ride for CF as I head out of town on the 16th put on by the Maumee Valley Wheelman.... details to follow and all are invited to join in on the ride.

I should arrive in Joliet, Illinois today and ride into Chicago tomorrow. I have neglected my journal duties so I will try to catch up a bit. I have been able to make better time since I hit Nebraska as the wind is usually at my back and the terrain is much flatter.

I can usually average around 20 mph as long as the terrain is flat. Iowa was hilly but pretty pleasant and not that rough. Thanks to Cathy from the CF office in Des Moines for all of your support and for arranging my appearance at Filmore Elementary school in Davenport, Iowa.

I got to share a tornado warning lock down with the teachers and kids before my talk to the assembly. One teacher has a husband that has CF and he has been going through a difficult time lately. My thoughts are with you! It feels so good to be getting into Chicago! I pick a new SAG driver and life will become easier again!

Quote of the week......"The quality of a man's life is in direct proportion to his commitment to excellence, regardless of his field, or endeavor."
Vincent Lombardi

I have been in Chicago since yesterday and I am anxiously waiting for my next driver of the SAG wagon so I can get back on the bike! I tried to ride today but potholes and traffic sent me back to my hotel room frustrated.

I wanted to share a very touching experience from Joliet, Ill. When I went out to my van on Sunday to go out to dinner I found a note placed underneath my windshield wiper. This is how it read, " Dear Bridge to Bridge, Thanks for what you are doing.
Our son Larry had CF, he ran 6 marathons.....finally CF took over and he died in 1993 at age 42."

Thanks! Wes and Jackie Mattonen I was able to track this couple down and we had a very nice visit before they headed off for France.

I am now about 55 miles west of Jackson Michigan. Yesterday I left Chicago and quickly gave up on trying to ride my bike out of town. I drove until I felt I was safe and then I jumped on my bike and rode on US 12 into Michigan, just this side of Niles. Today was brutal.

Wind gusts up 40 mph and temps in the 80's. I am constantly amazed by the kindness of strangers. I went into a little restaurant across the street from my hotel this morning with my new SAG driver Laurie and was treated to an outstanding breakfast on the house. Thanks to Nancy and Suzies cafe!

I am riding on Rt. 60 east and will ride into Jackson, Michigan tomorrow and into Lansing on Saturday. I will arrive in Detroit on Monday!!

I rode Friday into Jackson, Michigan with temps in the upper 80's and 20 to 30 mph winds. Thankfully most of the time the wind was at my back. Just as I got to the outskirts of Jackson my chain broke and I had to drive into the downtown to the Pedal and Tour Cycle shop where I was promtly fixed up at no charge! Thank you!!

After I left town and headed north the strong winds were cutting across instead of at my back. I was actually blown off of the rode and almost took a tumble in some soft gravel. After riding about 77 miles I quit for the day.

I was particularly excited that my oldest daughter Emily drove up from Toledo and met me for dinner. We hadn't seen each other in several months and it was great to catch up. On Saturday I rode the 37 miles required to get to Lansing and met a camera team from WLNS, CBS channel 6. Today is a day of rest and tomorrow I will ride from Fowlerville into Detroit!!.

Today I rode from Fowlerville, Michigan into downtown Royal Oak, Michigan, 67 miles with temps in the 80's and a clear sunny day. I was going fast and averaged 24 mph! I had a light wind at my back so I don't think that it made much of a difference in my pace.

I rode M59 to Woodward Ave. and down Woodward into Royal Oak just in time for an interview for a local City Magazine, the Real Detroit Weekly. Today just blew me away! I have never experienced so many honks of support, thumbs up, and words of encouragment.

I even had people giving me money when I stopped at lights. One gentleman named Steve read about me in the Jackson, Michigan Sunday paper and tracked me down to give me a donation. Tom Gardner, George and Colleen from Gusoline Alley, Thank you for your donations and words of encouragement. YOU ROCK! Tomorrow is a media day and Wedneday I ride to Toledo.

I rolled into Sylvania, Ohio on wednesday afternoon from Detroit. I was fortunate enough to pick up my friend and fellow cyclist Andy Van Staveren in Tecumseh, Michigan and we rode the back roads into town. It was sunny and hot and we averaged around 16mph and had a light wind in our face. I did my TV thing in Toledo and want to thank channels 11, 24, and 13 for covering my ride. On Saturday I was fortunate to do a breakfast ride with the Wheelman, a Toledo Cycling Club and I owe a debt of gratatude to Michele Martin and her husband Neil for organizing a send off ride for me. It was particularly gratifying to have my daughter Barb show up and participate in my TV interview even though she didn't feel so good.

I am now on the south side of Cleveland after a 66 miler from Sandusky. It was hot and humid but the ride along Rt. 6 was pretty scenic since it mirrored the Lake Erie shoreline. I should be in Pittsburg by Tuesday evening. To all you cyclists out there around New York City, I want to ride across the Brooklyn bridge on the 4th of July. Anyone out there that can give me some info on how to make this happen please drop me a line. All cyclists and people in the CF community please consider coming out and riding across with me and my daughter,. The more the merrier and a better turnout will help complete this ride by getting the attention of the media focused on CF for a day.

A few things I forgot to mention... a special thanks to Laurie Kline for her dedicated Sag vehicle engineering prowess and I also wanted to extend a heartfelt thank you to the folks at Great Wolf Lodge in Sandusky, Ohio who embraced me and crew as if we were family! Thanks Sue for believing in the mission!!

Quote of the week......"Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered you will never grow".
Unknownauthor

I rode into Pittsburgh on Tuesday amid rain and thunderstorms but managed to arrive in one piece. I rode in on Rt. 51 and I would not recommend this to other cyclists. The roads were rough and there was plenty of traffic.

As we got near the city a curb appeared and left me no room to ride on. Temps were in the upper 80's until the storm passed through and then dropped into the 70's and were less humid. When I got up this morning I went to a local Starbucks to check my emails and was shocked when a gentleman named Tim walked up and made a large donation to me.

I was caught off guard by his generosity but if your reading this Tim thank you again. Another woman stopped me and gave me money today and told me about a young woman named Katie that was in the hospital fighing the fight CF patients fight and she is in my prayers.

I want to make a recommendation to all who want to understand CF. I just read a book by Teresa Mullins titled "The Stones Applaud". It is profoundly moving and informative. Teresa passed away at age 22 and this book is her testimony to her life and her daily struggles and thoughts. Her book can be ordered from Amazon.com.

I am now about halfway through Pennsylvania doing the drive -n- ride method! The mountains and hills here can be killers and I have really had to work hard a couple of times since my bike is not really set up for such steep rides.

I do need those granny gears at times!! I had a great experience yesterday! I had the honor of riding with 19 year old Brian Mccandless and his family around West Sundbury, Pa.. Brian just completed a 2000 mile round trip from his home to Tallahasse, Florida and back!

No small feat for anyone...throw in 7 or 8 century days and the fact that Brian has Cystic Fibrosis and you can see that Brian is no ordinary individual! I was also treated to a home cooked meal by his mom and an evening of trading riding stories. Thanks to the whole family for inviting me in and making me feel at home. My new SAG driver arrives tomorrow and then I am in the home stretch and should be in NYC by Sunday night.

I rode from Bedford, Pennsylvania to Chambersburg yesterday. The ride was tough! The mountains were long and step. Temperatures were in the upper 80's and didn't help matters. The most profoud event of yesterday was coming upon the Flight 93 memorial site. It was about three miles off of Rt. 30 outside of Bedford.

It was a sobering experience to see the spot where our fellow Americans died on 9/11. I hope we never forget the sacrifice they made. I got a late start today, around 10:00 and that was a mistake. The temperatures shot up to the mid 90's by noon and the humidity was not much better! It was all I could do to make it to York.

I did pass through Gettysburg and could imagine what it was like on that fateful day when the North and the South clashed during our civil war. Another somber moment for me. Cudos to my new SAG driver Nicki Hill who's skillful negotiating skills kept me from getting two tickets from the Pennsylvania State Highway for riding on the side of Rt. 30. Good job Nicki!! Tomorrow.....Philly!!

I rode from York into Philadelphia yesterday, the city of brotherly love. The heat was oppressive again, but I combated its effects with lots of water poured over my head.

I have never been into the downtown part of Philly and I have to say driving by Independence Hall, the building that houses the Liberty Bell, and othe famous landmarks from America's history facinated me not to mention the steps where Rocky Balboa ran up!!! I want to say thanks to The Capitol Grill in downtown Philly.

When the waitress found out about my ride she had my meal comped by the manager. Thanks Erin! It was one of the best steaks I ever had to boot! Jen Mack, thank you for introducing yourself.....tell your brother to start riding his bike cause I'm doing this again in 2010 and I could use some company! It is a privilege and an honor to ride for your brother and others with CF!

I have arrived in New York City! I strolled around Times Square, Wall Street, Little Italy, and Battery Park. As I looked out across Ellis Island with the Statue of Liberty in the background, it made me think of what my Papou and YaYa must have been feeling when they emmigrated here from Greece. I got goose bumps! I am waiting until Tuesday to ride across the Brooklyn Bridge so my daughter Barb can ride across with me.......I'm getting psyched!!!

Wednesday July 4th - WEEEEEHAAAAAHHH!!! I did it and it was an incredible feeling. A beautiful day, sunshine and temps in the mid 70's. A moment I will never forget. Unfortunately, my daughter Barbara was too sick to ride. After dinner with Jerry Cahill from the Boomer Esiason Foundation, Barb wasn't feeling well; so we took her to the ER and they immediately admitted her. It really brought home the importance of my mission and the reason for my ride. Please if you haven't made a donation to the CF Foundation or to Boomer Esiason Foundation do it. We need your help to fight the fight!

For all of you cyclists - I rode and Orbea Orca carbon fiber bike with a Shram gear system....... I went through 2 sets of tires, had four flats, my chain broke once, and I wore out a bushing on one of my pedals. My average speed was 17 mph. Distance rode is 3600 plus miles.... I didn't take the short cuts.

Quote of the ride - Dreamers with perseverance can be considered dangerous people. They break the rules, exceed the limits, and push the boundaries. When they stumble they press onward and when they fail they pick themselves up and try again. Their critics are quick to point out their folly but when they achieve their dream they are called visionaries and leaders of men.

Victory is sweet!!!
Randy Boudouris

Bridge to Bridge 2 Rage Against The Machines coming in 2010!!