It's 6:30 in the am on Sunday August 11, 2002 as I sit here in the Adirondacks, on the banks of Lake Mirror in Lake Placid, moments after sunrise, gazing out at a silky smooth lake, after another wonderful week, and last night's evening too enjoyable to describe.

Yes, this is a feat, it's an accomplishment. No question about it. but, you know what? That's not what makes me sad, or really even proud. The core of this summer, and what will make me miss it so so much, are the people with whom I've shared this experience, and the bonds that we've formed. I'm typically not a group person. I don't know what's happened. While I know deep down it's a good thing, it's hard. It's sad. It'll be really hard to go back to spending, if I'm lucky, 3-4 hours outdoors on a daily basis, versus 20-21 hours, every day, outdoors. I'll have to work at exercising an hour or two 3-4 days a week, and 5-6 hours, once a week, as opposed to 6-7 hours 6 or 7 days a week. I do think my body may be in shock. It'll be hard to awaken to a quiet house, as opposed to seeing Jim and Lauri folding their tent, Brian yelping that 'today's another great day', Bill making a cute comment, the symphony of zippers, or the smiles of my 43 comrades.

A week from now we will have dipped our tires in the Atlantic Ocean, we will have ridden across the country. Yes, this is a feat, it's an accomplishment. No question about it. But, you know what? That's not what makes me proud. We realize that we won't get to ride our bikes on a daily basis anymore. But, that's not what makes me really sad, though it does make me sad. The core of this summer, and what will make me miss it so so much, is the people with whom I've shared this experience, and the bonds that we've formed. I'm typically not a group person. I don't know what's happened. While I know deep down it's a good thing, it's hard. It's sad, but it's happy, it's peaceful. It'll also be really really hard to go back to spending, if I'm lucky, 3-4 hours outdoors on a daily basis, versus the 20-21 hours every day outside, like I will have done for the last 9 weeks. I'll have to work at getting to exercise an hour or two 3-4 days a week and 5-6 hours on a weekend day, as opposed to the 6-7 hours 6 or 7 days a week of daily exercise, as I will have done for the past 9 weeks. I do think my body may be in shock. I also know it'll be hard to not eat everything in sight, and to give up those daily ice cream splurges. . . . It'll be hard to awake to a quiet house, as opposed to seeing the group of 44 riders take down camp, which has become a moving family, Jim and Lauri folding their tent, and Brian yelping that 'today's another great day', John walking by, sleepy heads, bill making a cute comment, the symphony of zippers, or the smiles of my 43 comrades.

My journal entries for this week, and probably for next, will be abbreviated. They will be notes to jog my memory of what we've done, and how I've felt. I've got some thinking to do myself . . . . and there are thoughts that I can't just can't send over the wires, at least not yet. . . . I need some time where I can start to process what this summer really means, all of your emotional support, as well as fundraising support (I'm gunning for the $50K marker, and think we'll make it), the summer's termination, and how I return to my life back home. While I'm pretty despondent, actually, very despondent, at the realization that there is only one more week, the solace that I have, and what I'm hanging onto, is that I do have a really good life back home. There's all of you - my community of friends and colleagues in everyday life that make life enjoyable and meaningful - and, I commit to seeking more time, and spending more time, in relationship. Feel free to hold me accountable. Please. If there's one thing I've learned this summer, and I think you've seen it through my emails, is that, it is, indeed, the people that make the difference in life. We can do life alone, no question. And, perhaps, many times, it's easier to do so. But, that's not what really makes life. As I said in the closing of my solicitation letter, to paraphrase (I don't have it with me) - I look forward to sharing with you emails from the road,.....and sharing with you, in years to come, the road of life. I meant it then, and I mean it more now.

This week, we averted a near disaster, which, would have, in a snap of a finger, dramatically, and irreversibly, changed everything about this summer for those that remained. As it is, it's changed people's lives. Fortunately, I wasn't around to actually experience it, though I certainly experienced the aftereffects. On Tuesday (the day I took off early so I could get into Albion before noon so that I could get down to Geneseo), the Penske (the vehicle that carries all our luggage and then some) flipped. Ben, one of our UK staffers, turned off the main road into the picnic stop, and, about 30 yards from the picnic stop, went off the road (the drop was a few inches, I guess), tried to get back on it and balance the truck, but, ultimately, the truck flipped upside down. There were some riders in the near vicinity. . . folks screaming, Ben stuck inside, and the side of the truck, I understand, was cut open like a zipper and bags came flying out. Thankfully, to make a long story short, the Penske didn't burst into flames, and no one was seriously injured. . . Ben merely needed a line of stitches in his arm. Needless to say, it was a harsh reminder that life really is precious, and can be very, very short. It's also put us in a mood, understandably, to appreciate, even more, the 2002 ride across America.

As I embark on the last week of this summer's venture (the riding is somewhat secondary), and cherish the last moments I have with this group, and begin processing re-entry into 'real life' - know that I will be counting on you when I return - the friends that I have in the everyday life (because this summer is real, no question, and friends I've made this summer will be lasting friends) - to help me recognize and appreciate the gifts that everyday life presents to us, as well as to help me (and, if these journal entries have had any meaning to you), and to help you, maintain and live some of the nuggets that this venture has taught me, and from what I understand, you - and, the one which I'm currently focused on is that it's the people that make the difference. It's an amazing country, with amazing people. That's for sure. I've never been very good about asking for help.... but, this summer -- starting with help on my solicitation letter and for help raising money for breast cancer research, and for help looking this demon in the eye -- has been a little different. And, it's been good. No, it's been great - beyond words. I'll need some time when this is all done - to really understand it, if I ever really can. But, for now, friends, I will ask for help upon my re-entry to everyday life. I'll need it.

Let's all choose to take the time to notice, and to share, the color of the squirrel in the parking lot (as we did waiting for the ferry to Canada) or the flowers on the side of the road, or the hello, the sincere hello, with the café owner, or gas station attendant. Let's not forget to be human, because, being human, is incredible, and is what makes our country tick and our hearts purr...

The week's riding has been fantastic, again. Upstate NY is beautiful, just as I remembered it as a student 20 years ago. The weather was fabulous, roads great, farmlands interesting, fruit stands enticing, waters delicious, campgrounds beautiful, sunsets stupendous, and night skies a show for which money should have been charged. Eye candy. We've played a ton - up and down hills. Biking was fun. We're in shape. Chats while cruising. Friendly racing. Fruit stand stops. Swimming in lakes. Coffee stops at lakes. Swings. I've visited Geneseo, my college town (haven't been back since the late '80's), had the chance to visit with, and thank, Bill Edgar, a college professor of mine who made a significant difference in my life and, was one of the few, if not the only, who truly encouraged intellectual curiosity and freedom, and got to spend a night with, and 30 miles on a bike (many along the Erie Canal) with, Kathy, a friend of mine from my college (another professor, but one with whom I've maintained contact over the years). In addition, I've visited, via bike, the Adirondack Mountains, a place I've wanted to see since I set foot in New York in 1980. It's a little strange that I went to school a couple of hundred miles from here, but I had to bike 4000 miles to see them. It was worth the wait - The Adirondacks don't possess the starkness or vastness of the Rockies or the mountains in Alaska; instead, they're subtle and sweet, dotted with mountain lakes and covered with trees, and filled with an aroma I remember from my teens and early 20's as a camp counselor and college student in the mountains of Pennsylvania and New York. I can't tell you which are more beautiful - and I guess I don't have to choose. Just enjoy this one day that I have. It's been another glorious week.

Stats: off route, Geneseo, Rochester; 9th state -- New York 

The week started on an awesome note. As nasty as the falls were 2 nights ago, I witnessed the splendor of sunrise on the falls. Moving. Unbelievable. No people, no lights. Just pure natural eye candy. I awoke early at 5, thinking I was going to be an honorary member of Rick's Chicks. Rick had some problems with his bike, however, and I was itching to get going. And, although breakfast was at the Minolta Tower at 6:30, just how good could breakfast be? Not worth waiting, in my mind, 30 minutes to get a ride to the top. Besides, the falls were beckoning. The route had us crossing the Whirlpool Bridge, but it was closed until 7. Thought I'd be adventuresome so I back-tracked and went across the Rainbow Bridge. No worries getting back into the states, was merely asked where I lived. I don't think I was even asked for my license. Asked a passer-by to take my photo by the welcome to NY sign, and a taxi for directions to route 31. Jammed. Memories of towns and people I haven't thought of in years. Margaret, Diane, Medina, Lockport, Pavilion, Batavia. Really good.

rental car geneseo the bear D and C photographer student teaching in Batavia riding around campus downtwon wings aunt cookies small town Geneseo: the 'quad', health center, emergency squad, wadsworth, raskeller, tundra, sudance, buzzo, bear, D&C, Niagara and Suffolk Halls, Red Jacket, Courthouse Street Bill and Stacey Edgar (former college professor who had significant influence on life) calling Chigee for Kathy's number while overlooking the student union and tundra on the ledge calling Kathy - come up to Rochester at night, and deciding at 11:15 that she'd ride the first 30 with me tomorrow. vital spot this is where it began. Certain memories: key bank opening an account; getting a scholarship and mom and dad being there; the tundra; red jacket dining call; courtstreet apartments; pavilion and getting stuck in snow; Batavia; Kathy's house fun with Kathy and kids - really enjoyable.

At 11:15 deciding that we'd ride together tomorrow. Being torn from the group.

Songs running through head: I've had the Time of my Life, Wheels on the bike go round and round, 15 Years on the Erie Canal
Fantastic Ice Cream: Bill Wahl's in Pittsford (banana, chocolate chocolate chip)

• Kathy first 30 miles
• Erie Canal
• Latte stop
• learning about the Penske
• Rochester
• longest day on bike because of morning (saddle sores - ugh)
• Bill Wahl's ice cream stop in Pittsford
• Kathy and family for dinner in Sodus Point
• learned about the Penske tipping
• didn't sleep well - woke up freaked about this trip ending.

STATS: 1st nuclear power plant, sign that said "34 miles to Syracuse" --- Wow!

Quotes of the day:
Riding with a one weekers, Tom heard folks say that they needed a bathroom stop. The guys went up the road, and 50 yards off the road and behind a tree to pee. When they came out, Tom said, "Gosh, even our women don't do that."

Tom overheard the new riders (1 weekers) say that they were:
1) concerned about how the coast to coasters scratch themselves in public
2) we're too primitive for their taste
Huh, how can that be????

I wonder what re-entry counseling we'll need. . .

Another phenomenal day, what can I say? Today, we played in the hills, caught glimpses of Lake Ontario, gazed and enjoyed orchards after orchards. Wonderful.

The morning started with a new invention that excited me, though made the Europeans in our group roll their eyes. I often buy yogurt in stores, and scramble around for ways to eat it - sometimes I try to drink it, and often times I'm using the lid, as origami, and turning it into a spoon. Columbus Yogurt, however, has snap-on spoons. Brilliant!

Got to draft the tandem (Margaret and Alan) a bit - felt like I had loads of energy this am. Amazing what a bit of sleep will do for us. Morning's coffee stop was in Sterling. Many of us walked across the street to drink our coffee and eat our treats. Personally, I lifted Pop Tarts from breakfast. I loved these as a kid and in college; however, I resisted this am at breakfast given their nutritional value (210 calories per bar). I promised myself that if I rode hard, I could eat one. While I tried to get others to partake, I just couldn't, though I did convince Jim to at least try a bite. John and Brian said no - while folks said that these were like some flavored taste in between 2 pieces of cardboard. Blasphemy! At one point, there must have been 19 of us. We also decided that since the SAG's wouldn't stop for us coast to coasters, we'd moon them. Before we knew it, Tom dropped his shorts. We'll have to plan a real moon, however...

Went off route for a couple of miles in search of the winery that was noted at mile 28. Unfortunately, it was closed. Bummer. Mid morning stop was at Ontario's Orchard Farm Market. I wanted to share a melon by cutting it up and passing it along. Unfortunately, after slicing and dicing, turns out it was a dud. They suggested a Californian melon, but. . . instead, we bought pints of raspberries and blackberries, as well as a half gallon of cider.

Rode really hard. Played on hills. Rode sitting down with hands on crowns of breaks. Fun! Fun, fun!!!

Colombo yogurt - with spoon attached. Great invention!

• rode hard in am - playing.
• Syracuse - 34 miles away sign
• all playing in hills - Lauri taking off from large group going downhill
• Robyn, at stop where 55 miles to go said, can go straight and only 55 miles. My thought: who cares. I want to ride. It's the journey
• dude at bar who decided he would, moments after I met him, rearrange a piece of hair in my face weekly riders - concerned about how c-c riders scratch themselves in public
• oswego
• Jim - cheese and peanut butter
• Ontario orchards farm stop - apple cider, blackberries, raspberries, cantaloupe not good
• racing

Lifes' lesson: food's been good, not always what's been expected (talking about Mad Mary's in Pierre - Don't get wed to expectations. Be flexible.

• golf course breakfast
• Albert crossed 6000 km
• Tirus wine at campground with cheese
• s'mores (Europeans); cinnamon graham sticks bought by Alan and wife!
• EE- flashlight fix
• woke up with bad back. Yikes! Had to stretch around mile 4 or 5
• blackberry stop
• ice cream for lunch's appetizer at the trolley stop - outside on picnic tables. Perry's ice cream - Rocky Mt Raspberry (vanilla, raspberry swirl and chocolate chunks)
• 3 flavors and shared - bittersweet Sin Phony, Black Raspberry and rocky mt raspberry
• guessed cars that folks drive with heather and Brent
• last night Kendra and some folks guessing components
• sackets bay after lunch - walking around shops. Barbor bay brewing company. Grant's golden blackberry, from keg, great (not yet released). Raspberry too sweet.

• back hurt when awoke. Shit. Yikes.
• Sackets Harbor
• brewery
• awards
• camping
• Brian rubbing back
• s'mores (Europeans)(cinnamon sticks)
• vino and sharp cheddar as appetizer

Stats: Adirondack State Park, Closing Kumbaya session

Today was another great riding day, despite suffering through some additional back pain. On the drug front, took 3 Celebrexes, several Tylenol, as well as the vitamin and glucosamine. At night, decided to break into the Canadian stash of Tylenol 3.

First break was 9 miles in at the Brew Ha Ha Coffee House. With a name like this, how could we resist? It was a drive-through, and a ton of fun had by all - also managed to get the Biker Chick Jersey shot with Fred's daughters.

• Lauri's tights caught in rear cluster
• Lunch with kids
• Adirondacks
• Reservoir
• Ice cream

Tonight was the closing Kumbaya session where each of us talked about what the summer meant to us, and what we've decided about life, if anything. I've really come to love these people - family. Some, eg., Debbie, have called it a dysfunctional family. I disagree - or, at least, that hasn't been my experience. The warmth and comfort of these folks, the fact that I can ride with anyone, sit down to a meal with anyone, and feel comfortable, is really something. The biggest surprise, for me, at least, is the connection I feel to this group. I don't think that I've ever felt this way about a group before. I don't know what's changed, but I must admit to liking the change. It's neat to know that I can form the bonds. . . what scares the living heck out of me is the fact that I have bonded, and the separations that will occur...this summer has been fantastic. It has met each of my goals, and, in fact has exceeded that which I thought was pretty impossible. There is another week - that's the solace now - but, even that, soon, will disappear.

Tomorrow is Lake Placid. I've ridden my bike here. Wow. Can't believe it.

• breakfast w/Lance overlooking lake
• coffee stop on Cranberry Lake with peleton latte and uli
• art gallery stop
• mountains!!
• Lauri and I missing turnoff to lunch
• view before, and after, lunch (same spot) of mountains. Gliding through the ride
• Saranac Lake - art guild, art show, ice cream at mountain mist creamery (chocolate and coffee)
• lake placid!!
• laundry (no dryers, putting extra 25 cents in; Riesling on deck b/f dinner; dinner at Jimmy's. (past primavera and salmon) wine bar. Brian. Northwoods (earlier discussion re which room. I voted for view.) elevator. Bed late. (1ish).

• early am - shores of mirror lake
• community service
• olympic bobsled run
• latte
• sandwich from wine bar
• kayaking (and lunch) on mirror lake
• map routing (we highlighted our route on 3 maps that took us across the country)
• dinner at wine bar w/brian
• drinks at wine bar with lots of folks
• albert and jersey
• laundry all over hotel room
• walking through town