One week to go.

Well this is the one-week to go mark. We are bringing our bicycles, packed in boxes, with us on the plane. When we get to Oakland we will head out to San Fran and get our bikes re-constituted and then start the next day... so hopefully the back wheel dip will happen sometime on Wednesday the 2nd!

The bike repair shop is ready to receive our bikes and put them back together when we get to San Fran. I have offered to bring some liquid concentration to lubricate the process for a quick turn around time.

I wanted to thank all of you for the love and generosity that you have already bestowed upon me! It has been overwhelming at times, but always inspirational!

I am hoping it will never stop... I'll need it!

On a side note:

I am still deciding if I will be packing some pants to wear after biking. I am also rounding up some toiletries and a few other incidentals that I may need. I am guessing most of what I need, will be available on the road. (Yes socks might be available too!)

Oh and BTW if you are around this Friday night... stop by my house and wish Erik and I a bon voyage! We will be having hamburgers and a few beers.

Much love to you all and hopefully the next entry will be from San Fran and then on the road!

T

Here is my packing list (so far)

Equipment

Bruce Gordon Rock ‘n’ Road Tour Custom bicycle
Bruce Gordon pannier rack front & Back
Bruce Gordon Panniers front and back
Shimano Deore XT group 11-34 ratio
Shimano 959 SPD pedals
3 stainless King Kage water bottle holders
Brooks Flier Saddle
Trek Handle Bar bag

Packing List

Bike Clothing

Gloves
Fleece Gloves
headband/earwarmer
Helmet
SPD bike shoes
1 pair bike socks
3 bike shorts
1 shorts to wear over bike shorts
2 long sleeves Jerseys. 1 short sleeved wick tee shirt
Gore rain Jacket
Plastic Rain pants
Leg Warmers
Sun Glasses

Camping Equipment

Stephenson Warm Light bag
Camp pillow
Drop Cloth (50x84 sheet of TYVEK)
Poncho
Firefly & Nalgene bottle/lantern
Petzl e+lite
Sunscreen
Tyvek sheet (groundcloth, table cloth, tarp, etc…)
Emergency Blanket
Whistle
20ft of chord
Pentax Optio S6
4 gig SD disk
Scan Disk usb converter
Moleskine sketch book
Bungee netting
2 spare bungee chords
Spare SPD cleats
Bushnell 7X21 compact binoculars
Small Purell hand sanitizer
Spork
Steel mug
3 bike line bike bottles

Tools & Maintenance

Leatherman Wave
Spoke Wrench
Tire irons (one set plastic one set aluminum)
Bike lock
Patch Kit
Wrench Force Bike Multi tool
Morph Turbo tire pump
4 inner tubes
Cassette tool
Chain whip
Cat Eye light front and back

Personal Items

Pink Ribbon
VT colors ribbon
Pink bracelet
Purple Bag (Father's Friend)
Cell Phone

Hygene Items

Bio Suds
Baby Wipes
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Vitamins
Pain Relievers

Well the plane tickets are set

We leave May 1st from Philly with our bikes and our gear and fly into Oakland... From there our first trip will be to the bike shop for last minute items and a last minute check up for the bikes... then hopefully May 2nd we will be dipping our back tires in the pacific!

I have been thinking about this trip for a long time. I was asked to ride cross country at the end of High School, but at the time I wasnt ready...(for lots of reasons) but here it is. I wish I was 19 again physically, but hey I bet a lot of us wish that too?

I have recieved lots of support from all sorts of people and I will be thanking hundreds, I am guessing, by the time the trip is done. The pledges are pouring in too! I am excited to think of all of those zeros being added to people's lives if I can make it!

So keep the thoughts and ideas coming. I already have a pink ribbon requested...