Greetings from San Diego

I arrived in San Diego yesterday morning. I picked up my bike & drove around San Diego for a couple of hours. Then I met up with the team in the afternoon. We're staying at a Jewish Community Center in La Jolla. It's a beautiful facility & the people here have been very kind to us. Spent the 1st night of many to come in my sleeping bag on my Thermarest pad. Still getting used to that, I must say. Today was the first working day for the R4WH team. After some introductions, we began reviewing the lectures we'll be delivering as we travel cross-country.

The team is great & diverse group of people & I think all of us will have no problem getting along. We got our team "kits": our jersey & shorts today.

We did our first "set up" at the Community Center & spoke to a few people there.

Tomorrow, more logistics to cover such as how the support teams will be staffed & how we'll work those days. Then, finally, a group training ride. I can't wait to get out & loosen up for a couple of hours. Our first "real" riding day will be Thursday when we head out to Los Angeles.

See you again soon. Thanks for reading!

Steve

One last post before the trip begins

It's Thursday afternoon & I'm in the airport on my way home from Wichita, KS. I've got some last minute work to finish up tomorrow, then out for a good dinner with Margie. Saturday will be my day to pack. This is where I'll probably take everything I need & arrange it a few times to fit in the smallest possible suitcase, decide I need a bigger suitcase, then try to figure out what I don't need to bring. As far as cycling stuff, that's pretty well decided. It'll be street clothes that'll drive me crazy. How many tshirts, short sleeves, long sleeves, sweats, etc.

I leave early Sunday morning for my flight to San Diego. I've got a car for 1 day so I can tour around for a few hours until the rest of the team arrives. I'll pick up my bike & find the place we're staying in La Jolla. The next few days will be orientation; to each other, to riding together & to our lecture material for our event days across the country.

Now that work is pretty much done, I'm finally realizing how close I am to leaving, to beginning & I'm getting excited & nervous at the same time. This is going to be a terrific adventure & I just can't wait. Stay tuned.

Ride for World Health: San Diego to Washington DC - 1 week to go

I checked with UPS & my bike has safely arrived at the bike shop in La Jolla. I'll borrow a bike this weekend for 1 last ride with my Team Tania friends. This week I was in Ohio & was to able to do 2 spinning classes. I've got 1 last session with the personal trainer today, 1 last Kokikai Aikido practice tomorrow morning, & 1 last road ride on Sunday before I leave next Sunday morning.

I've updated my tetanus booster & clipper-cut my hair. Now I look more like the picture I used for this blog. Some last minute supply shopping this weekend & then 1 more business trip next week. I get home Thursday night, 3/26. Some final time with family & friends, then a 7:30 am flight on Sunday & I'm there. So close, it's scary. But I'm really thrilled & can't wait to get it going.

A huge THANK YOU to all those who've sponsored me. I've raised about $3300 to date.

I promise to write here as often as Internet access will allow. I'll post notes, some photos & even a few videos from across the country. Feel free to leave some comments when you visit. You can also follow me & the whole team at a blog we'll do at http://rideforworldhealth.org/.

Let the adventure begin!

Thank you everyone! I made my fundraising goal!!

I received my monthly fundraising update today from Ride for World Health. February saw the largest single month's donations for me so far & put me over the initial goal of $2,500. My sincere thanks to all that have so generously sponsored me & helped me to reach this milestone.

Now with about 3 1/2 weeks until I leave, I can truly concentrate on final training without wondering if I'll make my target in time or not. Of course, if you haven't yet donated to sponsor me, please do. The more money we raise, the more good we can do.

Tonight will be a Kokikai Aikido night. Sensei is here & this weekend is Winter Camp in Lawrenceville, NJ. Let's hope for warmer days, melted snow and more cycling ahead.

Thank you everyone!
Steve

Ride for World Health is four weeks and counting down!

Today it's snowing, but yesterday was a good day to ride. I headed out on my own & covered 75 miles. I packed a couple of PB N Honey sandwiches, some GU gels & an extra bottle of Gatorade. Made a stop at the old site of the NE dojo on Rising Sun Ave & stopped in to talk to the new tenant. He's running a combination computer business/Haitian mission & gospel center there now.

My route took me down Aramingo Ave where I could see the CC skyline. From there, into CC along Spring Garden St where the skline was right in front of me. Out to Norristown & East Norriton where I stopped along the road to look back at the city from a distance & see where I just was. I had lunch here & a few horses from the farm I was at strolled over to say "Hello." Actually, I'm sure they were more interested in my PBH than me.

I mapped my route on MapMyRide.com & I've embedded the route here.