the end of the beginning so now i can start

Hi fellow travellers,
Well a bit has happened since i last shared 3 days ago.As it turned out i could only put my bike on the train for part of the way to the start of the american discovery trail.I have spent the last two days riding 220 km to now be able to commence the trail ride in about 10 hrs time.I felt like celebrating just for getting to the starting line, it is a story in itself.Even a couple of days before leaving i had to deal with a drama that left me feeling down for a while but life always presents these challengers.

I after i said goodbye to the good folk of ywam New York who had made me feel very welcolme and the guys from the smithtown bikeshop who looked after me fantastic and gave me a great discount ,i caught the train to Philadelphia where i stayed at one of the cheapest and worst hotels i have been in but i was thankful for a place to crash and catch up on much needed sleep.

The first day bought the first bit of good weather since arriving over 3 weeks ago.The sun was out ,about 31 degrees,no wind and it felt good to get the ride under way.At one stage i even had a police escort when i took a wrong turn on a hwy where bikes are not allowed.The cop was really nice about it and followed me for 2kms till i could get back onto the right one.Funny how ya start using words of the locals.I called the officer sir .I have called cops a few things in my day but never that. Today was another good day other than having to spend time finding someone to help get my laptop and mobile going.Just a few hours ago i found out my camera had busted and had to talk someone into driving me to get a new one.The last thing i felt like was a 3 hour bike ride to the shop and back.I got really blessed when i found at the end of the day i was staying near a beach and got time to sunbake for an hour.Guess i wont see it again till the end of journey in San Francisco in four months.

I did read something depressing about the trail and that was they said to allow at least 5 months to cross it by bike.I hope thats what it took an obese ,chain smoking ,pie eating ,beer guzzler to do it in but i doubt it.I am still going to belive i can do it quicker than that .I know what will really slow me down though.I have a cart attached to the back of my bike and as light as i have tried to travel it still weighs about 25km with all the camping gear etc.I even got rid of my favourite pillow i have had fot years.I dont want to think what it is going to be like trying to pull it up the rockies while trying to breathe in the thinner air.I just have to take one day at a time and let each day unfold in its own unique way with all the good,bad and the ugly it can toss at me.

I do want to make it clear to those that dont know me that well , more of the reason i am doing this ride.While i do have a heart for the poor and have seen extreme poverty close up we are all a mixture of motives and desires.I am glad i can help in some small way to make a difference.It leaves us in a sad state if we simply close our hearts to those suffering around us and do nothing.Not that you have to go overseas to find poverty.Two days ago i talked to this old lady in a wheel chair who carried a cup so people could give her some coins.She received 600 dollars a month from the government,paid 380 a month on rent ,leaving 220 to survive on.If she gets sick well bad luck.That is America and there are millions in her position.I want to make it clear though that i am no Father Theresa.In looking at the other less pure motives for doing this i would say yes i want adventure.

I hate doing the same old ,same old day in day out.Some people hate change i hate it when things stay the same for to long.Maybe its a midlife crises.I do know i have a great sence of wasting many years of my life on drugs and dead end jobs.I told a cop the other day what i was doing and he laughed and said'you must be bored'.I think there is some truth in that.I hate that groundhog day thing.Having said that i guess i am putting myself in the classic groundhog experiance ,but maybe its that we have to change the type of those groundhog days to keep life interesting.Its kind of funny but the first thought on the first day i was to start riding was, oh not another day of bike riding.Then i thought hey man you havnt even started yet.I was already being negative and projecting how i thought i would be feeling.No, as i said i am going to live it each day of this as an adventure .Doesnt mean its gonna be all easy sailing,no ,but is anything really an adventure if its all fun and skittles.

Having said all that my really strong motivation above all other self orientated motivations is a desire to make heaps of money for to help continue Penny and Paul Wilcox work at the Home of the Open Heart in Thailand.Check out there website for more about what they do and what they want to do if we raise lots of money.I cant do this alone.I can only ride the bike and hope people will get behind it and find ways to get the funds for this cause. So please think about it and if your a christian then pray God will show you how you can help.Together we can make a difference .

I will try and update at least every 2nd day but appreciate there will be times i am just to tired or out of range.This will happen more often as i get further across the trail.Tell ya friends to blog on ,make comments,do something.I am also the worlds worst typist it takes me forever with my one finger .Thats why this blog is a marathon effort on my part.I think i should do a typing course when i return .If they can improve me it will be a miracle.
Its nearly 1am and i have to get up in few hours for my first day on the trail so take it easy folks .Thanks for reading this and hope it wasnt to boring.Love yas,
Bernie

almost at the starting line

Hi all,
Well its 2am and badly need some sleep but its not really going to be my first day on the road today as i have to take a couple of trains and then a little ride to the starting line .It would be getting late by then so i will find somewhere to get a good nights sleep and be ready for my first full day Thursday .
Yesterday a guy just walked up to me and gave me 3 bottles of spring water,someones looking after me already.The new bike is great with the trailer on the back.I am not even sure if i can take it on the second train tomorrow.I may have to plead ignorance and hope for mercy.
Bernie

Getting ready

Its June 18th and only 6 more days to go until i leave for a bicycle ride across America of nearly 8,000 kms which will be the biggest challenge of my life thus far.I am sure there will be lots of great times and also difficult ones and i just hope my body and mind are up for it.
There were so many frustrations and trying times just to get to this point,like months spent trying to get a good quality brochure made .Then there was a hold up with the visa.Yes i use to smoke the green stuff many years ago and it seemed the USA was not be very forgiving of my past sins there for a while.
Then there has been the 3 to 4 hours of bike riding a day ,up hills and mountains in all sorts of weather over the past 20 months in preparation.At times i seriously thought i had bitten off more than i could chew and that may still be found to be the case ,but at least i am almost at the starting line.
I pick up my brand new bike in a couple of days which will be a great improvement on a mates bike i have used this last week which doesnt even have brakes.I have been coming down hills when lights turn red and have to try and stop by scrapping my foot along the ground.Its all good fun eh .
My real hope is that people will get behind the ride and give whatever they can to help make someones life a little better.We may not be able to change the world but we each can help in small or big ways to alleviate some of the suffering of those in great need.

Almost ready to roll

Im just in the final days of getting ready to leave. Its amazing the little details that have to be taken care of.