My
crazy
girls...
You'd
think...
they're
in
a
contest...
to see
who
can worry
Mom
most!
Crazy
Al
is
biking
solo...
to
Wisconsin!
The
morning
paper
greets me
with
muggings...
on the
Monon
Trail.
I Google
bike
safety
on the
internet...
and read
about
drunk
drivers.
What's
a
Mother
to do?
Al
bustles
about...
packing
minimally...
reviewing
maps...
gathering
supplies....
Good-bye
to
loving
Father
and
Kitty...
Wait!
I'm
coming
with
you!
At
least
to
Lebanon.
Al and I
visit
three
Indy
bike shops...
Shopping
for
a lock
for
Blue Jay...
and
Halt
for
Alex!
I'm full
of
motherly
biking
advice...
gleaned
from
my own
many miles
biking
solo.
Busy roads
have
some
advantage.
Less
dogs...
More
friendly
eyes
to be sure
you're
safe.
Call
me.
Ask
people
for
directions.
They may
even
draw
you
a map
in the sand.
But
above
all...
Be
careful...
Good-bye!
I
love
you!
Was it
just
one
year
ago
today...
that
Al
and
I
started...
the
big
bike ride
across
America?
Just
one
year ago
we met...
50
amazing
people...
who
would
become
friends...
for
a
lifetime?
I
thought
it was
going
to be...
about
the
biking...
about
the
sights...
and
the
experiences...
of
seeing
our
country...
from
the
wheels
of my
bike.
Little
did
I
know...
the
experience
would
be
as
much
about...
the
SAG
stops....
The
Budget
truck
of
support...
the
morning
luggage
load...
the
nightly
route
raps...
the
eternal
buffets...
the
endless
food...
and
the
wonderful
people...
as
it was
about
the
biking.
It was
about
ABB
and the
wonderful
team...
that
fed
us...
changed
our
tires...
and
watched
over
us.
Our
fearless
leader,
Mike
Munk...
His
sidekick,
Karen...
His wife
and
boss,
Barb...
Jim
the
Mechanic
Deb
for
support
Jeff
the
Bikeman.
This is
the team
that
carried
us...
across
3,630
miles...
and
the
experience
of
a
lifetime.
Was it
really
one
year ago
today...
we
first
met
these
strangers...
in
Astoria
Oregon.
Strangers...
who
became..
our
dearest
friends.....
...by
New
Hampshire!
That day
in
Astoria
we
shared
our
stories...
our
dreams...
Virtual
strangers...
We
started
off...
as
individuals...
but
ended up...
as
a team....
No,
not
a
team...
a
family!
Was it
just
one year
ago...
Al and I
raced
that
snail...
up the
nine
mile
mountain?
We
met
the
salmon
farmer?
We
battled
those
logging
trucks?
One
year
ago
today...
After
69
miles...
exhausted!
What
a
difference...
a
year
makes!
Happy
Anniversary,
Friends!
Happy
Anniversary,
ABB!
Happy
Anniversary,
Al!
May
we
all...
have
many
biking
miles...
ahead
of
us!
