Friday, June 24, 2011

Biking America Anniversary





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!





8 comments:

  1. actually it was all about the blogging =) love the last pic its great!

    - KC

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a lovely reprise of a most amazing experience! Helen, you are a terrific photographer and a wonderful chronicler of the events that shape your life and touch those of us who are lucky enough to share them with you. Thank you for your blogs... they are a real source of pleasure.

    margo

    ReplyDelete
  3. All your posts/blogs are good; this one was great. Thanks. Michael

    ReplyDelete
  4. Helen,

    You have captured on film and in verse, the essence of what we all feel. Thank you so much for sharing.

    "When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race." ~H.G. Wells

    Don

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you all. I'm glad you enjoyed the blog.
    It's so much fun to reminisce over the last summer's adventure!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Excellent job Helen. Very well said in words and pictures. Thanks for the memories. Kim

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great job helen. I.m on the road again watching a new family come together. I miss you guys. Jeff

    ReplyDelete
  8. Just read this again, and it was as touching as the first time! Thank you, Helen!
    Ellen

    ReplyDelete