Gratitude
Technically, my 4,500-mile 90-day journey from May 28th through August 25th,
2019, was an unsupported ride in that I was not accompanied by a motor vehicle
carrying gear and supplies. What a misnomer that is! I have been supported by
numerous people, both before and during the ride. On this page I will thank
them all.
I am grateful to the following people who took actions that without which my
ride would not have happened:
- Greg Link, who said "Do you want it?", after I rode his Centurion Ironman (now my Centurion Ironman) in July of 2009
- Lori Belilove, who encouraged me to buy the Centurion Ironman from Greg when I wondered where I would store it in our home
- Jan Albert, who gave me Juliana Buhring's book This Road I Ride
- Juliana Buhring, whose ride around the world, the story of which she told in her book This Road I Ride, inspired me in 2016 to resume multi-day bike trips after a hiatus of more than 40 years
- Mike Dion, producer of the movie Inspired to Ride, about the first Trans Am Bike Race
- Audrey Cozzarin, whose suggestion to ask my family and friends who they knew along the TransAmerica Trail morphed into my ride in which I visited many of my family and friends
I am grateful to the following people who made contributions to my trip before
it began:
- Harold Rosenthal, for giving me a Bluetooth keyboard
- Lynn Martin, for hundreds of Breathing Coordination lessons
- Anastasi Siotas, for Feldenkrais lessons that helped me ride more comfortably
- Dr. Polina Liss, for advising me about supplements to take while on this trip
- Hal Ruzal, of Bicycle Habitat, for advice about bicycle maintenance and for replacing my headset shortly before I began my journey
- Tom Reingold, for encouraging me to build my own wheels and guiding me as I did so, and for urging me to take mirrors, better front and rear lights, and a cap, and to replace my Dura Ace BR-7400 brakes with Dura Ace BR-7403 brakes
- David Finlayson, President of Prestacycle, for giving me bits, ratchets, and a chain tool
- Holly Cavrell, for introducing me to Beth Corning and Marc Niesen who hosted me
- Uriel Gurgov, of Uriel's Shoe and Watch Repair, for repairing my trunk bag and cycling shoes
- Don Judd, for cutting off the handle of my scrub brush
- Sona Babooram and Miguel Llauger Restituyo, of Alteration Specialists, for making my custom biking shorts
- David Nebhut, for advising me to not go up and down the mountain one day and then up the mountain again the next day
- Lisa Caccavale, who recommended and gave me a short haircut just before I left
- Dick Demenus, for giving me a miniature light that I kept on a belt loop of my off-bike pants so that I would always have a light with me
I am grateful to the following people who hosted me in their homes:
- Mike Hesser
- Chris and Lynn Brooks
- Michael and Gina Pack
- John Noelle and Lisa Herz
- Bill Harris and Stella Liong
- Bill Lyons and Suzy Fay
- Yosi and Patti Daboosh
- Richard and Beth Wright
- Tim and Sonja Link
- Dave and Connie Nadolski
- Lanny and Leslie Arvan
- Wence and Debbie Czernecki
- Jim and Ginger Belilove
- Chris Link
- Bill and Sue Becker
- Tom and Peggy Stenborg
- Todd and Suzanne Meerdink
- Rick Jennings
- Peggy Link
- Bernice Link
- Larry and Carole Krucoff
- Cathy Link
- Dennis and Bonnie Anderson
- Beth Corning and Marc Niesen
- Bill Head
- Oshin Were
I am grateful to the following people who made contributions during my trip
other than hosting:
- Seth Dellinger, for giving me a Feldenkrais lesson that helped the comfort of my left arm
- Jim Gray, for treating me to lunch
- Ironman (Graham Clements) for letting me use his bear box
- Matt Bigler-McCorkel, manager of Bicycle Habitat in Chelsea, for going out of his way to send me parts I needed
- All the staff of Montebello Camping & Fishing Resort (including Larry, Maddie, Christy, and Stephanie) for their exceptional Southern hospitality during my extended stay
- Steve and Amy Harpine, for inviting me to dinner
- Terry Hodge and Jay Rhye, for driving me to where I could get cellular service, for inviting me to dinner, and for allowing me to sleep in their gazebo
- Pete Eshelman, a warmshowers.org host, for his suggestion to go to Downshift Bikes when my Airbnb rental fell through
- Steve Ambruzus, owner of Downshift Bikes, for his attempts to find me lodging when my Airbnb rental fell through
- Charles and Jennifer Woodford, owners of the Fancy Gap Cabins & Campground, for hospitality that included driving me three miles each way to and from the restaurant where I ate dinner
- Jim and Susan Heckman, for telling me about BEMER and for giving me an 8-minute BEMER session
- Eric Bennett, owner of the Circle L Family Restaurant, for delivering my dinner 14 miles to my campsite
- Anthony Smeltzer, manager of the Park Vista Inn, for hospitality that included driving me 10 miles each way to and from the restaurant where I ate dinner
- Bob and Sandy Smith, hosts at Black Mountain Campground, for storing my food away from the bears
- Morene Bangel, for introducing me to Yosi and Patti Daboosh when she was unable to host me herself
- Olivia Steiml, Rachel Simmons, and Naomi, of REI, for giving me a sock in which to stuff my rain jacket
- Bob Pittman, for treating me to dinner
- Craig and Barbara Burley, for meeting me on my ride through Georgia
- Chris Barker and Kara Pannu, for flying from California to Georgia to join me for a dinner hosted by Tim and Sonja Link
- Rick Harris, for getting me an invitation to sing at a jam session
- Brian Baraszu, for giving me a Feldenkrais lesson that helped eliminate the soreness of my left sit bone
- Karen Shavin, for looking for hosting and for advising me to stay at the The Crash Pad
- Jordan Haag, manager of The Crash Pad, for suggestions about routing
- Roy Davis, for twice driving me to and from a grocery store in Carbondale
- Dani Huels, a Lyft driver, for bringing my dinner to my campsite
- Jonathan Link, for meeting me for ice cream
- Ginger Belilove, for arranging an interview with the Fairfield Ledger
- Andy Hallman, of the Fairfield Ledger, for interviewing me and publishing an article about my trip
- Haddington O'Heart, for referring me to Dr. Mike McConeghey
- Dr. Mike McConeghey, a chiropractor who practices the Activator Method, for helping to improve the comfort in my left ankle and right knee
- Bill and Mary Lou Stauber and their daughter Jenny, for joining me in a lunch hosted by my mother
- Rachel Krucoff and Ira Abrams, for advising me about routing through Chicago
- Mike and Alice Link, and Chuck Link, for joining me for dinner hosted by Cathy Link
- Melissa Simo, for giving me a Feldenkrais lesson that helped increase the freedom of movement of my ribs
- Mike Macewich, Dennis (and Chris) Sarley, John Steigerwald, Kevin Creely, Bill (and Susan) Collins, Roxanne Laux, Mike (and Roxie) Guadagno, Mary (and Bob) Cullen, my classmates (and their spouses) from Our Lady of Grace School, for joining me for dinner at Winberie's
- Kelly Mieszala, for treating me to dinner
- Bev, of Potato Creek State Park, for finding a campsite for me in the horsemen section when the regular section was full
- Michael Dutka, for suggesting I make a reservation at Kentuck Campground
- Dave Nichols, for telling me about a shortcut to Kentuck Campground
- Charlie, a guard at Fallingwater, for suggesting I walk the upper trail
- Clay, Cole, and Jade, of Shawnee's Country Market, for going out of their way to prepare the dinner I requested
- Jim and Connor, of Fat Jimmy's Outfitters, for suggesting True Value might have the O-ring I needed for my air pump and for replacing my rear tire
- Norm Mellott, owner of The New Fort Restaurant, for delivering my dinner 13 miles to my campsite
- Nicole Wagner, bartender at Lizard Creek Pub, for getting me dinner although the kitchen had already closed
- All the companies who made or sold my gear
- All the gas stations and convenience stores that supplied me with beverages and snacks throughout my riding days
- All the motels and hotels in which I stayed
- All the campgrounds in which I camped
- All the restaurants that served my dinner
Comments
Post a Comment