A week from today, we begin!

Training has gone well – rode 40 miles and close to 2000 feet of elevation a few days ago and have tried to get out on the bike daily.  I’m starting to get a bit nervous about all those miles on all those roads with all those cars and in all kinds of weather (though I’ll not ride in steady rain or storms unless I’m caught by surprise).   

Here’s the link for anyone interested in donating  – http://www.generosity.com/community-fundraising/new-beginnings-work

Here’s my cycling schedule – please contact me if you can join for portions of the ride.

Dates (after start date) are approximate for New Beginnings Work cycling event-underlined are places for planned media events

APRIL 2__NEW MEXICO  10 AM meet at the Duck Pond UNM – Albuquerque, Moriarty, Vaughn, Ft. Sumner, Clovis

April 7__TEXAS  Littlefield, Lubbock,  Post, Snyder,  Abiliene,  Coleman, Brownwood, Goldthwaite,  Lampasas,  Austin (media event)  (rental car to New Orleans)

APRIL 20__LOUISIANA New Orleans

APRIL 22__MISSISSIPPI  Bay St. Louis, Pascagoula (will market to Jackson, Mississippi)

APRIL 24__ALABAMA  Gulf Shores (near Mobile)

APRIL 26__FLORIDA  Pensacola/Gulf Breeze, Crestview, Bonifay, Tallahassee, High Springs, Gainesville,  Palatka, St. Augustine,  Yulee

MAY 9__GEORGIA  Folkston,  Brunswick,  New Richmond, Savannah

MAY 13__SOUTH CAROLINA  Ridgeland, Walterboro,  Moncks Corner ( near Charleston),  Andrews,  Conway (this route may change after I receive additional information)

MAY 19__NORTH CAROLINA Shallotte, Wilmington, Surf City, Jacksonville, Swansboro, Ocracoke,  Rodanthe, Nags Head (near Wrightsville)(rental car to Fredericksburg area)

MAY 28__VIRGINIA Fredericksburg, Dale City

JUNE 1__Washington DC

JUNE 3__Then BALTIMORE

15 days and counting!

The official start date is only 15 days away.  Training is going well – yesterday I rode 34 miles with almost 1800 feet of elevation. I think that means I’m ready for Sedillo Hill (an elevation of about 1500 feet heading east out of Albuquerque). I met this lovely family in Blue Diamond, Nevada who were on vacation from their home in Alaska. I learned about some wonderful dedicated bike lanes in that state and will definitely plan a future visit there!  Thanks, donors!  We’re at 4% of the goal already!  http://www.generosity.com/community-fundraising/new-beginnings-work

Training is tough

Right now I’m building up mileage and hours and elevation so that when I start April 2 I’ll be ready for that 1500 feet of elevation on the way to Moriarty NM and then 70 miles the next day to Vaughn. Actually, these might be the 2 hardest days of the whole adventure! But sometimes it is really hard to motivate myself to get outdoors.  Today I hope to put in 3 hours.  I figure I’ll be riding 6-8 hours a day and if I can get my average to 4 hours daily by March 20 and then add in two 6 hour days the following week, I’ll be ready to roll! Fortunately, there are such wonderful views as I train, and I expect to see many more as I ride 3000-plus miles to Baltimore.  This particular view is part of the Red Rock National Conservation area outside of Las Vegas NV as I’m here for a short period of time helping out a family member with pre-op and post-op care.

T-shirts and more as I approach April 2nd

April 2nd is the firm start date now that my family member is on the road to full recovery from a medical procedure.  So, I’m increasing my miles per day of training in order to be ready for the  50-60 miles per day once the adventure starts.   Below is the tentative schedule (tentative for dates post April 2nd since weather and mechanical problems will change things up a bit).  

Also, my sister’s design for New Beginnings Work is now available on t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, duffel bags, and more.  Check out this link if you’re interested.  www.cafepress.com/newbeginningswork

APRIL 2__NEW MEXICO  Albuquerque (media event), Moriarty, Vaughn, Ft. Sumner, Clovis

April 7__TEXAS  Littlefield, Lubbock (media event),  Post, Snyder,  Abiliene (media event),  Coleman, Brownwood, Goldthwaite,  Lampasas,  Austin (media event)  (rental car to New Orleans)

APRIL 20__LOUISIANA New Orleans (media event)

APRIL 22__MISSISSIPPI  Bay St. Louis, Pascagoula  (will market to Jackson, Mississippi for media event)

APRIL 24__ALABAMA  Gulf Shores (near Mobile – media event)

APRIL 26__FLORIDA  Pensacola/Gulf Breeze-media event, Panama City, Tallahassee (media event) , High Springs, Gainesville,  Palatka,   St. Augustine (media event),  Yulee

MAY 9__GEORGIA  Folkston,  Brunswick,  New Richmond, Savannah (media event)

MAY 13__SOUTH CAROLINA  Ridgeland, Walterboro,  Moncks Corner (media event since near Charleston),  Andrews,  Conway (this route may change after I receive additional information)

MAY 19__NORTH CAROLINA Shallotte, Wilmington (media event), Surf City, Jacksonville, Swansboro, Ocracoke,  Rodanthe, Nags Head (possible media event since near Wrightsville)(rental car to Fredericksburg area)

MAY 28__VIRGINIA Fredericksburg (media event), Dale City

JUNE 1__Washington DC  (media event)

JUNE 3__Then BALTIMORE (media event)