Journey Across America

Edward's Big Ride Across America 2005

Seattle, WA to Washington, DC

June 27 - August 13, 2005

3309 miles / 5325.32 kilometers

06/22/05 - Wednesday - 5 days before the start of the Big Ride

Pre-ride jitters accost me in almost everything I do. Everything this week is a "last" until August 15th. I had my last accountability meeting on Monday morning. I had my last dentist appointment (okay, that one only happens once every 6 months, but it still is freaky!). I'm setting up inbox rules at work to keep my mailbox from filling up. Logistically, I'm getting everything together and wrapping up loose ends and that is keeping me focused. But I keep vacillating between sheer unadulterated excitement to almost paralyzing dread.

Have I trained enough, will I be able to do this, do I have everything I'm going to need? I know this is going to be a fantastic event and am looking forward to it, but at the same time, the planning is over, the countdown is on and Monday we roll out!

No more talking about it. It's time to put the talk into action. Thank you all for your encouragement and I hope you will find the journal/blog/ramblings I do here helpful and informative. For those of you who have contributed to the American Lung Association on my behalf, I thank you! For those who haven't and are wanting to, feel free to do so by clicking here and following the prompts after the "Sponsor Me Online Now! button is pressed.

06/25/05 - Saturday - 2 Days before the start of the Big Ride

I arrived in Seattle today around 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time. I had to change all my clocks back 2 hours. Then it made me realize that I'm going to have to be changing all the clocks across the country at each time zone line. 3300+ miles and 3 hour difference between Seattle and D.C.

I'm as prepared as I can be. I have a few things I need to do to complete the bike. I need to install my HRM speed sensor and bike mount. I also need to install my GPS bike mount on my handle bars. Add a number of items to the bike bag and decide if I'm going to just use two water bottles or go with the hydration pack I have as well.

Otherwise, I'm good, but tired. I miss my family and I know that will be the toughest part, but I am excited to finally be here after almost a year of preparation. I am not naive enough to know that the first day will be a tough one, but excitement and adrenaline will probably push me over the hills on day one. It's the next three until the first rest day that will be the test.

Scott, my friend who rode the 2004 Big Ride, gave me some good advice last week. He told me to take it easy the first days to just get the "80 mile a day legs under you". Just ride an easy pace until your legs get used to 80+ miles a day.

I hope to do just that. Ride easy. Get the feel for doing this activity daily. Then on the good days, put in a good pace and on the days where I need some recovery and rest, to spin out and ride. My goal is to just ride.

I'm excited to meet everyone at orientation tomorrow and to see the efforts of the jersey project as Charlie informs me that they arrived yesterday and look great. Then it will be the battle to try to sleep on Sunday night. Even on "short" rides (100k, Centuries or the first day of a 2-Day 150 mile ride) I find it hard to sleep the night before the start. Will that be amplified by 40+ times tomorrow night? We shall see.

07/01/05 - Friday - Day Five

Day One through Day Four are updated. Be sure and click the Button on the Left corresponding to those dates. Then click the Button for each of those days for the updated content. You can also use the NEXT button at the very bottom of each page. NOTE: Be sure and use your refresh button if you don't see any content.

07/04/05 - Monday - Day Eight

Be sure and check out some of the other Big Rider's websites:

David and Lisa Hobbs

07/28/05 - Thursday - Day Thirty-Two

All pages are up to date to Madison, WI (Day 32) as of today. A stretch of 7 days of riding then a rest day, then 5 days of riding then a rest day await us before the final 2 days into DC. Hope you all are enjoying the pictures and my journaling!

08/11/05 - Thursday - Day Forty-Six

Well, only 2 more days left. We are updated completely trough to Day 46. It was a good rest day in Gettysburg. Now just a short 50 mile and a 55 mile ride into D.C. on Friday and Saturday.

08/13/05 - Saturday - Day Forty-Eight

We are finished. It is amazing that we are done. Check out the web site for both Day 47 and Day 48 as they are updated now. I'll process some of the feelings in my heart and soul and write a final update on Sunday. Thanks again for sticking with me!

Memory Archive

Here you will find the information pertaining to my Big Ride Across America 2005 for historical reference. Enjoy!