I have been flattered to be asked to join Iron Heart Racing. A team or athletes that have been through heart surgery for similar issues to mine. They range from beginners to ironman triathletes. WOW! check out www.ironheartracing.com

I have posted photos on Mountain Bike for ACHA. If you are not on facebook go to http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=185532&id=636934246&l=72d7bb8622 to view them.

Well, I'm writing this from Rockford IL. The bicycle has not been found yet. I have decided to go home and regroup for next year. THIS WILL HAPPEN!

I really need to thank Brent and TJ for all their hospitality. It was great fun getting to know the two of you, and Mia is beautiful. I only meant to stay a couple of days and it turned into 7. Felt like we know each other for years, not just a couple of days. We have so much in common.

I looked into plane tickets for next year and if I buy now it's just about the same cost as a bus ticket. I will be shipping by UPS or FedEx...

I plan to be up there by June 6, and be ready to ride by June 10th. That is the day the Great Divide Race starts from Banff Canada to Antelope Wells, New Mexico/Mexico border. The man who won this year rode it in 17 days! averaged 180 miles in 1 day!!! I think I will just watch the start of the race and go to the closest campsite! 30 miles away.

I am going to continue writing for more sponsors and support through out the year and get even more ready...stay tuned......

GOOD MORNING! I'm in Calgary and woke up feeling very lethargic. I'm drained emotionally and just not quite sure what to do. I wrote to Allan (he donated the bicycle). he offered to make soem phone calls to Greyhound. I also started calling around. I called Fargo ND station after they left a message on my phone. THEY HAVE MY TRAILER!!! Kevin-the guy who left the message was just holding it so he could ship it to where I was staying. He is also going to call the Swift Current station (where the bicycle was tagged for) to see if the bicycle is there. I'm so hyper now i think I will crash in a few hours. I definately will need a nap after this! SO my plan for the day. I will have lunch with David, the cyclist who I had lunch with over the weekend. He rode from Calgary to Banff for the holiday weekend, as it was their independance day. I could be on the trail by Friday, Saturday at the latest! WOO! HOO!

Hi! I'm in Banff, Had a bit of trouble, Greyhound has lost my luggage (YES! that means my bicycle and trailer...) and Facebook has locked me out of my account because I am useing a different location...Not a lot of trouble but enough to be a bit frustrated. All the staff at Greyhound reassure me that it will show up. I hope so. THe actual bus ride was better then I thought it would be, and I'm not having as many problems acclimating as I thought I would. My entire body is swollen/bloated but I am not counging and don't have a headache. I will write more ASAP!

I know I haven't haven't written in a while, I've been so busy. I'm in the middle of a shift and will be off work April 28th. I have tons to write and will do so then!

Just in the last day I have received responses from BOB trailers and Oakley Sunglasses. This doesn't mean I have been sponsored-they contacted me to let me know they are going review my story further. The part I am excited about is their response wasn't from a cookie cutter like I am used to when companies decided to 'review' and then say no. I found an article titled Solo Long Distance Cycling Fundraising" How random and perfect is that! I contacted the author, Lance Winslow and he has given me a lot of tips already and stated we will get this going...He is really interested in helping me with this! Thanks Lance. He also told me about a website called "Just Finish" It's about athletes and their community dedicated to motivating and encouraging ALL runners, walkers, cyclists and multi-sport athletes through the FINISH'.

In New Hampshire right now renewing my EMT certificate. This week I did a practice run for a presentation I will give at Green Mountain College on February 4th about my last bicycle trip and this next trip. The AWEMT class at SOLO gave me a lot of tips to make this presentation much better. THANKS! Decided to take out a lot of pictures that are beautiful, but I really don't have a story for them. In all I think I will be talking for about 1 1/2 hours and then a question session. I have brought the maps for both trips and will talk about itinerary and what I learned from the first trip that will make the second trip better/easier. I have also made business cards that I will give to everyone I talk to and will go to bicycle shops to ask if they will help me advertise. If they are interested I will hang one on each bicycle they have in the store. I also started a causes page on FaceBook. There are now 58 members! I am starting to not know some people who have joined. Need to go now to study - National Registary Test Tuesday!

Can't believe I am going back to work soon. Too much to do! :) I am in the process of writing to the USFS and BLM offices out west to ask for assitance in lodging costs at the campgrounds. Also I found a great group called Warm Showers. They are a network of cyclists that open their homes to fellow cyclists. I am writing to each of those that live along the route to see about a back yard to set up my tent. Also ACHA has written to members of ACHA to see if they are interested in assisting! With the exception of the bike & trailer, lodging will be my biggest expense. I estimated it to be about $1,200.

I have been riding a lot and working out - I am not fond of Pilates but am doing an hour every day. Excited to say I am a lot more balanced on my bicycle in just 1 week. Since it is really cold out I am stuck inside. I have a rollor set for my bicycle. Similar to a trainer but I set the bicycle up on rollors and have to balance. Within the first year of my heart surgery I was not able to ride longer then 3-4 minutes. The balance issues alone exhausted me. Now I am riding 4-5 half hour sessions daily. I want to get outside ASAP to ride, but the goal with the rollors is by the time I leave I can ride one day a full 8 hours with only bathroom breaks (renting lots of movies that day!) otherwise all my other wrokout goals are on the road and trail

Only 10 more weeks left!