Hawaii- a final blog
The Final Blog- Hawaii- the 50th state….
So I write this with a tear in my eye beachside in Hawaii.
The lowdown on the Hawaii ride- simple- it’s hot, it’s beautiful, it’s windy and it’s everything everyone talks about. Amazing. The Ironman competitors are phenomenal athletes. I am looking forward to seeing it next week. This course was tough- even after riding 49 others it was still one of the tougher rides. I can not compare the 5000 miles I rode to the Ironman competition. These are some phenomenal athletes. Also a big thanks to Bicycle Works For letting me use one of your bikes.
Now down to business for the final blog…..
I have tears of joy. I have successfully completed something never completed before. I have pedaled over 100 miles in all 50 states in 50 consecutive days totaling 5000 miles.
All of this was done one pedal stroke at a time for those affected by cancer.
This is the end of one journey but the beginning of something new- Healthy Altitudes and the Ride For Your Life. A close group of family and friends made this entire thing possible and in the process, we have reached out to thousands of survivors.
Great job Scot Ward, Steve Bouchard, Charlotte deMare, Joan Farcus, Dad, and Jim Weinstein. WE DID IT! Also Thank you to the Lance Armstorng Foundation for working with us on this project.
There are so many people and businesses who contributed along the way, I want to thank you as well. It is amazing to see the side of America that is so dedicated to volunteer time, energy, and resources to such a great cause. Cancer affects everyone-we all need to do our part and volunteer.
There are so many memories and thoughts and stories to tell from along the way. The most important part of this trip was that we successfully completed our mission, we successfully raised funds for cancer survivors, and we successfully reached out to thousands of people to raise awareness about health promotion and disease prevention.
I couldn’t possibly write about everything in one blog- so I will leave you with one memory and several pictures of those who provided hugs along the way.
The memory to highlight from this trip:
I rode across Oklahoma and had just gotten a flat tire (might drag anyone down),however, my spirits were lifted. I got to a predetermined school that was interested in the Ride For Your Life. There, on a stone wall outside their school, were hundreds of kids from Wapanucka, Oklahoma. I rode by and they all extended a hand. I was so lucky to give every single one of them a high five. I was able to go back and talk to them about why I was riding accross the country and the importance of being active and wearing a helmet when riding a bicycle.
There are so many stories to tell and so many people I met along the way that had amazing stories to share. Please check back regularly as there will be much more to come.
I plan to package this adventure to share with you at future events and in future mediums.
For now- I need to let my fingers rest, my legs rest, and my eyes rest for a few minutes.
Then it’s time to keep on going, one pedal stroke at a time.
In Health,
Gary G