Monday March 30 and it is some 40 days before we dip wheels into the Pacific and begin the journey of a lifetime. On Sunday May 10 I, and another 30 or so cyclists ,will begin a 50 day ride that will ultimately end in Boston with a dip of the same wheels into the Atlantic. This blog will be a message to family and friends along the way and, of course, a history of this grand adventure for me. I expect to someday be sitting in my wheelchair, an attendant standing by with tissues to clear my beard, and I will be able to read this narrative of 2009 and be very glad I took the chance while I could. No small part of my motivation has been the thought that I would hate to get to a ripe old age (whatever that might be) and be thinking "woulda, coulda, shoulda" over a missed opportunity. That being said, Tom Ryan and I went out today (Tom is my partner and roomie on this venture - you will hear more along the way) on what passes for a spring day in New Jersey. We did 45 miles, changed a flat, and fought cold headwinds and crosswinds (there never seems to be a tailwind) the entire way. Good training for what lies ahead but was very glad to get into a hot shower. Among other things I'm also trying to get used to this tiny little laptop purchased for the trip and so will do an occasional post over the next month - tech training to complement the physical training. I'm looking forward to a day in shorts and jersey instead of heavy tights and three layers of sweats and the winter bike jacket. Perhaps the next post. More to come.......