Sunday, July 19, 2009

Diamond in the Ruff

Idaho.... who knew? Who knew that I could make it all the way from Virginia to Idaho. Who knew that Idaho contained some of the strongest head winds experienced on this trip? Who knew that it Boise, ID would be the hottest city visited thus far on this trip at over 100 degrees? Who knew that Stanley, ID would be coldest city visited on this trip while camping in 30 degree weather? We were told that Idaho would be a hidden gem.... that person was right. Who knew?

We had our final Build Day in Idaho Falls, ID. I volunteered to shingle the roof of a new Habitat house and dragged Nick and John to join me. Despite gusts of wind at 35 mph and a few shingles that were sacrificed to the Westerly winds, it felt so good to be up there hauling bundles of shingles over my shoulders and working with those guys. When is all said and done, I'm a fairly simple guy... I just love to be physically active. At the end of a hard day's work and a large appetite, the pastor of the local Presbyterian church invited us to his home for a BBQ. Over the course of three rounds of food and of course desert, I had a wonderful conversation with a local attorney about our trip. It was great to recall some of the random stories from different states.

However, I need to jump on a quick tangent. On this trip, we have stayed in more than 55 different churches. Ranging from conservative to progressive, there is a strong consistent theme that needs to be highlighted. All of them.... and I mean every single one has been extremely hospitable to our cause and to our group by providing a place to sleep and often a warm meal.

I began this trip in hopes of discovering a professional direction in my life by cycling 3,500 miles. To be honest, with 3,000 completed and only 500 remaining, I am still just as lost as I was at the beginning of this trip.... if not even more so. I'll admit, it's extremely frustrating at times, but there is a significant shift in my process of thinking. No longer is there doubt about what I can acheive or if I will be successful. This trip has taught me that I can accomplish anything. I have too strong of a work ethic and I care too much in order to not be succesful. My thinking now focuses on WHAT to do I want to do. So, where am I now in this search? I'm at the point where I need to relax, enjoy this last week, and trust that I'll find that calling.

Tomorrow, we enter Oregon. The last state. The final stretch. With a little bit of pain in my left knee, I'm ready to tackle the high desert of Eastern Oregon, climb over Mt. Hood pass, descend into Portland, chat with my favorite barista at the Clearing Cafe, see my sister and brother, and celebrate in the Pacific Ocean with the whole group. Thanks for all your support.

I'll end this now. I need to get back to writing post cards.

Dave

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Colorado <---- I'm tired and can't think of a witty title

Loyal blog followers! Please accept this blog post as a formal apology for my lack of posts from this last week or so. Excuses? None, except for the hectic hiatus of the past seven days.

You see... sometimes in life, one needs to do the unthinkable in order to be everywhere at once. After crossing the entire state of Colorado, I officially dismounted by bike in Craig, CO, just a few miles from the Utah border, and packed it in the van for a few short days. The group continued through the Northeast corner of Utah and a portion of Wyoming, while I pulled a reverse Clark Kent- out of the spandex and into a three-piece suit, and flew to Portland, OR to be a witness of the union between my sister Martha and my new brother-in-law Bernie. What a joyous occasion to have the entire family in one place, and to celebrate their occasion with dancing, laughter, and possibly one of the most fun nights in my life. Congrats!

However, I need to focus this B&B blog on the trip. Our last meeting was in Kansas, and it would be unfair to deprive you of stories from icing of this trip's cake... Colorado, and its Rocky Mountains!! I could write for hours, but given my current fatigue, I think it best to write about the random memories and highlights from this wonderful state.


  • This is how we looked when we crossed from KS to CO. It was the beginning of a long 93 mile day from St. Francis, KS to Lindon, CO. When asked to describe Lindon, our destination for the day, Andrew replied "It's more like.... an area, than a town." Possibly the smallest community in which we've stayed on this trip thus far. It consisted of one church, a few homes, and a cafe that had no intention of ever re-opening. However, it places like this that I will never forget. Showers with a spicket in the back of the church, watching incredible thunderstorms roll in, and times when all we have is each other for entertainment. We came and left Lindon, CO without seeing anyone from the town or the church.
  • The ride into Denver resembles KS to to capital T. Flat, flat, flat, and windy. Until that moment where you come over the ridge and see the entire Rocky Mountain range spread out like a table cloth from as far South to as far North as the eye can see. The sight of snow capped peaks make the last 500 miles completely worthwhile.
  • One might expect to ride the last sixty miles into Denver in some state of euphoria while drooling of its beauty. My ride was overall OK, except for the wind, exhaustion, and ruthless traffic. Some of our co-rider were not so lucky! A storm developed, while the wind and rain intensified, a small tornado developed east of Denver. Riders had to resort to a ditch off the side of the road. Everyone was safe, but its at that moment that we all realized how vulnerable we are as cyclists on a journey across the country.
  • Denver was phenomenal with a build day and a day off in order to rest the legs before four days in the mountains. Its funny how a trip low and high can take place in one afternoon. As a former employee of Habitat for Humanity, I know that the most idiotic thing one can do on a construction site is step on a rusted nail. Guess what? I managed to accomplish it! Before you stop jumping to conclusions, I should clarify that I was walking through high grass. Regardless, a local Habitat volunteer, Jan, offered to drive me to urgent care in order to get a tetanus shot. All was fine, but I offered to buy her lunch at a local taco place next to the urgent care in order to thank her for driving me 20 miles. What an amazing person/story. We talked for so long, and she was so enthusiastic and encouraging as she was amazed at some of my recent adventures during these last few years. After maybe a little too much thinking time in Kansas, I needed someone like that.
  • Coffee and ice cream with Ashley Haas in Boulder, CO. Such a highlight! Thanks for showing me Ash's Boulder!
  • We biked from Boulder to Estes Park, via Lefthand Canyon and Peak to Peak Highway. It was our first real climb since the Appalachians. We ascended nearly 4,000 ft in maybe 10 miles. After being passed by a nationally ranked triathlete at the bottom, I rode alone up the pass with a lot on my mind about my future career. Wondering if I would ever accomplish anything great in my life, or if I would ever make any real change in the world, I noticed the irony. Here I am on a cross-country bike trip, biking up and over the Rocky Mountains, wondering if I will ever do anything extraordinary with my life. What a unique setting to have that type of an epiphany.
  • We stayed at Eagle Rock School outside of Estes Park in a canyon. A school focusing on reachig at risk youth via alternative education and cross-curricular courses. I mean, who wouldn't want to take a class like the Physics of Mountain Biking or a geology course on Colorado Rock Climbing. This school is entirely funded by Honda, but you won't see a single Honda logo anywhere on campus. Such an awesome place!
  • From Estes Park, we rode into Rocky Mountain National Park and up Trail Ridge Road- the highest paved road in North America at 12,090 ft in elevation. Astonishing views, a herd of elk, group dance party at the summit, and the best 12 mile descent ever!




  • I'm finding that it's quite late, I'm lacking wit in my writing, this blog post has become excessively long, and I can't find a climax for this post. Therefore, I just want to say thank you for all your support and the opportunity for me to relive some of these random memories that can so easily be forgotten on a trip like this if not written down. I look forward to seeing you all soon.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

KS.... forever.

I"M STILL IN KANSAS. Soon, soon.... I'll be in Colorado and I can't wait. Here are some highlights of biking 350 miles across this state.

1. We wake up at 4AM in order to beat the heat, so we are usually on the road by the time that the sun rises. Big sky, big open spaces, great way to start the day.
2. KS is not actually flat. We reached the top of of small hill and could see for endless miles in any direction.
3. Biking for 70 miles on the same road and not seeing any civilization.
4. We took the day off in Manhattan, KS which is home to Kansas State Univ. It was the first time that we slept past 5AM in almost a month.
5. After biking 85 miles in 95degree weather, sometimes a shower with a garden hose just hits the spot.
6. People are amazingly gracious and generous. Their enthusiasm leads to some wonderful home-cooked meals.
7. Plenty of thinking time about life.... ahhh clarity. :) It's about damn time.
8. We were play a game where we would sneak up on each other and pinch one another in the leg. After 5 hrs of playing, things turned sour. Let's just say.... someone swerved, my wheel caught their wheel and the end result was two very wobbly wheels. I felt horrible, but fortunately the Urban Bike Project of Wilmington, DE taught me how to true wheels. Huge life saver in the middle of KS!!! Thanks guys!
9. We arrive in town pretty early, so it's been a good bonding experience for the group since we need to make our own fun. Local towns have been wonderful in allowing us to have free access to their local pool. Plus, a wonderful person sent me a package with Time magazine and Newsweek on the Eastern side of KS... ahhh... so nice to have the smallest idea of what is happening in the real world.
10. I don't know if there is a tenth highlight? I was pretty impressed to think of nine. No no... I had one of the best night's sleep in Beloit, KS.

Simple pleasures in KS. I need some intellectual stimulation :) Bye!

Dave

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Kansas

Someone described Kansas as purgatory. They were right. Hot, flat, and non-stop wind. In addition, my phone is currently not working and there isn't another Verizon Store until Denver, CO. :(

This is a day when I realize how much I miss people.

David

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Missouri... Misory

So, access to the Internet is often limited on a cross-country cycling trip. The few moments that I do have are typically short due to the queue of people waiting to check their e-mail after me or the level of exhaustion that I am currently experiencing. This leads me to have limited opportunities to write creative blog posts.

Well, I have a few minutes, so I thought I'd briefly share a typical day in the life with you all.

So here it is... a day in the life with David during Bike and Build.

The phone begins to vibrate sometime between 5 and 6 AM. Within minutes, I start to hear the air leaving the Thermarests upon which we sleep as people begin to roll their sleeping bags and start to pack their bags. On a ten week trek, we can easily count the number of times that we get to sleep in a bed on one hand.

I've been designated as the group's barista. After stuffing everything that I own into a duffel bag and get geared up for the day, I scrounge through the host site's kitchen facilities to prepare coffee for everyone. We all participate in packing 31 riders' bags, gear, and food into a small trailer. The process is now down to a science.

Around 7:45, the stretching session begins with my second cup coffee in hand. One of the four trip leaders begins to pass out cue sheets with our route for the day. We soon mount our bikes and depart for the day's trek from one city to the next. The magnitude of our trip is too great for me to comprehend at times, so I resort to simply thinking taking each day's ride as it comes without thinking about the next.

It's awesome to be on a trip with so many different people from different places. While we stretch our legs during the first 15 miles, I often have a chance to joke and talk with fellow riders. Eventually we start to form various groups based on pace. The best part is watching friends become stronger and more confident on their bikes.

We recharge around the 35th mile with a roadside PB&J stop. We manage to find some pretty interesting combinationgs with PB. Who know it could go so well with Fruity Pebbles and Sweet Relish?

We average around 70 miles a day, so we start to pull into our host site in the early afternoon. Ernest Hemingway once wrote about discovering a country's terrain by bicycle as the most real way to experience and encounter the land. I believe the same is true for meeting the amazingly hospitable people that inhabit this place. People from all over are willing to assist us in our journey by giving us a floor to sleep on, a roof over our heads, and a belly full of home cooking. I'm often baffled by our generous people are.

The evening is full of chores, errands, bicycle maintenance, laughter, and journaling. I know a lot of you are wondering when I'll figure out what it is that I want to do with my life. Well, be patient, it's coming :). I can usually sneak away to make a few phone calls and share my day with a couple of amazing people back home. Sleep is never an issue after inflating my Thermarest and bunching up my sweatshirt to use as a pillow.

Simple days and joys keep me going.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Ohio and Indiana

Let me just say that both Ohio and Indiana surprised a lot of people as being amazing states to bike through. Gentle rolling hills, Cinci, hospitable hosts, great weather, Columbus Indiana, Bloomington. The problem with that is the fact that my 7 year old hand me down digi camera finally gave out on me. Therefore, no pics from those two states yet. I'll steal some from my co-riders later.

Currently, we are in Illinois. We've now officially entered the Midwest. Yesterday was 70 miles on one long flat road with a strong head wind, no scenery, and thunderstorms. Perseverance.

Quick fact: I've somehow managed to gain 9 pounds since the start of this trip. Don't ask me how.

PS. We are at mile 1000.

Love you all.

David Kozy

Thursday, June 4, 2009

A few pictures...

SO! I know that I promised pictures, so I must fulfill my commitments and upload a few quick pictures before a 95 mile ride tomorrow.



This is Lee. He rode this route last year but joined us for a mountainous 80 miles along the Blue Ridge Parkway.


The gang after our first build day at a Habitat site in Charlottesville. Peep the drywall dust.


All 31 of us as we are about to dip our back wheels into the Atlantic Ocean.

For now it is the Atlantic, but in two months... the Pacific!


This is our trailer where we load all of our bags. We painted it for the trip.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

West Virginia

Lexington, VA was a wonderful lay over after our grueling trek along the Blue Ridge Parkway. As we were rolling out of town the left morning, I specifically remember looking at my friend Aaron and uttering in between painful pedal strokes, "Can't we just go get coffee instead of biking today?" The answer was "NO" of course and I continued to ride alone, which is a rarity, along VA-39 which follows the snaking Maury River. Stunning, absolutely stunning. With gentle rolling hills and beautiful scenery, I remember making a specific note to come back and re-ride VA-39 in the future.

However, I didn't know what that day was to hold.

After lunch, I continued to mosy along VA-39 again and I immediately noticed the rode start to incline upwards and continue that way for some time. After countless bends and 3 miles of cycling up a mountain, I reached the first of three mountain passes for that day.

The next two passes were completed with a group of friends. It's truly amazing to see the way in which the Appalachians are able to bond a group of people that had only met a week prior. I always viewed cycling as an individual sport, but the amount of teamwork that goes into to suffering through a mountain pass is extraordinary.

We entered into West Virginia, having completed our first entire state, we celebrated with pictures at the border.

West Virginia's motto is "Wild and Wonderful".... and boy is it.

Our first night in Marlinton, WV was spent at a farmhouse a few miles outside of town. Every image that you could possibly have of rural WV was realized in this farmhouse that Maggie was kind enough to open up to us. No neighbors leads to the opportunity to shoot shotguns at tin cans. Did I mention that we had to bike up a five mile mountain just to reach fresh spring water? Ohhh.... this trip is one large cultural lesson across America.

WV was about mountains, and we completed them. WV was about seeing some of the realest rural poverty in the nation, and it left us with lasting images and stories of the challenges that exist in our own nation.

I'm happy to be in OHIO(!!!!!) and to be able to have dinner with Brittany. Where did I find such a great girlfriend? Tomorrow is our second build day here in Cincinnati. More drywall? You never know.

Updates with pictures SOON!

Dave

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

One week in.

Hey everyone! Sorry for the lack of updates, it apparently isn't very easy finding the internet in the middle of VA. I only have a few minutes, so this will be real short.

We are currently 345 miles into our voyage. The 31 other people on the trip are simply amazing, and it's been a blast cycling, camping, knocking on strangers doors in order to find a garden hose to create a mock shower, etc. with my co-riders.

Today we biked 80 HILLY miles up Mount Ashton and then along Blueride Scenic Parkway in the Appalachians. The fog was so dense that we couldn't see beyond 50 yards at times, but there was a moment when we were above the fog and could see it in the valley. Uhhh!!! So beautiful.

We even had our first build day at a local Habitat in Charlottesville, VA. Back to hanging drywall like it was my job.... oh wait... it used to be my job. :)

There will be pictures soon, but I just wanted to write a quick post before I get kicked off. Please keep me in your prayers for safety, fun, fellowship, and clarity.

West Virginia, here we come.

See you all soon!

PS. Follow my trip here as well! It is a great interactive site!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Here we go.

I'm on my way to Virginia Beach, VA and am going to be meeting the group of 25 people with whom I'll be cycling across country.

Again.... what do it get myself into? :)

The last couple days included developing some sort of caloric reserves. How many bags of M&Ms did I eat? Who knows....

One last thing before I go. THANK YOU ALL so much for your support in financing affordable housing projects and supporting Habitat for Humanity!! It's been awesome to see everyone come together for this cause.

Also, I'll have my phone on me this summer. So please feel free to call, harass me, give me words of encouragement as I suffer through Kansas or in the Rockies. Take care everyone!

-Dave

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

My motivation.

One week from today on May 19, I meet the twenty-five other crazy participants in this adventure from coast to coast. It'll be a crazy week between now and then, but I'm living every minute of it.

Over the last few months, people from Wilmington, DE and home in Toledo, OH have been constantly asking what is next in my life. As I describe this upcoming bike trip, it's been so much fun to watch the facial expressions of the person with whom I'm talking. Some people respond with sheer excitement. Neal, a 70-year old retired phys. ed teacher who volunteers at Habitat, almost tackled me with envy as he realized that I was not only going to live my dream, but also live his dream of cycling from the east coast to his native state of Oregon.

Other people's reactions have been of slight confusion. As I describe the route which crosses the central portion of the US and then ascends the Rockies and continues north to the Oregon coast. The person scratches their head, tilts it sideways, and in slight shock utters: "Oh..... you mean.... you're cycling across this country.... the United States?"

There have been a few times in my life when I stop and wonder "What am I getting myself into?"

With all that said, I wanted to share with you the video that enticed me to participate in this trip. It's a collection of memories from the 2007 trip lead by Bike and Build across the central US. When I saw it, I knew that I had to do it. Here it is.

I'll leave you with a quote form Hunter S. Thompson:

"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, ‘Wow! What a Ride!”

Thanks for reading.

-Dave

Saturday, May 9, 2009

The Route

So, I leave Toledo in exactly one week. I'll be spending a few days in Williamsburg, VA before the beginning of my trip on May 19, 2009. In the mean time, I decided to take an Independent Studies class through Lourdes College.... aka, I have a 20 page paper and a presentation due next Friday. I'm secretly loving every second of being busy again before the trip.

At any rate, I need a quick break from writing and thought that I'd share with you the itinerary for my trip. If you think our paths might potentially cross at any point this summer, make sure you call ;) I'd love to see a familiar face. Here it is:



Week:
Date
City - State
Mi.
05/19 Virginia Beach - VA 0
05/20 Virginia Beach - VA 0
05/21 Suffolk - VA 40
05/22 Waverly - VA 55
05/23 Blackstone - VA 63
05/24 Dillwyn - VA 59
05/25 Charlottesville - VA 56

05/26 BUILD DAY 0
05/27 Lexington - VA 72
05/28 Marlinton - WV 74
05/29 Summersville - WV 63
05/30 Charleston - WV 61
05/31 Huntington - WV 52
06/1 Portsmouth - OH 45

06/2 Georgetown - OH 73
06/3 Cincinnati - OH 50
06/4 BUILD DAY 0
06/5 Columbus - IN 94
06/6 Bloomington - IN 45
06/7 Terre Haute - IN 63
06/8 Effingham - IL 70

06/9 Greenville - IL 55
06/10 St. Louis - MO 55
06/11 BUILD DAY 0
06/12 Washington - MO 62
06/13 Jefferson City - MO 94
06/14 Sedalia - MO 62
06/15 Kansas City - MO 100

06/16 BUILD DAY 0
06/17 Lawrence - KS 47
06/18 Manhattan - KS 90
06/19 DAY OFF 0
06/20 Clay Center - KS 40
06/21 Beloit - KS 60
06/22 Phillipsburg - KS 90

06/23 Oberlin - KS 67
06/24 St. Francis - KS 70
06/25 Limon - CO 95
06/26 Denver - CO 90
06/27 BUILD DAY 0
06/28 DAY OFF 0
06/29 Boulder - CO 73

06/30 Estes Park - CO 42
07/1 Rocky Mtn. NP - CO 45
07/2 Kremmling - CO 50
07/3 Steamboat Springs - CO 54
07/4 BUILD DAY 0
07/5 Maybell - CO 72
07/6 Vernal - UT 88

07/7 Flaming Gorge - UT 67
07/8 Rock Springs - WY 65
07/9 Pinedale - WY 103
07/10 Jackson - WY 78
07/11 DAY OFF 0
07/12 Idaho Falls - ID 90
07/13 BUILD DAY 0

07/14 Arco - ID 72
07/15 Challis - ID 84
07/16 Stanley - ID 59
07/17 Idaho City - ID 91
07/18 Boise - ID 40
07/19 DAY OFF 0
07/20 Ontario - OR 52

07/21 Unity - OR 81
07/22 John Day - OR 50
07/23 Dayville - OR 33
07/24 Fossil - OR 70
07/25 Maupin - OR 76
07/26 Portland - OR 100
07/27 BUILD DAY 0

07/28 Vernonia - OR 45
07/29 Cannon Beach - OR 65
Total Mileage: 3857
**Subject to change

Friday, May 8, 2009

Let's get something out of the way...

There have been some questions about handling pain. Well... in order to delicately handle this issue, I decided to splurge and buy two pairs of expensive (aka more comfortable) bike shorts. Meet the Pearl Izumi Ultra Sensor.

These shorts are going to save my butt. Literally!!! Enough said. :)

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Question answered!

First of all, I want to thank all of you for supporting me thus far. It is truly wonderful to be able to invite people to become in involved in a social cause that I have been so engaged in. For those interested in donating, here is the needed information!

CLICK HERE to access Bike and Build's web page. From there, simply scroll down the list of riders in order to select my name. Enter your information, and boom! You have now successfully donated to a cause that improves people's lives by providing decent, safe, affordable housing.

I still have a little way to go! Thanks.

Sorry, this post is so short. More to come :)

Friday, April 24, 2009

Just as I suspected....

.... "You are officially the WORST blogger ever!!"

These were the kind words of encouragement that I received from my beloved Portland-living DPT sister, Martha Lynn Kozy. Such supportive family, huh?

I'm kidding, but I must admit. I've always been more scared by this blog than I have been by a 65 mile bike ride. You see, I'm new to this blogging world, and I want to make sure that this is enjoyable for people to read.

The past month since my last post has been been quite hectic. My computer crashed (losing all data mind you). I packed up and said goodbye to Wilmington, DE and the people who truly inspired me to become who I am. Finally, I've since returned to Toledo, OH (reverse culture schock?) in order to spend the remaining weeks before my trip with family and friends and lots training.

Here are some other updates:
  • Of the inital $4,000 fund raising goal, I am officially at $3,965!!!! That is truly amazing. I want to thank everyone who has contributed to this cause and for supporting me. Only $35 to go.... I know someone has some pocket change to spare.
  • The training is going really well. One of the key focuses is to simply get my body used to spending endless hours pedaling a bike. This is when expensive bike shorts are critical to survival.
  • Not only have I been training Toledo, but I've also had the opportunity to visit dear friends and train in Cleveland and Columbus. The variety of terrain is so important after NW Ohio's endless cornfields.
  • 3 1/2 weeks to go! Game on!

Finally, I'd like you to meet some of the amazing families that I was able to work with while at Habitat. These are some of the most amazing, loving, caring, beautiful, and inspirational people that I'll ever meet. Your support and prayers go to improving lives.

Many more blog posts to come soon. I promise ;) Thanks for reading.

David

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Spring Training

Spring training. Game on!! I'm currently deciding on a training program prior to the trip. It'll probably include riding 5 days a week. The best thing? It gives me an excuse to ride my bike almost everyday after work. Ahhh.... it's like my own little stress ball. Now if I could just get the temperature over 45 degrees.

The Beginning....

Hello everyone!! I'm glad that you stopped by to pay my blog a visit as I begin yet another new journey in my life, Bike and Build 2009.

I imagine that most of you know me, but let me give a brief intro for those who don't. My name is David, I'm 25, and I'm often been referred to as a "wanderer." While I think I would prefer most people to call me "adventurous" instead, I still embrace it. I've been extremely blessed to have opportunities to meet incredible people and witness amazing sights as I've meandered throughout the world. For the last two years, I've worked for Habitat for Humanity New Castle County as as assistant project supervisor. I've managed volunteers, worked with future homeowners, and installed more sheets drywall than I'd like to count. Yet, the opportunity to be a part of something so much larger, greater, and more significant than myself has been one of the most enriching experiences that I will carry forever.

In the last three years, I've also gained a growing passion for cycling, along with its physical and therapeutic effects. While I've never been involved in a cross-country trip before, I've often dreamed of it.

Most of you already know about Bike and Build. A non-profit organization that leads several cross-country bike trips of each summer to raise awareness and money for affordable housing causes in the US. If you'd like more info, please visit www.bikeandbuild.org

Hmmm.... a cross-country bike trip to raise money for affordable housing and Habitat for Humanity? Could anyone have created a more perfect opportunity??!? "There is no way that you can NOT do it" was how one friend put it. I signed up, I'm in. Now, I'm so excited to use my passion for cycling to share my passion for affordable housing.

This blog is an opportunity to share my trip with everyone who supported me, whether financially or morally. Thank you everyone!! I'll be sharing pictures and stories throughout training and my 4,000 epic journey that begins on May 19. So, please stop by, enjoy, and leave a comment.

David Kozy