FAQ | Free Campsites

In planning our itinerary I found this site I thought I would pass on to all of you who camp. Who can't stand to save some money these days??? FAQ | Free Campsites

OKLAHOMA

WOW, it's hard to believe it's finally here.  A week away!  I'm nervous and anxious and excited.  I haven't had the opportunity to organize this as I would have wanted ..actually I would have preferred to have not had the need but I am so deeply moved by what the community of Moore Oklahoma is facing I am dedicating this ride to them.  I  already was going to carry any names of any youth GONE TOO SOON who's family would like for me too.  Moore lost 24 people in just a matter of minutes. Seven of those 24 were children, gone much too soon not by any shooter or illness, no one to blame, no forewarning.  Perhaps they are lucky to have each other but "lucky"?  Hardly, their lives probably feel like they  have been turned upside down, twisted and wrung out and knotted up and tossed to the dogs.  And that's putting it mildly.

I have a DONATE button on my page here where you can make a donation via pay pal.  I'm honest.  Some of the funds may be used for necessities along the ride but as minimal as possible because I'd like to present as big a check as possible to those families.  Oh and pay pal does take a small percentage for the service.  If you don't want to go through me I understand but please think about what these people have gone through and will be going through and if there is any way you can please help?

I will be updating from the road in a week!   We are getting a ride to Austin Tx and visiting with some very special people and heading out from there.  PRAY THE SCOPIONS KEEP OUT OF MY TENT!!!!!!!

(special prayers going out to my dear friend and inspirations Brother who was in a horrible motorcycle accident...please keep him in your prayers.  Thank you!)

JUST OVER A MONTH TO GO!!!!

I'm getting so excited! I cannot begin to tell you what accomplishing this trip means to me. Some of you who have been following me since I first got the notion to WALK across the USA can probably have a little bit of an idea as well as those of you with ME_CFS because you know how it rob's us of our lives and our dreams. I KNOW I'm going to be hurting and exhaustion is going to rear it's ugly head at times but I've been finding my way to work around these. The recumbent trike is truly a Godsend. It's enabled me to stay much more active and mobile and I absolutely love it! This trip may not be across the United States but for me, it might as well be. And if I can accomplish this then I can accomplish that next!

The prednisone did help my knee but I've already torn it up again. I think I am just going to try and deal with it. I do not want to put this on hold yet again. I posted on my facebook, I've decided that I'd like to ask for donations from anyone willing to go to my daugher's High School Marching Band. We are one of the smallest bands in our division, with very little funding yet those kids work their tails off and always come in just 10's of a point shy of going to state when competeing against much larger bands with newer equipment, better sound systems, better everything except spirit really. If you would like to make a donation I will try to get a donation button up but in the mean time you can send checks or money orders to:

Tri Central Band
C/O Josh Huff
Tri Central Middle-High School
2115 WEST 500 NORTH
SHARPSVILLE, IN 46068

Or keep track of my blog here and I hope to have a picnic upon returning where the band will play and hopefully we can keep this a secret from Mr Huff. Anyone who wishes to come and bring their donation and enjoy some good food and music can then simply hand their donation to Mr Huff in person and get to see the surprise on is face! :)

If you would like to sponosor my riding partner and me I will try to figure out how to get a donation button up here or better yet we'd love to meet you along our journey! And yes I plan on updating far more often, as often as possible, from the road so we shouldn't be too hard to find. ;) I'll be honest, I haen't had one single pledge or offer for sponsorship yet. Is it that nobody thinks I can do this? Or nobody is reading what I am writing? Nobody cares about keeping music in our schools? All I can do is what I am doing and ask for your help to help our band. The rest if up to you. I do hope you will help.

Coffee does not play fair

Have discovered that coffee may be a magical thing for male long distance cyclists but that does NOT hold true for we femails....

March 12, 2013

Getting excited, we actually had a 70 degree day this past week! My knee is bothering me so we didn't ride. Opening day for the trails is the last Saturday of this month. I'll be out before then for sure. Went to see my doctor and since I'm a major wimp when it comes to needles I'm on oral prednisone and my doctor even wants to work out with me once my knee is ready. I CAN'T WAIT! I really wish Andy could be part of this. That's the tough part both a big motivator and a heartbreaker. His death pushed me to find some ACTIVE activity that I could manage to wear off stress and have time to process everything. It also showed me that pain or no pain there may not be a tomorrow and if we have big dreams we should go for it, the worst thing that can happen is we have to keep trying and perhaps we never reach that ultimate goal...maybe I will never ride around the world. I was happy to make it around the block at first and by the end of nice weather last fall I was riding 30 miles without too much effort. Not bad eh? So any distance I make it beyond 30 miles is an accomplishment but my BIG goal is near 1000 miles starting in June this summer in three weeks. I just want to do the best I can and keep improving and see as much of this big ole planet...ummmm..the warm parts..as I can via my bikes, meet as many people as I can, hear their stories, share my own, and hopefully somewhere along the way make a difference.

That reminds me...I have flags to make. If I can find the material or a volunteer who knows how to sew bike flags (I'm lousy at sewing) we will be carrying flags for anyone who wants to sign their angel child's (a child lost too young) name on it and we'll carry them with us everywhere we go. Of course donations are always welcome but not required. We are thinking if we do get enough donations we will start a fund to help parents who lose a child and might not have life insurance..things like that. Not many people expect to lose a child and there are so many young couples who don't even have life insurance on themselves let alone their children. Dignity Funeral Homes will not let a child go without a funeral. They are wonderful. I will throw that out there. But some people might not have a Dignity Funeral home near them or might have special circumstances. We want to be able to help. God willing...we will be able to.

IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN

It’s finally going to happen. In June Derek has 3 weeks down and starting on his birthday, June 24th, we will be leaving out on our recumbent trikes with just what we can carry. Caitlyn hasn’t decided yet if she wants to ride or stay with family. Her decision will determine whether we start out from home or from Loudonville, Ohio. We intend to ride at least to Saint Augustine, Florida. Depending on what kind of time we make we might ride further…Key West or maybe even the perimeter of Florida.

Yes, I have severe M.E/CFS and FMS. So how and why am I going to do this? Personally I have several reasons. Derek, I’m sure has his own and I will try to convince him to get on here and tell you his. As for me-

1) I’ve allowed this disease to define me for most of my life. Something that “normal” people won’t get but others with the disease might is this, there isn’t much help out there for us and so far our main tools for survival are adaptability and knowing our bodies. I want to complete this ride to bring awareness to the disease, show others that where there is a will there is a way in most cases and maybe just maybe bring enough money into the Andy Hensley Memorial Fund to donate a good amount to good research and advocacy.

2) We lost our 20 year old son very suddenly January 30th, 2012. Cycling has since been one of the few releases I’ve had. Further Andy loved fitness, travel, adventure and meeting new people all of which this trip is about. I’m hoping to raise funds for THE ANDY HENSLEY MEMORIAL FUND. This was initially a scholarship fund but our school requires that all scholarships go thru THE TIPTON COUNTY FOUNDATION and our experience this first year was horrible and a complete waste of time as far as the scholarship goes. (It has gone to a good cause) We were repeatedly lied to and misled. They just were not a group we want to continue to have a working relationship with so we feel that a memorial fund that gives to numerous causes in Andy’s memory, causes that will actually appreciate and put the money to good use, would be better. As soon as I know that this years recipient has received their check I will announce it. (It’s a surprise to them)

3)I want to carry with me Andy and all the other young people who died before they really had a chance to truly live and their parents and families who will forever grieve for them. The loss of a child is by far the worst gut wrenching and never ending pain a person can experience. I do this in memory…they will never be forgotten. And I hope to start a fund for families who don’t have the funds to give their children a proper funeral. Many just never expect to bury their child..and we shouldn’t have to. The last thing they should have to worry about is how they will lay them to rest…and other costs that rise in conjunction with this.
These are my main reasons for riding. I would love if anyone reading this might have small informative pamphlets they could send me to hand out that truthfully explains MECFS so people will understand the extent of this disease and the need for more funding for research and advocacy. I’d also be honored to carry as many names in memory with me as possible…I’ll have to figure something out with this so I can actually CARRY THEIR NAMES for others to see.. I think I have an idea there.

Before I sign off I wanted to wish my beautiful great niece a very Happy 3rd Birthday. I missed her party yesterday...I will see you soon! Hopefully this evening. Aunt Odie Loves you!

Remember...life is a journey not a race, enjoy it...because when you get to the end...it's over.

SO MANY CHOICES

When it comes to cycling you will want a bike that suits your needs and there is a bike to suit just about anyone's needs.




In Kokomo we have-

Victory Bike Shop
(765) 452-9717
301 E Morgan St, Kokomo, IN 46901




Kokomo Cycling & Fitness
1500 E Boulevard, Kokomo, IN 46902
(765) 452-7110