Astoria, Oregon June 1976

In 1976 at the age of 21, I rode a ten speed bicycle from Oregon to Virginia with a large group of college students and teenagers from across the country. It was an adventure of a lifetime that gave me the confidence to succeed through any challenge, and the friendships made on that trip have endured to this day.

Fifty years later at the age of 71, I have the desire to ride again. It will be a slightly different course so that I may explore more of this country, and definitely at a much slower pace! I know it will have its challenges, but it will also have many rewards as I follow my dreams.

In the early planning stages I decided to turn this ride into a fundraiser for a non-profit organization in Warner, NH. “Food For Thought NH” provides healthy food for weekend use for elementary aged kids in the local school district utilizing a system that many know as the “backpack” program. I often wonder why, in this great country, there are so many kids going hungry and what more can be done to tackle this issue? I believe that no matter what the reason, no child should have to go without food.

Below is a link to Food For Thought NH. If you are able to donate, any amount would be appreciated. Please put “bike” in the notes section. If you are unable to donate, please consider giving time in your local community to help tackle food insecurity. I am paying 100% of this journey out of my own pocket and am accepting no donations for myself .

https://foodforthoughtnh.org

If you’re wondering how far the “old lady” will ride before giving up, I will try to do a weekly post on the following pages to keep everyone updated on my progress. My goal is to approach this adventure with a sense of humor while taking the advice of a good friend, “Just Ride”.

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