The Trip - By the Numbers & THANKS

Here are some numbers that you may (or may not) find interesting:

Start date: June 14

End date: August 16

Total days: 63

Total riding days: 56

Total rest days: 7

Total miles: 3749.8

Avg miles per riding day: 67

Distance walked Trikes: 0

# of flats (Jake): 15

# of flats (Rob): 2

# of rear tires replaced: 0

# of front tires replaced (Jake): 10

# of front tires replaced (Rob): 2

# of riding days with some rain: 4

# of hotel days: 12

# of camping days: 51

# of things thrown at us from cars: 0

# of wrong/missed turns: 4

# of extra miles ridden because of same: 3

# of chains replaced: 2

# of times chains broken: 2 (Jake)

# of holes in frame due to chain: 2 (Jake)

# of pedals replaced: 1 pr (Jake)

# of times trike tipped over while riding: 2 (Rob)

# of near misses with cars or trucks (that we know of): 3

# of near misses with lightening: 1

# of near misses with planes: 1

# of arguments between Rob & Jake: 0 (really!)

There are many people who I would like to thank for helping make this trip such a success. In compiling this list I'm sure that I will miss mentioning somebody, and for that I apologize. 

- The teachers, BT's, and administrators in the school districts where I work for filling in for me and for allowing me the summer off to travel with my son.

- Woody at Burrrows Specialized Bicycles in Brattleboro for boxing up the trikes for us and shipping them to Washington.

- Vicki and her crew at Sound Bikes & Kayaks in Port Angeles for putting the trikes together and for shipping back all of that extra junk that we thought we were going to need.

- Forest and Ben for being the first two bikers that we met on the trip for their enthusiasm and support at the very beginning.

- Jodi, Richard, & Colleen for agreeing to be on the Board of Giving Back, Inc. and for helping with the fundraising. And an extra thank you to Jodi for following the blog so religiously and for making all of those encouraging comments along the way.

- Ken, Georgia, Mike, Rick, Dan, Laurie, Ben, Hannah and others for taking us in, letting us stay, and for feeding us while we were on the road.

- Jim & Todd for showing us Wisconsin hospitality and for getting us in the paper in Waupaca (and to the retired cardiologist who bought us breakfast there)..

- Tom & Dave for their humor and companionship.

- Jenny & Wally for putting up with Jake being so fast and me being so slow for so many days.

- All of the people who donated from $2 to $50 during our ride (when we didn't ask for a penny). And to all of those people who will be donating once our application for tax exempt status has been approved.

- All of the people before the trip who gave us hope and encouragement and all of you who followed the Blog (Jake says that there are only two of you) and made positive comments (and to the few detractors who made us want to succeed that much more).

- To Susan and Kelsey who maintained things at home so we could make the trip and who were there for us every step (or pedal) of the way. We really couldn't have done it without you.

- And mostly - To Jake: who, at 17, was willing to give up his entire summer to spend every waking (and sleeping) minute with his dad, helping me to fulfill a life-long dream. I cannot thank you enough for this great gift. I love you and am so proud of you!

A Fundraising Note: I am working with the IRS to complete the process of getting our tax exempt number and will then be starting the fundraising in earnest. Please be patient. This is a great cause and I hope that you will all consider donating when we finally get this settled. I will post something on this Blog when we are ready to receive donations.  Thank you all.

Take care & follow your dreams,

Rob & Jake