Route Update

Riding on the coat-tails of Will’s super awesome post (he’s right—you should donate!), I thought I’d take the cue from his “I’d update you, but I can’t because I don’t know what’s going on” and fill you in a bit (at least, that’s how I understood it.  Did you not get the same meaning?).

So, it turns out that we are traveling in Europe during the years of the great train expansion… meaning that a lot of the trains we were going to take don’t actually exist anymore.  For example, there are no trains running to Istanbul at this point, because they’re doing a major re-haul of the Istanbul train station to make way for high-speed trains.  This means that in another three years, train travel in Turkey is going to be awesome.  Right now, it means we have a huge distance to cover without a train.  Oh, and if that wasn’t enough, it turns out that right now Greece isn’t really doing international trains… which makes connecting the dots a little tricky.

So you may be asking yourself (quite justifiably): what’s the plan?  After all, if we’re asking you to donate per mile, you might what to know exactly what those miles will be.

At this point, what seems most likely to work is to take a ferry across the Black Sea to Bulgaria.  From there, we’ll probably take a train to Sofia, bike across the border of Serbia to Nis, take a train to Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, then either take a train to Zagreb, Croatia or bike to Zagreb, Croatia… it depends on where we decide to do the majority of our biking.  The variation of this is to bike along the Danube, Europe’s second-longest river.  Apparently this river makes a wonderful bike trail that is highly popular in Europe… so, depending how much work we want to do planning-wise, we might hop on the well-traveled route for a bit, or we might break our own ground.

Now, I know when I first started reading about going to Serbia, my thoughts were along the lines of “that doesn’t seem like a safe idea…”  However, put your minds at ease:  according to all the extensive research I have done (and it actually is quite extensive… now that my projects are over and school is out, I have quite a bit of time on my hands), Serbia is a wonderfully friendly place to bike. 

Of course, this may (and, in fact, probably will) change again before we actually leave.  However, that’s the thinking at the moment.  We’ll keep you posted.

An Office at a Price

I recently started a new position at work so I have been incredibly busy and neglecting a few parts of my life, trip planning is one and this blog is another. I thought I would take a few minutes away from my constantly ringing phone to catch you up, but there's not a lot going on on my side so instead I am going to make an impassioned plea for donations. 
That's right, if you remember this trip is not only a super cool opportunity to see a new part of the world but it is also a super cool opportunity for YOU and I to make a difference in our friends, families, neighbors, and acquaintances lives.

• In 2008, over 616,000 people died of heart disease. Heart disease caused almost 25% of deaths—almost one in every four—in the United States.
• Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women.
• Every year about 785,000 Americans have a first coronary attack. Another 470,000 who have already had one or more coronary attacks have another attack.
• In 2010, coronary heart disease alone was projected to cost the United States $108.9 billion. This total includes the cost of health care services, medications, and lost productivity.

 When trying to decide what organization our group would help it was challenging because there are so many different causes so I did what any child of the computer age would do, I "goggled it". Coming to find out that Heart Disease is the number one killer of all people in the US was a shock. I thought surely AIDS or car accidents were the menace of our great nation but now it's clear my cardiovascular system, your ticker OUR hearts are killing America.
Fear not, there is a force at work to combat the evils of heart disease. The American Heart Association has tirelessly worked for the past 98 years to help end Heart Disease. We can help by making donations and that is precisely what I am asking from you now. I would like YOU to call/text/email/send smoke signals/send a letter to your rider (Will, Katrina, or Zach) and make a pledge to them. This pledge will say that you will donate pennies per mile ridden as we travel through Europe. Help us make this trip even more amazing than it already is. And if this weren't enough I'll also throw in a custom postcard sent to you from a distant land. Don't delay, call today but remember do not send us money, you will be able to donate directly to AHA at the end of our trip. I look forward to hearing from you all!

And a quick closing from the Doctor.

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So...
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
you're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!


Remember we are all in this together and we can make a difference together.


Much Mahalo
Will

It Has Begun

"And when things start to happen,
don't worry.  Don't stew.
Just go right along.
You'll start happening too."

Dr. Seuss, Oh The Places You Will Go


With 44 days left until the beginning of our trip things are starting to happen things are starting to feel real. 


I am making packing lists, researching routes, and buying gear. I tend to be a planner at times, but I am trying to relax and let this trip happen. So far it's working, the packing list is growing, the route is being pieced together and my gear is all but ready.


I love how sometimes things seem to fall into place as if there is some force helping you along on your adventure. Of course the opposite seems just as likely to happen, you feel as if the whole world is against you, with nothing but speed bumps slowing you down. Luckily the world was on my side, or at least "Dave" was, when I recently purchased a bike. 


I found Dave's bike on Craigslist and instantly new it was too good to be true. (some might call me a pessimist) I called and arranged to look at his brand new Kona Sutra late that same night. As I drove an hour across the island I began mentally preparing myself for the inevitable let down. "Surely he misstyped the price" or "It's probably stolen" Only two of the scenarios playing through my head that would eventually lead me to not buying this bike. Fully prepared for the devastating news I pulled up to a nice house in a nice neighborhood and met an even nicer person, Dave. 

He showed me the bike, for which I instantly fell in deep-sappy-emo-kid-with-his-first-crush sort love. As if this weren't enough, he then brought out a treasure trove of extras including, an extra saddle, rack and  bike shoes. Then he blew me away, after hearing a bit about my upcoming trip he walked inside and brought out two great books about bike touring and insisted that I take them as well.

Dave had grand plans of his own, he was set to bike big miles across the pond as well but a back injury ruined those plans. It is truly sad to hear that a genuinely nice, helpful and generous person has been forced to put his dream ride on hold, I can only hope that it is on pause and not a end to his bike trips. I am indebted to Dave, and I won't forget that he started my trip on such a high note.