So it's half past mid-night the day after our send-off party. Thanks to everyone to came out to wish us good luck before our trip! The band was awesome. Janine- you're awesome too. :-) Arguably as awesome as the dude in the pink shirt!!! We're packing the vans up tomorrow at 8:30am which means that I have to somehow condense my junk into a 1 ft by 2 ft cube. My parents are asleep in the living room of my one bedroom apartment. They have been a huge help since I joined Texas 4000. So a big thanx goes out to them. My apartment is totally trashed but Jenny- I promise it will be clean before you move in. Wink wink nudge nudge.

They really weren't kidding about taking the bare minimum. I only have two jerseys and as of today two pairs of shorts (my one bright blue pair was getting kindof ragged and totally didn't match my swanky new jersey so I caved and bought some black ones for $12.99... oh ya). I know I know... you're all like "man, I'm glad I'm not on your route." On the upside (in case there any of my rocky peeps are reading this) I AM bringing soap!

I was ready to leave for Alaska about three months ago (around the time of my first biochem test) so I can't wait for Tuesday. That said, I am rather anxious to see how the trip will unravel. I can say in all honesty that I have no expectations. I only know that we will depart on Tuesday and that I believe in our cause, my teammates, and my abilities to get through whatever comes our way (be it tornadoes, bears, or nasty viruses- ew).

It has been an amazing experience to see this trip come together. I think that everyone has stepped up and really worked their tail off to make this happen. There is a countless number of man-hours behind this trip and it is my hope that all of this hard work will start to pay off in the very near future. I'm so excited about donating to ACS and meeting people along our route. I have been truly moved by the stories people have shared with me over the past six months. The cancer survivors have given me hope and the victims have given me something to fight for.

Over the past semester we have become a team. While everyone has worked on a different aspect of this project, I have gotten to know most of the 43 people that will leave for Alaska on June 1st and I have immense respect for each and every one of them. I will be sad to see those traveling the Sierra route leave us, but I look forward to swapping stories with them up in Alaska. I wish them the best of luck.

To everyone who has supported me (both financially and otherwise) I say a big THANKS. I couldn't have done it without ya'll. You'll all be in my thoughts and in my heart as I ride. I have drawn so much strength from those who believe in me and THAT is what will get me to Alaska.

Back to packing... goodnight world.