July 11th, 2009

Today we crossed the border from California to Oregon. The Golden State came and went way too quickly. The thing I learned about California (or at least the parts we’ve traveled through) is that it is so cold! The past few days of cycling have been absolutely beautiful. We’ve traveled alongside the Pacific Ocean and seen some amazing blue ocean. Recently we have had a few days with highs of only 58 and I haven’t quite figured out how to regulate my body temperature. Each morning I wake up and put every piece of warm clothing that I own on my body. However, when we starting riding it is absolutely freezing and the wind is whipping cold. Slowly I begin to warm up and feel comfortable but then I’ll start sweating beneath my layers of clothing. At that point I refuse to take my jacket off because I’ll be shivering from my own sweat.

Yesterday was Day 35 which marks our half way point to Alaska. In Eureka our host rolled out the red carpet for Texas 4000 and bent over backwards to make us completely comfortable. Steve and his daughter prepared a snack table filled with sushi, goat cheese covered with sautéed mushrooms and onions, brie, and bbq sandwiches. Dinner was fabulous too. We sat around the television and watched the Tour De France. Jon helped our host cook a delicious meal and soon after I devoured mac and cheese, salad, carrot cake, brownies with ice cream, jelly beans, potato salad and a chicken breast and hot dog. It was like Thanksgiving in July and to top it all off we were given beds to sleep in, clean clothes, and warm showers!

This summer I have been amazed at the selfless acts people have bestowed on our organization. They believe in our mission and they believe in the 21 of us cycling to Anchorage. To me this is the most rewarding part of the entire summer. It’s the people we meet along the way that inspire me to keep pedaling. Steve lost a parent to cancer and his wife Loretta lost both of her parents to cancer. Everywhere I go (whether it be a convenient store, restaurant, state park, etc.) I meet individuals who have been affected by this disease. Cancer has touched all of our lives and I pray that future generations will not know its negative affects. I pray that families will experience the pain of losing a loved one.

On June 5th twenty-one young adults departed from Austin, Texas to fight cancer. Since then we have traveled through Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and California. Each day we pedal to spread hope to those we meet along the journey. We pedal so that those battling cancer know that our generation cares about finding a cure.