We're home!

Hey Everyone,

Just want to say thanks to all of those who came out on the 2nd to ride and to welcome us home. We did have a successful trip and as at stated at the park the donations are still coming in. as of last week were were up to $4200 and still have donations that we know are coming in. Tonight August 8th the Erie Clowns will be doing a fundraiser for us at local Country Fair locations. They will be asking for donations and who knows maybe some balloon animals. So if your looking for something to do stop at a country fair near you drop your pocket change and bring the kids to see the clowns. Thanks again for all your support and keep checking back here for more updates as to our fundraising efforts and upcoming events!

July 30, 2008

Today when we started it was as hot as when i was dumping water over my head yesterday. we did another 50 miles to medina, OH. From here we will stay in a state park on the lake west of Geneva. we will then ride to the White turkey and stay there resting up for the ride into town saturday. I can't wait to get home and tell you all about the trip and enjoy a nice rid einto town with all of you!

July 29, 2008

Today the weather was on our side again. Although we got a late start it was still overcast and not too hot. As the day went on it did get extremely warm and humid. After 30 miles I was dumping one water bottle over my head and drinking the other. We ended our day with 50 miles accomplished and were staying at a campground in Clyde, OH. The campground was nice but the showers were not anymore sophisticated than the lake. The water was freezing and the stalls were, well, dirty.

OK ESN:0-7374258

We've made it to our destination and are safe in one piece! For other updatescheck out cyclingforacure.blogspot.com
ESN:0-7374258
Latitude:41.2238
Longitude:-83.025
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:07/30/2008 00:26:58 (GMT)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=41.2238,-83.025&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

ENTRANCE INTO ERIE!!!

Saturday August 2nd will be our entrance ride into Erie. The ride will begin at 9 am at the white turkey in Conneaut, OH. This will make for a 25-30 mile ride into Perry Sqaure. For those of you who don't know the White Turkey is a little drive through on route 20 just a few miles into conneaut on the right hand side. If anyone wishes to join the ride for a shorter distance we will be traveling in route 5. Our destination being Perry Square in downtown Erie for those who want to welcome us in but are not able to ride in. We should be arriving in town between 12 & 1pm. I can't wait for saturday and I hope to see everyone there!!

July 28,2008

today was a great day for riding It was overcast and not to hot. We had a 52 mile bike ride from New Bremen, OH to Kenton, OH. We didn't have any problems today accept one patch of road construction. Karen did add another fall to her list but she blames it on the truck that she was stopping for. We are almost home and will be there this saturday. We have about 250 miles to go and can't wait to get home.

July 26, 2008

Hey everyone,

Today was a stressful day. A hot hilly ride with very little berm to ride. We rode from Lexington, KY to Hillsboro, OH. After reaching Hillsboro and finding that all camping and motels were full we had one other option and that was to drive to Karen's sister which was west of where we were. Backtracking west? Yes, We did go west but are still the same distance from Erie as we would have been. The hour drive was well worth the publicity and donations. Within an hour of being there everyone at the house had made a contribution and were prepared to share our story with others. I want everyone to know that we will be arriving in Erie on Saturday August 2nd, 2008. We are inviting anyone and everyone to join the ride into Erie. It should be quite a fun ride and an experience coming into town. People from all over are planning to see us into town and we would love for you to join us. details as to where and when the ride will begin should be posted by Tuesday afternoon so that you can make your plans. I hope that everyone will come out in some way whether it be on a bike or just to welcome us into town. Monday i should have more information as to what the plans are for saturday. Thanks so much for all your support, I hope to see you saturday!

OK ESN:0-7374258

We've made it to our destination and are safe in one piece! For other updatescheck out cyclingforacure.blogspot.com
ESN:0-7374258
Latitude:38.1857
Longitude:-84.2884
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:07/26/2008 16:39:42 (GMT)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=38.1857,-84.2884&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

July 23-24

hey everyone yesterday was a good day! We had my bike repaired in the morning in evansville, IN and then spent some time updating the site and responding to emails. we rode a short ride of 30 miles to a campground in hoosier national forest. it was one of the best campsites yet. it was in the woods and separated from others.

Today wasn't as nice as yesterday. It's was a little warmer but the humidity was a lot lower. We are in Frankfort, KY where we will be meeting with staff from Asbury College. This will be an opportunity to spread the word and reach another wide group of people through the schools website and newspaper. I hope to have some more pictures posted either tonight or tomorrow morning. We will be visiting Daniel Boone's burial site tonight so i should have some pictures of that too! Also if anyone reading this rides, Illinois and Indiana have been nothing but rolling hills all the way through into Kentucky. The thighs are burning but we are doing it. Thanks again for all your support!

July 22, 2008

Today we headed out east across Illinois from St. Louis, MO. We had 110 miles to cover and the temperature was just right! We made great time covering 30 miles in two and a half hours. After a great lunch at wendy's in Centralia we continued on. Karen was hoping to hit her 50 mile day. About 4 miles into our afternoon ride we came to some road construction. The road was torn up to be repaved and it was like riding rumbled strips on the side of the road. After 3 miles of riding this i had looked back to check on Karen when i hit some loose gravel that came out into the road a few feet. I lost control and fell right into the road in front of a large truck that was coming behind me. If he had not been able to swerve this story would be a bad one. I just want to say a big thank you to all of you who are praying for our safety. Laci said I used all of the prayers up when I fell on the road and the truck missed me. So keep praying for our safety through the rest of our trip. The fall, however, did not hurt my body as much as it did my bike. We continued to ride through rolling hills and after about 52 miles i realized my bike was not operating properly. When we reached laci at 56 miles I attempted to repair what i thought was the problem. I was not successful in my attempt so we began a search for the closest bike shop. The only bike shop that seemed to still be in business was kind of way south from the route we were traveling. So we started to drive south and camped in a state park on the Western border of Indiana. Hoping to get the bike repaired in the morning we went to bed to rest up for the next long day ahead.

Here are a few pictures... from being in the mountains in California, forests in nevada and then of course a picture of Las Vegas and the surrounding desert and another from the car when passing through one of the national parks.

July 19-20

Well the journey has become challenging. Yes, the hills were hard and it was hot across the desert but i don't think anything hits harder than the humidity. The past few days have been harder than some mountains, today it was 105 and very humid. I said to laci and Karen that i think I sweat more in the past two days than Randy and i did all the way across the west. Everyday we make progress whether it be through raising awareness or funds for the Foundation but there are those days when i think about how much of a struggle the heat can be. When i have those thoughts i think to myself that no matter how hard the struggle it doesn't compare to the struggle of those I am riding for. I thank you all for your support and as we get closer to home a look forward to seeing you all! We ended our day east of St. Louis, MO today but i can't yet tell you where we will be tomorrow because i have not yet picked up an Illinois state map. Pictures are coming(please comment on them).

July 17-18

Hey everyone,

From what I hear there is a lot going on back there with the Kanzius research. I hope that my pictures were sufficient for now, there are more coming i promise! The past two days have been long, hot, and tiring but we're getting along and covering ground. We will make it to Kansas City today, July 19th. From there we will be heading to St. Louis and then its north toward home. Can't wait to see everyone and tell you all about our trip. I will be posting another blog along with some pictures this evening for you all to comment on. Thanks again for all your support! Also check out www.kaniuscancerresearch.com

Here a few picture from the beginning of the trip. I know everyone has been looking forward to these. Laci has been reminding me too. She finally did it for me. haha. (She will be putting more on with future posts as well) Enjoy!







P.s. Check out the UPDATED links section for our newspaper articles :-)

July 16, 2008

Today we began our ride when it was somewhat cool but humid because of the rain the night before. From the start the ride wasn't all that great. The wind blew all day right at our faces 15-20mph. We rode from eads to tribune with Jerry and Lori. We stopped at Karen's Kitchen for lunch and then went next store to the drug store for a shake. We had chocolate, peanut butter, banana milkshakes that were amazing. After our shakes we parted ways with Jerry and Lori and continued on to Scott City. The AC in the truck is currently not operating. Tomorrow we are going to try and head east on 96 as far as possibly but we have to wait for the truck to be repaired in the morning. We hope to make it to Ness City or Rush Center. Pictures are on their way, I hope you like them!

July 15, 2008

Pueblo to eads...It wasn't a bad ride today but it did get warm kind of early in the day and then we rode all the way into a storm. It was a great day. We were back with Jerry and Lori and had a 60 mile ride. Jerry and I wanted to ride 20 more miles to town but Lori informed us that we were not stronger than mother nature. So, we all piled in the truck and had to watch the storm happen around us. When we got to town we found a small motel and a restaurant. Since there was only one place to eat we didn't have much of a choice. While eating dinner the storm hit town, HARD! All the locals came in for dinner hootin' and hollerin' because it was the first rain they had seen in a long time. Dinner was great after a long day and we headed to bed to go into another long flat day of riding.

OK ESN:0-7374258

We've made it to our destination and are safe in one piece! For other updatescheck out cyclingforacure.blogspot.com
ESN:0-7374258
Latitude:38.2143
Longitude:-103.7582
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:07/15/2008 18:54:59 (GMT)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=38.2143,-103.7582&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

July 14, 2008

Today we got back on the bikes and began heading home, kind of. We back tracked a little bit to catch up with jerry and lori and ride a few more days with them before we start going our separate ways. This small journey was to our benefit since when we arrived at the bike shop in Pueblo we were met by a newspaper reporter and her photographer. This is going to be our third article since the trip began and that is great. We are going to be having dinner with jerry and lori and kind of celebrating the journey so far. in two days we will probably separate from each other and only have contact through the Internet. Jerry and Lori have been great to travel with and have been very supportive of our cause. More pictures will come soon as will a defined itinerary of the rest of the journey home.

Thank you...

I just wanted to say a special thank you to all of you who are following the trip on the site. It would be greatly appreciated that if you are reading about the trip you drop us a comment. We only hear by word of mouth that people are reading and few leave comments. The trip is going well and we are getting ready to continue the journey back home starting tomorrow June 14, 2008 from peublo, CO. Later today I will let you know a little more about the places we will be going through and when we'll be in those places. I hear Ron from Georgia has been following the site along with many others so please leave us comments to let us know you're there.

Karen's Challenge!

A special HI to all my friends who have been reading Zach's website!
Watching Zach and Randy ride up the mountains and riding 80 miles a day, I've determined they are both "well oiled machines". Zach is like "the Hulk" on a bike! Randy is the Engine that won't give up! It is so inspiring to see them biking across hot,hilly,rainy,cold,narrow,and busy roads with trucks,rv's,and cars whizzing past them as they ride on for Cancer Research! At the end of the day, the are hot, sweaty,have aching backs and shoulders, and are HUNGRY! I am SO PROUD of them and what they are doing! I have ridden 90 miles so far...Yay Karen! And they thought I couldnt do it :)

My Challenge is to all of you who have been reading along on the blogsite...My friends at Erie Home Health Care (yes,I got my treatment in Denver), Beulah Beach friends and ASBURY ALUMNI, Erie First Christian Academy, My coffee drinking buddies at Panera Bread, Pennbriar exercise friends, and Yes....Hamot Medical Center !!!
As we have been riding, we often think, we sure hope this is all worth it! Zach and Randy just biked 1200 miles for the John Kanzius Cancer Foundation. Have YOU donated to this worthy cause yet??? Have YOU told any friends or family about this trip and asked THEM to donate???

We have met some amazing people during our trip and have been able to share our story with them and they in turn, have donated $$$ to the research. A receptionist at the Luxor in Vegas, who's father has cancer, a husband and wife at a campsite who lost their 14 year old son to cancer, a lady who worked at a gas station in Nevada, and a young lady who we met in the lobby of a hotel, and a "harley couple" who's motorcyle had broken down and we offered them a ride! All these people offered us support and encouragement to keep going! We thank you soooooooo much!

WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!!! I am challenging everyone who reads this to send in a donation and help support the foundation and give us encouragement to continue to bike to Erie, Pa. ANY AMOUNT WILL HELP! WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL AND MISS YOU!
THANK YOU...THANK YOU....THANK YOU....

The guys are "chomping at the bit " (my old horse language that I miss...) for me to get moving and get outside. Another beautiful, sunny, day for us to enjoy all that God has created for us ! Love to you all....Karen

July 9, 2008- Telluride to montrose

Today was a wonderful day once the sun came out. Our ride began with a long decent though and it was shaded and 42 degrees. all of us were frozen by the time we hit the first place to stop for breakfast. Randy and Jerry both ordered 1 pancake. The pancake was like 14 inches in diameter and a 1/2" thick. It was like 4 pancakes in one. After this we had a 13 mile climb up to 8990ft and from there we had a nice 6-8 miles downhill into our lunch spot. After lunch we had 26 miles to go and it was hot. The ride was supposed to be flat and it was but there was a 15-20mph headwind. After the ride we started heading towards denver where Randy will be flying out of friday. We will be meeting with multiple groups here in denver and hope for this to be the most promising and beneficial state that we will be traveling through. Thank you for all your support. Pictures are coming i promise!

OK ESN:0-7374258

We've made it to our destination and are safe in one piece! For other updatescheck out cyclingforacure.blogspot.com
ESN:0-7374258
Latitude:38.5546
Longitude:-106.9283
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:07/10/2008 04:19:20 (GMT)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=38.5546,-106.9283&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

July 7, 2008

Hey everyone,

Yesterday was kind of a rough day but it was once again a beautiful one. It was a later start because a few people from the campground we were staying at were going to ride part way up the mountain. At 7am we started our 46 mile uphill journey. the climb was so gradual that it almost felt like flats. although the ride was fairly easy i was not feeling well. I woke up sick to my stomach with a headache. There was no way i wasn't climbing that mountain. when i was about 5 miles from the top it began to storm and was 47 degrees outside. I refused to get into the car i had to ride through it. Randy was behind me a few miles and waiting it out and fixing his flat. after riding 4 miles through the rain and cold i was soaked and frozen to the bone. Already feeling sick and now wrapped in a blanking shaking i was not gonna be able to make that last mile to the top. So after randy caught up we went to the top and took pictures at 10,222 feet. After arriving to our destination we got showers and went to dinner with jerry and lori.

OK ESN:0-7374258

We've made it to our destination and are safe in one piece! For other updatescheck out cyclingforacure.blogspot.com
ESN:0-7374258
Latitude:37.4741
Longitude:-108.4527
Nearest Location: Hay Camp Mesa, Dolores, CO, US
Distance: 2 km(s)
Time:07/07/2008 02:25:56 (GMT)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=37.4741,-108.4527&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

July 6, 2008

Today we still got an early start after our long ride yesterday and we traveled another 84 miles from Blanding, UT to Dolores, CO. Today wasn't necessarily a bad ride but it was kind of difficult. I was kind of tired and the whole day consisted of small hills but it was up and down all day. the temperature was ok but did get hot toward the last 13 miles. Overall we climbed a total of 3600 vertical feet. Im feeling alright but i'm ready for bed. we have a 10,000 ft. mountain to climb up tomorrow which will be another 75 miles and then we can head downhill. I look forward to telling you about tomorrow because i should be talking to some people here at the campground in the morning about the trip!

July 5, 2008

Today we traveled from Torrey, UT to Blanding, UT and rode 96 miles. It was a long day but one of the most beautiful rides we've had so far. A lot of it was downhill but through a very beautiful canyon that was previously inhabited by indians. It was loaded with trees and there was even a real river. Most rivers and creeks we've seen have been dried up without a drop of water. We are still traveling with Jerry and Lori and things are good. Although the ride is good it has been difficult trying to raise donations for the foundations due to the small populations. Colorado to Erie, PA should bring some media and attention due to larger populations but I am asking that everyone pass on the blog site to everyone they know. Tell them what we are doing and encourage them to help in some way. It has been difficult to travel across hot barren desserts without service and not get much response. Just keeps us in your prayers as randy leaves friday for Erie.

OK ESN:0-7374258

We've made it to our destination and are safe in one piece! For other updatescheck out cyclingforacure.blogspot.com
ESN:0-7374258
Latitude:38.3142
Longitude:-111.3884
Nearest Location: Torrey, United States
Distance: 3 km(s)
Time:07/05/2008 03:10:49 (GMT)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=38.3142,-111.3884&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

July 4, 2008

hey all,

Today was kind of a short ride before we head into a few days of no service in Utah. We are in Torrey, UT and had somewhat of a short day, mostly downhill. we have a 75-100 mile day tomorrow and then a 50-75 mile day sunday. I am kind of sad because to me the 4th of July is like Christmas! It is so dry out here that they cannot have fireworks. We have caught up to jerry and lori and will be having dinner with them this evening and continuing our ride with them tomorrow. Thanks for all your support! people are very receptive to what we have to say and we are hoping to make some big stops through colorado and the rest of the way home but the journey has definitely been through Nevada and Utah. Its hot and there's nothing. Utah is much prettier though. there are more trees in a five foot sqaure than in the whole state of Nevada. I will leave another post later this evening.

OK ESN:0-7374258

We've made it to our destination and are safe in one piece! For other updatescheck out cyclingforacure.blogspot.com
ESN:0-7374258
Latitude:38.1528
Longitude:-111.3329
Nearest Location: Grover, United States
Distance: 8 km(s)
Time:07/04/2008 18:27:12 (GMT)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=38.1528,-111.3329&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7374258

We've made it to our destination and are safe in one piece! For other updatescheck out cyclingforacure.blogspot.com
ESN:0-7374258
Latitude:37.6559
Longitude:-111.8378
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:07/03/2008 22:52:43 (GMT)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=37.6559,-111.8378&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

June 29th- Another long day

well, after our early waking and a 10 mile ride into the next small town we found a gas station. Randy loved this place, they had just brought out fresh made home made cinnamon roles (Randy ate TWO). after talking with the folks there were were informed that we had another 50 miles at least until service, this meant 15 miles up the mountain and then another 15 into what was nothing more than an abandoned ghost town to most but great shade to us. At this point we were in Utah and since Utah is mainly a mormon state everything is closed on sundays. 17 miles to go to the next town running a little low on water and what we did have was hot we were looking forward to the gas station that was to be there. After driving almost all the way through the town we stopped at a house where a nice young man told us the gas station was closed but offered us cold water and a place to rest. We took the water and decided to rest under the pavillion near the house. After our little nap the boy came out and brought us apples. It was nice, rest, fruit, and the peace of mind that our support vehicle was close. 56 miles traveled and rest taken we continued on. the next town was only 5 miles away and as soon as we rode up they had closed, locking the door. After 5 minutes of trying to get the soda machine to take our dollar bills a gentleman outside went through the back and got the shop owner to sell us some cold beverages. When we returned to our bikes our rescue was there. It was great to see laci, karen, and poppa. Not only cuz they missed us but because that meant we got through the desert and now we can ride with a lot less weight. Well that all for now!

June 28, 2008 - Ah!

Hey Everyone,

Today Randy and I got an early start to beat the heat and start our journey off the adventure cycling route hoping for a flatter ride with more services. Well, We started early but, didn't really beat the heat! seems like the earlier we start the earlier the sun comes up. After 26 miles we came to a stop called majors station, this was just like a bar/motel/restaurant. They are all over (well ever so many hundred miles). after this 26 miles start we found out that the town we were headed for was actually 75 more miles away. We rode 108 miles against the wind on one of the hottest days we've hit riding. We made it into town after dark with no idea where we were going to stay. we rode past what looked worse than going to jail and then stubled upon a place that didnt look great but was! It was the last place in town with a room and it was something not to be judged by its cover. We were exhausted and it was too late to get food so with no supper we went to bed after an oatmeal raisin cookie and a soda. Tough day...

OK ESN:0-7374258

We've made it to our destination and are safe in one piece! For other updatescheck out cyclingforacure.blogspot.com
ESN:0-7374258
Latitude:37.7071
Longitude:-113.6512
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:06/29/2008 22:30:04 (GMT)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=37.7071,-113.6512&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7374258

We've made it to our destination and are safe in one piece! For other updatescheck out cyclingforacure.blogspot.com
ESN:0-7374258
Latitude:38.5389
Longitude:-114.6512
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:06/28/2008 22:32:34 (GMT)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=38.5389,-114.6512&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

To: Coach Kurt...

Well, Imagine being able to see the whole distance between ur house and the White Turkey. As soon as you travel what looked like was the end of the journey you realize you're not quite there yet. So, you peddle some more. After covering twice the distance you originally thought your're thinking GEEZ where is this place. It looks so close and then after 3 or 4 times the distance you finally get there...THIS IS NEVADA! you can see for as far as your eyes can see which most of the time is to far and kinda discouraging...but we're almost through and only a few flats so far. Thanks for the encouraging notes!

June 27th...Ely, NV

Hey everyone,

We are back to civilization, somewhat at least. The population here is 4000 as opposed to 400 in the last town. Nevada has been the challenging part of the trip. We got in late last evening after an 8hr and 84mile ride. It is very hot out here in the desert from about 10am to 5pm. Before 10am and after 5pm it is rather pleasant. I promise that monday or tuesday we will have all of the days through nevada up for you to read. I am sitting at the local library here and it is not really conducive to me loading pictures and writing books. I look forward to Utah because it is supposed to be a better ride and there will be more people to talk to. I am supposed to meet with the newspaper here and as i said before that should all start to snowball. I was informed this morning that some more donations have come in by way of mail and we are making progress monetarily and on the awareness end of things. I hope all is well back home. I miss everyone and appreciate all that you have done to make this journey possible!

OK ESN:0-7374258

We've made it to our destination and are safe in one piece! For other updatescheck out cyclingforacure.blogspot.com
ESN:0-7374258
Latitude:39.2474
Longitude:-114.8693
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:06/27/2008 16:01:18 (GMT)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=39.2474,-114.8693&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Minor Update...

hey all,

Randy and I have been trucking along. Don't have great cell reception or Internet access but should in a few days when we are out of this miserable desert. The past four days have been fairly tough. the key is to keep up with our hydration which can be hard because every 60-70 miles there is no service. When we get back to normal society i will tell you about all the neat little things we saw along the way. There isnt much but when theres nothing the littlest bit keeps us going. It has been hard but we are determined to get out of this state and start seeing some humans...we did get some media coverage in the last town and are supposed to in the next so hopefully it will snowball from there. thanks for all your support.

OK ESN:0-7374258

We've made it to our destination and are safe in one piece! For other updatescheck out cyclingforacure.blogspot.com
ESN:0-7374258
Latitude:39.4584
Longitude:-116.9946
Nearest Location: Austin, United States
Distance: 8 km(s)
Time:06/25/2008 12:57:55 (GMT)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=39.4584,-116.9946&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7374258

We've made it to our destination and are safe in one piece! For other updatescheck out cyclingforacure.blogspot.com
ESN:0-7374258
Latitude:39.2411
Longitude:-117.5285
Nearest Location: Lakeview (historical), United States
Distance: 1 km(s)
Time:06/24/2008 16:42:44 (GMT)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=39.2411,-117.5285&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7374258

We've made it to our destination and are safe in one piece! For other updatescheck out cyclingforacure.blogspot.com
ESN:0-7374258
Latitude:39.2752
Longitude:-118.4134
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:06/23/2008 17:38:25 (GMT)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=39.2752,-118.4134&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

pictures and videos

Day 7-8: R&R and a breeze at our back

Day 7 (saturday) was our rest day in Carson City. We didn't really sleep in too much but were able to relax our muscles for a little while. Randy and I drove up to Virginia city and visited the cemetery and famous "ghost town". The veiw and the cemetery were the best parts. It was very much a tourist trap and not very interesting. I have some video clips and Pictures of everything. I hope to get them posted tonight but I am having some technical difficulty.

Day 8 (Sunday) we got back on the bikes and began to travel. As usual we had a late start but we're getting earlier. We hit the road at 9am this morning and traveled 60 miles to Fallon Nevada. Along the way there was desert and more desert. It wasn't bad though, the heat didn't pick up till almost our stopping point and we made great time with a helpful tailwind. We stopped about halfway at a little general store and got an iced tea and a snack. We then continued on to Fallon. We made Fallon at about 2:30 where we caught up with our friends Jerry and Lori. Jerry and Lori were talked about in a previous blog that did not post. Jerry is 65 and Lori 49, they are retired and live in Virginia Beach. They are proabably the best people we could've met up with. Ever since Fairplay we have kind of been chasing each other along the trail. Tonight we had dinner together and plan to continue the ride. We find safety in numbers. Plus, conversation with friends is a lot more fun than with strangers when all you have are strangers. If you want to see Jerry and Lori check out www.tourdebocrie.com.

I apologize for the lack of pictures. It has been difficult to get enough internet access to post them. As I said i do have video footage and photos of everything. I hope to post most of them later this evening. I think everyone will get a kick out of the pickup trucks with 50 caliber gun mounts in the beds. Redneck?

OK ESN:0-7374258

We've made it to our destination and are safe in one piece! For other updatescheck out cyclingforacure.blogspot.com
ESN:0-7374258
Latitude:39.4747
Longitude:-118.79
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:06/22/2008 23:32:09 (GMT)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=39.4747,-118.79&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Day 6 - Downhill...

well another post should show up about this day that was emailed. This day we woke up from camping and it was 40 degrees and freezing. we coasted downhill for quite a while and then it was like 80 and hot! we stopped in genoa for coffee at the best coffee and candy shop ever. Randy and I both sent some coffee home. after this we traveled into carson city and rested for the evening....and saturday as well. We ate at a BBQ that was awesome and we saw our friends Jerry and Lori. After seeing the Hulk i was driving us back to the hotel when i got pulled over for tailgating...no citation but a good laugh!

OK ESN:0-7374258

We've made it to our destination and are safe in one piece! For other updatescheck out cyclingforacure.blogspot.com
ESN:0-7374258
Latitude:39.1724
Longitude:-119.7673
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:06/21/2008 01:27:58 (GMT)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=39.1724,-119.7673&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7374258

We've made it to our destination and are safe in one piece! For other updatescheck out cyclingforacure.blogspot.com
ESN:0-7374258
Latitude:38.7766
Longitude:-119.8933
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:06/20/2008 01:43:09 (GMT)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=38.7766,-119.8933&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7374258

We've made it to our destination and are safe in one piece! For other updatescheck out cyclingforacure.blogspot.com
ESN:0-7374258
Latitude:38.5439
Longitude:-120.3633
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:06/19/2008 13:24:14 (GMT)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=38.5439,-120.3633&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Quick overview of days 4-5

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

We started out at Folsom today. We rode down and visited the prison there. It was another hot day, but we started off well. We stopped in Placerville, CA at an historic coffee shop. It was very cool. They had an authentic gold mine in the back and you could sit in part of the entrance. We left and were on our way once again. There were many hills to go up and down even a few river valleys. At the end of the day, we were riding to our bed and breakfast in Fairplay, CA. The bed and breakfast sat on one of the biggest hills we had to climb all day! It was worth it though. The place was beautiful and I really enjoyed cooling off in the pool. We met some new people from England, who were also riding cross the country.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

We woke up to a very good breakfast this morning. Ater breakfast we decided to go back to bed for an hour-power nap before we got started. We left the bed and breakfast and headed out to another very hot day. We biked through the eldorado national forest and saw the huge red wood trees and pines cones that were almost a foot long! We worked our way through the mountiains and climbed up 3000 vertical feet. However unpleasant that may have been, riding through the semi-flat streches of the mountains were very nice. I do believe today's ride was a little easier than yesterday's. We stopped for dinner at a little country bar store and had hamburgers. Tonight we are camping along the trail.

OK ESN:0-7374258

We've made it to our destination and are safe in one piece! For other updatescheck out cyclingforacure.blogspot.com
ESN:0-7374258
Latitude:38.5949
Longitude:-120.6705
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:06/18/2008 04:44:38 (GMT)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=38.5949,-120.6705&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Day Three - Presque Isle

Today was a good day overall with a few bumps along the way. We got a late start, which isnt the best when its so hot. But we had to wait this morning for a few things that were being shipped into Davis for us. We did 70 miles again today and made it to Folsom. The ride was, once again, beautiful. Although, as my title reads, it was like riding Presque Isle. The advantage to the bike trail is that it was away from traffic and we didnt have to worry about cars. 15 miles outside of Davis is Sacramento. In Sacramento we accidentally stumbled upon the capitol building, where cyclists riding to Washington D.C. were rallying for childhood cancer. After leaving sacramento and getting all but about 15 miles from Folsom, Randy and I stopped for dinner. As we were riding back onto the trail after dinner Randy got a flat tire but there was no punture in the tube. So, after replacing the tube, Randy's brake was rubbing against his disc. which makes it not very good to ride. So, as lucky as we've been, there was a bike shop about 600 feet from where we were. After some minor adjustments, we were only about 40 minutes behind what our planned arrival time had been. Once we arrived in Folsom we found a place to stay and were starving! After frantically speed walking through the downtown area looking for a place open after 9, we finally found a place at 9:59 and the kitchen closed at ten. We had one minute to order. We did it! Now we are back for bed and it is 11:04 pm. Tomorrow we hope to arrive in Fairplay early enough to talk with some folk and see some sites. Today we did make some progress with talking to people and also recieved a generous donation from a cyclist who suffered from breast cancer.

Day 2 (June 15th) - The most beautiful place!

Today was a great ride! We rode from Vallejo, CA to Davis, Ca. We rode 69.8 miles in 6 hours and 20 minutes. This was the most beautiful ride ever. Although there were more hills than we anticipated, it was great. It was 90 degrees most of the day and there were not very many places to stop. Randy and I were enjoying ourselves until, about 40 miles in, we ran out of water. Two miles after running out of water Randy said " I wonder if my GPS tells me what the temperature was." So, while Randy kept riding, I stopped at a corner (FYI we're in the middle of nowhere on a country road full of fruit farms.) Here we are on the side of the road out of water and exhausted. While Im standing there saying, "It's 90 degrees" I thought I heard running water. Sure enough, on the other side of the rose bushes, there was a running hose. Randy and I filled our bottles, sat in the shade and ate some dried milk and granola. After filling our bottles again and cleaning our dishes we were on our way once more. About 5 or 7 miles later, we saw a fruit stand sign. A wonderful lady selling apricots by the basket let us eat a whole basket for less than half the normal cost! These apricots were like no other piece of fruit i have ever tasted! They were the very best apricots, very juicy and sweet. Ten more miles down the road we stopped for dinner. It was probably the slowest pizza shop in the world. After a supper that was way to heavy, we rode another ten miles or so into the night. After arriving in Davis in the dark we headed to bed to prepare for the next day.

Well we're on the ride and have traveled about 40 miles with 25 more to go. Its 90 degrees and not quite as flat as the map made it look. Its been beautiful riding so far, the weather and the view.

OK ESN:0-7374258

We've made it to our destination and are safe in one piece! For other updatescheck out cyclingforacure.blogspot.com
ESN:0-7374258
Latitude:38.4093
Longitude:-122.0424
Nearest Location: Pleasants Valley Rd, Gates, CA, US
Distance: 0 km(s)
Time:06/15/2008 23:56:43 (GMT)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=38.4093,-122.0424&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

more picture - the bush man!

pictures from day one!

Day 1 - The break in

Today Randy and I began our day at 8am. We started with a cup of coffee then we went on a walk (2 miles up hill) to pick up our bikes. When we arrived there, our bikes were together (for the most part). The people there were very nice in assisting us with some final construction of the bicycles. We then road a few miles through San Francicso to REI to pick up a few things we needed. After that, we went back to the hotel to check out and load our bags on our bikes. Once are bags were secure on our bikes we were hardly able to pick them up they were so heavy. We began to ride through San Francisco and a few other small towns. We got to ride across the Golden Gate Bridge and boy, was it windy! The weather here is great so far and we look forward to the ride. After crossing the bridge, we headed to Larkspur, where we are staying with a friend of mine from church. On our way here we met five students from UCONN's med school who are riding from San Francisco, CA to Connecticut. We hope to catch up with them tomorrow and have some company on the ride. People here are great and I had the opportunity to talk to a few people about what we are doing. I look forward to the days to come and cant wait to tell you all about them! Thanks for your support!

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We've made it safe and we're in San Francisco!
ESN:0-7374258
Latitude:37.7942
Longitude:-122.4214
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:06/14/2008 17:00:28 (GMT)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=37.7942,-122.4214&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Hello from San Francisco!!

We are finally here after all these months of planning and everything! We arrived safely with all of our belongings. Now it is time for some Starbucks before heading to bed.

Friday, June 13, 2008

This is a picture of Randy and I with John Kanzius! We finally got to meet and talk to him over lunch today before heading out to catch our flight to CA to start the trip.

Day of Depature...

Hey everyone,

well, we've made it to the day of leaving. I feel well prepared but a little nervous. I am on my way to lunch with the man himself John Kanzius! Ah! I'm so excited that everything has come together so well and once again would like to thank everyone for their support and prayers. We will be arriving in San Francisco this evening at 10pm on the west coast. I am looking forward to what is ahead and am confident that this trip will help make a difference! Check back tomorrow for the first update!

June Update

It's June already and I feel like the past few months have flown by. I am beginning to get a little nervous about the trip and making sure I myself am prepared. Today I took my bike to be disassembled, packaged, and shipped to San Francisco. It was kind of sad to see it go because I have become so attached to it. I have to say thank you to Dave from Lake Country Bike Shop in North East,PA for all the advice and help he has given. He has a lot of cross-country experience and wisdom to shed on my trip. I would also like to say thank you to all of those who have contributed to Cycling For a Cure and also to the John Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation. For those of you who would still like to contribute it would be greatly appreciated by me and the John Kanzius Cancer Foundation! To raise money for the foundation we have been selling rubber bracelets that say "cycling for a cure". The bracelets are $3 and the money will go to the foundation.

Although I am nervous about the trip and have many fears my excitement is overwhelming! I can't wait to spread the word about the research that is going on and let the country know about this great technology that has been proven to work. As you can see on the website we will be arriving in San Francisco, CA on June 13th and will begin riding on the 14th. to start we will be traveling through cities such as San Francisco, sacramento, and Davis California. Well, thats all for now but I look forward to keeping you all up to date as the trip progresses! Thanks for all your support!

Time until we fly!

Countdown Clocks at WishAFriend.com

April's events!

Hi All,

It's been awhile since the last update and I apologize for that. Cycling For A Cure is coming along great. I have recently purchased a bicycle from Countryside Bicycling, it is a Surly Long Haul Trucker and should make it the distance. I would like to thank you all for your support of this trip and also of the John Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation. I am very excited about this month because, we have so much planned. We will be doing a press conference with the mayor, radio broadcasts on WCTL & AM 1400, also we will be holding a scrapbooking crop to raise money for the John Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation. If you are interested in attending the crop please contact me as soon as possible for information. The date of the crop is April 19th. Thank you for your support and check back soon for the dates of the radio shows and press conference.

John Kanzius News Reel...How it all works!

Sponsorship/Donation Update

Hello Everyone,

This is just an update on the trip, what has happened in the past few weeks, and what is to come in the future. We currently have raised $1150 in sponsorship for the trip and $400 in donations for the John Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation. This is just the start and hopefully those numbers will increase everyday.

As for what is to come, there will be some additional blogs over the next few days. One will be the letter that was sent out to many businesses and individuals asking for support. This will give you the information on the trip and information on how to help contribute. Also, I hope by the end of the month to have an itinerary for the trip.

I am really excited about the support we are getting and I hope that if you have any questions or suggestions you would leave a comment. If you decided you wanted to contribute and did not want to spend 41 cents on a stamp, you could travel to a Northwest Savings Bank around or in Erie and tell them you would like to contribute to the (Dunbar) Cycling For A Cure Fund. I appreciate everyones help and look forward to updating you on everything that is happening!

The Beginning

Hey Everyone,


This is the first blog of many to come. For those of you who don't know me, my name is Zach Dunbar and I am a senior at Erie First Christian Academy in Erie, PA. I was the captain of our basketball team and a member of our student council. I am also involved in some church groups throughout the Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church. Now enough about me...

I have been working on a trip to raise money for the John Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation. John Kanzius is an Erie local and has found a way that may possibly be the cure for cancer. He uses gold particles with radio waves and can attack only the cancerous cells to remove them.
The trip will consist of bicycling from San Francisco,CA to Erie,PA over the summer of 2008 and presenting John Kanzius' work with a hope that we might be able to raise enough money to help him reach his goal. I am doing this trip because without support from communities of people who care, his research would not be possible. If you want to learn more about his research I would suggest "googling" John Kanzius. Also if you are interested in the trip, please contact me via E-mail.