I have been training since February 2009 with the goal of completing a cycling tour from Portland, Oregon, to Tybee Island, Georgia in 30 days. The PAC Tour group embarked on July 5th and we are traveling about 3600 miles and climbing approximately 124,000 cumulative feet. Please enjoy sharing my journey across America.
I am asking friends, family, and anybody else interested in following the trip to consider supporting this trip by making a donation to Seattle Children's Hospital, Research, and Foundation. Art and Kristin Reeck have made Children's a priority in their philanthropic efforts over the years, and I laud their achievements. I encourage donations to the Uncompensated Care Fund, to help pay the bills for children without insurance, or with inadequate insurance to pay their bills...lifting the financial and emotional burden from the children and their families. Indicate Jay Across America as the occasion for the donation so we can total the money raised.
Hopefully, someday, we won't have to raise money for causes like this. For now, however, I thank you for your support.
The donation total will be updated occasionally...Consider a donation per mile or vertical foot climbed...and follow on the GPS link, where you can see the route, the speed, the ride profile, the weather, and-yes-my heart rate.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Day 22 – Arkadelphia to Pine Bluff, AK 91miles





The big boys in France are rolling into Paris and finishing up today. Not us! We’re ceremoniously rolling from Arkadelphia to Pine Bluff, Arkansas –recently voted the worst place to live in the United States.

0630- Hot and humid!

0700 - Jason (my roommate) said, “Do you hear that thunder?” “Aw, that’s just someone rolling their bag past the room,” I responded. Then he opened the door to reveal dark thunderstorm clouds and a total downpour. Despite the precipitation, we all loaded up our bags and jumped on the bikes with just jerseys and shorts, and enjoyed the rain (and fogged up glasses), knowing that cloud cover meant lower temperatures.

0800 – The group enjoyed pretty smooth roads with very gentle rollers and made good time with moderate effort…good for resting up for the days ahead.

The roads today wound through lush wooded areas (and some clearcut areas beginning to sprout some growth), and past numerous small towns (Faith, for one) with humble (or boarded up) homes with heee-uge lawns. It was a particularly plentiful day for canines who wanted to join us on the road, but they mostly proved mild-mannered and responsive to some vocal commands.

Again, it is quite a reality check riding through these depressed areas which are sparsely populated. Honestly, for the last three days we have seen more churches and cemeteries than anything else. In fact, it is an honest assessment that (other than homes) 75% of the buildings we pass are churches. This fact came in handy, as today (Sunday) there were hardly any cars on the road.

After a solid 2 hour nap, we walked across the street to the mall…replete with approximately a 50% vacancy rate. We’re all locked up tight, thanks to the stories of Pine Bluff’s reputation as the murder capital of the states as well, and looking forward to a snooze to rest up for the next couple days.

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