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 23 – Pine Bluff to Clarksdale, MS 134 miles







Speed seemed to be the name of the game this morning, as a big paceline ticked off the first 55 miles or so at about 22 miles per hour. We even were buzzed by a cropduster.

I finally dropped off when I felt the road was getting a bit rough for me to be completely safe in the fast group, and cruised solo until coming across Greg Lester changing a flat. We sailed into lunch together as the heat and humidity cranked up. There really wasn’t much to see today except for corn, the Arkansas River, and the Mississippi River. After the last sag, I rode into Clarksdale with Greg L. and Jonathan Page, the Wonder from Down Under. Clarksdale appears to be another spread out Southern town past it’s prime, with boarded up blues houses and broken down homes. I ate my chocolate shake, chicken nuggets, changed out my saddle (we’ll see how that goes tomorrow), and cleaned up my bike just in time to get inside before the afternoon thunderstorm hit. I predict a buffet dinner and a whole lot of sleep tonight.

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2 comments:

  1. UnknownJuly 28, 2009 at 10:45 AM

    Jay - We are super impressed by the journey to date and are looking forward to more updates this week from the road. It's fascinating to experience all these places thru your eyes - thanks for keeping all of us updated on the blog!

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  2. LeeanneJuly 28, 2009 at 1:42 PM

    Jay, I assisted Beth yesterday and we discussed your trip - reminding me to check out your progress. Hard to believe you have someone on a one speed bike - really? I lived in Arkansas for a couple years earlier in my career - Hot Springs. I can still recall the humidity on a summer day and the bugs (that all seemed to want a piece of me). What an amazing experience you are having, in so many ways. Jealous still. Thank you for sharing it. Joel

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