Ride4water via Iphone4
Location:Anywhere
Monday, November 29, 2010
CELEBRATE-3 months ago I sold my stuff&began this journey.2day 618 follow on FB, dozens have given financially, 6 companies have sponsored this expedition&10+media pieces done!
CELEBRATE-3 months ago I sold my stuff&began this journey.2day 618 follow on FB, dozens have given financially, 6 companies have sponsored this expedition&10+media pieces done!
Ride4water via Iphone4
Ride4water via Iphone4
Location:La Habra CA
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Epic dinner w Mom-half a papaya filled w curried chicken, raisins, and freshly baked Date bread!!!
That's half a papaya filled w curried chicken and raisins!!!EPIC dinner with my mom!
Ride4water via Iphone4
Ride4water via Iphone4
Location:Brea CA
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Pre Thankgiving ride to Seal Beach. It's burrito'oclock!
55 degrees out w my 65 year old dad doin a 50 mile ride. Here we are mid ride enjoying our favorite time of the day-burrito o'clock!
Ride4water via Iphone4
Ride4water via Iphone4
Location:Seal Beach
Friday, November 19, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
2351 Miles ridden&over $25,000 raised so far!!!
Once a week I will be giving an update as to how many miles we have ridden on our ride4water and how much money has been raised to help get clean water to 45,000 people in Fiji. Our goal is to raise $1,000,000 by the time we finish. We hope to accomplish this through $100 contributions. Over the next 18 months I hope you enjoy our adventure through this blog, pictures, and videos and I hope you will consider giving a $100 to help these people in Fiji get clean water!!!
So you know- Prior to the trip i sold virtually all my possessions to fund this adventure. All I own now is the gear I have for this trip, some clothes, and a few pieces of luggage. Thats it. I have no car, no furniture, and im soooo happy!
On September 2,2010 as I ride to the Chipotle in Columbus Ohio I received a phone call from someone who wanted to make a large contribution to cover my remaining expenses for the trip. Their gift covers most of the remaining expenses including food, gear, and airline tickets for the entire trip!!! I am super thankful for that! This also allows you to know that your giving goes directly to installing actual water filters on the ground in Fiji!!! STOKED.
Someone also recently decided to cover my cellphone expenses for the remainder of the trip!! Again- SUPER STOKED!
I have given all I can to see this adventure happen and to help people in Fiji and I will continue to give my best effort.
Ride4water via iPhone4
So you know- Prior to the trip i sold virtually all my possessions to fund this adventure. All I own now is the gear I have for this trip, some clothes, and a few pieces of luggage. Thats it. I have no car, no furniture, and im soooo happy!
On September 2,2010 as I ride to the Chipotle in Columbus Ohio I received a phone call from someone who wanted to make a large contribution to cover my remaining expenses for the trip. Their gift covers most of the remaining expenses including food, gear, and airline tickets for the entire trip!!! I am super thankful for that! This also allows you to know that your giving goes directly to installing actual water filters on the ground in Fiji!!! STOKED.
Someone also recently decided to cover my cellphone expenses for the remainder of the trip!! Again- SUPER STOKED!
I have given all I can to see this adventure happen and to help people in Fiji and I will continue to give my best effort.
Ride4water via iPhone4
Friday, November 12, 2010
I got hit my a car the other day riding and it HURT
As I sat here in CA waiting for my left hamstring to get better and for Dane to wrap up the details of his life for us to depart into Central America I made it a goal to begin to get back on the bike for about an hour a day to promote healing and to keep the con webs from forming on my legs as I continue to cycle. I went out for a ride last Tuesday at 4:30pm from La Mirage Apartments in Mission Valley by Qualcomm Stadium where my good friends Mark And Mori are letting me hangout. So I began to ride nice and easy enjoying the hills of mission valley doing a little climbing. On my way back about 2 miles from the apartment I was cruising down the street and a lady opened her car door just as a flew by and sent me flying. I went over the handle bars, hit the car door, and was laying on my ass. It all happened so quick I was stunned. I looked at my right leg and saw several gashes. Blood everywhere. My chest hurt. My shoulder hurt. I immediately walked around and it didn't feel like anything was broken. I did some squats and just felt super sore. Frankly I hurt all over. Then it happened. I was PISSED. I mean as mad as I get. So mad I didnt feel like talking. Here I was trying to get my left leg better and now I've trashed my right leg. The lady who opened her door apologized over and over again and started smoking. I paced around for about 10 minutes back and forth. I looked up and realized there was a hospital on my right and a church on my left. I DIDN'T WANT TO GO TO EITHER! A guy told me he saw the whole thing and everyone there exchanged information. He brought me some peroxide and alcohol w cotton balls and a started the wound cleaning party myself. I was mangled and I they just stared at me as a cleaned all my wounds for about 20 minutes. I HATE hospitals and didn't plan on getting a number and spending the next 6 hours getting pushed from room to room, filling out paperwork, getting X-rays and MRIs all to have them tell me I will be okay and give me a vicadin prescription for the pain. I just thought nothing was broken so I'll just clean my own wounds, get some ibuprofen, drink a margarita and save myself the hassle. I just thought of the irony of the situation. I rode all the way across the US no prob and I get to San Diego and tear my hamstring surfing and get hit by a car on a 60 minute joy ride. NOT COOL. I'm safer traveling on the road get me outta here!!! I think I will be okay. My bike is getting fixed and I hope that I can stay out of harms way. The lady that hit me found out I was riding around the world to try and get clean water for people in Fiji and that made her feel even worse! Anyways. I hope to be better soon and keep on trucking on December 3rd for the next section from Mexico to Panama. Wish me luck w getting better
Ride4water via iPhone4
Ride4water via iPhone4
Location:San Diego
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
My new P.I.C.
This is my new P.I.C (partner in crime-yes I got that from Role Models). This is Dane Horak. Dane and I go way back to 1996. You will get to know Dane more over the next several months but I will say that Dane left a very lucrative career at Panasonic as a computer engineer to join me on this journey. He is a hardcore tri guy and a tough minded go getter who likes to party so this next section beginning Dec 3rd should be off the hook.
Ride4water via iPhone4
Location:La Habra CA
Monday, November 8, 2010
THANKS THANKS THANKS to my friend Dave Johnson
Dave is on the right dancing with a naked cowboy w a red speedo
I want to thank my friend Dave Johnson today. Dave is a talented business genius and has an immense skillset. In fact he is good at so many things one begins to wonder if there is anything this guy doesn't do well. Dave got trip sponsors, arranged accommodations, trouble shot problems, put together an FB fan page for our trip, made me fall off my bike from laughing a few times while talking to him when I was riding, set up fundraising events, rented a mansion in Flagstaff where we partied and Goofed off for a few days, and graciously opened his home up to me in Phoenix and treated me like a king. He then contacted his friend Torrance who lives in Canada to come down and shoot video to try and shop this little trip as a TV show or Documentary. Like I said- the guy is gifted and a great friend. So I wanted to say THANKS Dave. I am extremely fortunate that this trip struck a cord with you and I hope that our motley crew can help 45,000 people in Fiji get clean water.
Ride4water via iPhone4
I want to thank my friend Dave Johnson today. Dave is a talented business genius and has an immense skillset. In fact he is good at so many things one begins to wonder if there is anything this guy doesn't do well. Dave got trip sponsors, arranged accommodations, trouble shot problems, put together an FB fan page for our trip, made me fall off my bike from laughing a few times while talking to him when I was riding, set up fundraising events, rented a mansion in Flagstaff where we partied and Goofed off for a few days, and graciously opened his home up to me in Phoenix and treated me like a king. He then contacted his friend Torrance who lives in Canada to come down and shoot video to try and shop this little trip as a TV show or Documentary. Like I said- the guy is gifted and a great friend. So I wanted to say THANKS Dave. I am extremely fortunate that this trip struck a cord with you and I hope that our motley crew can help 45,000 people in Fiji get clean water.
Ride4water via iPhone4
Location:San Diego
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
I want to thank La Habra Cyclery who have kept my dad stoked on cycling all the way to age 65!
My father rode his 1978 Schwinn to work for 30 years and he also has gone to the same bike shop for more than 20. La Habra Cyclery in La Habra CA is the friendliest most talented bike shop I have ever been in. They know everybody by name, give outstanding customer service, but what separates it from virtually every other bike shop that I have ever been to is that it has a manager who has actually accomplished something in competition. Most bicycle shops are staffed with wannabe poser cyclists who have a chip on their shoulder and frankly can be downright rude when it comes to customer service. These people forgot the memo about it not being their job description to be the extra bodacious super coolio at work. Save it for the dance floor and the pub on Friday night turbo.
Anyway. La Habra Cyclery is run by a guy names Brian. Brian has been CA state champ at least 6 times. I took a photo and could only get years 2003-2006 in the picture. If that's not impressive enough the guy is super nice and a humble down to earth guy. Brian and his crew had been doing all my dads bike work for a long time and I took it in to show them because I recently had the orange paint taken off to the original chrome and the bike looks amazing. They were super stoked on the chrome and the campy groupo I put on the bike. I mentioned my trip to them and they were really into it. It felt great to meet the guys that have kept my dad stoked on cycling all the way to age 65. There was a great vibe in the shop, then Mr.CA STATE CHAMP went over to the clothing rack and gave me a team bib, jersey, and vest wind breaker and said he would be stoked if I wore their gear. Amazing. Another organic synergistic relationship formed with people who are humble, fun, and have a passion to see people ride bikes. If you live in Southern California and are looking for a bike shop I cannot say enough positive things about who they are and what they are about.
Ride4water via iPhone4
Location:La Habra CA
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Lastnight I hung out w my friend Pete I have surfed w since 1991
Grabbing a pint w Pete. Pete went on a 1 year surf trip on 4 continents after college. We got all amped telling stories of adventure.
Ride4water via iPhone4
Location:Brea CA
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Today I spent some time with my 84 year old grandmother in a convalescent home
I am taking today to continue
to rest my torn hamstring get some gear for the next stage of my trip and spend time with my family. My grandmother is 84, suffering from dementia, and no longer recognizes me as her grandson. I am at the home she is staying at now and i was just staring at the schedule. Its sort of like a kindergarten day. They have happy feet with Dr. Park, parades downtown, sing-a-longs, balloon tosses, and a ring throwing contest. At first this place made me feel uncomfortable because I have been enjoying the beauty of nature, the thrill of daily adventure, and the excitement of meeting new and diverse people everyday. Coming hear makes me think of one thing and one thing only-DEATH. I don't like thinking of dying. Its not a subject I like to dwell on and subconsciously I sort of hope it won't ever happen to me. Dying is for other people and Living is for me. At least that's what I tell myself. I'm aware that it happens to everyone. I get it. Perhaps that's part of the reason I had to do this ride. Someday I'm going to be in a home where old people go. It will have nice food and amenities and my family will come see me, but I wonder what stories I might be able to tell my friends i make in that home. Maybe I will be able to tell my old friends that when I was a younger I sold all my stuff and decided to ride my bicycle for a while. They will ask me where I went and I can tell them I went to magical places with delicious food with mythical characters. That i slept under the stars in a hammock and helped get water for people in far away places who didn't have it.
It hit me here that someday I will get old and all I will have left is the stories of my life to pass on to the other human beings who have crossed my path near the end of my existence. Hopefully I will be able to share with them that I lived a life where I tried my best to follow my heart, to not be afraid, to make life an adventure, and to try my best to help others.
This blog is for you Grandma Helen even though you can't remember who I am anymore...
Ride4water via iPhone4
to rest my torn hamstring get some gear for the next stage of my trip and spend time with my family. My grandmother is 84, suffering from dementia, and no longer recognizes me as her grandson. I am at the home she is staying at now and i was just staring at the schedule. Its sort of like a kindergarten day. They have happy feet with Dr. Park, parades downtown, sing-a-longs, balloon tosses, and a ring throwing contest. At first this place made me feel uncomfortable because I have been enjoying the beauty of nature, the thrill of daily adventure, and the excitement of meeting new and diverse people everyday. Coming hear makes me think of one thing and one thing only-DEATH. I don't like thinking of dying. Its not a subject I like to dwell on and subconsciously I sort of hope it won't ever happen to me. Dying is for other people and Living is for me. At least that's what I tell myself. I'm aware that it happens to everyone. I get it. Perhaps that's part of the reason I had to do this ride. Someday I'm going to be in a home where old people go. It will have nice food and amenities and my family will come see me, but I wonder what stories I might be able to tell my friends i make in that home. Maybe I will be able to tell my old friends that when I was a younger I sold all my stuff and decided to ride my bicycle for a while. They will ask me where I went and I can tell them I went to magical places with delicious food with mythical characters. That i slept under the stars in a hammock and helped get water for people in far away places who didn't have it.
It hit me here that someday I will get old and all I will have left is the stories of my life to pass on to the other human beings who have crossed my path near the end of my existence. Hopefully I will be able to share with them that I lived a life where I tried my best to follow my heart, to not be afraid, to make life an adventure, and to try my best to help others.
This blog is for you Grandma Helen even though you can't remember who I am anymore...
Ride4water via iPhone4
First Section Reflection
So it two months into the trip and I have yet to write a blog. I was so busy wrapping
up grad school, moving out of my apartment, saying goodbye to family and friends, and planning the trip, getting sponsors, and raising awareness that merely repeating all of this in a run on sentence is tiring. But here I am and I thought I would reflect on the first section of this amazing journey. First up it is amazing what an iphone4 does. I have just one piece of electronic equipment and this thing is a winner. Over 200k apps in the app store. Need directions done. Need GPS done. Need to talk to your friend while you ride the last 20 miles done. Need to tweet photos to the 400 people following you on FB done. Need to listen to 1000's of songs while you ride done. Need to blog while you lay in your hammock done. Need to send videos to sponsors done. Need to watch avatar in your hammock at night done. I am just beside myself stoked on this thing. It is nice knowing that I'll never get lost and that my friends family and people following our journey are just a call text or tweet away. It is great to feel so connected while out here on the road.
Secondly I was stoked to be riding w davin. The guys is a beast on the bike. He has been pulling me everyday for about half the ride. The other half is split with me pulling and us just off doing on own thing riding. Davin is a thoughtful easy going guy who is just a blast to travel with and when we need to motor on the bike that dude can put it down
Thirdly I have been stoked and overwhelmed at the love and support we have experienced thus far on our journey. People are following along on our FB page and it is full of nice thoughts and comments and I'm grateful for that.
Fourthly I can't believe how many funny things happen everyday. I have been trying to catch it on film and am learning that is an art.
Fifth I have NO REGRETS about doing this. Life is to short. I have met alot of people that have told me so far that they wish they could do a trip like this. I want to be clear with what I'm Bout to say. Quit wishing. You have one life and your in charge of it. We all choose to live the lives we have so if you need to choose to live life differently so you ocan go on a trip then you are free to make those choices. Or you are free to not make those choices. But wishing?? Wishing is for people who can't make up there mind with what they want in this life and no one can help you with that except you. so there's my two cents about wishers and their wishing.
Sixth I feel a renewed sense of grace and faith. Being able to do this is a GIFT. I feel that many things have 'fallen' into place to make this possible and it has me humbled and left in awe that I get to be part of an adventure like this and the opportunity to help irradiate water borne disease in the Fijian island. I truly believe that with a moderate effort from a broad group of people we can accomplish this. I hope to see this happen over the be t three years.
Lastly-the first part of this trip has already reaffirmed somemthing I have thought for a while now PEOPLE ARE THE SAME EVERYWHERE. I have found this to be true in the 35 states I have visited and in the 20+countries I have traveled to. a polite nod of the head gets one back. Please and thank you's are respected. Smiles are usually returned. When people sense you appreciate and respect them you get it back.
So that's my first section reflection. Hope to check in again soon and I hope your life is going good.
Ryan
P.S. A big thanks to my friends in Hudson, Ohio who sent Davin and I these dope jerseys as we made it to CA. Davin takes his back to Ohio and I will take mine as I journey forward
Ride4water via iPhone4
up grad school, moving out of my apartment, saying goodbye to family and friends, and planning the trip, getting sponsors, and raising awareness that merely repeating all of this in a run on sentence is tiring. But here I am and I thought I would reflect on the first section of this amazing journey. First up it is amazing what an iphone4 does. I have just one piece of electronic equipment and this thing is a winner. Over 200k apps in the app store. Need directions done. Need GPS done. Need to talk to your friend while you ride the last 20 miles done. Need to tweet photos to the 400 people following you on FB done. Need to listen to 1000's of songs while you ride done. Need to blog while you lay in your hammock done. Need to send videos to sponsors done. Need to watch avatar in your hammock at night done. I am just beside myself stoked on this thing. It is nice knowing that I'll never get lost and that my friends family and people following our journey are just a call text or tweet away. It is great to feel so connected while out here on the road.
Secondly I was stoked to be riding w davin. The guys is a beast on the bike. He has been pulling me everyday for about half the ride. The other half is split with me pulling and us just off doing on own thing riding. Davin is a thoughtful easy going guy who is just a blast to travel with and when we need to motor on the bike that dude can put it down
Thirdly I have been stoked and overwhelmed at the love and support we have experienced thus far on our journey. People are following along on our FB page and it is full of nice thoughts and comments and I'm grateful for that.
Fourthly I can't believe how many funny things happen everyday. I have been trying to catch it on film and am learning that is an art.
Fifth I have NO REGRETS about doing this. Life is to short. I have met alot of people that have told me so far that they wish they could do a trip like this. I want to be clear with what I'm Bout to say. Quit wishing. You have one life and your in charge of it. We all choose to live the lives we have so if you need to choose to live life differently so you ocan go on a trip then you are free to make those choices. Or you are free to not make those choices. But wishing?? Wishing is for people who can't make up there mind with what they want in this life and no one can help you with that except you. so there's my two cents about wishers and their wishing.
Sixth I feel a renewed sense of grace and faith. Being able to do this is a GIFT. I feel that many things have 'fallen' into place to make this possible and it has me humbled and left in awe that I get to be part of an adventure like this and the opportunity to help irradiate water borne disease in the Fijian island. I truly believe that with a moderate effort from a broad group of people we can accomplish this. I hope to see this happen over the be t three years.
Lastly-the first part of this trip has already reaffirmed somemthing I have thought for a while now PEOPLE ARE THE SAME EVERYWHERE. I have found this to be true in the 35 states I have visited and in the 20+countries I have traveled to. a polite nod of the head gets one back. Please and thank you's are respected. Smiles are usually returned. When people sense you appreciate and respect them you get it back.
So that's my first section reflection. Hope to check in again soon and I hope your life is going good.
Ryan
P.S. A big thanks to my friends in Hudson, Ohio who sent Davin and I these dope jerseys as we made it to CA. Davin takes his back to Ohio and I will take mine as I journey forward
Ride4water via iPhone4
Location:San Diego CA
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
MAKING IT TO SAN DIEGO
http://www.kusi.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=5218184&flvUri=&partnerclipid=
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