Central Texas and AUSTIN!.... about half way to Little Corn!

I have now made it into AUSTIN, TX.

This is the approximate halfway point of my journey, and the point at which my planning becomes hazy. So this is where it gets fun, starting with how to get out of the busy city roads without getting my self killed later today.

Getting here has proved a little more eventful than I had anticipated. Let me explain:

After  fixing my bike; changing the tubes and switching my tires so the newer was on the back, finally leaving CHILDRESS around 1 PM. I was about an hour into riding for the day, just getting into the flow, when... I HIT A NAIL. Completely destroying the new tire I had just moved to the rear.

Having a sizable hole in the new tire, and not having another spare... it was a problem I would not be able to fix roadside on my own. But I did not have to wait long before, a very nice lady by the name of Carol, picked me up and gave me a ride to a tire shop in the nearby town of QUANAH. where, the guys in the shop patched the tire (free of charge) and I was able to make it into the town of Crowell as the sun set.
Upon reaching Crowell, I tried to find someone to ask where I might be able to put up a tent, which proved to be fairly difficult. At 6PM, the town was a ghost town. Police department closed, sheriff's office closed... and not a soul on the road. I finally spotted a state trooper car, who informed me of a place near by  could set up for the night and advised getting there as early as possible, as aggressive wild hogs had been a problem in the evenings recently.
I made it to the park on the outside of the town.. set up camp and was into my evening routine; when I heard noises that told me some of these wild hogs were my neighbors. The bush right next to my tent happened to be full of wild hogs. But, thankfully other than keeping me up a bit with their loud squeals the night was uneventful and I was able to get an early start. Leaving before 8AM.

I was ticking along for an hour or so at a nice pace of around 30km/hr, thinking today was going to be a great day......
Few minutes later...PSHHH, the patch blew...flat again. Still no spare. Time to improvise. Off come the bags and the back wheel to start on a make shift fix.Lucky for me at this point some highway workers pulled over... because I had no idea HOW exactly I was going to make a patc,h only that it needed to be done. But, with the help of the guys, we managed to make a poorman's patch using a piece of hard plastic to line the tire and good ol' duct tape. I managed to make it another 15mile or so bumping down the road over the tape on that. however, it didn't last and again I was out of comission for the day at the side of the road. The local Deputy Sherriff picked me up and hauled me into the tire shop in the town of SEYMOUR, TX. Here I was informed that they could put a reinforced patch on my tire, but it probably wouldn't get me 50 miles (the distance to the next town).

Not wanting to end up stuck on the side of the road helpless (yet AGAIN!!). I decided to get some spare tires and tubes ordered and mailed to me where I was so that next time the unfortunate happened I would be prepared! so there I was, stationary in Seymour for two days waiting for my gear to arrive. The first night of which I stayed in my tent in the local park where some local joy riding teenagers came and kept me company for a little while. Mid-way through the following day, as I was sitting by my tent not wanting to leave all my gear unattended in the park; a police officer ( I don't know of what rank... nor do all of these rankings that exist down here meen anything to me. police is police is police no matter what of the seemingly endless titles they may hold). Well anyways, this kind police officer informed me that they had a program for financial assistance and would be willing to pay for a nights stay in a motel while I waited for my stuff. (Mostly I think he just wanted the crazy Canadian on a bike out of the city park.) I willingly accepted and loaded my gear into his truck for a ride to the motel. It is one thing to stay in a city park over night but to sit in one beside your tent all day... makes you FEEL a bit like you really are a crazy person.

The next morning I finally got my tires and spare gear around 9AM. I swung by the tire shop to say thanks and let them know I got sorted. And was glad I did so, the man who ran the shop gave a donation to help with my costs and it wasn't until I looked at it later that I realized just how generous he had been... the bill he gave me was marked $100!!.. That will feed me for over a week! Thank you kind sir.

The day continued on to be a good one. I made about 125km into JACKSBORO where I found a great little place to camp next to a lake, had my lunch bought for me, and was donated another $20 on top of the $100. Great first day back on the road after a few days stationary and few very stressful days of questioning my mission before that!

The next few days would continue in this high and low fashion, with high headwinds, many more hills than anticipated and hot weather making it hard to make much progress, followed by more newspaper interviews and extremely kind strangers letting me into their homes or helping me in someway...making me remember why it is I am doing this crazy trip after days of questioning whether all my stress is worth it.(Of course I know it is, but sometimes it is hard to see that after long periods of one hard day after another and long periods in which no one is donating to the cause I am trying so hard to make happen).

I finally reached Austin on the 22nd. (with a little help from my new friend Lewis, who, after meeting me in Hamilton earlier in the day, found me on the road in LAMPASAS. He informed me he was there to give me a ride into Austin, as we had been talking about how I wasn't exactly sure how I was going to deal with getting through the busy roads of Austin.)
So with a little help I made it into the city where I saw a familiar face for the first time since I have been on the road! I stayed with Dustin ( a friend from the island), who took me around Austin on his bike (of the motorized variety), showing me the sights and getting some logistical things done before I left town again on the 24th.

Getting out of the city was... interesting. I pushed my bike only a block before deciding there was no way I was going to get out of the city alive on only pedal power. As I was sat at a gas station calling a cab a lady overheard me and told me she would take me where I needed to go for $40 instead of the minimum of $80 the taxi company had quoted...Of course I accepted and had to apologize to the taxi driver who pulled up as we were loading my bike onto her roof... oops!

So, I am now out of Austin and on my way to the Mexican border. I will be crossing at either Brownsville or Mc Allen within the week where I will catch a bus through the most Northerly regions of the country to get out of the dangerous border areas before getting back on the bike.

Some very interesting things have happened since I left AUSTIN, but they will have to wait until the next update as I need to get back on the road.

PLEASE KEEP DOING EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO CONTINUE TO SPREAD THE WORD AND HELP WITH THE EFFORTS TO MAKE THE LEARNING CENTER ON LITTLE CORN A REALITY! I am doing the best I can (talking to media,etc.) but there are not enough hours in the day to devote to fundraising at the same time as trying to pedal 100km a day. I NEED ALL THE HELP I CAN GET TO GET THE FUNDS RAISED TO GET THIS THING STARTED WHEN I REACH.
www.commonthreadz.org/stephsolverson

this man has been on a bike for 7yrs, travels with fairies controlled by god and is heading to the mountains for shelter for the winter??

a dog that followed me for 10 miles, named him stalker as he was stalking the cars and biting the tires... sadly I would be surprised if he is still alive

The melting of time

Now that I have been on the road for a decent little stretch of time, I have started to have the familiar old feeling of THE MELTING OF TIME that seems to accompany me anytime I seem to get myself into a routine lifestyle. It is hard to say what happened yesterday, from the day or even the week before.

This feeling was most prominent in WELLINGTON, TEXAS on the morning of the 15th of October.
Upon reaching the town on the evening of the 14th, having pedaling around 80 mi that day from Canadian, I went to see the local police to ask if there was a place in town I could put up my tent. (I do this every time I plan on staying with in city limits.)
Now this particular tent was the firs of which the answer was no. There was no where in town they would be comfortable having me camp for the night. So instead, they drove me 6 miles back in the direction I came from, where there was a roadside point and campsite.
After waking a little late in the morning having not had the best sleep, (sleeping on a concrete pad in the "free zone" of the campsite) and having a coffee and chatting with the lady who is the campground host. I headed back into town. For the first time on my journey, covering the same ground twice.
 As I neared town I had a weird feeling. I remembered this patch of road. I remembered seeing two Mennonite ladies walking, after which came a very nice little roadside pullout in the trees where there was a historical marker, and following that I knew I would pass a little school house whose fence was lined with old wagon wheels. I remembered the road perfectly but I remembered it as if it was somewhere I had been a long time ago, years even; as opposed to the mere 16hrs that had actually passed in the time since I had last travelled this stretch.It was a weird moment of Deja vu that I think
I will remember forever.

For everyone elses benefit I will now speak of what has happened in the last little while in chronological order. (Lucky for you... I have become accustomed to taking notes on the day as part of my power down routine).. For me, the memories will remain grouped together not by time but by the simple category "while on the road in______ state or town". All memories are cherished but can not really be distinguished to a particular moment in time.

 Leaving the Best Western I was staying at in Perryton (courtesy of the Sabra Mc Adams Key Height Baptist Church; thank you!) at about 9:45 on the morning of the 13th, I was expecting bad weather as that is what was predicted. The weather was BEAUTIFUL. That does NOT however, mean my day ran smoothly.

After being told for the last few weeks that the "roads will be the best you have seen when you get to Texas"; the first decent length stretch of road I had....was under construction. This left no shoulder, and YET AGAIN I had to walk my bike for most of the morning. And because it had rained all night and the day before... I had to walk through mud. Pushing a heavily weighted bike through mud, is NOT a pleasant task by any means if you were wondering.

About 3 hours of this treacherous task, the construction pattern changed to my advantage, giving me a road of my own on the opposite side of the barriers. BUUUT... not half an hour into this new wonderful situation. I noticed my rear tire was a little flat, and upon pumping it up, it went COMPLETELY flat.... the tube tore where the valve meets the tube. AND, being that I was on the other side of the barrier making it very hard for anyone to stop and assist; I would not be able to use my sit and look helpless until someone stops to help tactic that I have become a fan of.. SOO, for the first time on the trip I was required to change the inner tube all by myself (well... that is not the complete truth, I had some long distance mechanical coaching over the phone from my mom's boyfriend Tom.) It took a while but I got the job done...Only seconds after getting the tube changed, a man pulled over. He had recognized me from the newspaper in Perryton, asked if I needed help,(to which I was proud to say no!, gave me$20, and the newspaper which featured me on the front page!).

footbridge in Canadian

With everything fixed up and good to go I was able to make it into the beautiful little town of CANADIAN, TEXAS by sundown (named for the Spanish meaning of "boxed in"..who knew?).

I decided that after a stressful day and as a month on the road celebration; I would treat myself to a nice dinner in town. But upon reaching the restaurant it became apparent that I would not have to treat myself at all. A couple in the BEEF EXCHANGE recognized me from the paper and informed my waitress that they would be paying for my meal...but upon hearing my story, instead the restaurant gave me a free meal, leaving the kind couple to donate $50, and even a few of the waitresses gave me a total of an addition $40 donation. Glad I opted out of the tuna sandwich I was debating having instead. I left town having had the best meal in a very long time (free of charge) and an extra $90 in my pocket. Again, there is nothing more inspiring than The Kind Hearts of Strangers.

The next morning (14/10/12) got off to a good start. When I woke, there was a nice old man in the campground with whom I had a chat and ended up getting another $10 donation. The day would go on to be a very enjoyable and productive one.I travelled about 80 miles from Canadian to Wellington over a much hillier terrain than I expected out of TEXAS. The weather was hot, but the wind cooled me down and it was a helping instead of a hindering wind, for the most part coming from behind me.I also saw my first armadillo!! Upon reaching Wellington, I was turned around and set back 6 miles (which I already mentioned) a bit of a pain.. but one I can deal with).

The day of the 15th would prove to be one of those days I question why I am doing this. After having to travel the same ground twice; I made it into town around 10, where I did a interview with the local news paper. I got back on the road a little before 11 and began feeling sick to my stomach almost immediately, which didn't go away and therefor made the day progress very slowly, not getting very far. After a slow day of stopping and starting, passing many cotton fields, I was finally making it into the city of CHILDRESS, TX., when I got a phone call. The road was fairly busy so i pulled my bike off and into the ditch to talk, and when I ended the call I realized that both of my tires were full of thorns and completely flat. They were both pumped full of sealant so I pumped them up and tried to continue on my way.... the front stayed inflated, the back did not. And I used the last of my spare innertubes on the way to Canadian. So, I pushed my bike the rest of the way into town to WALMART (pumping the tire up often). And upon reaching WALMART, I found... they did not have innertubes in my size, so I bought one size too small and will have the challange of dealing with that today. The only good things that happened this day were... first a game I invented of squishing peanuts along the roadside (small things ammuse me!), and more important and heartwarming... A very nice man named Raul noticed my problems in WALMART parking lot as it was getting dark, and drove me to his daughter (MARY HINOJOSH)'s house where I spent the night, and still am now.Another random stranger with a heart of gold who not only let me sleep in her house, but gave me her bed and slept on the sofa, not allowing me to disapprove of the arrangement. I will fix my bike and be on the road as soon as possible.

Wish me luck, I hope for no more flat tires in the near future and the winds to stay at my back. I am eagerly awaiting my entrance into MEXICO and the next leg of the adventure.

KEEP SPREADING THE WORD AND DONATING IF YOU CAN. I AM ALMOST AT MY HALFWAY POINT ON THE ROAD, BUT WE HAVE A WAYS TO GO TO GET TO HALF WAY ON THE FUNDRAISING
www.commonthreadz.org/stephsolverson


 

The Panhandle and ALL that goes with it

Yesterday marked one month on the road and was my first full day in my last state; TEXAS.

As you may know; I came out east into the prairie provinces to avoid mountains and hills, hopefully speeding up this portion of my journey......

This decision may have been a mistake.

 Where there are no hills and mountains, there are winds! And while mountains may be difficult, at the end of every long and difficult incline... you are inevitably rewarded with a decline on the other side. (Not to mention the beautiful sights along the way!). Where as winds are relentless and never stopping. Creating long and hard days, with not much mileage gained as a reward.... And then there are those dreaded goatheads!!

Now, I may have realized this potential problem had I ridden a bike, AT ALL, in the last 10 years; or if I knew more about geography and weather patterns of the United States.... That however was not the case. So here I am in the Texas Panhandle. Where sever storm warnings kept me stationary yesterday, these storm warnings continue through today, but right now it doesn't look so bad. So the plan is to continue on and just hope I make it to the next city before the wind hits.

Because I need to get on the road as soon as possible I will do a very brief update and add details and pictures once I get to the next Internet point.

Last time I posted I was in KANSAS. In fact up until the day before yesterday, I was in Kansas. On this day I woke up in Liberal, Kansas; crossed into OKLAHOMA around 9:30 and by sunset I had reached the TEXAS state line. Three states in one day!! I could have mad it even further into Texas but, due to high winds and no shoulders I ended up walking my bike through most of Oklahoma!

Some of the things I have experienced lately:

More wonderful people; I have received more personal donations, covered hotel rooms and even the hope of further fundraising help ... I have also experienced my first not so wonderful person who pretended to be a police man while I was sleeping in a city park, luckily I had my friend Howie on the phone and the REAL police knew I was there and were doing regular check ups on me.(more later)

More flat tires and even had to change a tire and not just an innertube. Thanks to the completely useless young man at the bike shop in Garden City. I swear he just put my bike on the rack... took it down and charge me $20, and then gave me the wrong size spare innertubes! (but luckily I met a very nice and knowledgeable man who helped deal with my roadside problems!)

More Newspaper interviews.

More bad weather. Including frost, high winds, rain, and even tornado warnings.

More wildlife. I have again met up with my beloved migratory companions... the GEESE. ( I do not know how far they go... maybe this is is the end point of their journey, but seeing them still puts a smile on my face!!. I also saw a black widow spider eating a beetle.. BEAUTIFUL. (got some pics but she kept hiding so I don't know if I managed to capture the tell tale hour glass.)

This is about as much detail as I can go into now. I have to get on the road now in hopes to have made it to the next city before the high winds predicted for the afternoon hit.

Hopefully I will be in AUSTIN, TX in about a week. This is the halfway point of my journey, so after a brief time of losing hope about making my goal and reaching before Christmas I again have faith that I will make it. I just hope we can also make the fundraising goal. I am trying my best to raise awareness and raise funds, but it is a bit hard to do this and pedal as far as possible in a day. Not enough hours in the day, and a bit over whelming. PLEASE HELP

 

Please keep spreading the word and donating if you can. Help me make sure all of my hard work is payed off by GIVING THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE OF LITTLE CORN THE CHRISTMAS PRESENT OF A LIFE TIME! ( not that my return isn't a present in it's self! haha). LET'S GET THIS THING UP AND RUNNING!!


www.commonthreadz.org/stephsolverson




a million of these massive wind turbine propellers pass me every day... not a good sign

The Good and the Bad of NEBRASKA

 




I have now pedalled over 2000km and crossed yet another border, entering the state of KANSAS. While doing so, I realized I crossed an entire state without once updating my blog on the ongoings of my journey.So, here we go.

NEBRASKA was the state that has reminded me most of home. Full of feedlots, cattleliners and cornfields (not to mention snow!). But it has also been the state that has seem to agree with me the least of all so far, with many minor setbacks and mishaps along the way.

 a brief summary of the entertaining and inspiring things that have happened in the last little while for those whoe don't want to be bored by the minor details of my travels:

THE ENTERTAINING:

CACTUS-BUMB (30/09)- A few days before I entered Nebraska, as the sun set and I looked for a place to lay my head, I came across a field with an open gate. Upon entering said gate, I realized that the field was absolutely riddled with cactuses. However, the sun was setting and I needed to get off the road so I continued on, paying very close attention to the path of my precious tires.... maybe too close attention to the path of the tires and not enough to that of my feet. Next thing I know I am on the ground with a bumb full of cactus spines.oops. At least I saved the tires AND had finished riding for the day so didn't have to immediatley sit on my pin cushoin bottom!!

THE ATTACK OF THE SPRINKLERS(03/10)- Upon reaching BRIDGEPORT, NE; I went to the local police station to ask a few questions,including where I could put up a tent. They informed me of a little park close by where I shouldn't be bothered. They failed however to mention the sunken sprinklers....but me, (being the smart cookie that I am), noticed that the grass was very green except in one spot. Therefor, I concluded that the sprinklers must not reach this spot. WRONG... it meens this spot is soo close to the sprinklers that they shoot water OVER it; meening that the water will be at very high pressure when hitting your tent, causing it to go straight through.And you will have to get up at 3AM, Brave the sprinklers to move your tent. NICE ONE!

THE DAY OF THE TUMBLEWEED(04/10)- 
Having covered over 80miles the day before (from Lingle,WY to Bridgeport, NE). I decided I could take it easy in the morning. So, after having a coffee, updating the blog, and talking to the local newspaper; it was around 1PM by the time I finally got on the road. All went well for the first 1/2 hr or so, with a bit of a tailwind helping to push me along at a nice, solid 30 km/hr. Then it picked up... now my speed was around 45km/hr on flat ground, and everyonce and the wind kept shifting to the side. This shift not only caused me to swerve to the edge of the road into loose gravel; but also regularily sent tumbleweeds fliying across the road, getting caught in my wheels, in between my arms, and on more than one occassion hit me in the side of the face. There was also a massive cloud of dirt that was lowereing the visibility...After close to 20 miles I decided to give it a rest for the day, determining it was no longer safe to ride in these conditions on a busy road.

THE RETURN OF THE SPRINKLERS (04/10)- After being treated to a rest (curtosy of the weather) and a meal( curtosy of a lovely lady I met..more later). I again retired into my tent in this new town's park. Having learned a little I did not go for any brown patch, and even hid my tent slightly behind a tree in attempts to avoid the wrath of the sprinklers. And at first I thought I had won... I DID get hit by the sprinklers, but I was far enough away that it was just a light spray that caused no leakage and the pattering sound even helped lull me off to sleep. However, when I woke in the morning I would immediately be aware that the sprinklers had in fact conquered again!.... The spray that landed on my tent had froze over night, causing my tent to be covered in ice, and the zippers to freeze shut. I had to spend quite a few minutes in the morning thawing the zippers with my breathe and warmth from my hands in order to even be able to get out of my tent, and once out of the tent I had to spend considerably MORE time brushing the ice off of my tent so that it wouldn't be soaking wet when I go to use it again...You win again sprinklers!

THREE FLATS IN ONE DAY.... AND SNOW (05/10)- Even after being stuck in my tent a little longer than anticipated on that icy morning; I managed to get a fairly early start and by 4PM had pedalled 72miles and made it into OGALLALA ( I know this particular distance only based on road signs as my the sensor on my odometer did't work in the cold and therefor didn't start recording until about 11AM). I don't mind sleeping in a tent in the cold. I am NOT however, a fan of sleeping in a wet tent in the cold. For this reason I chose to get a motel for the night. The very nice manager of Paradise Motel in Ogallala gave me the room for $30. So, for a cheap price I had a warm place to stay for the night. Whe I woke in the morning, not only was it snowing, but I also noticed that I had not only one but two completely flat tires....and the "self sealing innertubes did not seem to work AT ALL.



no shoulders and mud..hard to ride

 I finally got the problem fixed and the innertubes changed (which I will explain a little later), and set off in the snow around noon. But after about an hour and a half of half riding and half pushing my bike to avoid traffic on the terrible roads with no shoulders... my front tire was flat AGAIN. I continued on, pumping up the tire every half hour or so for a while. But one time, after pumping my tire and sitting down for a snack for it to be flat before I even got started again. I got up stamped my feet and kicked my bike in frustration when a lovely truck driver pulled over and gave me a ride off the terrible roads, and then helped me to pump my inner tubes full of tire sealant so I wouldn't continue to go through them at a crazy rate of 3 a day!!... hope it works!!


THE "BLIZZARD" AND THE VIRUS (07/10&08/10)-


the begining of a snowy day

When I woke on the morning of the 7th, first it there was freezing rain and my front tire had not held the air and was YET AGAIN completely flat. Taking this as a sign for the day I stayed in the warmth of sleeping bag in High Plains Campground which the lovely owners had let me stay free of charge. By lunch time, it did not seem like the weather was going to get any better, having turned from freezing rain to large snowflakes and wind. By now, even the warmth of my sleeping bag was not doing the trick in keeping me warm. So I packed up my stuff and headed to the closest motel. After one day in the hotel avoiding the bad weather, I woke up to a bad stomach bug. Not wanting to go too far from the bathroom I spent yet another day stationary, in bed. Hoping that by the time I wake tomorrow I will feel better and the weather will be decent to get me back on the road and that little bit closer to my goal tomorrow



It is days like these when I need every one's help and support the most. Sometimes when nothing is going right and I am continually having set backs it becomes hard to remember why I am doing this and how important it is that I continue on my journey. But it is that comments, donations, general support, and the kind hearts of strangers that remind me that what I am doing IS worthwhile and that no matter the setbacks; the payout of seeing a completed and fully functional LEARNING CENTER will be worth every bit of snow, flat tire and any other inconvenience I may come across along the way.

So please, keep spreading the word, donating and doing everything you can to support my VERY worth while cause.
 www.commonthreadz.org/stephsolverson

AND NOW, some of the things that heart warming things that keep me going;
THE INSPIRING:

THE HOUE OF A STRANGER (30/09)-
 After pedalling over 100km through eastern Wyoming (which was much more hilly than I had anticipated!). I was sat at a gas station, deciding what to do for a place to stay for the night when a man introduced himself as a landlocked rescue diver and asked if I needed any help. After a little apprehention about entering the house of an older man I had never met, our shared love for diving prevailed and very soon we were no longer strangers but friends with a shared passion for the ocean. Not only did he offer me a place to have a shower, and a bed in his spare room for the night. He also took me out for a ride on his boat, shared diving and travel stories and showed me some of the treasures brought up from Japanese war ships in his diving days. Thank you Tom Harnish, your kindness is greatly appreciated and maybe we will meet again one day and go diving!

A FREE MEAL AND GOOD COMPANY(03/10)- Whilst stranded in the small town of BROADWATER, NE. With not much else to do in this small town I spent most of my afternoon in the small library where I met a very nice lady ( who I feel terrible to admit that I don't remember her name). She was kind enough to take me out for dinner at a local restaurant with her and her grand daughter Amber. Thank you so much for a warm meal with great company!

GOING OUT OF THE WAY TO HELP WITH BIKE PROBLEMS (05/10)-
The morning I woke up to 2 flat tires and snow, while I was out getting a coffee, the manager of the PARADISE MOTEL (who also gave me a discounted rate on the room) had got ahold of a mechanic (who again I feel terrible but don't remember his name) who came to pick up me and my bike to take to the shop to change the innertubes free of charge!.. thank you to the hotel manager, the wonderful mechanic (I want to say his name is Scott??) and the shop in OGALLALA that were so kind to help me out.

FREE NIGHTS STAY IN OAKLEY-
After giving up on the tent in the snowy weather and deciding it would be ok to splurge on a hotel for the night to avoid the cold, I went across the road to the FREE BREAKFAST INN, where I learned splurging was not going to be necessary. The wonderful man who runs the place gave me a free nights stay, and... upon finding out that I was ill the next day and would be unable to ride again, gave me yet another night free of charge. THANK-YOU sooo much for your kindness, the money saved for these two nights stay will feed me for a week.

I am most surely missing some people that are deserving of my gratitude, but it is not because I am not grateful. I thank EVERYONE who has helped and supported me in ANYWAY on this journey.

 


 

o ya, i slept in a junkyard and still like dry noodles...good for the road!



 THANKS AGAIN! KEEP FOLLOWING AND SPREADING THE WORD!!..AND WISH ME LUCK

-STEPH

The KIND HEARTS OF STRANGERS

In the 21 days I have been on the road I have pedalled about 1,770km. I have crossed one international border and two state borders. Traversed from prairie farmland, to foothills, plateaus, mountains, high prairie desert and am now back in prairie farmland. I have seen bison, bear, elk, pronghorn, deer, and many different species of birds. And though all of these thing have been beautiful in their own way; the most beautiful thing that I have seen on my journey, has been THE KIND HEARTS OF STRANGERS.

Not a day goes by when I do not witness the outstretched hand of a stranger.

I stop for a rest on the side of the road; 5 people stop to offer me a ride, water, or just help out. (if I had taken all the rides I have been offered I would be in Guatemala by now!!)

If I talk to someone for a few moments about what I am doing and why; they do not hesitate to offer a personal donation to my trip, a meal, a free nights stay in a campsite or even an invitation into their home.

Nothing could have prepared me for the absolute generosity that I have witnessed from people who have never met me before and are unlikely to ever meet me again! My faith in the human race has been restored (not that it was ever completely lost.).But, I am inspired!( not to mention all the donations received from strangers!)

I never did really understand the common teaching of a mother to a child: Don't talk to strangers!....for everyone is a stranger, until you say hello.

I now want to take a minute to remind everyone that I am not just doing this trip to satisfy my sense of adventure (though an adventure it definitely is!). Nor am I doing it as another ride for cancer or MS. Where if not enough money is raised to accomplish the goal, there will always be someone coming behind to put in the effort to raise that extra money needed. The beneficiaries of this ride are a small, but very deserving group of people who have no one else to speak for them. WE ARE THEIR ONLY VOICE!. It is guaranteed that every dollar raised will go directly to the building and running of the LEARNING CENTER. If we do not reach the necessary amount to get it up and running, who knows when these beautiful people we be provided with the learning opportunities they so deserve.

I may be alone on the road, but I AM NOT and CAN NOT be alone on this mission. I NEED your continued support. More importantly the people of the island NEED YOUR SUPPORT.
Skip out on Starbucks, beers after work... or any other simple indulgences you may take part in for one week. If you still can't donate; then spread the word!!.... tell any schools, Churches, or other groups you may be a part of, tell you local media... TELL EVERYONE YOU CAN!!

Let us prove to the world that there are still people who do things for reasons other than their own personal benefit, simply out of the good of their heart. And let us prove that these people are not confined to any particular location or religion.

Kind-hearted people are where I came from, where I am going. They are from ALL corners of the Earth. From ALL walks of life!

LET'S GET THIS THING UP AND RUNNING AND PROVIDE THE PEOPLE OF LITTLE CORN ISLAND THE OPPORTUNITIES THEY DESERVE!!!

I may be riding my bike a very long way, but the funds we raise will carry the people of the island much, much further!

A link to the fundraising page:
http://commonthreadz.org/stephsolverson

in hindsight I wish I had pictures of all the people who have helped me out to post on here but I shall make a list of thanks due... (if I miss someone it is not because I am not greatful, but the list is virtually endless)

THANK-YOU

My family who are very supportive and helping in plannin my route
Adam Clarke, John Morgan, and Rasta Punch (helping to spreadd the word in Nicaragua)
ALL who have donated..a special thanks to those who do not know me or the island
All newspapers who have helped spread the word ( booster and Canadian in camrose, Riverton Ranger, and Torrington paper in Wyoming)
Campgrounds who have let me stay free or discounted rate ( Henderson Lake, AB., Grand Teton and Riverton RV Parks, WY...probably more can't think of right now)
Tom Harnish of Glendo, WY. (landlocked rescue diver who shared his home, his boat, and his diving stories with me in Glendo)
Fr. Eckley Macklin ( donated Sleeping bag and gear)
Lore, Frank and their dog Tar (donated $50 and breakfast in Riverton)
Jesse the construction worker ( short ride and search for lost sleeping bag)
Pete Peterson ( helped me when I lost my sleeping bag in Dubois and had the Church put me up)
Church in Dubois(paid for a nights stay when lost sleeping bag)
Julie and John (dinner and company in yellowstone)
Robert Patterson ( tour of yellowstone, use of camera and company for a day)
People of Monarch and Neihart (donations of food and funds)
Biker man (ride out of the winds)

EVERYONE WHO HAS HELPED TO SPREAD THE WORD, DONATED OR SUPPORTED THE MISSION IN ANY WAY!!!

THANK YOU ALL!!




Thanks again guys.. I will do another post on details of the last few days
-Steph