Half Way There!!

Hey everyone..if you've been following me Id like to apologize for not updating more often but it has proven extremely difficult to find the time to get on a computer to do so. This is when I wish I had a smart phone with the capability to get on and blog whenever. In fact Ive been keeping a journal and even that don't get attention everyday. But anyway..I am halfway to Vancouver. Today I am in Duluth, MN and I have a day off hence the reason for the update. If you'd like to see pictures of the trip please head to bikeandbuild.org and check the 2010 route tracker. Here you will be able to see where Ive been, where the group has built and where we are going not to mention pics. I wish I could describe how awesome this experience has been so far better than just saying it awesome. Ive crossed the Appalachian Mountains and the Adirondacks, been to Niagara Falls, seen miles upon miles of beautiful country. Missed a moose siting but Ive seen lots of other cool wildlife like Great Herons, Red Foxes, Bald Eagles and more. I'm sure I will see lots more when I get into Montana and the Glacier National Park area. I am really hoping to see a bear on this trip. Some of the other cool stuff going on was some cliff jumping yesterday. I did a 20 foot jump while some of the others went off a cliff closer to 40 feet. I am regretting no doing that one a little bit but the water was hard to see through and even though the others did it many times successfully I did not want to risk any misfortune that would keep me from riding. Plus I am sure I will have other opportunities to jump off a cliff of such height and 20 feet was still a hell of a rush. 3 riders have done Mohawks and 3 of the girls shaved there heads. Random dance parties breaking out at lunch and host sites. The rides have been getting steadily longer...70 plus miles everyday. My endurance has increased quite a bit. All in all its been amazing and a journey that I will never forget. I cannot say for certain when my next post will be but please follow me with the route tracker. Thanks again to all those who supported me to get here. Later.

The Journey Begins

Whats up everyone..it's day 6 of my cross country adventure with Bike and Build and let me say it is amazing. Sorry that I didn't post sooner but Internet access isn't always available or I just don't get time(there's almost always something to do). So I'm just gonna give a quick run down of the last 6 days.
So last Sunday I met my team. 32 crazies just like me from 18 different states. Sunday and Monday were orientation(you know getting to know everyone and goin over rules, safety policies and what not. Tuesday we had our first build day right there in Portsmouth, NH. And then Wednesday finally came and the excitement mounted. It was time for the wheel dip. We all rode to the beach and walked into the freezing water of the Atlantic and dipped out rear tires in, took a couple group photos, thanks those who came to see us off and then we saddled up and headed for Concord, NH 60 miles away. We left Concord Thursday morning and rode off towards New London, NH. From there we headed to Lebanon, NH(which is where I am as we speak) and today was another build day. Unfortunately not all of us were needed for the build so some of us stayed at the church and did some clean up and washed the van(which btw is called Elvis). The views while riding have been amazing. Ive hit a new top speed record of 53.7 mph(booyah!!). Yesterday we stopped at a lake while riding and jumped in to cool off for a bit before riding into town. I really wish I had more time to describe so more of my team, the rides and how awesome our host have been to us but my session is almost up(I'm on a computer at the local library and we only get 30min). Also I do have picture to post but I couldn't link my camera up to this computer, but don't worry they will be up as soon asap. Well I guess that wraps it up for now. Stay tuned for more to come. Especially the pics!

So I decided that it was about time that I start uploading some pics for you guys so you can see that I have actually been training and what have you. Threw in some pics of what I call "The food of Champions"..mind you I can't eat that stuff all the time but since I have been working so hard its nice when I get to be bad and enjoy the pure deliciousness of a homemade Bacon Maple Cheddar Burger w/ caramelized onions(and I mean onions cooked in actual caramel :P) or a nice Egg sandwich with Buffalo Chicken and three cheeses(oh yeah Cheddar, Jack and Munster). And yes I have been training my butt off thank you very much. The official count is 33 days 'till launch and I am super pumped. Been kicking my training into maniac mode and loving it. I cant wait to get to the top of the Rockies an laugh at them..they don't know who there dealing with..BRING IT ON YOU SILLY MOUNTAINS!!! YOU GOT NOTHING ON ME!!! NOTHING!!! Been riding and running and kick boxing galore. Anyway here are some pics from some of my rides...stay tuned for the ones from the trip...enjoy!

Mail Drops

Hey guys..for anyone who was curious as to whether or not they'd be able to send any care packages or what not to me on the road..the answer is yes. The mail drops list has just been posted on the Bike and Build site. The link is 2010 Mail Drops on the page or you can just click the link to the left side under the other links I've put up on here.

April Update

To all of those who have been checking this thing I apologize. Ive been real busy with work and training and trying to get everything in order for the trip. Just got word I need to have my health info and health insurance all taken care of by May 7th. Well, I applied fro health insurance hoping that Id be able to have it cover my physical, but they told me I need to get one before they can accept the application. Oh well, Its just a minor speed bump. Everything else is moving just fine. Ive ridden 250 miles outta the 500 I need to before I leave, though I still need to get in a 65 mile ride..again, no biggie..Ill have that done before I leave for sure. I have to schedule my sweat equity time though..probably gonna do it with Habitat for Humanity. Also I'm sure all of you are wondering why there are no pics up yet...well I have a camera(thanks to my awesome siblings who got me one for x-mas)I just haven't developed and itchy shutter finger yet, but don't worry they will start showing up soon. Thanks again to all of those giving me support. Keep checking in. 62 DAYS TILL I HEAD FOR VANCOUVER!!!!!

Vancouver here I come

Hey hey everybody. I know I know, its been forever since Ive been on to post anything new. I'm sorry. Ive just been busy with work and training and fundraising and all that jazz. Well as the title of this post states... HERE I COME VANCOUVER!!!! Yeah that's right I have finally reached the $4000 mark. Actually Ive gone past it a little too. I hope the donations keep coming but at least I can breathe easy knowing I have reached the goal. Any way all I need to do now is keep up my training, get some health insurance and get a physical. Oh and do some volunteer work with an AHG(Affordable Housing Group). I cant not even begin to describe the feeling of excitement that I'm feeling...it actually more like an adrenaline rush. I cannot wait for this most epic of all adventure to begin. AAAAAAHHHHHH BIKE AND BUILD NUS 2010!!!! LETS DO THIS!!!

Almost

Alright so once again it has been over a month since I made a post. Its not that I forget to come on and post stuff but rather that I have been very busy. Ya know work, training(which Ive been have to do inside 'cause of the weather lately) and fundraising. Oh yeah speaking of which I only need another $450 to reach my goal of $4000. Yeas that's right I have raised $3550. While I'm at it let me do some shout outs that I meant to do last post. I would like to say thanks to my Aunt Fran and Aunt Pat and to my buddy Carl from the v-ball court. You have all been so kind and supportive of my efforts to help make a difference...I cant even tell you how much it means to me....thank you everyone who has helped me get this far towards my goal for your support and generosity. Thank you everyone so much. 3 1/2 months left to the start of my trip....oh I cant wait....LETS GO NUS '10!!!!

New Year update

Ok so it has been a month since my last post and I bet some of you are curious whats going on. Well, the holidays that's whats going on. I took a break from everything during the holidays pretty much. But don't fear I am still making very good progress. I have received the bike that I will be riding across the country next summer, I've now reached $1836 outta the $4000 I need and have started a good training regimen. We've been getting a bit of snow lately here in CT so I have not gotten out on the bike as much as I would like but I have done some good rides on it. Plus I have a stationary trainer that I can set up in my room and have been using that when I cant get out because of the weather. Also been making sure to eat healthy again (ya now its hard to resist a little over indulgence during the holidays) and I like to throw in some good old fashioned workouts here and there too. Ya know some push-ups, sit-ups, a little weight lifting and some martial arts stuff(that's not as often as Id like either cause my parents say it really loud when I'm pounding the punching bag). So all in all everything is moving forward at a good pace and I am positive that I will be ready for this summer. It can't come soon enough. Oh yeah that right, I have gotten the official start date to my trip which is June 17th. So thanks again everyone for their support and encouragement. Lets go team NUS '10!!!!

Update

Ok so its been a while scince I have made a post so, let me first start by saying thanks to Nick Veiga, all the guys playin darts for Mackenzies, Gary in the back, Jeff Burns from volley ball, and everyone else who has made a donation since my last post. I am now over $1200 into my fundraising and I have passed my online saftey and policy quiz and have just been informed by Bookoo Bikes that my bike is on its way with a scheduled delivery date of this friday 12/11. Dude I am so stoked. I can wait to start riding...next summer cannot come fast enough. Still got alot of work left but hey thats all part of the experience.

So yesterday I got out and did 18 Miles. The longest time Ive spent on a bike in 5 years. Man it felt great. I was shocked that it was as easy as it was considering how long I've been away from biking, I guess the fact that I stay active helps. But man when I woke up this morning my butt let me know that it doesn't remember what its like being in the saddle for that long. And I even had padded biking shorts. But its good that I'm getting my butt used to it again now since come next summer I'll bee in the saddle almost 8 hours a day. And ya know I was never a big road biker but I am hooked, it's absolutely amazing how smooth and efficient those things are.

Well people things are lookin pretty good. Id like to say thank you to my Aunt Nadine from NJ for her support. Thanks Chocie, you rock. Hope your gonna be around for turkey day, and if not hope you have a good one.
I have raised $741 so far ... that means $259 and Ill be cruisin in style on my sweet new ride, and $3000 away from taking that ride cross country next summer and helping build houses for low-income families. Not to mention spreading the word about how Affordable Housing issues affects over 30 million homes in the US. How roughly 11 million people live in decrepit, run down homes. Homes with no heat, no hot water or no electricity. Homes that no one should have to live in, let alone raise a family in. So please help make the communities of America a better place for the generations of tomorrow. Even by donating as little as $1 will help put a family in need into a decent and safe home. If we all help just a little we can make a huge difference. Spread the good word. BIKE AND BUILD NUS 2010...PEDALING TO END POVERTY HOUSING!!!

Holy crap!!! I'm now at the $600 mark for my fundraising. Thanks to my sisters friend and B&B alumni Cristopher for his $100 donation. That was uber cool of you man. Thank you again also for meeting with me before I was even enrolled to give me some advice and words of encouragement. Dude you rock so much. AHHHH!!! Im so close to hitting the $1000 mark I can taste it. Oh I cant wait to get my bike and start the real training. Till then its volleyball, the gym and the sweet 1975 rode bike my buddy Bill is lending me until my B&B bike comes. Chris, again thank you so much man you are awesome.

500

Alright alright alright. I have officially hit the $500 mark. Things are looking good. Dr. Greg from the volleyball court thank you for the donation. Mare, my big-sis, thank you. Your donation is the reason for me making it to this mark. Everyone thanks for the support. Bill, thanks again for the trainer bikes. I cant tell you guys how much I appreciate all this and cant wait to get biking and building. And please spread the word everyone. This is and awesome cause and every little bit helps. Plus then you can brag to people you know that you know some crazy fool who's gonna pedal across the U.S. Trust me they'll be jealous.

Thank you Billy for the donation and the 2 bikes you loaned me to train on until I get my own.

Thanx everyone from the Cardinals Club. You guys helped me raise another $53 towards my adventure. Im workin on getting a jar made up just for down there...thanx for the support.

Peter, Rob, Sebastian, Eddy, Chris and all the other guys from the polish club who put somethin in my collection jar last night...thanx. you guys totaled $68 more towards my adventure and helping a family somewhere get a nice house.

I'd like to say thank you to Peter from the polish Club, Mike Simmons, John and Connor for their support and contributions. Thanks guys

Alright everybody.....the Bike and Build site is back up and running. Feel free to go see what its all about. Maybe make a donation to. Thanx everyone.

To anyone Ive talked to recently about making a contribution to my bike and build effort....bike and build is having problems with their server. If you were planning on making a donation please just keep checking back. I will try to make sure I inform everyone when it back working properly again. Thanx again for all the help and support guys.

http://bikeandbuild.org/rider/3637 Yeah its a link to my bio page...now go and check it out. Pretty please with sugar on top.