Check out my friends Greg and Bianca

Greg and Bianca are from Boston, Mass. Greg is a Bike Mechanic for Geekhouse and Bianca

works with graphic design. Both just graduated from college and were looking for an adventure before they started their jobs. They are biking cross country for autism. They started July 1st and are currently somewhere next to the Deleware river.

They hope to raise $5,000 dollars for autism awareness. Please continue to track their progress via the link below!

http://crosscountryforautism.tumblr.com/about

Good Luck

-R.J.B.

Cassoday,KS to Newton,KS/Witchta,KS (Last day till next year)

Today will be my last day of riding. I need to return home to take care of some college work and review some material for my classes this fall. While I am deeply frustrated by not finishing the journey this year. I am already planning for a trip from Newton,KS to Francisco,CA. I plan to bike with a larger number of cyclists or I may make the trip fully supported with my friend Donald Breckinridge (a stage 4 cancer survivor)who also plans to cross the county next year through the Lance Armstrong foundation. Please continue to check back to the blog for future updates of pictures, videos, etc. Courtesy of Fruit 66.

A special thanks goes out to all of my supported and contributors who have made this trip possible.

The alumni, the school and its faculty, the Faison School, Troop 710,Maya Cycle in Canada, loud truck gummies, the University Bike Center, Contes Bikes, The UPS Shop in Cary Town, the touring store.com, Dan Pinell’s Bikes,Fruit 66 of Richmond,Continental Cyclery, Bike the US for MS, Phoenix Cycles, and the many others.

THANKS!!

-RJ B

Chanute, KS to Cassoday,KS

Today was a great day of riding. We started off early and did about 35 miles. We stopped just outside of Toronto,KS, where we had a late breakfast of biscuts and gravy at the Lizard Country Store. I even got a cool lizard souvenir! I would have to say that these were the best biscuits and gravy of the whole trip. Big, fluffy biscuits with a hearty gravy on top. Nothing can beat this meal. I proceeded onto Eureka,KS. While on the way there, through the famous "Flint Hills", we crossed paths with Su and Lou biking west to east ( yes these are their names). They started from San Francisco, CA and were biking to Charlottesville, VA for graduate school. We exchanged experiences and contact information then we went our separate ways. 15 miles later I reached Eureka, KS. I ended up stopping there for lunch. While at one of its local grocery stores I met Dakota 11 and Adrian 10, two aspiring BMX cyclists. I brought them some lunch and I chatted with them while we ate. When I asked them how far Cassoday,KS was, the both claimed that they could run there in 10 minutes. After finally arriving there, I can say that the distance is longer than 1

0 minutes running :).I continued to bike on. The ride to Cassoday had ALOT of Flint Hills!! I rolled right past the turn for Rosilia,KS ( the town before Cassoday). The sign was small and impossible to see especially when I'm going 30 MPH down a long hill! Its funny, Cows love cyclists. It is especially cool when they bunch up and follow me while I'm riding. Checkout this picture.

They great part about biking is when you see the water tower for a town you will be either eating at or staying. Nothing tops off a day like seeing a water tower.

Until next time

-RJ

Various pictures from Kansas

Pittsburgh,KS to Chanute,KS

Today was a terribly hot day. I was absolutely exhausted upon reaching the campground in Chanute. While only having gone around 60 miles, I felt like I had gone a whole lot further. I immediately went to Wal-Mart and brought a $2.50 container of strawberry cheesecake Ben & Jerry's ice cream, found me some shade, and chilled out. The temperature was around 100 degrees according to my cycling computer. The humidity was around 60 percent. I felt like I was swimming in the air. I met a couple of cool people biking from San Francisco to the Yorktown. The tailwinds weren't helping them much. The only major problem with Kansas are the crosswinds and the tailwinds. Especially being a large moving object on a bike. There are really no trees in Kansas. Where there are trees you wont feel the wind, but without trees you better hold on tight and enjoy the ride. Also I was talking to this guy at met at Wal-Mart. He told me to beware of the Flint Hills. Whatever that means. Guess I will find out soon enough, I will be riding over them tommorow. I will add more pictures to my blog once I find better wi-fi and batteries for my camera. Here is a picture of my makeshift kitchen.
Peace

-RJ

Ash Grove to Pittsburgh,KS 90 Miles

After another hot day of biking,I'm in Girard, Kansas typing from the porch of a nice family's house. I am currently looking at the library across the street from where I am sitting. I arrived here around 3:00 PM my time. I went to Sonic and brought a strawberry milkshake and a large cup of water. I was exhausted. A policeman recommended that I camp out in the city park. This turned out to be a great idea. The pool was fantastic and the people I have met thus far have been Super Nice. I think that Kansas is the best state to bike in, based on my experience thus far. I plan to make it to Eurkea, Kansas by tomorrow. I will upload some pictures and add to the blog.

Here are some pics from today's ride

Until Tomorrow.

RJ

Day 12:Carbondale= Rest Day!!

Sunday is the designated rest day for group. Earlier this morning we went to a house where the occupent was suffering from MS. We cleaned up her yard and made everything look nice. It was a great experience giving back to the community. Especially for such a deserving person such a nice lady! We just got back to the house and I am now eating pasta, pork sandwiches, and Ice Cold Lemonade. I am going to write later on today about what is takes to be a "self supported" rider. After I take a nap and get some more good food in me!

Check back soon!



RJ