My husband and I and two freinds [sic] are leaving this weekend for a two-week bicycling adventure! We are driving to Pierre SD, from whence we will start cycling east along the Lewis & Clark Trail. Lewis & Clark were the intrepid leaders of the Corps of Discovery that explored west from St. Louis to the mouth of the Columbia River, looking for a cross-continental water route, in 1804-1806. Our ride will cover the first one-third of the area they covered. Our journey will end in St. Charles MO, for a total possible cycling distance of 987 miles over 11 days of riding. That's an average of almost 90 miles per day.
One thing I would like to come out of this adventure is awareness and funding for the Melanoma International Foundation. I am keeping a blog of the journey at
http://www.knowledgeproblem.com/lcbiketour/
and here's what I say in the "riding for charity" post:
"I am using this bike ride to request pledges and donations to support the excellent and important work of the Melanoma International Foundation. In particular, your pledges here will support the Leroy Coolbreeze Fund at the Melanoma International Foundation.
The Leroy Coolbreeze Fund honors the memory of Ian Copeland, a legendary music agent and bon vivant who brought great joy to many people throughout his too-short life. Along with his brothers Stewart (best known as the drummer in The Police) and Miles (who, among other things, managed The Police and founded IRS Records), Ian brought music into being that changed my life and thrilled me starting in the late 1970s. Their work continues to thrill and excite me to this day. Ian died from melanoma in 2006. My request for your support is a testimony to the value the Copeland family has brought to my life, and the joy I experience daily through listening to and playing the music that they have created."
MIF has put up a news story about our ride, with a link to their donation page:
https://www.z2systems.com/np/clients/mi ... p?news=364
Please do follow our journey, and spread the word about melanoma awareness. If you and your friends and family can donate to the MIF in support of our ride, that would be fantastic!
[Bumpity-bump, please, between now and July 6!]