When I was a young feller (12-14 yrs old) growing up in LaGrange, Georgia, I rode my bike....everywhere. It's how me and my friends got around. Sometimes I would take rides on my own with my state of the art speedometer/odometer attached to my yellow 10-speed Schwinn keeping track of the distance. On these solo rides, I would think about how long it would take me to ride to my grandparents' house in Burbank, CA. I dreamed of one day actually riding the bike to their house.

I was born in Redondo Beach, CA in 1968 and due to tough economic times in the 70's and early 80's, my father was transferred every 3-4 years with his middle management engineering manufacturing career. As a family, we traveled back to California fairly regularly, and I fell in love with Southern California, and in particular, my grandparents' house. Throughout high school, college and the years after college, I traveled to visit them. My college graduation gift from my parents was plane tickets to CA to spend 3 weeks with my grandparents and look for a job. The job market for college graduates was fairly tough in 1991; however, I was fortunate enough to have two offers: one in southern California, and the other in Pennsylvania. Interestingly enough the offers came within 30 minutes of each other, and I had to make a decision. I chose the job in PA, and I have no regrets, but I still have the southern California "gene" within my makeup.

The dream to ride my bike to my grandparents house remained, and from time to time I had seriously considered developing the plan to do so. However, factors in my life at the time did not lend themselves to pursuit of the trip. Now, a combination of factors have come together at the right time, and after two years of preparation and planning, I feel that I have conditioned myself physically and mentally enough to complete the 3,000 mile trek in 30 days. (Side note: I'm a bit emotionally challenged, so this aspect will be a wild card, plus, I'm not sure how I would train myself emotionally).

So now is the time. I'm ready to go, and I have the support of my family(several with raised eyebrow). Additionally, I have saved up vacation for two years to complete the trek in the necessary 30 days. I'm appreciative of the support my employer (Utica National Insurance Group) has shown for me in completing this endeavor.

With just a few days to go before my trip, I'm excited and "throw-up" nervous at the same time....