Just some pictures this time...

Countdown - 18 days!

Just posting a few pictures this time to get the hang of it down. You can thank my lovely and talented daughter, Rachel, for the fantastic shots.

I think the flowers give it just that perfect feminine touch, don't you? And I can't believe I'm not sporting my usual orange t-shirt. I've only got a few dozen of those!

Clearly, these are just posed shots for media types. I can't wait to post the ones with the bike fully loaded. I can hear my wife now (imagine her head bopping from side to side):

"Hokety, hokety, hokety...look at me, I'm Gordo! And I'm taking WAY too much stuff with me on my trip across the country! Hokety, hokety, hokety"

I guess if you dish it out, you gotta take it. My turn to take, I guess.

Love you honey!

More Great News - and quick!

Countdown - 19 days!

This was a productive weekend for Gordo's Vancouver Adventure. I was able to secure two more comp'd hotel rooms along my route so that more money will go to charity.

Big thanks go out to the Coachman Inn, Bellingham Washington, and the Sealaska Inn, Hyder, Alaska for stepping up and helping me help out the CCFA.

I've not had a ton of time to really check out these hotels online or read reviews and whatnot, but that doesn't really matter. The most important review you'll read about these places will be found here, after I've visited. Most importantly, you can rest easy in the knowledge that these establishments have gone out of their way to make sure that my worthwhile cause gets more attention and fundage. Gary at the Sealaska even alerted me to a "motorcycle Iditarod" that is actually getting underway within about a week, that will roll through the Stewart/Hyder area. Hmmm, maybe that's worth considering for a future trip.

For those keeping score at home (does that sound like Don Drysdale?) it's now a total of 6 nights out of 12 that have been arranged at no charge to me, and that money will go directly to the CCFA.

I spent this weekend getting follow up emails out to as many of the hotels that hadn't responded to my snail mail request. A few actually took the time to respond with "sorry, we can't help" messages, but thankfully they've been quite few (three total, I think).

I'm pumped. I've got an interview slated with a major newspaper for Tuesday of this week, and they are asking for ideas on how to further publicize this blog within their newspaper website, in addition to doing a story on my trip. I should start hearing from many more news media in the coming couple of weeks, as they prepare to present my arrival in their fair cities.

And did you notice the very first line of this blog entry? Down to the teens now for days remaining before I get underway. Hot diggity!

Tell you friends, your neighbors, your co-workers, and even people you don't know about this blog and this effort. I remind you, it's not about the publicity or about me. It's not even about the hotels and the generosity of others. It's really about creating awareness about Crohns and Colitis and seeing what we can do to help find a medical solution to these devastating diseases!

Peace, Out! (If I can sleep now!)

Lighten it up, Chief!

Countdown - 21 Days!

I heard from my good friend Myles today. For those just joining us, or for those who may have forgotten, Myles is an old Army buddy (and yes, HE is really old) who will be joining me for two days of this adventure. He'll take me through the Glacier National Park, then accompany me to Bellingham, Washington before he scoots south to Oregon.

Anyway, Myles said something that struck a nerve (when doesn't he?). He said the tone of this blog had gotten a little fierce lately. It seemed stressed, pushed, tense.

I don't want that at all.

This is supposed to be a fun blog. One you'll enjoy reading and want to come back for more to see what the day's adventures hold.

So, I'm going to lighten the mood a little this time around. I thought instead of telling you what's going through my head, I'd share with you the common refrains I've heard from friends, co-workers and others when they hear about me taking this trip. Many get repeated, and some are quite funny.

Top 5 reactions to hearing about this trip (to throw you off a little, I'll count down to number 1)

5. What does your wife think about this? Why isn't she going?
Jannette is all for it. She knows that I'm not really wired completely right, but she knows this is something I've wanted to do for a long time. She knows that the great northwest US is one of my favorite places and she knows I like to do things a little differently than others.

However, she also knows that while my butt can do 600 miles in a day - day after day-, hers can't. She realized early on that this wouldn't be a fun trip at all for her if we spent that much time in the saddle. There's nothing like a vacation where you are in pysical pain for most of it. Kinda takes the gild off the rose, to slaughter a metaphor or three.

4. You keep saying this is for charity..what charity and why?
I chose the CCFA after seeing what two of my co-workers go through with their respective cases of Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. It's not pretty to watch people lose weight practically in front of your eyes. But what struck me most was the presence of mind that both of these people had to fight these conditions. It is quite rare to hear either of these people gripe or moan...and NEVER about their afflictions. They just have a positive attitude about everything and that's admirable.
American Lung Association, Cancer Society, March of Dimes, American Heart Association, etc, are all very good charities. They've just been helped by every Tom, Dick and Harry. This Gordo wants someone else to get the recognition for a change (see above where I talk about doing things differently. Hmmmm). I wanted to bring awareness to Crohns and Colitis because so few are. And the more we -collectively- know about it, the more we -collectively- can DO about it.
IF you choose to make a donation, bless you. I won't pressure you. But at least take a minute to learn a little more about it. There's a whole Internet out there with all sorts of information. Go for it.

3. You're going ALONE?!
Yes. Well, I didn't WANT to go alone originally. I wanted my riding buddy Matt to go with me (and if you read this blog back far enough you'll see that was the original plan). Unfortunately, Matt had to take care of his family the best he could in this rotten economy and just couldn't make it. You can't blame him (I don't). But I also couldn't wait another year. I've been planning this trip for 3 years already. If I wait any longer, I'll explode. OR all the people that I talk to regularly would murder me for taking up another year of their life talking about the trip.

I've assured my wife (and keep trying to assure myself) that there's nothing to worry about. I'm a big boy (bigger than many) and I can take care of myself. (I can hear Jannette laughing at that line already). Besides, the solitude will give me a chance to do some heavy duty reflecting and I need that break from my multi-tasking hectic days.

2. Oh! I thought for a minute you meant bicycle, not motorcycle!
Are YOU stoned? Have you actually looked at me? I have a body that would crush the average bicycle. Who in the hell can get from Fort Wayne to Alaska and back on a bicycle within a year? No, no offense to bicyclists, but I didn't earn this gut from exercise. I've invested wisely in Taco Bell, Coors Light, and chocolate, and as you can see, I've been paid dividends!

1. Are you just completely nuts?
I am not a qualified psychiatrist or analyst, nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. Therefore, I cannot answer that truthfully and completely. Yes, I think you have to be a little bit nuts to do this. You also have to be willing to do something that will attract attention in a positive way to get people to focus on the message you want to send (learn about Crohns and Colitis! Discover what you can do to help!)
It's a vacation. It's work. It's a charitible effort. It's gonna be fun. I hope you keep tuning in to see what I see, experience what I experience, and learn what I learn. Who knows? You might even end up in a book someday (if you make reasonable and kid-friendly comments to these blogposts.)
But to answer the #1 question? Short Version: Yes.

But ain't it fun to watch!?

Thanks to Best Western Countryside Inn, Lodi, WI

Countdown - 23 days!



More great news, GVA fans! (That's 'Gordo's Vancouver Adventure' by the way).

Jaimin Chokshi at Best Western Countryside Inn, in Lodi, Wisconsin has been gracious enough to offer me free lodging for the very first night of the trip.


I should also mention that Jaimin was one of the first to respond to my original request, but I had already accepted an offer in that area from another hotel for the last night of this adventure.



In any case, I'm looking forward to spending my first night in Lodi!



There are still opportunities for me to bring exposure to more generous hotel managers and operators! I have 4 of the 12 nights covered, still looking for 8 more in order to make an even larger donation to the CCFA.



So, by taking this generous offer I will stop a little earlier than planned on Day One. That means a significantly longer Day Two (about 770 miles), but I'm sure after a night of pure relaxation at the Best Western Countryside Inn in Lodi, I'll be ready for a 13 hour riding day the next day.



Wow. Did I just type that? 13 hours in the saddle? Eh, the first 7 or 8 hours on day two will be pure adrenaline!

Check it Out - New Image

Countdown - 25 Days

Hey GVA fans! My good pal Lisa Runge hooked me up with a business card (this was part of Fort Wayne Newspapers sponsoring me). And Lisa did all the fancy stuff that you see in the photo at the top of this site.

For those of you who only get this in your email: Tough tomatoes! If you wanna see the photo/card you're going to have to go to -

http://gordosvancouveradventure.blogspot.com

So thank you Lisa! And thank you Fort Wayne Newspapers for sponsoring me and covering the cost of the business cards.

Which leads me to ask...if you want an opportunity to be a part of this whole adventure, like 3 hotels and one newspaper company have already done, hit me up and make a donation!

5 Critical Things To Remember

Countdown - 26 days (blogger has been down, this shoulda been posted yesterday)

With just 26 days left before I leave, I've realized there's a few things that absolutely critical to do. Admittedly, not everyone needs to do all these as some of them may already be handled. Others are just helpful tips.

1. Get your bike paperwork in order - Make sure that your license, registration, and proof of insurance are all up to date and properly signed. This is crucial for me as I'm crossing an international border a few times. Something you probably didn't know (I didn't) is that you need a special card from you insurance company in order to qualify as proof of insurance for Canada. Your 'normal' card simply isn't good enough for the Canadien Mounted Police.

2. Get your really important paperwork in order - Perhaps my case is abnormal (wouldn't be the first time I've been called that), but my wife wanted me to have all my stuff up to date, like my will, all life insurance paperwork and any kind of living will or other arrangements in order. It's not pleasant to think about but it's important all the same. Lots of things could happen, and it's best to just have everything arranged ahead of time. I don't want my family to have to worry about handling things I should have done.

3. Get your 'also important' paperwork in order. Crossing a US border? Going to Arizona (and look Hispanic?) you'll need your passport. I've got mine. Now just gotta remember to pack it! It's worth the cost, time and effort all the way around.

4. Money - Obviously, making a trip like this alone puts me at some additional risk. So, you have to take some extra precautions. For example, I'll be taking along a pre-paid credit card with a low limit. As for cash, I'll take a long enough to get me through a couple of days if I can't use a credit card. Not a lot more than that. In this day and age, you just don't need to carry around a lot of cash.

5. Personal safety - I don't want to ruffle feathers, and frankly, I don't care about any else's views on guns, but if you feel it necessary to carry a gun (or knife) or other weapon for personal protection on a trip such as this, think hard about it. If anyone percieves YOU to be a threat, having a weapon in your possession isn't going to go in your favor. Think about the situation if cops roll up on you having a coflict with a local, even if the local starts it. You are the outsider, carrying a weapon. Why be behind the 8-ball before you can even get your side of the story out? And if for no other reason, it will save you a ton of time going through customs if you are NOT having to explain that concealed weapon. Not saying it's wrong to carry, perhaps just not smart.

And more hotels chime in with support...

Countdown - 31 days

As you've already seen, I've had a good response to my request for hotels to put me up for a night to support the CCFA. Well, the hits keep on coming!

Today I got an email from the Outlaw Inn, in Kalispell, Montana (Barb Smith) inviting me to bunk with them for the night. I also got a phone call from a wonderfully bubbly Jessie at the Treasure Cove Hotel (and Casino!) in Prince George, British Columbia, offering the same.

I cannot thank these forward-thinking hotels enough for having the generosity, and foresight to know that good news travels fast. Obviously, I'll be blogging about these facilities and letting you know what to be sure and experience while a guest. Clearly, I won't have time to experience everything the hotel offers, but I'll certainly hit the highlights and let you know about the most crucial areas. And it's a win-win anyway: The hotel can write this off (if they choose) as a charitable donation, and I can donate the money I would have spent in their facility directly to the CCFA.

I'm not a complete shill though. If I should experience something that no traveler should have to endure, I'll let you know that as well. But for the most part, I'm a pretty easy-going guest. If I find something wrong, I'll let the hotel management know and give them a chance to make it right. No one deserves to be hammered by a mistake or two.

As I started compiling my list of hotels to contact for this arrangement, I started with the most reasonably-rated ones, in terms of price. After all, most travelers are going to book a room at a place that will leave them money to use on vacation. No sense only contacting the hoity-toity places and tell you about them if chances are you wouldn't be staying there anyway. It's "common man experiences general purpose hotel and tells you what you can expect". That's the most helpful to you and to me!

Anyway, back to our stars of the show so far today: Barb at the Outlaw Inn was wonderful about getting me additional information. Jessie (gosh, I hope I spelled that correctly) was even insistent that I travel carefully! Both of these ladies seem to be examples of great customer service - and I'm not even a customer yet! And I don't mean to perpetuate a stereotype, but those darned Canadians are just so nice!

So, I am hoping that I'll hear back from hotels in the other 9 locations to help join the fray and make for a wonderful donation. I actually am in need of a second night in Prince George (staying there twice - once on the way up and once on the way back). I don't think it's fair or right to impose on the Treasure Cove again, do you?

If you have any connections, I'm looking for hotels in the following cities to respond (with the exception of those noted):

1. St. Cloud, Minnesota
2. Dickinson, North Dakota
3. Shelby, Montana
4. Kalispell, Montana - Thank you Outlaw Inn!
   
5. Bellingham, Washington
6. Prince George, BC - Thank you Treasure Cove Hotel!
   
7. Stewart, BC / Hyder, Alaska
   
8. Prince George, BC
   
9. Calgary, AB
   
10. Regina, SK
    
11. Grand Forks, North Dakota
    
12. Madison, Wisconsin - Thank you Comfort Inn - DeForest!

And I should take a moment to thank another hotel in the Madison area that responded just hours too late. I had already confirmed with the Comfort Inn - DeForest when the Best Western Countryside Inn in Lodi, Wisconsin. I'm hoping it's not necessary, but if need be, I'll re-route to hit Lodi on the way out in order to take advantage of their hospitality. Thank you to Jaimin Choski at Best Western! Your offer is greatly appreciated!

It's been bright spots and rainbows all around lately. Let's hope it continues!

By the way, if you read this in your email and not on the blog, you dunno what all you are missing: Click here.

Choice Hotels er...Comfort Inn steps up!

Countdown - 34 days

Great news to share GVA fans! Scott Smith, General Manager of the Comfort Inn in DeForest, Wisconsin was the first hotel to respond to my request for the 'donation' of a night's stay!

Thank you Mr. Smith!

For those of you following along closely, I had approached Choice Hotels International months ago, trying to get the entire trip "sponsored" by them. It just made great sense, they have like 11 hotel brands (Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality Inn, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, Mainstay Suites, Suburban, Econolodge, Rodeway Inn and Ascend) and there's nearly a Choice Hotel brand in every town I'm overnighting in (with the exception of Hyder, Alaska/Stewart, BC). Unfortunately, the overall group said 'no'. Because it made so much sense to have just one hospitality sponsor, I was a little amazed at the negative response. But I can understand that the group can't just act on behalf of every hotel in their chain, every time.

To the rescue is Mr. Smith at Comfort Inn, in DeForest, Wisconsin. (Click the hotel name to see more about the hotel.) I just took a quick glance at the official website for this hotel, and it really looks fantastic. I have no idea how old the building is, but it looks well maintained. I flipped on over to TripAdvisor.com (one of my favorite places to read reviews from bitter, ungrateful people) and wouldn't you know it ... they are ranked #1 for hotels in DeForest from customer reviews! In fact, the only negative item there had already been corrected and addressed by...(drumroll please)...you guessed it, Mr. Scott Smith himself!

Looks like everything is coming up roses at the moment!

Thanks again Mr. Smith! Hopefully, others in your industry will follow suit and help out as much as you have!

It goes without saying (but I'm going to say it anyway, because I'm verbose like that)...
If ever in the Madison, Wisconsin area (which is only a scant 30 miles or so from the Wisconsin Dells), be sure to stay at the Comfort Inn in De Forest, Wisconsin. When you do, tell 'em Gordo sent you!

Under the Weather...

Countdown - 38 days

Today I was feeling under the weather and took a sick day from work. Got plenty of rest and feel a bit better as I write this (just before retiring for the night). But as usual, my mind didn't stray much from the adventure that is about to begin, so I had the day to think of things.

After the initial realization that I wasn't 100% today, (and getting all the necessary notification calls in and urgent emails and duties handled) I napped. While sleeping, I dreamt that I was on the GVA (Gordo's Vancouver Adventure) and feeling just as ill. I know what I'll have to do and that is simply press on. But today I was feeling a bit dizzy and wondered if the same were to occur in July, how would I handle it? It's not like I can just 'take a sick day' and wait it out. I've got 6,500 miles to cover in no more than 18 days in order to be successful. Can't really sit around waiting to feel better. But riding a bike while dizzy just isn't smart. And I'm rather proud that I always ride 'smart'. That means nothing that would hamper me from having a safe riding day (no alcohol, no hangovers, no sleep deprivation, etc.)

But it also made me think about the term 'under the weather'. Weather is a huge factor on this trip. If I have days like we're having now in Fort Wayne (sunshine and mid to upper 80's for temps) I'll be fine (warm, surely, but fine). If I get lots of rain or worse (storms), I'll have to alter things in order to remain safe. I promised my wife that I wouldn't do anything that might put me in harm's way, and that included trying to drive through rotten weather. Sure, I'll do my best to become a roadside meteorologist but I'm no expert (and if you've ever paid close attention to the prognosticators on TV, I'd say they aren't exactly experts either, yet they have the title!)

Certainly this doesn't mean I can't get a little wet. Rain never hurt anyone and only damages your pride once your shiny ride gets coated in the grimy wetness that is road sludge and truck wash. No self-respecting biker wants his ride to look like he doesn't care about it. I've ridden in rain plenty of times (and got my "Wet Butt Rider" patch to prove it). Simple drizzle and even steady rain isn't that much of a problem. It means slowing down and manuvering more carefully. If people don't expect to see motorcycles, they *really* don't expect to see them in rain.

Storms, hail, lightning and downpours are another story. Those are the kind I sit out. Usually they pass in a few hours at most, and you can be back on your way (still grimy and moist, but alive).

Since I don't know a whole lot about weather patterns along this route, I'm sure I'll be surprised by some. Might even get a freak snowshower in the mountains. I fully expect rain the closer I get to Seattle/Vancouver. And I'm expecting temperatures to drop substantially as I get further north and into mountainous areas. Again, preparation is the key.

It's the unknown that worries me. And I'm a worrier. So I'll continue to prepare for the worst (by bringing cold weather gear, rainsuit, extra gloves and plastic to cover electronics and such), and hope for the best.

And the best that I'm hoping for includes worrying about sunscreen, rehydration, and at least a bit of cloud cover from time to time. I mean, I'm gonna worry, so I might as well hope it's worry about something I have more control over than the weather or illness.

It makes me wonder: What do you, dear reader, worry about the most when thinking about me taking this wonderful ride alone for 6,500 miles and most of it in desolate areas? What do you suggest I worry about? Better still, put yourself in my saddle. What would you worry about? (and running out of lip gloss is NOT an acceptable answer!)

Hotel, Motel, Holiday Innnnn (or your brand here)...

Countdown - 39 days

I just finished putting the final touches on 89 letters going out to 89 hotels that are along my route for the Vancouver Adventure.

[Let's take a minute and remember why it is called the "Vancouver Adventure" anyway. The original trip was planned to simply get to Vancouver and back. When Alaska got added to the itinerary, it was merely as a sideshow. Technically, Alaska it further west than Vancouver, but I'm considering Vancouver to be my western-most point before heading north to Alaska and returning back to Fort Wayne. Play along with me here. Vancouver is still on the route and a very important part of it. It's much more than the spot where I 'turn right at the Pacific and go north'. But I digress...]

Anyway, I've finished putting together a mailing to many of the hotels on my route in the hopes that just one of them in each overnight city destination will be charitible enough to write off the cost of the room as a 'donation' to charity. In doing so, I'll donate what I would have budgeted for accommodations that night to charity when I return home and complete this trip. It's a win-win-win: Hotel gets publicity as a do-gooder along my route (and I'm sure I'll talk up all the cool stuff about their hotel and facilities); CCFA gets the money that I would have spent on hotel rooms; and the hotel gets to write off the 'donation' as a charitible tax deduction. SWEET (water!)

Once the letters go out to all these places I'm hoping that I'll hear pretty quickly on who will take me up on the offer for each city. I'm *really* hoping that two places in Prince George, British Columbia get on board. I'm staying there twice! (one night in PG, then up to Hyder/Stewart, then back to PG). As I hear back from folks, I'll be sure to update the blog to recognize these forward thinking hotels and management staff.

So, how do you get a hotel to cough up a free stay for a night in their facility as part of a donation toward a great charity? Well, since I'm just now trying, I'll have to get back to you on that one.
In the meantime, if you know someone in the hotel business who might be able to pull a few strings, lemme know! Remember the cause!

It Makes Me Wonder...

Countdown - 40 days

My wife and I took advantage of today's beautiful weather and got in about 90 minutes of riding. We didn't go far, only about 60 miles, but at one point when we stopped for a little shady break, she said something that made me think.

We had just passed the second Amish buggy we'd seen, and then saw two Amish boys roller blading down the side of a 4-lane highway. She said, "you see the most interesting things when riding, don't you?"

It made me wonder about the sights and sounds that I'll experience on this big trip. I already know that the environment will be stunning. The sheer difference in landscaping will be a shock to me, the flat, cornfield-surrounded city boy that I have become.

But what about the people I'll see? What about the strange houses, businesses, signs and tourist attractions? My mind jumps at the different things that could cross my line of sight.

One of the biggest differences will be the mountains and plains. The glaciers will be completely new to me.

And I'm sure the animals I'll see will be different too. I'll bet the possum/raccoon roadkill that I usually see (with an occasional deer) will be replaced by some very strange things: big deer (much bigger than our midwest deer), elk, and other 'squishables'.

Let's just hope I don't run into many live ones. And I didn't mention bear. There's a good reason for that. I don't want to really see any until I'm done for each day.

And from a good distance!

I'll gladly get pictures of whatever animals cross my path. Which would you like to see? And what types have I not mentioned that you think I'll be surprised by?

5 signs that show you are ready to go!

Countdown - 44 days

Forty-four days.
Four sets of eleven.
Six weeks and 2 days.

A little over a thousand hours.

Tick.

Tock.

I don't recall ever being ready for anything as much as I'm ready for this trip. Okay, maybe a few things:

• Counting down to the day I got out of the Army.
• Counting down to the day each of my kids were born (but even then the exact date wasn't as sure as this one).

But this trip has been about three years in the making and I'm ready. How ready?

R-E-A-D-Y

How do you know when you are ready? Easy. Let me explain...

Five ways to know you are ready to go on an international & cross-country trip such as this:

1. You are 44 days (or more) away from the departure date and you already have picked out exactly which clothes and important gear you will bring along, including underwear. In fact, if you have already purchased, 'tested' and laundered special riding underwear specifically for the trip and it's just sitting in a drawer waiting- you are ready.

2. You find yourself frequently walking out to the garage to stare at the bike and look for anything that needs attention. Is that a drop of oil or fluid? (No, it's just a reflection); Is that spark plug wire starting to crack (no, it's the shadow of the light on the wire); That front tire looks low on air (no, for the sixth time, the air pressure is just right); Did I check all the nuts and bolts to ensure nothing was loose? (yes, at least three times in the past week). Yep, you are ready.

3. You have run out of things to tell people when they say, "Are you ready for your big trip?". In fact, they don't really care about all the preparation, list-making and donation-seeking activities you've been wrapped up in. As a side note, it's highly likely that they are just asking to make conversation and be polite. Kinda like, "How ya doin'?" (they don't really want to know how you are doing. Just say "fine, and you?" and be done with it). Yep, you are ready.

4. You look at your watch throughout the day and each time mentally figure how many miles you will have traveled by that time of day once the trip is underway. And then you go back and figure it again, adding in an extra hour or two for bad weather. You betcha, you're ready.

5. You begin to panic slightly every time you think of something that you maybe, shoulda, coulda, done for this trip (like contact all the media along the route and beg for coverage). You wake up in the middle of the night, after dreaming that you've already gotten to the middle of North Dakota and forgot to wear your riding boots. Ding, ding, ding...Ready.

6. (Bonus sign, I guess there were 6 after all) You wonder if the people reading your blog, and the people you talk to about this trip are secretly, desperately, e-x-h-a-u-s-t-e-d hearing about it, and just want you to 'get on with it already, GEEZ LOUISE!'

Yep. I'm ready.

Monster comes through...sort of

Countdown - 53 days

I don't want to be too excited, and I also don't want to appear ungrateful at the same time. So is that 'fine line' that I'm always being told I cross too easily?

Here's the deal: Monster Energy drink got two sponsorship proposals from me.

The First - I asked them to make a monetary donation of their own choice (in terms of how much) to the CCFA. I also asked if they wanted to give me any swag to give away and/or any clothing items that they would want me to wear for publicity purposes. Yes, I will pimp myself out to raise money on this trip.

The Response to the First - 'Thanks, but we aren't able to make a monetary contribution at this time.'

Undaunted, I immediately replied.

The Second - This time I send another copy of the first proposal (to remind them of who I was) along with a cover letter and stressed that I understood that times are tough and they probably can't give money to everyone who asks. However, I still offered to act as an unofficial, unpaid and completely biased spokesperson for them. I offered to give away whatever swag they wanted to provide. I suggested coupons or certificates for free Monster Energy product. Again, I suggested that I would wear (within reason) anything clothing wise they wanted to provide.

The Response to the Second - I got a visit from the UPS man (otherwise known as 'Brown Santa') and a package that contained:

• A sheet of Monster Energy stickers
• A wrist sweat band, with Monster logo
• A lanyard, with Monster logo
• 10 coupons for free Monster Energy drink
• A business card from Lori Esler-Jung, a customer relations representative.

Now, I was overjoyed that I got any kind of response. It wasn't the kind I was looking for (I could give away 10 Monster coupons at my first fuel stop), but it was something, and that's better than no response at all (isn't that right, Choice Hotels International?).

So I hereby officially thank Monster Energy for their support and response. Perhaps seeing this post may cause them to reconsider and donate some sort of money to CCFA. And/or perhaps they'll want to send me more swag (that I can actually give away) and get people just as hooked on Monster as I am (remember, the first one's free!). But no matter what, it was nice of them to respond in any fashion and I'm thankful for that.

Thank you

Now, onto more and different sponsors!

This route has to be finalized at some point...or does it?

Countdown - 61 days

Anyone who has followed my blog for a bit knows that in the past 18 months or so, the route has changed a couple times. Okay, maybe more than a couple.

First it was just the "Vancouver Adventure" with the farthest point (and turnaround point) being Vancover, British Columbia. The plan was to take a route down the California coast and then back through Las Vegas to the midwest. That changed.

Then it was still Vancouver as a primary destination with a route through the US southwest on the return trip.

Then it became a trip to Vancouver with a 'return' trip through Alaska (since we're going to be that 'close' anyway).

That's pretty much the way Gordo's Vancouver Adventure is holding up today: Fort Wayne, Indiana to Vancouver, BC to Hyder, Alaska to Fort Wayne, Indiana again. All told, about 6,500 miles.

I worked more on the route last night, keeping in mind that I want to be able to see as much as I can without overdoing it on the daily mileage. Nothing says 'risk' like riding when you are overtired. Considering I have to be back at work 17 days after I walk out, 16 is the magic number for riding days. If all things were equal (and they aren't), I would be looking to average 406 miles a day just to stay on point. I'm hoping to really do far more miles per day on average, so that I can have some time to spare for weather or other issues where I might need to delay my trip slightly.

As of right now, I'm going through 8 different states (5 of them I'll be traveling through twice), 3 Canadien provinces and 2 countries.

Here's where I'm planning on bunking down each night and how many miles I'm planning for each day:

1. St. Cloud, Minnesota (642 miles)
2. Dickinson, North Dakota (461 miles)
3. Shelby, Montana (534 miles)
4. Kalispell, Montana (158 miles) [much of the day spent in Glacier National Park]
5. Bellingham, Washington (609 miles)
6. Prince George, BC (490 miles)
7. Stewart, BC / Hyder, Alaska (432 miles)
8. Prince George, BC (432 miles)
9. Calgary, AB (489 miles)
10. Regina, SK (468 miles)
11. Grand Forks, North Dakota (462 miles)
12. Madison, Wisconsin (583 miles)
13. Fort Wayne, Indiana (337 miles)

Surely things will change slightly from this, based on the weather or how close to being 'on-schedule' I am each day. And certainly I will not probably be staying specifically in those cities, but likely an outlying area nearby - preferably a hotel on the low end of the cost scale.

So depending on construction and weather and all the various other little details, I've once again put together a route that I'm surely going to amend. Except now I'm getting down to the nitty gritty on time before July 3, 2010.

So now it's on to finding a way to get sponsors to help foot the bill for the expenses (and make donations to charity). At least now I know -sorta- where I'm going to be each night!

Where are all the comments and followers?

Countdown - 67 days

I started this blog looking for ways to share this adventure with others. I hope that it will still be that way. There's still quite a bit of time before things start 'getting exciting'. But I'm reaching out to my followers and hoping for a little positive feedback. A little nudge from you will go a long way.

Call me selfish. Call me insecure. Call me a little crazy (okay, more than a little). But just call me! Well, you don't have to call me, but give me some feedback, or a comment or something to let me know you are there.

I am grateful that you have been following so early on. I'm grateful that you are following at all. And I'm grateful that you are still following.

Yes, I'm feeling a little lonely about this trip at the moment because I got a rejection letter from Monster Energy this morning. No, not the best way to start a Monday, but then again, I'm not through. They've only rejected the request for a monetary donation to charity. So I've decided to go back to the well and see if they'll still give me some swag to give away on the trip. And yes, sure, I want to have my daily fix of Monsters, but think about it: If you gotta go 600 miles in a day, what's the best way to power your body for endurance? Yup, Monster Energy. Works for me! And hey, if they decide not to go with me, I'm sure I can find another energy drink to power my way. Maybe even one with the cajones to make a donation to a great charity. I'm sure they'll come through.

Much more work to be done yet, and if you'll keep tuning in, I'll keep you up to date. Now how about a little encouragement? ;-)

Back on the Right Track

Countdown - 69 days
If you've been following along, you know that I had a minor electrical malfunction the other day. Actually, it was a brain malfunction, and it was while I was doing electrical work on Cheeto.

Well, since today was a cool, rainy mess, I decided to try and fix the problem I created the other day. And I'm happy to report that there was indeed success! I now have my cig lighter recepticle wired and ready to plug the GPS into. I still haven't tested with with an actual GPS (I'm skeered) but I'll be testing it with a cheap $3 plug-in light tomorrow. If the light blows up, I'm going all the way back to square one. I blew up a continuity tester in all this, so I'm out all of $5 there, but worst is I no longer have a functional continuity tester!


I bought (but haven't yet mounted) a new horn for Cheeto. I'm a huge fan of loud, disturbing horns. [Insert your 'horny' joke here]. So I went to Harbor Freight and found a $10 air horn that I think will work once I can figure out where to mount everything. That's the biggest pain about it. Sure, I could hook this up in a matter of a few seconds, but I want to try and mount all the components in a way that they are visible and aesthetically pleasing OR hidden and functional. And since I couldn't even get the fake plastic 'chrome' horns for $10, I bought some orange spray paint so that I can pain the horns to at least come close to matching the bike. If orange looks crappy, there's always black.

Cleaned both front and rear wheels the other day, using a ton of elbow grease and aluminum polish. Put that shiny crap on the new tires too to give them that fresh, wet-look. Scrubbed Cheeto down and got most of the nooks and crannies clean.

All in all, I'm just an oil change away from being ready to hit the road, and I've still got 69 days to go! Next up will be figuring out how to get folks to donate to the charity - or at least know they have the option. That means website technical stuff and mailing list coordination. I apologize in advance for the solicitations you are about to receive!

So, I'm not an electrician...sue me.

Countdown - 73 Days

I'm down to the little nitty gritty items now, in preparation mode. I've got all the big stuff done:
Tires, luggage, super good cleaning, brakes, coolant flush, etc. Now it's the little stuff.

Like a better system for powering my Garmin GPS. Prior to today, I had your standard GPS power cable running from a cigarette lighter adapter in my saddlebag all the way up to the front of the bike. Worked fine, but it was a pain in the rumpus to connect and disconnect power to it quickly (without draining my battery).

I have already installed a switch for my Bambi lights (these are an extra set of passing/driving lights that I've mounted on my bike to make sure I see as much of the road in the dusk/dark as possible). The switch works out great (as long as I remember to shut it off). So I thought, why not go ahead and wire the GPS up to that power source and get rid of the 6 foot cable running the length of the bike?

Well, it sounded good. Unfortunately, I must have wired something funky because as soon as I plugged the GPS in, I got nothing. No flash of the screen, no smell of burning wires, nothing. It just wouldn't power up. Ever. Even just trying to power up using the internal battery didn't work. I even tried plugging it into the lighter socket in my car, in case I had a short somewhere, but no dice. So, apparently I blew it up.

So now I have to decide whether I want to get a different GPS mounting system and take my wife's other GPS (wider, newer, cooler), or just replace my old one. Either way, we're looking at a nice unexpected expense. And since Garmin stopped making my cheap model a couple years ago, I'll have to resort to Ebay and cross my fingers.

And before I do anything else, I'm checking with the nearest electrical expert (or Radio Shack store manager) and making sure that what I have wired now won't burn out another GPS or give me one helluva shock riding down the road.

As Matt would say, "That's how you learn these things." Yeah? Well I'd much rather learn by NOT spending all that extra dough on replacement items! I even tried to pep talk myself into doing it right. I kept saying, "Gordo - be smarter!" Didn't work.

Just hooked myself up with Ping in order to simplify my postings from the road. You may now return to your regularly schedule life and ignore this test. www.gordongiven.com

Baby Has Brand New Shoes!

Countdown - 82 Days

Cheeto got some new shoes! By the way, if you haven't been following along with this blog, Cheeto is the name of my motorcycle. She's orange, with flames, and lots of character. She's an 8 year old, with lots of experience. She's got 1,100 cc's of power and her bloodline is pure Honda. And now she has new shoes as part of the preparation for the Vancouver Adventure. "Shoes" in this case are tires.

Without boring the non-rider too terribly much, I've used Metzler Marathon 880's for past couple of years. This time I've switched over to Avon Venoms. My wife's bike has the same brand and she swears by them. So do many of our friends, so I may as well try them. I've not been disappointed by the Metzlers, but it's time to broaden my horizons.

Aside from tires, I've got other preps ready: coolant flush, oil change, etc. Those are relatively easy. The tires on the other hand, were not. Let this edition of the blog be a bit of tribute to friends.

My buddies Matt and Roger hooked me up with the service on the tires. Roger has all the equipment and much of the knowledge. Matt has the knowledge, experience and the brawn. Both are excellent teachers. It took a little longer than we expected for the tire switch (remove each wheel, one at a time, take old tire from the wheel, prep the rim, put on new tire, balance it, and re-install the wheel). I suppose if we weren't keeping our whistles wet the whole time, it might go more quickly, but it wouldn't be as much fun.

Matt is the kind of guy would do anything for you. Yeah, that's easy to say about people, but let's face it, if it weren't true, would he have taken the time to drive 6 hours, pull my trailer and bike with his truck, and put up with me for 24 hours, JUST to bring back his son's bike from Roger's house? He is dependable. He's concerned and caring. He's reliable. He's trustworthy. Matt is just a great friend, plain and simple. There's so much more to it, but it really comes down to that.

Roger is much the same. He's the father figure to many of us, or at least that's the way I look at it. He has the mechanical expertise, he has all the tools, and best of all, he has the desire to teach. He's one of the those people you can turn to to trust. He won't pull any punches and he won't blow sunshine up your...well, he won't just say what you want to hear. He's brutally honest, and that's appreciated.

So thanks to these two great guys, I'm a very large leap forward in being ready for 'kickstand up' time. And my Cheeto has some sweet new kicks!

First ride of 2010, it's all good!

Countdown - 95 days
So the first ride of 2010 is done. My lovely wife and I headed to the teeming metropolis of St. Paris, Ohio and got in a good hour long ride in some pretty chilly conditions with some good friends, Matt and Lorraine. It really wasn't bad, since the sun was shining and the roads were pretty clear. There was still snow on the ground from a freak snowstorm that ended their winter season, but it wasn't on the roads. The only real disturbance was some loose gravel on the roads in corners and on some turns, which is a carry over from the winter plowing.

I got to ride Lorraine's V-Star 1100 with my wife and Matt and Lorraine were on the VTX. Even being on a strange bike, the road felt good, my reflexes were right there and my sense of balance and control were pretty strong. Even with a passenger on board! Lorraine's bike is pretty comfy and although it's a stock seat and a lower center of gravity, I didn't notice any sign of fatigue at all. Let's hope that holds true on the 6,600 miles to come!

Of course, I'll be on my trusty Cheeto for that long trip and I'll have all my comforts: Ipod, GPS, familiar gauges,and a taller bike. Plus I'll have less bulky, heavy gear. I figure for most of this trip I'll be in just a vest and t-shirt, until I hit some of the mountains. I'll likely wear chaps no matter what because bugs and little rocks can really leave some nice bruises and welts and since I'll be at it all day for about 2 weeks straight, it will just be bruise upon bruise upon bruise if I don't. I like being a little on the chilly side, rather than a little on the warm side. Keeps one's senses fresh if they are facing a cooler wind than a hot one.

The reason I bring up this first ride is because it's certainly renewed my energy in a long trip. I really didn't want to get off the bike when we were done.

It's getting down to nearly 3 months from 'kickstand up' time. 95 days to be precise. Am I ready for this? I have all the gear, I have all the electronics, I have all the lists of things to take. I have all the pre-trip mechanicals either taken care of or lined up (tires, cooling flush, brakes, etc.). I have the money for expenses already budgeted (and some of it saved).

The only real thing left to do is the marketing and the donation seeking for the charity. And that is the mindless, repetitive workthat I can do right up until the last minute.

Vancouver Adventure, I'm talking to you: Bring it! I'm ready!