Starts time: 7:30 A.M.
Distance today: 51.7 miles
Average speed: 13.2 mph
End time: 1:31 P.M.
Top speed: 42.7 mph
Temperature and weather conditions: Cool and moist air, but no wind when
we started - early. By early afternoon the wind was rather strong and in
our face. Overcast clouds all day, but no rain.
Total trip distance: 2,013.4 Miles (since start on April 2,
2000)
We departed from our perfect and peaceful cabin in the Mark Twain National
Forest. Danny and Charles decided to leave early, allowing Sean and Floyd
to sleep in. To their surprise, the climb from the riverbed to the road
was dreadfully exhausting and difficult. The road grade was steeper and
much more severe than Wolf Creek Pass. They did not eat before they left,
so a note was left for Sean and Floyd to meet them in Ellisworth, MO
around 9:30 - about 2 hours later.
Amazingly, we rendezvoused at 9:30 in front of the Log Cabin Restaurant.
The feast was bountiful and the service prompt and perfect. Danny and
Charles returned to their bikes by 10:30 and were off for the last
2 hours of their trek to Poplar Bluff. Once in town, Charles and Floyd
quickly headed for the bike shop. We have not visited a shop in over
3 weeks. We bought all the tubes that Bob had in stock and another
computer
for Danny’s bike. We have now gone through six computers. The Country
Cyclists is a fun place to visit.
While Danny and Charles are on the road they talk about many subjects.
One subject that is always part of each day, and usually part of the
dinner meal, is our gratitude to the many wonderful folks at home who
have helped and support this cause.
Although the Website - www.dannysride.org - lists most of the contributors
it does not list people. We would like to share our appreciation and
a big thank you to some of these folks. Patsy French at Care Alliance
- www,carealliance.com. Patsy has been pivotal in the organization,
support, follow through, details, and all aspects of Danny’s Ride. Without
her leadership, energy, and ability to knock down walls and make things
happen
we likely would never have been able to depart. Patsy first met and
talked to Danny when he was at the Roper Cancer Center. She coordinated
the
first Post and Courier story. From this first beginning Patsy has never
let up. A large part of her efforts are complemented and supported
by her boss, Tomi Yougblood. Not only does Tomi offer and allow Patsy
reasonable
time for our cause, but Tomi personally donated a very large sum of
money! We could go on for pages and pages about the results Patsy has
earned
for us.
Following is a short list of special people: Trailer from Bubba’s Truck
and Trailer, Cell phones from Advanced Cellular, the unbelievable relationship
with WCSC (www.wcsc.com), the Trek 5200 OCL bikes we ride were a tremendous
result of Patsy’s efforts and the high level of cooperation of Author
and Lee at The Bicycle Shoppe (YEA!). Patsy called her friend Dan at
Sign It Quick who lettered our motor home. Hundreds of people see this
home and come up to talk with Danny, Charles, and Floyd – thank you
Dan!
Although there are many organizations and business that have supported
this cause, the purpose of this page is to thank the people. A major
superman that has provided endless and daily support and guidance is
Jason Savage (www.2zoe.org). Although Jason does so many things, the
main support he provides is the web master of www.dannysride.org. Jason
was an extremely successful student of Danny’s. Jason’s standards and
level of perfection are evident in the prestigious appearance and appeal
of the Website for Danny’s Ride. Thank you Jason for your significant
daily contribution and timeless efforts.
There are too many dedicated and hard working people at Channel 5 (www.wcsc.com)
to fully list. In fact, in the last six months we have not met anyone
at channel 5 that did not have a super attitude, a high level of cooperation,
and a concern for our health, wellness, and cause. Chrity King receives
our updates each day and relays them to the News Department. Don Feldman
is the man. He is the admiral of that extremely competitive department.
Yet he is the general of softness, kindness, and compassion. He was at
the start in California and has been with us each and every day. Sean
calls in each day at noon (our time) and talks to Don. He is very busy,
but always makes time to verify that we are well and safe. Don has given
much more than his time and energy; for this we are warmly proud to be
part of his efforts.
Jim Demauro, Charlie Thompson, Amy Spencer, Sandy Smith, and Joe Grammar
are the best folks to work with. Being blessed with such fantastic
people is why WCSC is a leader in the tri-county market. The reason first
class
people stay with this company is because of their leader, Rita O’Neil.
To sit in on a meeting that she chairs is to see a most talented, caring,
swift, yet full hearted soul at work. She can lead a group through a
difficult road without the participants even knowing they changed their
minds. It is easy to care for your company and yourself when you have
a respected leader. Rita’s performance is an example to follow. WCSC
brought Cameron and Barkley Lighting Center and Fazoli’s Italian Restaurant
into our family. They also helped attract The Bicycle Shoppe.
The most enduring people we would like to share our appreciation with
is our families. The spouses, children, uncles, aunts, parents, sisters,
and brothers we have left for a time deserve a pat on the back for picking
up the pieces for us. This, we know, has not been easy or simple. Frankly,
if you had left us at home and taken a two month trek we are not sure
we would have faired as well. We pray that the transition of our return
with be painless. We will work hard to assure this mission; with greater
effort than we exert each day on the hills and highways of the great
states we cross. Most of all, we pray for the people to whom we are giving
hope, and to those who may have little time left.
Thank you very much!
