Text from Don; May 21st

Don wrote: "In High Springs FL. Each day I step it up to make this trip challenging, putting my bike in the highest gear against heavy winds OR riding 58 miles in sandals.."

THIS PIC IS NOT DON..however this is one of the only guys I found a pic of riding in sandals..wonder if Don wore socks too? If so this guy below is a trendsetter for sure. 

Text from Don; May 19th

Don Wrote: "Another basic day, now staying at KOA in Monticello FL.. 5 days left until my vacation in Florida."

I didn't know what KOA was so I looked it up..it's a camping deal in FLA....I found their website and it looks sick...most of the photos are from the early 90's...below is their TM tag-line...they put the K in Kamping. 

Text from Don; May 18th continued

Don wrote: "In Midway FL...Most people are getting stronger  and starting to take their share of group gear, I have shown them the ways of D Web. 6 days till the finish of my ride"

Text from Don; May 18th

Don wrote: "Went swimming in a river that had 4 to 12 foot gators in it. And a twenty foot drop off if you get sucked in by current"

Me: "Gators?...What river in Florida?

Don:  "It was actually a seven mile long pond mariana deal..." 

Text from Don; May 15th continued

Me: No way! Do you know if Stan's update pics lately? Is the young gun still riding with you? Riddles/Stores?

Don: Stan has not...I'm riding with Uncle J

Me: Who's Uncle J?!

Don: Uncle J is Jerry Boyer, a 66 year old gnarler riding a Recumbent bicycle...

Don: Plenty of cool stories but I can't remember them when texting or it is too big of a riddle. 

Text from Don; May 15th

Don wrote: "In Defuniak Springs Florida, 9 days left"

This is a photo of the locals in Defuniak Springs:

Text from Don; May 10th

Don wrote: "In Perkinsons, Mississippi..tomorrow will be in Hurley, Mississippi."

Where the heck is Perkinsons Mississippi you ask...to be honest I don't know...can't find it on a map. 

probably can be found in this black hole...

Text / Voice Mails silenced...

my phone died for a few...haven't been able to get in touch with DW...

Text from Don; May 5th

Me: "where you at?"

Don: "Louisiana"

Me: " Insane! How many miles yesterday? Any riddles? Or stories?"

Don: "Yesterday rode 78 miles that should have been 56. Me and the young gun speed racer took an off route d-tour that put the adventure in adventure-cycling going thru Louisiana"

** Image above is Louisiana's state flag..UJC huh...not as good a Eureka but i guess it works for them..**

Text from Don; May 4th

Don't know where this photo was taken but I thought it was a classic one..D.Weber cookin' up something good!
Don writes: "I was wrong, I was charging like a mad man today with another young gun, Kevin, the speed racer; in obstacles not feasible for the old or weak or story tellers.."

Text from Don; May 1st

Don sent me a text at 2:24AM..."Up at Three o'Clock, the part two morning dealing with riddles and being eaten alive by the Skeetos"..."There is no charging and no barging when you ride with senior citizens"...Thanks for the update and waking me up Don! ha

Text message conversation April 28th part 2

Don: "Saturday will be out of Texas just want to make sure Candice and Kolby pic with me is added to the site..not sure if  Stealthy Stan has added Pics"

Me: "Ill look for the pic" 

Don: "They are cute girls standing one each side of me"

Me: "Wrd!"

Don: "What are you talking about when two beautiful girls are weird?"

Me: "No..I meant..word!"

Don: "Oh...right on"

Text from Don; April 28th

Don wrote: "I was the only one who stuck it out in the rain last night and first one ready for a 62 mile trek!"

Text from Don; April 27th

Don wrote: "Rode 33 Miles in the rain to Bastrop Texas and it was enjoyable.."

Pictures from the Lone Star State...

Downtown Austin.

Lake whachamacalit.
Bambie and friends.
Boot fences are the newest in fence technology. 

Here are a few pics from the ride into Austin...

Text from Don; April 25th

Don wrote: "Knee feeling better...now in Austin Tx. with a rest day tomorrow"

Emory Pass NM pic

At 8200 ft. the hightest point oon Don's trip, Emory Pass New Mexico looks amazing. Don said that the downhill was gnar and the 50 mph crosswind wasn't something to mess with either....here's proof he made it to the top. 

Amendment to April 18th post...

Don game me a call today and said that the April 18th post was all good except the photo of the guy in the speedo was in Blyth AZ. That dude is the owner of a book store out there and judging from the skivvies looks like he doesn't run the A/C much...

Text from Don; April 23rd

working on the tan...

Don wrote: "Tuffed out 78 Miles with pulled ligament in knee from stretching too hard in Texas. You can't get away from the sun so I should have a good tan when I get back"

Text from Don; April 20th

Don "chillin'"

Don wrote: "Yesterday rode 96 miles, today 46. I stopped counting flat tires after 10 but I've been averaging a flat every other day and still make it to my destination. For now chillin'"

Text from Don; April 18th

Bike $1200 on credit card, Biking gear $350 on credit card, Photo of this old guy in speedos, headphones, funky sandals and some crazy blue blocker shades in the middle of Texas...priceless

Texas is huge! 

Don hit me with a text on the 18th and said this guy was documenting the whole ride on his 

website click here to see Stan's photos. Above are some good one's I pulled out incase you don't have time to hit up the site...

Don wrote: "picturetrail.com slash bikingstan. Today only two flats and 53 miles to Sanderson Texas"

Phone conversation with Don: April 17th, 2009

Had a chance to catch up with Don on the phone yesterday, here's what he had to say:

"I'm in Marathon, Texas! We've been riding on average 60-90 miles a day...I've had a few more riddles...the axle on my trailer broke and the wheels fell off, a nice guy that didn't have anything to do pulled over to help me out. Also this guy in the group George "McGiver" as I call him, helped me get the parts and rig it together...I've had no cell service out here...the wind sucks! the trailer sucks with the wind too...Oh today while I was traveling alone in the "lone-star" state, I was on the side of the road resting and eating a sandwich when these 2 slobs rolled up in a beater car and offered me a place to stay when I got to Marathon...I was thinking "I don't think so...these guys are sketchy and probably looking for trouble". Well I just rolled up on this place called the "White Buffalo", looks like a local watering hole (image above)...I'm gonna cruise in..talk to you later"

Text from Don; April 14th

"what is your email address again? I will try to send some pics...p.s. check your voicemail."

Text from Don; April 12th

"Happy Easter! Next couple of weeks going through the western part of Texas is going to be

pretty desolate so you will hear from me when you hear from me"

More Don Quotes from early on in the trip

Had a chance to talk to Don on the phone a few days after he left and below are some things he had to say:

"I'm having no problem keeping up with the crew....most of the group is retired in their late 50's to 60 years old. There's one guy who's 68 years old!"

"We've been riding between 6-8 hours a day and averaging 50-60 miles a day...this one day we only did 20 miles because of gnarly headwinds!" 

"There was 16 people in the group but this 1 guy had a drinking problem and got the boot (laughs)..he was cussing a bunch and the leader wasn't really feeling him. He tried to come back the next day and start riding again but the leader said no. I don't know where he is now..maybe following us?" 

Text from Don; April 4th

Text from Don @ 1:27pm on April 4th:

"Will cross the rest of Arizona tomorrow and take on an 8,000 foot mountain to start New Mexico" 

Text from Don; April 3rd

Text received from Don 8:30pm on April 3rd: 

"Rode 80 miles today carrying most of the groups stuff because they are old and I am a brain injured bad ass!"

Text from Don; April 2nd

Don's text @ 4:12pm on Thursday April 2nd reads:

"Today rode 56 miles to Globe Arizona, I was in the top 3 riders to reach the destination. That is the update for now!"

Weber is trying to get photos but it's hard to stop and send them...found this photo of another biker enjoying Globe AZ...don't worry I'd never heard of it either. 

March 31st First Full Day Off

On April 2nd Don and the crew got their first full day's rest of the trip in Tempe Az. A few quotes from Don...

"I'm feeling good, muscles are a bit sore but doing good."

"Towing the trailer sucks! It's got these crappy tires that have gone flat so many times I've lost count after like 6"..."maybe somewhere around 10 flats now"

He's living on Mr. Tuffy's patch kits...

OC Register write up

OC Register recognizes Don's ride...

Letter from Don

Dated January 23rd, 3:29pm

"My name is Don Weber and I am riding my bike from San Diego, CA to St. Augustine FL. to raise awareness for Help for Brain Injured Children (HBIC). It is 3,160 miles one way and if my butt isn't too sore, I will be making the journey home on my bike as well. I will be taking the Southern Tier Route, a bike trail that basically rides the same way as the 10 freeway. I have a brain injury that was caused by a motorcycle accident in 2003 and my main goal is to give other people with brain injuries hope. By riding across the United States on my bike, I want to show them that anything is possible when you set your mind to it. Since my life has revolved around my brain injury for the past 6 years. I feel a great passion for helping others out and by doing so, my brother and I have gone across the state of California, by skateboard and bicycle (Brea to San Francisco) to help with Spinal Cord Research. That trip was a total of 518 miles taking 11 days, with fundraising going toward the Life Rolls on Foundation. I figure I can do 60 miles a day cruising at my own pace and estimating any riddles that should come by way, I should be in Florida within 3 months. To make my goal a success, Boost Mobile, Adventure Cycling and Whittier Cyclery have donated time and money to help me out in this 3,000 mile plus trip of a lifetime. I plan on hitting the road April 1st, 2009 and any support anyone can contribute to the HBIC foundation would be truly appreciated."

Thanks,

Don Weber 

Change of Plans

Plan was to ride from La Habra CA to St. Augustine FL. on a beach cruiser by his lonesome. Don's mom had an uneasy feeling about the whole thing so she sprung for him to roll with a crew from ADVENTURE CYCLYING. The particular group Don is riding with are all over the age of 60 and retired...it works out because Don is a self-proclaimed retired 29-year old. 

On another "riddle" note the beach cruiser is dust...He's now broken the frame on it twice and a weld job just wouldn't do for a coast to coast ride. Plus the cyclists' in the group thought he was crazy for trying to ride a single gear with coaster breaks so they suggested a 24-speed road bike...Don's mom again showed support and faith in her son's determination and set him up with a brand new bike from WHITTIER CYCLERY...thanks Bill C. (owner) and Robert/Jeff and Bart (crew) for all the support!

Training continued

...a two month ride calls for tons of preparation. Kind of like Rocky (insert "eye of the tiger" theme song here) getting ready for the fight against (insert Mr. T, Dolph Lundgren, Apollo Creed or Hulk Hogan name here)

Training Days...

Training started more than a year ago...the work will pay off in the three thousandth mile. 

Don's Story and Cause

This is Don Webers "ride across the US" blog. Don plans to leave on April 1st from San Diego CA and end in St. Augustine FL. on May 24th, bike riding a mind boggling 3100 miles! Little background on Don...he's the man! Anyone who has the urge to ride a bike across this great nation on a bike deserves a round of applause. Especially because this ride is a selfless act on Don's part. He is riding to raise awareness for "Help for Brain Injured Children" (www.hbic.org). Don's own personal experience with a brain injury occurred back in 2003 when he was involved in a serious motorcycle accident. The accident placed him in 2-week coma and when he awoke, completely changed his life. Don recuperated but, was left with a life altering brain injury that he's learned to cope with over years of challenges. 

Back in 07' Don rode his beach cruiser by the side of his brother Ryan, who was skateboarding from Brea CA. to San Francisco CA. (an astounding 518 miles). Ryan's efforts were made in order to raise awareness for the "Life Rolls On Foundation" focusing specifically on spinal cord research (www.liferollson.org). Don was by Ryan for the whole journey and didn't waiver thru rain, hills, steep grades and flat tires, they finished in 11 days! Ryan's intense accomplishment inspired Don to start on his own personal quest...that is where this website picks up...

This sites sole purpose is to log Don's daily-weekly on goings and "riddles" as he likes to call them in his 2 month long trek across the good ol' US of A! Don wants to share his adventure with all the people he knows as well as all of those he doesn't, in hopes to inspire others to do something great...he wants to show people who've encountered "life-altering" experiences that they can still help change lives...

Look for updates regularly and please share the link with friends and family or total strangers...Don is grateful for any help in raising awareness for this cause

Cruise on Don....