Danny’s Ride

1,000 People
$30 Donation
$30,000 Closer To A Cure
Danny’s Ride has set a goal of raising $30,000 for cancer research by June 6th,2009.  This is a big goal but we have a big challenge – finding a cure for cancer.

Sponsors names will be presented on a certificate with the check for the total amount of money raised.

Please be one of 1,000 people who have had enough with the hurt and destruction cancer has caused.  Thank you.

FACT: Cancer is now the leading cause of death in the United States.

Trip Statistics

Bike Time: 6 Hours, 29 Minutes, 12 Seconds
Miles: 96.74 Total

Average Speed: 14.9 mph
Max Speed: 24.3

Total Trip Miles to Date: 1,067.52
Flat Tires: 12
Drew: 8
Danny: 4

We stayed in a brand new 12-day old hotel which offered a fantastic breakfast with eggs, bacon, sausage and hash browns.  I loaded up before the long trip.

However, the trip started before even hitting the road.  As I unloaded the bike, I found the front tire flat.  I replaced it and hit the road.  Over an hour later, I got a second flat tire of the trip.  This was not a good start to a day with 97 miles!  But after another quick change, I was back on the road.  I met Danny and Ken at a Subway 40 miles into the trip.  We sat and enjoyed each others company for nearly a half hour before I hit the road again.

About 10 miles in, I looked up and saw a coyote standing directly in front of me 50 feet.  As I started to slow, the coyote looked at me and took off running into the wilderness.  I kept pedaling.  I just hoped he wasn’t going to tell the family that he “found lunch.”

About 10 miles later, I ran into some bike problems that were user (myself) induced.  I had not made sure to the back tire was level when I changed it yesterday.  As a result, the wheel rolled at an angle and caused a portion of the bike to bend.  It bent so far that it was caught in the spokes and I couldn’t go any further.  I tried to fix it with no luck.

I called Danny and Ken.  They came right away to save the day.  Danny had the bike fixed within minutes.  He truly is amazing at everything he does.   I quickly got back on the bike and started pedaling.  After another 10 miles, I got a text from Ken stating that he and Danny were at another Subway off Exit 115.  I was again hungry and joined them for a second lunch.  As I sat down, Danny smiled and said, “Happy Birthday!” and pulled out of a bag a large coffee mug with a picture of a coyote on it along with facts about coyotes.

It was terrific.  It is a beautiful mug and is a perfect reminder of the coyotes we have seen along the trip.  What a great guy!  Thanks Danny!  As we were leaving, we started talking to Teresa Ahumada.  Teresa’s husband is fighting Leukemia.  Danny told her of his experience and then explained all the wonderful things the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society could do to help their situation.

We learned from talking with her that she is a woman of tremendous faith.  It was a blessing to hear her stories.  We ended our meeting with prayer for her husband.  I do not believe it was an accident that we met her today.  She was an inspiration to all of us.

I got on the bike and finished the remaining 23 miles to Midland.  When I was getting off the exit in Midland, I saw this sign and got a big laugh out of it.  I took a picture because I knew you might as well.

We checked into a Super 8 and ordered Papa Johns pizza.  We were all exhausted.  It had been a very long day.  Danny will be back on the bike tomorrow.  It will be great to have him back!