The Route So Far - Google Maps


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Why?

We are doing this ride to raise money for Research Autism. We are aiming to raise £20,000.
We are supporting Research Autism because my cousin Jamie is severely affected by the disease, and I have seen its effects not only on him but on the whole family." He is 13yrs old, but cannot yet talk.
Just take a moment to imagine not being able to talk.
Imagine understanding everything going on around you, but not being able to comment.
Imagine having to be dressed every morning in clothes you don't choose, and then hurting your parents as you try to tell them you wanted the blue shirt today.
Imagine being swamped by having to hear everything that everyone is saying around you, and not being able to listen to just one thing at once. Jamie loves being in a swimming pool, just floating, legs held motionless by the weight of the water, while he keeps his ears underwater to just relax, hearing nothing.
He understands everything - he appears to have a photographic memory - but can’t get his thoughts out.
Frustration leads to despair, and anger, which is just one of the many things that his family has to deal with.
He has extremely specific eating requirements and requires round the clock supervision. Jamie is at the severe end of the autistic spectrum, but given that one in 100 people suffer from the disease (with varying severity), and that everyone has some autistic traits, it is shocking that so little is known about it'.
Click here to support our cause and donate to Research Autism.
Read the "Meet Jamie" post - the only post in February, for more information about Jamie, and a poem - painstakingly slow for Jamie to type, but ultimately incredible.

Photo Video - New York to St Louis

May 21, 2010

Tailwind!

 


Jefferson City to Knob Noster - 85 miles. 69 burgers, 21 days riding - 26 days

The picture is of me riding down the corridor to our room in the motel - it is a mission pushing loaded bikes, so much easier to roll!

There is a massive storm system over us (and three other states) which means we've had lightning, rain, thunder and even tornado sirens. But we are dry and warm, and have just filled up in McDonalds.

We had the fastest average speed of all our days today by quite a way - averaging just over 25kph - helped by the wind. Our aim of California and San Francisco seems closer than it is, in the Motel last night the soap was made by the San Francisco soap company, and today we went through the town of California. We will camp tonight in the state park at Knob Noster, with two other cross-country cyclists: www.bikeintothewind.com.

Tomorrow, off to Kansas City.
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