The Route So Far - Google Maps


View X-America by Bicycle in a larger map

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

June 2, 2010

Highs and lows

A very indifferent day. This morning we started bright and early at 6:30, though the cold didnt exactly make us jump out from our sleeping bags. Throughout the trip we have had some very hot and humid nights in the tent and some very cold ones. last night was one of the coldest. So much so i was wearing a thick pair of socks, tracksuit bottoms, a Lycra top, a vest, two t-shirts, a jumper and using a sleeping bag liner as well as a sleeping bag. Verdict...I was still unbelievably cold. I have purchased a woolly hat so that might make all the difference!

We ate breakfast soon after starting in cotopaxi and rode through the beautiful valleys and gorges in the morning until we reached Salida(7500ft), 30 miles away at around 11:30. Stopping at a Macdonalds, disaster! Will had left his wallet 30 miles back at where we had had breakfast. So i enjoyed the unrivaled ambiance of macdonalds, whilst he hitch-hiked back to collect his wallet. NICE ONE WILL!! iT It has to be said the situation could have been alot worse, as he wasnt gone too long and at least the wallet was found after all.

So after this escapade, we set out to cycle to the highest point on our trip, that being monarch pass at 11312 ft. Not going to lie it was tough, not helped by the wind which was as angry, just like a old man trying to send back soup in a deli. The last 6 miles to the summit took 1 hour and 25 minutes.... Slow going. It was noticable how the temperature changed as we went up, and it was very strange cycling past a ski lift and actually a fair amount of snow. From salida we cycled 25 miles, rising over 4000 foot, so it was a tough afternoon, but very rewarding shooting down the other side of the mountain, covering 10 miles in little over 20 mins. We found a nice little campsite at the foot of the mountain, and managed to bargin a good price. (original price=$22, our price $0).Tomorrow to Gunnison, which, we are told, is stunning.
Posted by Picasa

1 comment:

  1. "just like an old man trying to send soup back at a deli." Nice quote, I think I've heard that somewhere before

    ReplyDelete