By Bob Lee   May 28 - Memorial Day 2007

During the past few days that I have been home on R&R, I have had the opportunity to read through 8 weeks of mail.  Yesterday I read a card from two special friends with this powerful message:

Each one of us who travels further than the obstacles
Will know a different kind of life from that time on…

This morning I re-read the card a number of times as I thought of a young man who met one of the worst obstacles any of us could face. From that time on, his life DID take on new meaning; and his heart and soul and determination will impact our lives forever!

On Sunday, May 27, Jon Blais (THE BLAZEMAN) lost his battle to ALS. Jon was a great warrior who had committed the rest of his life to raising awareness of this horrific disease so that others might not be faced with the same obstacle.

Jon’s spirit is free now!  I know that he would be honored that we will continue the fight to eradicate ALS.  The war goes on until the WAR IS WON!  Let our memories translate into action.  Let us take our feelings of lose and sorrow and redirect that energy into a long term commitment. 

If you are not familiar with Jon Blais, please read the April 7th blog or visit his website www.alswarriorpoet.com

Jon Blais leaves our world a better place because he was a part of it.

Watch this and remember that life is for the living. Let us live each day to the fullest!

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By Bob Lee   Ride Date: May 23
Orland, ME to Bar Harbor, ME - 42 Miles

One day can make a difference. I will show you why at the end.  Last night when I got up to get a drink the bathroom was slightly illuminated by a security light outdoors.  I looked into the white sink and I thought there was something black in it.  This morning when I was getting up my guest was headed down to take a nap.

I am glad I traveled through Maine at this time of the year. Spring has arrived, but the tourists haven’t, and the black flies are just coming out.  The timing of this RIDE has been great so far.  Early in the day I talked to a reporter from the Bangor Daily News where they have done a nice write up on the RIDE.

It seems like everything is just waking up and getting ready for “the season” which starts this weekend.  Many businesses have been closed all winter and are busy cleaning, fixing, painting, mowing and hoping for a good tourist season. Everyone is busy as bees... 

By Bob Lee   Ride Date: May 22
Camden, ME to East Orland, ME - 42 Miles

What a way to end the day yesterday…

And to start a new day today...

Some people ask if it is lonely traveling solo?  Last night I spend the evening in a popular B&B within one block of downtown Camden – the Camden Windward House. This morning I sat at a table by myself but I was not alone, my table companion was this lovely tulip. Too often we let this beauty slip past us, without a second thought. All life is amazing.
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By Bob Lee   Ride Date: May 21 
Newcastle, ME To Camden, ME - 34 Miles

I didn’t need to look at my watch to see what day it was.  The answer, my friend, was blowing in the wind and Monday was flapping in the breeze.

Last night I stayed at a very nice B & B named The Tipsey Butler .  Sarah and Tony have been the Innkeepers for a few years and is another example of someone following their dreams.  For years Sarah had a successful career on Wall Street working for a private bank, but wanted more out of life.  She wanted a life.  They gave up their careers and came to Maine – not for wealth but for a richer life. Life is not easy, but Sarah looks back with no regrets.

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By Bob Lee   Ride Date:  May 20
Freeport, ME To Newcastle, ME - 43 Miles

I would like to crow some more praises for L.L. Bean

You don’t need to look around for someone to help you.

I found they listened.  They will even walk the extra mile to help.  I am impressed.  I stopped by late this morning on my way out of town to look for a reflector light for the back of my bike. Within a couple of minutes the sales person offered to get a state book of biking roads, then offered to drive 3 hours to pick me up in Bar Harbor to get me to the airport!  A good business is made of good people!

By Bob Lee   Ride Dates: May 16 – 19
May 16  Derry, N.H. to Kittery, ME - 43 Miles
May 17  Kittery, ME to North Windham, ME - 72 Miles
May 18  North Windham, ME to Freeport, ME - 25 Miles
May 19 in Freeport, ME To Catch Up On A Cold and Rainy Day

On the outskirts of Exeter, New Hampshire, I stopped to visit with these ladies from the local garden club.  They assured me that volunteerism is not dead.  Just think how much is accomplished in this country by people giving not only their money, but also their time.

I took a picture of this house to give a feel for many of the older home that I have been seeing.  You can see as the families grew or the parents aged additions would be added.  On many of the rural homes, the barn is actually connected to the house.

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By Bob Lee   Ride Dates: May 14 – 15
May 14 Quinebaug, Ct To Northborough, MA - 42 Miles
May 15 Northborough, MA to Derry, NH - 57 miles

For those checking the blog on a daily basis I am sorry to have fallen behind. The faster I ride the more behinder I get.  Anyway —there will be times like this…

Before we go sightseeing I would like to make everyone aware of a program that can really help pave the way to reaching our goal of $500,000.00.  Sometimes the road to success has a few challenges or potholes along the way,

But — with everyone’s help and a little ingenuity we can pave the road for smooth riding.

As I ride I see a number of signs where states were promoting “Adopt-A-Mile’ to clean up the roadsides and I applaud this effort.

But then, as I traveled from state to state I started to see other signs, which really caught my eye and my heart.  It is great to see what our marketing staff can accomplish!

Yes, EVERYONE can adopt a mile or two or three or…?  For just $20 you can Adopt A Mile and have your name listed as a Donor to A Ride for Three Reasons.  Now would be a very good time. When making any donation by check or credit card just put “MAP” in the code section. Your donation will purchase the appropriate number of miles.  Please encourage your friends, family, e-mail list, club members, work associates and companies to join the effort by adopting miles.  Thank you in advance.  If we can pave the 6,500 route, it will get us much closer to our goal.  You will be able to track our progress and a see list of who has adopted miles right from the home page.
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By Bob Lee   Ride Dates: May 11 - 12th
Windsor Locks, CT to New York, NY

I woke this morning to thunderstorms but knew I had to move on since I had an interview with Fox & Friends at 7:30 tomorrow morning. I thought of this quote as I moved into the Big Apple.

"Nature does not hurry,
yet everything is accomplished."
Lao Tzu 6th Century BC

Just for the record, I was in a van with my bike.
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By Bob Lee   Ride Date: May 13
NYC to Quinebaug, Ct

As I rode today, I contemplated what to say in this blog.  For a while, I thought I might not say anything and just show the beauty of nature.  But even beautiful flowers don’t describe the beauty of motherhood, much less the impact of motherhood on our families.

I thought this might be a good time to pay tribute to the best mom I know, but she would be embarrassed.  Should I talk about the mothers of our grandchildren? I then decided this could wait for another time.

By Bob Lee   Ride Dates: May 9 - 10
May 9 - Rhinebeck, NY To Salisbury, CT - 42 Miles
May 10 - Salisbury, CT To Windsor Locks, CT - 55 Miles

I don’t like to combine days but when I get behind it seems like the only way to catch up. If you haven’t visited western Connecticut, please do so some day.  To me it is the beginning of New England with rural and yet in some cases sophisticated small towns and pretty farms in between.

By Bob Lee   Ride Date: May 8
Middletown, NY to Rhinebeck, NY - 60 Miles

Isn’t it great to be…

Our freedom allows us the opportunity to be the best we want to be and make the best of the rest of our life.  Not every day is all “blue sky” but it is that way for me today!

There are special areas I would like to revisit with Anne someday – to ride together,

If you aren't doing anything on Saturday May 12 at about 7:30 a.m. ET, tune in to Fox & Friends on the Fox News Channel to see a friend of yours. Don't leave the set too long or I might be gone.

We'll link or post the video from this site -if available after it airs.

DOUBLE YOUR DONATION!
                  
Also, Quicken Loans will match up to $20,000 that is donated on the website on Saturday May 12!

So, if you've been waiting, here's your chance!

And here's where to donate.

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By Bob Lee   Ride Date: May 7
Milford, PA to Middletown, NY -  36 Miles

Since I have been on the road, most days blend together.  It makes no difference if it is a weekday or a weekend.  Today, I knew it was Monday – laundry day.

Yesterday some of the fly fishermen asked if I had seen any bears.   I think they were asking more for their concern than mine.  I wasn’t taking the trout from the bear’s creek.

In this area they have experienced a late spring due to unusually cold weather.  Last night we had frost warnings.  This delay has allowed me the opportunity to really catch up with spring.  It was nice to see the forsythia and daffodils in bloom.

By Bob Lee   Ride Date: May 6
Delaware Water Gap, NJ to Milford, PA - 42 miles

After I left the Deer Head Bed & Breakfast, I crossed the Delaware River once again.  This time it was on a bridge shared with I-80.  It was nice to get away from I-80 and head to the Worthington State Park.  The most of the day was spent in a State Forest through the Kittatinny Mountains. 

Someone today asked what I thought of New Jersey.  After the last three or four days, my past impressions have completely changed.  The beauty of the wilderness has been incredible.  See for yourself.

By Bob Lee  Ride Dates: May 4 & 5

May 4th New Hope, PA to Easton, PA - 42 miles 
May 5th Easton to Delaware Water Gap, NJ - 33 miles 

After spending three hours this morning working with a new updated software program that shut my wireless access down, I decided to combine my ride up the Delaware River Valley into one blog.  Boy, do I feel isolated when I can’t have my laptop linked to the Internet.  On days like this, I appreciate even more the wireless service Verizon is providing to keep me in touch. Their service has been flawless.  My problem today was with MAC.

Before I share the past two days of riding, I would like to thank all those who have helped with TAG DAYS in Barrington, IL.  May is ALS Awareness Month and in Illinois, volunteers hit the streets and sidewalks to collect funds for the Les Turner Foundation.  A neighbor, Chris Maytnier, offered to head up the drive this year and has done a great job. How nice it is to have people volunteer their time to help on projects like this.  Saturday was the 4th year the entire Barrington High School baseball team spent their Saturday helping with TAG DAYS.  To see the coaches committed and the players enthusiastically support such a worthwhile cause is very refreshing.

By Bob Lee   Ride Date: May 3
Glenmoore, PA to New Hope, PA – 43 miles.

I have arrived into NEW HOPE!

Isn’t this what the RIDE is all about?  Giving people and the future generations new hope that we can rid this world of ALS and Cancer.

This morning I rode through Valley Forge.  I thought of how courageous and committed our forefathers were to provide us with this wonderful free land of opportunity.  Wouldn’t it be great if history would look back upon all of us to say we helped rid the world of two horrific diseases? 

We don’t need to take up arms and give our lives. All we need to do is open our wallets or give of our time.

By Bob Lee   Ride Date: May 2
Glenmoore, PA - a day to visit

Déjà vu.  In 1985 Anne and I left Laura in the parking lot at Duke University. With tears in her eyes she said, “How can you leave me here like this?”  After years of preparation and the challenge of being accepted in one of our finer Universities, our family separation was still difficult.  This morning we packed up Laura’s bike and I said farewell in the parking lot with tears in my eyes and me playing back her same line.

John Tesh recently told listeners of his radio show about Bob Lee and his Ride For Three Reasons.  mentioned Bob on a recent show.  Visit tesh.com where May is passion and purpose month. Seems like a good fit.   He'll also help you become "the smartest person in the room." 

Thanks for the mention, John!

Playing time 0:41

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By Laura Lee Horak   Ride Date: May 1
Ephrata, PA To Glenmoore, PA - 30 Miles

HAPPY  MAY  DAY!!!!  Did you remember to share a May Basket with a friend?  Since I was little I can remember picking a bouquet of flowers,  leaving them at my Mother’s door, ringing the doorbell and running.   We saw some gorgeous flowers today that would have made the perfect May Basket bouquet.  Mom, we are sending you these photos with love!

By Laura Lee Horak   Ride date: April 30, 2007
Marietta, PA To Ephrata, PA - 30 Miles

I am quickly catching onto my Dad’s daily routine.  After a good breakfast, the first thing we do is assess the day’s riding conditions – sun? wind? hills? distance? snack inventory?  Today’s ride was “thumbs up” on all 5 accounts. 

The sun was shining and the 25 mile per hour winds were at our backs.  Check out this quick video clip to appreciate the wind conditions.

Our day started with an incredible encounter.  About a week ago, Bob from Lancaster, PA discovered the website via Kim Komando and became enthralled.  He immediately contacted my Dad and offered to “wave his golf hat” as he passed through Lancaster County.  Well, he did better than that.  Bob (age 68) and Don (age 66) met us at a roadside church and escorted us through the incredibly gorgeous backroads of Lancaster County.

By Laura Lee Horak   Ride Date: April 29, 2007
Delta, PA To Marietta, PA - 36 Miles

HAPPY 65TH BIRTHDAY BOB LEE!!!!!  The Ride is now legitimate – 65 years old and 6,500 miles!  What a gift to be 65 and full of mental and physical endurance. 

My Dad has always been a determined and goal oriented person.  What I admire most about his drive is that he never lets it get in the way of his relationships with friends and family.  No matter what he has on his agenda he will make time for you.  Our basement flooded recently and my Dad was there within minutes - shop vac in hand.  He was in the midst of job obligations, preparing for the Ride and packing to leave for Mexico the next morning but he was still there. 

By Laura Lee Horak   Ride Date: April 28

Marriottsville, MD to Delta, PA - 55 miles

With one day of biking under my belt, I started out the day feeling great!  I even hung up my running shoes for biking shoes. . .

My Dad was at a different place than I was.  After a month on the road he struggled with the decision of which one to ride?!?!

The day got even better when my Dad suggested that we stop for a donut after only 15 miles on the road.  It is typical to go 20 to 30 miles without a “snack” in sight, so the Reisterstown’s Dunkin' Donuts was a welcomed sight!