The start of a new fundraiser

The Pan American Cancer Tour

I have been back in Minnesota for little over 2 weeks now and I’m missing the life on the road. It feels like the road is where I belong.

On June 15th, 2013 I will be taking on the Pan American Highway, the world’s longest road. Over 15,000 miles, stretching through 16 countries. Once again, I will ride to raise money for cancer research. 100% of all donations will be donated to the Randy Shaver Cancer Foundation. During the next 21 months I will be saving enough money to live on the road for 350 days, find other riders and sponsors, and get access to enter all 16 countries *cough Canada cough*. I hope you can follow along once again and help me raise my goal of $150,000. Together we will find a cure, I know it!

Raising more money for a great cause

Come out to Paddy Wagon’s on Sept. 11 for a Pedaling For Pennies get together. Thanks Donny P. for hooking that up. Also, I will be at the Crossing Church in Zimmerman to talk about Minnesota 2 Alaska and the next fundraiser planned. Sept. 25 at 6 pm.  (More info coming)

Together we have raised over $15,000 and the donations are still coming in. The Razoo donation page will be up ’till the end of Sept. If you followed the blog, please help and donate to this cause. Every little bit helps. Speaking of the blog, I would like to thank everyone that followed along. I am still a little overwhelmed at how many people were a part of it. Much appreciated!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 81 – A nice long run

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred. As more energy is stored in my body, more is transferred to my bike. Stronger and harder every day. I ride hard and it feels good.

 

The last day in Alaska was a hard one. I thought this whole trip the emotions would hit hard when I entered Anchorage, finishing my ride. I was wrong, it’s packing my bags, saying goodbye is the hard part. Waking up this morning to a perfect day out, doesn’t make it any easier to leave. I break my bike down and box it up. A little slow with the disassembling, I felt a little empty inside.  Joe drives me to the post office and I say goodbye to the Mother Trucker for a week. The view is perfect, Mt McKinley is over a 130 miles away and I get one last gaze at the massive mountain.

Joe had to work and I took advantage of my last day in Alaska. Started off with a slow walk, gazing at the snow peak mountains. The walk turned into a fast walk, then into a full jog. It’s been months since I took a nice long run. Music on and a great background, the only thing I was missing were my running shoes. O-well, made the best of the perfect day.

Tonight, we have one more salmon feast compliments of Joe and his fishing skills. Thanks Devone, Greg, Amanda and Dom for a incredible night out. Jimpanzi had a great time

 

 

 

Day 75-80 / Anchorage – Homer – Seward and a great friend

 

My ride into Anchorage was solo. There were no bells, whistles or a ribbon to cross. The only thing that awaits my arrival was Joe Long and that’s all I needed. I met Joe years ago in Minnesota and our visits would be few and far between. A soft spoken man with a laid back attitude towards life, Joe can blend into his environment where ever life takes him. From working winters down in Florida to the beautiful summers in Alaska. With a smile, a handshake and a cold one waiting for me, it was a perfect congratulations. In Minnesota Joe was a friend, now as I leave Alaska I would consider Joe a great friend. Thank you Joe for everything, a perfect end to this trip

After relaxing for a couple hours Joe and I pack up for Homer and headed out for what will be a great weekend. The road we took to Homer was my first days ride into Anchorage. It was incredible to rekindle thoughts of the ride into the city. Thoughts of where I stopped, took pictures, and talked to the kind folks flooded my head. It was a little hard to adjust being  in a car speeding by all the scenery.  The sun popped out making the last 100 miles into Homer an incredible view. The sun was setting low while giving off colors of a sunset, something that was lacking on this trip. Clouds high in the sky mimicked the colors of the flowers lining the ditches. Snow peak mountains gave off a purplish glow and nature was alive and dancing.

We pull into the Homer Spit excited for the next days fishing trip. The spit is a narrow stretch of road filled with fishing boats packed to the left and a wide open ocean to the right. Small quaint shops line the road and fishing is on everyone’s mind here. We visit the Salty Dog Saloon, a local bar that everyone needs to see. A small waterhole where every square inch of the bar is plastered with signed dollar bills from all over the world.

My last trip with my father here, was where I should have listened to the old man. Being young and dumb, wanting to explore the town of Homer and get away from the RV I headed out. My dad tells me “Have fun, but remember we have a big day of Halibut fishing tomorrow. Stay away from the Salty Dog.”  Well, I should have listened to the old man. I found my way to the Salty Dog and got to know the locals and ended up there most the night. An early morning wake up and I was still 3 sheets to the wind, add the highest swell of the year and I was a mess. 8 to 9 foot waves, fishing was not fun curled up in the front of the boat, green in the face. I remember my old man checking in on me with a big o smile on his face laughing “I told you so.”  Ya, parents know best most the time.

Joe and I were in and out of the Dog fast and set camp about 100 feet from the Ocean. Front seat view of the ocean hanging with a good friend, couldn’t ask for anything better to end the night.

On the boat early for a days fishing for halibut We make an hour and a half ride to where Captain Dan thought the big ones were. The weather was rough and a storm was starting to roll in. So we back track an hour and set anchor. The Minnesota boys started and finished strong. Between skat, cod and Halibut Joe and I pulled them in one after another. There would only be a few minutes of silence before one of us had a fish on. I had a nice fish on, then look over and Joe was fighting a fish at the same time. I look over and a high five was needed, two fish at once. While the others on the boat where either having troubles hooking a fish or finding their sea legs, Joe and I where pulling them in. By the end of the trip we both walked away with a huge smile and a lot of meat to go home with.

We set camp in Homer and cooked up our freshly caught fish. We sat back and enjoyed each others company and reminisced about the day.

We headed out to Seward for some sights and a little fishing. A couple short pit stops and we end up on the Kenai River for a little salmon fishing. We find a few spots that are loaded with combat fishing. People are shoulder-to-shoulder, fighting each other for the next fish, not our style. Joe finds a small pull over and we check it out. Just one guy fishing, so we threw on the waders and grab our poles.

We head up river to give the  solo fisherman his room and not crowd him. We get our lines in the water and the man up river is reeling the fish in. We watch him reel the fish in with a smile of a child. The man introduces himself, Joe from New Jersey, he’s on vacation and is loving every bit of Alaska. Joe from Jersey shows us the lure he’s using and even tells us to move in closer. Unlike most fisherman hording their hot fishing hole, Joe tells us to start casting where he is, so we can enjoy the fun. Waist deep in the Kenai River with huge salmon running just feet away, mountains in the back ground and wildlife everywhere. We were loving it. All of a sudden Joe tells me to look across the river. A black bear has moved in on some people fishing only feet away, they did everything right to avoid a conflict with the bear. Fishing out here keeps you on your toes, that’s for sure.

We set camp in Seward and the view is incredible as always. Joe and I drove to Seward to see if the Silver salmons were running, but seems like we are a little too early. So we ended up cooking up some more fish from the day before and had another great night of chillen and talking the night away. We woke up and made our way to Anchorage after a great couple days laughing and fishing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Help me make my $10,000 goal