Ocean to Ocean

This journey is a journey of many parts, many places and many people.

Its aims will now be well known to regular readers of this Blog.

In addition to the Foundation's objectives we also have the clear  target of biking from the Pacific across the States to the Atlantic.  Dear Reader it is with the very greatest of pleasure and satisfaction that I can now post the Blog that confirms the fact that Tom and Alvon have cycled over 4,000 miles across this great country to arrive at the Atlantic.

I am typing this on the strip of sand that is known as 'The Outer Banks' lying offshore from North Carolina.

You will not need me to define the needs of riders over such an epic ride.  Wind, rain, heat, crazed dogs, crazed truckers, lack of sleep and more have all played their part in making the ride one of the most memorable and demanding times for us all but for the riders something more than just hard work.

But let the pictures tell the story, this, sunset, 20:30 last night here in The Outer Banks, NC.

The Crew

The Sea 2 Sea challenge is just that, a very real challenge at a number of levels.The endurance and fortitude needed to cycle almost every day averaging around 70 miles is not easy to imagine. We are to be in DC on July 3rd, this isn't an option, it's non-negotiable as they say. Well fine if you are driving a car but by bike a whole new world.

For a group of riders to do this the problems are magnified by some margin, add bad weather, hills, breakdowns, fatigue, well you get the picture.


To make this to happen is a team effort on a formidable scale.

We are now, quite literally, in sight of the Atlantic and the numbers speak for themselves, 3,997 miles ridden over 56 days of sitting on a saddle and cycling.
So today I thought it was about time, Dear Reader, that you could see who some of these people are.
Well, and I hope this doesn't sound too old fashioned, but ladies first:




Tricia runs the Social Media side of the operation. Thousands of people can view the Facebook and Twitter sites thanks to Tricia. Its whole now world to the rest of us and one that is demanding and, done well, highly sophisticated.

Tricia lives near Atlanta in Georgia with her husband and two children. In addition to working, sorting us out on the above areas she also studies. Super Woman 2012.



Marj, is the 'housekeeper' or RV keeper, she does a great job looking after the inner needs of us all. I can say without any fear of contradiction that Marj is invaluable on the trip, food and drinks always available when needed and whenever posible a change and variety brought to the table. Marj came out at the start and returned to the UK for three weeks but thank goodness returned once again and is now back in charge of all the stuff needed to keep the show on the road.

Marj has two children if you can call 30 to 40 year olds , children. The apples of her eyes are her 4 grandchildren. Carlo, Rosie, Eva and Luca. Marj lives in the centre of the UK with husband Bruce who has the same two children etc!



The newest member of the team is Chip. Chip lives in Germany and went to school with Tom and Alvon in Clemson. After 20 years in the US forces he now works in the world of finance. He is still is very fit and is a great addition to the riding team.



John is the head of the US arm of the Sea 2 Sea organisation in the US. John has had over 20 years experience in various management consultancy roles in industry. John graduated from the West Point and was a class mate of Tom's. John is married and his wife and he have a daughter, they live near Atlanta, Georgia.




Of course for many, no introduction for Alvon is required, he has a following generated in part due to his penchant for standing on his head and then being photographed.  Alvon is a very strong biker and leads the biking each day. Alvon's day job is as an engineer, he has been incredibly skilful in keeping all the machines alive and well. His home is in California, he was at school with Chip and Thomas at Clemson. Alvon is married to Maureen and has three children as well as one grandchild



Bruce (C'est Moi) I am the Blogger, driver of the RV and the recently appointed Commis Chef to wife, Marj. I also take photographs. Readers of the blog will know that I had my 65th birthday on the 22nd June. I have to call myself a pro-photographer now, I do get paid for taking photographs but this trip is 'pro bono', In a previous life I worked as a financial advisor.



Tom Von Kaenel, Tom is the founder and Chair of the Sea 2 Sea foundation both in the UK and US. Tom lives in Oxfordshire in the UK, he was at school with Chip and Alvon. Tom was a professional soldier for 20 years following his time at the army's West Point Academy. Tom is married to Jackie and their son, Dan has followed his father into the army.



Dear Reader, a note at the end, so to speak. We've had a bit of trouble with the blog formatting this morning. Its now fixed so it is able to be read, but our usual high standard of text formatting... is well... not up to our 'usual' standards. A good read anyway though, I think.

A return to Clemson

Highlights, some people have them in their hair, for us the highlights of this fantastic journey have been many and varied.

One of the highlights we have been looking forward to enormously was the time we were to spend in the home town of the two main riders, Thomas Von Kaenel and Alvon (Ace) Elrod.

It was just great to be in the town, the people gave us a great welcome.

The day started for us with a ride from Toccoa, a town in the Eastern side of Georgia.  As you can see the day actually started with a group photograph in front of the Court House in Toccoa.

Oh yes, that is Alvon doing the head stand.

In fact the Blog is all out of sync and I will be given more info about the days running up to and arriving in this fine town, but as our arrival in Clemson  was so special I thought it sense to look at that right now.


As the riders left Georgia and crossed the State line to South Carolina they were joined by more intrepid bikers, and here they are, TVK, Greg Bauld, Alvon Elrod and Chip Bailey.


The RV driver and crew sadly could not bike on this occasion but could grab a coffee and meet some interesting people along the way,

We arrived at lunch time and were met by a very special old school friend and peer from those days, Lindsey Graham, for the English reader, Lindsey is the Senator for South Carolina.  He has   been a stalwart supporter of the mission since day one.  We have met him in DC prior to the run and he has helped garner support as we have travelled.

The evening saw us return to the town centre and the town's memorial gardens for the ceremony that we do each day, this is where we read the names of 110 people that have dead in the wars since 9/11.  This we do each day and will continue to do so 'till the end of the trip. In this way we will complete the naming of all that have died in the wars from both the UK and US since 9/11.

On Saturday we had more people by some margin than we would normally expect, in addition it was very welcome to hear the States's Senator add his comments on the mission and on the background to it.

Each card is read and the information it contains is,  the name, rank and age of the man or woman that has died, it also tells of the place and town where they came from.

Our thanks must go to the three young Boy Scouts who did a very good job of passing around the cards an as well reading some of the names of the fallen.

The emotion of the event clearly evident on Tom's face last Saturday.

The bikers have cycled over 3,000 miles and have rather less than a thousand yet to ride to complete this marathon journey.

 For the Senator it was work as usual, the TV news team take an interview

Toward the end of the day Tom and Alvon were able to catch up with friends and family, for me it was interesting to see the amazing people that have come from the class of '73.

Well here they are, at least some of them

and jumping for joy.....

Photographer's note, its a proven fact that friends cannot jump in the air together and not laugh!

Jelly Fish?

Chattanooga.  Tennessee.  A truly great city.  One thing we don't get to see on the trip is cities.  Cities and Bikes are just not compatible.  But as we have gone across Tennessee Chattanooga has been one city we needed to venture in, Nashville has been another. Both have been great, not least of all because we have happened to be there when they are having some music extravaganza going on. In Nashville it was the world famous CMA.  (Country Music Awards) and in Chattanooga the Betty Smith Strut.  So what is this. Well its not world famous for sure but in the city it is well liked, its loved.  The downtown (City Centre) is closed to traffic from 18:30 thru (till) 20:30.  Bands play and people, yes you have it, strut.  A great atmosphere, great music and, well here are the photos.

If viewing on a smart phone you may not be able to read the words on the shirt....Cancer picked on the wrong bitch.

Its comforting to see that our welfare is being watched over by the guardians of the what is right or wrong in the form of this gentleman.  It seems, according to the placard that we need to be very careful of both Used Car Dealers as well as Liberals, and, wait for it, Hotheads.   What a great country that whatever you view you can express it.

But Chattanooga is not just music and Strutting. Oh no.  They have a world class aquarium. Massive with many salt and freshwater fish, they enjoy swimming around.  They also have that other sort of fish that we love to see but not be in the sea with,

Enjoy.

More Police

Dear reader, something new on this blog, I normally go a day at a time but today I will continue the blog of yesterday and some from the following day, why?   Well I just love pictures of America's Finest, the police. in fact the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Always courteous and helpful. And when you come onto 140 of them in one place with the Harleys they ride what can you do except take some photographs.

Great guys and here to police the concert, but also interesting to hear about Crystal Meth. Across the country I have been surprised and interested to see the amount of concern shown on the many 'home made' and public posters saying stay away from the drug.  These guys were able to fill some of my knowledge gaps. This is not good stuff.

 For more information follow this link.  But this is not for the faint hearted - beware!   Click here for info


All these images taken in or around the town of Manchester, TN, a proud town and patriotic....

Lots of pawn and gun shops in this area...this one had some interesting customer advice...

And speaking of signs, the RV site with toilet paper notice has more advice as you leave the loo...

Problems come in three's

Dear reader, they do say that you should never start anything with an apology, so first I apologise.

No wifi has given me problems in getting the blog both written, for which a good connection is essential and posted which helps.

But here we go, a delayed blog.

Choosing the subject was not difficult.  We had a difficult day the other day.  Let me tell something of it.

It started well enough but soon went downhill on the sudden realisation that I had lost a vital bit of kit, the iPhone. My iPhone.  Tom had been looking at it at breakfast but since then nothing.  He must have I thought.

Then the cable that allows Tom to change gear on his bike broke.  Problem no 2.

We had agreed to meet at a certain point but due to the cable Tom and Alvon needed a bike shop.  They went directly as best they could to one.  Of course I had no idea about this as I had no means of contacts.  This is  starting now to be a problem.   I manged to find wifi in a Children's Activity Centre.  I called Alvon from the iPad and via Skype.  He advised me where they where. He said Naples Road.

Punch Naples Road into sat nav only (GPS in the US) to find out that there is no Naples Road anywhere in Nashville.  Back onto iPad and Google. Try Maples Road.  Yes they were there

Then was the phone there?.   No iPhone with Tom. We all rip the RV apart, call the phone etc. No phone.

So Apple software steps up, with Apple via the net and another Apple device you can ask it to tell you where your phone is...yes amazing isn't it?  And its in the RV, back to to the vehicle and sure enough its there, Sound turned off and in a bag.

So going well.  Here is the bike shop where the bike is fixed....

And why is it the blokes that work in bike shops are always just so great, often with beards and always happy.

So off we go, to continue the route.  I go to set up the RV and go to the big camp site at Manchester.  Now we never book, or seldom do, out in the sticks you just don't need to but this weekend in Manchester, maybe a two horse town, is host to one of the biggest country and rock festivals in the US, Bonaroo,  like Woodstock we were told.

85,000 people there and no space for an RV. We were advised to go to Nashville, having just cycled the 74 miles to Manchester that was not going to happen.

We did get somewhere in the end that was just great, in the trees and with a pool. here is the pool but hey what a day.

This is not the most 'up market' of sites bit it did have a great line in signs...

The next day started wet, it was was raining cats and dogs.  Tom was prepared though, this from the Goggle site and 101 things to do with a bin bag  (trash bag)

The next day saw the rains and two tyres (tires)shredded by glass, and did I mention the dogs, a bad day for feral dogs.

One thing that was good for me at least, chance to get a good shot of an old car....

Have a good 'un y'all.