Josh and I are excited to have you follow our big adventure along the full length of the Blue Ridge Parkway- all 587 miles and 62k feet of climbing in 7 days.  We're only 2 and a half weeks from our start date (June 23rd) and our final big week of training is upon us before a week of relative rest and packing.  We're blessed to have an amazing support crew, featuring "Team-Mom" Danielle, Josh's wife, and their daughter Annabelle.  And I've coerced my daughter, Madeline, into joining us too.  We anticipate needing their full logistical and emotional support to pull this ride off.

I teach Middle School and Josh is a Physician's Assistant in Raleigh, NC.   We've  only been riding together for a few years now, but we've become fast friends.  A year or so ago Josh texted me a picture of a bicyclist on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  I texted him back the picture at the top of this journal entry.  It's a wooden sign that you can buy at some of the gift shops along the route.  Josh asked why I didn't own it and I told him I had made a pledge to myself long ago that I'd buy it one day, after I'd ridden the whole thing. 

I want to put this out there right now- the energy behind actually doing this ride is Josh and Josh alone.  This guy makes things happen.  He went from our conversation about a wall decoration to having planned this whole thing out.  I feel lucky to count him as a friend and teammate.  Thanks for all your hard work in putting this challenge together Josh!

So I'll sign off for now, but will post again soon.  Thanks for your support.