AbilityTrek 2007

Big Ride Across America

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Sheret) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:00:00 +0000

Monday the 23rd it the kick off of this great adventure. I will be leading a team of 38 riders and 3 support staff 3,300 miles from Seattle to our Nation's capital. To date the riders have raised just about $250,00 to help the with lung issues breathe a little easier. The staff here in Seattle are friendly, talented and very professional. It I a real pleasure to be working with them this summer. Our gear is sorted and today i will shop for the food for the trek. Then it is a a matter of a few hundred small details to get ready for the 7 am start.

Seattle

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Sheret) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:33:00 +0000

The Northwest is even more beautiful than I left it. The last few day have seen me driving from Santa Fe to Wilmington to leave my things then traveling to Seattle all in 5 days. I am sitting here in the offices of The American Lung Association of Washington surrounded by dedicated talented, and experienced staff.
We are spending the week getting all the last minute preparations ready for out departure on the 23rd. Just one week and the ride begins.

Training and preparing

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Sheret) — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 18:04:00 +0000

The human body is an amazing thing. Within a week I could feel my cycling groove coming back. Granted the first days are always hell. I live outside of Santa Fe and so there is a nice 10.2 mile climb to get up to Santa Fe. Elv. 7800ft. I am riding 30-50 mile loops each day. I think I find training so much easier since I am not pulling an 80lb trailer along. I can't belive how easy and fast you can knock out 30 even in the hills around Santa Fe just on a bike with no gear aboard. Did I really pull that thing across America last year? What was I thinking? I have managed over the winter to keep my weight at 165lbs even with all the rich Northern NM cooking. My first ride Across America in 2003 I started at 205 lbs, what a porker!

My bike is in fine shape, I spent yesterday tuning it and replacing cables. The only thing I don't like about cycling in NM is the dust sure can wear parts down quickly. I live on dirt road and it is 1/2 mile uphill to the first pavement, and I swear I can feel the dust grinding down my drive train I am always releived to get up that first hill.
Northern NM with all the moutains and the strong winds at this time of year is a challenge. I often will ride up to Santa Fe with a brisk head wind and by the time I get there the wind shifts and I face headwind again on the return leg.
But in the end after a long ride looking at the vista of the mountain desert it is all worth it.
,

Trip Mode

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Sheret) — Fri, 30 May 2008 12:55:00 +0000

In just 16 days I am back in the saddle and off to Seattle. I am really looking forward to leading the trek again across America. To date the riders have raised almost $180,000 for the charity. It looks like it will be a wonderfull ride. I am so excited by the nervous energy the riders all have wondering if they will be able to ride a bike across America. They, like countless before them will have a trip of a lifetime. After my solo crossing last year spending 48 day with a group is going to be a blast. I just have to keep them fed, watered and safe.

Soujourn Bike Tours

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Sheret) — Thu, 15 May 2008 12:42:00 +0000

I have just returned from Vermont and a meeting with the great folks at Soujourn Bike Tours. I am hoping to join this first class tour company and co lead a few tours this fall or next spring. http://www.gosojourn.com/sojourn_bike_tours.php They are first class opperation and provide wonderful touring vacations for cyclist of all ability. During my tour of their operation, I met friendly and energetic staff. Their bikes and gear all was tuned and in excellent condition. If you would like to go on a week bike trip, eat wounderful food, enjoy fine wine and stay in some of the best inns of America I highly recomend this company. So please give Susan a call and come, along you won't regret it.

It was great to be back in my home state of Vermont and I had a chance to see old friends and make some new ones. Now I am home in NM and boy it is good to be home again. I must say that airline travel is at an all time comfort low. United has shrunk the seat space again and in doing so added more seats per flight. I am not a big person and my legs were jamed into the seat ahead of me during the flight.Oh well!

Training now begins in ernest for me as do preperations for me to be gone for over 2 months. It is nice to be getting into trip mode and I welcome it.

Countdown

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Sheret) — Sat, 03 May 2008 11:03:00 +0000

Big Ride countdown = 1 months 2 weeks, 5 days, 18 hours, 58 minutes, 44 seconds

48 days
3,300 miles
Seattle to Washington, DC
June 23 - August 9, 2008

This will be my third and not my last crossing of the American continent on a bike. This time time I will be leading 45 other cyclist in their quest to spend 7 weeks on a bike.

There are 260 million people in the United States going about the daily routine of living. In any given year, a few of them will do something extraordinary. Something will move them -- stir their imaginations -- and they will step out of their comfortable routine to make their lives truly memorable.

Some will do that by riding their bicycles across the beautiful expanse of earth we call America. Why they do it is something they can never quite explain to someone who asks, but never need to explain to anyone else who has done it. They come from all walks of life and all ages from 18 to 79 to accept the challenge of riding a bicycle from sea to shining sea.

As you can imagine my life has gotten rather busy. I just returned from the first Ertl amputation Symposium where I had the honor to speak. It was a real pleasure to spend the weekend with Will, Jan, and Chris Ertl, Three of the world leading surgeons. For a layperson to be asked to speak at a medical conference was quite an honor.

My 46th birthday came and went quietly as did the 8th anniversary of my broken leg. Some how it does not seem that long. Yesterday I gave notice to my winter employer and have begun to prepare in earnest for this trek. It was great to take the winter off from cycling and doing my long treks but it is just a wonderful to be back in Trip Mode again. I am back on the bike and will be in condition in no time. I travel to Vermont to meet with a bike touring company next week and will see some friends. then it is home to NM and train, train, train.
I am enjoying my role as tour leader. I sure have tons more experience than when I first led a tour in 2004. I have enough time in the saddle now that I can see the excitement, fear, and doubts the first time riders have. It is much like some of the amputees I coach thru the process. you see they can and will rise above their own expectations. It is a nice feeling to help them attain their goals.

2008 Season

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Sheret) — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 12:34:00 +0000

Officially my season will start on April 19th when I travel to Oklahoma City and present a program before a group of orthopedic surgeons at the University Of Oklahoma Medical Center. I will also be doing a riding clinic for amputees while I am there. My surgeon is there and he happens to be a former cyclist. His name is Will Ertl and he is one of the nation’s top trauma surgeons.
The following month I will I travel to Walter Reed and Bethesda and lead a group of wounded vets on a 2 day 115 mile ride to Gettysburg on May 3-5th It is the same group I helped lead last year.
On June 15th I will lead 40 cyclist across America for the American Lung Assoication's Big Ride Across America. I willlead the group across America and then return to Seattle by August 15th.

That is when my real riding season begins. I will then head south from Seattle and stop at all the major cities along the coast, doing ride clinics and motivational speaking. Once past LA I will solo down the Pan American Bike route, to Guatemala and a friend’s Prosthetic clinic. Once there I will spend several weeks working in the clinic and documenting his work. October I will fly to Hong Kong and a accept the standing invitations I have to cycle from China to Vietnam and Thailand and Laos. While in Southeast Asia I will visit and document several Governmental and Nonprofit amputee clinics there. It is going to be a great year!

Destination

0 Seattle WA 22-June
1 Easton WA 23-June 24-June 77
2 Vantage WA 24-June 25-June 71
3 Odessa WA 25-June 26-June 81
4 Spokane WA 26-June 28-June 75
5* Spokane WA
6 Sandpoint ID 28-June 29-June 76
7 Thompson Falls MT 29-June 30-June 88
8 Missoula MT 30-June 2-July 101
9* Missoula MT
10 Avon MT 2-July 3-July 99
11 Townsend MT 3-July 4-July 61
12 Harlowton MT 4-July 5-July 101
13 Billings MT 5-July 7-July 92
14* Billings MT
15 Hardin MT 7-July 8-July 54
16 Sheridan WY 8-July 9-July 84
17 Gillette WY 9-July 10-July 109
18 Newcastle WY 10-July 11-July 75
19 Rapid City SD 11-July 13-July 81
20* Rapid City SD
21 Kadoka SD 13-July 14-July 101
22 Pierre SD 14-July 15-July 95
23 Miller SD 15-July 16-July 74
24 De Smet SD 16-July 17-July 77
25 Tyler MN 17-July 18-July 78
26 New Ulm MN 18-July 20-July 86
27* New Ulm MN
28 Owatonna MN 20-July 21-July 72
29 Winona MN 21-July 22-July 89
30 Viroqua WI 22-July 23-July 66
31 Madison WI 23-July 24-July 100
32 Belvidere IL 24-July 25-July 83
33 Morris IL 25-July 26-July 104
34 Valparaiso IN 26-July 28-July 82
35* Valparaiso IN
36 Kendallville IN 28-July 29-July 109
37 Napoleon OH 29-July 30-July 70
38 Sandusky OH 30-July 31-July 87
39 Burton OH 31-July 2-Aug 92
40* Burton OH
41 New Waterford OH 2-Aug 3-Aug 59
42 Washington PA 3-Aug 4-Aug 62
43 Confluence PA 4-Aug 5-Aug 88
44 Bedford PA 5-Aug 6-Aug 81
45 Gettysburg PA 6-Aug 8-Aug 100
46* Gettysburg PA
47 Clarksburg MD 8-Aug 9-Aug 50
48 Washington DC 9-Aug

53

* Indicates Rest Days/Locations
# Day Location State Arrival Departure Miles Total
1 Sat Seattle Waterfront WA 9/13/08
1 Sat Lake Sylvia SP, Montesano WA 9/13/08 9/14/08 77 77
2 Sun Cape Disappointment SP, Ilwaco WA 9/14/08 9/15/08 78 155
3 Mon Nehalem Bay, Nehalem OR 9/15/08 9/16/08 57 212
4 Tues Devil's Lake SP, OR 9/16/08 9/18/08 71 283
5* Wed Portland OR 9/17/08 283
6 Thur Honeyman SP, Florence OR 9/18/08 9/19/08 79 362
7 Fri Bullard's Beach SP, Bandon OR 9/19/08 9/20/08 71 433
8 Sat Harris Beach SP, Brookings OR 9/20/08 9/21/08 86 519
9 Sun Patrick's Point SP, Trinidad CA 9/21/08 9/22/08 91 610
10 Mon Burlington CG Humbolt Redwoods SP CA 9/22/08 9/23/08 77 687
11 Tues Mac Kerricker SP, Fort Bragg CA 9/23/08 9/25/08 86 773
12* Wed Mac Kerricker SP, Fort Bragg CA 9/24/08 773
13 Thurs Stillwater Cove Regional Park CA 9/25/08 9/26/08 86 859
14 Fri Samuel Taylor SP, Olema CA 9/26/08 9/27/08 65 924
15 Sat San Francisco CA 9/27/08 36 960

San Francisco to Santa Cruz
16 Sun Santa Cruz CA 9/29/08 79 79
17 Mon King City Ca 9/30/08 105 184
18 Tues Pasa Robes CA 10/1/08 77 261
19 Wed Santa Maria CA 10/02/08 103 364
20 Thur Lompoc CA 10/03/08 53 418
21 Fri Ventura CA 10/03/08 84 502
22 Sat Los Angeles CA 10/04 60 562

Dan

now here is a real story

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Sheret) — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 16:56:00 +0000

Update: Dedan Ireri qualifies for 2008 Paralympics
Paralympic cyclist and Jamii Bora messenger Dedan Ireri has successfully qualified for the 2008 Paralympic Games to be held in Beijing, China. Mr. Ireri surpassed the qualifying speeds in both the 15 km and 58 km road races at the UCI Paracycling Championships in Cali, Colombia. In the 15km race he placed 14th with an average speed of 35.9 Km/hour, well above the 30 Km/h necessary to qualify. His speed in the 58 km race was nearly as fast, with an average of 34 Km/h. Jamii Bora Trust is extremely proud of Dedan's performance. Look for further accomplishments from him in Beijing next year.
---

From Street Beggar to Paralympic Aspirant

November 12, 2007
A skilled and speedy cyclist rounds the corner of Enterprise Road and Funzi Road in Nairobi's industrial area. His style, his speed and his pride on the bike show that he is a professional cyclist. He enters the gate to the Jamii Bora headquarters and parks his bike. With ease he detaches his crutches from the bike. It is only then you will realize that Dedan Ireri only has one leg as his right leg was amputated at the hip. “How can you bike with only one leg and with such elegance and speed?” you ask him. His story is like a fairy tale.

Dedan was a street beggar as a child and teenager. But a car ran over him when he was still a young child begging in the streets and his right leg had to be amputated. Dedan then had to learn to survive in the streets with only one leg. I first met him in 1994 when he was 14 years old. I talked with Dedan and his friends every time I passed them at the Kenyatta Avenue roundabout downtown where they used to beg from motorists. Dedan finally agreed to go to an informal school to learn how to read and write. However, Dedan was a difficult student and often ran back to the streets. It took a lot of convincing and counseling to keep him in school even for a few weeks at a time.

When Jamii Bora started as a Micro Finance institution in 1999, Dedan and his friends formed a small credit group called the Uhuru Highway Self-Help Group. They were all young beggars in the streets of Nairobi and, like Dedan, many had severe physical handicaps. Dedan tried to start several small businesses with loans of Ksh 1,000, Ksh 1,500 and then Ksh 2,000 (about US$12-25). Sadly, all his business attempts failed and Dedan kept slipping back to begging.

But the Jamii Bora staff never gave up on Dedan and kept encouraging him to try again. They feared he would be one of the few Jamii Bora members who never worked themselves out of poverty. Then one day Dedan came to the Jamii Bora office on a bike! He wanted to see me and show me a prize he won in a recent small bicycle competition. We were all stunned but happy to see him so proud and even organized a little ceremony to celebrate his success. After that day Dedan came often to get help to buy bicycle spares or just to talk about his new dreams.

Then a few weeks later Dedan returned with his bicycle and proposed that Jamii Bora employ him as a messenger. That would help us in Jamii Bora, he would have some income and at the same time he would spend his days biking and developing his strength and skills as a cyclist. As Dedan was already so well known and so well liked in Jamii Bora, we agreed to his surprising and innovative proposal. So Dedan became what is likely the only one-legged bicycle messenger in Nairobi and possibly worldwide. Dedan is now a skilled, reliable and fast messenger as well as a proud and charming member of the Jamii Bora staff.

Today is another big day for Dedan and Jamii Bora. This evening Dedan is leaving Kenya to fly to Colombia and participate in several international cycling competitions in order to qualify for the Paralympics in China next year. Dedan and his friend Ibrahim Wafula aim to represent Kenya in this prestigious global competition. So yet another Jamii Bora member has proven that not even the sky - or having only one leg - is the limit for what our members can achieve.

Dedan, you are already a hero among the youth in Jamii Bora. We are really proud of you. Go for gold and then come home to inspire thousands of other youth throughout our country to leave the streets and instead use their talents to build a better life for themselves and their families.

Ingrid Munro
Managing Trustee
Jamii Bora Trust, Kenya

Support our War Heros

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Sheret) — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 08:01:00 +0000

A dear friend's daughter, started a project to support wounded Vets and promote the America experiance. These car magnets can be placed on your auto to show your support of the young men and women that made the choice to serve their country. Regardless of how you feel about the current conflict please concider supporting those that have given their youth and health.
This is a special organization whose purpose is assisting our United States service members who have suffered life altering injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan. You can order the magnets at http://www.nevaenterprises.net

Dan

Cold Weather

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Sheret) — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 14:23:00 +0000

It is bitterly cold here and even I am not out cycling in 3 degrees weather. There is too great a chance for frost bite when it gets this cold. I am snug and warm in my little Caseta and am excited that Qwest is coming by on Thursday to install my DSL line. I will have internet at home once again. Many of these little casetas or guest houses here in Santa Fe are not wired for cable and I had no desire to install phone service. But Qwest just started offering low cost DSL and I am thrilled. Until now I have been using free hotspots about town or logging in at the resort to work online. This inconvenience has slowed down my plans for the 2008 season a little. I will be announcing my Itinerary in the coming weeks once the plans are firmed up a bit. Right now it looks like I will be starting my trek in Seattle and doing a series of 2 day event rides with others with disabilities along the west coast. Taking the winter off after my injuries was the best thing I could do. In fact not only has it allowed me to rest and recover, but because of my job I have met several celebrities and politicians who are sympathetic to what I am trying to do.
Although, I did get some good press last year and did raise awareness about the issue facing those dealing with limb loss, I feel I did not reach out enough to those that live with mobility issues every day. 2008 will be different. I have ridden over 20,000 miles across 11 countries since 2003, so I think I can safely say I can do such treks without pause. The trouble is when I am out in the middle of the desert cycling 100-125 miles alone who am I helping? I have hard enough time getting fit able bodied cyclists to join me on such a day, getting someone with mobility issues is even harder. Someone very dear to me noted that the best media involvement I have received is always at the beginning and the end of the trek. With that in mind I am planning a national tour at the beginning of the season that will take me all around America doing a series of one and two day cycle treks with other cyclists and those with mobility issues, that want an opportunity to show themselves that they can get off the couch and move on in life. This type of tour will allow me to reach more people in need and to also speak to local and national civic groups that share an interest in helping others around the world. I have learned many things over the last 20,000 miles and I know I will continue to do endurance treks well into my 70’s. But what I learned on my last trek was that the focus needs to shift from what I can do to those I am trying to help. So 2008 will see a fundamental shift. I have proven my ability and it is time I focus on helping others find theirs.
I have set and achieved many records and done many feats people told me I could not do. There is one day out of hundreds on the road that will always mean the most to me. And that was early on during my first crossing of the US. I spent the day cycling to the summit of Mt Rose in Nevada. I reached the summit and realized right then I had crossed a mountain. And the mountain was not the one I was standing on at the time. The real mountain that I climbed was the one took me from the despairing feeling that I was disabled, to the realization that I could achieve anything I set my mind. To this day, it was the greatest day of my life. I want others to cross that mountain as well and I hope to be able to help give them that opportunity. 2008 will be a great year!

Happy New year!

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Sheret) — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 15:04:00 +0000

The new website is up and running. As time passes I will be adding more and more to it. It will be a good site I think.
I was happy to welcome in 2008, and I did so by working so others could celebrate. I feel that this will be a most interesting year, and one filled with change. I hopeall my friends from around the world have a healthy and productive year. We are about to have another snowstorm with 1 to 2 feet so I won’t be on the bike for a while. However, I am busy planning next year’s season and am I excited because a dear friend from England is coming to Santa Fe for a week this month. I have not had time to make many friends here in Santa Fe because of the hours I am working, so it will be a welcome visit. I spent my one day off stripping down Tuck and replacing all the cables, the chain and handle bar tape. I am itching to get out and test it out, but the icy roads do not bode well for a racing bike or for my safety. So I am working out on my Trek 520 with its 35 tires. I don’t remember NM being as cold as it has been this winter. The day started at 10 degrees and went up to 47. This week end it will drop again and we will have snow. I long for real cycling weather.

2007 reflections

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Sheret) — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 13:47:00 +0000

Winter is here in all it's glory. At 15 degrees to is too cold to ride. I have been working on my book and writing about this last years trek. Time has created a new perspective on what I did this last year, Perhaps it is the natural reponse that comes to us at the end of the year to look back and refect on what we did the past year. I am humbley amazed to what I had the oppertunity to experiance and truly in wonder to it all. My last ride was I am begining to understand was very extreme. It is funny when I was doing it, It seemed natural to cycle 136 miles alone across a desert in a single day. But in hindsight I wonder how I did it and did it day after day alone and with so little support.
The whole tale will be told in the book, which I hope will be finished by spring. I really have never shared much personal information on this blog or truly expressed the hardships that I experianced or the sense of failure that drove me onward day after day. Rereading the journal over the last trek I must explain to my friends that read this blog a few things.

First of all, my trek journal was often in the hands of another, my former project manager, Julia. Often I would not have internet access and she would write my experiances in my stead. The true nature of what I was doing was never really told. It became a wonderful adventure for childern to read, she was so talented and did a great job. But behind the tale it was a different truth, one of hardship phyical endurance and pain. Julia often told me I was the "monkey on the bike." Looking back I realized that my regret was not being able to impart just how difficult it was to ride solo across America on a double and pulling a trailer with 80 lbs of gear. It is not because of what I did but that I could. So many that I wanted to help who deal with the most difficult reality of limb loss never got the true message of the ability of going within and finding their own true ablities.
So, 2008 will find me back at the begining I will cycle from Harbourview Hospital in Seattle, Where I had my amputation to the tip of South America alone the Pan American Highway. My Next trek will do what my last did not meet face to face the very people like me that deal with limb loss.

Back On line!

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Sheret) — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 14:02:00 +0000

I have been unable to update my website and blog for some time. My laptop was never returned by my former project director, so I had to wait till Santa delivered a new Dell this holiday in order to do any real website updates. There will be many exciting changes and new information in the coming days.

Winter is in full swing here in Santa Fe but despite that I am getting some riding in. I am not alone in that as many cyclist ride throughout the winter here. Tonight will see another winter storm. I think it is time to get some ice tires. But it will be good training if I ever get to do the dream of cycling in Antarctica.
My winter job has allowed me to meet the most amazing new friends. Jim Maclaren continues to inspire and humble me, His unflagging determination in dealing with his mobility issues leaves me with wanting to do more and help others.
I had the great pleasure this last week to make the acquaintance with noted television host and interior designer, Christopher Lowell. My job allows me to meet many celebrities and politician's. He is by far the most down to earth, kind man I have met in a long time. It was a great lesson to see that someone so in the public eye can be so unassuming and fun. I hope to see him and his equally kind friend, who was a real delight in LA when I cycle there next season. She was a real pistol! As an example of the their good nature they returned to the resort last night with a lost 16yr old girl that they found while walking back from dinner.
The resort is along some dark curvy roads and they convinced this young woman who got separated from her party to return to the resort and get a map and directions. I simply had our shuttle driver take her to here accommodations.
You hear so many negative things about people in the public eye,but you never hear the kindness of strangers they also offer. It made my day.

Santa Fe

noreply@blogger.com (Ability Trek) — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 02:20:00 +0000

Time really flies by. It has been too long since I gave an update of my adventures. After returning to the States I picked up some belonging and drove to Santa Fe. Many years ago I lived here and still have a strong connection. I had intended to return to Southern Oregon to work and wait out the winter, but the magic of New Mexico pulled me back. I have been here for about 4 weeks and in that time I found a winter job and a great place to live. I am sharing a house with a really interesting person that is a part Cherokee and has the most wonderful name of Sixkiller I learned the history of the name and the way the clans were named. I found work at a resort and am enjoying it greatly. It is the La Posada de Santa Fe, and it is perfect for me. I work evenings and that leaves my day free to train and once the snow comes get some skiing in. One of the regular guest at the hotel is Jim Maclearn, Jim and I were on Larry King live this summer. Is Jim moving back to Santa Fe and I spent a delightful time today reacquainting with him. Next week we will have dinner and talk about future possibilities. What are the odds, the very place he calls his home away from home would be where I am working?

Folks from around the have asked me where and were I am going to restart the trek. I am looking a several options but rest assured once winter is over I will be back on the bike and doing what I set out to do. Currently I am exploring starting from oregon and heading to Cental America to support an amputee clinics in Central America. I am studing Spanish in preperation and iving here I have plenty of oppertunities to use it. These next month will allow me to better plan, create a better support system and to have a more cohesive PR and speaking tour.
This last summer I left too many details in the hands of others. I let the trek get away from my intended goal of reaching out to other amputees. 2008 will be different. First off I plan to ride with others more. And to do the visitations I did not get a chance to do.
So I am busy planning and learning from my mistakes.
Now that I am settled and have developed a routine, I will be revamping the website and pouring a lot of time and energy into it.
Dan

Wales

noreply@blogger.com (Ability Trek) — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 13:02:00 +0000

I wanted to give you all an update. Several days ago I was attacked and beated badly by two men in Wales. They stole my GPS ,Camera, and Short wave radio. I had over 2000.00 in Euros, that they got. I have a badly injured left knee. it was cut deeply when they pushed me off the bike. I treied to defend myself but they were young and tough and had done this before. I never saw it coming. I put my bike on a train and I am staying with a friend in Newcastle. Walking is difficult and I need to decide in a day or two if I am going on. My main issue is the lost of my funds. In hindsight carring the much cash was a mistake. But I had trouble getting my cash card to work in Ireland and decided to pull out the cash in euros to make sure. But the money was my living expenses for the next several months. With Julia No longer working on the project it will also change things.
My bruises and wounds will heal. I want to go on

Across the Pond

noreply@blogger.com (Ability Trek) — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 23:58:00 +0000

I arrived safely in Dublin and at 5:30 am I was outside of the airport putting my bike together. The airline was a little rough on the bike they opened the box and I ended up losing the nut to my front quick release. I took a nut I had with me and used that and a washer. I was able to attach the front wheel. I cycled then 6 miles into the heart of Dublin to my lodgings. I found a great bike shop and purchased a helmet, and some new bike shoes. I then sleped most of the day.

I took in some great Irish music and handed out a dozen cards about my trek. Today was spent working on the bike and repacking the gear for a better ride. I am off tomorrow morning for a ferry to Liverpool and then a 250 mile cycle ride across England to Newcastle.

I will send photo when I find a free wireless hotspot. I am writing from an internet cafe right along the Quay. The weather is charming! As are the local food and faces.

Cheers!

~Dan

Inside Toyota United for a Day...

noreply@blogger.com (Ability Trek) — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 12:48:00 +0000

Below are the pictures I took during my visit with the team in Greensville for the race last weekend.

This is the team bus, where the riders rest and travel on the way to races.

This is the team car getting ready for Chris' race that day.

Here is Chris in a mug shot for a photographer.

A shot of the time trial bike set up for Chris to warm up for the race.

Aforementioned warm up.

And this picture is what I got to see during the race.

I had such a great time down there with the team. I hope I get to ride with them some time upon my return. It may be possible that I will get to ride with Ivan Stevic when I visit Serbia. That would be such a blast!

By the time you read this I will be on a plane to Boston, and then heading out to Dublin Ireland to begin the overseas portion of my trek. Thanks to all who have helped make this project move forward!

~Dan

We send our wishes for a speedy recovery to our friend

noreply@blogger.com (Ability Trek) — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 15:03:00 +0000

Racing is a tough, tough job. The hours of training, travel and racing are endless. These young men continually put their lives on hold, or on the line for the sport that they love. I met Henk on June 1st when he and Ivan Stevic arrived for my send off in Washington D.C. I consider Toyota United to be family, and it is with sadness that I read of Henk's injury. I know he will heal, and that the road back to health and sound body will take time and hard work. All of us at Ability Trek send Henk and Toyota United Pro Cycling our best wishes for speedy recovery and congratulations to Ivan Dominguez for his recent second place standing in the Thater Memorial yesterday in Binghamton, NY.

Henk Vogles (pictured on the right) with Dan and Ivan Stevic of Toyota United Pro Cycling Team

Vogels Says 'My Season Is Over'

While Ivan Stevic is enjoying a resurgence to his season following an injury, the same cannot be said for Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team’s Henk Vogels.

“My season is over. Completely over,” Vogels said Sunday from his home in Boulder. “I’m just going to have to look forward to next year.”

Vogels saw his successful season end abruptly July 7 at the Infineon Cougar Mountain Classic Circuit Race.

As he was bridging up to a breakaway group that included teammate Ivan Dominguez, Vogels struck a metal crowd barrier fence with his shoulder while rounding a tight turn. The violent impact shattered Vogels’ shoulder socket but incredibly, did not knock him off his bike.

Doctors told him it would take at least eight weeks of inactivity before they would know whether he would be able to return to racing. But when the sling came off earlier this week, the news wasn’t good. Any return to racing at this point would be jeopardizing his career, they said. So the road to recovery continues.

“I have started rehabbing,” Vogels said, “but it’s so painful, you can’t believe it. It’s like doing chin-ups with a knife stuck in your shoulder.”

Vogels, a 13-year professional who has ridden the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia, turned 34 on July 31. He knows there aren’t too many more seasons left in a body that’s already survived a near life-threatening crash in 2003. Still, he isn’t giving up hope of racing a couple more times outside the U.S. before the end of the calendar year.

“I’m thinking of trying to get a start in the Tour of Southland in New Zealand in November,” he said. “But we’ll just have to see how things turn out.”-Toyota-United Pro Cycling

My Kingdom For A Sock!

noreply@blogger.com (Ability Trek) — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 01:27:00 +0000

Being an amputee is a funny thing. I don't talk about it much because although it is a part of me. Pretty much I am never limited by it, until the end of one of my treks it seems.
One of the biggest issue for an amputee is maintaining a stable body weight. Go up or down 5-10lbs and you have fitting issues. These issues are maintained by the use of Prosthetic socks, a filler if you will. Normally I craft my legs to fit without the need for them. But with a 25+ weight loss I just experienced, I was experiencing a lot of pain and problems with the limb. The only socks I have are still in shipment with my bike and gear
Thankfully I was able to call Jeff Hoerner of Lifestyles Prosthetics and Orthotics of North Andover, Mass., my friend and former employer. Jeff and his partner Bob Emerson.
sent me the needed supplies. What a difference a sock can make. Gone is the pain or the need to cut up old wool sock not designed for the task.
So today I eagerly tore into the package from them and donning them in minutes I walked again without discomfort or pain.

Stage One Complete!

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Sheret) — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 12:57:00 +0000

It has been several days since my last post. The ride is done and I am back in North Carolina. Resting and readying myself for the next Stage.
I returned to Reno after visiting with friends in Medford Oregon my old home town. While I was there I met with some great folks from Rotary and learned about the LN-4 Prosthetic Hand Project http://www.ln-4.org/in-the-news.htm It is a great project that I will be helping introduce in the developing nations during my travels. Cycling out of Reno was a breeze. a friend offered to sag my gear to San Francisco so I spent the next 3 day free from the trailer and my gear.Mount Rose was still a tough 20 something mile climb up but not nearly as difficult as it would have been The last days flew by and before I knew it I was camped some 30 miles north of Seal Rocks beach. I headed south crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, lost in the sea of fellow cyclist that ride the bridge every day. I passed the Presedio and other landmarks I knew. Just four years before this is where I started my journy as a long distance cyclist. I had gone full circle. I quietly walk my bike to the waters edge and let the ocean wash away the weeks of stress that my trek took and walked back to the parking lot where my rental car my friend had dropped of waited. There was no media, no fanfare this time and somehow it was fine.
My last night camping was spent in a KOA campground in Petaluma. I spent a delightful evening chatting with a polish family on vacation. I think it was a window into what I can expect in Europe, warm, open, and friendly. The next day was a whirlwind of activity. I first had to address a Rotary club in hope to raise funds for one of the charities. The talk went well and a member of the club escorted me to a local bike shop, where I shipped my bike back east. then it was off to a Staples store to ship my gear. Suddenly I was sitting in an airport hotel with a shoulder bag. having cycled once again across America. My hair was longer, the Grey at the temple a little more pronounced. I was tan and 25lbs lighter.
I am now in North Carolina nursing a sore stump from all the walking I did in bike shoes and socket now too big from weight loss.It happens almost every trek at the end so I am used to it. Come two weeks I will be ready for the UK and Europe.Till then I got a lot of food to eat!
Dan

Grand Sierra Resort

noreply@blogger.com (Ability Trek) — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 22:39:00 +0000

I stayed last night at the Grand Sierra Resort. They were doing a spread on me for their next issue of Grand Sierra Resort Magazine. What an amazing place!!! It is so beautiful and clean and huge! My room was as large as Montana, and I was impressed to see a gigantic flat screen TV in the bathroom. The bed was very comfortable, and that was great, after sleeping on the ground for so many months!

The food at the restaurant was fabulous. I ate my fill and then some, knowing I was shoving off on Tuck in the morning, to ride about 120 miles. I took a long nap yesterday after our photoshoot. I felt like a king!

This resort takes up an entire city block, practically! There is so much to do here. They have a casino, health club, climbing structure for kids, games arcades, fancy restaurants and are now building the worlds largest indoor water park!!! You could come here with your family and never leave this place and have a magnificent time!

The people with the resort were friendly and kind, courteous and professional. (They even valet parked my bike!!!)

I cannot recommend this place highly enough. If you get the chance to go to Reno, please stop by and tell them Dan sent you.

Fernando Ribiero

noreply@blogger.com (Ability Trek) — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 19:06:00 +0000

We met Fernando one night after a long day at the conference. We found a local pub which had internet access, and we sat down at a coffee table with a few pints and went over the day, working the contacts into our database, discussing what to do for the next day. Fernando walked in and plunked down at the other side of the table, ordered a beer and sat there listening to the world around him. Eventually, he asked us who we were and had noted that we were doing Good Works. We started talking, and hours passed while we shared our stories.

Fernando had just arrived in Vancouver, his baggage lost at the airport he came to this part of the city to check in with his school where he was going to begin certification for English as a second language. He had come from Rio. He told us moving stories of working with the unfortunate in Rio and other places. As a young child, he knew, innately, that there were others who were not as fortunate as he and his wealthy family were. At the age of 8 he took money from his mother's purse to give to someone less fortunate. He realized that the needy and the poor, especially the children were plenty in his area. He began as a lifeguard at a local camp, and spent the rest of his years working towards his goals of helping others. Currently, he is working for Oxfam. At the ripe old age of 29 he already knows what is in his soul, and that, sure, he *could* be in some fancy office somewhere making tons of money and living the Good Life. But that does not fill his soul.

"It is like when you are in a disco, dancing, and the lights are shiny and you are spinning and everything is so lovely. It is all a wonderful blur. But then, the music stops and life is staring you in the face. I knew I had to do something. I knew that life was in that quiet truthful moment."

We spoke at length about NGO's and organizations, about helping others and about how grateful we were that someone as young as Fernando had a handle on what he wanted to do. He has come to Vancouver to hone his skills so that he can take is heart and soul and his amazing ability to communicate and he will go forth and make a huge difference for those in need.

It was with some sadness that we hugged and went our separate ways. But, we have his email address and we will keep in touch with him as our travels go on. Hopefully, some day we will hook up again. That was one amazing kid. The world needs a lot more of people like him.

Ciao, Fernando, and goodluck!

Greetings from Oregon!

noreply@blogger.com (Ability Trek) — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 18:25:00 +0000

Well folks, I am now in Oregon! I took the long train ride south and am now in Oregon visiting friends and doing some work. I will be heading south again to Sebastopol mid-month, then I will scoot back to pick up the bike and finish the U.S. leg of the trek, finishing the crossing of Nevada, heading to San Fransisco.

Having met so many people in Vancouver at the conference, I was invited to many new countries to do clinic work and speaking engagements. I may just cycle the globe around and around and around to get to everyone! I had not planned to visit India, initially, as I had no contacts there, but now I do! So, I will let everyone know the new route as soon as I connect all the dots. Anyone out there who wants to chime in and ask for a visit, please do so by email at Abilitytrek@gmail.com and we will get right back to you.

I will check in with the blog soon!

~Dan

Vancouver BC Most Never See

noreply@blogger.com (Ability Trek) — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 14:24:00 +0000

I must say I never really got to see Vancouver in all it’s glory. Without my bike or renting a car I had to stay as close to the Convention Center as I could. However on a limited budget the $200.00+ a night room rate was not an option. So I did what I have done all across my travels in the UK and Europe. I stayed at a hostel. Hostel travel in Europe is wonderful, better than many hotels I stayed in during my crossing of the USA. So with experience and confidence I booked a room online at $25.00 a day.
The Backpacker Hotel in Vancouver calls itself a Hostel and I guess it is.
First of all, within 10 blocks of the convention Center, and the docks for the crusie ships lay really a skid row of Vancouver. Luck would have it in the middle of this was my hostel. I opted for a private room so it was down the block from the main hostel. Actually “the Hovel” as I began to call it was fine once inside early in the evening. It was Spartan the bath well….. There was a shower but someone had removed the shower head so water just came out of a pipe. But it was hot so better than I had seen sometimes.
The one window looked out over the back alley and bellow sat a row of trash dumpsters that was the local commercial and social hub for the large homeless population. I could write a dissertation on the social interaction of the homes simply sitting below this window into their world. All night long, they rooted through the trash containers to look for cans and bottles to redeem for cash. They fought, they yelled, they laughed, they cried.
Not helping is we were in a 2 week strike from the city’s Sanitation Dept so trash was heaped everywhere.

We visitors for the conference renamed Vancouver downtown “Tinkletown”. Wherever you went, from the posh hotels to Chinatown you were assaulted with the smell of urine. Due to the moderate climate the homeless from all across Canada gather in Vancouver, I saw a surprising number of homeless amputees, personally chilling.

Chinatown, was a pearl in amid of all this grit. The sites smells and sounds were a kaleidoscope of cultures that welcomed you within. Twice I traveled there for lunch to, Han’s Noodle shop where for $4.50 you could choose from over 300 kinds of Noodle soups. Sitting there you first were served with a hot glass of tea, your lunch choice was delivered in minutes. A heaping bowl, filled with Won Ton’s, meat, veg, and the noodle of your choice, ( udon for me) was whisked to you, and with chopsticks in the right hand and spoon in the left, as is custom, I assaulted the mountain of food before me. Simple fair, but filling and healthy. I look forward to living on this. It was a day’s ration.
The other delight of my accommodations was that the business above was an Exotic Massage Parlor. What they did I don’t want to know. But I can tell you that someone in high heels walked 10 steps back and forth over my head on a hardwood floor till 2 am each night. I figure the bar was over my head and she was the bar maid. Beyond that I have not a clue and my curiosity never led me upstairs to see.

Just in case you missed it...

noreply@blogger.com (Dan Sheret) — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 22:26:00 +0000

Thanks to Mike Bleau at Sharklids for making this available!

Dan on Larry King Live