A time to reflect

26 November 2011Hello everyone. Thanksgiving in the USA always helps me reflect on the wonderful things I have. This year was like the rest...a year of abundance and joy. From Frances being saved in February when we were in Antarctica, to the Ride Across America, to raising nearly $20,000 with the help of dozens of friends around the world. Abundance...something magical about that word, but so true for me as I sit here and think of what I have, what I have been given, and what I can give back. So cool!

I have gathered a few of the photos of the Ride For Kids event that was held on September 25 of this year. The generosity of our friends, family and colleagues allowed Frances and me to raise enough money to be the second highest fundraiser at the event. Bob Henig, the #1 fundraiser for the event, was my mentor and got me involved. But the real deal was that over 400 motorcyclists raised nearly $200,000 for the event. it was an amazing demonstration of generosity, and love. Remarkable.

But the celebration was really about the 6 survivors who came, were honored, and who spoke about their journeys and what their lives were like. They talked of being present, alive, having fun, being grateful, and being centered. Kids being kids...no victims on that stage, only survivors. So humbling that they were so grateful...so thankful. It reminded me of the need to always recongnize my life as filled with abundance, opporunitities, gifts...never to look at it as filled with challenges, road blocks, deficits...abundance only.

Well, I did say it was about motorcycles, and the cool part were the side car rigs where most of the survivors rode, in front of the cavalcade of 400 plus riders through the countryside of Maryland. This little sweetheart has riden with Bob Henig for 5 years...and has been a survivor for each of those years. In the right photo, she is suited up and ready to with her riding buddy in Bob's Yellow side car. On the left, she is with her VERY happy Mom.

So, I am very grateful, for the opportunity, for the abundance that I and over 90 others shared to help Frances and me bring nearly $20,000 to the party, to help create a longer list of survivors. Now for the encore...

More to follow for sure.

Home at last!

Yes, yes...home at last. I arrived Wedenesday afternoon, around 3 pm, soaked to the bone. Even with rain gear on, and supposedly "water proof" boots (I think I felt a dry spot on my left ankle), I believe I carried my weight in water in all of my clothes. I will admit that my jacket, under my rain jacket was dry. But everything else...sheesh, soaked.

However, it didn't diminish the great ride that I had across America. I and my BMW R12GS became one...kind of a "zen" thing. I love that bike. It is a war horse, and a sprinter, and a cruiser. Great all around bike. It has met all my expectations and then some. The bike is really dialed in well. It is great for cruising. Rugged, yet comfortable, and when you have the need for speed, it has plenty of "wick" to twist. Plus the storage capacity was great. It allowed me to carry a bunch, for any condition or problem. Very good indeed.

Funny thing is that this bike ride took on a life of its own when I got the bug to support the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. The ride and PBTF became one and the same. The reason I got the bug was Bob Henig, of BOB'S BMW in Jessup, Maryland. He has been a decades long supporter of the Foundation, and throuigh his efforts, his customers, and the other members of the Baltimore Washington Chapter, have raised thousands and thousands of dollars. He is filled with passion about this foundation, and from that passion, got the bug. So, thanks Bob.

So, what did I get out of this monumental ride across America? Heh...Frances has asked me that. But there are many answers. First of all, I left on this journey to have fun, but also to dedicate my time and commitment to raising money for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. I have raised more than $13,000 so far, and have committed another $3,000. I am still working it and hope to reach $25,000. I dedicated the ride to Julie Havlik, the cute 15 year old from SE Pennsylvania. She was the one that was diagnosed with a brain tumor on her 15th birthday but never got to reach 16, and drive a car, or go to college...she was lost to us. So, I was motivated and kept her and the 80,000 kids afflicted with brain tumors throughout the USA.

I had an amazing interaction too about the continuing generosity of people involved with PBTF. Yep, it was Monte, Marcia and Susan from Asheville who reached into their pockets, sitting in front of Old Faithful, waiting for it to blow, and pulled out money to contribute to my ride. They had been involved for 10 years in Asheville, home for the PBTF offices. I read today that the RIDE FOR KIDS events in Asheville and Ann Arbor, Michigan together raised $180,000. Amazing huh?

And then the reunions..I stayed with old friends. On the way out, We stayed with Jane in Tulsa. That was fabuloso. A very late night catching up, reminissing, and just plain talking. Heading west, we stayed with Ken in Albuquerque. Really great to see him. He was the wonderful host, and the great mind he has always been. I met them both when i was with CSI...we shared alot then, and have shared much since then. It was great to see them.  Then of course Rebecca and Joe, two of the most interesting and "in the moment" people I know. We shared memories of the millenium new year, and the week on 9/11/2001.. and fun, and bike shows. Then there was Beth and Vern, two Harley riders, colleagues, and friends...ready to have fun, creative, always inquisitive about...well, just about anything that stimulates their thinking. Took me to the new Harley museum. Sooo cool. And then my very good friend, Paul in Milwaukee. So close to him...never enough time.

Ah, and the great riders who joined me...Mark in Fresno...a great friend and Harley rider who has such a wonderful family. Gordon from Australia...always ready for a ride. Been riding since he was 5 years old, and seems to be a ballet dancer on a bike. Like my oldest and dearest friend Murray, who joined us in Atlanta to kick off the first few hundred miles. He rode an Older GS airhead, and is a dedicated air head rider. And, Nathalie and Thomas...who accompanied me for the entire iniatial leg across country to San Francisco.

Yep, a great ride...but most of all to Frances for puttin up with me, worrying about on the ride, but not showing it...even when I rode the last four days in the rain. She is the best...love her. All of you too. Thanks for a great ride!

Oh, it isn't over yet either. I saw Bob Henig this week at Bob's BMW and got caught up on the ride coming up for the Baltimore-Washington RIDE FOR KIDS on September 25. Frances is going to come and shoot a bunch of photos so you can see these wonderfully, strong, and hopeful children. Yep, very cool, and definitely more to come.

Beth and Vern            Nathalie

Oh, Joe!

 

   Mark and Gordon                                                           Nathalie and Greg



"old" Greg and Murray                                                   Wonderful Frances!

Why I do it.

Just waiting to leave...

What a day. I spent a couple of hours this morning wondering if I was going to fly home and come back later this week, stay the night and leave tomorrow, or leave out today. Turns out I have the motorcycle back and I am leaving tomorrow morning...rain or not. Specific mileage is 300 miles...so the closer I get, the easier it is to get home. Within 150 miles, I can have a friend pick me and the bike up if a problem arises. Sheesh, how weird is all of this...just a few days ago, my trip was uneventful. Shows how we don't control much...just need to live correctly, in the moment, and enjoy the things we like.
One funny story was the motorcycle shop I used to fix the bike. It was called the European Motorcycles of Pittsburgh (www.bmwpgh.com). Lee, the service advisor was joking with a delivery man about being a motorcycle mechanic. The guy said, "Gee, I would love to be a motorcycle mechanic." Lee turned to him and said "Sure...if you want to be poor your whole life." However, as soon as I said Bob's BMW was the bike shop where I took my bike in Maryland, his eyes widened and he asked "They have like 7 or 8 bays, don't they? It is a bike shop, huh?" I said yep, and he wanted to go there immediately. Motorcycles...it gets in the blood, and like anything, you climb the tree to find the right limb to hand out on.
I spent the afternoon fundraising. I am just a few days from the goal (25 September) and want to reach my goal of $25,000. I have received, or have committed, a total of around $17,000, so I am close...but no brass ring yet. If you are reading this and haven't had a chance to contribute, please go to:
(http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/greg-balestrero/2011-BaltimoreWashington-Ride-for-Kids). Check it out carefully and give as much as your heart will allow.

It is hard for me to believe that 80,000 children can have brain tumors, rapidly growing, threatening their very lives, and there isn't massive amounts of research being done to cure them, or find a way to fight and survive them. I understand the issue of facing other forms of cancer (i.e., lung, breast, colarectal, and others) with very large demographics. There are other childhood diseases too such as diabetes that pulls attention. the result is no funding for the brain tumor victims.
I met a great doctor in San Francisco, Dr. Nalin Gupta, that spoke on my behalf at the PMI Chapter meeting. He was the Director of the Pediatric Neurosurical Unit at University of San Francisco. He spoke of the work that the USF Medical Center was doing, and how they were desperately trying to find immediately transferable cures.
But he was a practical guy. He said that an admin to track test results and fill out reports cost any clinical trial upwards of $50,000...he said the minimum amount of money for an adequate research project was $500,000 to $1,000,000. That is why they have their own foundation, and he was also a Research Center for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. It took combining resources and working hard at sharing results.
Funny, I have seen many towns with Populations of 50, 75, 100, 250, 3000...throughout the country. 80,000 children and their afflicted families make up a very sizable community...one that would fill a good size city. Yet being scattered about they disappear in the crowds.
It is our job to raise the visibility. Kind of like seizing a moment of clarity whenever it arises, and doing what we can to fix those that don't have the resources to fix themselves. Moments of clarity...very important to be vigilant and to act on them.
Ah, philosophising too much...time to rest.
More later.

Down...but not out!

Whew! It has been an incredible few days. I guess I left you off in Milwaukee, with a great couple of days with my friends, Beth and Vern. I followed that up with a couple of days with another great friend from Milwaukee, Paul. It was a really a spectacular way of continuing the journey around the country.

First a bit about Paul. Paul is one of my oldest and dearest friends. Our Friendship spans a quarter century. In the early 80"s I actually accepted, and then turned down, a staff position with an association in Milwaukee (I will always keep a bit of the blog, like last names, private). My gut said wait where I was, since it was expected that my boss at that time would be leaving soon and I had a shot at his job. Well, it was Paul that took the job in Milwaukee. And, we both ended up as CEO's of very good organizations.

Paul, by the way, is the smartest guy I know. I really developed a keen respect for his intelligence, humor and common sense. However, I also developed a great fondness for and friendship with Paul, and his wonderful family. Paul and I have shared many good times and bad. We were together on the Pacific Crest Trail, backpacking, the week of September 11, 2001. The year before, we were on a backpacking trip in North Carolina with a very close friend of ours who passed away not two years later. Needless to say, getting together for the weekend was wonderful.

Ok, now for some news. I have spent three days trying to get home. Because of a severe weather front, I had to spend an extra night at Casa Paul's in Milwaukee. Yesterday, I left out in absolutely beautiful, cool weather. However, the weather front was really slow, and I overran the front and rode for nearly 90 minutes in horrible rain.

I stopped in Wauseon, Ohio, soaked to the bone, dripping from every limb and orifice. I pull into a Holiday Inn Express in the rain and saw a huge bus...I had a sense of dread thinking it is 70 German tourists seeing the heartland of America, and they have taken all the rooms. The lady at the front desk says "No, that bus belongs to the the band that is playing tonight at the County Fair". "Oh", I say, "Anyone I know?". She says "REO Speedwagon". REO Speedwagon! At the Fulton County Annual Fair, with all that goes with it!. Which explains why the two lane road had a line of traffic that was as far as the eye could see. Amazing!

Anyway, I get up this morning to an overcast sky. Undaunted, I set out with my rain suit over my riding clothes. No problemo! I ride in and out of rain, all the way past Pittsburgh, where I stopped at the Oakmont Service Plaza for lunch. With a full tummy, and a dose of confidence, I make a reservation for a room about 100 miles down the pike...knowing  I will be riding through the rain.

Ah, confidence...that word sometimes sound like a four letter word. I go out to the bike, stick the key in the ignitioin, hit the starter button....and NOTHING! Another electronic idiot switch gone bad...the one that tells the ignition I am in Neutral, and let's me start the bike. It thinks I am in gear...oh, am I stuck, in the rain, tummy full of a 1/4 pound hot dog (man was it a good dog!). So, I call the Turnpike wrecker service, and 45 minutes later "Bob" shows up and we load the bike up, and take it to the BMW Bike dealer in Wexford, PA.

I am now in a Comfort Inn in Cranberry, PA (not kidding...CRANBERRY!), which is a suburb of Pittsburgh. I am exhausted. 350 miles short of my 8,000 mile goal, I am stopped. However, I will go to the shop tomorrow and find out what needs to be done.

I am down but not out. I will persevere. I liked old "Bob" though he was a bit rough around the edges. He has a son that is 6'5" tall, 266 lbs, and hits a baseball a mile, and has a 90 mph fastball...at 16! They grow them big in PA.

So, for tonight, let's call this a pause, rather than the end of my trip. Not sure about tomorrow. The prognosis is that heavy rains are likely tomorrow and Wednesday. We shall see.

Tune in tomorrow for more in the continuing saga of Greg Balestrero and his Ride Across America.

More Later.

In the Brewer's Capital of the World...Milwaukee!

Well, I am here in beautiful Milwaukee. I have much to tell, so let's start with one of the reasons why I am here: Beth and Vern. Ok, I know I have said that the folks I have visited with are very cool, and different, and creative, and...well, just plain great. Well, it's true and Beth and Vern are no different. They are standing next to one of the passions which brought us together - motorcycles. For them, it is Harley Davidson motorcycles. They are both long time riders, and have 3 Harleys between the two of them. The one in the photo is a dream machine (CVO) sitting in front of the Harley Davidson Museum...we visited today and had a great time!.

Now, Vern and Beth have their own museum...actually it is a "toy store"!. They have several wonderful toys: boats, trailers, motorcycles, trucks, tractors, and mint condition cars. The photo at left is Beth's 1977 MGB...in really mint condition. Triple black, and ready to crank up and ride. I swear, it looked like it had just rolled off the assemply line. The other photo below is Vern's 1983 Camaro. It too is in mint condition and never has been restored...he is just meticulous in maintaining it.

I will say that the "gem" in the garage is the 1950 tractor that I am sitting on in the picture on the right. It is really amazing. Vern hoped up on top and cranked the old diesel up and it ran like a sewing maching...pop stack and all. It was great. I enjoyed seeing all of their toys. Oh, and Beth's second bike! Check it  out! It is a Rusty Wallace special...Miller Brewing sponsored Rusty in NASCAR, and had 3 Rusty Wallace specials, and she bought one. Now Beth is also the same person who occupies the other room in their toy stoy where she experiments with various mediums of art, including stitched, painting, hand crafts...she is an architect by degree and Vern is an engineer. What a pair...like I said, very cool people.

Oh, so we spent the day at the Harley Davidson Museum. It opened on the 105th anniversary of Harley Davidson. You should check out the book "More Than A Motorcycle", by Rich Teerlink and Lee Ozley (http://www.amazon.com/More-Than-Motorcycle-Leadership-Harley-Davidson/dp/0875849504). Really an amazing story. We managed to sneak in and get through the museum before the thousands of riders come in for the Labor Day Rally. The museum is truly one of the most content-rich museums I have ever seen. There were hundreds of motorcycles on the floor and in the "archival storage".

My "dream" was to suit up in some leathers and look very cool. However, I took a second choice and "suited" up in the Evil Kneival look...Quite nice, huh? Tell me you don't like the hair...man, what I wouldn't give to get some of that back on my head! Ok, so I don't put all of the photos on the blog, I will limit to a few that really impressed me. The bike on the right is mostly make of clay, wood, etc. It is out of the integrated Production Design Center (I think that it what it is called) on the site of the factory in Milwaukee. That is the mock up of the V-Rod, and shows the design creativity that goes into the rides. All amazing...great museum.

Ok, so I had one memory of the museum today that stayed with me. I saw a young man in a wheelchair. He was a quad, and had no use of his arms or legs...his manner of mobilitiy was his breath tube that guided him through the museum: forward, back, left, right. Each movement by carefully blowing into the tube in just the right way. He was never going to get the opportunity to drive himself on a ride like an H-D bike...he won't feel the rumble of the motorcycle, the vibration from tire hitting road...cover great distances  on two wheels, except those that are attached to the wheelchair. Yet he was engrossed in every exhibit, and every interation. How lucky we are...we can ride or not...our choice. A choice he doesn't have. Gratitude...never let it slip away.

More tomorrow, after my visit with Paul and his son, John. Great friends again...warmth, and friendship. So good.

More later.

Back on the road in Minnesota!

Well, I just clicked over 2500 miles on the return journey, which means about 6400 miles total for the Rida Across America...and raising money for the PBTF. Going good. I am staying in Austin, Minnesota tonight, and off to Milwaukee tomorrow, for a brief stay with my fabuloso friends, Beth and Vern.
Had my usual share of life today, and another good samaritan. Yep, I found the bike out  in the Sioux Falls, SD, airport parking lot, just as I left it. Was careful to repack, dress, and crank up. I paid a remarkable $30 for one week of parking...$30 is what you pay per day in DC. Sheesh, what a bargain. So, I give the man my credit card, driver's license, and ticket. Pay and leave with the credit card...but unknowingly didn't get my driver's license back. 28 miles out I stop for gas and I have a brain flash...NO DRIVER'S LICENSE!
After looking through everything at the pump (and I mean everything), I left out and came back to the pay booth, and the man...I swear...nearly cried. He was so upset he didnt' give it back. I wanted to hug him...but, then thought I would just say, no problemo and go. So, another samaritan taking care of me.

I passed through 175 miles of corn...north and south of the freeway...corn, and corn, and corn. Also, there were dozens and dozens of new wind generators in Southwest Minnesota. I would guess in the hundreds, these towering wind generators are the newest plan to reduce energy needs for farmers, and to sell back electricity once they are paid off. Apparently they cost about $1Million each...but the farmers use projected revenues as collateral to build them. Amazing...really amazing initiative.

I loved two of the towns I drove through...Blue Earth and Welcome. The latter of the two has a great sign...Welcome to Welcome. Like I former president of the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) that I worked for...George George. Always interesting.

Oh, I had two more individuals pull me aside at the airport to tell me they rode BMW motorocycles. I wore my M/C jacket, and carried my helmet, and they were like magnets. One guy rode a K1300S, and was a pilot of Air Canada. His name was Claude, but pronounced it "cloud", very specifically! Kept his motorcycle in Atlanta, and flew there every chance he got to ride through the USA. And another guy named Steve...kept his BMW in Miami, and did a bit of riding like Claude did. Very nice to meet them.

Also met a great young lady who was an upper classman at University of South Dakota and was a double major in Agricultural Communications and Animal Science. She was returning from the NY State Fair in Syracuse, NY, where she worked as a BEEF AMBASSADOR. (www.nationalbeefambassador.org). She was really passionate about her studies...She has alrleady attended two lectures by Temple Grandin(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_Grandin), had done two internships, was already planning her career...just a great young person. She was the kind of young professional that you would want in an organization. Always cranking at 110%.

Anyway, another great day in a very great adventure. Grateful, grateful...sleep all of you that read my blog.

More later.

Readying for continuing the great adventure.

Well, life is finally back to normal for us. We have power, since last evening, and the food is back in the fridge instead of in the cooler in the boat. Thank goodness the boat was not damaged...it was our temporary home! Really happy that I was here with Frances. I was gone to much during my career...I wanted to be home. All in all...it was good.

Tomorrow I fly to South Dakota and pick up my bike. Assuming the kindness of the Mid-Country folks, my bike will be in fine shape and I will be on my way. East, east, east...keep on keeping on. I will visit my great friends Beth and Vern, Paul and Judy, and Karen in Milwaukee. That will be fabulous. Unfortunately, Beth, Vern and I were to go to the Brewers-Cardinals game tonight. But, they are there and I am missing the game...an awesome match up, though I expect the Brewers will kick butt...they are the hottest team in baseball right now.

The downside is that I won't get to see Paul and Linda in Canada. Great friends...we were to stay in their cottage in Northern Ontario, but schedules are not in sync now. But, that's ok...they are wonderful friends and we will see them soon.

Oh, Frances and I saw THE HELP tonight. It was a fabulous film, an amazing story based on the novel by Kathryn Stockett. Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer and Bryce Dallas Howard drove an incredible cast. I knew the south intimately from the 60's, and Mississippi remained frightening, threatening. I can't imagine the courage it took for individuals like Martin Luther King, Medgar Evars, Rosa Parks, John Young. The Civil Rights movement forever changed this country...I watched it change in my lifetime, I was part of the change. the line in the movie that stuck with me was "Sometimes courage skips a generation". I can't describe why right now...

The music for the film was a real mix of 60's and current contemporary tunes. But my favorite was sung by Mary J. Bilge: The Living Proof. Beautifully sung...great lyrics.

Well, I will catch up with all of you on the road.

More later.