I did it.

It's packed and not as heavy to ride as you would think by lifting it. Almost ran into the bike rack shown as it does not corner like a bike without all the weight on it

How will it ever all fit????

Did not realize until this photo that my bike tire is reflective....perfect.

The Kits have arrived!

Thank you Mt. Borah for the amazing donation of these kits. If you ever need custom jerseys...check out Mt.Borah.

Riding Alone?

A lot of people, ok, mainly my mother..... but still, many others, have been voicing their concern for me on this trip. The main concern people seem to have is that I will be doing this journey "alone."

Maybe I am too trusting in people. Contrary to what I have said to my closest friends, I do believe that, deep deep down, most people are inherently good...Maybe, this is naive.

I'm not sure what my mother and others are envisioning happening to me on this trip that another person cycling in front of or behind me would keep me safe from.

I guess I am a 26 year old still living in possession of an 18 year olds state of mind, thinking that I am untouchable. How could anyone bother a person on a charitable tour such as this one? That is my thought.

Or maybe, I am just willing to take whatever risk people keep cautioning me against.

Will I fall of my bike at some point? Probably...This has happened when I have cycled alone, with one other person, and when I have been in a group of 10,000 people on the Organized Seattle to Portland tour.

Will I come across some shady characters? Probably....This happens without cause or warning in Portland...again, when I am alone or with people.

Will I get lost? I am sure of it. I have the navigational ability of an old flip phone that isn't smart enough to possess a GPS. Luckily I will have a smart phone with a GPS....

Will I meet good people? Definitely.
Will I keep my word and go on this tour, dangerous or not? Yes.
Will I have many stories to keep you entertained with along the way? I certainly hope so.

To address everyone  and especially everyone who thinks I should not go alone:
At the risk of sounding the cheesiest I have ever sounded in my life, I say to you this: If there is one thing I am not on this trip...It is alone. So many people have reached out to me already and the tour has not even begun. Many of you have said you will follow me on the blog. I have the 4th and 5th grades at Carter Elementary School in Palm desert checking in with me weekly. SO  many friends and family members are helping me along the way, letting me stay with them, many of them more than once...Many more of you have shown your support through donations, incredible comments, and amazing sponsorships. Thank you everyone. You have already made the trip a success and I haven't yet pedaled a mile. I can only imagine what is to come.

The training video

Curious how one might train for a tour of this kind? Well, this is how I do....a little on the unconventional side, but I am positive it will work.....I hope.  Click on "training video"

Training video

The Bootcamp

Thank you everyone who came to the bootcamp! Thank you Paisley for hosting and training! Thank you Ron Hope for the amazing photos!

WHat is The Future Factory?

Words from Anne Siroky: Founder.

"Every person deserves an OPPORTUNITY to become the best they can be irrespective of their circumstances and that equal opportunities should be afforded to ALL and  EDUCATION is the key hence the reason we Chose EDUCATION THROUGH SPORT and becoming true agents for CHANGE.

We currently have between 120 full and part time Sports Trainers involved with the Company and as most of the Sport is seasonal the Olympic Sports have specialised trainers for A specific Sport Code to prepare the athletes for the Sport o Choice as Chosen by the School....In our case we run fully  flexed LO Physed Classes and the motto is Making, Moulding, Shaping and it means that every pupil at A School must participate during these lessons, with A program that Monitor and Evaluate the development of the Pupil every term.Schools participate in various Sport such as Netball, Soccer, Cycling, Volleyball,Rugby,Hockey,Athletics,Table tennis, Tennis, etc. Also one of the biggest Sport that has taken SA and the World by Storm is Dance Sport, Indigenous Games, Self defence and Kick boxing due to the Socio Economic situation the last 2 Sport has had A major growth as people fear for their safety and children would like to play Sport and be free of these dangers lurking around every area.

The monies that you Raise needs to serve A bigger purpose that one school Alone, the need by Schools for Sports Equipment currently is enormous and that stretches from Athletic Equipment, to various Ball Sports, we also embarking this year to join A Cycling School so the venue I am based at at the College of Cape Town Wynberg Campus can serve as A training facility for 4 to 8 years olds, as we have been coaching Hockey for the same age groups we have grown in this Sport to over 50 Juniors, and we also do training of Talented Athletes at our Centre and very often, when we have Volunteers working at our project and at the Schools we need to place them, there often is little or no Sports Equipment.We wish to purchase bags and more equipment as well as some bibbs,hoola hoops, skipping ropes, balls for netball, Basketball, Soccer, table tennis, hockey sticks and balls, medicine balls, netball bibbs, cricket equipment,rugby balls, golf balls,cycling helmets, and to support us to grow to the next level.

We have managed to keep going for 10 years without Major Funders or Sponsors and we will also do awareness campaings as every year we have between 1000 to 2000 10 to 12 years olds in teen pregnancies, A number of 13 year Olds found HIV/AIDS positive, Drug and Alcohol Abuse leads to Foetal Alcohol Syndrym babies from A very young age, Malnutrition, and Children as young as 8 are already in Rehabs as they have committed A Crime as they see no way out of their Poverty -Stricken Situations, Street Children is plenty, and Teen Sex workers are on the Uprise...these are just A few causes to highlight besides Girl Child Abuse and Rape of Young Children to make them aware of the dangers as Substance Abuse is Killing our Communities especially our Youth in the Western Cape.

As an Non Profit Organisation we wish to leave A legacy of us being Agents for Change...start our own Sport Academy...and groom our youth for University and to Make them understand that EDUCATION and A Healthy lifestyle through Education and Sport will build Characters and instill values in out Youth that will become life skills and to grow our TFF to greater Heights where we have Our Own Head Quarters and Full time Administrators that can help grow TFF into A Brand for Life...2012 will be A year of Fundraising so we can ensure that the dream that started in A Poor Communities continue to Uplift, Make, Mould and Shape Future Stars with core values that will last them for life and that they in return PAY FORWARD and enrich other lives as at some stage in their life SOMEONE believed in them."