The End of the Road

Dear Family and Friends,

I have made it home safely to Nebraska! The opportunity to work across America and spread a message of early detection for the American Breast Cancer Foundation was such a joy. A thank you to each and every one of you on my team, that followed the trek and lifted up prayers and thoughts while I was gone.

I have a million things to do as I ready my family for the fall and have a billion things to be thankful for. Thank you for following this journey and giving of your thoughts, time, money, and well-wishes to make this world a better place.

God speed,

Donna

To my dearest of friends

Thank you each and every one of you from Kay, Lauren, Stephanie, Patsy, Dave, Becky, Chris and all for taking the time to comment on the site. As the days come to an end here, I find myself sort of tired, and if I don't get to all comments it is not that I don't read them. I love all all of you for taking the time to register and post on my site. My work here is for the Lord, and the opportunity to serve and magnify Him is so touching. Thank you to my dear friends near and far for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers.

I take on this ride for my friends living with cancer and those that have survived cancer and I pray that my efforts with the American Breast Cancer Foundation to reach out across this Nation to women about screening helps even one person. The picture above is of a mom and daughter at the ocean. Our lives are so precious, and we need to help one another with authentic intent and be thankful for each life as life is so very precious.

To my dear friend Fern, I thought you might especially like this picture. You are a hero to me.

Love, Donna


Love you so much, Donna

October 1st, 2006
To my dearest of family and friends,

I keep the picture to te left in mind to remind me that I was "just at the ocean" with my friends!


I want to talk today about the beautiful people on this ride. All made it safely from Meridian, Mississippi, to Greenville, Alabama. I am so thankful for all of the wonderful riders on this trip. Riders are from around the world such as England, Australia, and Switzerland, and from all over the United States. There is so much respect for one another and caring. I truly am compelled to give thanks so much for this group of riders. But that is only half of the ride. The crew on this Pacific Atlantic Cycling Expedition is gold. The people that move vehicles with our luggage, fill bottles with gatorade, fix us lunch, keep us hydrated and moving down the road are like angels. I have so much respect for the crew that continues to be so giving to make sure our ride is as enjoyable as possible.

All day, Col3:23 came to my mind: Whatever you do, do your work heartily as for the Lord rather than for men. This group of people could not have been orchestrated any better, and I am so thankful to know all of them.

Tomorrow we head to Eufala, Alabama. Four days left. Absolutely incredible.

Thank you to my Methodist College GALS group for lifting up those prayers. And to my dear friend Sheri, thank you so much for believing in me that I could do this. I am eternally indebted to your spirit and coaching through this experience.

There are so many things to be thankful for today. Lovingly Donna

Winona, MS to Meridian, MS

Above is updated Moon Lake in Western MS, and updated PACTOUR map showing what I have ridden so far in green, and what I have to ride colored in red.

Today on the ride I road through swamplands and stopped at a store in Popular Creek, MS and visited with the locals. They were very interested in seeing my route que sheet and hearing about Bike Across America. They were very nice people. The ride was very long on chipseal road that made the pedaling difficult. As I near the end of this ride I may not be able to post things daily to this site., but will have reflected comments as this magnificient ride comes to an end.

Lula, MS to Winona, MS

Today we road 114 miles for an average speed of 18 miles per hour. Really fast day. Above photos (thanks to some great photos from Ken's website) are the cotton fields and a bail of cotton I talked about yesterday. I even picked some cotton today to bring home to Cade, Casey and Cale.

I visited with some people in MS at a local Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant about being screened for breast cancer, and talked to some women working behind the counter who had never been screened. So I had to give them the ABCF website address and explain how the screening process works. Afterwards an older man walked up to me and said "I was listening to your conversation and my wife is a breast cancer survivor..., and I would like to give this $10.00 to the foundation." I will tell you all, that I am on this ride for a special reason, and that is to meet people like I met today, and across this nation to tell the ABCF story. I am so blessed to have this experience. I only have 6 more days left on this tour and excited who I will meet next.

I will also share with you that people I am meeting along this tour are becoming my friends. The whole world should operate like the PACTOUR. Things operate smoothly, everyone meets everyone half way, they respect each other and sensitive to each others needs.

Other photos attached are the Mississippi River and the bridge crossing the river into MS.

Love,

Donna/Mom

More on the ride to Lula, MS

On the way to Lula, MS it started out very warm then cold then a hard headwind the last 25 miles for the overall 131 mile trip. The beautiful things about today were the harvesting of the cotton in the fields. It was everywhere like small clouds and looked like white silver. I also met with a local television station that interviewed another female rider and myself about the ABCF and her cancer story. Also talked with a local woman that was 39 years old who’s Mother and Sister both had breast cancer but she had never been screened. After our conversation she promised to call the ABCF screening number and get herself screened. This trip has been very exhausting but has been very rewarding seeing our country and meeting the people along the way, and especially representing the ABCF with the health wellness story to be shared and told nationwide. I also rode with Walter and Roger today. And they are angels. Both larger than me which meant a lot of the wind was blocked during the ride eastward. Also want to thank Cade, Casey and Cale for their prayers they have made for me and their comments of how proud they are of my participation in this event. I am proud of them as well and miss them, and will see them in 7 days at Tybee Island, GA. Love, Mom/Donna

Pine Bluff, AR to Lula, MS

Today we depart Pine Bluff, AR to Lula, MS crossing the Mississippi River covering over 131 miles with rolling hills, farms and alot of green trees (pine trees). Should be another beautiful route leading onward into Alabama then Georgia, with 7 days remaining on the tour. This has been a wonderful trip, I have been very tired physically, but all worth while especially representing the ABCF and experiencing all the people along the way, and have so many stories to share once completed. I appreciate everyone's support and prayers, and I will continue eastward. Meeting with television station this morning regarding the ABCF, so I will have lots to report on that event tomorrow. Love, Donna/Mom

Biking TowardsPine Bluff, AR

Well, I haven't been able to access the internet for the last couple days but was able to today, 27 Sep. Since my last message we have been through Amarillo, TX, Erick, OK, Hinton, OK, Paul's Valley, OK, McAlester, OK, Mean, AR, and Arkadelphia, AR. So post the map with all those towns and looking ahead we have about 8 more towns after today and the states of MS, AL and GA to bike through. The picture I attached below are of the views in Arkansas, And the Museum Sign for Route 66 in Oklahoma. I also attached an elevation map of the bike ride into Arkansas. Whew! I miss everyone very much, appreciate your daily support, and this great weather we have experienced so for. Stay in touch, love. Donna/Mom

I get by with a little help from my friends

To my lovely Cade, Casey, Cale, Family and Friends,

Thanks to the help of my dear, dear friends Charlie and Denise, I was able to pedal faster than I normally would as with each pedal stroke my friends guarded me from the wind and the elements. Can you believe I am done with day 15? Wow! I was able to distribute more good information about the American Breast Cancer Foundation and talk with people about good health and cancer detection. To move across our beautiful United States with my friend Fern, and many others in mind is such an honor. I feel very blessed to have this opportunity to fellowship with my friends while bringing goodness of health to people in these little towns. Tomorrow is 114 miles with 10,000 feet of climbing. I so appreciate Cade, Casey and Cale and my team from Omaha that is sending thoughts and prayers. Love, Donna