As I wrap up one chapter in my life, I know the end must be better than the middle, so I have some big shoes to fill… Aug 9th                                                           Princeton, NJ I woke up to rain and asked if I could stay one more day. It was ok, so Blair and I had talked about a day at the movies, so we headed off to a  flick called “500 days of Summer “ which was a very cute story about thinking you have the one – only to realize that when trying to control love is like holding back the Mississippi River.  Over time it will tear you apart. Once again I am just set in my thinking that trying to control anything is human’s main downfall. That evening we had one last dinner and I planned to head for the coast for the Cape May ferry. Aug 10th                                             Delaware I left with all the family there and said goodbye. It was hard to leave them since they truly treat me like one of their own. I jokingly asked to sign the papers to become an official Lamb. I decided to use the shortest distance option on MapQuest and I was so pleased with the ride. New Jersey is highly underestimated in its beauty and I think because of its large cities people give it a bad name. Remember it is the Garden State and it lives up to that name. I went through the blueberry capital of the US and then the pine … [Read more...]

Aug 3rd Norwood, MA So it was time to move on once again. It’s weird as the trip gets further in; it gets harder to move on. I hung around till everyone was up and I could say good bye. This has become like a second home to me and I know I will see them all soon so it was not too hard to leave. The day was beautiful and I got into the swing of things pretty fast. I was headed for the Maine coast and just the scenery alone could keep a man on that bike forever. Before I knew it I was in the state and on the coast and was already back where we had driven the day before in New Hampshire. Soon I was in Massachusetts and I could not believe the ground I was covering. Before I knew it I realized that I was going to end up in Boston by nightfall and at this point in the trip can not afford a hotel anymore. I had to think on my feet and decided I was going to take a train into Boston from a few miles away then hit up the suburbs through another train. In Beverly I got on and just loved the ride. New England’s train system is brilliant and when I got off I rode through Boston with a smile on my face – the history and vibrancy surrounds you. It’s a cool town and always growing. I got to the south station and got a second ticket to Norwood to get out of the congestion of the city. I did not realize but it is getting night fall much sooner now and when I thought I had an hour to ride it was already dark in Norwood. So I was off to find a spot in this much … [Read more...]

July 27th Buffalo, NY to Auburn, NY So it was finally time to leave Buffalo, New York and it was not too big of a deal since I was seeing them all again in four days for Jeremy’s birthday. There was still a sense of moving out. We had all gotten along so great and I will miss Sunita’s, Tom’s and my nightly philosophizing. I followed Jeremy to my turn and then it was back off to what I know the best – the unknown. The day was great – I was pedaling along singing bad songs and thinking of ideas for whatever I would do next when – pop! I hit a rock and just knew what was next. That cheap wheel I had to buy back in Sandusky had ripped. It was not too big a deal, but a nice gentleman stopped with a pump and I noticed the last bike shop stole my adaptor for American pumps. I thanked him anyway and pumped it myself because it was good for my arms. I traveled through the state running next to the Finger Lakes. Upstate New York is one hilly place with sharp inclines everywhere, but I had missed it since I was out west so I loved the burn. In Geneva I looked to the left and saw a sign for a bike shop so I pulled in. The store said that was the second time the sign had worked for them with cyclists, so I told them they had a winner. They were great and super kind – (we even chatted about other bike shops especially the last one I left called Ricks – because they just walked away not really wanting to help). In no time they changed my tire into what … [Read more...]

July 18th                              Toledo, OH I was so excited for today was the day I got to venture to the Motor City- Detroit, Michigan. Peggy and I picked up a few of her friends and we were off. I must note that one friend had a beautiful home her mom left her with artifacts of her world travels. The home was stunning but at the same time very claustrophobic thinking about all that would have to be moved.  It is just this freedom one gains by not having things – it allows movement. I just think about my simplicity and how it translates into our language. The word DO is so short and sweet but holds more meaning than any other word I can think of. We think we can “do” because of our stuff and releasing that burden releases your soul. It the feeling you get when you clean out your room or car – you are just lighter. Sorry about that -back to Detroit. I was so excited to see this city just one week before the last major super market shut down. Much housing is ripped of its copper and empty — poverty is in the rise and the only time people are downtown is for a sports game or a casino visit. When we arrived this is what I saw – a city that looks like it is dying and it’s sad. I had not felt this way since I was in the Indian reservations. We even stopped through some of the worst parts of Detroit. Still a low heart pulse remains and the city lives –we went to the concerts of color which is just a small … [Read more...]

July 14th Louisville, KY I must say the universe must feel that it is time to let loose because good times have been the theme of the last few days and I must say the good times are not over. Festivals are in the air and I am now making them all instead of missing them like in the past. I finally had to leave my new home of Louisville and head out. I did not leave till noon but with these long days it was still light till nine so even leaving that late I got nine hours of riding in. I got chased by a dog again and this boxer snuck on me without a sound. I am sad to say that it might have had its voice box removed which has sadly been a theme with a few dogs I have seen lately. I can say with confidence and little concern for what you may think of me, but if you are into harming animals I feel your genetic code need to be erased from this planet and you can come tell me differently if you wish. But this funny little guy whom was fast as lighting got my new defense I picked up in Louisville. I armed myself with the water bottle and gave him a squirt in the face. It works like a champ – all I warn is that you make sure not to swerve into the road for you get a little off balance when you are concerned with something else. It is like talking on the cell phone while driving. One only has a 100 percent and when you do two things at once both activities lack the appropriate attention – it’s just math. I followed Hwy. 3 until dark and rested under a … [Read more...]

July 6th Memphis, TN to McKenzie, TN It was time to move on up the road. I had breakfast and a lovely morning chat with Gabrielle and her mom till about 10:30. It was hard to leave but I knew it was time. I hit the road at a nice pace and the wind was almost not even a bother factor. I am at peace with all things to do with weather and I just moved forward. It is my only mission and I have come too far to fail. I must say that the spin class cracked me up a bunch throughout the day and the instructor’s form just did not help me in my ride. I also love not having the obsession of looking at the mileage computer – it really takes away checking that stupid little machine and that no matter what it says, it does not change what I am doing. I rode until the sun began to set and got some water in Trezevant. I hung out there for a short break and must say there is just a blanket of water that is in the air making the heat just a little more unbearable. I am fine but the humidity is something to note about the states east of the Mississippi. I began to talk to the people in the gas station and soon was talking to the Chief of Police named David. He was very nice and without any warning asked if I would like to stay in his garage ten miles north in McKenzie, TN. I was shocked and, of course, said yes. Even before my response he was on the phone with his daughter and she was blowing up the air mattress. I was happy with the surprise and honored that he … [Read more...]

June 28th                                Springfield, IL to McBride, MO It is a beautiful day and the weather is great, but the heat is rising. I really have not minded too much though – it just reminds me of Atlanta. I was ready to go and headed off to some slightly strong wind. The wind really does not bother me anymore either – I just think of it as a way Mother Nature talks to me. The ride was great and before I knew it I was in Chester the home of Popeye and the end of Illinois. I went over the Mississippi River which always puts me in awe at it size and power. It was getting dark and right after a popcorn factory in McBride, MO I was camping under a bridge relaxed as ever. June 29th                                McBride, MO to Wardell, MO I slept in a little and left about nine. The weather was the same and I was excited to get through Missouri. I have to say that it was this day that I had to end the use of the mileage computer on my wheels. It is weird how you just are bound to what that computer says and how many times I look at it in a day for it to tell me what I already know. It is like looking at an elevation map for a hike in hopes that the mountain coming up will change. In no way does it change my reality ahead – it just makes me doubt my abilities to complete the upcoming task. I was through and the computer is dead to me. It was turned to the side after not … [Read more...]

The days seem to just keep on amazing me. Expectations really do lead to disappointments and I am forever in training to let them go. I also feel strongly about letting go of my belongings at home and plan on ridding myself of as many material things as possible when I return. Maybe I can convince someone there to do it for me while I am away, but people sometimes only think I am joking until I actually do it. Anyway, that’s in the future which is not here, so let’s look at what’s been going on for it’s been a wild one. June 24th Madison, WI to Freeport, IL I set off in some intense heat. I started late from Carolyn’s because we just had so many great conversations I could not stop. I think maybe I was supposed to go into the art world and failed to see my calling because her job has an amazingly open view about what is and is not. At about ten though it was time and she had a meeting anyway. I was off and knew the way, but from the beginning my bike was really acting up – here we go again. I made it to the border of Illinois and Wisconsin and found a bike shop to call in Freeport, IL owned by a guy named Joe. I was riding into Freeport and about ten miles before I got there, a red truck just pulled over with a man waving me down. Chip was trying to point out a bike path I could take which was very kind, but it was dirt and I was not about to change my path. I told him the issue and he knew Joe so he gave me a lift into Freeport. We … [Read more...]

Article II. By Joe Tamborello Article III. Michael Galardi of Atlanta made a stop in Freeport Thursday during his quest to bicycle all 48 contiguous states. Having logged approximately 7,400 miles biking, Illinois is his 25th state. Freeport, Ill. – Like the shape of an “M,” Michael Galardi of Atlanta, Georgia, crisscrosses the lower 48 contiguous states with one mission in mind — education. Galardi made a stop in Freeport for 24-hours starting Wednesday when his bike broke down, and while his visit to the Pretzel City was brief, he has one more lesson for his “Jolly Geography” trip. Galardi, 26, began his trek across America on Jan. 1. in Key West, Fla. To date he has logged 7,400 miles. Illinois is his 25th state to visit and while Freeport was not a planned trip, a bicycle break down necessitated a call to Joe Dadez, manager of Freeport Bicycle Company, to help repair a minor problem. Dadez put Galardi up for the night, and said he is impressed by Garlardi’s efforts to bicycle his way across the states. “That’s a lot of riding this guy does — logging almost 150 miles a day, Dadez said. “He’s doing a pretty great thing and I think that’s great, but I still think he’s a little nuts. But in a good way.” Geography Mission Galardi sat down for a cup of coffee Thursday at 9 East Coffee in Freeport to relay his story of life on the road. He has a love for the outdoors, which helps as he spends many nights … [Read more...]