Blogosaurus

My friend Stephan Wanger is spending his mid-life crisis or something cycling 25,000 miles, eventually to South America, for charity. Here is his blog,there may be more about saddlesores than you need, strictly speaking, but there's also a lot of heart in how a German who loves America sees it from the top of two wheels. Day 17 is especially inspiring/interesting in equal measure:

Now it was 3:30 pm and I only had 56 miles in so far. Not enough, lousy day I am thinking, especially because earlier this morning my chain went down also and I lost a half-hour fixing it. Anyway, as I am about to leave the bike shop I am meet Morgan and Bill from Orlando, FL. We exchanged a few sentences about the Continental Pedal and its causes and it turns out that Morgan cycled from Fredericksburg to Orlando a couple of years ago and she gave me a few pieces of advice. I also have a home in Orlando now. Morgan’s parents both suffer also from Alzheimer’s. Morgan’s mom has a hard time with it and resents the difficulties that come with the disease. Her dad on the other hand takes Alzheimer’s with a grain of salt and with incredible humor. Morgan shared with me that her dad just said the other day smiling, “Shucks, where am I again?” It made me smile as well. I gave Morgan the contact info for the AFA in New York which focuses on the caring element for patients that have Alzheimer’s. I am certain that Morgan knows pretty much everything about the disease since both of her parents have it, but who knows? What was humbling to me is the fact that Morgan offered to donate to Aspire to Inspire. Morgan, wow, we are doing the pedal for you and your parents. My heart and energy go out to you and I will be thinking about you as I continue this project...

I cycled fast to Ashland and made 93 miles by around 7:00 pm and checked into a cheap motel again and had lots of junk food. I am closing out my evenings with one big milkshake and so I walked to McDonald’s and then Burger King, but both told me that they were out of milkshakes (WHAT???). Then I noticed a Waffle House and thought that a waffle with whip cream and blueberries sounds good as well (I had such a craving). First I decided to give Wendy’s a chance, but to no avail – they just have frosties. Ok, I am not going to walk to Arby’s now… so I made for the Waffle House. As I walk in, I see at the counter an elderly couple and a magazine that looked too familiar. First, I thought: “I have lost it,” but then I looked again and it was the “Amerika Woche” with the feature on the Continental Pedal. “It is him!” said a woman in German. Can you believe this? So I met Inge and her American husband Brian and we talked about the Pedal. Inge made me sign my picture and I signed with “Es gibt keine Zufaelle” (There are no coincidences), both gave me $20 for my next dinner they said. How nice and what a day.