Cincinnati to Pittsburgh

July 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Depart:Cincinnati, Ohio
Arrive:Pittsburgh
Dates:July 5-July16th
Miles: 248 miles

After a fun 4th of July with my buddy in Kentucky, he took me east of Cincinnati where we said our goodbyes, and I was off for a short 35 mile day to Washington Court House to stay with some CouchSurfers.  Quick night, early rise, and back on the road, for a nice 50 mile ride into Lancaster.  I’d love to figure out what makes my body effortlessly stroll through some rides and struggle on others.  This ride into Lancaster seemed effortless and I completed it in just over 3 1/2 hours.  Other days, I seem to struggle and fight for every mile! Frustrating…

The next day I knew wasn’t going to be easy.  Having looked at a topographic map, I knew that the day would be hilly beyond anything that I have rode so far,  Yet, I still planned a 90 mile ride..??  One of these days I swear, I’m going to wake up and find myself legless for treating them so meanly.  They’ll simply detach and run away from me in the night.  Fortunately for me, we aren’t action figures and as far as I know…that is impossible.  I’ll continue to feed them lots of calories and hope for the best.

 

The day was hilly.  Beatiful.  Hot. Hilly.  Long. Quite hilly.  But I made it.  I stayed in Barnesville, Ohio with a warmshower host.  Warm Showers is yet another networking tool allowing bike tourers to find accommodation for free.  They prepared me a much needed large salad for dinner.  One of the common questions I get on the road is, “How much weight have you lost?!”  My answer, “none.”  I have to admit, my diet has been far from great.  Trying to eat cheaply, and on the fly makes it difficult to eat healthy.  My goal from here on out, is to try a lot har

der to eat properly. For gosh sakes, biking 4400 miles should be an easy way to get rid of those college pounds.  I am 178 lbs right now, and with you as my witness, I vow to eat better and drop some of those!  Hold  me to it!  No more Mc Donalds! Ok, lets be realistic..A lot LESS McDonalds (they have wifi and they are convenient! Im a sucker for good marketing).


The next morning I left Barnesville, Ohio for historical Wheeling, WV.  Here I crossed the Ohio River on the first ever bridge to connect the east to the west, and stayed at the house of a local.  He took me to a small greek festival, and got me an interview with the local newspaper!  Great guy and great host.  You can find the article at  “The Intelligencer” .

The next morning I had a short 34 mile hilly ride across the Pennsylvania border to my brother’s apartment in Washington, PA.    That evening me, my brother Adam, and a few of his co-workers went to a Cubs/Pirates baseball game!   I definitely miss just hanging out with friends and family, and during my long 8-day stay in the Pittsburgh area, I was fortunate to have lots of time to do that.

After 5 days staying at my brother’s apartment, I went to northern Pittsburgh and stayed with my cousin who set up “Concert for the Cure”, with his band, Hero and the Lie, being the main performer.

Saturday, July 16th was the date of the concert, and it was a HUGE success.  Everyone seemed to have a blast, my sister Emily and parents flew up to see me and attend the event, and Infinity and Beyond raised over $1600 from the event!  I had lots of time to mingle with family, and meet and talk with people about Infinity and Beyond.  We hope to have this as an annual event in the Pittsburgh area!

Another recent and very successful event was the Biolume Glo Run in Denton, TX on July 12.  Biolume was  a night time 5k trail run with a glow in the dark theme.  It was the 2nd run we have put on and was a major improvement on the first.  With over 200 registrants the event raised over $4,000 towards our mission to fund cancer research and assist less fortunate individuals with the costs of cancer care.  While I have been biking, a few of my close friends worked very hard putting this together.  I really wish I could have been there, but from pictures and the comments of participants, I know that it went well.  Biolume will be another annual Infinity and Beyond event.


Hero and the Lie @ Concert for a Cure


Biolume Glo Run Starting Line

The day after the concert was the scheduled day to leave Pittsburgh, however,  there were some bike issues and that got pushed back a day.  At first I thought it had something to do with my chain rings(expensive), but luckily it was a small mistake that I made while putting on a new chain(cheap).  So despite being delayed a day, I was very happy that it wasn’t a costly repair.

With 2 great events and a few great donations, July has been a great month and I am really excited about the amount of money raised by Infinity and Beyond.  Hopefully soon we will be able to help another individual with their cancer costs. :)

Thank you all for your support!

-Sam Davenport, cyclist and founder of Infinity and Beyond

Next Blog-> Pittsburgh to NYC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

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Chicago, Illinois to Cincinnati, Ohio

July 12, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Depart: Chicago, Illinois
Arrive: Cincinnati,Ohio
Mileage: 333 miles
Dates: 6/27-7/5

 

Sunday evening news was giving me a headache with predictions of heavy rain, strong winds, and large hail throughout the next day starting around noon.  In an effort to avoid the rain and damaging weather, I left around 5:30am  on my 76 mile ride towards La Porte, Indiana.  The ride was amazing, going through central Chicago to the Lakeshore Trail which took me about 20 miles around the southern portion of Lake Michigan.  For the first 3 hours of my ride, I was lightly rained on but it felt amazing!  Coupled with the gorgeous green of the lakeside vegetation, the whole feeling of the ride was quite euphoric.  No heat, beautiful landscapes, and a nice mellow ride along flat bike trails made for an amazing ride.  Crossing into Indiana, I got onto a small highway and rode through the Indiana Sand Dune National Lake Shore, bringing me to an huge sand peak called Mt. Baldy.  The sand dune was positioned just south of Michigan City on the Lake Michigan coast line, and made for an awesome scenic detour only 15 miles shy of my day destination.  I took off the shoes and enjoyed the amazing feeling of the sand beach, reminding me of my missed and beloved Galveston, Island!


Soon after hiking Mt. Baldy, I headed to La Porte.  My couchsurfing hosts were awesome, entertaining, and the owners of a very photogenic hedgehog named Steve.  I enjoyed staying there in Indiana, and even got a game of sand volleyball in before I was too exhausted.

The next day I headed 71 miles to a small town outside of Rochester, where I stayed for a short night before continuing 65 miles on to Upland in the morning.  In Upland I stayed with a guy who had motorcycled  all through out South America.  It was definitely a good evening.  Then went out for a beer with him and another local CouchSurfer that I almost stayed with.  They were both pretty entertaining and I had a great time with them.  They informed me of a local that was a big-time Bike Tourer and also of a bike trail that would take me all the way to my next destination, Richmond, Indiana.

In the morning, I went to meet the Bike tourer/owner of a big bike touring outfit called Wandering Wheels, which takes dozens of people on cross country bike rides every year.  I had no idea the caliber of biker that I was going to meet.  Bob Davenport, or Coach Davenport as most call him, is 73 years young, and has biked for the 43rd time across the country, the most recent being just 3 months ago!  Starting his company in the late 60′s Bob has guided 100′s of individuals across the United States from the Pacific to the Atlantic.  AWESOME GUY!

After a chat with Bob I headed onto the Cardinal Greenway, one of many old no longer used railways that were converted into nature trails(check out Rails to Trails).  I was on the trail for about 45 miles and biked for a total of about 59 miles before reaching Richmond around 8pm.

In Richmond I stayed with a couchsurfer, had some dinner, and called it an early night.  The heat has started to come back, and combined with the sun just absolutely drains me.  In the morning it was a 52 mile ride to where a childhood friend from Kentucky was meeting me.  It was awesome to see my buddy, Matt Chestnut, whom I had been friends with since I was 3 but haven’t seen for about 10 years!  I spent the rest of the evening with him and some of his friends, and the next day met up with Sun and Ski Sports-Cincinnati.  Sun and Ski sports helps me with some of the equipment costs and had some new tubes, jerseys, CO2 and other equipment for me to use in the next few weeks of my journey.

I stayed with the manager of the Sun and Ski sports that night in Cincinnati before returning to stay with Matt for the 4th of July.  I had a great time taking a break from the work associated with the ride.  We went to Lake Cumberland in Kentucky and spent the day hanging out in the water.  The next day was an early wake up and car ride back to where I left off.  I had a short 35 mile ride to Washington Court house to stay with Couch Surfers, Dario and Anna Fuentes ahead of me, and I said a quick bye to my buddy Matt.

 

 

If you enjoyed this blog, please consider donating to the mission of the ride.  I am biking around the eastern U.S.A. to raise money for cancer research at M.D. Anderson Cancer center, and to assist less fortunate individuals with the costs of cancer care.  Click here to donate!

Donations from people like you made it possible to help 14 year old, Christina during my stay in Chicago.

Thank you,

Sam Davenport

Next Blog->Cincinnati to Pittsburgh

 

 

 

 

 

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Des Moines to Chicago

July 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Depart: Des Moines, Iowa
Arrive: Chicago, Illinois
Dates: June 16-June 26
Miles: 388 miles

Enjoyed my time in Des Moines, but back on the bike with a change in direction, east towards Chicago!  The first day was an uneventful 62 miles to Grinnell, IA where I stayed at a house of 5 room mates attending Grinnell University.  The house was really neat and the people were great, fixing me an amazing mound of spaghetti! :)  The stay was short and the next morning I headed 69 miles to Iowa City, home of the Iowa Hawkeyes, and referred to by many as “the fun place to be” in Iowa.  With a population of nearly 70,000 and a university with an enrollment of over 40,000, I think I know why this is the fun place to be.

I arrived in the evening and the town is absolutely amazing.  My route took me over a river bridge, through one of the biggest dog parks I’ve seen, around a big frisbee golf course, and then by a golf course to their front door.  The guys in the house were great hosts, taking me out on the town the first night and then treating me to a great chinese buffet for lunch the next day.  I had a great time taking a break from ride in Iowa City, and was ready to head 64 miles to the city of my last name, DAVENPORT!

In Davenport, a college friend of mine set me up to stay with her parents.  They were great people, fun to talk with, and prepared some great meals for me during my 3 night stay!  Nearly all of my time was consumed planning my ride into Chicago, the first big city since Dallas-Fort Worth.  The first day out of Davenport was a 90 mile ride  across the Upper Mississippi and into Amboy, IL to camp out at Yogi Bear Park!  The staff was amazing, treating me to a breakfast, a tour around the park, and a complimentary t-shirt before I headed off to Aurora, IL.


STATE NUMBER 6!  Crossing into Illinois from Iowa


Leaving Yogi Bear Park-Picture with the GM and some staff

I arrived in Aurora around 2:30pm after a day of 59 miles and met Jake, my couch surfing host.  Jake does work with a line of nutritional products that are supposed to better your health and decrease your likelihood of degenerative diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.  While I was there I was fortunate enough to hear his wife give a short lecture on the products and some healthy habits that can help you decrease your chances of having these life altering diseases.  I loved hearing their take on the subject and about the product.

In life I believe it is extremely important to always strive to learn more and do more.  Every day I am trying to learn more about how I can better myself and the world.  Through simply listening to people on this trip I have learned so much. By conversing with strangers that I’ve met, reading travel blogs about people doing similar things, and reading books related to my interests, I continue to learn every day and I believe that is what we are meant to do!  Not just in a classroom, but in real day to day interaction.    From learning about Cancer and health to marketing and non-profits, the whole trip has been a great educational experience.  There are never enough hours in the day and I don’t have enough time to do everything that I want!  I need to learn, I need to plan, I need to write, I need to bike!  I am always overwhelmed and it is often stressful, but I love it!  As I grow, I hope that I become more efficient and capable of taking on more, so for now, I’m piling it on…  Although I wish I could just relax, I know that as I relax I am not gaining anything new.   DO MORE and LEARN MORE, strive to better yourself everyday. Sitting on your couch is wasting your day away! Get out and do something!

After a nice night’s sleep at Jake’s house in Aurora, I was off to the big windy city of CHICAGO!!  A gorgeous 30 mile nature trail all the way into the outskirts of Chicago where I met the not so beautiful west side of the city.  I later learned that I had biked through a “bad” part of town.  Squeezing between drug dealers, dice games, and empty whisky bottles made it kinda obvious.  I survived the culture shock, and continued on to finish my 45 mile ride arriving at a very nice friendly neighborhood.

Chicago turned out to be my favorite city so far and I definitely regret not giving myself more time to explore it.  I had some amazing deep dish pizza and took a short ride through town, but other than that didn’t get a whole lot of site seeing done.  Biking through Chicago was an amazing rush, and I loved how it was so bike friendly.  Bike lanes on major roads combined with the common usage of bikes for daily transportation made for a safe tour of central Chicago

The big reward of being in the city was the chance to give Infinity and Beyond’s FIRST GIFT!  Thanks to dozens of donors over the past 4 months, I was able to finally help someone out.  Compass to Care, an organization in the Chicago area, focuses on scheduling and paying for the travel arrangements families require to seek the best cancer care for their children.  Compass to Care helped me find Christina, a 14 year old who has been battling Osteosarcoma since January 2009.  Due to her serious state, she was in the hospital while I was there and I was unable to meet her, but I am very excited and proud to have been able to help her.  THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE.  Infinity and Beyond was able to give her $5,000 to aid in her travel from Chicago to Houston, TX for treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center.

With your continued support, I hope to be able to help out many more people like Christina.  Please donate today and help Infinity and Beyond help others like her.  My goal is to help another individual in New York City, but for this to be possible, PLEASE donate! :)  Don’t let my legs work for nothing!

-Sam Davenport

Next Blog-> Chicago to Cincinnati

 

 

 

 

 

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St. Joseph, Missouri to Des Moines, Iowa

June 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Depart: St. Joseph, MO

Arrive: Des Moines, IA

Dates: June11th- June 15th

Distance Biked: 225 miles

Leaving St. Jo on Saturday morning, I had a new energy from the days of rest.  The nice cool air also helped, but I knew the ride between here and Des Moines would be the most hilly that I had ridden so far.  Another bonus for the morning, is the privilege to ride out with a group!  I had made contact with the St. Jo Bicycle Club and they had a group ride that started at about the same time I was leaving, so we decided to meet up and ride out together!  It was a welcomed experience because ever since I had started I’d been biking alone, and this gave me a chance to talk to other people while riding!  These small luxuries in life are taken for granted until you decide to bike solo around the eastern U.S…  After about 30 minutes we came up to our first hill, and THIS is where I lost em.

Having not been a big cyclist prior to this 4400 mile ride, I had no idea how much the weight of the front and rear panniers slowed me down.  Riding with these guys made it very clear that the weight DEFINITELY slows me down(or maybe I’m just very slow).  By the time I got to the top of the hill, the group was a good 1/4 mile ahead of me.  Regardless of our short cycling time together,  I appreciated the company for the few miles, and it gave me the support and encouragement I needed to get through the hills ahead.

It was a 64 mile ride from St. Jo to Albany, Missouri where I stayed at a local hotel thanks to the Albany Methodist Church.  The bed and amazing rural location was great in North West Missouri, but the stay was short.  I arrived at about 6pm and was out the next morning at 6am.  I think I’m going to jinx myself by writing this, but I have been extremely lucky as far as weather goes.  There have been numerous threats of thunderstorms producing hail, lightning, and tornados, but so far, I have barely had it sprinkle on me.  This morning yet again brought word of scattered storms forecasted through out the day, so I headed out early, hoping to get to Afton, IA before the storms had a chance to hit me.

I applied layer after layer of sunscreen waiting for some cloud cover to show any sign of potential rain… Only once for about 30 minutes did I get some relief from the sun, and only about 15 seconds of that cloud cover produced a light drizzle.  Luckily for me, the bright sun wasn’t bringing any of that Texas/Oklahoma/Kansas heat with it that I had grown accustom to over these last few weeks.  About 8 hours and a quick 75 miles later, I had arrived to a gorgeous lake  in Afton, IA called Three Mile Lake.  Not only was the park beautiful with its bright green colors, and large flat lake, but the park employees were kind enough to upgrade me from camp site to CABIN!  I got another comfy bed with luxurious A/C!  I made friends with some Nebraska Cornhuskers in the cabin beside me, and after a couple hours of conversation, they headed to the lake for some catfish, and I headed to BED!  Another amazing accomplishment of the night: DALLAS MAVERICKS BECOME NBA CHAMPIONS!  I was slightly bitter for missing the game, but am proud of the ol’ Mavericks for beating the Heat!

NEXT DAY! I keep goin north to Des Moines on a long, looooooong 80 miles which took me about 13 hours…  Hills, Heat, Humidity, and a BIG STORM slowed me down quite a bit on this last stretch to Iowa’s capital.  AGAIN, I lucked out and was next to a beautiful “site seeing opportunity” when the storm blew in.  It was called, “Godfathers Pizza” and was made up of mounds of pizza next to valleys of lettuce and salads.  The aroma of pizza filled my nose as the taste of their buffet filled my tummy.  It was a welcome treat because I hadn’t eaten today, and the storm was a BIG ONE bringing lightning and lots of rain and wind!  After waiting out the storm for 1 1/2 hours I was back on the road. Rolling hill after rolling hill, I was closing into my destination with only about 10 miles remaining when I decided to disregard construction signs.  I quickly realized my mistake when I ended up accidentally going through some mud. Little problem turned big when the mud began to cake between my rear wheel and fender.  It froze up the wheel making it necessary to take it off and scrape all the mud off.  Impatient from the long day, one mistake lead to another, which involved my wheel nearly coming off while I was riding!  After a quick repair,  I continued on and finally arrived at the friend of a friend’s place, where I would be staying for the next couple nights.

I actually was staying about 10 miles north of Des Moines in a town called Ankeny.  I stayed there for 3 nights, mostly working on thank you letters, my route, places to stay, and the Biolume Glo run happening in Denton, TX on July 9th, 2011.  Often times the days “off” are becoming more overwhelming than the days in which I am riding.  As I become more in shape, the riding is starting to be a better day off than the days in the cities.  Soon I will have everything down to a science, and my time off the bike will become more enjoyable and less “work-like”.

“Every good act is charity. A man’s true wealth hereafter is the good that he does in this world to his fellows.”-Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (Moliere)

PLEASE consider donating to Infinity and Beyond.  Our goal isn’t to bike around the world, but to bike for the benefit of the mission.  That mission is to raise money for cancer research at MD Anderson Cancer Center and to assist less fortunate individuals with the costs of cancer care.

Click here to be directed to a donation page.  All donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law.

Thanks for following along, and for your help and support,

Sam Davenport

Next Blog->Des Moines to Chicago

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Wichita, KS to St. Joseph, MO

June 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Depart:Wichita, KS
Arrive:St. Joseph, MO 
Dates- June 4 to June 10
Distance- 268 miles

After a great stay in Wichita, KS with couchsurfer Alisha, it was time to head off towards the next destination, St. Joseph, Missouri.  With record temperatures all over the news and forecast, I knew this was gonna be a tough leg!  Then again, when I first started planning this I knew there would be tough days and there would be easy days.  Facing the tough ones with my gloves on ready to fight is what makes you strong.  So with my cycling shoes on, my sun screen on thick, and my water bottles full and cold(for about 30 minutes), I headed Northeast towards my first stop, Florence, KS.

Hot is an understatement on this first day.  Temperatures reached 100 degrees with no cloud in the sky.  I made it a mere 15 miles before having to retreat to a small convenience store.  I had biked in some heat, but this was absolutely brutal.  I felt light headed, my legs were completely shot, and I still had 42 miles to go.  It was right at noon and I wasn’t feeling great, so I hung out for an hour and a half before starting back up.  Most days I had a southern wind at my back giving me a light cool breeze, but not today.  I’d go 5 or 7 miles before stopping and finding a shaded bush to sit under.  The 67 mile day took me about 10 hours to complete, and up until I finally arrived, I felt like death.

Every time a car would approach I’d consider throwing up the thumb and asking for help, but I somehow kept going.  Minutes and feet felt like hours and miles.  I found myself thinking if this is truly what I wanted to do.  It’s only the beginning of June and the heat isn’t going to stop.  I’d stop and lay myself out on the asphalt, staring up at the sky.  What am I doing…Is my effort really making a difference…why can’t I just go back home… Just ahead I could see a storm.  Lightning, hail, tornados never crossed my mind.  The cool rain was the only thing I could imagine, and it was like dangling a carrot in front of a horse.  It somehow kept me barely going.  I never caught up with it..

I arrived into Florence around 7:30pm.  A local resident had reserved me a bed and breakfast, and also bought me a nice juicy burger at a local joint.  I feel like the whole cafe could see straight through me. It probably wasn’t too tough, I could barely hold my head up, and was chugging water like I had just crawled across the Sahara.  They’d ask me questions, and my exhaustion had me struggling to come up with a response.  At the end of our conversations, I had somehow raised nearly 80 dollars from these friendly people, and it gave me a new found energy.

Now writing about this, I can fully realize, I MADE IT.  Despite how vividly I can remember the pain, and struggle I had experienced that day, I made it to my goal.  My questions of doubt were answered.  If we fight through our struggles and keep going, we are rewarded.  The reward being the knowledge that I still haven’t reached my limit.  I have grown mentally and physically. Had I quit, I would’ve missed out on that mental victory and sense of achievement.

“If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” -Fredrick Douglass

I had passed out around 9pm texting my brother, “I dont know if my legs will be able to go tomorrow.” The next day it was like my legs were shouting, “IS THAT ALL YOU GOT!”  Same temperatures, same wind, same sun, but with a different outlook on my abilities.

The Flint Hills make the legs tired but are a true sight.  With different shades of green, the hills were gorgeous and made losing your self in thought an easy occurrence.  Knowing the struggle that I overcame yesterday, made it easier to face them today.

Questions of success are no longer in my mind and I have a new found focus.  Before I know it, I biked 73 miles through gravel/dirt roads, over bridges and hills, and have arrived in Miller, KS, population 30.  I stayed with 2 very nice people who made me a GREATmeal in their country home.

The bed was comfy and I was up the next day ready to tackle the ride to the capital, Topeka! A hot 46 miles later I was at the capital and getting a fun tour of the capital by my host.  Couch surfing has proven very useful and I definitely enjoyed my short time here.

Quick nights sleep and out the door again on my way to Atchison, KS!  I rode 57 miles to get to Atchison, arriving late in the afternoon to my new host, Kyle Walter’s home.  After a very refreshing shower and a little conversation, me and Kyle went out for dinner with his mom at a local chinese buffet.  OHHHH MAN.. so good, and I ate so much.  We had a great conversation regarding mind set and cancer.  Kyle’s aunt was diagnosed with cancer and underwent alternative treatments, and is now cancer free.  The question at the table was wether or not the treatment or the the aunt’s constant positive outlook was responsible for her recovery.  I am no expert on treatments, but I do know that no matter what obstacle you are faced with in life, the outcome is generally much better if you go into it with confidence and a willingness to fight.

“In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.”- Bill Cosby

Positivity is the most efficient and effective cure to any of life’s problems and the best part of it all?  IT FREE!  You don’t need insurance to cover it, you don’t need to take a loan to pay for it, and you sure don’t need a doctors prescription to receive it.  Every morning you have 2 choices.  Roll out of bed with your head down low, dreading the day to come and the problems that come with it, or you can hop up ready to tackle what comes and grow stronger.

Due to the delayed delivery of a package I was expecting, I stayed another night in Atchison, before heading 25 miles to St. Joseph, MO.  The extra day was great, and Kyle drove me into Kansas City, MO so I could check it out.  It was a good day of motorized exploration that I wouldn’t have gotten to do otherwise.  Thanks Kyle!

Anyways, in St. Joseph I stayed with couch surfer  Jesse Rice and his two room mates who were all 3 VERY nice and great hosts!  While in St. Jo, I visited my usual office of choice, a local coffee shop, got some work done, and did an interview for the local news!  That evening, I went to a local hangout and listened to an awesome 8 piece acoustic band.  It was a great and  much needed time for relaxation.

The riding is getting easier, my legs are getting stronger, and it seems that the amount of people following along is growing!  I have thoroughly enjoyed the riding, and am 100% appreciative of all the support that I am receiving.  I encourage you to donate today so that Infinity and Beyond can fulfill their mission to help fund cancer research and treatment for those who can’t afford it.

Thanks!

Sam Davenport

Next Blog ->St. Jo to Des Moines!

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Norman to Wichita

June 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Dates- May 28 to June 3

Distance- 207 miles

Depart-Norman, OK

Arrive-Wichita, KS

 

Sorry about the delay in the blog!  The amount of planning involved in this ride is sometimes overwhelming, but I’m making it!  The ride is going AMAZINGLY so far.  I have already met so many great people, and I am just getting started!  My legs are becoming more in shape, my ability to approach people about the mission is getting way better, and not a single chance of tornados on this ride!

 

Before I begin, let me go ahead a squash a few rumors. Oklahoma.. ISNT FLAT.  Kansas? NO, NOT FLAT EITHER.  I’m not sure where these rumors arose from, possibly the same place as Texans still riding their horses to work and school.   Go ahead and remove those thoughts from your mental hard drive.  There are definitely some flat roads, but I rode along some wonderfully curvaceous landscapes, and my legs were quite upset for lying to them about the possible relief lying up ahead. From my entrance into Oklahoma across the Red River to HWY 15 crossing into Kansas, searching for flat land was like searching for the Holy Grail…

 

Also, I want to let everyone know how I am setting up my free accommodation (the majority of the time)!   I am part of a free online organization called Couch Surfing, www.couchsurfing.org.  It is an amazing network of 1,000’s of people all over the world willing to host travelers on their couch/bed/floor.  I have been apart of this organization for a few years now, and absolutely love it! Unalterable references, monitored conversations, and location verification all contribute towards the safety of it all.  You have the choice of who you stay with, and they have the choice of hosting you, based on references you’ve received and information you have in your profile.   If you love traveling, I highly recommend you check into it.

“The fact is, that to do anything in the world worth doing, we must not stand back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger, but jump in and scramble through as well as we can.” -Robert Cushing

Leaving Norman, I headed north to stay with family of mine in Arcadia, OK, a town NE of Oklahoma City.  The ride was short, about 45 miles, HOT, the roads were pretty good, and I had a short experience of riding on the famous ROUTE 66!  It was kind of exciting to bike on it, but the adrenaline came when noticing the lack of shoulder to bike on, and the bountiful number of semis and cars frequenting it.  Lucky for me, I was only on it for a few miles.

It’s memorial weekend and I lucked out finding out I was going to be treated to steaks tonight at my relative’s house!  I am one of those guys that couldn’t live without meat.  One day I tried to be a vegetarian to see if I could do it.   My friend invited me for fajitas that night.  What was I to do? Not eat it?  HA…I ate the heck out of em, and dismissed the idea of Sam Davenport, a vegetarian. Anyways, I love meat, and the wonderful dinner they provided was greatly appreciated!

The next morning, I headed towards Stillwater, OK, home of Oklahoma State University, to stay with one of my great childhood friends, Ally and her boyfriend Tyler.  The ride was another relatively short one of 43 miles.   Heat and my inability to wake up early are sure to get the best of me on this trip.   One of em has to give.  Heat, “stop being selfish and give up.”  I need my sleep.  I’m going through water like a fish, and “convenience” in “Convenience Store” has never been more true. These stores are like angels, with their air-conditioned goodness and their ability to make empty water bottles full.

It was a short day, and I arrived into Stillwater around 5.  We relaxed and cooled off, eating some yummy bratwursts for dinner before hittin the hay!  The next day I got some work done in a local coffee shop before going to another relatives house in the Stillwater area, for an amazing dinner! As I’m enjoying this amazing dinner, im wondering how on earth I will survive once I leave.  From here on out, I’m not staying with friends and family, but with strangers willing to open their home to me.  No more steaks and family talk.

Here is a short video that was broadcasted on the Oklahoma News.

Past this point, I am truly out on my own, able to rely only on myself and the goodness of others for help on the road.  The adventure, motivation, and outside support holds back the doubt.  What is to come is sure to be a life altering experience, and I just have stay faithful.  As with all big steps in life, there will be ups and downs, but this journey isn’t about me.  I must realize that the journey is bigger than myself.  I am aiming to inspire and encourage others.

I am not an avid bicyclist.  Outside of these long distance bike rides, I have probably biked a total of 300 miles in my entire life.  I am not an extremely athletic individual.  Im undersized and slow.  I am an ordinary every day guy, with a lot of drive and determination.  The ride isn’t about getting through the day, and from point A to B, or about making it 4400 miles.  It’s about the ability for an ordinary individual to do something extraordinary.  I hope that the endurance and drive that I show in these rides, gives you the inspiration to go out and do something outside your boundaries.  I think I am amazed as you are, that I can do these long rides day after day.  The more you attempt to step outside those self-set boundaries, the more you will realize they aren’t really there!

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”- Harriet Tubman

Leaving Stillwater towards Ponca City, OK, is where this whole journey becomes unfamiliar.  I am on my way to stay with someone I have never met, in an area I’ve never been.  I no longer have the comfort of close by relatives and friends, but on I go!  Its about 39 miles, another short one, before I arrive at the home of Roger and Carolyn, an older couple, both cancer survivors and now enthusiastic travelers!  They were testaments of the ability to fight and win.  Despite doctors opinions, they overcame cancer in the 90′s and are now couchsurfing, traveling, and remain eager learners.  While I was there, they were planning their trip to Peru this Fall, and told me of their travels to Austria and Turkey.

From Ponca City, the end of Leg 2 was the city of Wichita, KS, 80 miles away.  Despite the heat, the day and the miles flew by.  Something that is still puzzling me, is my body’s ability to one day go through it all with ease, and then the next day struggle so hard to make it even short distances.  Who knows!?  Anyways I fly through the day and arrive in Wichita and meet my host, Alisha.   Alisha is not your ordinary person.  She taught me a lot in the short time I was with her.  I’ve never met a 25 year old who helped out the world in so many ways.  She is an employee at Breakthrough(non-profit dedicated to providing support for individuals who have been diagnosed with a mental illness.), her dog was from the Humane Society, she had homemade recycling bins in her apartment, she is a volunteer for YMCA, she is a member in a youth group forming their own church, and thats just what I can remember… Not only all this, but she is a very humble and extremely down to earth person.  Looking at her and talking to her, you would never know that she had so much going on.  Oh, and the day I left, she ran a 10k.  Awesome person, and I am very glad I got to meet her.

Keeper of the Plains

Every day we subconsciously evaluate ourselves in comparison with others.  When we are in the presence of those who are lazy and making no effort to better their life and those around us, it’s easy to feel satisfied with ourselves.  Better your selves by surrounding yourself with people who want to better themselves.  When your in the presence of people like Alisha, it just makes you want to do more.

“We are all inventors, each sailing out on a voyage of discovery, guided each by a private chart, of which there is no duplicate. The world is all gates, all opportunities.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

-Sam Davenport

Please consider donating to the cause.  Infinity and Beyond is an organization that is doing extraordinary things to help raise money for cancer research and to help fund cancer treatment for those who can’t afford it.  Without donations, we can’t continue our efforts!  Thanks for the support!

Next Leg- St. Joseph, MO to Des Moines, Iowa

 

 

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From Denton,OK-Norman,OK-180 miles

June 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment

After months of preparation and planning, the 4400 mile journey around the eastern United States started on May 23rd from the Argyle Town Square.  With around 30-40 family members and friends there to send me off, it was definitely an exciting and motivational morning.  Around this time last year my father was getting his first treatments of chemo and now, here to see me off was my father still battling cancer @ MD Anderson and still strong as ever.  While I would love to spend these next 5 months with friends and family like I usually do, I know that with my effort and journey, I can spread awareness of my organization and hopefully raise money towards fighting this debilitating disease.

Family and Infinity and Beyond Team

“Focus on the journey, not the destination.  Joy is not found in finishing an activity but in doing it.”-Greg Anderson

The first few days of the ride definitely didn’t go idealy.  From being a tornado chaser (unintentionally) to multiple road closures in the first 10 miles, this leg was a test of my will and motivation.  The weather lately hasn’t been ideal for biking, but I couldn’t push the start back, so despite the weatherman’s tornado warnings and news of giant hail, I headed off.  I was told that only an hour or so after I left, Argyle was hit with hail…

The first day’s destination was 49 miles to Muenster, TX and started off great(sarcasm), taking over 2 hours for the first 10 miles.  I was forced to back track 3 different times due to road closures before I decided to carry my bike over a lightly flooded road.  I also would like to add, that I am definitely not physically fit or prepared for this ride, and the cool water on my feet was quite amazing.  Over the last month since my ride to Denton from Galveston, I rode my bike 2 times for a total of 12 miles.  All of my time has been devoted to planning the ride, getting the word out locally, and setting up  the Biolume glo run in Denton, TX (find out more at www.runbiolume.com , and a special thanks to my friends at home for putting this event on while I am gone!).  After getting across the river, the ride was actually pretty nice, taking about 4 more hours for me to arrive in Muenster.

The next day was even more eventful with the news of severe storms producing hail and tornados being forecasted throughout the whole state of OK and most of North Texas.  Knowing that I go through quite a few small towns, I went ahead and started.  I guess I’m not a weatherman, cause the whole time I thought the forecasters were nuts.  All day, all I saw and felt was the hot sun, applying coat after coat of sun screen.  That is until I got to Wilson, OK…I could see the clouds starting to build, and word of all the schools closing early started to get me a little worried.  Asking around the town what they thought, the universal answer was “get off your bike and find shelter”.  But I couldn’t find shelter..I still haven’t reached my destination, a CAMPSITE in Healdton, OK.

Never have I felt more vulnerable than I did as I biked the remaining 7 miles to where I had reserved a camp site to observe the formation of these tornados from the comfort of my tent and sleeping bag.  After arriving and scouting out what tree I would tie myself to, a local came and saved me the hassle of picking what type knot to use by bringing me to a local church to stay the night.  :) THANK YOU.  With the hospitality including the donation of a subway sandwich and a cheeseburger, my new found accommodation was great. I was able to watch from indoors as the hail came down with ~50mph winds and sideways rain.

The kindness in people shows 10 fold when they see the kindness in you, and I am continually amazed by the help given to me from people who don’t even know me.  What if everyone just naturally showed this kindness?  Walking into a small town, fully geared up in bike clothing makes it very easy for people to strike up a conversation simply out of a “what the heck are you doing” interest, but what if you showed the kindness and openess to the people you see every day?

I also had a conversation with an individual that really had me thinking.  After offering me a gatorade, a gentlemen in a convenient store told me how he tries to help everyone he can. After having a car wreck while in his twenties, he feels like he could never pay everyone back for the help they had given him.  The sad part was that he was truly troubled by this.  He acted as if the charity given to him was now a burden on his life.  Made me think.  How will I ever pay back all the people that donate and volunteer?  How will people pay me back for starting this non-profit?  These are questions people think about too much,  and often the inability to “pay” someone back can cripple relationships, and can seriously affect people.  Charity shouldn’t be about paying people back, but “paying it forward”, continuing the chain of charity.  If everyone did charity work and good out of action and not just reaction think of how different the world would be.

“Did universal charity prevail, earth would be a heaven, and hell a fable.”-Charles Caleb Colton

Day 3 came with HEAT and WIND.  With about 93 degree temp. all day and a 30 mph west wind attempting to blow me off the narrow country roads, I was kept on edge as I attempted to make it to Norman, OK.  It was about 80 miles of gorgeous country side and hilly roads and it was definitely proving to me how out of shape I was.  The day was relatively uneventful up until a Chevy Avalanche full of kids decided to switch from its collision course a mere 10 feet from back tire, fly 20 feet off the road into the grass, and proceed to peel off, and drive away.  If it wasn’t for the heat evaporating all the water from my body, I’m pretty confident I would have wet my self.  With the shock of the event still going through my mind, I decided to push my pride to the side and call for a friend to come get me in Purcell, about 10 miles short of my Norman goal..  I stayed the next 3 nights with some high school buddies who attended OU, relaxed, and got some desk work out of the way.

I was able to attend the Sun and Ski Sports-Norman’s store for their grand opening, do a few interviews for Oklahoma papers, and get my route updated.  The fun stuff…  But soon I was back on the road to Arcadia, then Stillwater, and onto Wichita, KS!


Next Blog-From Norman to Wichita

With donations and support from people like you, Infinity and Beyond is sure to make a difference in peoples lives these next few months.  How many people I can help, and how much I can help them is dependent on the support that I receive through out my journey.  Along this journey I am going to find and help families that are struggling financially with the costs of cancer care.  I would like to meet and help out the first family in Chicago, IL at the end of June.  Please consider making a contribution so that this is possible.

-Sam Davenport

Next Leg- Wichita, KS to St. Joseph, MO

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End of Leg 1 and Arrival to Argyle, TX-Day 5

June 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Originally posted: 4/19/2011

The final day!  320 miles so far, and about 75 to go before I make it to my nice comfy bed in Argyle, TX, my hometown of 17 years.  I already miss the ocean and all the friends I have made in Galveston, but I know that what I have started is going to be something to be remembered for YEARS to come.  Not only that, but the support and love that I have been receiving from my Galveston family has been endless.  Talking to friends after a days ride and getting congratulations messages on Facebook makes me realize that while I may not live near them any more, I will never forget them and they will never forget me.  Plus, this world is WAY TO BIG and life is TOO SHORT for me to settle anywhere at the age of 23.  I was born to ROAM!

So roam, I do!  I pack up my belongings at Waxahachie Creek Park, and head out on the road for what is to be the scariest ride of the trip.  The gorgeous country roads and dirt paths wind throughout the first 20 miles making the early-morning start quite enjoyable for a change!  Crossing wooden bridges over small flowing creeks and weaving in and out of large fields of wheat, I reach my first city of the day, Waxahachie, around noon.  A large town of over 30,000, and conveniently located on a really, really large hill.  I guess as far as flooding goes, this town is perfectly safe, but as far as biking goes?  You might prefer visiting via motor-vehicle.  If you can’t tell already, I wasn’t prepared for hill climbs.  It takes me about an hour to navigate through the town, stopping at a local gas station for some peanuts, a refill on water, and continuing on my way towards the finish.  About an hour later, and 30 miles out, I’m seeing a lot of familiar street signs.  I go through Grandprarie, then Irving, and finally arrive in Grapevine.

 

Thiiiiis is where I start getting a little scared.  Apparently I should’ve looked a little closer at the route I was taking.  Anyone from Argyle would know, 2499 is NOT a good road for a bicycle(especially during rush hour).  My bike and me weigh a combined 280lbs and shake with every 55 mph pass of a semi.  And theres alot of them.  Sooo, this is where I admit to walking part of the ride.  I decide that shoulderless, sidewalk-less roads at rush hour are not a good place for 10mph bicycle, so I walk along the grass with my bike for a couple miles until I reach a safe zone.

Once I got off that road, it was smoooooooth sailing.  I call in to let my sister know of my arrival, and about 2 hours later I make it to Argyle, TX!  My sister Emily, being the amazing sister that she is, has a small group of close friends waiting for my arrival with enough fajitas to feed a small army (not an issue, because I could eat enough to be considered a small army) and an awesome Infinity and Beyond cake!!  Whats better than a Mexican food and cake after a 5 day 396 mile bike ride?  Well, this is my first time to do this, so I dont know, but lemme tell ya!  THIS WAS A WONDERFUL SURPRISE!

 

You may have noticed, that a major message in my blogs is MOTIVATION and SUPPORT.  I believe with these 2 elements that anything is possible.  Without them, there is no way that I could have finished this ride and with the continued support of people like you, I think Infinity and Beyond can make a huge difference in peoples lives.

Surround yourself with people that can supply you with both of these in unlimited quantities and seek this out in times of weakness.  Whether your biking, studying for a test, starting a business, or fighting cancer I think that these 2 things are paramount to your success.  Remember that the only limit on what you do, is yourself.

Push yourself, fight for everything you love, and never give up.

If you enjoyed what you read here at my blog, please consider donating to Infinity and Beyond.  The reason for the bike ride is to promote my mission to raise funds for cancer research and treatment for those who can’t afford it.  Please subscribe to the blog by entering your email on the top right.

Thank you and God bless,

Sam Davenport

Next Leg-Denton, TX to Norman, OK

 

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Fairfield to Waxahachie Creek Park-Day 4

June 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Originally Posted: 4/18/2011

Good morning quads and calves, it’s time to wake up.  Apparently last night there was 90 mph winds and pretty serious thunderstorms?  I wouldn’t know because the bed that couch surfer Tamara lent me for the night held me tightly as I drifted into a much needed sleep coma.  Sleeping til noon was a definite possibility but I had a Fairfield Recorder interview at 8am, so I joinedTamara for a bowl of oatmeal, we say our farewells, and I headed off to meet my first reporter!  http://www.thefairfieldrecorder.net/news/2011-04-14/News/To_take_cancer_from_the_race____Man_rides_bike_330.html

After the interview, I started out on the road heading towards Waxahachie Creek park about 70 miles away.  75 degrees out, the cooler temperature was welcomed by my toasty and red shoulders(despite multiple sun screen applications, I missed a couple spots…). However, with the cooler air from the north, came a strong 15-20 mph north wind blowing directly into my face…Hills and a head wind=BAD.  I was going down hills at 10mph, that I would’ve been going 20+mph the previous day.   Right from the start I found myself visualizing the little engine that could saying, “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can..” while my legs were thinking Dr. Kevorkian’s assisted-suicide death machine wasn’t too bad an idea right about now(disclaimer: the opinions of my legs during time of distress do not reflect the opinions of Sam Davenport or anyone associated with Infinity and Beyond).

Just like the days in the past, after the first 20 or 30 miles of mental and physical anguish, the miles and time were flying by faster than the north wind.  The gorgeous array of wildflowers and punishing yet beautiful rolling hills made the day’s ride seem sublime, perfect, with out compare.  I continue to wonder how on earth I have come this far and how amazing the human body is.  My legs may hurt, but somehow they keep trucking on at a pace not too far from what they were doing in the start.  Its obvious that often times in life we settle for what our mind says is limit.  Mental blocks and the statement, “I can’t” keep us from realizing our full potential.  When was the last time you truly surprised your self by something you did?  Better question, when was the last time you truly surprised yourself by something you couldn’t do?  It’s pretty unfortunate that most of us answer with “I don’t know”.  This is because most of us stop before we get to the “surprised” point due to our fear of failure. Aim big.  Failure is simply a stepping stone to success.

“Four short words sum up what has lifted most successful individuals above the crowd: a little bit more.  They did all that was expected of them and a little bit more.”-A. Lou Vickery

What you want is exactly what you get.  If you aim for average, you’re going to get average.   Aim for something above what you THINK you can do and I think you’ll be surprised by the results.  Think, “Infinity and Beyond” (sorry, I just couldn’t resist).  This applies to anything in life.  Business, relationships,  athletic feats, etc.

“The quality of expectations determines the quality of our action”- A. Godin

RANDOM: Sooo, I’m hitting the 300 mile point and couldn’t help but stop to celebrate!  I pull over at a gas station and treat myself to 3 hershey’s chocolate bars.. OMG..yum. and they have almonds..so they are kinda healthy right?  Better and safer than pulling over for a bottle of champagne.  Plus, I’m sure I burned them all off in the next hour.

At about 6pm I had about 15 miles left in the day’s ride and I couldn’t believe that I’ll be finishing this 5 day bike tour at about this same time tomorrow.  CRAZY.  The thought of my bed at my parents house in Argyle definitely became my major motivator.  It didn’t matter if I twisted both my ankles setting up my tent tonight, I was finishing this TOMORROW.  Arriving at Waxahachie Creek Park around 7:30, I was the ONLY person on the campground.

 

I was looking forward to talking with camp neighbors, but being able to camp in such a beautiful lakeside park had its perks.  The wind calmed(right when I’m done riding, typical), the lake was like glass, and I felt like I could hear bass jumping over a mile away.  The sunset over the lake was just as elegant and gorgeous as the ones I’d seen so many times on the coast in Galveston.

Pasta, peanut butter, and tortillas were followed by bed time around 10pm.  I wanted to be able to wake early for the next days bike finale.  Out like a light.

-Sam Davenport

Go to Day 5

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ATV Park to Fairfield-Day 3

May 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Originally Posted:4/17/2011

Leaving around 930am I go down the dirt road leading away from General Sam’s and back on highway 75 with a days goal of ~80 miles.  With 150 miles on the legs and the comfort of a prior night’s sleeping in a tent on hard dirt, being “sore” is an understatement.  Weather is predicted to be perfect beach weather, 90 degrees and not a cloud in the sky!  However, as far as biking for 7 hours, this means at least 4 coats of 50 SPF and multiple water pit stops or I turn into a shriveled lobster.  Within the first 10 miles, I realize that I won’t be seeing the nice flat lands of the gulf coast anymore.  I’ve moved into the hills of death…(exaggeration, yes, but for someone who has been biking along the Galveston seawall for practice, even the slight incline is noticed.)  I find myself flying upward at a whopping 4mph on some hills, and flying downward at about 35 mph.  Every time I’d reach the top of a hill, the gift of downhill was like waking up on Christmas morning.

With the fresh scent of pines and flowers all around me, the scenery and wilderness was so stunning, I’d find myself going miles without even realizing it.  Along the road, wildflowers were in the thousands, birds were dancing all around, and I feel like muscle pain is definitely an equal trade.

 

 

Moving at an average pace of 12mph, it made it easy to appreciate the small things.  This trip could’ve been very boring if I chose to focus solely on getting from point A to point B.  Stop and smell the roses. Well known saying right?  But do you really strive to do so?  I’d driven from Galveston to Denton many, many times, and of course I always notice the bountiful bluebonnets lining the highway this time of year, but never do I stop to really soak it all in.  Are you in too big of a hurry to add a 15 minute road stop to an already 5 hour long drive?  Chances are, the answer is no.  If you’re like me, most of the time your just lazy.  Stopping to enjoy it means you have to apply the break for 50 LONG yards, pull the car all the way over, unbuckle,  and actually lift your butt from your drivers seat.  Lot of work…NOT. Next time you get a chance, I dare you to just take a small intermission from what you’re doing to appreciate something small.  Stop at a local coffee shop, go for a road side bluebonnet photo shoot, eat lunch outside and pay attention to your surroundings, or just strike up a conversation with a stranger.  Alot of these small things can be very fulfilling.

“One day at a time–this is enough.  Do not look back and grieve over the past for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come.  Live in the present, and make it so beautiful it will be worth remembering” -Ida Scott Taylor

Getting over “hills” in life is very difficult, unless you try to focus on whats on the other side.  I experienced this in a very literal aspect.  Every time I found myself daydreaming about the possibilities of the other side of the hill, it seemed like I was almost lifted over the hill.  Time would fly by. But as soon as the problem at hand became the focus, it’d seem like the hill was never-ending.

I continued hill after hill, small town after small town, stopping often to cool off and rehydrate from the brutal Texas heat.  About 40 miles into it, I stop at a Subway for a scrumptious $5 footlong. yum. While sitting down and eating, I meet a nice old lady (in her 70′s) who I ask for some help in directions.  I explain what I am doing and she responds with tears of happiness and one of the most generous donations I have received to date.  $3.40.  Everything that she had in her wallet at the time and she apologizes for not having more.  I couldn’t believe it.  The sincerity of her gift was so much larger than the size and her gift could not have been more sincere.  I gave her a big hug and told her good bye as she left.  Why aren’t more people like her?  How amazing of a world would this be if we all gave with the sincerity of that old lady?  (keep in mind that gifts aren’t always in the form of money or material things)

Around 7:30pm I arrive in Fairfield at the door of Couch Surfer, Tamara Neal and her two pups(a massive great dane and a tiny pug-like dog)  Couch surfing is an online organization in which you can volunteer your own couch in exchange for access to over a 1,000,000 couches around the globe!  I arrive covered in layers of sunscreen and sweat, and enjoy a much needed quick shower before going with Tamara to an amazing local buffet to try to make up the 1,000s of calories burned.  After a while, we return to her place, where we exchange some travel stories and I quickly call it a night.  The next morning I wake up and go to the Fairfield Recorder for my first newspaper interview, set-up by Tamara’s father!

-Sam Davenport

Go to Day 4

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