A Ride for Three ReasonsA Ride for Three ReasonsBob Lee, a 65-year-old cancer survivor from Barrington, IL has embarked on a solo bicycle ride of 6,500 he calls A Ride for Three Reasons. All of the proceeds of The Ride will benefit cancer, ALS and hospice care. Articles
Happy Mother's Day To Each And Every Mother!
2007-05-14 10:55:00 By Bob Lee Ride Date: May 13 As I rode today, I contemplated what to say in this blog. For a while, I thought I might not say anything and just show the beauty of nature. But even beautiful flowers don’t describe the beauty of motherhood, much less the impact of motherhood on our families. I thought this might be a good time to pay tribute to the best mom I know, but she would be embarrassed. Should I talk about the mothers of our grandchildren? I then decided this could wait for another time. As I continued to pedal north, my mind traveled in a number of directions and I found myself tearing up not from wind but from emotions. My mind kept coming back to a very special Mom who I think about daily. Actually, if I look in a mirror at night I see her name across my chest. It may be backwards, but I know what it says and who she is. Before I left on the RIDE, Jim and Aimee Chamernik gave me this t-shirt that says, Ask about Aimee... More About: Happy , Mother , Ever , S Day
It's A Small World, After All
2007-05-14 09:42:00 By Bob Lee Ride Dates: May 9 - 10May 9 - Rhinebeck, NY To Salisbury, CT - 42 MilesMay 10 - Salisbury, CT To Windsor Locks, CT - 55 Miles I don’t like to combine days but when I get behind it seems like the only way to catch up. If you haven’t visited western Connecticut, please do so some day. To me it is the beginning of New England with rural and yet in some cases sophisticated small towns and pretty farms in between. At times you will hear people from the East referred to as being fairly outspoken. I like it because it is hard to miss a turn. Wouldn’t it be an adventure to travel all the one lane back roads? We would then really see America. As I was pedaling up just one of many hills for the day, I stopped to take this picture of a Quaker Meeting sign. It is hard to argue with their philosophy. Why can’t we as human beings find Peace or at least be Peaceful? As I continued up the hill a little further I saw th... More About: World , Small , After , Mall , Small World
I Call It An A-Day
2007-05-12 08:07:00 By Bob Lee Ride Date: May 8 Middletown, NY to Rhinebeck, NY - 60 Miles Isn’t it great to be… Our freedom allows us the opportunity to be the best we want to be and make the best of the rest of our life. Not every day is all “blue sky” but it is that way for me today! There are special areas I would like to revisit with Anne someday – to ride together, stay in a special Bed & Breakfast or meet up with some interesting people. This morning’s RIDE goes on this list. I call it an A-Day. I rode along pastoral countryside with the Shawangunk Mountain Range up on my left. I remember the rocky cliffs from my childhood but was not aware until today that they are rated on an 8 on a 1 to 10 scale for rock climbing. Can you imagine climbing like this just a few hours from New York City? I was watching the scenery and not the road sign and became a little off course. When I stopped to ask directions I asked Tony why... More About: Call
Your Friend On Fox & Friends
2007-05-11 18:59:00 If you aren't doing anything on Saturday May 12 at about 7:30 a.m., tune in to Fox & Friend s on the Fox News Channel to see a friend of yours. Don't leave the set too long or I might be gone. We'll link or post the video from this site -if available after it airs. DOUBLE YOUR DONATION! Also, Quicken Loans will match up to $20,000 that is donated on the website on Saturday May 12! So, if you've been waiting, here's your chance! And here's where to donate. More About: Ends
This One Is Guaranteed To Keep You On The Edge Of Your Seat
2007-05-08 09:18:00 By Bob Lee Ride Date: May 7Milford, PA to Middletown, NY - 36 Miles Since I have been on the road, most days blend together. It makes no difference if it is a weekday or a weekend. Today, I knew it was Monday – laundry day. Yesterday some of the fly fishermen asked if I had seen any bears. I think they were asking more for their concern than mine. I wasn’t taking the trout from the bear’s creek. In this area they have experienced a late spring due to unusually cold weather. Last night we had frost warnings. This delay has allowed me the opportunity to really catch up with spring. It was nice to see the forsythia and daffodils in bloom. When someone says New Jersey or New York, most people would not thing of rural America. Enjoy these pictures and you impressions may be changed. As Yogi Berra said, "When you come to a fork in the road, take it. " I am glad ... More About: Seat , The Edge , Keep , Edge
Focus On Living Each Day
2007-05-07 08:19:00 By Bob Lee Ride Date: May 6 Delaware Water Gap, NJ to Milford, PA - 42 miles After I left the Deer Head Bed & Breakfast, I crossed the Delaware River once again. This time it was on a bridge shared with I-80. It was nice to get away from I-80 and head to the Worthington State Park. The most of the day was spent in a State Forest through the Kittatinny Mountains. Someone today asked what I thought of New Jersey. After the last three or four days, my past impressions have completely changed. The beauty of the wilderness has been incredible. See for yourself. I stopped at this country store mid afternoon to get a snack and admire the view from their porch. The owner was just opening the store for the season and we visited for a few minutes. He lost his wife to liver cancer two and a half years ago and I could hear and see the feeling of loss he is still experiencing. Livin... More About: Living , Focus , Ving
You're Never Really Beyond Hope
2007-05-07 00:14:00 By Bob Lee Ride Dates: May 4 & 5 May 4th New Hope , PA to Easton, PA - 42 miles May 5th Easton to Delaware Water Gap, NJ - 33 miles After spending three hours this morning working with a new updated software program that shut my wireless access down, I decided to combine my ride up the Delaware River Valley into one blog. Boy, do I feel isolated when I can’t have my laptop linked to the Internet. On days like this, I appreciate even more the wireless service Verizon is providing to keep me in touch. Their service has been flawless. My problem today was with MAC. Before I share the past two days of riding, I would like to thank all those who have helped with TAG DAYS in Barrington, IL. May is ALS Awareness Month and in Illinois, volunteers hit the streets and sidewalks to collect funds for the Les Turner Foundation. A neighbor, Chris Maytnier, offered to head up the drive this year and has done a great job. How nice it is to ... More About: Beyond , Real , Ever , Never
Riding Toward New Hope
2007-05-05 08:51:00 By Bob Lee Ride Date: May 3 Glenmoore, PA to New Hope , PA – 43 miles. I have arrived into NEW HOPE! Isn’t this what the RIDE is all about? Giving people and the future generations new hope that we can rid this world of ALS and Cancer. This morning I rode through Valley Forge. I thought of how courageous and committed our forefathers were to provide us with this wonderful free land of opportunity. Wouldn’t it be great if history would look back upon all of us to say we helped rid the world of two horrific diseases? We don’t need to take up arms and give our lives. All we need to do is open our wallets or give of our time. Oh, how the world has changed. Do you know who Major General Friedrich Baron von Steuben was? Do you know what impact the Treaties of Commerce and Alliance had on our independence? To think that without the support of France and their foreign aid many years ago, our country today migh... More About: Ward , Riding
Déjà Vu & Shoo Fly Pie, Too
2007-05-05 06:22:00 By Bob Lee Ride Date: May 2Glenmoore, PA - a day to visit Déjà vu. In 1985 Anne and I left Laura in the parking lot at Duke University. With tears in her eyes she said, “How can you leave me here like this?” After years of preparation and the challenge of being accepted in one of our finer Universities, our family separation was still difficult. This morning we packed up Laura’s bike and I said farewell in the parking lot with tears in my eyes and me playing back her same line. How special it was for me to have Laura spend almost a week on the road representing the whole family. I couldn’t have asked for a better 65th birthday gift. Family time is a special gift! I thank Laura’s husband, Tom; Laura & Tom's four wonderful kids; Anne and all of Laura’s friends and neighbors for making this rendezvous possible. It was just what I needed having been away from home for a month. I am going to miss my lunch partner and my ridi...
John Tesh Tells His Listeners About A Ride For Three Reasons
2007-05-05 05:02:00 John Tesh recently told listeners of his radio show about Bob Lee and his Ride For Three Reason s. mentioned Bob on a recent show. Visit tesh.com where May is passion and purpose month. Seems like a good fit. He'll also help you become "the smartest person in the room." Thanks for the mention, John! Playing time 0:41 More About: John , Reasons , Sons
Twists & Turns At The Pretzel Factory
2007-05-04 08:26:00 By Laura Lee Horak Ride Date: May 1Ephrata, PA To Glenmoore, PA - 30 Miles HAPPY MAY DAY!!!! Did you remember to share a May Basket with a friend? Since I was little I can remember picking a bouquet of flowers, leaving them at my Mother’s door, ringing the doorbell and running. We saw some gorgeous flowers today that would have made the perfect May Basket bouquet. Mom, we are sending you these photos with love! Today is my last day of riding. This has been an incredible journey and will remain one of the best memories of my life. It was hard to leave my “Cloud 9 bed” (courtesy of Hampton Inns) this morning and face the reality of ending my ride. My family and friends have been so supportive of this 40th celebration but are anxiously awaiting my arrival in Barrington. Kyle and Michael love to follow the blogs and are patiently waiting for the latest updates. My favorite... More About: Factory , Factor , Turn , Tory , Actor
Never Been Happier
2007-05-03 09:29:00 By Laura Lee Horak Ride date: April 30, 2007Marietta, PA To Ephrata, PA - 30 Miles I am quickly catching onto my Dad’s daily routine. After a good breakfast, the first thing we do is assess the day’s riding conditions – sun? wind? hills? distance? snack inventory? Today’s ride was “thumbs up” on all 5 accounts. The sun was shining and the 25 mile per hour winds were at our backs. Check out this quick video clip to appreciate the wind conditions.Our day started with an incredible encounter. About a week ago, Bob from Lancaster, PA discovered the website via Kim Komando and became enthralled. He immediately contacted my Dad and offered to “wave his golf hat” as he passed through Lancaster County. Well, he did better than that. Bob (age 68) and Don (age 66) met us at a roadside church and escorted us through the incredibly gorgeous backroads of Lancaster County. Bob and Don are inspirational retir... More About: Ever , Never , Pier , Been , Happier
It's Official... Bob Is 65!
2007-05-03 07:01:00 By Laura Lee Horak Ride Date: April 29, 2007Delta, PA To Marietta, PA - 36 Miles HAPPY 65TH BIRTHDAY BOB LEE!!!!! The Ride is now legitimate – 65 years old and 6,500 miles! What a gift to be 65 and full of mental and physical endurance. My Dad has always been a determined and goal oriented person. What I admire most about his drive is that he never lets it get in the way of his relationships with friends and family. No matter what he has on his agenda he will make time for you. Our basement flooded recently and my Dad was there within minutes - shop vac in hand. He was in the midst of job obligations, preparing for the Ride and packing to leave for Mexico the next morning but he was still there. His sense of humor keeps him well balanced. He has always been a “jokester.” The stories from his childhood are numerous. Just today, he told me about putting rose thorns on his nose and chasing the girls.... More About: Official
The Five Senses
2007-05-02 09:36:00 By Laura Lee Horak Ride Date: April 28 Marriottsville, MD to Delta, PA - 55 miles With one day of biking under my belt, I started out the day feeling great! I even hung up my running shoes for biking shoes. . . My Dad was at a different place than I was. After a month on the road he struggled with the decision of which one to ride?!?! The day got even better when my Dad suggested that we stop for a donut after only 15 miles on the road. It is typical to go 20 to 30 miles without a “snack” in sight, so the Reisterstown’s Dunkin' Donuts was a welcomed sight! Today’s ride was a good metaphor for life. The best rewards come with some challenges. Bottom line - this is VERY hilly country! It is difficult to explain the magnitude of these hills. A downhill can bring us up to 30 mph and an up hill down to 3 mph. Early in the day I began to feel anxious every time I saw an upcoming hill. I quickly caught on to... More About: Ense , Sens , Five
I Felt Like I Had Arrived In Heaven
2007-05-02 08:15:00 By Laura Lee Horak Ride Date: Friday, April 27 Washington D.C. to Marriottsville, Maryland - 44 Miles THUMP, THUMP, THUMP... I awoke with a start at 6:00 a.m... I thought I heard Kyle, our 3 year old, falling down the stairs… As it turns out, I was in McLean, Virginia and it was the sound of thunder and incessant rain. What a way to start my first day of riding! Our incredible breakfast of crepes, bacon, and fried eggs distracted us a bit from the weather. The weather is part of the Ride so we decided to leave as planned. The first part of the ride was supposed to be quick, flat and easy – a 14 mile ride on the Rock Creek Bike Path. We spent the first hour with our friend Tim Kollar trying to decide if the path before us was actually the Rock Creek Bike Path. Tim was so patient and headed off to his job at the Treasury Department a couple hours late. We mutually decided that his assistance was a good use of the ... More About: Heaven , Felt , Arri , Like
LAURA'S 40th BIRTHDAY!
2007-05-02 05:44:00 By Laura Lee Horak Ride Date: April 26 Chicago, IL to Washington D.C. - 612 Miles (by air) I would like to introduce myself – I’m Laura Lee Horak, Bob Lee’s daughter, 40 years old, wife and mother of four, and your GUEST BLOGGER for the week. In our society turning 40 is considered a major milestone and one that is usually marked by a significant celebration. “Happy Birth day ” is often followed by “do something special for yourself.” This year I took my friends’ advice —literally. I left my 4 children behind in Barrington, IL flew to D.C. on the morning of my birthday, grabbed a Starbucks and People magazine and met my Dad in D.C. for a week of biking. My friends will attest to the fact that I am not one that “leaves my children behind” easily. Without the encouraging support of my friends and family I’m not sure if I would have made this trek. A couple of weeks ago they threw a surprise birthday par... More About: Aura
Jim Bohannon Radio Interview and Podcast Featuring Bob Lee
2007-05-01 19:56:00 Listen to Bob's radio Interview on the Jim Bohannon Show that aired May 1, 2007. Westwood One's Jim Bohannon Show is America’s Premier Late Night Radio Talk Program. The Jim Bohannon Show is on-the-air live from coast-to-coast each weeknight from 10:00 pm to 1:00 am Eastern Time! Thanks for airing a great interview, Jim! Playing time: 10:52(Double Click on the arrow to play) Audio is played from the Jim Bohannon show's Podcast . Subscribe here. More About: View
The Daffodil Principle
2007-05-01 09:35:00 By Bob Lee Ride Date: April 25, Woodbridge, VA to Washington, DC - 38 miles It is a little sad to leave the family stomping grounds, but we need to move forward. I had some good roads... ...and some challenging roads like US 1 —which I needed to call about... ...to ride before I connected with the first bike path on my route. The bike path took me along the edge of the Potomac on the Virginia side. So I could see a little portion of Alexandria. I was in a hurry to meet Katrina Lucas and Beth Fells from the National Hospice Foundation who came to say “hi” and cheer me on. If today were tomorrow, I could have met our daughter Laura at the airport as I rode by. Remember a few days ago, I expressed concern about getting back into heavily populated area and have no bushes to water. Well on the bike path by National Airport there were some port-a-potties. This is class! You can just sit there and open the door and watch the planes. ... More About: The D
There's A First Time For Everything!
2007-05-01 07:42:00 By Bob Lee Ride dates: April 23 & 24 April 23: Richmond, VA to Fredericksburg, VA - 66 MilesApril 24: to Woodbridge VA - 56 Miles On Monday, some fences were knocked down to allow us to have a few firsts. To begin with, recognition by Kim Komando as the “Cool Site of the Day” was a first. This was big! For the past few weeks, we have had an average of about 300 visitors to the site a day. On Monday, there were over 8,600 visitors — areal first place performance. Thanks Kim! Another first is that the odometer clicked past the FIRST 1,000 MILES! Now there are just 5,500 miles to go. Hope you will ride along. How’s your seat? Be sure to get up and stretch every so often. As I started out on my ride, I thought I could be in Italy. I saw these hens roaming the yard. Some people keep Guinea hens to control ticks and Japanese beetles in a natural way. They should have been promoting yesterday a... More About: Time , Everything , Here , Ever , First
My Stories Will Continue on Monday
2007-04-27 19:20:00 I've run into some technical difficulties getting pictures posted here so I won't be putting my road stories up again until next Monday (April 30th). In the meantime, please take a look at some previous stories and you can even review my 2001 ride from the links in the previous post. Also, if you haven't do so, please take a look at my sponsor and donation pages and SUPPORT the great people and companies that are supporting me! Without them, this ride wouldn't be possible. Finally, I've done some good interviews on radio shows lately: The Mitch Albom Show The John Tesh Show The Jim Bohannon Show I'm not sure if the audio from my interviews in available on those sites, but please visit the sites and thank them for helping to promote A Ride For 3 Reasons. And if you are looking for inspiration, how about Stephen Hawking's zero gravity experience yesterday? Despite being a quadriplegic from ALS, Hawking continues to impress and inspir... More About: Stories , Tories , Stor , Will
The Original Ride For 3 Reasons
2007-04-25 00:56:00 Bob needs a rest from writing for today, so I figured I'd take a little heat off of him and give his readers a chance to learn a little about his first ride in 2001. We've broken his ride by state below and you can click each link and learn about the great people Bob met and the wonderful places he visited on his first ride. Please check back tomorrow for Bob's latest update from the road. Thank you for visiting a Ride for 3 Reason s and please tell your friends about this great cause. California Arizona New Mexico Texas (part 1) Texas (part 2) Texas (part 3) Lousiana Mississippi and Alabama Florida (part 1) Florida (part 2) More About: Original , Reasons , Sons
Welcome To Kim Komando Listeners!
2007-04-23 07:13:00 A Ride For Three Reasons is proud to have been selected as a Cool Site of the Day by Kim Koma ndo. Kim Komando produces a great radio show with tips in plain language that will make you a better computer user. Visit her website to find all kinds of tips and information about where you can tune in to her show. Bob has been riding since the end of March. He's really just getting started and he still has a long way to go. If you have ever driven across the country without really seeing anything, this will give you a new point of view. Read through Bob's blog entries and click on the pictures. You'll know you've found something special. If you are feeling ambitious, start at the first day of the ride and keep clicking through. You will find it to be addictive. The Three ReasonsBob says, "Without the reasons and all the people helping, this would just be a long bike ride." It really is much more than that. Be sure to read about th... More About: List , Listen , Oman , Come
Catch Of The Day
2007-04-23 06:32:00 By Bob Lee Ride Dates: April 21 & 22 Hopewell, VA to Richmond, VA - 33 miles, and a day in Richmond After a 77-mile bike ride yesterday, I was happy to find a bed. Not the most desirable neighbors or motel, but a bed. About 9:00 PM, the people in the next room started talking. They continued until 3:45 AM, when I heard someone leave. I might have been better off sleeping next to these railroad tracks. Hopewell was the first industrial town to which I have ridden, a by-product of being on the Fall Line, which I wrote about yesterday. Waterpower was so important to our fore fathers. I hope our current fathers are protecting this resource. As I rode about 3 miles uphill to leave town, I looked down over the edge of a bridge and saw this family fishing on a Saturday morn. “Catch anything?” I shouted from the bridge. Sometimes I am the receiver and sometimes the messenger. This morning I was the me... More About: The D
Against The Wind
2007-04-22 06:07:00 By Bob Lee Ride Date: April 20 Suffolk, VA to Hopewell, VA –77 miles For the past five days, I have been living with the wind. If you are headed north when cool winds are coming from the north, it takes some of the fun from the biking Today, though, I learned a few tips that might help other bikers. Before I reveal these secrets, I would like to share something. My Interview With Mitch AlbomRemember this —the last picture of yesterday’s blog? One of my personal dreams has been to connect with Mitch Albom. He’s the author of Tuesdays With Morrie —the book that inspired me to redirect my life. On the last RIDE Mitch sent a few autographed books, but I was hoping to make a stronger connection on this RIDE. This time, I was interviewed by Mitch on his radio show. The interview was arranged a couple of days ago — Thanks to my friends at Quicken Loans, whose headquarters are in Detroit, where Mitch is also based. We wil... More About: Wind , Again
Bob's Produce Stand
2007-04-21 23:22:00 By Bob Lee Ride Date: April 19, Edenton NC to Suffolk, VA –54 miles Some places I feel rushed! This is one town where I would love to just hang out for a day or two. Enjoy these pictures of the Granville Queen Inn Bed & Breakfast. Remember, if you would like to purchase this Bed & Breakfast send me an e-mail. Wouldn’t it be fun to be a B&B critic and visit them all by bike or car? At dinner, someone said there is a tree that is 2,700 years old. Could that be right? I started to count the rings on this tree, but after an hour and 32 minutes, I decided I had better pedal on. I was confused. Is today Monday? My Mom always hung out the wash on Mondays, and here it is Thursday and the laundry is still out to dry. Does everything take a little longer in the south? In 2001 when I went across country, I saw Lupines like this in Texas. Did I make a wrong turn? No, theirs... More About: Prod , Stand , Produce
Low Rails, High Crosswinds.
2007-04-20 09:56:00 By Bob Lee Ride Date: April 18 Plymouth, NC to Edenton, NC - 38 miles This is a test. RememberTerri from my March 29 Blog? She is the nice lady who shared her boiled peanuts and gave me this Valencia orange. For the past 2½ weeks, I know Anne has been sorting through things in our basement, which we have collected over the years. I think she might even be trying to clean up my office. That’s scary thought. Do you ever keep things longer than you should and then wonder why you did? Well here is a good lesson on what you shouldn’t do when biking self-supported. The picture of the orange was not taken on March 29 when Terri gave it to me. It was taken just this morning. I have carried this orange almost 800 miles waiting for just the right time to enjoy it, but now it is almost petrified. Lesson: Only keep things you will really use. I had a donut in my motel room this morning. It w... More About: High , Rails , Rail , Ross , Winds
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie!
2007-04-19 08:23:00 By Bob Lee Ride Date: April 17 Aurora, NC to Plymouth, NC– 42 miles Questions for today: What was the first town in North Carolina? What was Blackbeard’s real name, and why was his beard black? Please look at the comments on yesterday’s blog to find the answer to yesterday’s question —and put your answers to these in the comments for today. This morning I had to get up early to check on the tides. Was the ferry running? At 6:15, the report was they were going to try a test run to see if there was enough water and no debris in the river. I was told that if they were able to make it to the Aurora Port, the ferry would leave at 7:45. I got there at 7:48. Just in time to wave good-bye to the ferry —and wait two hours for the next ferry. Again, the employees at PCS made me feel at home. They set me up in their employee center to catch up on e-mails and to work on the blog. While there, I saw this paperw... More About: Dogs , Sleeping , Sleep , Ping
Rainy Days and Mondays Always Get Me Down
2007-04-18 09:19:00 By Bob Lee Ride Dates: April 15 - 16 New Bern, NC to Aurora, NC - a very long 38 miles Question of the day: In what products do we use Phosphate? Some things are just meant to be. Isn’t Sunday supposed to be a day of rest? Well this Sunday is, for sure! It is not fit to be out when a Nor’easter comes to the Southeast. On Sunday, we experienced heavy, heavy rains, strong, strong winds, tired legs, and, most importantly, open hearts with an open door. The Brown’s couldn’t have been nicer about extending an invitation for another night. How many would give up their comfortable master bedroom suite to a total stranger. I know two people. Their names are Margo and Bill! When I went downstairs in the morning, I thought I was at home. Every morning Anne makes a large bowl of fresh fruit just like the one I was greeted with, complements of Margo. In addition, on Sundays I sometimes make omelets —but nothing to comp... More About: Rain , Down , Days , Monday , Onda
Rainy Day Media Coverage
2007-04-17 06:21:00 Click HERE to view Sunday's coverage of A Ride For Three Reasons on WCTI In Eastern North Carolina. We'll post the whole video in a multi-platform format when it becomes available. Below are a few still shot captures from the story. More About: Media , Rain , Rage , Cover , Over
I Kept My Helmet On And My Head Low
More articles from this author:2007-04-16 07:42:00 By Bob Lee Ride date: April 14 Sneads Ferry, NC to New Bern, NC – 66 miles Does it really pay to start early? Today, I did start a little earlier since I have over 60 miles to ride before a storm is expected to hit tonight. My goal was to ride through Camp LeJeune on my way to New Bern to spend the night with David and Margo Brown. Some towns really put out the welcoming signs to great you into town, but Sneads Ferry was really doing a dance as I was leaving town. Maybe this guy way trying to tell me something! On this RIDE we will see many sign along the way. Some are funny, some helpful, some confusing and some are sad. This sign is both confusing and sad. How could we leave our troops behind? I will never understand it and I always get a sick feeling when I see it. As I approached Camp LeJeune I should have been warned that some people might not be seeing clearly. A nice sentinel... More About: Head , Helmet , Helm 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
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