First Day on the Road

It was a great day starting with the Gong at the beautiful Amsterdam office with a bunch of really great people. Including folks from The Netherlands chapter of Make a Wish. Thanks to everyone in the Amsterdam office for making me feel so welcome and for the gifts and the generous donation. And a big thanks to Rene Geskes and Hendrik Koppe for joining me on my way out of Amsterdam. It really was a special day for me.

Holland is a beautiful country but i have to say the wind kicked my butt. 25-30 mph directly out of the south (which of course is the direction i'm headed). I did about 80 miles today and am in Dussen, Holland staying at a place called Hotel De Koppelpaarden. And i am not kidding when i say this, right now there is a wedding reception going on under my room. These folks are crazy ! So far i've heard "Thank God I'm a Country Boy", assorted Sinatra and even the ageless Billy Idol's "White Wedding". Anyway, some Advil PM should get the songs out of my head. 

I have some video footage from today but i can say its very boring. I forgot to record when a police officer who looked like the Chef from The Muppets pulled me over for being on a street i shouldn't have been on. He then proceeded to escort me to this insane hotel i'm in now. I digress

Thank You Kim Smith from Make a Wish for all the text message from the children and from you and your crew. It put a huge smile on my face.

A reporter from a Financial newspaper in The Netherlands asked me today why i do this. He seemed perplexed with the whole idea. How i came up with the idea, why i put myself through such grueling rides, and why alone. My answer to him in General was... These are sick kids who want to smile and forget about there illnesses for a short period of time. I would ask how one can not understand that. The alone part of it gives me time to reflect and think about the kids and without someone else telling me i'm lost :) I also have two daughters whom i love very much and i think about them while i'm out here and how lucky i am. 

ok. enough of the sentimental stuff. Tomorrow i'm headed south and will end up somewhere. Hopefully not a hotel with a horrid DJ. Right now he's playing a hopped up version of "She'll be com in Round the Mountain"

Thanks again everyone for helping me get this ride together and all of your well wishes and of course, donations.