"One for the Road...."

New London,CT to Providence,RI with one to go.......best part about todays' ride was that at the end I was able to see Dani and Brit at the hospital. An emotionally draining trip with a huge highlight at the end.
So many good people along and through this ride, that my last blog tomorrow will try to thank all those people. If I miss anyone I apologize in advance.....
In the morning I will leave Hasbro Chidrens' and arrive at Norton H.S. between 2:30/3:00, I feel at this point that I might float in as the emotions are on a high and the ride is still ongoing. Once this ride is over, work will still be needed to be done. As usual I CHALLENGE all of you to make a difference, by doing something, anything, just attempt to make a difference. Trying, effort, is half the battle, lethargy, prograstination will always win without effort.
A ton of times I thought about calling it quits, but I couldn't because I couldn't let Dani, Brit or anyone else think that was okay.
Effort, Attitude, Commitment, Dedication..... Love.
Life is a CHALLENGE, face it!!
Take care of each other and hopefully I'll see you tomorrow.....One for the Road.
As always,
Tom

"Finding Neverland"

I believe the glass is half full, I believe the glasses are "rose" colored, I believe we can all make a difference.....the ride is almost over and because of that some of you will think after this blog I've finally "lost" it. Quite the opposite, I've found it...... today was amazing so this will be a long one.
I'm now in Greenwich,CT, should be Stamford(next door)but the wildest day ended with everything coming together. Christian, Sandra, Anthony, and Kenny at the SHERA--- in Stamford, don't stop trying to make a difference and it was an honor to meet you today.....you just got a real world lesson and it bothered you...that's good so don't stop trying to do the right thing!
Mr. Tom Delaney, Ms. Polly Irving, Maria and Suzy, thank you for being warm, generous and supportive, your Hotel (to be named later) deserves every accolade and award it has received, the staff and facility are inspiring. Maria, you should stay with this company and congrats on your first day, I was glad to be part of it.
I've come to realize why I'm doing this ride, I'm upset that three beautiful young ladies were robbed of the innocence of thier youth in a senseless act of violence that should never have occurred, it was cowardly and has affected so many people who will never be the same again.... a needless tragedy. It's why I ride!
I will spend the rest of my life helping kids and attempting to make a difference...please try to treat each other the way you wish to be treated!
I finish this ride on Saturday, but for me it is only the beginning, I CHALLENGE all of you to find a passion and take it for a ride....when you see me in the future ask me about today and I will gladly share this inspiring story!
Be safe, take care of each other and I will see you all very soon,
Tom
P.S. I miss and love all of you!
P.P.S. Favorite movies......"Finding Neverland", "Big Fish", and "Field of Dreams"

Familiar Faces

AandP, Dunkin Donuts, Cumberland Farms. It's starting to look familiar, and boy do I miss you guys....Dani,Britt and the family I hope to see you all Friday night...I'm only 65+ miles outside of NYC and it feels good.
I appreciate all the support and wish I could bottle all the positive reaction to the ride and spread it among all the problem places and people who really need it.
Dani stay strong and realize so many people are fighting with you, Britt, I can't wait to here that voice, I really miss you guys.
Dad, Ty and the rest of my family, I need a good meal....Ty's birthday....feeling tired and old, but I realize we're almost there......please keep the pledges coming and don't forget the main reason for the ride......another beautiful day, please all remember to enjoy each other...
Love all you guys and take care of each other.....see you soon,
Tom

The "Green Bean Ride" or 147 miles of FUN!

My day off on Sunday paid huge dividends....my legs were strong and I rode the longest ride of my life...147 miles from the dropoff on Fishermens Island,VA to Lewes,DE.....in over 8 hours.
The first 75 miles had green beans all along the roadside , not just in certain areas, but scattered for the whole 75.....go figure, but it certainly piqued my interest.
I caught the Lewes Ferry and made Cape May,NJ by 6pm a amazing day and ride with a ton of stories....The best of which,,upon finding a Hotel late in Cape May, a voice from behind called, "Coach Simms?"....imagine my shock when it turned out to be a girl who went to school with my older son...go figure!!!
Be Good and Talk Soon,
Tom

Triple the fun !!!!

3 Blogs tonight....time to catch up!
Sunday, my only non-riding day.....was long and boring, Spences to the rescue, I had dinner with Doug, Kim, and Andrew....amazing "southern hospitality! It was a wonderful evening topped off by a Red Sox win.
The day off did wonders ......Monday 147 miles from outside Virginia Beach,VA to Rehoboth Beach,DE and Tuesday, 95 miles from Cape May to Toms River,NJ.
I'm going to blog about both rides, I'm staying strong (right knee, talk later) and 4 rides to go....Stay strong and see you all on Saturday...
As always look out for each other,
Tom

"A new look on life"

Erin and Sean, a young couple from Virginia Beach are the latest in a growing list of new and personal friends in my life.....I'm not sure if it's the tragedy or an awakening in myself that has made me more aware of the people who enter and exit my life on a daily basis. For whatever reason I look at people differently, I only wish to surround myself with positive, life is good people!
Life is way to short to mope, complain, ridicule, find fault, etc, etc, etc. It is much more important to try to give 100% on a daily basis, and not what someone else wants me to give, but what I know I should and can do.
I think we have been conditioned to fit in, fit in to someone else's plan......there's only one plan and we don't control it. I know for me this is new, so I don't know where it's going to take me, but I do know it's where I'm suppose to go. Erin and Sean talked about all sorts of young couple issues and it was exciting to hear a youthful exuberant outlook on life.....careers, new family, seeing and living in a brave new world, all part of thier plan. Anxious yet excited
There is only one plan and you deal with it when it presents itself....stay positive and stay strong and go for it.
As always keep each other safe, I miss you all,
Tom
P.S. "A journey of a million miles begins with one step"....Amanda, Dani, Britt, Wayne, Melissa, all of the Canns, and Spences
you are in my prayers and thoughts always!

Conversation with a stranger.........

My leg's, left hamstring/ right knee, are finally feeling the ride.......I knew it would eventually happen so oh well! I had the good fortune of meeting a man, Warren, who helped make the day a success. I made New Bern, NC at 3:30 when at 9:30 this morning I didn't think I had a chance.
We met through an injury stop, and had a chance to talk about the ride and what had brought me to where I was today....he actually cared and listened intently to the horrific tragedy in August that had brought me to this spot in Wilmington, NC.
We talked about much more as he helped me locate ice and we spoke about both our families and the challenges of raising a family in this world. After he departed and I had iced for an hour or so, I decided to continue the ride and made my miles...I went through a half hour torrential downpour and vivid lightning storm but felt invigorated by this chance meeting. It was nice to talk with someone who reinforced my feelings about the world and the good people in it. McKenzie and Harrison, you have a very, very nice man for a Dad, who went out of his way to help a stranger today....Give him an extra hug tonight before bed!
As always, take care of each other and I will see you soon,
Tom
P.S. I spoke with Danielle last night and she sounded great...please keep praying for the whole family, thank you.

Life in the "Fast" lane........

First of all a thank you for everyones prayers as Danielle's surgery went well today. Please keep Dani and the whole family in your thoughts.....
Today was a great ride, about 10 degrees cooler(only 85)and overcast, the legs felt strong and the cars were tolerable. I was talking to Coach Meg today and she asked what I think about while riding for 6+ hours everyday...... The answer is usually everything! Today the reoccuring self conversation was the speed that people go through there day at. It's supersonic....or faster, in other words to fast. Tomorrow do me a favor and slow down a couple of "miles per hour". Realize that we all can make a difference only if we think about it and to do so you have to have time to think! It really is a better way to see and understand where we are, as a parent, boss, coworker, spouse, friend, etc. etc...... Just a thought from todays ride!
I miss all of you and today was the "half way" mark........Please say a prayer tonight for everyone and try to make tomorrow a better day.
Take care of each other and God Bless,
Tom
P.S. Ladies, I hope you're ready for Hoops.....If not then please start to get ready!
Coach

CONGRATULATIONS !!!

My son, Tyler, was named Captain of the Trinity College Mens Basketball Team
for 2007/08.......Great job Ty, I'm very, very proud of you.
Love ya, Dad

Old man on a bike !!!

113 miles today and my legs decided they'd stay back at the hotel. Mt son, Tyler, laughed when I told him about the ride, he said I was to old. It really is nice when your kids worry about you,it would just be nice if they could relay it with a bit of a softer touch.....to bad he was right!
Everyone please say a prayer for Dani, as she had another surgery today. I am so proud of how hard she's fighting and I know your prayers help...so please!
In my "old" age I have come to the realization, that life does work in curious ways. The people I have met on this trip care about people (Canns'/Spences') they have never met, but the horrific story that is now attached to both families hits the heartstrings of everyone....in this month of October, which is National Domestic Violence Awareness month, people have reached out to assist those unknown to them, yet deeply touched by thier tragedy.
Please keep your eyes and ears open and be aware of any family/friend situation that deserves such attention.....don't pry or poke, just be aware, and if you should do more it will be because your heart and head told you to. Never say "I wish I had done something".
Keep each other safe and as always, I miss all of you,
Coach Simms
P.S. "Hey Ty, I still finished todays ride"

Fork in the road......

I took a wrong turn on Tuesday, (10/16) and it cost me an extra 20 miles.....when you ride 7 plus hours you think a lot, so I started thinking about choices we have and how they affect our lives. The reality is that whatever the choice you deal with it, as I rode through the area I wasn't suppose to be in I came upon the widest most beautiful oak tree I have ever seen ( I have a picture! ) and I thought "never would have seen it without the wrong turn". Or was it the "wrong" turn, I had stopped, taken a picture, gotten a breather and continued on in a better frame of mind.
You never know......
Back on the road, as always take care of each other,
Tom

Keep the Faith......(and thank you, Josh Ziegler)

This blog was suppose to be last night....my ride from Brunswick to Savannah. Well long story short, I had a major blow out and was stranded 15 miles outside of Brunswick in the middle of nowhere, USA. Well, that's until a 28 year old logging manager, Josh Ziegler, passed by and took the next 2 and 1/2 hours of his day to bail me out.....a great young man who is making a difference and will continue to do so because he gets it, he CARES! We had a great conversation about everything...It
sounds strange but I know I'll see him again.
After my ride, I had dinner and spent the night with Betty and Ed Oliver, friends of Melissa And Wayne, who live "just 15 minutes" outside of Savannah. I spent the whole day and night with new friends.......I truly had an "awesome" day.
That's why you just have to "keep the faith", my day could not have started out any worse than it did, and look what happened, it turned into an amazing day.
Give things time, they do get better and it is true in the long run they even out...
Stay strong, Keep the faith, and Take care of each other.
As always thinking of you,
Coach Simms

"Over the river, and the river and the...."

I crossed about a dozen or so bridges today, and it said a lot to me about this ride....as you cross a bridge, when you near the middle height, you always wonder what's on the other side. At least that's how I approach a bridge.
So today there was a lot of anticipation during my 97 mile ride from Jacksonville to Brunswick. It helped to break up an otherwise straight and flat ride, but it also made me think about The Cann/Spence extended family and the thousand or so "bridges" they have had to cross the last six weeks. Never knowing what existed on the other side, but always dealing with whatever presented itself. I have more respect for this family than I can ever express, I don't know if I would be as strong or could keep my faith as they have....you hope and beleve you would stay strong, but until you walk in those shoes....
Say a prayer for the girls, for the family, and hold your loved ones' a little closer. Keep crossing those bridges!
As always,
Tom

Stay Strong

Danielle, Brittany, and Amanda.......109 miles of thinking about you! I rode from Daytona to Jacksonville today and it wasn't easy.....A rare "dry" day in FLA, that's
the good news....bad news a 15 mile an hour north wind for 7 and 1/2 hours, so a 6 hour ride took 25% longer. I kept thinking " you've been telling the girls for six weeks to stay strong", so Coach "stay strong"...well it worked, I finished.
I think to many times, we as adults forget to practice what we preach. I truly believe that this whole "experience" has changed me to "stay strong" and to practice what I preach.
Dani, I hope you're doing well and fighting through all your road blocks, I'm so very proud of you! Amanda, I hope school is going well and that you are not overdoing it, I picked up something in Daytona that will make you smile! Brit, work hard at therapy and no steps backward just forward. I miss you guys tell Dad and Melissa I said "hi"!
I head to Brunswick, GA in the morning, they are doing a fundraiser at the hotel... imagine that people in Georgia, a thousand miles away helping out! A lot of the good things in this world just go unnoticed.
To all my family, friends, kid's and supporters, "Stay strong" and take care of each other. I miss all of you, but think of you all the time.
Stay safe and I will see you soon!
Tom
About 1,150 to go.....

Time to Ride!! Orlando to Norton

It's time......I need your help..... it's time to start back and 1,360 miles from now I'll be back at Norton High School.
I feel great and the weather is perfect, however we need more pledges, so please see a NHS Lady Lancer Basketball player and make a donation for the Cann sisters.
I move into Norton when I return and it truly is a community that cares.....
I'm hoping to get a Corporate sponsor while on the ride ...any ideas let me know....you can email me at coachsimms@gmail.com
or just call my cell....I'll appreciate the company!
While on the flight down here, I was thinking about this about why I ride.......a few of the answers I came up with were,
Because I can.....for Danielle, for Amanda, for Britt....to show EFFORT.......for hope, for awareness, for peace......I ride for my kids, all of you.......I ride because can....I ride to make a difference.
To me that's it to make a difference, if all of you accomplish one thing in life make it that you made a difference!
I'm proud of all of you because you care........you make Norton proud and you should be proud of yourselves....I will miss all of you while I'm away, go out get pledges and make a difference.........It all goes to Dani, Britt, and Amanda.
I'll blog every couple of days with trip news....be safe and take care of each other.....I'll see you all on the 27th!
As always,
Coach Simms