The Itinerary......

I know many people are wondering about our route...here it is:

Today is Sun. the 20th in Southbury, Ct.
we leave from here to Peekskill , ny via carmel, Ny for lunch
monday 7/21 peekskill ny to hamburg, nj
tuesday 7/22 hamburg, nj to phillipsburg, nj
wed. 7/23 phillipsburg, nj to exton, pa (will be in exton 2 days) come on Phillie!!!!
Fri 7/25 Exton, Pa to Hagerstown, MD.
Sat. 7/26 Hagerstown , Md to Winchester, VA
Sun. 7/27 Winchester, VA. to Mt. Jackson, VA
MOn. 7/28 Mt. Jackson, VA to Staunton, VA
Tues 7/29 Staunton, Va to Buchanan, VA
Wed. 7/30 Buchanan, VA. to Roanoke, Va ( up on the Blue Ridge Pkwy)
Thurs 7/31 Roanoke, VA to Floyd VA
Fri 8/1 Floyd, VA to Fancy GAp, va
8/2 Fancy Gap, VA to Sparta, VA
8/3 Sparta, VA to Boone, NC
8/4 Boone NC to Little Switzerland, NC
8/5 Little Switz., NC to Ashville, NC
8/6 Ashville, NC to Cashiers, NC
8/7 Cashiers, NC to Clarkville, GA
8/8 Clarksville, GA to Lawrenceville, GA

The anniversary of Dale's death is August 9.

It was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times (almost)

Well, we're back!! It is already day 3 and we have some catching up to do with all of you. We had made a deal that we would camp two nights and stay in a moderate hotel on the third night. I am happy to report that we are writing to you from the Crown Plaza in Southbury, Ct. The Massachusetts and Connecticut countryside have been just beautiful. The corn is growing, the hay is bailed, and the sun is shining (well most of the time!). It has been hot. One of the advantages of being on the scoot, is that I have the benefit of "wind chill factor" which even applies in 90 degree weather. The sag wagoneers have been staying cool in the air conditioned van (equipped with twizlers, wasabi peas, and pretzels. Speaking of food, we couldn't leave Southwick this morning without stopping at the bakery across from the campground we stayed at last night. Lemon and raspberry scones, blueberry and raspberry muffins and the wasabi peas made us good to go. Southwick was a great stay, where we camped next to a lovely family from England.

Our final destination today was Southbury but soon after we got into town, trying to find the hotel NOT on the highway, the thunder and lightning began. We sat it out for a while packed in the van, and when we were ready to head off the van did not start. OH OH!! Not to worry, the battery was badly strained, but not dead. I guess we had been leaving the lights on the van. It is all better now!!

Well we made it safe and sound to the hotel. When we logged into the blog we saw that some motorcyclists got wind of our ride and may want to hook up with us. We would love to share this adventure, and build on the great energy we have generated around Dale and her wonderful inspiration.

We can't thank all of you enough for your support and enthusiasm. We are off to Peekskill, NY tomorrow and will have lunch tomorrow at Carmel compliments of Patty Jellison.

We're on the Trail!!!!

Most of you will recall that our target departure date was July 17, 2008. And so it was that yesterday morning we began the journey that is Trails for Dale. For Barbara, the morning began with a birthday breakfast of pink scrambled eggs prepared by her daughter Liza and friend Kori (you guys rock). Soon after the star sag wagoneers arrived, Lois and Betsy, all ready to go!! The send off included multiple family members and friends to cheer us on and see us off. My mother in law, Janet Shea came with a rose bush and shovel to commemorate the journey. Thank you Janet. A special and pleasant surprise included a reporter and photographer from WMUR channel 9, who covered our story with compassion, capturing the spirit of our sacred journey.

After leaving Amherst we headed for the Massachusetts border, accompanied by another scootnick, Michelle Luks, my wonderful friend who said goodbye to us at the Townsend, MA border. Heading down on Routes 13 and 12 we made our way through Sterling, Princeton, and ending the day in West Brookfield, Ma.

The sag wagon does have a special feature, it includes a pop-up camper. For those of you who have been reading the blog, you have a clue as to how old my mother, Lois is!!! Betsy, although reminds us that she used to run a camp when she was in her twenties, doesn't include a campground as one of her top ten places to lodge. However, be that as it may, we had a wonderful camping experience. We set up the pop-up with no trouble, and snuggled in for a good night sleep. (only after a celebratory bottle of champagne!!) At about 2:00 am it became clear that the bullfrogs residing in the pond adjacent to our site, had no intention of refraining from their incessant and emphatic mating croaks!!

After a decent night sleep, we had a camp breakfast of home brewed coffee, organic steel cut oatmeal, eggbeaters, Greek yogurt sprinkled with Mom's homemade trail mix. Who said roughing it couldn't be gourmet?

So we are on day 2, sitting in Mac's with wi fi and updating y"all. We did have one small glitch which included a van, pop-up and dead end street. Does your imagination help you figure out what the problem may have been!! Eddie came to the rescue, moved his car and helped us out. Thank you Eddie!!!!!!

Were heading for Southwick and will speak to you from there. Love, gratitude, peace, joy and hope to you all....xxoo p.s. enjoys the pics

Between a Hawk and a Heart Place

A play on words, yes, but the phrase came to me in response to a profound experience that I had the other day. Some of us believe that the physical world provides cues and suggestions that speak to our conscious and subconscious mind. Sometimes these can be in the form of a person, a song, or even an animal. The Native Americans speak of "totems", animals that we may identify with strongly, whose attributes mirror our own, or inspire us to move in a particular direction or path. I have always had a strong identification with the hawk. Within days of Dale's death, I found myself standing within several feet of one as it sat quietly in a field, bathed in the early morning sunlight. Since that time, barely a day goes by without seeing a hawk, sometimes swooping across the road while on my scooter, or enjoying a meal while perched on a telephone pole above me. Most recently I had yet another sacred encounter. It followed after having spent this past weekend in a yoga teacher training (thank you YogaFit!!!). Upon my return home, my husband and I seized the opportunity to fly our little nylon kites at the local school field. It was about 5:30 in the evening, the sun shining, the sky blue, the breeze gently blowing. We were first jointed by a blue heron making his way above us (another of my totems!). Soon after a red tailed hawk circled above. The hawk soon landed on the nearby telephone pole, content to stay perched there in the late day sun. As we prepared to leave, winding our kite strings, I saw the moon had come up, and reminded Tim that when it was full, it would be time to leave on the Trails for Dale Journey. Tim left before me, having come in the car, and me on my scooter. After he was gone, I was left there in the field, sun on one side, moon on the other, and hawk still perched in front of me on the telephone pole. At that moment I realized that the world had come into perfect balance. I stood on the field of green, facing the sky of blue, with the breeze gently blowing around me, the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left. As I lifted my face to the sky, opening my heart to the Universe, I realized the hawk was still there in front of me, in my heart. The balance and synchronicity of this experience is because of the fact that this entire journey comes from the Heart. When we come from that place, the Universe comes into balance, and everything falls into perfect place. I hope that each of you find your heart's desire, and all the magic that it will bring. Sat Nam.

Reflections on Joy and Hope

We have all heard about things "taking on a life of their own." This has certainly happened with Trails for Dale, and it has become something bigger and more meaningful than I could possibly have hoped. I say this for a number of reasons; not the least of which is the heartwarming and genuine positive feedback I receive from people about this journey. After all, isn't that what we really want from the people around us? We want to know that the things that motivate and are important to us are also valued by others. I believe we call this validation. This is particularly true when we go out on a limb and pursue those things that we feel most passionate about. We wear out hearts on our sleeves and "hope" that the world doesn't think us insane. Well I am here to tell you that when we come from that place, our genuine impulse, that is where we are most sane and purposeful. This has been proven through my experience in life many times, but never like this. It is beyond the use of words to explain.
This past week I started to experience fear and uncertainty about the trip, especially when we had intense rain, lightning and hail storms (the worst of which when I was at the bike shop picking up my scooter). Was it a sign? Should I rethink? Am I insane? My bike was having technical difficulties, again reconsider? NO!!!!! Hold fast to the vision. So when it was questionable if my bike would make it I had options. One was to get a new bike and transfer the unique body of my bike on to the new bike. The new bike a Schwinn Hope bike. The one that Schwinn markets and donates some of the proceeds to breast cancer research. It was where Hope met Joy, and now the two have become One. How perfect that all is, for what is Joy without Hope. What is impulse and inspiration without the Hope, the leap of faith, that following our Joy will lead us to the right place..............and so it has.
The icing on the cake.....The Nashua Telegraph, Andrew Wolfe to be precise, has written a wonderful article about the Journey.........please check it out at http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080705/NEWS01/187593625. Please find your Joy and maintain your Hope and all will be revealed!!!

How Does YOUR Garden Grow??

So much is happening here with respect to Trails for Dale!! The scooter (Joy) is road ready, we have tee shirts and sweatshirts (thank you Betsy), and have already raised over $8,000 for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (thank you Mom and Betsy). What better a time to reflect on ALL the wonderful things we have in our lives. As we move toward accomplishing our goals it becomes very easy to look forward to the next without ever fully having appreciated and ENJOYED that which is "growing in the garden" right in front of us.

This became clear to me recently when I had the wondrous opportunity to travel with the family to a wedding in southern Oregon (thank you Sarah and Taylor!!). Oregon was beautiful with its mountains, rivers, flowers and undeveloped, relaxed atmosphere. I must admit that it was very difficult to leave, and upon returning home I spent some time lamenting the "what ifs" and "how comes" of being here in the northeast. Slowly but surely my perspective shifted (thankfully) and I was reminded of all the opportunity and beauty right here in front of me. A family retreat in Antrim, NH which looks out on the mountains is a short ride away. And so we went this weekend and felt the joy and peace of that place. On the way (on my scooter), I made a brief stop to a friend's home and she showed me her flower garden. It occurred to me that we can create, and do create, our own beautiful gardens, perhaps in our own way. But do we take the time to "smell the roses", to water, nurture, and enjoy the fruits of our labor. Or do we get caught up in "the grass is always greener" syndrome.

Dale enjoyed remarkable gardens. Dale was a woman who knew the meaning of reaping what you sow. Most importantly, Dale knew the value of enjoying the fruits of her labor and finding peace and contentment in it. So next time you find yourself looking "over there" thinking it looks so much better than "over here" , start looking for the flowers in your garden, and if you can't find any........start planting!!!

Penny's From Heaven!!!!

All you have to do is look at Penny's engaging smile and caring eyes to know where her heart is. The Town of Milford, New Hampshire is not only blessed with the most rockin' Biker Chick store in New England, but also one of the nicest people you would ever want to meet as the proprietor, Penny Allen. Biker Chick Essentials is an awesome store with everything you could want or need in the way of clothing and accessories for your biking needs, both FEMALE and male alike!! Inspired by the lack of female gear, Penny opened the store to keep biker chicks in the style and comfort (not to mention protection) that they need and deserve!!

As a new biker chick myself, I thought I would visit the shop to let them know about the Trails for Dales journey. Penny called me personally to tell me she was very interested in being a sponsor, and her enthusiasm has only caused me to feel more determined and validated in this cause. After a visit to the shop, not only did Penny donate a fabulous pink helmet,tee shirt, and more, but also helped to outfit me so that not only will I be safe, but I will be stylin'! I feel so fortunate to have met this wonderful woman, and discover her cool shop. I consider myself a regular now, and thanks to Penny, I will make it to Atlanta with bells on!!!! Thank you Penny, and I will see you soon to keep on shopping!!