I’ve only told a few people so far about my planned ride from San Francisco to Seattle (details) but I am already seeing a trend in questions.

• Are you CRAZY?
  No.
• Why? WHY? Oh dear God, why!?
  When asked a similar question, George Mallory said of his Everest ascent, “Because it’s there.” Maybe Mallory is not a good example because he disappeared up there….
• No, really, why are you doing this?
  After returning from the Peace Corps, it has been exceedingly difficult to get hired in this economy. (Literally dozens of dozens of applications went unanswered; only one phone interview came of it.) I have the health, the time, the equipment and the desire — all at once! Unemployment can be an opportunity if you make the most of it. I’ve had time to do things I have always wanted to do, like start writing a book, learning Spanish, volunteering again, and this ride. A long bike tour like this is a life-long goal of mine.
• Do you know what you’re doing?
  Can’t say I do! Wouldn’t feel comfortable saying so ‘less I done it before. I’ve done a lot of preparing, though, and I am standing on the shoulders of giants. I’m tapping into a resources, such as my friend Steve who is training for a Paris-Brest-and-back 1200K ride in 2011 (or “1102K ride in 2100″ if you’re dyslexic) and another friend Martin who rode the same route in the opposite direction earlier this year. They have been giving me great advice on preparing, packing and routes. Both have described the 30 mile a day plan as “pretty easy”. There is another guy I’ve been following, Stephen Allen, who is riding around the world (see map) on the same bike I have, similarly equipped and he’s doing it with the added challenge of having epilepsy. And there is Andrew Marinelli who got out of the Peace Corps a month after me and then rode his bike 6,000 miles across America to fight world hunger. (6,000 miles? Yes, see the map. Plus he was pulling a 70-80 lbs trailer. ) These people and more have served as resources for information and inspiration.
• Who are YOU supporting? What’s your cause?
  I am riding for the enjoyment and adventure, not for a cause. But if you are inspired to take action I think both Stephen’s fight against world hunger and Andrew’s fight to find a cure for epilepsy are worthy causes. Check out their websites (above) and consider donating to either or both. The “Send Funds” button on this page is for family in case of an emergency. On the other hand, if there is a Rotary Club, school, or library along the route that wants me to stop in a say a few words about my Peace Corps experience, I’d be more than glad to. Just reply to any of my posts to get something planned.
• What’s going to be your biggest problem?
  It’s hard to say at this point but I think the weather is going to be a problem for parts of it. I lived on the Oregon Coast for a year with my friend Robert, so I think I know what to expect. The roads are in pretty good condition right now and there are camping facilities and food all along the route. Martin says there are long stretches in Northern California between camping so whether or not I can make extended distances in the first third of my trip might be a little challenging.
• Will you stay in touch?
  Yes, through (almost) live GPS, blogs updates here at Davey Dave and on Twitter and RSS feeds. Also, if you are signed up and signed in you can send me TXT messages directly to my cellphone for free (a box will appear on my web site when you log in).
• Why are you blogging about this?
  I think humiliation is one of life’s most overlooked motivators. Why did each pharaoh spend his hard earned gold to build a bigger pyramid than the last guy? Would America have ever landed on the moon if we weren’t afraid a CCCP flag was going to be there first? And how many stories with an evil scientist begin with a little kid getting sand kicked in his face? Yes, I’ve got to finish. With the world watching, my pride is on the line.
• This is folly. Can I talk you out of it?
  Sure, I’ll meet you in Seattle in early December. You can buy me a cup of coffee and we can talk about it then.