Good evening,
Yesterday, we took our first day off of the trip to give our legs and body a rest. Consequently, I have little to report since we spent the entire day in bed. I don't think Carson woke up until four in the afternoon...
Today, we were back on the road, covering thirty-five miles in the back roads of rural North Carolina. Today's skate was great, as there was relatively little traffic on the roads and many of them were recently paved. Additionally, our legs were fresh from our day off, and we were quick to cover all of our mileage. We probably would've stayed on our skates all day if it were not for our 3:30 television interview in Wilmington, NC.
Our events in the North are starting to come together. I dont want to jinx anything, and I know I shouldnt say this, but....We are 500 miles into the skate and no one has fallen yet.
Check back for tomorrow's blog to hear about my fall/crash.
Bests,
Dan T.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Busy Busy
Wednesday began early, with a 5:40 wakeup call for our early morning skate. Our day was action packed, so we wisely decided to skate early avoiding the 100 plus degree weather. We finished our skate before 10:30, packed our bags, and checked out of the hotel, as we were thrilled to have the opportunity to visit some kids at the Richards Program.
We arrived a few minutes before noon and were warmly received by the kids and staff. Starving from the skate, we were immidiately thankful that the staff set out an incredible lunch that we devoured. I think Carson set the record with five full plates. After lunch, the kids were anxious for some physical exercise so we went to a gym a couple miles down the street.
Basketball was the game of choice for the kids, and there was one young fellow that perfected the hook shot. Oh baby, I think he made nearly 10 in a row...it was awesome to see the excitement in his face. The kids were amazed as Jason showed off his slam dunking skills. Dan tried to do the same, but unfortunatley, he wasn't able to copy the dunk with the same ease as Jason. The activity quickly shifted from basketball to dancing. Dan captured the dance floor action with our video camera as the kids, staff, Carson, and I performed the "Cha Cha" dance. It was amazing to see the smiles on the faces of both the kids and the staff, everyone was having a great time and the kids had an afternoon to remember. One of the kids remarked to his aid, "Today is a great day." Our visit, and a fun filled afternoon came to an end with a game of musical chairs.
After a couple hours of work we decided to hit the beach for an hour, a luxury that we will soon miss when we start heading west towards Raleigh, North Carolina.
Today we have a much needed day off to relax and rest our bodies before skating out early friday morning. Please keep sending us messages, we love reading your comments after a tough skate.
Yours in skating,
Sean S.
We arrived a few minutes before noon and were warmly received by the kids and staff. Starving from the skate, we were immidiately thankful that the staff set out an incredible lunch that we devoured. I think Carson set the record with five full plates. After lunch, the kids were anxious for some physical exercise so we went to a gym a couple miles down the street.
Basketball was the game of choice for the kids, and there was one young fellow that perfected the hook shot. Oh baby, I think he made nearly 10 in a row...it was awesome to see the excitement in his face. The kids were amazed as Jason showed off his slam dunking skills. Dan tried to do the same, but unfortunatley, he wasn't able to copy the dunk with the same ease as Jason. The activity quickly shifted from basketball to dancing. Dan captured the dance floor action with our video camera as the kids, staff, Carson, and I performed the "Cha Cha" dance. It was amazing to see the smiles on the faces of both the kids and the staff, everyone was having a great time and the kids had an afternoon to remember. One of the kids remarked to his aid, "Today is a great day." Our visit, and a fun filled afternoon came to an end with a game of musical chairs.
After a couple hours of work we decided to hit the beach for an hour, a luxury that we will soon miss when we start heading west towards Raleigh, North Carolina.
Today we have a much needed day off to relax and rest our bodies before skating out early friday morning. Please keep sending us messages, we love reading your comments after a tough skate.
Yours in skating,
Sean S.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
101 Farenheit
Hi Folks,
Well I think the story of today is the heat. Over the past two days, our pace has been swift too say the least, as we covered nearly 80 miles. Other than a few snakes and a quick rainstorm, the skates were quite uneventful.
Today's heat was an event in itself. Carson and I started the skate just north of Georgetown, South Carolina. While the first two miles proved to be quick and easy, I noticed myself drinking my water at a gold medal marathon runner like pace over the next two miles. I continued my skate, and for the first time of the trip, I was really tired and drained from the heat. When my turn came to drive 10 miles later, I was excited to jump in our bright red van. With two Gatorades in my hand, I got behind the wheel, and there it was....101 degrees. Boy were we in for a test.
Now, sitting behind your computer, you aren't truly getting a clear picture of rollerblading in 101 degree weather, not to mention the humidity found in the South. Well, if you want an idea, I suggest finding the nearest sauna. Crank that puppy on high. Now, put on some gear; a helmet, full clothes, rollerblades, and a backpack with about 30 pounds worth of weights. Next, do jumping jacks in that sauna, in full gear for the next 4 hours. That will give you a fair idea of today's skate.
Forunatly, we were rewarded for today's oven skate as we pulled into our hotel parking lot. The Holliday Inn in Surf City donated us a room with a balcony overlooking the beach for the night. Work hard, play hard.
To the college hockey fans following us on the USCHO Messageboard (Thanks Mr. Vadney for updating the crew and informing us of your interest). We challenge each of you to donate the price of a ticket to one regular season game to our cause. Please make a note of which team you support, so we can make a running list of what teams are represented by their fans. We'd like to see which team has the greatest representation. Thanks for the support as a college athlete, and thanks for the continued support in our new challenges.
Bests,
Dan T.
Well I think the story of today is the heat. Over the past two days, our pace has been swift too say the least, as we covered nearly 80 miles. Other than a few snakes and a quick rainstorm, the skates were quite uneventful.
Today's heat was an event in itself. Carson and I started the skate just north of Georgetown, South Carolina. While the first two miles proved to be quick and easy, I noticed myself drinking my water at a gold medal marathon runner like pace over the next two miles. I continued my skate, and for the first time of the trip, I was really tired and drained from the heat. When my turn came to drive 10 miles later, I was excited to jump in our bright red van. With two Gatorades in my hand, I got behind the wheel, and there it was....101 degrees. Boy were we in for a test.
Now, sitting behind your computer, you aren't truly getting a clear picture of rollerblading in 101 degree weather, not to mention the humidity found in the South. Well, if you want an idea, I suggest finding the nearest sauna. Crank that puppy on high. Now, put on some gear; a helmet, full clothes, rollerblades, and a backpack with about 30 pounds worth of weights. Next, do jumping jacks in that sauna, in full gear for the next 4 hours. That will give you a fair idea of today's skate.
Forunatly, we were rewarded for today's oven skate as we pulled into our hotel parking lot. The Holliday Inn in Surf City donated us a room with a balcony overlooking the beach for the night. Work hard, play hard.
To the college hockey fans following us on the USCHO Messageboard (Thanks Mr. Vadney for updating the crew and informing us of your interest). We challenge each of you to donate the price of a ticket to one regular season game to our cause. Please make a note of which team you support, so we can make a running list of what teams are represented by their fans. We'd like to see which team has the greatest representation. Thanks for the support as a college athlete, and thanks for the continued support in our new challenges.
Bests,
Dan T.
Monday, July 9, 2007
Greetings from Georgetown S.C. First off, on behalf of the Rolling for Autism team I would like to thank all of the great people in Charleston South Carolina who made us feel at home while in town. We appreciate your love and support more than you will ever know.
After sitting down to a quick breakfast we hit the road headed towards Georgetown. Although we planned to skate 40 miles on the day things got a bit slippery around mile 35. With Jason, Sean, and Dan on the road and myself behind the wheel of our beautiful red mini-van, we figured it would be a quick final 5 miles. This was hardly the case. I drove up three miles figuring I would check in with the boys and see if they needed anything. After three or four cars drove by with their lights on I decided to check the rear view mirror. I soon realized that an all out rain storm had quickly moved in. I couldn't help but chuckle as I turned the van around on a rescue mission. It just so happened that last night we forgot to charge our 2-way radios so the guys weren't able to call ahead and report their situation. Less than a mile back I saw the RFA team trying to push forward despite the flooding rain. After the guys told me how they felt about me leaving them in the rain they piled in the van and waited for the storm to subside. After finishing the skate we checked into our hotel room and after making a few phone calls we headed to Pawley Island for some quality beach time. This too would be interrupted when I spotted a fin protruding from the water just off shore. Although we were not sure whether it was a shark or a harmless dolphin, we were not daring enough to stick around and find out. We finished our day by enjoying some of the local cuisine and then retired to our hotel room to finish up some work and watch the MLB Home Run Derby.
With nearly 400 miles of our 2000 mile adventure complete, we look forward to our arrival in Myrtle Beach and making our way north. Although we are tired and a bit beat up after two weeks on the road we are inspired by all those in the Autism community who continue to support our efforts. Keep the posts coming they are greatly appreciated by all of the members of the RFA team.
All the best,
Carson
After sitting down to a quick breakfast we hit the road headed towards Georgetown. Although we planned to skate 40 miles on the day things got a bit slippery around mile 35. With Jason, Sean, and Dan on the road and myself behind the wheel of our beautiful red mini-van, we figured it would be a quick final 5 miles. This was hardly the case. I drove up three miles figuring I would check in with the boys and see if they needed anything. After three or four cars drove by with their lights on I decided to check the rear view mirror. I soon realized that an all out rain storm had quickly moved in. I couldn't help but chuckle as I turned the van around on a rescue mission. It just so happened that last night we forgot to charge our 2-way radios so the guys weren't able to call ahead and report their situation. Less than a mile back I saw the RFA team trying to push forward despite the flooding rain. After the guys told me how they felt about me leaving them in the rain they piled in the van and waited for the storm to subside. After finishing the skate we checked into our hotel room and after making a few phone calls we headed to Pawley Island for some quality beach time. This too would be interrupted when I spotted a fin protruding from the water just off shore. Although we were not sure whether it was a shark or a harmless dolphin, we were not daring enough to stick around and find out. We finished our day by enjoying some of the local cuisine and then retired to our hotel room to finish up some work and watch the MLB Home Run Derby.
With nearly 400 miles of our 2000 mile adventure complete, we look forward to our arrival in Myrtle Beach and making our way north. Although we are tired and a bit beat up after two weeks on the road we are inspired by all those in the Autism community who continue to support our efforts. Keep the posts coming they are greatly appreciated by all of the members of the RFA team.
All the best,
Carson
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Our Visit to the Ranch
Good Morning,
Yesterday's visit to the Charleston Area Therapeutic Horseback Riding Center gave us the chance to see an entirely new approach towards building the confidence of and physical rehabilitation for children with developmental disabilities.
Early yesterday morning, we set out to Johns Island to visit the Charleston Therapeutic Horseback Riding Center. We arrived at the enormous ranch about thirty minutes early, certainly dressed out of place with our flip flops for a couple of guys spending some time at a horse farm. Upon arrival, we were greeted by program director, Murray Neale who has quite the extensive backround in both riding, physical education, and therapy. We were also greeted by several dogs, but fortunatly, the intentions of these dogs were a little bit better than those we meet on the road.
Within minutes, a 10 year old boy, Tyler arrived for his first horseback riding lesson. While Murray prepared Tyler for his first ever ride, we helped the ranch hands prepare an enormous horse, "Rebel" to be ridden. Contrary to his name, Rebel was quite the easy tempered horse, and showed incredible patience as Tyler hesitantly began his first horseback riding lesson.
I guess the best way to describe the next series of events is to describe the beginning and the end...you can figure out the middle. When Tyler first approached Rebel, he was reluctant to pet the large horse. An hour later, Tyler was steering rebel through a course made up of four northern rollerbladers. The size of the smile on Tyler's face was huge...only rivaled by the size of the blister on Orto's heal from skating.
We also skated in some of the nastiest heat of the trip, appeared on Channel 5 news, and went out in Charleston last night. For details, shoot us an email.
Bests,
Dan T.
Yesterday's visit to the Charleston Area Therapeutic Horseback Riding Center gave us the chance to see an entirely new approach towards building the confidence of and physical rehabilitation for children with developmental disabilities.
Early yesterday morning, we set out to Johns Island to visit the Charleston Therapeutic Horseback Riding Center. We arrived at the enormous ranch about thirty minutes early, certainly dressed out of place with our flip flops for a couple of guys spending some time at a horse farm. Upon arrival, we were greeted by program director, Murray Neale who has quite the extensive backround in both riding, physical education, and therapy. We were also greeted by several dogs, but fortunatly, the intentions of these dogs were a little bit better than those we meet on the road.
Within minutes, a 10 year old boy, Tyler arrived for his first horseback riding lesson. While Murray prepared Tyler for his first ever ride, we helped the ranch hands prepare an enormous horse, "Rebel" to be ridden. Contrary to his name, Rebel was quite the easy tempered horse, and showed incredible patience as Tyler hesitantly began his first horseback riding lesson.
I guess the best way to describe the next series of events is to describe the beginning and the end...you can figure out the middle. When Tyler first approached Rebel, he was reluctant to pet the large horse. An hour later, Tyler was steering rebel through a course made up of four northern rollerbladers. The size of the smile on Tyler's face was huge...only rivaled by the size of the blister on Orto's heal from skating.
We also skated in some of the nastiest heat of the trip, appeared on Channel 5 news, and went out in Charleston last night. For details, shoot us an email.
Bests,
Dan T.
Friday, July 6, 2007
Friday Night from the Hotel...
It's 10:22 on a Friday Night and we are all in bed. Eighty miles of skating over the past two days certainly pays its toll on the body...not to mention the 94 degree heat, the humidity, and the golf ball sized mosquitos. Carson's knees hurt, Streich's shins hurt, my right calf hurts, and Orto's knees, hamstrings, heels, feet, back, glutes, and head hurt.
The emails and donations have really started to pick up over the past few days. Keep them coming. All of your letters, notes, emails, well wishes, and donations really pick up our spirits when the sun gets too hot or the hills get to steep.
We are visiting a therapeutic horseback riding ranch outside of Charleston tomorrow, so we should have some interesting stories to follow. Hopefully, we will be more successful riding the horses than Striech was riding the surfboard today.
A big thank you to the Heinlen family for dinner tonight and their hospitality.
Till next time,
Dan T.
The emails and donations have really started to pick up over the past few days. Keep them coming. All of your letters, notes, emails, well wishes, and donations really pick up our spirits when the sun gets too hot or the hills get to steep.
We are visiting a therapeutic horseback riding ranch outside of Charleston tomorrow, so we should have some interesting stories to follow. Hopefully, we will be more successful riding the horses than Striech was riding the surfboard today.
A big thank you to the Heinlen family for dinner tonight and their hospitality.
Till next time,
Dan T.
Rolling for Autism Comes to Dataw
After meeting up with Dan, Sean, Carson and Jason briefly in Savannah and Charleston I was excited to host them for the day at my mother's house on Dataw Island located just outside of Beaufort, South Carolina. They arrived shortly after 3pm having completed forty miles of rollerblading in 90 degree weather and humidity which some believe to be unbearable. After Dan polished off the entire plate of brownies my mother had baked for them the guys began the task of attacking the oversize laundry bag stuffed to the brim with dirty socks, under armour gear, and someone’s very special pair of orange underwear. With the multiple loads of laundry underway, we were off to the pool. A few curious residents came over to talk about their trip including a proud Union alum and a lady who may have taken a special interest in Carson, she may not have been Jenny McCarthy but I heard no complaints.
Although raising money for autism is the number one goal of this great adventure, apparently spotting an alligator was also on the top of the list of things to accomplish during their 2,000 miles. I hadn't been gator hunting for about three summers when I took the 4 and 7 year old brothers I was babysitting but I was happy to help out anyway I could. We left Jason to relieve his "two week golf itch," traded in their rollerblades for golf carts, and set off to find some gators. Our mission was a success. The first lagoon allowed Dan to play tough guy which entailed throwing pine cones at a gator, its size...about three feet long. With that baby alligator officially traumatized we figured it was better to move on and avoid a run in with its parents. However this did not stop any of us from trying out our luck with the creatures lurking around Dataw; for example when Sean did a little trespassing to get closer to another gator baby or when Carson offered up his shoe to allow for me to smack a gator in the face (why the only girl stood up to the challenge I’ll let the boys explain). Gators were the main attraction of our golf cart adventure however we made a little visit to rearrange some people’s crab traps, check out the marina and recklessly drive the golf carts into one another after which Carson announced he will never ride in a motor vehicle with me ever again. We found Jason on the golf course perfecting his swing and tried our best to distract him, which included Dan’s own PG-13 version of a sports fan streaking across the green, however Jason held strong.
Overall, Dan, Sean, Carson and Jason had a long and full day putting forth a tremendous effort on the road working for a great cause and I couldn’t have been happier having them join me at home even if just for one day. I wish them the best of luck the rest of their journey and anticipate great success from Rolling for Autism and from each of them individually in the future.
Gretchen Olney
Although raising money for autism is the number one goal of this great adventure, apparently spotting an alligator was also on the top of the list of things to accomplish during their 2,000 miles. I hadn't been gator hunting for about three summers when I took the 4 and 7 year old brothers I was babysitting but I was happy to help out anyway I could. We left Jason to relieve his "two week golf itch," traded in their rollerblades for golf carts, and set off to find some gators. Our mission was a success. The first lagoon allowed Dan to play tough guy which entailed throwing pine cones at a gator, its size...about three feet long. With that baby alligator officially traumatized we figured it was better to move on and avoid a run in with its parents. However this did not stop any of us from trying out our luck with the creatures lurking around Dataw; for example when Sean did a little trespassing to get closer to another gator baby or when Carson offered up his shoe to allow for me to smack a gator in the face (why the only girl stood up to the challenge I’ll let the boys explain). Gators were the main attraction of our golf cart adventure however we made a little visit to rearrange some people’s crab traps, check out the marina and recklessly drive the golf carts into one another after which Carson announced he will never ride in a motor vehicle with me ever again. We found Jason on the golf course perfecting his swing and tried our best to distract him, which included Dan’s own PG-13 version of a sports fan streaking across the green, however Jason held strong.
Overall, Dan, Sean, Carson and Jason had a long and full day putting forth a tremendous effort on the road working for a great cause and I couldn’t have been happier having them join me at home even if just for one day. I wish them the best of luck the rest of their journey and anticipate great success from Rolling for Autism and from each of them individually in the future.
Gretchen Olney
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