A message from the Connecticut Burns Care Foundation

Ryan and Dwight hope to raise $10,000 to support the burn camp, which will host 70 children between the ages of 8 and 18. They are determined to reach the West Coast as a personal challenge as well as helping young burn survivors.

Started in 1991, the Arthur C. Luf Children's Burn Camp is located in northern Connecticut on 176 acres. Every summer, burn survivors come to the burn camp, which is a safe and fun environment that helps kids heal emotionally and physically. The Burn Camp is free to the children, who come primarily from the Northeast and some foreign counteries, but any burn survivor child anywhere is welcome. More than 70 adult counselors, primarily active and retired firefighters and burn unit nurses, occupational and physical therapists, child psychologists and even a doctor will serve as mentors for the week.

It's also our goal to promote burn awareness and fire prevention and education, which we do year around. We sponsor a burn survivor, burned in a car accident that involved speeding and drinking alcohol, who speaks to high school students throughout Connecticut. We also support the burn unit at Bridgeport Hospital, helping to purchase equipment.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Look at this tough guy

We passed him yesterday on his aged equine ranch on one of the 50 miles between Boyertown, PA and Manheim Township, just east of Lancaster, PA. We also passed a pizza joint, where we succumbed to the temptation of the 16" Square Sicilian. Our eyes proved bigger than our stomachs (mine did, anyhow). That last half slice, I just couldn't face it. Ryan faced his. To the face, full speed.

Some ominous clouds appeared up ahead as we approached Lancaster. We tried to out ride them, but the storm broke on top of us, soaked us in an instant. Then the thunder started cracking around us, and my chain chose that very moment to slip off the back rings and take cover under a screw that holds my rack in place. Not sure how it got there, but it refused to budge. This little maneuver was unprecedented on the chain's part, and could not be remedied without a moderately time-consuming procedure. So I had to make a mad-dash for cover by foot. The following blood-thrilling images by Ryan Gilhuly are the result. We eventually made it to my good friend Brian's house, and had a very dry, comfortable night.

The other day we rode about 55 miles from Washington, NJ to Boyertown, PA, where we spent the night in a camp site. We met with a great deal of kindness just over the state line, in Easton, PA, where the folks at Gensis bikes used every resource at their disposal to help us find the best route west (phone calls, maps, websites, and free use of their computers to see what we could find). A block away from there, V., the proprietor of Nature's Way Market, gave us a warm reception and lots of free stuff. Many thanks to all these people for their generous help.


4 comments:

Unknown said...

Oi! I thought you broke your camera?

Dwight said...

I did break my camera, Ryan has been good enough to let me use his on a need basis until I can fix or replace mine.

Uncle Mike said...

Hey Ryan,

Hope your journey continues to be a safe and enjoyable one... you lunatic! Please be careful! You are in our thoughts. Godspeed! We love you!

Uncle Mike, Auntie Roz, Emma, Kevin and Shane

Ryan said...

Hahah, thanks Mike. Great to hear from you guys. Hope all is well. Talk to you soon.