For Good Health in Honor of My Mother: Motivation

Life is full of surprises: some bad ones and some good ones – many life changing events. On March 27th 2008 my car was smashed while it sat parked on the road outside of my apartment and I lay in bed. I intended to get a bike for my birthday on April 23rd. Now my plans for riding a bike to work and exploring alternative transportation were set into motion earlier than expected. So I head out on March 31st to pick up a new bike at the local bike shop here in Burlingame California. My sister Melony dropped me off at the shop and I rode my new bike home from there. It felt great. With the wind on my face, the freedom from traffic and the body motions. I felt alive. Memories from riding to school and around town when I was younger came back to me. The ride home was pleasant. I smiled all the way. As soon as I walked in the door my sister put mom on speaker phone - she explained her situation with breast cancer. I immediately felt like I needed to see her before any treatment began. The next few days I started thinking about riding my bike to Oregon and the plans started to develop. I will ride my bike to Oregon for good health in honor of my mother.

I flew up and spent some time with her the weekend before mothers day.

All through April I start reading up on routes and riders. Many choose the coast line. I take note of the gear other riders take with them and tips for fixing flats on the road. Learn to wet a bandana and place it under my helmet to stay cool. Cary three water bottles and fill up at just about every town. Study maps of endless roads, campgrounds en route and T-mobile service. My route is a little different though. I chose to go up the middle and visit the lakes between here and there. I’m calling my ride from San Francisco California to Springfield Oregon, although I’m starting at my apartment in Burlingame. The trip begins July 2nd, 2008.

Along the way, if I have service, I will be sending updates with picture messages to this website. You can never rely on cell phone service so don't worry if there are periods longer than others without any updates. There are three major checkpoints from here to there: Santa Rosa, while I'm heading north to Clearlake, Redding, just before Shasta Lake, and Klamath Falls, which is a beautiful place on it's own, but it is the last place to find decent service before Crater Lake, which will have none, and Springfield Oregon where my mother lives.

-Nathaniel Burnett


Just recently my Great Grandmother passed away. She reached her 90's and lived a strong healthy life. Now her son, my Great Uncle Bill suffers from diabetes and has fallen into a deep comma. I think of Bill and hope the best for him and those close to him and our family. I am optimistic and think of happy memories of my Uncle Bill and Great Grandmother. How funny Bill was and how he gave my sisters and I a dollar for every feather that we could find in the park. I think of the hot summers spent in Oklahoma at my Great Grandmothers house.

Tragedies happen. Freeze up and continue to die or Rise up & continue to live.