Dear Friends

I have attached the blogs of the previous days. Our activity is being coordinated vigorously by an amazing gentleman whom we discovered in Canton, connected by our Tiles master Lars. This is John Stone who is creator of "HeArtscommingtogether" and pioneer in Photography & Journalism, a driver of Love train & Free hugs and many more! He is helping AIDS Ride 2008 to a great extent all the way we are hiting. Please meet this amazing guy at heartslovetrain@aol.com.

Blogs are attached down, read and enjoy

Our stay at Gurudwara was so cool but hurting. Unlike anyother Gurudwara the Priest can't use his power to offer shelter for a stranger. This was something wiered. And it annoyed me when the priest says, we got to out and pitch our tent that night after all hospitality given by the same, like food, shelter during the day, bathing, Langer etc. This shows the people are out of the charity mission unlike the other Gurudwaras. One contradiction what I also found was that we are the first person to stay in the Gurudwara but the President, Dr. Bandra told me that it's a small set and lots of stragers and truck drivers are always accommodated. This was pretty much in contriduction!



Whatsoever, I told them boldly that we got permission from Dr. Bandra which the priest was ignoring as he did not get any message from him, where he failed to do his proper work!!!



1st July 2008, Tuesday



Total Miles covered: 88 miles



Problems faced: Dog Menace, Very Hot day, Hitch Hackers threat



Started our journey from Gurudwara by 9am after calling to Ganya and his friend from Channel 3. All calls were hopeless though. We started for the day. Giri was so missing his family. He wants to argue with me for the phone call what he wants to do whilst I have only 3.6 dollars in the phone and we have 6 dollars in the pocket! I kept silent saying no to the phone call due to the critical situation. Then we happen to meet the Bobby very good Channel 3 media guy who did awesome coverage of AIDS Ride 2008. However, we were missed after the final shot and could not collect any business cards as we planned L.

Well, we covered 30 miles all the way in the city on Walnut groove road and Union Avenue towards the 70/79 & the Crump Blvd further on highway from the bridge, then broad view road connecting the West Memphis in Arkansas. The bridge we cross before actually divides the Tennessee and the Arkansas. We were glad to step in the new state and felt the coverage satisfactions! It was so long time to catch the 79 route from that we really had to look the map couple of times more. However, we could get in to it. Before that Mr. Khalid the Deli shop owner donated 20$ and gave us good food and drinks we need. He is from Palestine. We were completely satisfied and full to hit the 79 all the way to Chatfield 10 miles, Huges 6 miles, Brickeys 8 miles, 24 miles to Marianna. Altogether covering 88 miles approximately.



One weired thing was that nights journey in a statutory warning area that was written, "Penintiary Area', Beware of Hitchhikers". We actually did not get the meaning of that and were scared after crossing Brickeys. The time was so dark, we were with torch, the dogs chased us but narrowly saved ourselves. We hold the guts continuing for all the 204 miles with a non-stop hit, until the destination of the day was reached.





2nd July 2008,



Number of miles covered: 77 miles



Problems confronted: Hot day, ride in wild Forests



Started from Marianna covered 20 miles to Monroe, met Stacy, a restaurant manager who gave us complete and rich food to ride and cover a great distance. Reached Monroe, 12 miles to Clarendon, 13 miles to Ulm, 7 miles to Stuggut, 8 miles to Humphery, 7 miles to Wabbasekha and 10 miles lastly reached Pine Bluff, the destination of the day. The last 20 miles was freaking as usual, riding in wild life refuge/forest area at the bank of the rivers. During nighttime we pretty much do non-stop 10 to 20 miles with a continuous biking! We happen to meet Tempa a lady from Stuggart who narrates the minimal schooling, lack of transport, mosquito menace etc. It's so surprising that GFATM works only for developing nations but indeed there are people from developed nations like in Americas needs the same attention!!! The reason because lots of factories are in the city limits which are throwing off the chemical wastes in the city canals and lots of swamps and putrified flora across the canal and the linked path were so much noticed. People hardly talk about AIDS except what they have learned in schooling!!! I hardly notice any USAID branch working in the deep Americas, unlike NACO or SACO in India!!!



Total miles covered:





3rd July 2008,



Total miles covered: 89 miles



Started 7 am from Pine Bluff from a Motel where we pitched our tent called America's Best Inns& Suites. There was a receptionist who was so amicable and helped us find a place to halt for the last night. As we started from Pine Bluff hitting 79 covering 8 miles to Watson Chappel, 20 miles to Risen, 9 miles to Kingsland, 7 miles to Fordyce. We covered 4+3+15 miles tracking on 167 from Fordyce and then reached the Hampton and 16 miles to Calion a non-stop peddling. The day was dawn and the got ready with flash lights and torch and covered 12 miles to El Dorado by 9.30 pm. Today our rate of riding was 10 miles per hour on an average. We got great lunch offered at Fordyce, I forget to collect his name. And we lastly pitched our tent at a Gas station in El Dorado suburbs. There was no good sleep infact, lots of sound and running trucks and parking trucks with their engine on through out the night, very suffocating and hot to lay down. We then removed the cover of the tent for more ventilation which was better actually and able to take a nap at 3am!!!





4th July 2008,



Total miles covered: 65 miles



Problems confronted: Numerous hills, bad road texture, Dog menace, and very hot climate, a ride across National Forests



Started at El Dorado, 9.30 am at a Gas station. We have met few young ladies who were working in the gas station helped us pitch our tent last night. These ladies Buggsy, Nikki, Mariah and Sheryl were so nice to us and one of them Vikki saw me wearing a formal shoes was upset and she immediately visited a shoe mart 5 miles in downtown and brought 2 pairs of shoes for me and Giri. It was so touching and pleasing. They all quoted me to marry a "Black American Women if I like one" as they noticed me as single. It was a nice experience and back on roads biking 19 miles up to junction city on 167, then happen to ride on 79/ 9 Highway, passing Summerfield 12 and 15 miles to Homer. We met a couple of families in Homer and interviewed to openly talk about HIV/AIDS and what they know about that and how close is USAIDS/ UNAIDS helping different communities in these towns and villages. I learned that the intensity of the activities is not that much because every one have access to HIV info during their schooling, I wonder how much they update them selves does matter a lot of how much they are open about it what it matters. Those families were blacks and they are pretty bold to talk about AIDS and Sex, unlike Whites from the towns and villages who are introverts. Therefore, they are fine. And covered 19 miles to Minden, we were attacked by Dogs just before reaching this city. I really wonder the owners of the dogs just leave them out on public is unfair. This is fifth time we were encountering such dog menace that I forgot to mention in previous blogs. We reached 8 pm in the night and happen to meet couple of Boys and Girls who noticed us riding long distances were so pleased to offer us food, immediately taking dollars from their purse and offered us Hot dogs and drinks.

Dear friends and well wishers I am glad to let you know that AIDS Ride 2008 is getting media attention eventually. There was a good coverage in the couple of journels like Acron Beacon Journal from Canton, OH, Murry Ledger Journal, KY, Kentuchy Post, Rexshow radio station in OH etc. We have Wreg tv interview probably today or tomorrow. Please watch and enjoy as it is audible or visible or tangible!!! Some of this coverage is not procured by meself but our friends and steering members are having it. I will pass that soon.please have a look at this coverage:

http://www.kypost.com/content/middleblue1/story.aspx?content_id=b3a0950a-480e-4023-a812-4d3045cc758a
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aidsride2008/
http://aidsride2008.blogspot.com/

Still long way to gooooo.....

24th Tuesday, 2008

Number of miles covered: 55 miles

We had wonderful stay at Louisville, where Dr. Elizebeth is an amazing lady who has lot many project to her credits and author of many books too. www.garciagray.com. She is currently working on a Clean water for drinking project with water purifiers. And for me its life time opportunity to live and learn things from her. She is brain full of thoughts of positive power like my American brother, John Stone at Canton. Dr. Eliz gave us great hospitality since last before night. We were missing something as we were discovering that we are leaving that temple home of music and miracles, the silent instruments of all kinds and the cosmic attraction of the love train that we learned from my brother and friend, John stone, everything seems to be the connectivity of all positive powers of the heading in one direction together for a positive changes in the global community. Never the less I have my ticket for the "Love train" that originated from Canton, Heartscommingtogether organization. The one very important thing that I learned from Dr. Liz is that, 'to acknowledge or make space and time to reward others who helped you immediately'. This is something we just ignore or forget as we take some service from others but she makes a difference in life by doing so and in fact setting as an example for all of us to follow too. I observed her lately that she happened to reward the two cops who actually helped us directing and lifting up to Dr. Eliz house. The cops were Lt. Dennis Wine, Officer Larry Johnson. The two amazing and amicable cops that we encountered on our way to Dr. Eliz's house. There is so much to write about experiences there! We had a good dinner at a fish market restaurant along with two other positive powers Alex and Heather, a newly married couple who are very mixing and welcoming!

Another very important character is her sister Marissa the marvelous lady who is too creative and social entrepreneur. She has been into amazing projects of Social useful and productive work that can raise money for the NGOs in African countries.

Well getting back to the tunes of roads and beauties of America, touching the route 61 Started from Brownsboro, Louisville at 2 pm (because I delayed working online until 12 pm noon from 5am and we happen to raise some meager funds for our expenses in some public place near Wal Mart for the very first time. We learned that we got to take permission ahead before one day in order for us to solicit such fund raise with other formalities of filling up forms.) Then we head towards Shephardsville, Bardstown, Lebanon Junction 434/251 and reached Elizebeth town, we halted for the night.

25th Wed, 2008

Number of miles covered: 42 miles

We had to waste morning time for our personal work. We happen to have communication with our families and further happen to do some bank work etc. We bikers were having difference of opinion and have couple of hard discussions during these time. Thus, started 2pm from Elizebeth town, on rd number 62, Cecilia, Stephansburg, Big clifty, Clarcks town and reached the Leitchfield, where we halted at 9pm. We bought crispy chicken for the dinner and pitched our tent in a public park with the help of Sheriff. Here the cops and Sheriff are really amazing guys because they are very helping in nature.

25th Thursday, 2008

Total miles covered: 64 miles

Started early morning 7 am, hitting rd number 62 all the way from Millwood to Caneyville, changed to route number 79 at Aberdeen proceeding towards Morgan town, Dimple, Chandlers Cheppel and the Russelville as the day dawns at 9.30 pm. We again occupied the public park to pitch our tent. We happen to notice couple of guys and gals getting around with malicious activities. However, we were safe and out of their scean.

26th Friday, 2008

Total distance covered: 73 miles

Started from Russelville by 8 am, proceeded towards route 79 hitting Guthrie, we noticed lots of ups and downs in the state of Kentachy and the early of Tennessee, Bethlehem, Clarcksville, Oakwood, Big rock and reached Dover to sleep that night. It was a great joy crossing from one state to another from more clear and touching route through bikes, unlike by air, bus or car. We can only feel as we pass by the border a kind of strange experience and blissfulness and the partial accomplishments!!!

27Th Saturday 2008

Total miles covered: 84 miles

Something very interesting is that crossing the Tennessee river, it was so close by the river over the long bridge crossing whilst the fishing and boating were exotic and thrilling to watch! Just before that we took hard ride climbing very very big hills with thick forest, as we pass after the Dover. The bike tires are tiresome to roll on with ease because of the untoward texture of the four way road. It doesn't matter if the road is wide open and big but it does matter a lot with the persisting texture of the path!

Started from Dover, hitting the same 79 route, on the bank of the river we got this amazing lady called Brunda who is the owner of the Deli store who offered us free, everything that we need. As she saw us parking the bikes and learned, she happen to donate $20 along with some drinks and energy bars, t-shirts, etc. We were so please with her gesture and took a photo with her. Further, we covered Oakhill, INDIA, Paris, Routon, Henry, McKenzie, Atwood, Milan and reached Humboldt to do our night halt.

Another nice cop helped us pitch our tent near a motel called Heritage where we discovered an Indian family. They helped us too with a break fast and cool drinks. We also happen to meet an amazing couple near Milan, who all the way stop over us to offer dinner at Burger King. The couple were Nathen and his wife disciples of God! They reminded us the sayings of Jesus and some lessons that paves way to reach the son of God! But actually this one who gave us food, looks like Jesus!!!

29th Sunday 2008

Total distance covered: 90 miles

Started from Hamboldt early in the morning after breakfast at the Heritage, again routing 70/79 covering Gadsen, Fruitvale, Bells, Brownsville, Stanton, Keeling, Mason, Gallaway, Arlington and Bartlett further reached to Cardova, and slept at the Sikh Temple by 2am due to online working for 2 hours at a restaurant. There were couple of people and families and shops who offered us free drinks all the way we are traveling. The people are so welcoming most of the time. We were always cheered by the people traveling in the car, with sign of "Victory and Challenge" encouraging us peddle by peddle, as we bike the roadways of America!!! Got a call from Channel 3 Wreg tv, local TV as they were awaiting to take up the coverage.

30th Monday 2008

Resting at Memphis, working online from the Cardova Branch Library, meeting with Wreg tv and planning for a Free hugs campaign for fight against the stigma and discrimination that people living with HIV and the affected communities are facing.