Greg’s taste in music is like a 16 year old, no, an 18 year old girl. Yeah, like one that just got to college and is like.. going out for the first time

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Maps

SO GLAD that I just remembered to do that!  So here’s the skinny:

We are using pieces from three different series of maps- all purchased from the Adventure Cycling Association.  We start with the Atlantic Coast maps which I have used on my only “tour” before which got me from Boston to Sebago Lake in Maine.  I thought that was a long ride! sheesh..  The Atlantic Coast maps bring us from Boston to Richmond, VA.  We’re basically experts on Richmond after having spent time there for NAHBS.  We’ll probably go see all of our old friends like.. Subway, annndd… The Comfort Inn!

After making it to Richmond over the course of a few weeks- we pick up the Trans-America Trail which will bring us through the long and flat mid-west all the way to Pueblo, CO.  This is the part where I hope to visit my god-mother in Kansas for the first time!  We’ve been planning for me to go on a trip out there for 22 years give or take..

In Pueblo we pick-up the Western Express series of maps and make a B-line, well it’s actually the windiest section of the map going through the Rockies and all so call it an F or an H line or something..  either way from there on it’s an all out sprint/race to SF.  The odds currently favor Bianca because no one is quite sure as to how I’ll fare my first time back in the saddle..  hopefully I’ll remember how to pedal and shift etc- isn’t there a saying about remembering how to ride a bike or something? 

http://www.crosscountryforautism.tumblr.com

Graduate. Check. Bike. Check.  Things are coming together quick and it’s really getting down to the wire.  I write that now, terrified of learning what down to the wire means at the end of June..  It feels great to be mobile again- and while just wandenurring around town in the new bike lanes- I had a ton of great conversations with people about the charity.  One who came up and asked “Do you mind if I oogle your bike?” (please, oogle away) who later told me he used to work in a school that predominantly catered to kids with Autism.  Then another geekhouse-friend, whom I hadn’t bumped into in a while, who told me his Godmother helped found a different ASD-concentrated elementary school.  Who knew that you could bump into so many people, get so much done, and learn so much more about your community by riding a bike?

-Greg

It looks so friggin clean

Bianca's Graduation Party in Chesire, CT

I’m so jealous of you I bet you just live out of that backpack. My idea of roughing it is staying at the Hyatt.

So you guys got like.. a reliable car?

Under Construction

Thanks for sticking with us while we try and figure out this new tumblr theme.  We’ll have a much more organized and streamlined set-up with pages for our sponsors, route, bios, and more.. as soon as possible.

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Second-to-last Mailer! ::tear::

Dang

At Midnight tonight we’ll be leaving in ten days! Lots of nervous energy coupled with lots of excitement; I haven’t eaten in days. Kidding. I just had a blast at the BFF in New York despite getting a bike (not one of the touring bikes) stolen and getting accosted when I asked an attendant at Penn Station where to catch a bus. Things are great; Bianca and I have much shopping to do. We’re $21 away from our 50%-by-departure goal of $2500. Now we just have to raise $2500 more and ride our bikes to San Francisco. Easy right?

-Gregory

Almostttt

Just had an amazing lunch with one of my best friends Layla. It made me realize how much I’ll miss everyone but I am overly excited for the trip as the days get closer to take off!! Greg and I are doing last minute things to get ready but one issue that I just realized is that I have barely any music! Long days need to be filled with something … Help me out and send me some suggestions/ playlists and favorite songs :)

-Bianca

RJ Barnes!

I’ve been trying to soak up advice like a sponge with only a few short days until we leave.  But no one has given me advice like I got from RJ Barnes on the phone right now.  RJ is in Kansas, three weeks into his own x-country ride for Autism! 

We talked about everything from tire width to peach pie.  The one thing that ran through all of it is that he’s having, and ensured me that we would have, the absolute time of our life.  I am buzzing right now I’m so happy that I talked to him and the most incredible thing in my eyes- he’s only 19!  We’ve felt like the young guns going on this trip at 22 & 21 years old after finishing college in May.  RJ just finished HIGH SCHOOL! 

RJ is riding for the Autism-Society and 1Power4Autism just as we are.  It appears as if he’s one-upped us again- he’s going it alone and shooting to raise $10,000.  I know he’ll make it.  I could really sense through the phone line how passionate and dedicated he was to his ride and I wish him even more than all the best on his ride.  The only thing that bums me out is that we didn’t get to ride with him.  Maybe he’ll doddle around in SF long enough for us to link up, probably not.  But RJ if you’re reading this- come to Boston this Fall and boy will we have a lot to talk about!

Nothing but the absolute best to RJ, going it solo- my god!  Winds at your back and hopefully it’s all downhill here.  Amazing guy, amazing chat; couldn’t ask for more.  I’ll definitely ring him up a ton on the road and I can’t wait to get more cell-phone pics from him (like this one above) on some idle Friday when we’re in Kansas.

Follow RJ on his blog here

Donate to his $10,000 goal here.

Greg showing me his knives:

“I need to protect you, if you so much as fall and scrape your knee the whole Pettinicchi clan is going to be after me; so yes I am bringing a knife and my great uncles 1942 government issue machete.”

I have never packed for a trip like this before, but I’m loving every second of it.

-Bianca

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I Miss Wi-Fi

Posting up at our first wi-fi spot of the trip, an ice cream parlor just on the other side of the Delaware River from Pennsylvania. We’re beating the heat with some swimming, laundry, and of course ice cream sundaes! We have gotten in a good clip of waking up around 5AM and getting as many miles in as possible before the mercury starts bubbling up around the 100 degree mark like today. We’ll be in Pennsylvania tomorrow- and we’re making a pit stop for a few days outside of Philadelphia to hang out with my friend Miguel. If you forgot to confess your love to one of us before we left you can still do so by mailing something, anything (as long as there is some sunscreen in the package) to:

Greg and/or Bianca
C/O Mike Ferroni
155 Line Rd.
Malvern, PA 19355

Even if it’s too much to take on from Philly we can send it to ourselves further down the road. Seriously, sunscreen, the good stuff- I’m peeling.

-Gregory