RAINSTORM Blog...

All right... several people have asked me if I am going to blog my bicycle ride this summer - and I wasn't planning to - but I figured I would try to get with the program and blog. I have never done a blog before. In fact, I think blogs are ridiculous... BUT, I thought Facebook was ridiculous too until about a year ago (maybe less). FB is pretty cool. Maybe, just maybe, this blog thing will go the same way. We'll see - it is entirely possible this will be my best blog post ever, as well as my worst.

And - yes - I realize that that I am getting with the program ten years after the program started and just in time for it to be replaced :). Ah - this is what it feels like to get old. But if any of you young kids are feeling particularly young based on my getting older - lets go for a bike ride :) (Amy is excluded from said challenge).

First - thank you to my wonderful wife for taking care of our children solo while I am riding around in Indiana... Fortunately, the children are perfect angels.

I have signed myself up for RAINSTORM (http://www.triri.org/storm.html). It is a 660 mile bike ride in southern Indiana... in 6 days. 100 miles / day for the first 5 days and 160 miles on the last day. The last day traverses the entire state, from west to east. Fourteen people signed up for this fun. On the last day, the 160 miler, we will be joining 1000 people riding in RAIN (Ride Across Indiana) (http://bloomingtonbicycleclub.org/tours/rain/rain.html), including my cousin-in-law (is this in the OED?). No - you don't get paid for doing this. In fact, they deduct a large sum from your bank account for the privilege.

So - on the shuttle bus from the airport to the hotel last night, the driver inquired about why I was in Indiana. I explained I was doing a 660 mile bike ride around southern Indiana. He asked about the route and... then wanted to know if I was planning to rent the motorcycle :).

After my short stay at the Radisson Indianapolis Airport location (and my current pit stop at Steak and Shake), I am headed to my cousin's house to rebuild my bike bicycle. Hopefully FEDEX didn't destroy it... Oh well - there is a Super Walmart around the corner - I could just grab a Huffy. Or - is there a Harley dealer around here?

All right - let me wolf down this incredibly balanced & nutrition packed Steak and Shake sandwich and hit the road.

Definitely ore to come --- maybe.

- Marcus

P.S. On a blog am I supposed to use correct English? Grammatically correct sentences? Active voice? Correct spelling? Can I end sentences with prepositions? Capital letters? Real words? You -> u? Your -> ur? I spent a lot of time and money (actually not my money) on higher education... hmmmm.

And - if you know how to insert a hyperlink correctly on blogger - please let me know