Today I rode 101 miles to express my gratitude for all of the unseen heroes who work at Domestic Violence Coalitions, Child Advocacy Centers, Court Advocates, Crisis Centers, Hotlines, etc… These devoted individuals work tirelessly with little thanks and often times in situations that are quite depressing, day in and day out. Today was your day! All of you who work to protect children and women in need were in my thoughts and prayers today as I pedaled in the most perfect weather for bicycling. Thank you everyone, I am grateful for the very important work you do to help those in need.
The hand written thank you is a very powerful expression of one’s thoughts. It has become part of One Million Acts Of Kindness now and forever. I hand write thank yous and try my best to get names and addresses of those who help lend a hand as this wonderful mission unfolds. I wrote about this in early April and it is amazing the response I get from people who receive one of my thank yous. I admit that I miss a few names or I can’t find the address of the person once I leave town, I’m hoping to get better. I’m vowing to get all of the DV and CAC heroes thank you notes by years end. Keep an eye on your mailbox.
Today’s photo is a of a thank you card from www.gratitudedesigns.com I use these thank you cards because of their tie to helping children through www.flawlessfoundation.org More very good people helping children in need.
**Near ride’s end today, I met a great group of KSU students who called out for me to stop by for some water. I got to meet Sage, their dog, who was enjoying the game of “washers” they were playing. Thank you guys for making my last mile much easier.

There are just over one hundred days left to the Kindness Bicycle/Bus Tour to raise awareness about Domestic Violence and Childhood Sexual Abuse. I have decided to ride ten, 100 mile “Ride to Honor” by the end of this Tour. I would like to “Ride to Honor” in honor of someone you know. I will ride with a sign on the front of The Kindness Bicycle that mentions who you want me to “Ride to Honor.” I will send you a photo of The Kindness Bicycle and me from the ride you choose. You may even be able to pick a date that has some significance to you and that person. The person who I ride in honor of, should be someone who was affected by Domestic Violence or Childhood Sexual Abuse. These “Rides to Honor” are offered on a first come first served basis. The minimum offer of a “Ride to Honor” is $1 per mile. All money will be used to support the Kindness Bus Tour. Email me for information and to sign up for one of the 10 “Ride to Honor” dates. My email is thekindnessbustour@gmail.com Please send this to someone you may think would like to be a part of one of these ten rides.

School is back in session and my travels on The Kindness Bicycle and Bus takes me past many schools. All schools will be on my radar along the tour. I have Kindness Certificates which I will deliver to principals which are in direct opposition to the Domestic Violence and Childhood Sexual Abuse some school children witness in their homes. My puppet show which will address these issues without mentioning them is being created in my spare time and will be ready by the start of 2012. Today Nathan and I visited 11 schools to deliver kindness Certificates. I stopped at the Robinson Education Center which makes most of the decisions of what is taught in schools in Riley county, I’m hoping One Million Acts Of Kindness Certificates become something they approve for all of their jurisdiction.
Another day over 100 degrees, 103 to be exact, was looked forward to because it will hopefully be the last day over 100 that I will have to experience until well into next summer. Daily riding of a bicycle in the heat for such a duration of time was a struggle at times but the weather just around the corner is going to be the payoff.  Western Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and California will be the states I travel through in the next 4 months. Someone pinch me, I must be dreaming.

In three weeks fall begins and none too soon. The bubble of heat in the central part of the United States is finally about to burst, but not before it has one last hurrah. With lightning in the skies just before dawn, we had to wait to ride our 40 miles for a couple of hours. We finished just before noon when the temperature reached 100. Riding in the country it is essential to make sure to bring enough water for the entire ride on a day as hot as this. Not even to our half-way turn-around we both realized we were in trouble with very few houses or businesses to fill our containers with water. Parched, aptly described our condition. A farmer a few miles from our end-point took care of us. Thank you to them!
It is less than 6 months until I begin Ride for Wounded Warrior and Officer Down. This short 3,600 mile ride will begin in February and end in late June. It will take a west to east direction stopping at various VA hospitals, law enforcement facilities, memorials, etc… Today’s photo from the Kansas State University campus is of a memorial to all 5 armed forces. The soil beneath the middle portion of the memorial was taken from several military cemeteries across the nation.

What a powerful visit to a facility which houses four agencies under one roof. Becky McIntire Goff, Bridget Howland, and Brooke Larson helped to better understand all the various services these agencies provide.
Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASA, has been in existence since 1977 and uses community volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children. There are over 900 CASA programs nationwide with over 70,000 advocates. Over one million children have been helped since its inception. The local Riley county Sunflower CASA project now serves children in three surrounding counties. It is based on the principle that each child deserves a safe, permanent, nurturing home where they can thrive.
Stepping Stones is a Child Advocacy Agency with a group of professionals who are dedicated to providing child-sensitive interviews and compassionate services to children and their families.
Traveling the country it is so good to see so many dedicated individuals with a passion for helping children in need. The passion the 3 women today had for helping children is incredible.
Today’s high of 104 degrees limited my riding to early morning hours. A couple more days of this type of heat are predicted until, hopefully, summer loses its grip.

A father who teaches his daughter to respect herself, to be loving, to choose healthy relationships, to not abuse drugs or alcohol, to receive a marketable education and to stand on her own two feet is a father who gives his daughter a very good chance of not being a victim of Domestic Violence.
A father who isn’t around enough to teach his daughter the meaning of respect or love, he doesn’t care about the choices she makes, he brings around friends who often times drink and do drugs, he has no interest in her schooling or her future and doesn’t care how she lives her life is a father who most likely is guilty of Domestic Violence.
The weather in east-central Kansas is once again becoming a challenge. Temperatures are near or above 100 degrees for the next 4 days, limiting my riding to the early morning hours. The sun hasn’t quit shining down on The Kindness Bicycle Tour for nearly 2 months and is hard to escape at times. Today’s ride of only 25 miles is about half of what I was scheduled to ride. I’m going to have a lot to make up after these 4 days.

Many children are born into this world and then very little attention is paid to them.  Core values of kindness and love need to be instilled over time, by role models, through words and actions.
Respect for women, is one of the greatest gifts a father can show to a son.  Violence by men toward female partners could quite possibly be the most damaging action witnessed by a son as well as a daughter. Men teaching boys at a young age, kindness toward all living things will give them a much better chance of respecting all living things as an adult.
Today’s weather was unbelievable and a sign of beautiful weather to come this fall. My ride of more than 40 miles was a joy.