One of my favorite songs, “Gravity,” by John Mayer, kept running through my mind as I was riding today and encountering some gentle hills north of Baltimore. The songs begins with the lyrics, “Gravity is working against me. And gravity wants to bring me down.”
I thought in my mind how these small hills are going to get bigger as we head west out of Washington DC toward the Appalachians. Bigger hills need to be planned for and one needs to be conditioned to successfully overcome the challenges ahead.
Today’s ride took me past two billboards, reminding me of one of the reasons I am on this twice cross country mission. If you are in an abusive relationship, leave today!

Today I had the pleasure of meeting a young couple who volunteer at the Newark, Delaware boys and Girls Club. Dean and Molly are very involved in helping kids. Helping kids  to realize their full potential and all of the good they can do for others. Dean and Molly were admiring The Kindness Bus as Bogart and I were returning from a morning walk to begin our day off.
Our conversation went along the lines of One Million Acts Of Kindness being dovetailed with the Boys and Girls Clubs. Having all of the children make a pledge and print one of our Kindness Certificates to use as inspiration would be an easy way to get started.

Planning on having a day off from bicycling today and catching up on some much needed work lasted only the morning. In looking at the low humidity and cloud cover today, we decided to use this afternoon to ride the mileage equivalent from Elkton, MD to Aberdeen, MD and back. This was an excellent call as it was one of those days where the bike seemed to propel itself, even the hills seemed easy to climb. The visibility and response we are getting couldn’t be any better. The traffic was so heavy as people prepare themselves for the summer ahead. It seems as if many people were turning a three day weekend into a four day weekend, by taking the day off from work; the streets were packed.
We are headed toward Baltimore and then to Washington DC and Arlington by next weekend, a fitting tribute this Memorial Day Week ahead of us.

Seven thousand four hundred miles on a bike is a very long distance; six months of rolling along on two wheels over all sorts of terrain across the United States, twice, because of a loop path I am taking. Eleven days in, on this one hundred eighty Kindness Bicycle Tour and the miles beneath these two wheels are starting to add up, today we crossed into Maryland.
Credit for the wheel being used for transportation dates back some 5,700 years. It wasn’t until the early 1800s that a 2 wheeled steerable bicycle which you pushed along with your feet was invented. Some days it seems I can move my bicycle faster ala Fred Flintstone fashion. Either way, riding a bike long distances every day causes one to become “bike fit.” I’m thinking my thighs will be bigger than my waist by the time I arrive in San Francisco.
Adding an engine to spin wheels is a relatively new feature as well, dating back a mere 140 years. The thoughts of having a motor for the up hill portions of the trip fill my mind as I pedal, but are just a passing wish at times.
Anyhow, the sensational photo for today’s blog was provided by Finn and Jan Runyon who have updated their “rides” considerably since this late, 1960s era photo.

While taking a break from our ride from Newark to Wilmington and back, a young woman named Jenn said she had seen us riding and wanted to come and thank us for what we are doing. It was clear in our short conversation that she wanted to share much more; so she agreed to join us for an interview.
Jenn recalled, that as a child, she was too afraid to get out of her bed as she heard her mom being beaten.  To say that these beatings resulted in long term medical care would be a gross understatement.  Often they were life threatening.  This horrific brutality went on for years and became more violent as time went by.  Jenn’s mom died 2 years ago after too severe of a beating took place. Jenn has many stories about domestic violence and the long term effects that it brings.  Three women a day die in the United States because of domestic violence. Three women everyday!!

Heading south to Wilmington Delaware, I realized I had not set a meeting with the DCADV, I called as I left on my thirty minute drive to this city. Forty minutes later, I am sitting in their offices with; Carol Post Executive Director, Stephanie Merrell Director of Communications and Development, Sara Mersch Policy and Economic Justice Specialist and Marilyn Siebold Mental Health and Trauma Associate. What dedication these women have to put together a meeting on such short notice. I was impressed and honored all at the same time. We covered so many interesting facts about Domestic Violence, facts which will help in shaping my talks with all parties affected by this issue. We also discussed the various programs they have to address this problem in our society. Thank you to everyone at the DCADV.
Today’s short bicycle ride of twenty eight miles was made a bit easier by stopping in at the Moose for a quick visit. The Moose do such great work for children and seniors alike. I am proud to be a member of such a wonderful organization.

Making my way through Philadelphia, I couldn’t help but stop at Alex’s Lemonade Foundation. The fine people who work here, raise money for cancer research for children. In 2000, four year old Alexandra Scott overheard that there wasn’t enough money to make sick kids at the hospital, well. Alex decided to have a lemonade stand to raise money. The story of Alex’s Lemonade is a must read for everyone. Please visit www.alexslemonade.org to learn of the great things they do and their upcoming annual fund raiser.
Heading south to Chester PA, The Kindness Bicycle Tour has never heard any more well wishes as I have pedaled along my route. The response is a big lift for me as, some days, it seems that I am continually riding up a hill. Today was one of those days.

Before heading out of Philadelphia, I stopped at Independence Charter School. I heard from 2 different people about the great job everyone is doing at this school and how they would love The Kindness Bus, and  they were correct.