This was my 11th consecutive long distance cycling ride with America By Bicycle, a national cycling touring company. My first ride was back in 1999, a 620 mile tour from Erie, PA to Portsmouth, NH. That ride was supposed to have been a one year effort, in memory of my mother, Ruth Vivian Clark, who had at that time been diagnosed with the Alzheimer's disease.

I had a goal then of raising $5,000 for the CT Alzheimer's Association.

About 150 sensitive and generous friends and family donated $6,800 toward my effort. I was very pleased with the results and the wonderful support base that it had created - - - so, I felt I had to continue.

Here I am now - back in Charlottesville, VA - having just completed my 11th consecutive ride. In the last 10 years I have cycled over 12,000 miles and raised more than $150,000. This year's goal is $18,000 and as of the end of the ride, donations have already been over $15,000. The success of this effort continues to astonish me, and I am so very grateful and thankful for the many caring people who continue to support this effort to raise money to support the Alzheimer's Association's programs and to help fund research. It's not too late to donate - see below or find details here on the main page.

This year's 12 day ride could best be described as a tall, skinny, 700-mile long 'Figure-8', that started and ended in Charlottesville. There were three cities where we stayed an extra day or two and do smaller 'loop' rides. This feature was intended to give us an opportunity to explore the Shenandoah Valley and it's many historic museums and sights both on and off our bikes.