Who Are We?

Here's the two minute drill...

Two friends; one crazy adventure: to raise money for the Search Dog Foundation, SDF (a non-profit that raises and trains search and rescue dogs). How to get attention for this cause? By biking from Maine to Key West in less than two months. Chance of success? Maybe. Crazy? Definitely. Awesome adventure? Undoubtedly.

Or if you're feeling courageous, the full lecture...

Team e2 is the brainchild of a graduating high school senior (Evan Smith) and a graduating master's student (Evan Patronik). Evan Smith and I met about 4 years ago through his older brother and have become close friends, mostly through our similar personalities and tastes of outdoor activities (such as swimming in the Atlantic during early February of last year). On a whim one night, we decided to undertake a "crazy adventure" during the summer of 2008: a bike trip logging nearly 3,000 miles from the tip of Maine to the bottom of the Florida Keys. On its own, this journey would be fulfilling enough for the both of us but we had hoped to gain something more. This led us to idea of using our trip to raise money for a more than worthy cause. We have involved ourselves in a fundraising effort with the "Search Dog Foundation" (SDF), a not-for-profit non-governmental organization based out of California. Their mission is to produce the most highly trained FEMA Advanced Certified Canine Disaster Search Teams in the country. These teams are trained to search for live victims of natural disasters or terrorist attacks. The teams are provided at no cost to fire departments and other emergency service agencies throughout the country and are essential in the post-disaster rescue effort. We are spreading the word of our charity ride to individuals we meet on the ride (which is why you may be at this website) and with companies around the country. Feel free to donate to the cause using the link provided on this page, as well as check out our pictures and blog in order to follow us on this amazing and crazy adventure!!!

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Day 8: 7/15 - I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter All Over My Bag

Today was pretty uneventful. A short ride, only about 30 miles, into Ayer, MA after yesterday's marathon ride. The only exciting...and extremely irritating part...was the explosion of goo inside my back right pack. We had just come out of the grocery store (Hannahfords...I got an amazing recipe for a desert from one of the workers...e-mail me if you want to know the secret!) and were loading up the day's food. I reached into my pack and removed my hand which was covered in a yellow goop. "Aww, son of a b***h!" (I assumed it was my chamois butter tube that had exploded) I pulled open the top flap and found that our tub of contraband 'I Can't Believe It's Not Butter' had flipped itself over and open during the ride, completely soaking all the contents of the pack in greasy, ican'tbelieveit'snotbuttery grossness. "Awww, double son of a b***h!!!" The two cops conversing nearby thought that this was extremely funny and had a few chuckles at my expense.

After about a roll of toilet paper, the bag was relatively clean so we pushed on to our campsite, Minutemen of MA Campgrounds (or something to that effect). This was by far the nicest campground we stayed at yet. If you're in the area, we suggest it if you are looking for a place to stay. Got a AAA discount at the main office, then headed down to unpack our things. Took a dip in the icy pool, bought some snacks at the front desk, ate our ridiculously huge dinner (it might have fed 10 people...so much food: giant loaf of bread, stick of butter, chicken chow mein, rice for 4, half gallon of milk, peaches and apples...and other things I can't remember), then read out on our therma-pads and ground tarp until the mosquitoes (pronounce this like Bear Grylls does) became unbearable. We headed up to the office, got the FREE internet for some e-mails, then watched Mission Impossible in the rec room. Great relaxing evening.
Almost forgot. We met our neighbor named Lance. From Austin, TX. No lie. He's a former US Air Force member who actually was stationed at Andrews Air Force Base for a bit, had buddies that attended UMCP, drove threw Hagerstown countless times (when he asked me where I was from, I just said western panhandle of MD, and he threw out H-town right away...what are the chances), and also went over the mountains in Alleghany county before Sidling Hill was blasted out. He attended U of TX back in the day, and was currently traveling around the New England states in his two-tone van (just like the Wigfields' old van) seeing historic sites. Great guy to chat with and got a picture with him like usual. Check out the gallery.

Highlights: i can't believe it's not butter incident, Lance from Austin, Minutemen Campground

Top Speed: 30.5 (EP)
Distance: 34.44 mi
Time: 2.43.40
Av Spd: 12.6 mph
Odometer: 382.9 mi

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