Brothers Ethan & Reid are cycling across the U.S. to raise money for the Phoenix Children’s Hostpital here in Arizona.  The story behind the cause, according to Ethan:

Back in my junior year of high school, I was rushed to Phoenix Children’s Hospital via ambulance in a grand mal seizure. Doctors quickly induced a coma to stop the violent seizure. For the next few days, the staff was unsure if I would survive, let alone function after such a traumatic event. Ever so fortunately, I did. In all, I spent ten days in the hospital, nine days of which were in the ICU, and the first three in a coma. Due to the seizures, stroke, and immense pressure placed on my brain from this meningoencephalitic infection, I suffered impairments to my cognitive, speaking, and fine motor function.

Thanks to Phoenix Children’s Hospital, I survived this battle for my life and now, some four years later, after a long rough road to recovery, I’m back. This summer my brother Reid and I are bicycling across the continental United States in an effort to raise money for Phoenix Children’s Hospital, the hospital that saved my life. We’ll be riding self-supported, carrying all our own gear, as we pedal from the Virginia coast to the Oregon coast, some 4,233 miles. We look forward to bringing together many people of our community, state, and nation to help support this hospital that performs life-saving miracles on an everyday basis, just as they did for me.

Please check out the brothers’ website:  www.PCHPedalWithPurpose.com  //  blog:  http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/pedalingwithpurpose  //  and Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/pedalingwithpurpose  to help them out.  Best of luck on your travels!

Armed with Ortlieb!

Rick, of feather plumage fame, has updated photos of his journey bike touring (a portion of) “America the Beautiful.”

Cut it down to 9000 miles, the track from April to November was (roughly):

Portland, Oregon – Death Valley – Mount Rushmore – Central Texas – St. Augustine, Florida – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – New Orleans.

My girlfriend, Stephanie, joined me on the last section on the Natchez Trace and down to New Orleans.  A few of which our stories were published in Country Roads Magazine.  Of course, there are dozens more.  The Ortleib Bike Packer Plus bags (Rick obviously prefers Classic Yellow) kept my gear dry and easy to access for the entire trip.  You guys are great–good gear, great prices, excellent service.

Check out Rick’s previous NorCal Tour, and while you’re at it, our awesome line of the always popular Ortlieb products for touring and commuting.

Nuno accounts:

I like to travel on the unknown trails in the mountains, in complete autonomy, in the company of one or two friends, overcome obstacles and meet the locals.  I may live in a very small country, but one that’s big on natural beauty and full of idyllic locations.

Peneda-Gerês National Park, Nuno’s chosen idyllic location in this case, is described by a European National Park site:

In the extreme North of Portugal, between the Atlantic Coast and the Spanish border, remnants of wildlife that once roamed all Europe have survived next to the vestiges of long lost civilizations.

Only on foot or astride a garrano pony can one appreciate the vast expanse and diversity of Peneda-Gerês. Walk along narrow shepherd trails or on the ancient cement of Roman roads…..  [It] is the refuge of some of Europe’s last surviving great predators. A transition zone between the Mediterranean and the Euro-Siberian regions with a hodge podge of microclimates and new plants on every new trail.

One of these “last surviving great predators” listed is …..a badger.

Here are Nuno’s photos.  We’re happy to see that he opted against going the ol’ garrano pony route and instead chose his trusty bike and BOB.

Peneda-Gerês National Park, Portugal