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| Skate Across America (157 Posts)
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Skate Across America for Lowe Syndrome |
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On 8/16/2003
Lenny
wrote in from
(205.188.nnn.nnn)
Keep it up guys!!!! I know you're probably set, but if there's anything I can do...
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On 8/15/2003 Jack - SAA Team
wrote in from
(172.141.nnn.nnn)
Dateline - Clinton, Iowa. On the banks of the mighty Mississippi.
Spent last night at the Modern Motel in Vinton, Iowa. It was modern in 1950, it was actually a very cool place with a reduced rate for the team. Next door was Leon's Malt Shop, excellent shakes. Lots of kids to pass out stickers to.
This morning David Eye's parents met us at the motel and helped guide us through the maze of county roads.
We were also joined by the Ankrum family who's son Jonathon has Lowe Syndrome. It was great for the team to meet a Lowe's boy. Jonathon is a great little guy, very smart, going into the 5th grade. He is very high functioning. He had made a sign to cheer us on, it was very touching. A whole bunch of his relatives were along also. We signed his sign and gave him a t-shirt signed by the team.
When it cane time for us to push on, I asked Jonathon for a hug, it was almost like I was hugging Jack. I had to turn away quickly so he wouldn't see me cry. I didn't want him to think that he had made me cry. Rod Ankrum asked if he could lead us in pray before we went on our way, a very nice way to start pushing again.
Today we had smooth, county roads and a tailwind. Checked into the motel and then skated 31 miles into Illinois. Tomorrow we hope to make it to Indiana.
Had a great lunch at Cavey's Cafe in Olin, Iowa. Classic place, like you were back in the 1940's. Cavey gave us some commenrative coins and also gave Scott a Cavey's Cafe hat, which he wore the rest of the day.
The young bucks, Scott and Josh are cranking out 8 minute two-mile sections all day long.
Lights out.
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On 8/15/2003 Jack - SAA Team
wrote in from
(172.141.nnn.nnn)
Dateline - Clinton, Iowa. On the banks of the mighty Mississippi.
Spent last night at the Modern Motel in Vinton, Iowa. It was modern in 1950,
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On 8/15/2003 Dave G
wrote in from
(65.177.nnn.nnn)
Jack and the Clan... Doin' us all (and Jack jr.) proud!!!
Keep the faith!
If anyone has a route that could be posted (between destinations) it would help the active bystanders to meet up w/ you!!
Enjoy and cleans, Jack!!!
Dave G
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On 8/15/2003
JOE
wrote in from
(199.108.nnn.nnn)
It is still the highlight of my day to check this message board and be inspired by you guys. It's been over a week and a half since I left you guys and I am awed that you are all still out there doing it. Here is hopieng that you are all going to stay strong and healthy and finish what you started like I know you can. Jack it's like the guy a few posts back said "with every mile you guys push Jack Jr is looking down on you guys with a big smile on his face. Keep pushing guys.
all my strgenth and respect
JOE B
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On 8/14/2003 Jack
wrote in from
(172.138.nnn.nnn)
Today was a very difficult day for me. Visiting New Providence, where Jack was at his happiest and healthiest. We went by the house where we lived, the old school building where Paul Dunn and I had our business and where Jack used to catch the school bus. I thought about leaving a photograph of Jack in a secret hiding place in New Providence, however I couldn't bring myself to do it. Logically I know it's just a photograph, but emotionally I know would always be thinking he would be alone or cold during the winter. Maurine told me to do what I felt was right, she also said that a part of Jack will always be in New Providence, I know she is right. I miss him so much.
Tomorrow we will be connecting with a Paul and Michelle Ankrum who have a son with Lowe Syndrome. The rest of the team has never met a bow with Lowe Syndrome. All of them are looking forward to it.
Time for sleep...tomorrow, Illinois.
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On 8/14/2003
Nick
wrote in from
(66.185.nnn.nnn)
Day 13 - Fort Dodge, Iowa to Vinton, Iowa
We did press interviews with the papers from Fort Dodge (last night), Eldora, Grady Center, and Vinton Iowa today. Jack did a radio interview with the BBC last night, as well.
Today was kind of frustrating. We kept running into road construction on east-west roads, so we spent a majority of the day trying to find paved roads that actually went through. The roads we did find, though, were by and large excellent. Rolling hills with good pavement and no traffic. Our five days of headwinds ended today, but the humidity was so high that the visibility was probably only around three miles. It looked like a foggy day on the coast, but it was about 90 degrees F, with 90%+ humidity.
We charged in the late afternoon, turning around 9-10 minute two-mile sections, and burned up a lot of miles on the way to Vinton. Our collective health is pretty good, as well.
The plan is currently to hit Williamsburg, VA, next Friday or Saturday.
Please contact the media on our behalf!
- Nick
Skateboarding Across America
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On 8/14/2003 Thea
wrote in from
(81.128.nnn.nnn)
Hello from Glasgow. Nick - great to see you doing something to make a difference. Hope you and the guys have a speedy and safe journey across the US of A. 'Look forward to some digital pix of the journey! Best wishes, Thea, from So You've Been Dumped.com, Glasgow Scotland. xx
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On 8/14/2003
couch warrior
wrote in from
(32.100.nnn.nnn)
keep pushin on fellas! all the sleestakers are pushing for you! being a skateboarder pushing up on the 30 year old mark, i can only look on in awe at this amazing feat. as soon as we find out when your coming through the midwestern leg (ie: illinois/indiana) some of us older kooks are gonna come push with ya for a bit. beers are on us! see ya then..
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On 8/13/2003 Michael
wrote in from
(195.92.nnn.nnn)
Duane Says: "they are actually going to stop at the radio station when they get to fort dodge
thanks for the tip !!"
So if your in Iowa, listen in!
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On 8/13/2003
Michael
wrote in from
(195.92.nnn.nnn)
Just been e-mailed by Duane Murley, afternoon presenter on KWMT AM540...interviewing the guys.
A well aimed e-mail, even those from followers out of state, or even international will get the news teams interested. Flatter them, say that Jack is bringing interest to their area from around the globe...
Here's Duane:
Also I found this article in the Sioux City Journal today:
http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2003/08/13/news/local/78d3d1e8427b739286256d8100197afa.txt
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On 8/13/2003 Iowa
wrote in from
(66.119.nnn.nnn)
Waterloo and Cedar Rapids TV Stations have been contacted.
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On 8/13/2003 Stan
wrote in from
(168.103.nnn.nnn)
SAA Site has new Itinerary and Stories and Pics.
http://www.asphaltplayground.com/lowe.html
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On 8/13/2003
Michael
wrote in from
(195.92.nnn.nnn)
Best of luck on your journey. Im so glad the BBC got on to you guys...use it your advantage..if the Beeebs interested then all the others should be too!!! Please put on a tie (I know its radio) stand up straight and use the word "dude" sparingly!
The BBC broadcasts on the 'net, go to www.bbc.com (duh!) hit hit 'radio' tab on the top there, then 'radio 5 live' you can listen live but also they archive the show for a day or so which takes a little more searching. So you all should be able to listen to it at some point. The programme is called 'Up All Night'. Broadcast nationally (to the UK)the programme pulls in stories from around the globe.
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On 8/12/2003 Jack and the SAA Team
wrote in from
(172.198.nnn.nnn)
Day 11 - Oneill, Nebraska to Sioux City, Iowa.
Great roads, but the headwind persists. We're all very tired of fighting the wind. There were some great downhill runs as we approached the Missouri River.
Josh outran the two-mile relay drop today, I failed to notice that we had not passed him when we dropped off Nick. So about 25 minutes later I turn to Scott in the sweltering van and say, "Josh never takes this long." So Scott skates a mile and a half back, no sign of Josh, then it dawns on us that we never passed Josh on the way to the drop-off. We drove forward over five miles to find them...they were not happy skaters, but they didn't give us any flack. Josh is one of the nicest, calmest and sincere young men I have ever met.
Tomorrow, it's on to Fort Dodge. These next few days will be especially tough for me. Iowa was where Jack spent some of his happiest days, lots of wonderful memories of him in this state. As I am riding along I continue to think more and more about him, remembering little things he did or said. A favorite saying of his was, "more, more," when he really liked something. It's become my mantra as I push through difficult times.
All of us are missing family and friends. I love you Maurine.
There will be articles in the Omaha and Sioux City newspapers. We will also be doing an interview on BBC radio tomorrow night at 8:45pm CST. Thanks to Michael Stride for setting this up.
Please keep spreading the word! Thanks to everyone.
Just rolling along,
Jack
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On 8/12/2003
JOE
wrote in from
(199.108.nnn.nnn)
Thanks guys for the kind words on the page. I am still comming down from the emotional drain of leaving you all out there in Boise. I did my big skater heart well to read that you all miss me. At least you don't smell like cigs anymore. Nick glad to see you are allright after your spill. I thought I took the fall for the team. Also glad to here that you are getting stronger. So you are all using on van now? Isn't it cramped? I bet it smells wonderfull in there. Yuck. The waves at Newport were nice this weekend but not as fun as skating with you all though my company was better looking (my woman) than you guys.
All my Strgenth and respect
JOE B
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On 8/12/2003
John Dillon, Team Fun
wrote in from
(151.200.nnn.nnn)
Keep on truckin, I mean, skating across America guys...we are pulling for you all! Go Jack! Go Nick!! Go Scott!!! Go Josh!!!!
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On 8/12/2003
Hannah
wrote in from
(63.102.nnn.nnn)
Okay fellas...Got in touch with my contacts @ MTV and VH1. I'm waiting to hear back and will keep you updated as to any progress on that end. Having a tougher time with the Newsweek folks...they're target audience is less in touch with the genre of sk8rs. You all are doing wicked good things out there, and you've got waves of fans. Any possibility of getting pics from the road electronically mailed to me which I could use for my pr's? Thx...and mucho peace your way...mind the truckers.
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On 8/11/2003
Nick
wrote in from
(206.222.nnn.nnn)
Day 10 - Valentine, NE to O'Neill, NE
We woke up to fog. Thick fog. Maybe 300' visibility. We were pretty spooked on the road for about an hour and a half, until it burned off. I could just imagine a semi plowing into one of us and never knowing it.
Speaking of which, a semi passed our support van while we were passing a skating Jack on the opposite shoulder. That was way too close, and I hope that's the closest we get to disaster.
We pushed into a steady headwind all day, which saps the strength and makes the push not much fun. We met up with a couple of documentary filmmakers in Ainsworth, Jack did a live radio spot, and we all did a newspaper article in O'Neill.
I am going to repeat my call for press. You guys (and women) have to be our PR people! We are out on the road, putting on the miles. We need you to let the newspapers, TV, radio, magazines, and e-media know that we are out there! Jack's phone number is on this page. The success of our mission is up to you.
- Nick
Currently Skateboarding Across America
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On 8/11/2003
Stubbs
wrote in from
(209.117.nnn.nnn)
Here's an article from the Casper Star Tribune in Wyoming. The girl that wrote the article was asking the guys questions like "Do you guys use the word dude a lot? 'Cause I want to incorporate that into my story." Here's the link:
http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2003/08/11/news/casper/cdb5eccb858ad011dd1af4452e90b1fa.txt
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On 8/11/2003
T dub
wrote in from
(65.161.nnn.nnn)
what up guys
me and my buddy just rode 2 miles with you monsters and we were wiped. The ainsworth, ne skateboarders are pullin for ya. Keep ridin!
Josh, you haul ass!
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On 8/11/2003 Wha???
wrote in from
(66.119.nnn.nnn)
17 MPH?! That is hauling ass. I average around 9mph over 15 miles. And I am toast at the end.
When I road a bicycle cross country over almost the same route, I averaged 16 mph over 3400 miles.
You guys are maniacs.
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On 8/11/2003
michael brooke
wrote in from
(209.183.nnn.nnn)
guys,
get me a good shot of the four of you in the middle of nowhere and we'll reserve the space as the double page spread opener for next issue (nov) of Concrete Wave.
As for media maybe we can get Christiana Ananpour from CNN to do a live remote and you can witness her heavy breathing...
Seriously though, look at the visitors to this site...surely one person out there must know someone at MTV...The NY Times...CNN....NBC
Any curious smells you've encountered?
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On 8/11/2003 Ricky
wrote in from
(12.39.nnn.nnn)
Stay focused and stay strong guys. We are all rooting for you.
What equipment is wearing? Are you going though wheels and bearings?
I wish we could all take a turn for you.
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On 8/10/2003 Jack and the SAA Team
wrote in from
(172.141.nnn.nnn)
Just wanted to add a big thank you to Tod Swank of Tumyeto and skateboard.com, my wife just called and told me that Tod threw down a very large contribution to our cause!
I would like to second Nick's call for pestering media outlets. We really want to blow this trek up. Anyone with contacts with the network mornig shows or late night shows, USA Today, AOL, MSN, CNN, Sports Illustrated, Rolling Stone, MTV, People Magazine...you get the idea. Please contact them and let them know what were are doing.
Our contact #s, 805-391-9385 or 805-597-5722.
Thanks from all of us.
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