Work in progress

This is what i have thus far, keep in mind, this is a rough draft.

Hello, my name is Aaron Nielson and i am on a mission to make a better future. I am 20 years old and working as a bicycle rickshaw driver in downtown Portland. 3 months ago I went on vacation back to my hometown of Logan, Utah. My best friend (an Iraq veteran) whom also moved up with me, went to Logan as well. When it came time for us to go home, he had a crazy idea. He wanted to ride his bike all the way back to Portland and he wanted me to go with him. We decided not to go straight home rather we decided to head southwest all the way to San Fransisco, then to ride up the coast. The total ride was 1500 miles. Zane and I rode the first 750 miles together, then because of personal reasons Zane decided he wanted to head on alone. I finished the ride. The reason i went for the ride was many fold, I did it so my friend didn't have to go alone, I did it to test myself, to see if i could actually succeed, but most importantly (for this paper anyway) I did it to see if I could change peoples outlook on riding bikes.
We live in a time where pollution, obesity/poor health and economics are all becoming very important factors of our future. Bicycling Is amazing as a remedy to all of these problems. Our local government is doing a great job of making biking safe on our roads and many colleges are taking steps to get students biking this year but i want to take it farther myself. My trip and even my job are important because they make me into a potential role model. I want to give a message to as many students as i can. We can make a difference with the choices we make. And if you choose to ride a bike, for fun as well as commerce, then you are making a decsision for a better future. I've asked you to read this paper because i want your help, I need your help, to help people make a better decision with their lives.
My ride across the country taught me a lot about myself, mostly that if i put my mind to something i can succeed. The trip was fun. I have a lot of great pictures and i met some really great people. I think I could entertain with the tale, but more importantly i think i could give a message worth consideration. Going for a ride that long, a lot of what you are taught in school becomes immediately important, such as stretching and eating proper foods. I want to use my extraordinary journey to promote better health, not just bicycling. I also want to give students hope that their goals are achievable no matter how difficult they seem at first.
You must be the judge, I can only hope for change if i am given a chance. You must decide If you want me to talk to your students. I'm not doing this for money. Mostly I am doing to see if i can, to see if one person can make a difference. I don't have much, but i intend to use what i have to do what i can. I can always ride a bike and i can try to get others to do the same. Not much of a difference maybe, but maybe its all the difference we need to make the world into a better place. The more support i get, the more schools i speak to, the more likely i am to make a difference.

Included with this paper is a pamphlet and a example presentation. The pamphlet is what i carried with me when i took the ride. I'd like a chance to revise it, I only had a week and a half to create it. I'd like to include your school's logo and then I'd like to give it to your students to take home.

primer

The major problem I've had with this whole project, is how much I've left out of it. I didn't really feel able to describe all the wonderful people I've met on the road. I tried to tell the most interesting things that happened, but I left some things out because the subject matter was questionable. But i think the discretion was reasonable considering my goals. In fact a lot of what i have written will cause problems if it gets too much attention. I want to act as a role model to those who i can convince to take up a bike alongside me. But i am a young man and i am prone to ill decisions. The economy has taken an ill turn and it makes me wonder if i should move forward. But honestly maybe that's the surest sign that i should. I have finally finished my paper as i think I want to present it to school principles. All that is left is to pass it around to my friends and family so that they can edit it ( I have the good fortune of having several college educated friends) Idk If you'll read this, but i want to give a shout out to Jared and Sierra, staying with you in Sac was probably the best part of the whole adventure. Just to get a window into such a great family was fucking awesome. I'll try to call you soon.

Bad timing

Sorry it took me so long to write again, I've been enjoying my time at home. I jumped right onto the rickshaw and started making money again. Its nice to be back where things are familiar. Now that I have rent money I've been pondering just what to do about my situation. I pondered while i was relaxing in the redwood forest (such an amazing place i don't think words can do it justice) I sat down an tried to write a paper that i was planning to present to schools/classrooms. After thinking it through i decided that it would work out a lot better if i waited until i was home. being on the road changes you, it gives you a bit of a desperation. I didn't think it was right to approach a school in such a manner. Now that I've gotten myself straightened out i think it a more appropriate time to try. A problem I've had is asking myself why? why do i want to go to schools and talk to students about the importance of riding their bikes? I'll probably ask for donations, but money is not the reason, damn money it gets you into a lot more trouble than whats its worth. Fame? that's one that my brother brings up that makes me lol. I don't want fame honestly, but at the same time i do, if i can do good things with it. I have an interesting story, and i live an interesting life. If i can act as a role model, if I am taken seriously then i may be able to change the views of a few people. That's what really matters, as for the why am i doing it?: I think i am doing it for the same reason I started this ride in the first place, to see if i can.

Victory!

Well.. i made it, heh, I'll post more later.

Interesting Timing

A few things i should have mentioned before:One of the first things I did when I reached Fallon NV (oh so long ago) was drop my trailer. I'm just using my brothers packpack to haul most of my weight. It's a tough way to roll, but meh, I'm pulling through. I ended up staying for almost a week in Sacramento. Jared and Sierra made things almost too comfortable for me, it was really nice. Jared let me work with him for a day and that helped me quite a bit. Zane called me while i was staying with them and told me he was renting a car to get home (Failure!) I declined his offer to pick me up, though I have to say i was very tempted.
I got my head full of stars and figured a University could help take all my problems away. I went to Sacramento State and tried to find some help. I found an entertaining psych professer but he couldn't help me much and i shortly after got caught up in another party. It was great at first, classical music, wine, cute girls ahh good stuff. There were more drinks later and things didn't quite go my way...I'll just say it was a rough night. Even though I didn't have much luck at the University, I decided to head To San Fransisco anyway. The ride was good fun, I rode along a river that ran out to the bay. I rode through farm country, grapes, apples and pears, oh my!
As for San fransisco, well lets just say that Seattle just got beat out as the most beautiful city I've seen. I passed up going to Berkley, which i kind of regret. I decided after Sac State was that if i really want University help, I should finish this ride and get help for my next ride. I still want to talk in public schools. I'm going to try contacting a few when i get to Oregon.
I didn't stay long in San Fran. I had fun while i was there, but I wanted to hit the road as hard as i could. I followed back roads near 101 then fianlly cut across to the coast from from Forestville.
I've always dreamed of being a beach bum, It was everything i'd hoped for, well kinda. I've been blazing a trail up the coast and it has been an amazing ride. I just topped 1000 miles. I'm happy I'm succeeding even while riding alone, but i can really feel the toll the trip has taken on my gear, my bike and myself. I still have more than 400 miles to go, but i just lightened my bag. I'm ready to pick up the pace, I'm ready to get home....Ever onward!

MY Cause

I said i was at a crossroad and i mean it, both figurativley and literally. I am in Sacramento very near the heart of California, home is to the north, but San Francisco is southwest. The couple I'm staying with have been really good to me in so many ways. They have even arranged a ride home in a week if i want to take it, but i don't know. If i really do want to push for my cause I need to make my move right now. There are several Universities on my path at this point and i plan to turn to them for help...or at least some credibility. If i can get a university to help me create more pamphlet's then I think i could get a few schools (elementary or middle) to let me talk to a few classrooms about the importance of biking and good health. I've noticed by now that people look at me with a measure of respect, admiration even, when they find out what i have done and what i plan to do. I would really like to be a role model for kids. I was never really much of a cyclist until a few months ago. I was a rickshaw driver but not much more than a month. It was a very recent turn of events that lead me down this path, but i think i've been making it just fine. I'd like to inspire kids to wonder what they could achomplish and try to convice them to consider biking even when they get old enough drive. If i can get a few schools to take me seriously then I'd really like to consider doing a trip like this again.

The Stand

At the moment I am staying with the couple I met at the Border Inn. I find myself at an interesting crossroad. Zane decided that it was a mistake to ask me to come with him and now he wants to finish the ride alone. He left me in a tough spot finacially as the only thing he gave me as we split was half a tube fix kit and $10 for a new bike pump. He said i was strong enough get home on my own, so he headed off so San Fransisco on his own. I'll be honest, several times now I have considered a physical solution to my problems (beating some sense into him) because well...I think it would have been justified. But 2 things stopped me from even getting that angry. One is the preservation of our friendship. Zane is a damn fool in a couple of regards, but he is an honest and mostly decient fool. If things really started going south for me I know he'd have my back. Secondly i think he is right, i can get home on my own, the question is how? Maybe the more important question ,for me anyway, can I do it with dignity? I feel i own it to myself and to those who supported me.