Wouldn't it be SOOOO cool if . . .

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Originally Posted by Aggie_Ama

What if you are in the area and pass the thing? Like if I were camping/riding in East Texas so I pass it to someone there. It is a long drive, I can't imagine riding.

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I wouldn't have any problem with that. Also, I could see driving in any number of directions from Atlanta, stopping some set distance from the pass-off and then biking the rest of the way.

After early to mid-December, I could help coordinate its journey through the US (I'm just swamped with work and family obligations right now). Perhaps by then, it would have started its way around the Southern Hemisphere.

I like the idea of a charitible cause. I like the idea of "it" making its way back to the origination point.

We can do it as a "Pick your charity", and then when we report, we can say, "I did 65 miles from Rhode Island to Connecticut for Diabetes, and I met up with _________ (see picture...), we had a quick lunch, chatted, and then she took off with IT for a 45 mile jaunt for her charity...."

p.s. I started a thread in the Northeast section to help gather those of us in the Northeast. Add your name, location, miles willing to ride, best routes you can utilize, and whether or not you are willing to travel (drive) to get to a riding point.

How 'bout we combine some ideas:

Somebody suggested we should have several 'things', somebody suggested 'flat stanley,' and somebody suggested a bandanna.

So - how 'bout we have a flat stanley (or a stuffed doll) and several pieces of clothes for it - a bandanna that everybody would sign, a backpack etc. etc. Each continent could have 1 part of the thing and maybe the US could have 2 parts. Then all the things would meet up somewhere and be assembled?

If a bunch of people did charitable causes they could be included in the thing - a breast cancer pin, AIDS pin, maybe it could be like Linus and have a little security blanket (an AIDS blanket).

Then it could go to Susan at TE headquarters and she could be a guest on Oprah.

Wait! All the parts could meet together and be presented to Susan on Oprah! Along with some great big checks for charities. I'm sure Oprah would match . . . .

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Originally Posted by kenyonchris

Wouldn't this be cool if we actually raised some money for a worthy cause (mine is Livestrong, but whatever) while doing this? I am not sure exactly how, but I am sure great minds will figure out a way. If we do it for a cause, it will be easier to get local support if needed (even if it is just for a few riders in each area...like the torch relay).
We had a girl running for disabled veterans. She was running a relay type thing, and we gave her a police escort through town.

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Do we have any public relations or advertising people on this board? We could publicize the heck out of it - make a lot of money! We could all vote on our favorite causes/charities and pick a few to donate to.

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Originally Posted by staceysue

Do we have any public relations or advertising people on this board? We could publicize the heck out of it - make a lot of money! We could all vote on our favorite causes/charities and pick a few to donate to.

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I'm sure with our collective talent we could get this big really quickly.

I like the compiled bits onto the doll thing. Very cool.

:confused: Why don't someone just choose something light, small/foldable and begin the journey.

Charity idea sounds nice, but complex to administer across internationally. Worry about finalizing the charity stuff ....later. We can do finish planning in the middle of this mega international journey if needed.

We have our pet charities (no pun here) locally as well.

Make it simple ...to get the journey started, take pics as evidence, memories at each meeting/celebration point.

Treat it like a long-bike touring ride: Don't overplan, otherwise one gets weighed down with too much "baggage", indecisions, etc. I like indigios or some of us just informally organizing a few travel points within our region.

Please someone just start riding....with the 'thing'. I'm happy to organize within greater Vancouver..not sure who would cycle to or from the Canada-U.S. border when we are experiencing cold and rain at this time of year..

INDIANA

Fort Wayne is where I am but I would LOVE this!!!

I'm in!!!!!

There are at least a few of us in Chicago. I would be up for making it a group ride where all of us Chicago girls meet up and go as a group to the next point.

Raising money for a cause is a great idea, and since the folks on this message board are all over the globe, perhaps it would make sense to choose something that might have an international focus. And maybe there would be a way to start a TE fund for that cause (or causes) that people could make contributions to.

I'm sure there are tons of options for this, like Doctors without Borders, Oxfam, etc. And every now and then I read about a group that fixes up bikes and sends them to a developing country -- don't know of any one specifically, but something like that would be consistent with the main theme of this community.

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Originally Posted by shootingstar

Please someone just start riding....with the 'thing'. I'm happy to organize within greater Vancouver..not sure who would cycle to or from the Canada-U.S. border when we are experiencing cold and rain at this time of year..

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LOL I'll bet you couldn't wait 'til Christmas morning to open your presents, could you? :D

edit: but you're right - I want to et it started, too! Who's ready to start?

I just found this thread -- what a great idea!

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Now who wants to volunteer to ride across the Cascades to get "it"?

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I could do that. Have friends in Spokane -- I could ride there, transport it back, and ride here to meet someone else. I'm just north of Seattle by 60 miles. Also, our club rides across the Cascade Pass (Hwy 20) in July. Never done it, but I plan to be ready to go this year!

I love the idea of the biking gnome ("gnomess"?)... something we could take funny pics with and document HER travel!

If the Aussies don't get started before their summer gets unbearable we could start by going down California and across the south where winter is mild. Then some how wrap around the country. I am not very good at logistics! I like a bandana you sign. Maybe a small bag you could pass where people could put a tiny trinket or pin on a pin. Like a magnet or pin from your home area?

Too fun! Of course I'd be doing a little hop as in the Bay Area we have tons of TE'ers. But it would be fun to plan a few hops to get the "thing" from where it was to where it needs to be. Maybe I could actually meet JoBob!

I think it would be great to get something like a Doodlebear on which we could write something, then pass on. :D

So many awesome ideas. Is there anybody who's ready to get started now?

I'm ready to get the thing going & it's not hot yet :) I shall pick the "IT" up tomorrow & pass it to Trekhawk shortly after since she's out my way.

THe thing will be in a plastic pouch & have a postcard attached to it. Umm..it might have some sand on it as the "it" will be paying a short trip to the beach...

Man, that Canberra to Perth leg is gonna be a hard one!:eek:

Umm Cyclegoddes..i think we'll have to rely on the folks at Australia Post for that leg ;)

Hey, it'd be cool to see what place you can get a pic of the " it" at in Canberra! the AIS? Parliament House? PM me with your details & i'll send it to you if you're willing to pass it on to the QLD contingent.

Yippee, any more Queenslanders here? I know there's at least one other Brisbanite :)

On the topic of sending sand with "it" - might this be a problem for quarantine when sending it overseas?

Max

Hmm..perhaps to NZ...? The rest of the world doesn't have strict quarantine measures like NZ & Aust...

The Northeast thread has five riders and a start of a RI-Mass route so far... we can go East West, North South, in either direction. We can do our part probably as early as April.

Looking for the the CT ladies to chime in and the Maine, NH VTers and upstate / Adirondack folks to pop in as well.

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Originally Posted by crazycanuck

I'm ready to get the thing going & it's not hot yet :) I shall pick the "IT" up tomorrow & pass it to Trekhawk shortly after since she's out my way.

THe thing will be in a plastic pouch & have a postcard attached to it. Umm..it might have some sand on it as the "it" will be paying a short trip to the beach...

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Awesome!! How far are you riding and will you take pics? I want to her all about the weather and see some good Aussie pictures!

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Originally Posted by LilBolt

I'll be on Maui in early March, and could transport 'the thing' to Seattle. We plan to ride while on Maui, so I could show it a fun time.

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Seems like when "it" comes to the US, it should start in the PNW and then south through Oregon and CA before making it's way east and north. However, I know you guys in Seattle and Vancouver will have iffy weather until May.

If my ankle injury is healed enough and I'm back on the bike, I"ll certainly do my part when it makes its way southeast--whatever the schedule.

Crazycanuck, thank you for getting this started. What fun! :D

ha ha..*snork* Umm..The " It" will be driven to the beach & up to Trekhawk's abode since she lives near where i do dirt time. I could take it on the dirt with me for a few min & expose it to pea gravel...

Go, crazycanuck!!! Somehow your TE pseudonymn suits the start of this whole thing...crazy, fun.. Do some dirt starts for us!

Can we think of a fun name for this ride? Then we can stampede over to Susan O. to ask her to set aside on this fourm and digitally pin the ride up as a topic to at least for us to post pics for now and add stories. Topic can be digitally 'pinned' like the TE Frapr map for us to easily locate it fast.

But we need a name for this ride..otherwise it'll be the "IT" uninspiring ride. :p

Let's not be too hard on Susan O. to ask for a blog on this. She runs a biz. Make it easy for now.

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Originally Posted by wnyrider

I'll volunteer too for later when the warmer weather hits here again. Perhaps a link up with the New Englanders can be arranged. Being in Niagara County New York I could get it over the border to Canada, or bring it over to the US side. Could take some pics with the Falls as a backdrop!

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I'm sure "it" would like to visit some Canadian soil- I would be delighted to meet someone at the border...and hope we don't have any cranky border guards......

Breaking news...insert dot dot dash dash sound..

The IT(plus a little bike) has left the store & is now at a crazycanuck's home. I'll to introduce " Maidei" & her way cool bike tomorrow with some pics.

For now though i'll tell you a bit more. Maidei was handmade in Zimbabwe by mothers with disabled children (www.batsirania.co.zw) & her bike from Madagascar. I (maidei) have a twin sister, Monica but she's in Zimbabwe with a child whose family member has HIV/AIDS.

I look forward to my world travels (the lady at the Oxfam shop loved the idea :D).

HIP HIP HOORAY!
Can't wait to see MAIDEI!

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

Do we have anyone in Asia besides deeaimond? Might be a long ride for her! ;)

Let's not leave the Aussies out either? Is it do-able there?

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Oakleaf! thanks for remembering me!! I just saw this thread.

Will the Aussies/NZealanders send it my way?? I'm going to New York on the 26th of Nov.... I can bring IT in my luggage.

When I get IT, I can take it on a round island bike tour and show it the sights, and take a picture of IT with... something Singaporean... I haven't decided yet.

Edit: i just realised its now called Maidei and not IT... apologies for that Maidei

How does that sound? I can't believe i'm the only one in Asia.. there must be other people lurking...

I just saw this thread and think it's a fantastic idea! I'm in SE Virginia (for now) and would be willing to help this along a Southern route across the U.S.

Yay CC, way to get the ball rolling! :D

Now... before we start micro-mapping routes across various US states, shouldn't we decide what continent she's going to next? ;)

Either Maidei gets journey-schleppping time in Aussie-Kiwi region before deediamond steals her away. OR deediamond waits until she returns from NYC after Christmas to get Maidei.

Deediamond, any chance you will make a stopover for several hrs. anywhere in the U.S. or another country before NYC or on way home to Singapore to drop off Maidei? Or maybe that's not a feasible idea.

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Originally Posted by shootingstar

Either Maidei gets journey-schleppping time in Aussie-Kiwi region before deediamond steals her away. OR deediamond waits until she returns from NYC after Christmas to get Maidei.

Deediamond, any chance you will make a stopover for several hrs. anywhere in the U.S. or another country before NYC or on way home to Singapore to drop off Maidei? Or maybe that's not a feasible idea.

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I can always just post it on when i get back. My stopover is in Dubai... anyone there? :p

But u're right, I doubt that Maidei will make it so quick.. well, no hurry, Since its winter in the US now... and will be for a few more months :)

D

What does Maidei look like?? I can't get the link to work.

I'm tentatively in, depending on when, etc. Won't be for many months in my neck of the woods (listening to the cold wind howling). I suspect I may be the closest one to StaceySue (SS - I live near Calumet). It's possible there may be closer people, but I don't know of any. If Stacey is where I think she is, then it's about 175 miles. I'd need to have time to build up some mileage base next season, figure out camping, find a suitable timeframe, etc. So I'm a definite maybe. I want to, but it could be logistically difficult.

This is a truly cool idea.

OTOH, there are plenty of parts of the US where winter is the peak riding season.

Maybe if she were to make a counterclockwise circuit of North America? SoCal, AZ, NM, TX, the Gulf states, then northward along the East Coast, then westward along the Great Lakes, through the plains, to the PNW?

And what about the South American ladies? You in?

Don't forget us Mountain West people. I am aware of Las Vegas, Flagstaff, Salt Lake City that have TEers too. Perhaps they can chime in too. Perhaps doing the US circle as you described then working inland through the Mountain West, Midwest, Southeast and back to one of the coasts.

Just an idea.

Red Rock

Should someone start a blog where everyone can post their pictures & narrative with Maidei & her way cool bike? Might be easier to track whereabouts than following a longish thread.

I am in Idaho and would love to participate. Just now saw the thread!!

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

Yay CC, way to get the ball rolling! :D

Now... before we start micro-mapping routes across various US states, shouldn't we decide what continent she's going to next? ;)

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YAY, CC!! I knew you would do IT. I was biting my nails (a habit I'd finally kicked so that was bad) thinking "it's simple, pick an object, any object, arrange a meet point with a TE'er, pass the thing around!"

Finally, there's an IT and she has a name. I don't think we can decide where Maidie-IT#1 goes. That's the beauty of IT. Who knows what direction follows?

Bon voyage, Maidie. I look forward to following your journey.

Thank you CC for starting Maidie IT#1 on her journey.

Thank you staceysue for the wonderful idea.

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Originally Posted by Trek420

I don't think we can decide where Maidie-IT#1 goes. That's the beauty of IT. Who knows what direction follows?

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Would be okay if she were traveling under her own power - but if she's relying on our wheels, we have to know when and where to meet her... and to pass her on to the next "conductor..."

Keeping in mind safety (unfortunately), we can plan here for "who's next," but the actual exchanges should probably be arranged by PM.

This is fun. :)