Yesterday, I was asked why I'm devoting so much time to the 45 Great Places To Go Bicycling project.

The pivotal factor that led me to commit to completing this project was Hurricane Katrina. The hurricane caused personal property damage to my home, destroyed the homes of family and friends, led to the deaths of people I knew, caused family members to relocate indefinitely, wreaked personal tragedy upon many people I know and was a powerful reminder of my own personal mortality.

I see this tour series as something I can do to inspire others to live with optimism, be healthy and enjoy the scenic wonders of the USA.

For the record, following are my goals for 45 Great Places To Go Bicycling:

1. Inspire more Americans to go bicycling - for recreation, commuting, health and a better future.
2. Inspire people to do something "big" with their lives even in the face of adversity.
3. Maintain national attention on the Hurricane Katrina recovery.
4. Identify great bike trails, bike routes and bike lanes.
5. Create a series of nuts & bolts ride profiles so others can plan similar tours (including "If You Go" type info, trail photos, interactive maps and useful links).
6. Write a book about places I discovered & people I met through the tour series.

Larry