Route from Cordele, GA to Macon, GA. I figured since my routes are getting a little more back woodsidy... my peeps should know where I am. I'll be updating a little more on my progress throughout the day... so if you want to keep, just look below (BTW, I use google maps!)

1. Head east on E 16th Ave toward Moore St
371 ft
2. Turn left onto Greer St
0.4 mi
3. Turn right onto 13th Ave
0.6 mi
4. Turn left onto N Midway Rd
0.6 mi
5. Turn left to stay on N Midway Rd
0.2 mi
6. Turn right onto GA-257 N
4.7 mi
7. Turn left onto Lambtown Rd
3.8 mi
8. Turn left onto GA-215 N
262 ft
9. Turn right onto Noble Gin Rd
4.5 mi
10. Turn left onto Co Rd 262/Noble Gin RdContinue to follow Co Rd 262
1.0 mi
11. Turn right onto Co Rd 270/Everett Rd
4.1 mi
12. Turn left onto Co Rd 279/Rocky Ford Rd
0.7 mi
13. Turn left onto 3rd District Rd
1.8 mi
14. Continue onto 3rd Distrist Rd
0.4 mi
15. Continue onto Cherry St
0.5 mi
16. Turn left onto 1st St
0.2 mi
17. Turn right onto E Railroad St
479 ft
18. Turn left onto 2nd St
472 ft
19. Turn right onto Pine St
0.9 mi
20. Slight right onto Elko Rd
12.6 mi
21. Continue onto Martin Luther King Jr Dr
1.2 mi
22. Slight right onto General Courtney Hodges Blvd
0.2 mi
23. Continue straight onto Commerce St
0.5 mi
24. Slight right toward GA-11 N/Macon Rd
89 ft
25. Turn left onto GA-11 N/Macon RdContinue to follow GA-11 N
11.8 mi
26. Slight right onto GA-11 N/US-41 N
3.0 mi
27. Keep right at the fork
0.7 mi
28. Turn left onto GA-11 N/Houston Rd
7.1 mi
29. Slight right onto Broadway/Houston Rd/State Route 49Continue to follow Broadway/State Route 49
2.9 mi
30. Turn right onto Raines Ave
0.2 mi
31. Turn left onto Waterville Rd
0.9 mi
32. Slight right onto 5th St
226 ft
33. Turn left onto Edgewood Ave
272 ft
34. Turn right onto Broadway Ln
499 ft
35. Turn right onto Elm St
256 ft
36. Elm St turns slightly left and becomes 5th St
0.5 mi
37. Turn left onto Oglethorpe St
344 ft
38. Turn right onto Broadway St Ln
144 ft
39. Turn left onto Oak St Ln
0.2 mi
40. Continue onto Hemlock St Ln
0.2 mi
41. Turn right onto 1st St Ln
0.2 mi
42. Turn left onto Plum St Ln
0.2 mi
43. Turn right onto New St
187 ft
44. Turn left onto Forsyth St
331 ft
45. Turn right onto High Pl
305 ft

I need to do a much better job of blogging... so here goes!!!

Plans for today.

Continuing on my way to Miami today. Needed to shorten my rides in this heat, so today I'm only doing about 15 miles after yesterdays 64.66 mile ride. I will be couch surfing today but my host won't be available today until after 6pm. I'm actually going to ride to the library and hang out there most of the day. I still have a long way to go calculate my miles. (So far... I know I've ridden over 700 miles... and counting) I'm also working on some Program Development for the Together AsOne Foundation. Our plans are to choose are first recipient in May of 2012. We have a lot to do in the meantime INCLUDING, getting more pledges. So far we have about 156... we need 1844 more!

Yesterdays Ride

Knocked out about 64.66 miles yesterday from Port Orange to Cocoa. And man was it hot. I knocked out the first 40 miles with ease... but the heat started to get to me later in the day. There were a couple of places where I was riding right along side the water! Those are my favorite rides by far!!! Actually got to my destination at about 5pm where I met Lynn and Chris. The couch surfing community has been tremendous and very generous. I wish I had some swimming trunks with me because they have a nice pool. They let me take a shower and then took me out for an Italian Dinner. It was a great way to end a ride.

Ride thoughts

On the longer rides, I typically have a lot of time to think (sometimes resulting in me talking to myself) a lot of time is spent on how I can take this ride to the next level and get more exposure for the scholarship and black owned businesses. Since I am riding down to Miami, I thought maybe I could try and make a connection with LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, or Shaq. I would love for them to become part of the village, but more importantly, I would love for them to help me spread the word and get behind the cause. I need to develop a twitter campaign that targets those three... any ideas?

Today's Route (Cocoa, FL to Melbourne, FL)

1. Head west on Loring St toward Clearlake Rd  279 ft
2. Turn left onto Clearlake Rd 0.2 mi
3. Turn left onto Dixon Blvd 0.3 mi
4. Turn right onto Montclair Rd 0.3 mi
5. Continue onto Cypress Ln 0.2 mi
6. Turn right onto Pineda St 0.2 mi
7. Turn left onto Bristol Dr 177 ft
8. Turn right onto N Georgia Ave 0.2 mi
9. Continue onto W Highland Dr 0.3 mi
10. Turn right onto Thomas Ave 253 ft
11. Turn left onto Prospect Ave 0.3 mi
12. Turn left onto School St 0.3 mi
13. Turn right onto N Wilson Ave 0.2 mi
14. Turn left onto Peachtree St 0.2 mi
15. Turn right onto S Cocoa Blvd 0.1 mi
16. Turn left onto King St 0.2 mi
17. Turn right onto Hughlett Ave 420 ft
18. Turn left onto Stone St 0.2 mi
19. Turn right onto Brevard Ave 495 ft
20. Turn left onto Church St 0.1 mi
21. Turn right onto Riverside Dr 0.3 mi
22. Continue onto Rockledge Dr 6.1 mi
23. Turn left onto US-1 S/Rockledge Blvd 2.6 mi
24. Turn right onto Friendship Pl 0.1 mi
25. Friendship Pl turns left and becomes Turner Rd 0.4 mi
26. Turn right onto Suntree Blvd 276 ft
27. Turn left onto Pineda Ct 0.2 mi
28. Turn right onto St Andrews Blvd 0.1 mi
29. Turn left onto N Wickham Rd 0.7 mi
30. Turn right onto Jordan Blass Dr/S Pinehurst AveDestination will be on the left 0.1 mi

So here is the good thing... I am moving on this bike now. Big Shout out to Dan Dalfonzo for giving me his road bike. It has made a great difference in my progress (although I think I may be two heavy because I keep getting flat tires. But if any of you have been checking out the website... I haven't been updating it as regularly as I thought. I'm going to start investigating on how to get an intern to help me with this project... because it is a beast!!!!!

But anyway... I am in Baltimore MD right now... and I have to say the people in Baltimore have been treating me wonderfully. So much so that Rev. Wingo of  Power Magazine has put me up in the Tremont Plaza Hotel for two nights (They gave me a suite,..and you know I don't know how to act.) But their have been great people hooking me up since I got here. Big shout out to Ghana Imani Hylton and Shameek Robinson who have helped me connect with some great people. (Mind you I only know Ghana and Shameek through FB... we've never met face to face, although I'm looking forward to that day. Big shout To Bhek and Dawnita for looking a brother out while in the city. But I got say... a man that has just jumped in my corner since he heard about what I am doing is Doni Glover of Bmore News!!! I have been on his show twice already... and as soon as I hit town all he said was... "I got you". Those 3 words are so powerful... I GOT YOU!

I had a chance to think about those words the other day. I GOT YOU. I GOT YOU. Seems to me we don't say it enough in our society. I was thinking about so many situations that we as a community could use those three words. "Hey Little brother, I know you don't have a father figure at home. I'm doing well and I have learned some valuable lessons that I can pass on to you... I GOT YOU!!!" Or "Hey sister, I know you are trying to get your business going. Don't worry... no matter what I'm going to support your business and tell my friends about you.. I GOT YOU!" How about "Hey Family, I know you lost your job, so as long as I have food on the table, you have food on the table... I GOT YOU!"

Now I have to be totally honest... there are sooooooooooooooo many people in my life who have helped me as I chase this entrepreneurial dream. Even when I wasn't making the smartest decisions and found myself in a bind. It's too many people to name, but I can't wait until the day that I can either give it back or pay it forward. I GOT YOU!!!

Anyway.. I am heading to Coppin State University today to check out one of our Historical Black Colleges. Also will be visiting the Blacks In Wax Museum. I've heard  a lot about it and I heard it can be very emotional. I'm already kinda emotional so I need to get prepared. Tomorrow... I will be at the Darker Than Blue Cafe for a little Town Hall/Business Networking reception from 2pm -4pm. Can't wait to support another black owned restauarant.  Should be an exciting few days.

I will write again soon.. so until then... I'm just gonna keep on Pedaling.

With love for our history and community,

B

Day 20 of the Journey Thru Black America and I'm really starting to understand the significance of what I'm attempting to do. It really has nothing to do with the "Bike Ride" itself. I walked past the National Constitution Center. I'd learned all about this wonderful document all throughout my education. It starts off so eloquently... "We the People...." But initially my ancestors weren't included in that statement. We the People did not included those people who were bought here from Africa to provide free labor for "The People" who the Constitution was written for. I saw signs for the Liberty Bell. I'd been there as a young child too! The bell cast with the lettering "Proclaim LIBERTY throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof" Hmmm.. did the people of that time not read the part where it said ALL inhabitants? I also saw signs for Independence Hall.... the place where both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were debated and adopted. And that black people were slaves...

Today I went to the African American Museum of Philadelphia after having visited the Peter Mott House and the Benson History Museum on Saturday. The history that i learned in these few days ha been overwhelming.  I'm not amazed about all the things that black people have done in this country, I'm not amazed that we have achieved so much given the circumstances that we were brought here under, I'm not even mad at "white" folks for the actions of some of their ancestors. No I'm overwhelmed that at 39 years old... there so much history that I do not know about. I am overwhelmed and saddened that the story was not (and still isn't) told to us with black people included in the history (except for as slaves).Now don't get me wrong... I have not had a bad life at all. But I can not help but think... where would we be as a community if our history and culture had not been stripped from us. Where would our community be if the truth wasn't hidden from us (In plain sight)? Would the high school graduation rate for our young men still be 47% if they knew the drive and determination  of people like William Still, Oney Judge, Chef Hercules, Robert Allen,  and Katherine Coleman Goble Johnson (Did you ever see the movie Apollo 13 with Tom Hanks. There wasn't even a character in the movie that even resembled Ms. Johnson)

What capped off my day today was a visit to an outdoor exhibit in Philadelphia called The President's House. For those of you who don't know, for a few years Philadelphia served as the capital of the United States. George Washington spent 6 years there. And according to history he bought 9 slaves with him. Oney Judge, Moll, Austin, Hercules, Richmond, Giles, Paris, Christopher Sheels, and Joe (Richardson). Our President at the time, rotated the slaves back and forth to Mt. Vernon to avoid having to free the slaves because of a Pennsylvania law that would have set them free after 6 months living in Pennsylvania. In the home of the Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, the "Liberty Bell... there was no liberty for our people. And that part of the story is NEVER told. I can't lie I was kinda mad, upset and sad at the same time.

My bike ride is about changing our perspective. One of the things that I will absolutely start doing is to stop referring to our ancestors as slaves. But realize they were an enslaved people. Slaves could not have accomplished all of the things we've accomplished in this country. Slaves are what they called us! Glad people like Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglas NEVER brought into the notion of being slaves.

This 365 day journey is about discovering our own story... not just taking the story that "they" feed to us. Let's stop letting others defining our importance in this country.

Day 20 - Journey Thru Black America.... it's on and poppin....

With love for our history, culture and community,

B

So I have to admit, I'm extremely excited about today's ride to historic Lawnside NJ. One of my friends has been talking about Lawnside for a long time and trying to get me to come to one of their Heritage Day Festivals. He displays such pride in being from one of New Jersey's First Black Run Towns (If not THE first) I'm meeting with Mrs. Linda Shockley, President of the Lawnside Historical Society. Our First stop is the Peter Mott House . After that...she's arranging a bicycle tour four me through some other historical sites (She said she will ride and meet me there!!! LOL) I can't wait to heat more about this town.

Yesterday was a pretty good day. I didn't get on the bike at all yesterday. I decided to walk across the Ben Franklin Bridge yesterdayover into Camden to attend a conference on Social Entrepreneurship (@Rutgers Camden). One of the hosts was Dr. Jeffrey Robinson (Co-author of Black Faces in White Places and assistant Professor at Rutgers Business School) I attended for a few reasons 1) I consider myself a social entrepreneur and 2)developing more social entrepreneurs in our community may help solve some of the issues in the black community. I was very impressed by two social entrepreneurial ventures in particular. Freshbox Catering and Greystone Bakery. (Neither Black owned but serving the community) It wasn't the product that impressed me, it was their model for providing jobs and job training to the surrounding community. Greystone Bakery even goes as to have a policy, if you apply for a job, you will be hired! Doesn't matter what your background is. If you have a desire to change your circumstances that's all you need. (Of course their is a waiting list, but they go right down the list when they have openings!)  Now the job is not glamorous at all... but it's a start to learning some skills. What's also important is the supportive services that they offer. I have to check into it further but I believe they mentioned housing, child care and HIV/AIDS adult counseling to name a few. The conversation though revolvedaround the sustainability of those models!

So for those of you who actually read this blog ;-) I ask you to take a look at the area of "Social Entrepreneurship" and if that can be a strategy to addressing the "disparities"our communities face.

Time to get on the bike and ride like the wind. I gotta go thru Camden today. Pray for a brother ;-)

With love for our history,culture and community,

B

YEAH... I SAID IT. After yesterday's 34 mile Journey, I am not even remotely interested in getting on a bike. As I plot my journey out going forward... I will definitely try to avoid any bike paths ... especially if there's snow on the ground. Walking a bike with about 30lbs of gear on is NOT fun. I repeat...NEGATIVE FUN!  Yesterdays ride was very grueling..complicated that my gears/chain is still a little shot. Had to make 3 stops yesterday to fix it. But I can't be mad. I made it. And I am staying with a wonderful family.. Jermain and Rehana Lewis. They are such wonderful hosts. As soon as I arrived... they made sure I had a shower (probably because I had 34 miles of sweat on me). And Rehana whipped up a meal of Brown Stewed Chicken, cabbage and potatoes. They better be careful... because I may not leave. About to change the name of this journey  to "Journey Thru Black Philadelphia.

Anyway, luckily my destination today is only a few miles away. So I'm going to hike it. I'm attending the Social Innovation, Social Benefit, and Job Creation: The Potential of Social Entrepreneurship in South Jersey @ the Rutgers Camden Campus. For those of you not familiar with the term "Social Entrepreneurship" it's a relatively new concept. A social entrepreneur recognizes a social problem and uses entrepreneurial principles to organize, create and manage a venture to achieve social change (a social venture). While a business entrepreneur typically measures performance in profit and return, a social entrepreneur focuses on creating social capital. I like to call myself a social entrepreneur because the business is focused on addressing the disparity in several areas that the Black Community faces. I'm very excited about the conference. So I'll definitely be tweeting about the things I'm learning today!

Tomorrow, I'm excited because I will be making my way over to Lawnside NJ. Here is a little information about historic Lawnside NJ... but I'll be sure to fill you in on more information when I'm there.

In any regards... Let me get myself on over to this conference. Day 15 of the Journey T

I'm sitting here with one of my best  friends Walter Denson.  He and his family put me up for the night! Momma Denson doesn't want me to do this journey though... here are some of her comments...
"NO ... I don't want you to do it"
"Can't you take the train the ride the bike when you get where you going?"
"I hope somebody steals your bike."
"Hey Walt...get the straight jacket. This boy is crazy."
"I'm gonna be sick to you get back!!!"

Gotta love Momma Denson.

So I'm preparing for my ride to Philly. I have some good things coming up in the next few days. Attending a Social Entrepreneur Conference in Camden tomorrow... going to Historical Lawnside this weekend (one of the first black run towns in NJ and stop on the underground railroad) and meeting with the African American Chamber of Commerce in Philly who has started an initiative called Reverse 90. Did you know that 90% of African-American consumers DO NOT patronize African-American owned businesses? That's what their working to change! I LOVE IT! Can't wait to meet them

I had a great time at Kingdom Church of New Jersey last night. Pastor Dharius Daniels preached a great word. He is doing a series on relationships series called "Let's Stay Together" He spoke from the verse 2 Corinthians 6:14. ~Don't team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?~ The sermon focused a lot on picking your partner. Taking time to get to know them before you decide to be intimate with them.  Investigating before you become Intimate. Intimacy can sometimes confuse you... causing you to follow your feelings and not trusting a higher authority. (God) One of the thing he said that I loved was "Your feelings are not your authority!" How many times have we been led by our feelings down the wrong path?

So of course... I was thinking about how that relates to the destruction of the black marriage and family. Are we taking our time to get to know one another before we decide to make a commitment before God? Are we even making the commitment before God anymore? (And not speaking specifically to Christianity) So there so many layers to this issue... I can't get to them all before I the bike ride today. But I hope you'll join me in the conversation over the next year,

OK... I gotta get myself packed up.. so I can make this trek. Talk to ya later!

With love for our history and community,

Only a few of you will  get the pause reference. In any event, I'm enjoying this Journey so much... and I'm glad I decided not to put it off. Yes... there are so many things I could have done to be better prepared, but there s no doubt that I didn't start EXACTLY when i was supposed to. Part of the journey has to do with my own personal journey. This is one of those things that I think to myself... "If I pull this off, there is not too much I can't do. Referring to Joel Osteen... IT'S MY TIME!

So anyway, Now that I am getting into somewhat of a groove. I definitely want to make sure I do a blog daily. There are so  many interesting things that I am learning about and so many interesting people that I am meeting. I spent a little time talking to Dr.Jeffrey Robinson, co-author of Black Faces in White Places with Dr. Randal Pinkett. The conversation was great.... but it proved to be very motivational for me. I have not had a chance to read the book yet.... but it is so relevant to what I'm doing!

He hits on so many points (on camera and off) but the one that struck me the most was the first "Strategy" in his book is Identity. In order for us to truly navigate within America (sometimes I call it the Matrix) We have to understand EXACTLY who we are. If we know who we are,and understand our talents, we know how to play the game to the best of our abilities. I use the example of my fictitious son. When I have a son and I prepare to teach him the game of basketball... it is important to start to teach him who he is first. It's important that he realizes that his dad (and his granddad are about 5ft 8...it's important for him to know that his dad (and granddad) are quick. It's important that he learns the game with that in mind. It's important that he plays particular attention to ball handling, passing, shooting, and defense. Wouldn't it be a disservice to him if he learned the game as if he were going to be a center or a forward?

I think in America.... our community our children lack from not knowing their identity. At least our true identity. If you leave it to "The Game" you might be tempted to define ourselves in respect to slavery only.. when in truth we come from great kings, queens, civilizations of engineers and mathematicians and philosophers. We are not only excel at entertainment and sports, but created 100'sof products from the peanut! Soin order for us to truly navigate this game... first we need to know who we are!

Now I'm going to get off my soapbox...because I have about 9 days of thoughts that want to get out... not trying to write a blog novel today. But stay tuned.... and start to think about the question..."Who are we as a community? What are the things particular to our culture that we should carry on and used to launch into the future?"

With love for our history, culture and community...


B

ONLY 361 Days to go. And I have to say that with my limited riding experience, I’m kinda proud of myself! I did 29mi on the first day and another 15 yesterday. (I took off Saturday because of the weather) Right now I’m sitting at a friend’s house in Newark NJ preparing for a 26mi trek to New Brunswick, NJ. A few of my friends are meeting me there for some dinner at Makeda’s Ethiopian Restaurant. (Please feel free to stop by if you’re in the area at about 7:30pm)

So one of the things I have to admit is that I haven’t found my groove yet. I’m good with the riding part… but there are so many other things this ride is supposed to accomplish. There are a lot of issues facing the black community that we need to start talking about AND I really have to start raising money for our foundation. Not to mention, I have not had time to respond to the many comments and emails I’ve been receiving. PLEASE bear with me. I hope I’m in a better groove by the end of the week.

One of the things I am really enjoying is visiting with the different black businesses along the way! Check out the first video from my visit with Elma’s Kitchen in Plainfield, NJ. Seems as if everyone heard me trying to ask for a taste of the Curry Chicken. I should have just dipped my finger in the pot. But I did celebrate by getting some Jerk Chicken, Cabbage and Rice & Peas. It was a perfect way to start off the ride and the Journey!!!

I’ll check back in with you guys when I get to New Brunswick. In the meantime, support black business, mentor our children, discover and celebrate the greatness of our history and culture! It Takes A Village, To Save A Village!

With love for our history, culture and community,

B

So I just returned from the Bike Shop a few minutes ago... and the realization of what I'm about to do is really starting to hit home. My conversation with Steve (aka My Bike Guy) made me take a really serious look. When I set my mind to do this thing about a year ago... I had a particular vision of how it would start... But here is my reality. Here's the situation...

• The Bike that I have is really not built for the trip. Sooner rather than later... I'm going to have to replace it with a $300 bike (the cheapest) at some point very soon. I may not even get out of the state with what I have now.
• The laptop that was fine back then.. is on it's last leg. There is a scrap of paper wedged between the key board and screen to keep it from completely collapsing.
• I haven't really "trained" as much as I need to. Sure I've been on the stationary bike a few times... but it doesn't snow on a stationary bike :-) As I'm finding out... bike riding is really no joke. Much different from riding my huffy to the McDonalds in S. Plainfield to work
• This weather is no joke!!! Been snowing so much these last few weeks. I wonder what the next few weeks has in store. (Thank God the groundhog didn't see his shadow
• Not quite sure where I'm going to be sleeping each night. I have people spread out across the U.S. but who knows how that will work out.
• Some people may not understand what it is I'm trying to do and may take offense to it.
• I really don't have the funding to start this ride.. let alone sustain in for a year.

I keep asking God. "Seriously God.. is this what you want me to do." He said "Yes"  Then I thought about the scripture in the Bible... I'm trying to do this huge thing... and I only have 2 Fish and 5 Loaves. Thinking about that story let's me know that there is nothing God can't accomplish. In my eyes.. am I fully prepared to embark on this journey tomorrow? Probably not.. maybe 50% of the way there. Completing this journey, will be nothing short of a miracle. But God is in the miracle making business.

So tomorrow I am stepping out on faith. I'm stepping out on faith for breakthroughs in my life... and for breakthroughs for the black community. I'm praying that he blesses every pedal stroke, every business that I stop through, every word out of my mouth, every person that I meet. I am praying that God will bless all those who will be worried about me... that he will give them peace.

This Journey begins in less than 22 hours and all I have is these 2 fish and five loaves. It's funny, that the story in the Bible said Jesus fed 5000 people that day. I found it ironic that I am trying to get 5000 businesses in the black business directory.

Any... I got plenty more to do... so let me get to it!

With love for our history, culture and community,

Baron