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Elma, Washington — The First 5 Days
May 20, 2008
“All I have to say is if we haven’t raised one million dollars by now, I’m done. Just kidding.”
May 14, 2008 - I met with Dr. Philip Chen, Associate Professor and Acting Chair of the Ophthalmology Department at University of Washington, and learned about the new directions for glaucoma research. Dr. Chen knows my ophthalmologist in Maine, Dr. Samuel Cady, and speaks with Dr. Cady occasionally.
In the afternoon I met with Dr. Phil Horner and several of his associates in the Horner lab. Phil shared the many new directions in stem cell research as concerns glaucoma. He also presented to me a U of W jersey that was signed by him and his associates.
I can’t thank Dr. Chen and Dr. Horner enough for tackling this disease. They could be working on cancer or AIDS, but instead they are devoting their talents and intellect to finding a cure for glaucoma.
May 15, 2008 - My first day of cycling. Dr. Horner saw me off as I left Seattle on the Fauntleroy ferry by dipping our back tires into the Pacific ocean.
I liked it so much I thought I’d do it again on the 16th. As any traveler knows, you need a camera, and mine had mysteriously disappeared. So tracing my departure backward to the ferry, I discovered what had happened. Spent another night in Seattle. Bought a new camera.
May 20, 2008 - I finally found a pay phone (absolutely no cell service on my path), and the time to phone into GRF. I’ve ridden about 400 miles, and experienced two days of rain, and my first flat tire. There’s a nice coffee shop in Elma, WA that features this wisdom, “Coffee-Chocolate-Men: Some things are just better rich.” Caught my attention.
Thank you for all the personal emails I have received wishing me well on my journey. I will try to answer them as the opportunity allows. I do not have a computer with me, but the librarian in Callum Bay was very generous and helped me with theirs.