Up-to-date Progress on Process

Four art institutions have agreed to have me speak so far for TFBD. As of 9/11/2010 the list of institutions are: the Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art, the Weatherspoon Art Museum in Greensboro, N.C., the Asheville Museum of Art, and the McDonough Museum of Art in Youngstown, P.A. Many thanks to these folks.


The entire route has been mapped out!! This tedious and time consuming aspect to the project has come to close and I now know where I will be on every day of the almost 90 day journey.
An immeasurable thanks is due to Joe Forest, Geographer out of Efland, N.C., for his immense generosity with his time and talent. Without his help I would still be struggling over physical maps, with the likelihood of sacrificing accuracy. Joe's expertise in GIS software and his troubleshooting has allowed for an accurate overlay of the Afghani Border onto the U.S. Thank you Joe Forest.

To this point bamboo has been been cut down and heat treating has been practiced. If heat treating myself does not seem safe or reasonable enough, I will resort to purchasing cured bamboo. I am in talks with local bicycle repair guys in the area who have been generous with advice, info and resources. Thank you to Back Alley Bikes in Carborro, N.C. and the Bicycle Chain in Chapel Hill, N.C. Research is constant on bike building, bike touring and the situation between the U.S. and Afghanistan. I have constructed the banner to be taken along during the project. An image of the bamboo and banner can be found on a post closer to the header of this blog.

Physical training began on May 29th, 2010. Biking every morning at 6:30 a.m on average of 50 miles per day at this point in time (7/21/2010). I have gone as far as 60 miles in one day, just under the average of what has been plotted for the project next summer. I am currently biking on a 1976 Fugi, Gran Tourer, touring bike. This is the only bike at my disposal. It is probably good to start out with a rugged out-dated bike so that when the inevitable upgrade takes place, it will feel like riding a Cadillac considering the Fugi needs some work but is holding up adequately enough. Other biking accessories, such as toe clip pedals, better seat and handlebars, should make the act of biking easier and the physical exertion more efficient.

Early stages of talks with a few venues in route regarding giving a presentation on this project are on going. Additional venues will be contacted.



New images and information to be continually updated.