At just thirteen years, Karina already has a rich background in adventure and challenge.

Karina has camped, canoed, and hiked in the Adirondacks and the White Mountains reaching the summits of an impressive list of 4000'+ peaks. She has made over a dozen trips up Mt Monadnock (including a winter summit and three lamp-less night assents). She has winter kayaked and even constructed an igloo and camped happily in New England February.

Now she wants to cycle to California from Connecticut!

This trip represents a whole new level of challenge and she is excited, nervous, and ready to see what's out there. She understands a little of what she'll be up against (sun, rain, wind, general exhaustion for extended days), but remains upbeat and resolute in her goal to get to, and of pedaling across, the Golden Gate Bridge in late August.

She is also excited to be helping to raise money for such a good cause as the CAMP Mobility Project and asks that you support her efforts by making a gift to the project.

Peter is Karina's father and has been active in a variety adventures over the past half century. In his twenty's he led and organized bicycle tours for others and toured extensively in the US and Europe.

The idea of a cross-America ride went on a "dream goal" list he created with Karina when she turned seven. The list recorded the goal of making the trip when she was fourteen (the calculation being that she'd be old enough to do it, and her father would not be too old to do it!). The opportunity came a year early, but he couldn't be happier!

The chance to share something you love with a daughter, combined with being able to do it all in a way that benefits others in the process is priceless; everyone should be so lucky! Peter is also excited and full of parental anxiety that the choice is the right one (though, all said, he knows it is absolutely right!).

He is also happy to be riding to support the Mobility Project and invites you all to make a gift and to follow the adventure via the blog!

Ken is president and co-founder of Children & Adult Mobility Project, based in Simsbury, CT, the 501-c-3 hosting & benefiting from the Ride Across America. Ken has spent many weeks at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the Edward Hines, VA Hospital, over the past several years working with and seeing first hand the injuries suffered by our military personnel on active duty, in Iraq and in Afghanistan, as well as the benefits, both physically an psychologically to those who have been able to receive treatment by S.A.M.

Ken, although not a cyclist, is an eagle scout and former scout leader who has been active in outdoor activities including extended backpacking, camping and canoeing trips. Ken will be accompanied on the trip by his son Michael, who will be driving a support vehicle and coordinating the set up of information stops where he will receive donations from interested supporters along the way, as well as being the recumbent trike mechanic for the trip.