Hello thief,
After sifting through the amazing gear that you have now acquired, I'm assuming you'll eventually read this, as you'll find our stacks of business cards with our website and information. Little did you know when you stole my bike and gear that you would disrupt an incredible journey across the country. I guess I can thank you for providing a bit more drama to our trip, though I'd prefer to just be able to get back on my bike that I got moons ago when I lived in sunny Coronado, California.

Nonetheless, I invite you to read through our blog so you can get to know us, though you probably have a feel of who we are as you know where we are from by my soon-to-be-canceled-checks, or from the book on womens issues that I borrowed from my sister, or the pamphlets from the interviews that we just did, and our love of curry cashew nuts. As you read through our blog, you'll see the amazing people who have helped us on this adventure, and maybe their wisdom, ingenuity, and warmth may inspire you to work for a better world as well. Stay tuned, as you have yet to see the in-depth interviews with the pioneering yet common sense minds working on sustainable issues. We are making a documentary or episodes on our discoveries, and going back to our hometown of Bloomington, Indiana to implement some of the ideas we have learned along the way.

Whoever you may be, hopefully you will give my belongings to a woman who can use the clothes, and please give my tent and sleeping bag to someone who needs a warm shelter that has covered me in Glacier, Olympic, Rocky Mountains, Joshua tree, as of the many other beautiful spots in the nation, and back and forth through the country many times over the last ten years. Though some years the equipment has collected dust, I am fortunate that it has gotten more use this long summer with my soon to be husband. I'm not angry, just now unsure as to how the rest of the trip will unfold(though I guess we were never quite sure from the first week), however, maybe you have also made our decision for the rest of the trip.

I'll admit, I was mostly looking forward to ride the coast, as the Oregon and Northern California waters and redwoods have been calling my name for years, and for whatever reason I have been unable to make the journey even when I lived in California. Though I was expecting to see the majestic woods, you may have redirected our route as we now have to figure out if we need to obtain new gear, used gear, or maybe we need to decide to forget the gear and take other modes of transportation the rest of the trip as we continue to get the story on sustainability, as our funds are basically in the negative.

We said from the first week, that we would just see how life unfolds while getting the story is more of the priority then biking. Though you have definitely challenged me on staying with the "lets see how life unfolds course" when I was attached to seeing the coast, I do sincerely wish that you enjoy the gear. It has definitely given me great memories, as I wish the same for you. Please share your new findings, as the only thing I do hope is that it gets used.

I wish you inspiration,
Melissa

PS-if you do want to return it, I'd be more then happy to obtain it. Give us a call or email, you have our numbers. We'll be in Eugene at least for a couple more days.