Introducing my fellow Big Riders

While I haven't met any of my fellow riders yet (will be correcting this shortly), I thought I would introduce them so there is a point of reference when I start writing about them during the ride! I have also linked to their blogs where applicable.

1. Camilo Rueda is from Atlanta, Georgia and is a manufacturing consultant.
2. Ben Cocanougher is a first year medical student at University of Rochester in New York (from Kentucky)
3. Doron Weber is from Brooklyn, New York and is a writer.
4. Rick Stark is from Sacramento, California
5. Sharon Newman is from Chicago, Illinois and is a high school math teacher
6. Molly Douce is from Seattle, Washington and is a retired fire fighter
7. Cookie Chandler is from Bend, Oregon and works for a fitness center
8. Steve Lindbeck is from Anchorage, Alaska and works in public broadcasting
9. Rob Wilson is from Fremont, California and is retired (but really enjoying the perks of working at REI in his retirement!)
10. Sarah Briskin is a recent college graduate from Brandeis University and is from the Boston metro-area.
11. Laura Hernandez is from Spokane, Washington
12. Mike Ingram is from Tucson, Arizona and is retired
13. Jeffrey Stelter is from Tempe, Arizona and works in marketing
15. Todd Apley is from Hebron, Nebraska and works for Microsoft.
16. Jim Sheridan is from Albany, New York and works in healthcare
17. Gene Nash is from Seattle, Washington. He is a paramedic AND a bike mechanic, which basically means he is singularly qualified to be the best support crewman ever!
18. Charlton DuRant and Lynn Petrotte are our ride directors. I am in awe of how knowledgeable and organized they are: they have been orchestrating this trip for years now and I will defer to them on basically everything.

More updates to come-- there is a lot happening in the next few days! I'll be meeting Sarah on the plane ride to Seattle tomorrow, Gene will be picking us up from the airport, and I think Mike will already be at Seattle Pacific University (our home away from home until the ride starts) when we arrive.