Thanks A Million Buck The Trip

"When the pickle becomes tasty, you are enjoying your victory" -- Chunda


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	Jasdeep Saran
	Age: 17 Height: 6' 3"
	Senior Class of 2007
	Research Coordinator / Bike Rider
My name is Jasdeep Saran, and I am 17. I came to the United States about 5 years ago. I didn’t know much about baseball but my friend invited me to play on a team. I played cricket in India that helped me in playing baseball because the skills needed are similar. About 90% of my family is still in India in the Punjab Region. I will be a senior at Chief Sealth High school and plan to attend UW majoring in premed or an Aeronautical engineer. The main reason I am going on this trip is to see another side of the United States and show people what someone can do for the love of baseball, and how baseball is a big part in United States history.

1. The day has finally come. Was it worth it? I could not say no.

Written by Jasdeep

Friday, August 04 2006

The times I wanted to quit I don't now what I was thinking. The end always has it all. We arrived at the Negro Leagues Museum and I was struck by how many people were there to welcome us. The reporters were all over the place and I got a little nervous, but got through it. We had to get up at 3 in the morning to take off for K.C. Usually, I was really tired when we were riding, but this last ride was very different. Everyone rode very hard and we seemed to be flying across the roads. Thomsen said we were averaging about 20 miles an hour. I felt fantastic.

Seeing the museum for the first time was so fantastic I will not ever forget this experience. I just cannot put the feelings I got when we finished in to words. I feel like I had done something that had a meaning to it. And I was excited to see Buck O'Neil. He gave me a hug and all the pain in my legs went away.

Mr. Kendrick took all of us to lunch with Buck O'Neil at a soul food restaurant. None of us has ever had soul food but it was chicken and macaroni with some green vegetable. It was the best meal we have had in a while and we all ate everything they offered us. Buck was sitting across from me telling story's to some other Negro Leagues players and it was fun to watch him talk baseball. He does not seem 90 years old, he is very sharp and a wonderful man. Meeting him again has made the trip worthwhile.

After checking into our hotel we went to the Royals game and it was amazing because every one gave us a standing ovation. We rode our bikes in from the bullpen and everyone stood up and cheered for us. Such a feeling I have never had and I don’t think I ever will again. Standing at home plate to meet us was Buck and Bob Kendrick and I never felt so proud as I did to stand next to them. Even after getting up so early and riding, I cant go to sleep. So I keep writing stuff down. Things I remember and don’t want to forget.

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2. Write it or lose it

Written by Jasdeep

Thursday, August 03 2006

Every day the riders are supposed to come up with 10 quotes and 10 bike speaks and, I admit, we didn't always do that. Finally, in Southfork, Thomsen told us that if we fail to do that we would all get a buzz cut. I did not think he was serious about this, but when we failed to get the quotes or bike speak in for 2 days we got in trouble and it was time to cut it off. He took off a patch of hair from the back of my neck last night. I know I did not do my job, but cutting my hair was a little out there. He said either cut the hair or go sleep in the truck, and that got me a little angry because with only 2 days left how is someone going to say that. Then I said what the hell and got it cut.

Today we stopped in this place called Sebetha and Thomsen, Chunda and Yuto all got buzz cuts. Since we were headed to Omaha, Nebraska to do a radio and television interview, there wasn't time to cut mine so we left. Since we are staying in Sebetha, we came back to the barber shop after we were done, but I did not get buzzed because it took me a long tine to grow my hair and I don't want to have to start all over again.

I am looking forward to finishing this trip and just going home to my bed and the couch for the first couple of days. Tomorrow is the last leg of 140 miles which will be a whole different ride and unforgettable. It will be hard to forget all the good and the bad times we have had on this trip, but I am still not looking forward to getting up at 3 in the morning.


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3. Today we left Garden City to go to Wichita, Kansas

Written by Jasdeep

Wednesday, August 02 2006

Today we left Garden City to go to Wichita, Kansas, so the mayor would sign the bat. We thought there would not be much media coverage when we get to there, then we were all dumbstruck by what they had planned for us. We had a police escort from outside of the city to the City Hall which was amazing because I have never done something like this before. It as almost like a parade. I had fun riding into the city behind the cop. The cop was amazed by our speed because we kept up the whole time. The mayor and everyone who worked for him were all amazed by what we were doing. There were TV station reporters and many others that were meeting us with the mayor. I will never forget this experience because I might not get a police escort of any kind ever again.

There is a big storm coming our way and the way we were headed. I'm not looking forward to riding it, but I think it will be fun besides the lightning part.


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4. We have 3 days left

Written by Jasdeep

Tuesday, August 01 2006

We have 3 days left I am pretty happy because it has been 20 long days and counting. I want to go home as soon as possible, but I also want to see the country without being on a bike.

Today we left Colorado, City and we did not have a good time at the hotel last night because we were being too loud and Thomsen got really mad. Chunda went into the hall way and yelled "Thomsen wake up" and that really set him off. He made Chunda sleep in the back of the tuck. It was a little funny, but I still felt sorry for him.

Thomsen wanted to ride by himself, so Chunda and I got dropped off 5 miles in front of him and we had a good, long ride. Tomorrow we have to get up a 4 to start our trip to Wichita, so now becomes a test to see if we can overcome the physical challenge. It will be over 200 miles and will take about 15 hours of riding. I am not looking forward to it, but I want to do it at the same time because I will look back after I finish and will think what the hell was I thinking doing that.


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