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Cyclist traverses US for health, charity

Franklin Hayes/Gulf Breeze News Bob Carter poses with his Chocolate Labrador, Brandy, at the foot of the three-mile bridge before heading off toward New Orleans. Brandy rides along in the brown trailer to her right. While some people go to extreme lengths to lose weight, not many will top 46-year-old Bob Carter from Atlanta, Ga. Carter recently passed through the Gulf Breeze area while working on his fitness goal, a nine-state, cross-country tricycle journey from Tybee Island, Ga. to San Francisco. Carter kicked off his journey Nov. 14 and plans to be in California by February. The entrepreneur's ambitious goal is to lose 100 pounds during his 100-day journey while raising money for Hurricane Katrina victims in New Orleans. So far, the cyclist said he's lost approximately 25 pounds and raised at least a few thousand dollars.

"The ride represents many things to me," said Carter, who also brought his 70-pound chocolate Labrador along for the trip. "First and foremost, I realized that my health and my life was slipping away. This represents a way to regain both, and hopefully inspire many people in the process."

Carter, who is averaging 30 to 40 miles a day, said he realized that the excursion meant more than a physical rebirth. It represented a chance for him to raise money for a charity and a passion dear to his heart. Carter is looking to raise $250,000 for displaced musicians of New Orleans via the High Sierra Katrina Foundation, a non-profit group that was created to aid organizations related to music, art, education and social justice. As Carter rides, he spreads the word about the foundation's "Give Five, Keep the Music Alive" campaign, which encourages people to give $5 or any donation with the number five in it.

Carter, who owns a homemold detection business, along with his mold sniffing Dog Brandy are well on their way to the city by the bay thanks to Greenspeed Recumbent Trikes and a handful of other sponsors. Carter is riding a donated Greenspeed GTO recumbent trike, a three-wheel vehicle

known as a tadpole, while Brandy rides along comfortably in a customized two wheeled trailer.

"I could have made it easier on myself by not bringing the dog, but that was non-negotiable," Carter said as Brandy started at him lovingly through the mesh screen on her covered carriage.

The odd couple's journey is also attracting celebrity attention, as Multi-Grammy award winning artist Futureman from

Bela Fleck and the Flecktones has taken notice and pledged his support to the cause. Carter is looking forward to his welcoming committee in San Francisco, as the occasion will be marked with a charity concert featuring acts like The Blue Turtle seduction, Animal Liberation Orchestra, CSX-1, BlueGround Undergrass The Drew Emmitt band and many more. For more information about the journey visit Carter's web page at www.phatboyriding.com.