Gray, dank skies and light rain hardly deterred the spirits of the 17 bike riders who are heading east out of Seattle on the adventure of the summer time.

These riders all gathered pledges then headed out yesterday morninging early in Seattle on a 48-day journey that will take them upwards in elevation of some 4,000 feet in the majestic Cascade Mountains in Washington.

From there, its on to the long roads of Montana and Wyoming; the Badlands of North Dakota, then South Dakota and into the heartland of America, the middle west.

The riders got their last-minute instructions, then departed Monday morning behind Emerson Hall on the campus of Seattle Pacific University. Many of the riders are blogging their experiences for a variety of news and entertainment sources.

Larissa Powers, science teacher from Mary Institute Country Day School in St. Louis is writing of her experiences on several Patches throughout St. Louis.

Before the riders left, they wrote out a big check to the American Lung Association Mountain Pacific chapter as a downpayment on their lengthy trip.

This truly will be the venture of a lifetime as these 17 riders travels the highways and byways of America; landing on the Mall in Washington, D.C. August 4.

Here is where you can still help sponsor her ride.

This is Larissa's journey blog.

Stay with Patch every mile of the road.