Bicyclist rides for stricken grandmother

Cross-country cyclist Andy Brown got a look at his last big obstacle Tuesday.

As he pushed into Mound House, he looked up and saw the Carson Range of the Sierra, the last large mountains between him and San Francisco.

Brown, 22, has ridden more than 4,000 miles to raise awareness and money to help treat Alzheimer's, a disease which has stricken his 83-year-old grandmother, Wanda.

"She doesn't recognize me at all," he said. "It is a good day when she remembers my grandfather, who has been married to her for 65 years. That's really hard on him."

The 22-year-old recent college graduate's only support and companion on the journey has been his cell phone.

"My parents require me to call them twice a day," he said. "One day in the Adirondacks, I didn't call, and they almost sent a search party after me."

Brown entered Nevada in Baker, on the eastern border.

"About every 80 miles, there are services," he said. "I was trying to go through as fast as possible. I did 110, 120 miles for three days in a row."

Whenever he hit civilization, he would eat at a restaurant then stock up on supplies.

"The heat wasn't too bad most of the way," he said. "I lucked out on Monday. It was hot, and I stopped in Cold Springs. It was hitting 100 at the time. I bought a milkshake, and they let me stay and watch a movie on satellite TV."

He finished off Monday at Sand Mountain, just east of Fallon. Tuesday's storm delayed his arrival in Carson City by two hours.

"My plan was to get to Carson City around noon or one, but at noon, I realized there was no chance. I was pushing to go 10 mph."

Brown spent the night in Carson City Tuesday and plans to cross the Sierra today.

By Friday, he hopes to cross the Golden Gate Bridge to finish the trip.

Brown is from Rochester, N.Y., and graduated from the University of Vermont this spring with a degree in computer science.

"But now that I've been outside for 2 1/2 months, I'm kind of leaning toward something else," he said.

As soon as he has had a chance to rest, he plans on putting pictures on his Web site, www.memride.com.

You can help:

Carson City's first Memory Walk to raise money for the Northern Nevada Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association is Sept. 21 at the Capitol Complex.

Visit www.memride.com for information about Andy Brown's ride and cause.