Maybe the fantasy has crossed your mind before: Convince the bosses to give you a month or two off from work, climb into your car and take a cross-country ride, shout-singing the words to "Born to Run."

Gino Nalli, who teaches health policy at USM's Muskie School of Public Service, is following the dream, except he's going on his bike for the next 76 or so days. Starting today.

With a trailer attached to his Lemond Poprad, Nalli will be camping along the way to Washington, and trying to raise money. He's asking that donations go to the Maine organizations Konbit Sante, which tries to improve health care in Haiti; Safe Passage, which educates and feeds impoverished children in Guatemala; and Preble Street, which serves the homeless.

Interested in following his travels, and the people he'll meet along the way? Check out his blog,Crazy Guy On A Bike.

He writes: "My plans are to head directly west: Portland to Albany, New York; to Lackawanna, New York; to Muskegon, Michigan (through Ontario); to Milwaukee, Wisconsin (via the ferry); to Dalbo, Minnesota; to Fargo, North Dakota; to Cut Bank, Montana; to Sandpoint, Idaho and finally Anacortes, Washington, in the Seattle area. Total miles are approximately 3500 (not including the ferry ride)."

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