May 10 Crossing America

Hi “Old Guy on a Bicycle” Supporters!

Thanks for visiting my website and taking a look at my “Crossing America Blog”.  This is my first of many entries.  As I make my journey, I will share my progress, fun stories, photos, and if I can master it, some videos.  I look forward to hearing from you, too.  When time and network availability permit, I will get back to you with any questions and or comments you may have.

June 1^st is rapidly approaching for my epic adventure to begin.  Getting to sleep at night is beginning to be a challenge.  My anticipation of facing the most challenging test of endurance and determination, for me yet, wondering to myself is this Old Guy up to the test.  I keep telling myself “yes I can, yes I can” just like the Little Engine That Could.  Amazing how a motivational story from our childhood can have a profound affect on our lives.  Of course, over the years there have been many other motivational stories ingrained in my mind.   Anyone remember these; Jonathon Livingston Seagull, Acres of Diamond, Think and Grow Rich?  I can truthfully say these stories along with a few good mentors have shaped my life allowing me to accomplish more than I would have ever thought possible.  Together with the many words of encouragement and kindness I’ve received will help provide the inner strength to meet and succeed this challenge.

My bicycle journey across America is not a straight across shot but rather a zigzag route which will take me 6,300 miles, through 16 States over four months.  The plan is to average approximately 65 miles a day with 25 rest days. 

 I’ve broken my route into three stages to make the journey as easy as possible on this Old Guy.  Below is the narrative of my route.  If you want the visual route, go to the right side of this website, look for “Categories” and click on “Map Crossing America”.  You will see my route and stages of it on a map of the USA.

          STAGE 1 June 1- Aug. 1st:  I’ve joined up with the Bike the US for MS group.  We’ll depart on June 1^st from Yorktown, VA. traveling west on what is known as the Trans-America bicycle route.  The route is pretty much the same route that was set-up in celebration of the USA Bi-Centennial in 1976 for bicyclist.  Upon reaching Pueblo, CO. the group will pick up the “Western Express” route created by the Adventure Cycling Association.  This organization’s primary mission is to create safe bicycle routes all over America.  The first stage will end in San Francisco on August 1^st.  The benefits of riding with a group will be the support in case of any difficulties on the road.  Plus, the real biggie is I won’t have to carry much gear on my bicycle for this first stage.  This will give me the opportunity to get in better shape before having to carry an additional 100 lbs, approximate weight of my touring bike with all my gear and clothing to be self contained.

          STAGE 2 Aug. 2 – Aug 23-25:  Upon arriving in San Francisco, I will drive north (volunteered my mini-van as a support vehicle for the group crossing so will have it for this stage) to the Anacortes in the upper NW of Washington State.  I have one friend in particular who wants to ride some if not all the Pacific coast route with me.  In addition, to this friend, my son is planning on flying down from Alaska with his family to spend a couple days with me.  Hope that works out as seeing them will give me the shot in the arm to go on!  I’ve also visited with a couple high school buddies who have expressed an interest in hooking up with me on the West coast somewhere for a day or two.  If all goes well, I should be able to do STAGE 2 of my adventure without carrying gear on the bike.  Worse case scenario is I’ll leave my car somewhere and ride down the coast from the Anacortes to San Francisco on my own.  Then take a train from San Fran to wherever I left my vehicle.  That’s plan “A” and “B” for STAGE 2.

          STAGE 3 Aug25 – Oct.1:  Once I’ve completed the Pacific coast, I will again get in my mini-van and drive back across America to Yorktown, VA.  I’ll remount my bicycle this time with my gear.  Hey, I should be in very good shape after almost three months of pedaling my way across 2/3^rd of America.  From Yorktown, I’ll pretty much follow the Atlantic coast line to Key West, FL. as my final destination.  I have received word from one classmate who lives in Florida to contact him when I get in his area and he will do what he can to visit and help me along this 1,400 mile final leg of my adventure.  I do have a couple suppliers, with my business that may be of some assistance, too.  We’ll see how it goes for this final stage but even if I have to carry all my gear, the east coast is overall much flatter than the other two stages.

There you have my game plan.  It’s slightly over a week before I leave Missouri heading east via Crystal Lake, Illinois.  Going to stop there for a final tweaking to my bike “Spirit” and a last minute visit with a few of my high school buddies.  At the urging of some friends in CL to contact the Northwest Herald newspaper to see if the paper would be interested in doing a story.  To which I did and the nice folks there have agreed to do an interview with me on May 25^th.  Need all the publicity I can to achieve the $10,000.00 goal I’ve set for myself to raise for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

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