What
a summer! I can still hardly believe
that between June 16 and August 5, I rode my bike for nearly 50 straight days,
averaging 80 miles a day and pedaling from coast to coast – Oregon to New
Hampshire – biking approximately 3700 miles.
I
had to miss one day of the ride between Rochester and Syracuse, New York due to
some fluid retention. Fortunately I was cleared to continue and finish the ride,
but even as we dipped our tires into the Atlantic, I knew I would have to go
back and complete the 93 miles I missed. I was not going to settle with an
asterisk behind my name – “He rode all the way across the country – except for
93 miles.” So in early October, Tam and
I loaded the bike into the car, drove to Rochester and met friends Chuck and
Judy from North Carolina. For the first 20+ miles, on a very foggy and chilly
October morning, Chuck and I rode on the old towpath of the Erie Canal. It was
wonderful to see all the activity along the canal, from joggers, cyclists and
dog walkers to rowing crews on the water.
For most of the rest of the way, we rode through several small towns on the
gently rolling terrain along route 31, skirting the northern edge of the Finger
Lakes. We finished the last few miles going through the park along Lake
Onondaga and finished at the hotel where my fellow riders stayed earlier this
summer. All day long I kept imagining the group riding through two months
earlier. Ride completed! Asterisk removed!
It’s
been over 2 months already since the group finished the ride at the beach at Wallis
Sands State Park just
south of Portsmouth, NH. I’ve ridden a bit since then, but nothing more than 60
miles except for the 93 mile “make up” day. I think of the ride almost every
day. I look at the pictures regularly, hoping to recollect some of the images
and relive a bit of the experience. I still miss my riding buddies from America
by Bicycle and have been in touch with a few of them. I guess there are a few final
thoughts as I close the book on my Big Bicycling Adventure Across America.
First
of all, we have a beautiful country. The land is rich, diverse and productive –
from the tall pine forests in the Northwest to the gorgeous mountains in Oregon
and Wyoming to the farm fields of Idaho, South Dakota and the Midwest. There were
many breath-taking vistas as we came upon some of our nation’s mighty rivers
and the gorges carved out over the millennia. We rode along pristine small
streams next to roads canopied with tall trees. We saw the “amber waves of
grain and purple mountains majesty” as well as miles of corn fields, bean
fields, potatoes and cattle ranches as we rode “from sea to shining sea.” As a consequence, Tam and I have added a lot to
our bucket list of places to visit during our retirement.
The
people we met along the way were spectacular. From coast to coast, I met people
who were interested and intrigued by our adventure, but they encouraged us and provided
help, even going out of their way to make sure some strangers got to the store to
pick up supplies. I met people from various walks of life, backgrounds and
circumstances, but found that most have very similar goals. They were very
willing to share part of their story and talk about their dreams, hopes and
fears. None of those that I met were seeking fame or fortune, but wanted to
have sufficient income so their children wouldn’t have to worry about having
enough to eat or a roof overhead. They hoped they were teaching their children
to be honest, how to live with integrity and a concern for the well-being of
those around them, and they hoped their children would be able to chase their
own dreams as they got a bit older.
I
felt privileged to spend a few moments with each person I met and was a little
sad that our encounters were so brief, most likely to never see each other
again.
While
I was with other riders most of the way, there were many times I was by myself
and had plenty of time to think.
It struck me that the ride, like much in life,
is about persistence and perseverance. To be sure, there were some peak moments
like finally cresting after a 6 or 8 mile climb to be treated to a breathtaking
vista, coming upon some of our nation’s mighty rivers and the gorges carves out
over the millennia or riding along a quiet stream on a road canopied with tall
trees. But there were many stretches, even days, when one mile blended into the
next, into the next, into the next… Sometimes
the scenery didn’t seem to change much (one corn field looks pretty much the
same as the next) and a lot of the ride was a matter of simply “keep pedaling”
and make it to the next stop. Sometimes we were treated with warm days and the
wind was at our back and the terrain not too difficult. But there were days
when it was a bit chilly, or the winds were against us or we had to go uphill
for miles at a time. Sometimes you have
to work hard to just stay on the bike and keep pedaling, knowing that by doing
so, you will eventually reach the end.
I
guess life is like that at times. There are peak moments and sometimes the road
seems easy and things sail in our favor. But there are other times that are more
challenging and it’s a struggle just to get through. One day seems pretty much
like the day before. You learn, though, that the more you persist and persevere,
things eventually become a bit easier and you reach the goal. You learn that you can do difficult things.
Now
that the trip has been over for several weeks, I realize that the miles and
miles, including, perhaps especially, the difficult parts, made me a much
stronger cyclist. Had the road been all downhill with the wind at my back, the
ride would not have been nearly as memorable or as satisfying. Sometimes we’d
like things in life to go a bit easier, but it’s the challenges we face in life
that make us stronger and build our character. We need to test ourselves in
order to grow.
While
I probably will not make another cross country ride again, I plan to take
several multi-day trips in different parts of our country. Riding a bicycle is
a great way to see and experience the world around you. I encourage you to get
on a bike, even if it’s only for 5 or 10 miles. You never know how far you will
end up going.
Be
well. Do good.
