You Must Be Crazy!

On May 3rd of 2009 I dipped the rear tire of my Cannondale R600 in the Pacific Ocean at Anacortes, Washington to begin the ride of my life. For years I had a desire in my heart to cross America on my bike. No, not the Harley kind of bike, the pedal kind of bike. As Jonathan Wentworth and I pedaled east to the Atlantic Ocean we were asked almost every day, "Where are you guys going?" When we answered that question, especially in the west, the response we heard most often was, "You must be crazy!"

Maybe we were crazy but it sure was the best crazy I've ever experienced.

We arrived back home on July 4th, greeted by family and friends, the journey of a lifetime completed. We had ridden 51 days, pedaled 4,295 miles, rested a few days, crossed fourteen states, met incredible people, ate way too much great food at hole-in-the-wall eateries in each state, and experienced America as few people do. We pedaled through the Cascade Mountains, the Rockies, the Adirondack Mountains, the Green Mountains, and the White Mountains.

We pedaled over 100 miles on Interstate 90 in Idaho and Montana (It's legal there.) We crossed the high plains where the wind blows all directions, all day, every day. The Mississippi River wasn't so "Mighty" where we crossed but it was our halfway mark so size was not important to us. The only big cities we rode through were Fargo and Cleveland and I'm not sure about Fargo. Maybe our back road route made Fargo seem smaller than it actually is.

We, like the Post Office, rode through sub-freezing temperatures, wind, rain, sleet, snow, and fog. Bugs and dogs were not a real issue. We had a total of five dogs chase us but most were on Montana ranches. By the time they got to the ends of their long, long driveways they were too tired to go any farther.

Our best friends on the roads were truck drivers. Almost all eighteen wheelers gave us plenty of room by moving to the left lanes when possible. They were kind, courteous, safe, and and always friendly.

I could go on and on about the trip. In fact, I will . . . next year, Lord willing. Yes, I must be crazy! But . . . I'm married to a crazy woman who also wants to cross America again. On July 5th, 2009, our first time back at church since April 19th, someone asked Margaret, "Would you do it again?"

Her response, "Oh yes, I would leave tonight if I could!"

OUR PLANS

We are already looking at maps and routes and have decided that we'll ride from Maine to Washington. The only major change in our route is in Ohio. There we will head north through Michigan to the Upper Peninsula where we'll get on Route 2 and head west to somewhere near Spokane. We'll get off of Route 2 onto Route 20 to go over the Cascades through Tonasket, Okanogan, Twisp, Marblemount, Concrete, Anacortes, and to the Pacific coast at Cape Flattery/Neah Bay. All across America we want to look up folks we met in 2009 and make more friends along the way.

Since I don't have a riding buddy this trip I have people who are going to meet Margaret and me and ride portions of the ride: Sarah, our daughter, and her husband Barry want to ride with us either from the Atlantic into New York or across Ohio. My brother-in-law, Johnny, wants to ride across Ohio with me. Phil Jones, a good friend living in Texas, plans to ride for two weeks in the midwest (He wants to ride where it's flat! C'mon Phil!). Patti and Gary Warren are planning to meet us in Spokane and go to the coast with us and, when we finish the ride, hang out in Seattle for a week. What a team!

I have a new bike and I'll tell you about that at another time. I have a list of things I want to do differently. I'll tell you about all those things too . . . later!

So, you ask, when will all this happen? The plan is to leave Statham, Georgia on April 9th, 2012 (The day after our 45th Anniversary) and drive to Maine. Along the way we'll make some visits with family and friends and should arrive in Maine sometime on or around April 12th. The rear tire of the new Cannondale R2000 will meet the waters of the Atlantic on April 15th and the Adventure begins . . . again. As Casey Stengle once said, "It's deja vu all over again!"

I've never been homesick but there is a kind of homesick feeling in my heart that's calling me to get back out there. I am ready and . . . yes, I am crazy.

One of my everyday companions on the 2009 ride was this passage of Scripture:

The heavens tell of the glory of God.

The skies display his marvelous

craftsmanship.

Day after day they continue to speak;

night after night they make him

known.

They speak without a sound or a word;

their voice is silent in the skies;

yet their message has gone out to all

the earth,

and their words to all the world.

-Psalm 19:1-4

I plan to write every Friday before we head north in April of next year. I'll let you know how things are going and what we're up to. Once we head north I'll keep you posted each day. Hope some of you will keep in touch, ride with us, and pray for us.

Enjoy the trip with us.