Day 108- The Grand Finale!

WE DID IT!!

Here’s our final progress vlog of the tour, detailing Idaho and Washingron.

On August 18th, 2019, we arrived on the coast of the Salish Sea in Anacortes, Washington after setting out from Bar Harbor, Maine 108 days ago-- how surreal!  This summer we covered 4500 miles, tens of thousands of feet of elevation gain, and every type of weather the continent could throw at us.  How bitter-sweet to be finished!

We raised almost $1000 for YouthCare during the course of this tour, at www.crowdrise.com/CycleForChange2019

Awesome!  Thank you all for helping to make this tour and this fundraiser a success!

Day 101- Big Sky, Montana

On August 11th, day 101 of our Northern Tier bike tour, we crossed out of Montana and into Idaho.  Riding in eastern and central Montana proved to be a real challenge for us. Despite the level terrain, the unending wind against us from the west was brutal, and the ride was made all the more difficult in the 100 degree heat.  Adding to this the focus-demanding, deadly cycling along busy Highway 2, and we found ourselves drained each evening.  

We popped into Alberta briefly to ride into Glacier Natl Park from the north, through Waterton Lakes Natl Park.  WOW! What a spectacular change in landscape, weather, and scenery we found here, with awe-inspiring views around every corner!  The Going-to-the-Sun Road of Glacier NP offered one of the most jaw-dropping alpine descents I could have imagined.  Undoubtedly, we'll be back to this very special place again one day.

Following weeks in the Great Plains, western Montana was refreshingly new-- mountainous, cooler, and green.  This change inspired a new vigor in us as we closed the final gap between us and the Pacific coast.

Onwards!

WE DID IT!!

WE DID IT!!
On August 18th, 2019, we arrived on the coast of the Salish Sea in Anacortes, Washington after setting out from Bar Harbor, Maine 108 days ago-- how surreal!  This summer we covered 4500 miles, tens of thousands of feet of elevation gain, and every type of weather the continent could throw at us.  How bitter-sweet to be finished!  Oh— and we raised almost $1000 for YouthCare along the way, with our fundraiser at: crowdrise.com/CycleForChange2019

This arrival marks the completion of a "triple-crown" of coast-to-coast bicycle touring for me, having now completed:
•Yorktown, VA -> San Francisco, CA in 2016
•Jacksonville, FL -> Los Angeles, CA in 2017
•Bar Harbor, ME -> Anacortes, WA, now!
A grand total of ~12,000 miles (half the circumference of the Earth)! I think I'll settle down now for a while-- if I can...

...the road awaits, and the mountains are calling.

Expect vlogs for Montana, Idaho, and Washington to be posted soon!

Day 77- Windy North Dakota

On July 18th, day 77 of our Northern Tier tour, we headed west out of Medora and crossed into Montana.  Our route in North Dakota boasts the longest straight road in the US, on Highway 46, which cuts through seemingly endless horizons of corn, wheat, and soy.  The dramatic thunder- and windstorms of the Great Plains are totally unique, and intimidatingly powerful.  The westerly wind was relentless, but we were rewarded for our effort when we arrived in the badlands of beautiful Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

It’s now onwards to the Rockies!

Day 68- Friendly Minnesota

On July 9th, day 68 of our Northern Tier bike tour, we crossed the Red River out of Minnesota and into North Dakota.  Minnesota treated us to very agreeable riding right off the bat, as we passed through bike-friendly Minneapolis.  Traveling due northwest across the state, we travelled on almost 200 miles of paved bike trail- wow!  This meant we could move more quickly, more safely, and under more shade than if we were stuck on the typical exposed highway shoulders we're accustomed to.  Minnesota lives up to its moniker, as the land of 10,000 lakes-- we cycled passed hundreds of lakes of all shapes and sizes, dotting the landscape everywhere.  The hills are all but gone now, and we're beginning to experience hints of the powerful and enduring westerly winds of the Great Plains. 
Onwards west!

We're raising funds for YouthCare, a non-profit that makes a significant difference in the lives of homeless youth.  I hope you'll consider making a contribution to the organization at: crowdrise.com/CycleForChange2019

Day 57- Beautiful Wisconsin

On June 28th, day 57 of our bike tour, we crossed the St. Croix River out of Wisconsin and in to Minnesota.  Wisconsin surprised us with it’s abundance of beautiful natural areas, as we spent our days cycling through aspen and pine forest dotted with hundreds of lakes and marshes.  We had a uniquely special evening on an island of the Turtle Flambeau Flowage, after a chance meeting with a stranger.  The rain has continued, and so have the persistent mosquito swarms, but the weather is warming and the bug clouds seem to be thinning.

I hope you’ll consider making a donation for homeless youth, in our honor, at our fundraiser: crowdrise.com/CycleForChange2019

Onwards to Minneapolis, our tour’s halfway mark!

Day 52- Michigan Part 2: Crossing the Upper Peninsula

On June 23, day 52 of our Northern Tier bike tour, we crossed the Brule River into Wisconsin.  Michigan’s Upper Peninsula treated us to beautiful open coastal views as we traveled along the northern shore of Lake Michigan on pleasantly flat roads.  The mosquitoes we found ourselves covered in at every stop were the worst I’ve dealt with in my life- but the warm people and fair weather more than made up for our parasite-based struggle.  Our time was short but sweet in the Upper Peninsula— it’s now onwards to Wisconsin, and the great land of cheese!

We’re raising money for YouthCare, a resource-center dedicated to radically and effectively saving the futures and lives of homeless youth, aged 12-23.  I hope you’ll consider making a donation at: crowdrise.com/CycleForChange2019

Day 47- Michigan Part 1: Crossing the Lower Peninsula

On June 18th, day 47 of our Northern Tier bike tour, we crossed the Mackinaw Bridge from the Lower and into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  Lower Michigan greeted us with many hot, sunny days and some beautiful paved bike trails.  We took 17 days off to spend time with Lauren's family, as we cycled by their homes.  The lakes of northern Michigan are exceptionally clear and beautiful- the lake you see us taking a break to kayak on is Torch Lake, where we've lived for Onwards to the UP!

I hope you'll consider making a donation in our honor to YouthCare, a fantastic homeless-youth resource center that helps youth ages 12-23 get off the street and into jobs and homes of their own.
You can find the fundraiser at : crowdrise.com/CycleForChange2019

Day 23- Thank you, Ontario!

On May 25th, we crossed the St Clair River out of Ontario and in to Michigan.  Our ride along Lake Erie’s northern shores was excellent, having been almost completely flat and beautifully scenic.  We dealt with a fair share of weather and sustained headwinds, but all-in-all, we’re already reflecting on Ontario fonsly.  Thanks are due to Jannette in Fort Erie (you were a RIOT!), and to Jennifer, Maya, Aurora, and Peyton in Ridgetown for hosting us so comfortably.  We went 5 days sleeping behind churches or on the beach, and a warm shower after that time really made a difference!

It’s now onwards through Michigan!

On May 19th, we crossed the Niagara River into Ontario.  New York state presented many challenges for us, as the Adirondacks can be so unpredictable this early in the year.  Seriously steep grades and thousands of feet of elevation welcomed us into thr eastern Adirondacks, followed by several days of near-freezing downpours.  Arriving in early May meant almost all campgrounds and stores were closed, but we did manage a basic resupply once a day.  Two days after escaping the seemingly endless hills and rain, we arrived on the flatter, warmer Lake Ontario coast.  Our largest reprieve was found along the flat Erie Canal trail, which was complimented by several days of warm sun.  We took our first rest day in Rochester with our amazing WarmShowers hosts, Darin and Jacqui- Thank you both! Now it's onwards toward Michigan!

Day 9- Crossing New Hampshire and Vermont

The White Mountains of New Hampshire and the Green Mountains of Vermont were gorgeous!  We made short work of these two, narrow states.  We’d love to revisit in the autumn. On May 11th we crossed Lake Champlain into New York!

Day 6- Into the Whites

On May 8th, we climbed into New Hampshire's White Mountains.  They we cold, windy, and dramatically beautiful- I have to see them again someday...

Day 5- Farewell, Maine!

Maine has been (hilly, intensely sunny, rainy, cold) swell! We're leaving the Atlantic coast- into New Hampshire and the White Mountains we go.

Day 1 - Hello, Bar Harbor!

We've arrived on the Atlantic coast, and now begin our journey westward!

It's Official! 2 Weeks and Counting...

On May 2nd, Lo and I arrive in Bar Harbor, Maine, and begin pedalling our bicycles the over 4,500 miles to Anacortes, Washington!  The trail we have chosen roughly follows the US/Canadian border, briefly crossing into Ontario and Alberta.

Having completed the Southern Tier trail with Lo in 2017 (spanning from Jacksonville, Florida to Los Angeles, California) this will be our second coast-to-coast bicycle adventure together.  In total, this will be my third journey by bike across the US, marking my "triple crown" of US cycle-touring.  That's a whopping 12,000 cumulative miles (half the circumference of the Earth)!

Our style of touring is completely self-supported.  This means that as we travel, we will be camping and carrying all of our own equipment, clothing, food, and water in saddle bags mounted to our bicycles.

Trips like these inevitably attract the interest of friends, family, and the many kind and generous folks we meet along the way.  If you're reading this, I hope you'll considering making a contribution to YouthCare in our honor.  YouthCare is a tremendous homeless resource center for youth aged 12-24 in Seattle, and is the organization for which I am dedicating this endeavor.  

You can find my fundraiser at: crowdrise.com/CycleForChange2019

In this blog I hope to keep you periodically posted with our progress as we make our way west.  Blogging can be difficult, or simply not possible, at times during trips like these, but expect a few updates each month.  

For the first time, I will be attempting to capture and post videos along the way to accompany this blog.  Video editing will be tedious.. on a tablet... in a tent...after a long day of riding.... BUT I would love to share with you a more intimate window into our life on the back of our bicycles.  Time will tell how realistic and how often these video journals will be.

Right now we are scrambling to say our goodbyes to friends here in Seattle, as we start the grueling process of efficiently packing everything we own.

Stay tuned!