OUR PURPOSE

Our planned route took us zig-zagging across the mostly rural parts of the northern states. The plan included taking about 2 days off per week for us to spend some time together and for me to try to keep up with my business back home (thank you to my team for helping to keep things on an even keel). We reached our final destination of Portland, Maine, in about four months. I pedaled my bike 4,331 miles (standard bike – no electric assist for this kid!). I had 30 mile days and 100+ days (average 58) depending on many factors.

My bike ride included extremely varied weather with occasional periods of rain, hail, snow (light flurries at the Continental Divide), temperatures down to 38 degrees and as high as 98 degrees, head and cross winds, sometimes 25 to 35 mph with sudden, violent gusts to 50 (I have to ask, where were those rumored prevailing tailwinds my cyclist friends assured me of ?!!).

I climbed thousands of hills and mountains, many very challenging. I had surface conditions that varied from smooth, paved roads with wide, clean shoulders to many others with cracks, potholes and no shoulders. I also biked on hundreds of miles of narrow gravel paths.

Traffic on the roads ranged from extremely heavy to almost no vehicles. On the rare times I had to use interstate freeways I had days when I trucks passed me at about 75 mph every 9 seconds and thousands of speeding cars in between (the road noise on those days was deafening). But there also were many very peaceful days on the rural roads, when I felt like the road was all mine. I would only see a vehicle about once per hour.

The scenery on my ride was often spectacular, tunneling under a canopy of overhanging trees and past many beautiful rivers and lakes. But also there were many weeks of riding through flat farmlands of wheat, corn, soybeans, etc. as far as the eye could see.

As for human interactions, there were so many that were unique and unforgettable, ranging from acts of kindness to distrust and animosity toward us (especially if they learned we were Californians).

I will never forget the building excitement I felt as I biked over Vermont’s beautiful Green Mountains and then the very challenging White Mountains of New Hampshire. I could almost smell the salt water breezes from the Atlantic as I got closer to Maine. And then to finally pass the “Welcome to Maine” sign was thrilling. After a few more miles, finally there it was – the sign indicating that I had arrived at our final destination: Portland, Maine. It was beyond thrilling. Cynthia was waiting there with open arms. We were elated!

To say this journey was a challenge is an understatement. At times it was daunting, but at other times exhilarating and, overall, immensely satisfying. I can’t think of a day, even the worst ones, when I didn’t have a feeling of gratitude for being able to do this. Only once did I have moments of self-doubt as to whether I could complete this ride. It was only two weeks into my ride and I was faced with a five-mile climb with no dips or plateaus – just steady climbing from steep to steeper. It was 98 degrees, with a very strong headwind gusting to 50 mph, which stopped me in my tracks several times. And this was after having already biked for 45 miles that day. It was brutally dispiriting – but I did it!

Cynthia had the challenge of driving the motor home and almost every day having to find a camping spot, ideally with hookups for electric & water. But sometimes we had to “boondock” (dry camp). We spent a few nights in truck stops and even in a couple of Walmart parking lots. And, when I arrived after a long, tiring day of biking, Cynthia worked her homemaker magic – cooking wonderful meals in our tiny kitchenette and keeping everything neat and clean, etc., etc. (and sometimes she even did it with a smile J ). She was awesome!

She is normally a planner and likes to know what’s next. But on this trip it depended on how far I got in a day, and that depended on many factors. But because of the strength of our 39-year relationship, we always worked it out. She has always been an incredibly supportive partner and I would not have done this trip without her approval and willingness to participate.

When I first met Cynthia up in Alaska, I had just bought an airplane and she was managing the flight school I attended. She was a pilot, skydiver and an advanced scuba diver. She was fearless. I was amazed by her then and she amazes me still. So I knew she could handle the challenge of driving a motor home, by herself, across the U.S. to support me. And she did a fantastic job.

However, it is not yet “mission accomplished”. The most important part of this endeavor is to raise money for a critically needed clean water project at two schools in Homabay, Kenya. The project includes the drilling of bore-hole wells and also the building of new toilet facilities and handwashing stations. This project is to be sponsored by the very credible and effective Rotary Club of Oakland. They have a long history of successfully completing similar and other critically needed international projects. Your donations to this very worthy Homabay project will be greatly appreciated.