At the end

Well, I'm all done. I made it to the Yorktown Victory Monument on Saturday, July 17, at about 1:30. Sorry for the delay in making this post. I'm also sorry for the way the last series of posts was all jumbled up. That was confusing. When I arrived, I was greeted by a large crowd of family and friends. There were a lot of signs and many pictures were taken. It was great. I have never been so glad to see those people in my life. Mom had prepared a great picnic, which I felt was a fitting end to the trip.

Overall, I think biking across the country was a great experience. It was not always pleasant, but I'm glad I did it. I'm also glad I did it solo. It would have been a very different experience if I'd had a partner. I'm sure it still would have been good, but I am pleased with how things turned out. If someone told me they were thinking about doing this trip and asked if I would recommend it, I think I would say this: "If you really want to bike across the country, then it is a great experience. You get to see a lot of places, meet a lot of people, and push yourself a lot. however, if you are just looking for something fun to do, then do something else. This trip isn't as fun a you might think. It was often unpleasant."

I don't think I can thank my family and friends enough for all the support they've given me. I really appreciate all the thoughts and prayers and help and text messages. Who knew so many people cared about me? Thanks a lot.

Well, the batteries in the SPOT died. I'd hoped they would last til the end, but it was too much to ask. Tonight, I'm in Mineral.

? But, it's not so bad. At least it's cooler. My projected arrival ho Yorktown is Saturday. I'm am very much looking forward to it. Also, I had lunch with

? e and pulled out a switchblade and told me to take it. I politely declined, but she told me it was ok, she had three more. I didn't take it. Since gettin

? a friendly lady about my trip, when she asked if I had protection. She asked if I had a knife. I told her I had a pocketknife. Pie reached into her purs

? ulls. One bit my tire and almost knocked of down, but then I pulled my dog spray and they ran off. The second was outside a gas station. I was talking to

? Hello! Long time, no blog. I'm back in VA now, my favorite state. I had two memorable experiences coming out of KY. First, I was chased by a couple pit b

I'll be back in VA soon

Right now, I'm in the library in Boonville, KY. After finishing up an excellent family visit, I was dropped off in Bardstown on Tuesday. I had a short day, 45 miles, because the only other option was a 90 mile day. This gave me a more relaxed morning at Aunt Vicki and Uncle Bob's as well as giving me a chance to ease back into riding after sitting around eating for several days.

Yesterday, I passed through Berea. It seemed like a really nice little town. I had my lunch at the Boone Tavern, It was expensive, and I think my burger had been frozen, but the spoon bread was good. I stopped in McKee last night. I went by McKee Baptist Church and they offered to put me up in the hotel, but there were no vacancies. Instead, I stayed in the youth house. I had a shower and AC and the church didn't have to pay anything. A win for everybody.

I'm really looking forward to getting home. The sooner the better, in my opinion.

Some more relaxing

The past few days have been very good. I had a good visit with my Aunt Cheri and Uncle Tom, when I spent the night at their house. Aunt Cheri and I shot her bow for a little while, which was fun. On Sunday, I got to go to church, for the first time in a while. That was really nice, even more so because I met up with a bunch of my family there. After church, I partook in the French family tradition of going to Arby's for breakfast. I resettled at my Aunt Vicki and Uncle Bob's home and took a brief nap (which somehow stretched to about an hour and a half). Then, we went to my Aunt Bobbi and Uncle Mike's house for the 4th of July. There was a pool, even more family, and a lot of good food. After the sun went down, we got to watch as they set off fireworks in the driveway. After a really good night's sleep, I started to day with a big breakfast. Later, some family will be coming over to visit.

Once I leave here on Tuesday, I expect to be home in about two weeks. I think the trip has been a great experience, but I'm really looking forward to getting home.

From Mt. Washington

The past few days have been good. Yesterday, I met my Uncle Bud in Sebree, where he took me home. I had a nice visit with him and Aunt Dorothy, including the chance to eat well. Then, this morning, I was picked up by my Aunt Cheri and Uncle Tom and taken to their home in Mt. Washington. On the way, we dropped by the bike store and the grocery, which was fun.

The next few days will be a chance to relax and visit with family. And celebrate the 4th of July. I'm looking forward to it. At the end, I probably won't want to start riding again.

I've reached Kentucky, which is somewhat more familiar territory

This morning, I crossed over the Ohio River into Kentucky. This is my next to last state. I'm definitely in the home stretch now. I can't say I'm sad about that. To be honest, I'm really looking forward to getting home. It will be nice to stay in my own house, eat home-cooked food, and see people I actually recognize.

I had my first dog encounter yesterday. I was riding down a little country road when a couple dogs, including a big Rottweiler, started barking and chasing me. During the process of pulling out my spray, I was run off the road. My bike fell over, but I managed to keep my feet. Funnily enough, as soon as I was off the bike, the dogs forgot about me and went back to the yards. So, I cautiously picked up the bike, wheeled it back on the road, and surreptitiously climbed back on to make my getaway. This brought the dogs running. Fortunately, the spray kept them at bay long enough for me to leave their territory.

Last night, I was planning to stay at Tower Rock, a campground run by the US Forest Service. However, when I asked about it at a gas station, the lady told me it was very primitive, isolated, empty, creepy, and a hang-out of the local rowdies. If I went five miles further, I'd get to Cave in Rock state park, which has a very nice campground. So that's what I did.

Today, I made it to Sebree, KY. First Baptist Church here has a ministry where they provide hospitality to cyclists passing through. They're letting me stay in the church youth area (with a mattress and air-conditioning) and let me take a shower. Since it is Wednesday night, I got to attend a Bible study, which is good. I haven't been to church in two weeks, so it was nice to have a little bit of that. Afterwards, the pastor invited me over to his house for ice cream. I enjoyed visiting with him and his wife and the youth pastor.

The other day I was talking to another cyclist about verses that went through our minds during the day. He told me that he often reflected on that verse from Isaiah: "The will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not grow faint." I told him that I spent a lot of time thinking about Romans 5:3-4 "We rejoice also in suffering, because suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character, hope."

I'm looking forward to seeing family, beginning on Friday. Hope everyone is doing well.

During my ride on Sunday my body very emphatically requested that I take a day off. I'd been hoping that I could make it to my family in KY before breaking again, but my body very clearly needed a break. So, that night I stayed in Murphysboro; Monday I went 10 miles up the road to Carbondale, stopping at Wal-mart on the way. Today, I feel much better and ready to go.

From Farmington, MO

Well, the dry heat out West was definitely nicer than this humidity. I wake up wet and stay that way all day. Could be worse.

I wrote the other day that Subway has a good deal. If you want a really good deal, go to Pizza Hut for the lunch buffet. All you can eat pizza, salad, breadsticks, and dessert, plus a drink, for less than $10. I will continue to keep a sharp eye out for Pizza Hut in the future.

The other day, I was riding when a passing pick-up truck rolled down his window to talk. At first, I couldn't hear what he said, so I asked "What was that?" He replied: "Do you want to die or are you trying to get us killed? We've had several accidents out here because of you fellas and we don't like it." While he was talking, not only was he passing me over a solid yellow line, he was driving down the wrong side of the road, looking at me, not where he was going. I thought about mentioning that maybe there were accidents because of careless drivers, not cyclists. However, I simply said "I'm sorry" and he drove off. It was an interesting experience.

The night I stayed in Hartville, MO, I went to eat at a little family diner. While I was sitting at my booth, I talked a little with the lady at the next table. After eating, I went to pay, only to discover that that lady had paid for my meal. What a wonderful person. It's amazing when God blesses you in ways you aren't expecting.

Tonight should be my last night in Missouri. I'm staying in a nice hostel here (certainly nicer than the ones in San Francisco); it's very clean. There's a group of about 7 guys here, also headed east. They're riding to support the Alzheimer's foundation. They're cool.

I have visited Subway pretty often on this trip. Here's what I've learned: $5 footlong is a good deal; Quizno's really does have more meat.

Now, I'm in Missouri!

Now, I'm in Missouri! The good news is that I haven't had any more tire trouble. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that that is all behind me. The humidity is starting to rise now, and the heat is becoming intense. Thankfully, I don't have to fight the wind as much now. Yesterday was a 108 mile day, but today I'm only planning on about 80-some miles.

I met some cool people at the park I was camped at last night. They were a retired couple doing the Trans-America route from Oregon to Yorktown. Keith would bike while his wife supported him with a camper. Sometimes, I feel like that would be the way to do this thing. He and I rode together for 50 miles this morning, which was fun. When we reached Golden City, they invited me to join them for lunch. They are great people. I probably won't see them again, but who knows? Maybe we'll run into each other down the road.

I had to pick up some groceries this morning. While I was in the store, I decided to also get a dozen glazed sour cream cake donuts. But, I didn't eat them all. Only nine. They were good. Sometimes, I wonder how many calories I'm burning, because I am definitely able to eat more now. As far as I can tell, I have neither lost nor gained weight.

Today has had its ups and downs, metaphorically speaking. After about 20 miles, I got a flat (down). But this led to some truly wonderful people stopping to help me. They have me a lift to their home, where we worked on the bike. They invited me to join them for lunch, then allowed me to use their shower (probably more a favor to them than to me). After that, I was on my way. 16 miles later, another flat. And I was now out of spares. So I got towed to the next town, where I'll (hopefully) get fixed up tomorrow.

Well, I'm enjoying the plains as a nice change from the mountains. I've learned a couple things: you can go really far in one day and if the wind is against you it can be brutal. I had to cut my trip 30 miles short yesterday, because of the wind. So far, it looks like today might be a similar situation. Appearantly, the wind does not always blow east in Kansas. The good news is that I had a malt yesterday. It was tasty, but I believe I prefer milkshakes.

Today, I made it to Haswell. I was hoping to go another 23 miles, but there was a thunderstorm. I was skirting the edge of it for a while, hoping I'd be safe. I was. I also had a blowout. The good news is that my new pump works.

My day off

Today has gone well. I got some groceries, which is always exciting. Maybe when I get home, I'll start going grocery shopping with Mom more often. I also got my bike tuned up. They replaced my rear tire. When they showed me the old me, I was really surprised to see how worn out it was. The guy said it might be because of the way I hold my feet while braking.

The zoo was great. I love the zoo, but I hadn't been in years. It was small, but very nice. Judging from all the signs I saw, they do a good job with conservation and education. I was thrilled to see that. I think zoos are a really important tool for conservation, but I can't help but feel a little sad when I see some of the animals in cages. I was looking at the lions and remembering the lions I saw roaming free in Kenya last summer. However, the work zoos do is good work.

That's about all for today. It's been a nice change of pace; very relaxing. I hope everyone is still doing well. I'm thinking about all of you. And Philip leaves tomorrow, so remember him.

Taking a day off in Pueblo

As I said last night (while doing laundry... for free!), I'm in Pueblo, CO. I'm now out of the Rockies, so everything is going to be considerably flatter from this point forward. Today, I'm going to get some groceries, have my bike tuned up, and visit the zoo! I haven't been to the zoo in a long time, so I'm excited.

Since my last post, I've done a couple big climbs. The day before yesterday, I went over Monarch Pass, one of the highest paved roads in the country. It's also on the Continental Divide, the midway point between the Atlantic and the Pacific. That was pretty cool. I caught some snow up there, but it wasn't too bad. I had to stop partway down the mountain to thaw out my hands, because I wanted to make sure I could still pull the brakes (something I did a lot).

A few days ago, I got my first flat tire. Actually, it's only the second flat tire I've ever gotten in my life. That was when I discovered that my pump is pretty much useless. It was a most unpleasant experience, being stuck on top of a mountain, in the wind and rain, trying to fix a flat, hoping it wouldn't start to lightning. I ended up getting "towed" to the next town. The tow truck guy said he'd never towed a bike, not in eight years of business.

Those are the highlights I can think of right now, but since the computer is in my hotel, I'll probably update again before leaving town. Thanks to everyone for all the support. I hope everyone is doing well.

Hello! I've made it safely to Pueblo, CO. Tomorrow, I'm taking a day off. I'll have access to a computer then, so I'll make another post with more details. That will save me the trouble of texting everything, which would probably take forever.

Another post so soon?

Today, I made it to Monticello, UT. Yesterday was my longest day so far - 100 miles. It was hot and it was dry and it was largely uphill. You could say it was kind of a tough day. Fortunately, there was one place where I could stock up on water and soak my clothes at the 50 mile point. It was good to have a refreshing stop. When I started out in the morning, I wasn't expecting to have to go so far. I ended up riding about an hour after dark. The only good thing about that was that it cooled off a lot. Thankfully, I had my lights and there were very few cars. I finally made it to Natural Bridges National Monument and rolled my sleeping bag out behind the visitor's center.

Today was much shorter (60 miles), but still hot, dry, and uphill. Dad tells me that it's going to cool off in the next few days. I am pleased to hear that. The towns are a little closer together, too, which makes it easier to find a place to stop for the night or get a good meal.

I hope everyone is doing well. Thanks for the support.

A post that is not sent in by text message

Hello!

I've made it to Hanksville, UT; about 996 miles. Tomorrow, I'll break a thousand. Today, I ended up going about 17 miles further than I'd planned. I was originally going to stop in Cainesville, but when I reached that spot, the town wasn't there. Apparently, the town of Cainesville is actually the Cainesville hotel. Fortunately, I was still feeling strong, so I pedaled on to the next town. It seems that the further I go (over two weeks now) the easier it gets. I guess my body is adjusting to cycling all day. When I get home, my body will have to adjust again, probably to sitting on the couch all day. Maybe.

Whenever I have the chance to check my emails and blog comments I always find a lot of messages from people supporting me. Thank you so much. I might be able to have done this trip without everyone behind me, but I definitely wouldn't want to. It really means a lot.

I'm planning for tomorrow to be my longest day yet, ending in the Natural Bridges National Park. There are a ton of National Parks out here. Someday, I'd like to take the time to properly visit them all.

Thanks again! And, for those who know them, Annie and Amanda begin their missions today/tomorrow. Remember to pray for them.

cheeseburgers. I also had a good salad. Vegetables can be hard to come by, so I try to capitalize when I can. This message came in two parts because I'm texting it in.

I am now in Escalante. Today was a good ride, no wind and easy climbs. Except for one climb that may have been a 14% grade. It was too steep to pedal, so I ended up walking my bike about a mile. I stopped for lunch at a pizza place. I've decided pizza is one of my favorite foods, along with steak and

I made it to Panguitch, UT today. The first 30 or so miles were a really tough climb, ~4000 feet. Then I had a nice 30 miles of almost all downhill. At one point, the road I needed was blocked and had a sign that said "ROAD CLOSED". But I needed to take that road, so I went around the block. I struggled uphill for about a mile, then I thought "Why is the road closed? Maybe there are vicious wolves." So I turned around and went back to the block, thinking I'd try a different route. As I was standing there, looking at the map, a ranger drove up and opened the gate. He said it was ok for me to bike that way. It was not amusing. Hope everyone is well. Happy birthday Sydney!

Hello! Now, I'm in Cedar City, Utah. The past couple days have been tough. Yesterday was my longest day so far: 84 miles. I thought today was going to be easy, only 55 miles. But, they were some of the hardest miles I've ever done. It wasn't the terrain- it was the wind. It was against me all day. On average, I think it halved my speed. Also, I almost ran over a snake. But don't worry, I dodged.

Today was very restful. I enjoyed the hospitality of the Copper Queen. The day started with a hearty breakfast, then the grocerey, then a badly needed trip to the laundromat. I also made some phone calls and watched some TV. I feel well-rested and ready to go tomorrow.

Hey! I haven't had cell service or internet for the past few days. Now, I'm in Ely, texting to the blog. The landscape here is big and empty. Really empty. As in, I biked 80 miles today and saw maybe 3 houses between towns. Tonight, I'm staying at the Copper Queen. The owners (the parents of a member of Living Proof church in Williamsburg) have very generously given me refuge for two nights. I owe a big thanks to Del for helping of in this. Tomorrow, I plan to rest, do laundry, and get groceries. Thanks for everything! Also: Nathan is now in South Africa. Remember him and Christina.

Hey! I haven't had cell service or internet for the past few days. Now, I'm in Ely, texting to the blog. The landscape here is big and empty. Really empty. As in, I biked 80 miles today and saw maybe 3 houses between towns. Tonight, I'm staying at the Copper Queen. The owners (the parents of a member of Living Proof church in Williamsburg) have very generously given me refuge for two nights. I owe a big thanks to Del for helping of in this. Tomorrow, I plan to rest, do laundry, and get groceries. Thanks for everything! Also: Nathan is now in South Africa. Remember him and Christina.

Here I am in Fallon, Nevada

I'm in Fallon Nevada. From here on out, things should be better. Last night, I stayed at Faith Baptist Church in Silver Springs. Everyone there was very friendly. I attended a Wednesday night church service, which was really nice.

Last night I got lonely for a few minutes. It was the first time of the trip. I'd kind of been wondering when (or if) that would happen. It turns out it takes me a week to get lonely when separated from family and friends. Maybe less time if I don't have phone access, maybe more time if the conditions are less trying. I suppose further experimentation will be required.

This morning, I stopped at Mustache Mikes cafe for breakfast (Mike was a member of the church I stayed at) at he didn't charge me! And, it was really good food, too. I got to Fallon around lunchtime and decided to stop by the ATM to get some cash. Unfortunately, I put in the wrong PIN and the machine said it was "holding my card for security reasons". I went inside and the bank people told me that meant it had shredded my card. That was something of a disappointment, but at least I still have a credit card.

Tonight, I hope to make it to Middlegate. The weather could be a little iffy for the next day or so, thunderstorms and hail. I really hope to avoid getting caught in that.

Thanks again for all the support.

Going through the mountains was really hard. I don't know if I've ever truly been exhausted before, but I was on Monday and Tuesday. I couldn't even make it to my town and had to call for a ride. Last night I was pretty discouraged, but then I got a flood of text message affirmation. It was a real morale booster. Today I've felt much better. I took it easy, only about 35 miles, but they felt good. The rest of the trip should be less physically strenuous. Thanks again for all the prayers and support. It means a lot.

I'm doing well today. Thanks for all the prayers and support!

Day 3

So far, so good. I did about 50 miles yesterday and it was pretty tiring. Today, I hope I'll do more. Around 4:30 yesterday, I stopped at a greenhouse and asked if they knew of any local churches where I could spend the night. They directed to several that were nearby. The first church I stopped at pointed me towards Community Presbyterian Church. I asked if I could pitch my tent in their yard and they said: "Why don't you sleep in the sanctuary?" So, I did. They also let me help myself to whatever was in the kitchen (which was great). And then, this morning, they invited me to join the Promise Keepers for breakfast. They even invited me to stay for Bible study, but I figured I should probably get going. What a great blessing!

Hopefully, I'll be able to find another place to stay tonight. Please remember me in you prayers. And, also Christina (if you know Christina) because this is her first day in South Africa. Thanks.

Andy

About to start riding

I made safely to San Francisco. Today, I'm actually leaving. I spent yesterday wandering around, waiting for my bike to be re-assembled. Now, I think I'm finally ready to go. I can't wait to leave. San Francisco is pretty to look at, but I'm not a fan of spending a lot of time in the big city.

In a few minutes, I'll collect my things, check out of the hostel, and take a taxi through town to get to the Golden Gate Bridge. Hurrah!

Before Leaving

I'm leaving this afternoon. I fly out of Richmond at 4-ish, have an hour layover in Charlotte, NC, then fly to San Francisco (6 hours). I will arrive at about 9:00 pm, local time.

I packed all my stuff up last night. There was an almost-crisis when I realized the box I had to put the bike in was too big by three inches. The airport wouldn't take it as checked luggage, but one guy said I could take it as cargo. However, the cargo lady told me I couldn't carry cargo. Dad and I ended up cutting the box down to size, so now it should (just barely) pass. Fitting the bike inside the box was another ordeal in and of itself. The bike has now been almost completely disassembled. I'm going to find a bike shop to re-assemble it, to save myself from my own mechanical abilities.

When I arrive tonight, I'll head to a hostel. Hopefully, everything goes smoothly and as planned. Thanks for all the support and prayers.

Andy

Getting emails when I make a post

It seems I was mistaken about "following the blog". If you want an email when I make a new post, you actually have to enter your email address into the box above the followers box. That should do it.

Following the blog

Hello. Thank you for your interest in the blog or in me or in my trip. If you would like to "follow" the blog, you can click the follow button on the right side of the page. From there, you can sign up to have posts emailed to you. William and Mary people can click the Google option and use their school email address. Others will need a Google, Yahoo, Twitter, or AIM.

Thanks again.

Andy

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