USA Coast2Coast
Living The Dream
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover.
Mark Twain
Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.
Theodore Roosevelt
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It is now over two years since I completed my cycle ride across America and there is seldom a day that passes that I do not think about the adventure and the wonderful friendships that were forged. In March 2018, several of us managed to get together for a reunion on the island of Majorca and it was great to be able to ride together again and we spent many hours reminising about our journey together in 2016.
In April 2018, Sarah and I took a short vacation to the USA west coast, flying into Seattle and then driving the Pacific Highway from Astoria OR to Crescent City CA before turning inland to Grants Pass and back to Seattle via Interstate 5. The Oregon coast is one of our favourite places to visit and the Pacific Highway Cycle Trail signs that were often evident reminded me that one day I would like to cycle this route from Canada to Mexico.
Returning to the UK, I started to research the Pacific Highway route to see if I could find a supported ride and whilst I was able to find a couple of companies, neither of them were offering a ride in 2018. In my search however, I came across
America By Bicycle
who were organising a supported 'Ride the East' adventure in August. The ride started from Portmouth NH and finished in Jacksonville FL, a total distance of just over 1,700 miles. With no other siginificant rides plannned for 2018 the rest, as they say is history and within a couple of weeks I had sent my deposit to America By Bicycle for their 2018 'Ride the East' adventure.
With the poor spring weather in the UK I had ridden less than 500 miles for the year so training had to begin immediately. I started to follow the training plan that was provided for our 2016 cross country ride and soon the hours and miles in the saddle began to look more acceptable and the prospect of completing a long distance ride again seemed realsitic and achievable.
Unlike my previous ride I decided that riding for charity was not going to be feasible giving the relative lateness of my deciding to join the ride but I would nevertheless write another
blog
of this new adventure. I had received a lot of positive feedback from family and friends following the blog I had written whilst riding across the US in 2016 and I am therefore hoping to provide daily updates of this ride. I will also endeavour to update the
Maps and Stats
page so that you are able to keep track of my progress.
I have over the years been very fortunate to enjoy good health and I have several friends who are in a less fortunate position as myself and whom are currently undergoing medical treatment. I also have an extremely supportive wife and son, without whom, adventures such as this would not be possible.
I fly to Boston in the next few days and 'Ride the East' starts on Sunday 12th August from Portsmouth NH and finishes on Wednesday 5th September in Jacksonville FL. I hope, like last time, you will come on this adventure with me and I hope that you will find the time to read my blog and maybe add a few words of encouragement - that way at least I will know it is being read! If you enjoy the blog and feel able then I am sure my two favourite charities,
Dorothy House
and
Naomi House and Jacks Place
would be only too pleased to receive a small donation.
I am really looking forward to the challenge ahead and riding in the USA once again.
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You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.
C. S. Lewis
Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true.
Leon Joseph Cardinal Suenens