When I posted the last blog I was riding solo and doing consecutive hundred mile days. The excitement of biking was turning  into monotony. I was ready for it to end.

This all changed when I joined a group of people in Eastern, Ky.Together we formed Team Philanthropy.

The roster:  Rob and Dan who were riding in support of cyclists fighting cancer , Mark and Kristen who were biking for invisible children and of course myself for MHKC.

For the next two weeks we rode as a group to the finish line. The trip quickly turned from fast paced cycling fueled by PBJB’s (peanut butter jelly bagels) and power bars, to a leisurely ride with friends filled with laughter and fueled by frequent restaurant stops.

When we arrived in Charles City we were met by Bill Monroe and a local cycling club who led us down Colonial Parkway and into Williamsburg. In Williamsburg Scott Zimmerman, the Lieutenant Governor of division 23 Kiwanis, had arranged a free nights stay in a local hotel room.  This wasn’t your average hotel room, but a suite in one of the nicest hotels in town!!! It had a bedroom, living room, kitchen, and a huge bathroom. It was incredible!!

The following morning we  met with Bill Monroe who gave us a tour through colonial Williamsburg and into Yorktown where we dove in the bay with our clothes and helmets on!

After the baptization Bill and his wife took us to a local restaurant to meet with the Kiwanis groups. I arrived in the banquette room to find it filled with people clapping and cheering. I stood in front and told the group about Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp and was awarded $425 in donations!!!!!!!!!  When I finished talking, the entire room stood up and cheered.

I have never felt so accomplished in my life. The trip was over and I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect ending.

I cannot express my gratitude to the Kiwanians and all of the people that have helped me along the way. Thank you all so much. These memories will never be forgotten.

I also would like to remind everyone who has been following the blog  along the way that there is still time to donate to Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp.

Please, follow this link to the donation page and lend your support. ANY amount helps. Thank you all so much.

When i get back to Portland I plan on continuing an effort to raise money for the camp by visiting local Kiwanis groups and talking about the trip.

Unfortunately I am unable to upload pictures at the moment. I should have the past two weeks of pictures posted in the next few days.

-Michael

I am writing from a library in central Kentucky. I know that after all of this time without writing I should have something especially clever and entertaining to say. After all, I have had nearly 100 hours on the bike to think about it. But the truth remains: It is impossible to capture all of the events of this trip in a blog. It would take hours of writing to explain the emotions and events of one day, let alone ten. And for that matter most libraries only give you a half hour of computer time each day.

So here is the abbreviated version:

Since the last blog I have ridden through the desert of Eastern Colorado, the great plains of Kansas, the Ozarks in Southern Missouri, and across the Mississippi river. I took a a river ferry across the Ohio, rode through the tobacco fields and coal mines of Kentucky and made my way all the way to the foothills of the Appalachians.

Despite all of the natural beauty I have seen, it has been  the warmth and kindness of the people  that has impressed me the most.

Over the past few weeks I have met dozens of incredible people. I have found myself staying in fire stations, churches, high school parking lots, and campgrounds. I had an awesome meeting with the Kiwanis of Murphysboro. I was hit by a major storm near the Ohio river and was given a free room in an incredible bed and breakfast. People have given me money for food, made me dinner, and packed several lunches and snacks for the ride. I can’t thank you all enough.

A week from today I will be meeting a Kiwanis group in Williambsburg, VA and biking as a group over the finish line. Its amazing  how fast time goes by!!!!

While I was in the touristy areas of  Colorado I got to enjoy miles of incredible bike paths.  The bike path from Silverthorne to Fairplay was one of the highlights of the trip so far. I had a my own quiet lane all the way through the mountains!

Check out these pictures from the different paths:

A bit short of breath at 11,539 ft!!!!

Southern Wyoming offers few ‘official’ campgrounds, but there are several strange cafe’s would agree to let you sleep in their parking lot in return for patronization.

Despite the temptation, I bought some bagels and a jar of peanut butter peddled as hard as a could until I reached the border of Colorado. On the way I set some new records:

On the first day out of the park I rode 140 miles, I went over my highest pass so far of 9,960 ft, and I finally broke 40 mph. I ended up going over 100 miles for the next three consecutive days and finally reached the state I have been wanting to visit for several years.

I am writing now from a public library in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Although it wasn’t on the TransAmerican route,I had a friend here who was willing to give me a free place to stay and show me around town. This is the perfect place to take a rest. The town is incredible!

I plan on heading for Breckenridge early tomorrow morning, but for now I will spend the day floating down the Yampa River and the evening relaxing in Strawberry Hot Springs.

Check out the pictures of this past week:

Below is my bed for the evening. Thanks Nick!!

Right now I am sitting in a internet cafe in West Yellowstone, Montana. I have to say that I am kind of  in shock.

In the last week I rode through five mountain passes over 7,000 feet. I have been averaging nearly a hundred miles a day through desolate areas in Idaho and Montana. Towns have been few and far between. Most of which only contain a few hundred people, but they have been some of the friendliest people I have ever met. Many of which have been more than willing to share dinner, coffee, or just stories.

I have been camping in parks, churches, and well.. any safe place i can find in between towns.

I met another solo biker a few days back who is on her way to New York and we began riding together. Both of us had shared the motivation of reaching West Yellowstone and heading into the park.

When we arrived last night, however and all of the campgrounds were full, all of the motels were full and every wooded area outside of town was clearly marked “DAY USE ONLY”.  At a loss, we began seeking out local churches to see if we could stay somewhere on there property, only to find that the city has an ordinance against churches letting this happen!! Finally we asked a city police officer for some advice. He told us to ride out out of town and pull off at the first rest area we could find, and he wouldn’t  patrol it for the evening. So we did.

This morning I woke up and went Library to use the internet. No go. The have several internet shops in town which will let you use there computers for  $5 a half hour!!!

So here I am In the Land of RV’s, inflated prices, and pear-shaped tourists. I was going to stop and rest here, but I think I will be pressing on into the park this afternoon.

Below are some photos of the trip so far. I wish I had the time to tell a story with each one, but at $5 a half hour, I cant really afford it.

Sorry it is taking me so long to add new posts. It is pretty been pretty rural since I left Sisters. In fact, the only place that I have found with internet is public libraries; most of which have security restrictions that prevent the downloading of pictures from your camera. And what fun are stories without pictures?

As soon as I find a place that lets me download pictures I will stop get caught up. I am guessing this will be somewhere outside of Yellowstone National Park.

I am writing now from a public library in Darby Montana, pop 710. Well 711 now that I am here. The elevation is somewhere around 3700 ft. When I leave here I am headed into the Bitter-root  Mountains , up  and over Chief  Joseph Pass at 7250ft. The highest point so far on the trip. Needless to say, the temperature will be dropping quickly.

So far things are going great. Many new friends and stories! No problems at all. I hope to get caught up soon.

Michael

Would it be too much for me to ask you to share 12 inches of your highway with me for the next two days?

I understand that this windy two-lane road was built  for delivering large quantities of potato chips to Montana at high speed. And yes,  it is clear that many of  your citizens would see my disappearance not as tragedy, but simply ’one less vote for Obama 2012′. But you have left me no other choice. There is simply no other route to take. Have mercy. Please stop honking and yelling, and let me pass through in peace.

Michael

Either way, I do not argue the title. Especially if  travelling by bike.

After drinking at least six gallons of water later during the two-day trip, I can thankfully say that I made it out alive.

After spending most of Thursday morning in a cafe in Mitchell I decided to take a short trip to Dayville. I pulled in around 4:00 and stopped in the post office to ask if there was a place I could camp in town. The lady at the post office told me about a local church that offered a free place to stay for bikers. I went up the road to check it out and saw some other bikers inside.

It turns out I had stumbled upon a legendary stop on the TransAmerican trail.  The church has been a pit stop for bikers for the last 20 years. They had free showers, laundry, t.v. room, and a kitchen with food left from other travelers. There were books filled with comments, stories, and tips from throughout the years.

It was a pretty refreshing stop. I was able to do my laundry, cook dinner, and relax and talk with some other bikers.

I spend some time talking with David and his 15 year old son William.  David told me an incredible story:

Several years back, David’s oldest son Cliff- who is now 17- was diagnosed with mild Autism, OCD, and ADHD.  He was attending a special ed program in the Eugene area and was struggling.  When cliff was 15 he began begging his parents to buy him a video game that had a mature rating.  Of course David said no way, but his son kept begging. Finally, David jokingly told his son that if he rode his bicycle all the way to Montana then he would buy him the game. To his surprise, Cliff said ok.

That summer, David and his son Cliff set off on a month long bicycle journey from Springfield to Montana. His younger son William wanted to go, but he was only 13 at the time and it was going to be difficult enough as it was.  He told William he would get his turn when he was 15.

Although he said that Cliff didn’t quite understand the concept of cycling- i.e. peddling up AND down hills- he kept going strong, and finally made it to Montana.

The day they returned to Springfield he bought his son the video game. His son stayed up all of that night, beat the game, and never played it again !!!!!!!!!

This was around two summers ago. His youngest son William was now 15, and they were on their way to Montana!!!!!

Here is a picture of  a ‘thank you’  gift sent back to the church:

I left Sisters Tuesday morning and headed out on a 90 mile trek to Mitchell- pop. 146. Rural Oregon at its finest.

That evening I showed up at the Mitchell grocery store to buy some food and within a few minutes found myself picking the banjo with Claude, the shop’s owner. He showed me some old folk tunes. I showed him some new folk tunes. People came in the store, listened, bought groceries, and moved on. At one point we had around ten people gathered around.

After the Jam I headed to the city park for another night of free camping. There were no showers,  but there was a hose that sucked water up from the creek. I showered and headed to sleep.  I decided to make the following day a short one so I could rest and let my legs recover.