TransAmerica

Looking for the Line Man – Chanute to Eureka

Looking for the Line Man – Chanute to Eureka

Riding days start early on the trail. Our alarms were set for 6am, by which time Jerry and Jonathan were already up, clipping their panniers onto their bikes and making coffee. First Baptist had been a great place to stay, but the TransAm never rests, so by 7am we were out of the door and…

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The Inevitability of Onwards – Pittsburg to Chanute

The Inevitability of Onwards – Pittsburg to Chanute

By Terry “See that red bit? … that’s the worst of the weather and it’s heading straight at us.” said Jonathan, pointing at the radar weather image on his phone. Sure enough, half an hour, 3 bowls of wheat flakes, 2 blueberry muffins and lots of rubbish coffee later, the thunderstorm hit Pittsburg. So much…

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Heroes to Zeros – Pittsburg to Nowhere

Heroes to Zeros – Pittsburg to Nowhere

Our first day off for nearly 3 weeks. We’ve cycled over the Appalacians and the Ozarks. We wanted a rest. We needed a rest. Hell, we deserved a rest. Mike, Jessica and Tuan peddled off though towards the promised golden flatlands of Kansas after the now obligatory photo shoot and we all reckoned that we’d…

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Ozark Mountain Daredevils – Farmington to Ellington

Ozark Mountain Daredevils – Farmington to Ellington

“Make sure you watch out for Chiggers”. “Chiggers”?  “Yep you can’t see them but if they get up your leg they’ll leave bites all over your groin, they’re nasty”. “So how would I get rid if them?” “You can’t. Well you could try taking a bath in bleach – that’s about the only thing that…

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Cycling for Softies?  Chester to Farmington

Cycling for Softies? Chester to Farmington

Short day today … so after leaving the shack (which had wifi!) and sending Steve off eastwards with all our tips for free overnights, Paul and I headed west with young Ian … for about a minute … before stopping for breakfast in the local diner opposite a lifesize(?) bronze statue of Popeye. (Olive Oil,…

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Bigging up Smallville – Goreville IL to Chester IL

Bigging up Smallville – Goreville IL to Chester IL

Could you live in rural America? It’s a question we’ve been asking ourselves on several occasions over the last few weeks. Remote, few facilities, little in the form of entertainment, it seems there are few positives to recommend it. But spend more time with the people who live in ‘Smallville’ and you begin to get…

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