It ended as it began – with Terry and I ankle deep in the cold waters of an ocean. Except this time it wasn’t the Atlantic, but 4,264 miles to the west in the Pacific. We turned to each other, shook hands and smiled. In ten weeks we’d cycled across America, from Virginia Beach in…
Archive For July, 2014
Putting the Brakes on……Springfield Ore, to Swisshome Ore
After last night’s night-ride to Springfield we’ve left the perfect set up for our final two days riding to Florence, 60 miles today followed by a final 22 miles on Saturday. And the riding conditions are perfect – we’ve left the stifling heat of Eastern Oregon on the other side of the McKenzie Pass and…
Climb Every Mountain – Sisters Ore to Springfield Ore
Almost overnight, without even realising it, we’ve become veteran long distance cyclists. In the early days of the ride people reacted to our challenge of crossing America by bike with surprise. Now the response, particularly from other cyclists we meet, is one of respect and awe. With 4,000 miles under our tyres we’ve been elevated…
Mad Dogs and Englishmen – Ochoco Lake to Sisters
Well I’ve had to ride 3968 miles, cross three major mountain ranges and endure heat exhaustion, fire and a tornado to get here – but I’ve finally found a decent cup of tea in the US. And by decent I mean Yorkshire Tea, brewed in a pot, with a jug of cold milk and served…
Ring of Fire! Part Two: Ochoco Pass to Ochoco Lake
After spending the afternoon watching exhausted fire crews shuttle to and from the blaze it’s clear this fire isn’t going to be over anytime soon. We spend our time sat uncomfortably in the gravel shed watching the traffic being turned back and occasionally chatting to one of the firemen or emergency workers at the scene….
Ring of Fire! Part One: Dayville to Ochoco Pass
The TransAmerican challenge has come to a grinding halt and for the first time the chances of reaching the Pacific are in real jeopardy. We’re stuck halfway up the Ochoco Pass, fifteen miles out of Mitchell in Oregon and the mountain ahead is cloaked in smoke. In the valley to our left a helicopter trails…
Pancakes and the Power of Prayer – Austin Junction to Dayville
‘How’s your bonce?’ ‘Fine.’ ‘Blast. That means we’d better get up and go then’ Thankfully Paul’s cracking headache had disappeared with water and a good night’s sleep so we were up and on the road before the sun broke the skyline. The climb to the oddly named Dixie Pass (there were presumably Confederate sympathisers around…
Down and Out – again. Baker City to Austin Junction
The heat is becoming almost unbearable. When we planned this trip we incorporated several spare days into the schedule for unexpected events: repairs to the bikes, injuries, torrential rain, tornados etc. What we hadn’t anticipated was extreme heat. Recently it’s reached 105 degrees in Oregon making cycling – and particularly climbing hills, all but impossible….
The Sexual Politics of the Harley – Halfway to Baker City
After just a few days into this trip, Paul and I fantasised about swapping our bikes for Harleys … they are made for this sort of trip … endless miles on empty roads sweeping through the enormous landscapes. Effortless. Men of a certain age cruising around without a care in the world, thinking they were…
Highway to Hell – Cambridge to Halfway
With Bucky’s Cafe within stumbling distance of our motel room there really was no excuse not to make an early start this morning and try to avoid the unrelenting heat. So by 6am we were inside ordering hash browns, eggs and sour dough toast. We were also drinking – lots. If there’s anything we’ve learnt…