Huron to De Smet 33miles / 650ft climb Something rather exceptional happened today as we were cycling about halfway between Huron and De Smet. We were making good time but it was already blisteringly hot and the highway we were riding was getting gradually busier and busier. John, leading our group, was flagged down as … Continue reading Cycle Across America – Day 51
Tag: Cycling with Parkinson's
Cycle Across America – Day 50
Wessington Springs to Huron 36 Miles / 292ft climb Before leaving Wessington Springs, we took a quick look at Shakespeare’s Garden and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage. Neither of which we expected to find in South Dakota. They have absolutely no link to the area, so it truly is just the whim of a local who built … Continue reading Cycle Across America – Day 50
Cycle Across America – Day 27
West Yellowstone (Montana) to Yellowstone Canyon Village (Wyoming) 39 Miles / 2057ft climb https://videopress.com/v/jiCGrkLz?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true Determined to leave by 5.30am and beat the traffic jams that we had heard about, we all retired early last night. No matter how organised we might be as a group, today proved easier to set off at staggered times and … Continue reading Cycle Across America – Day 27
Cycle Across America – Day 26
West Yellowstone 13th June 2025 With eight of us currently staying and cycling together, it can take some time to make a decision that works for everyone. We have today to spend in Yellowstone with a hire car, rather than our bikes our transport. We want to hike today but where and for how long. … Continue reading Cycle Across America – Day 26
Cycle Across America – Day 23
Dillon to Virginia City 56 miles / 1529ft climb There is no doubt about it, today’s ride was not as bad as I had an envisaged and certainly easier than the previous two days. On the flat I am reasonably comfortable and can keep up a good speed for many miles but with a fully … Continue reading Cycle Across America – Day 23
Cycle Across America – Day 17
Kooskia to Lochsa Lodge - The Long and Winding Road 65 miles / 2352ft climb The brief for today couldn’t have been any simpler. Turn right out of our lodge, follow Highway 12 along the Lochsa river and keep pedalling for 65 miles along this long and winding road. It was almost as easy as … Continue reading Cycle Across America – Day 17
Cycling America – Day 14
Dayton to Lewiston 70 miles / 2795 ft climb Another early start, a long, potentially tough day ahead. Starting well, this morning saw me cover my fastest 20km ever! We followed the I12 for most of the day. Busy at times but with a fair tail wind, today’s climbs didn’t seem too bad. Without doubt … Continue reading Cycling America – Day 14
Cycle Across America – Day 9/10
Biggs Junction to Umatilla 86.4 Miles / 2,340 Ft climb An early(ish) start on a blazing hot day. On the road by 7.30am for a very ambitious 90 miles. This was not by choice but because we could not find any accommodation to break the long distances. Maryhill’s answer to Stonehenge Some challenging road surfaces … Continue reading Cycle Across America – Day 9/10
Cycle Across America – Day 8
Hood River to Biggs Junction 53 Miles / 3153 ft climb A stunning first ten miles, a combination of new tarmac, traffic free trails and quiet roads made for a lovely cycle. A lovely coffee stop mid morning where we met with Caroline and Paul. We will cycle together for the next 3,500 miles! The … Continue reading Cycle Across America – Day 8
Cycle Across America – Day 7
Hood River The Kindness of Others Today saw us welcomed into the family home of friend who happened to be visiting Hood River from the UK, at the same time as us. Despite never having met any of this wonderful family before, we were invited to join them for the day and made to feel … Continue reading Cycle Across America – Day 7
Cycle Across America – Day 5
Portland to Cascade Locks 31 miles / feet climb Knowing that we only had 30 miles to do today, we made another slow start. This is becoming a habit but this first week was planned to familiarise ourselves with cycling on the right side of the road, the road markings, junctions and highways. It was … Continue reading Cycle Across America – Day 5
Cycle Across America – Day 3
Clatskanie - St. Helen’s 36 miles / 1430 ft climb https://videopress.com/v/c1yFHkjK?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true A short day in theory but the prospect made us both a little laid back and we didn’t set off until after 10am. We had left our packing to be done in the morning. A slow, shaky start for me, a little detour to … Continue reading Cycle Across America – Day 3
Cycle Across America – Day 2
Astoria - Clatskanie 40 miles / 1972ft climb With Kathy and Dave having returned home yesterday and Caroline and Paul not joining us until Friday, it was just the two of us today. Our goal was to cycle 40 hilly miles from Astoria to Clatskanie, along the Columbia River. I had no sense that the … Continue reading Cycle Across America – Day 2
Cycle Across America – Day 1
Pacific Ocean - Astoria 14 miles / 341ft climb We cycled a lovely, varied route for 25 miles to the Pacific coast today. That’s 25 miles in the ‘wrong’ direction if we’re ultimately heading for the Atlantic Ocean. However, we were keen to dunk our bike wheels in the Pacific Ocean to mark the official … Continue reading Cycle Across America – Day 1
In Other News
Our first encounter with a big bear was not a scary as I had anticipated! My essential medications made it through customs unquestioned. Mo’s serves a mean clam chowder. There are lots of Sea Lions in Astoria harbour and they can be incredibly noisy. Astoria welcomes cyclists of all varieties. X
Bike Packing!
Dismantling Bike Weigh In Taxi to Airport Hotel Room Reassembly Transfer to starting point A short road test Another day of preparations. Bikes reassembled and transported to Astoria ready for a short ride to the coast tomorrow to dip our wheels in the Pacific Ocean to officially mark the start of our 4,500 mile journey … Continue reading Bike Packing!
The Weather
I had done well to whittle down my list of things to worry about, the hills, the bears and the long days on the saddle were all put into perspective with the kind words and imparted wisdom of others. I was feeling reassuringly calm and even allowed a modicum of excitement to surface……. And then … Continue reading The Weather
2 Days and Counting…….
Our last outdoor training ride was last weekend and we had the perfect weather for it, a beautiful route, lovely company and possibly one of the best cake and coffee stops ever! Not really hard work at all.....except for the hills of which there were quite a few. I'm reminded of the phrase that used … Continue reading 2 Days and Counting…….
Inefficiency at its Best
To ensure that I had sufficient medication to last me throughout our Cycle Across America, I needed to order a four month supply. There cannot be many requests of this nature, so I wrote a letter to one of the GP's at our local surgery spelling out what I needed and asking if he could … Continue reading Inefficiency at its Best
Itinerary
We could cycle across America in less than 2,000 miles but when we looked at the options (of which there are many) we very quickly realised that this wasn't about rushing, not about being fastest and not about the destination. It is absolutely about the journey, the sights we see, the challenges we face and … Continue reading Itinerary
Overthinking Things……
I am as ready as I'll ever be. There are a limited number of times I can pack and unpack my bike in preparation for our ride across America. There are a limited number of additional miles of training I can clock up and there are a finite number of lists I can write. I … Continue reading Overthinking Things……
A Perfect Day!
I enjoyed the loveliest cycle this afternoon with these wonderful ladies. We started with a coffee stop at The Knead Bakery at Elkstone, sitting outdoors in the sunshine, while we waited for everyone to arrive. It has been a long time since we all cycled together and we could easily have simply sat and chatted … Continue reading A Perfect Day!
Drug Dependancy
I’m completely dependent on this hold-all of drugs to help get me out on my bike every day for 100 days to cycle 4,500 miles across America. Without them I won’t be going anywhere. Without this cocktail of drugs (28 each day), I simply won’t be able to move, think or communicate properly, so here’s … Continue reading Drug Dependancy
Bike-Packing
So, I can ride a bike but have never bike-packed....until now. What panniers / bags to use? What items to put where on the bike? Front panniers, handlebar bag, tube bag, rear panniers, rack packs, pockets and saddlebags are all options. To follow the basic 'rules' of bike-packing: Distribute weight equally on both sides of … Continue reading Bike-Packing
What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
I arranged to cycle with friends yesterday. Lovely friends who are joining us on some of our cycle across America. I was excited to see them. There was lots to discuss and training to be done........and I had the wrong day in my diary and didn't turn up! It got me thinking that for our … Continue reading What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
No Excuses
It was a beautiful day, there was no excuse not to go out on bike and I was keen to get another few miles training in. 36 miles, a decent 1,913 ft of climbs which I managed although to say I managed them with ease would be a stretch to far. Soon I will have … Continue reading No Excuses
Weight Management
I have, over the years made many, quite often expensive decisions related to cycling on the basis that the lighter the load, the easier it is for me. The lighter the bike, the quicker I will cover the required distance and the less exhausted I will be at the end of each ride. A simple … Continue reading Weight Management
The Route
A Very Brief Overview The American Cycling Association (ACA) produce an incredibly useful interactive map and map guides of tried and tested routes for cyclists, throughout America. The TransAmerica Route is the most popular cycling route cross America but there are also the Northern and Southern Tier routes to consider and lots of routes in … Continue reading The Route
‘The Plan’
Last year, I posted a blog, The American Adventure, when I outlined my 'Plan' to cycle across America. Calling it 'The Plan', on reflection, was a bit of an exaggeration. A more accurate description would be 'an overly optimistic and grandiose assessment of my understanding of what exactly I was letting myself in for and … Continue reading ‘The Plan’
‘Good Years’
Newly diagnosed with Parkinson's, I recall a well meaning neurologist telling me that I might reasonably expect to have '5-10 good years' ahead of me. He seemed very pleased to share this information with me and at the time I was pleased to receive it. He had, after all, said 'years' and not 'months'. There … Continue reading ‘Good Years’
Challenging Times 
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