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: YOPD
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…….
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
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
‘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’
Taxi!
I had been invited to be interviewed on Sky News by Kay Burley about living with Parkinson's as part of a bigger interview with Laura Culpan, a director of Artwise. The interview is predominantly about the Cure3 art exhibition devised and created by Artwise to raise awareness and funds to support Cure Parkinson's vital research. … Continue reading Taxi!
‘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’
Better Together
"Individually we are one drop, together we are an ocean." Ryunosuke Satoro Arriving back home late last night, I have found myself, like many of the group, unpacking, doing the laundry and restocking the fridge today. None of these things have felt like chores as I have also spent the day reflecting on an amazing … Continue reading Better Together
Buknesfjord – Andenes
Day 5 71km / 388m climb I had been looking forward to a shorter and flatter day today - only 71km! It wasn't long ago that this would have been a very big ask of each of us but we have trained hard for many months to undertake this challenge and are confident that we … Continue reading Buknesfjord – Andenes
Sørvågen – Leknes
Day 1 80km / 964m climb It is entirely possible that I have prepared myself for the wrong trip. There was talk of cold weather, (we are above the Arctic Circle) and the possibility of much rain. The need for thermal layers under our team cycling kit and robust waterproof layers for over it. As … Continue reading Sørvågen – Leknes
Bodø – Sørvågen
Day 0 With the woes of yesterday firmly behind us, we awoke to glorious sunshine, a light, warm, breeze and plenty of enthusiasm to reassemble our bikes. This is easily done and we take them on a short test run and then make the late morning ferry to Løtofen and on to Sørvågen. There was … Continue reading Bodø – Sørvågen
All’s Well That Ends Well
A lovely evening meeting with the whole team. There is much good humour as we catch up with old friends, meet new ones and we are all briefed about the cycling challenge that will consume our days and possibly much of our evenings over the next week or so. Assuming we have our bikes of … Continue reading All’s Well That Ends Well
Not Today!
It is almost a year since I wrote (Clipless Pedalling) about having to stop clipping into my pedals when cycling. I remember feeling a sense of taking a backward step when it happened. Something I didn't want to do but at the time, I felt that I had little choice. My right foot would hover … Continue reading Not Today!
Challenging Times 
You must be logged in to post a comment.