The Day Before

Orange County, CA, to Seaside, OR

July 10, 2018

Today's trek was in and of itself a journey: a plane from John Wayne Airport in Orange County to Portland International Airport, light rail from Portland Airport to Union Station, an Amtrak bus from Union Station to Seaside, OR, and, finally, a very brief bike ride to the Sandy Cove Inn.  The bike survived as checked luggage, and Portland's airport gets kudos for their bike assembly area. How many airports in the world have one of those?!  After getting to Union Station in downtown, I had four hours to kill, so I rode a bit around downtown, had some lunch, and then rode along the Willamette River.  I am checked in and getting prepped for kicking off the real journey tomorrow morning!

Portland Airport Bike Assembly

Willamette River

Sunset in Seaside, OR

The Sandy Cove Inn

Why Do People Do This?

Eleven years ago my nephew, Patrick, and his friend, Sean, said they were going to ride their bikes across America.  I wondered, Why?  It seemed like a crazy idea!  But after watching them slowly chew through one state after another, it began to come clear that the answer was the proverbial "because it's there."   In addition to the challenge, though, it was also clearly fun (for the most part), and a great way to experience another part of America, a part impossible to see from an Interstate highway traveling at 70 mph.

So, after pondering about making the cross country ride myself  for several years, I finally decided to take the plunge and see what happens.  I have always wanted to explore the Lewis and Clark Trail, so I figured what better way than by bike.  

The Route

Beginning in Seaside, OR, not far from where Lewis and Clark wintered in 1805, the route will follow their return path via the Columbia River.  It will run eastward to Idaho and the Bitteroot Mountains, into Montana and through Great Falls, where they made the great portage.  From there it will trace the Missouri River across Montana and then break eastward when the Missouri heads south.  It will make a beeline mostly through North Dakota and Minnesota, and jog a bit in Wisconsin  before crossing Lake Michigan (unless it is decided to try the upper peninsula of Michigan.  As commander and pilot of the bike, I do reserve the right to detour as desired, and fully expect to wander whenever and wherever deemed appropriate :)   After crossing Lake Michigan, it's a southeasterly run towards an area just North of Detroit, before entering Canada.  Then hugging the North shore of Lake Erie and crossing back into the USA near Niagara Falls.  From there, the Erie Canal will lead all the way to the Hudson River, and then the route will run down the Hudson River to New York City, the final destination.  If all goes according to plan, and I know from watching that plans WILL change, it will take about two months to complete the journey.  Hopefully, all the equipment (read--legs, arms, back, etc.) will hold out and there won't be any insurmountable obstacles : )