Cross-Country Bicycle Tour Journal

From 17 September, 2008, to 7 December, 2008, I bicycled across the US. Five years later, I finally typed up my journal, and wrote six-word summaries for each day.

  1. 17 Sep 2008 — Start an adventure, slow down already.
  2. 18 Sep 2008 — Lose some gloves, find some friends.
  3. 19 Sep 2008 — Eighty seven miles on the Potomac.
  4. 20 Sep 2008 — Hello Pennsylvania! A day of tunnels.
  5. 21 Sep 2008 — Falling water, imperceptibly downhill, nearing Pittsburgh.
  6. 22 Sep 2008 — Walk the bike: hills and highways.
  7. 23 Sep 2008 — Cross the Ohio, cross it again.
  8. 24 Sep 2008 — Get pulled over, sleep in graveyard.
  9. 25 Sep 2008 — Flat tires, but home sweet home.

I spent 26 September to 2 Octover at home with my family in Columbus.

  1. 3 Oct 2008 — Getting back on the bike. Ouch.
  2. 4 Oct 2008 — Of people, pavement, and potato festivals
  3. 5 Oct 2008 — Must have been a tiring day
  4. 6 Oct 2008 — Welcome to Kentucky: hills, friendly people.
  5. 7 Oct 2008 — Rain, race a semi, state six.
  6. 8 Oct 2008 — It rained, and I didn't write.
  7. 9 Oct 2008 — Forgotten phone induces bonus river crossings.
  8. 10 Oct 2008 — Yes, I will eat three hamburgers.
  9. 11 Oct 2008 — If you know, then you know.
  10. 12 Oct 2008 — Rest day of ennui in Henderson. (No journal/photos.)
  11. 13 Oct 2008 — Carrsville, population sixty-four, hosts a tourist.
  12. 14 Oct 2008 — BBQ tour: many meals to go.
  13. 15 Oct 2008 — Bushwhacking, stealth camping, welcome to Tennessee.
  14. 16 Oct 2008 — Lost cell phone! What to do?
  15. 17 Oct 2008 — Hospitality bonanza: United Steaks of America.
  16. 18 Oct 2008 — Feasting with a pack of Wolves.
  17. 19 Oct 2008 — Bike friends on the Natchez Trace.
  18. 20 Oct 2008 — Slow start to a quiet day.
  19. 21 Oct 2008 — Faster start, still a quiet day.
  20. 22 Oct 2008 — More miles than words again today.
  21. 23 Oct 2008 — Breaking the monotony, very busy day!
  22. 24 Oct 2008 — I never did get the horns.
  23. 25 Oct 2008 — Right turn at the Mississippi. Westward!
  24. 26 Oct 2008 — A hundred miles zigzagging across Louisiana.
  25. 27 Oct 2008 — Rest day and real Cajun jambalaya.
  26. 28 Oct 2008 — Experiencing the history of Merryville, Louisiana.
  27. 29 Oct 2008 — First of many Texas barbecue stops.
  28. 30 Oct 2008 — Midday inertia overcome in afternoon sprint.
  29. 31 Oct 2008 — My Halloween costume: cross country cyclist.
  30. 1 Nov 2008 — Rolling across the Texas hill country.
  31. 2 Nov 2008 — Short entry: arriving in Austin, TX.
  32. 3 Nov 2008 — Exploring Austin on an unloaded bike.
  33. 4 Nov 2008 — Where were you election night 2008?
  34. 5 Nov 2008 — Sleeping in a little league dugout.
  35. 6 Nov 2008 — Boot fence and a late night.
  36. 7 Nov 2008 — Climbing through Texas. Hills and armadillos.
  37. 8 Nov 2008 — Icosahedra, flats, varmints and Del Rians.
  38. 9 Nov 2008 — Yes, I am a U.S. citizen.
  39. 10 Nov 2008 — Check out the Pecos River pictures.
  40. 11 Nov 2008 — I have irrational fears at dawn.
  41. 12 Nov 2008 — Behold the awesome wonder of papercrete.
  42. 13 Nov 2008 — Saw Marfa, but not the lights.
  43. 14 Nov 2008 — Conquering headwinds to attend Star Party.
  44. 15 Nov 2008 — Chilly morning, riding an interstate shoulder.
  45. 16 Nov 2008 — Fields of cotton and chili peppers.
  46. 17 Nov 2008 — Boring photos and journal entry, sorry.
  47. 18 Nov 2008 — Tailwinds help deliver a second century.
  48. 19 Nov 2008 — Trip high point, Emory Pass 8,228'.
  49. 20 Nov 2008 — Gila Cliff Dwellings and incredible beauty.
  50. 21 Nov 2008 — Climb, climb, climb, climb, descend. Repeat.
  51. 22 Nov 2008 — It's all downhill from here, right?
  52. 23 Nov 2008 — Check the views, check the brakes.
  53. 24 Nov 2008 — Eastern Arizona is not bike friendly.
  54. 25 Nov 2008 — Thankful for friendly bike store owners.

I spent Thanksgiving with my aunt, uncle and cousins in Scottsdale. I have pictures and a GPS track for our Thanksgiving hike.

  1. 29 Nov 2008 — The beginning of my journey's end.
  2. 30 Nov 2008 — Meeting more cyclists at a campground.
  3. 1 Dec 2008 — A day without flats is awesome.
  4. 2 Dec 2008 — Cross Mars and into sand dunes.
  5. 3 Dec 2008 — Not the California you'd think of.
  6. 4 Dec 2008 — Once more up into the mountains.
  7. 5 Dec 2008 — Excuse: I passed ABC at 7:55am.
  8. 6 Dec 2008 — "Ocian in view! O! The Joy!"
  9. 7 Dec 2008 — If you want reflection, read yesterday.