Stan’s Cycling Adventures

Total Riding Days: 5. Total Mileage: 368.4 Miles. Total Elevation Gain: 13,189 feet. Average Miles Per Day: 73.7 Miles. Average Ascent Per Day: 2,638 feet.

It was really nice to sit with Woody and Chip on the front porch of the hotel yesterday listening to live music and getting in some valuable people watching. I actually met a couple that live in Hanau, Germany where I was first stationed in Germany while doing so. Small world in a small town.…

Prineville definitely still had the smell of smoke this morning when I rode out of town. The plan was to make my way to the northeast through the Ochoco National Forest. About four miles into my climb out of town, a road closed sign appeared with a message saying local traffic only. I have seen…

After placing the porta potty key attached to a foot long 2×4 on the table out back where the bar patrons smoke, I set off into the early morning darkness. If I really wanted the key, I would have been terribly disappointed as I have no more room on War Dog for a 2×4 with…

I took a nice dip in the river yesterday to cool down and to get as much of the gunk off as possible. I felt like a free bird and that is all I am going to say about that. It was so peaceful in the campsite until off in the far distance two shots…

I enjoyed the convenience of the terminus for both routes being one and the same just outside the Maverick Motel. There are also great dining options in the vicinity and I was able to enjoy a fabulous pizza for lunch and a smash burger for dinner. I also was able to walk about a little…

Total Riding Days: 7. Total Mileage: 425.1 Miles. Total Elevation Gain: 31,030 feet. Average Miles Per Day: 60.7 Miles. Average Ascent Per Day: 4,432 feet.

I got settled in nicely yesterday at the campsite and really enjoyed relaxing in the shade. I may have took a nap in my comfortable camping chair before heading down to the store to get some goods and internet connection. While sitting outside the store, I had a little friend join me. He was quite…

After the long day, I just could not get the food to go down last night. So, with the to go box on the night stand, I wolfed down the grilled chicken breast and then the bread from the sandwich at 0100. I then washed it down with a Ginger Ale to be further washed…

I found for dinner last night an old 1950s style diner turned into a Mexican restaurant while the new owners also still include the old diner menu. For dinner, I had what one would call a huge chimichanga and for desert, I went with an old diner style Oreo milkshake. It worked out and was…

It was nice thinking about the time I spent with Folker at Paradise Campground a few years ago, it was our second night of many together. The time at Campsite 6 is when he really showcased his lightweight camping chair and emphasized the importance of such a valuable piece of equipment on a bikepacking adventure.…

I slept like a baby last night and was up and moving before official sunrise. This route has some little tricks up her sleeve and I have to get on it before it gets too hot. After circumnavigating Detroit Lake, it was time for some gravel. The first part of the day was supposed to…

I ate a late lunch at the BBQ Barn in Estacada yesterday where their slogan is “Slow and Low.” I did indeed feel really slow afterwards and did not even eat dinner as I was full as a tick. Unfortunately, skipping dinner is never smart as I need all the calories I can get as…

Erin asked me last night as we were laying in bed if I was excited or nervous. I really did not have an answer. The only answer I could give is something that makes sense to those who have served. I feel like this short trip is more like a TDY (Temporary Duty) versus my…

It seems it has been a very long time since I set off on an adventure on two wheels. Well, tomorrow is the day I will get back at it as I attempt to tackle two routes in my very own home state. The order in which I will ride these two routes has been…

It seemed I had just arrived for this week of cycling and all of a sudden the last night of the event had arrived. I had a great dinner with Gabriel and Jonathan last night and we shared many laughs as Gabriel missed his calling and should have been a comedian. He is as quick-witted…

This morning I slow played it a little and enjoyed two delicious cups of coffee made by Nossa Familia. They have been supporting these events for numerous years and the owner seen in the photo is originally from Brazil and started this successful company based in Portland with his business partner twenty years ago. They…

Don’t worry, they are feeding us some amazing dinners out here. How about local salmon and beef brisket? That will definitely fuel me up for the upcoming day’s ride. Someone else’s tolerance levels are not yours. This is important to remember when getting advice or listening to people talk about impending doom and gloom like…

Today would be a moving day as we would be making our way to Enterprise for the next few nights. I woke up and had my packed bag handed off to the baggage detail before they fully knew where the truck transporting our bags would be stationed. Guess they felt sorry for me as they…

Last night was a little chilly and my tent was soaked from dew this morning as I climbed out to embrace the day ahead of me. I had almost forgot what it felt like to be a little cold during the morning and it really motivated me to get going and start climbing. The morning…

Here I am sitting in the small town of Elgin listening to a local band playing music realizing that I am extremely lucky to once again be out here breathing fresh air. The Cycle Oregon Rally is a five day cycling event that places us in the beautiful Blue and Wallowa Mountains allowing us to…

The Atlantic Coast Route produced way more variety than I would have ever imagined. From the spectacular beaches of Florida up to the amazing Outer Banks of North Carolina, white sandy beaches were definitely the theme of the South. Once near Richmond, Virginia, the beauty of the country side quickly won my affection. Washington D.C.…

Total Days: 50 Total Riding Days: 45 Total Zero Mileage Days (Days Off): 3 Totals Days Touring NYC: 2 (30.69 Miles 955 feet) Total Mileage: 2,815.55 Miles Average Mileage Per Riding Day: 62.57 Miles Longest Mileage Day: Day 42. 80.68 Miles Total Elevation Gain: 66,790 feet Most Elevation Gain: Day 30. 4,117 feet

Folker came through yesterday in finding a great Warmshowers host. He found a young man named Thumbs who is part of a four family co-op in a nice large house back in the woods. Thumbs’ father is Dutch and it was great for Folker to have an instant connection with our host. We were given…

With the potential for more early morning rain showers, Folker and I left most expeditiously this morning. About five minutes after our departure, the rain started and we once again were able to pack up camp prior to experiencing any muddy conditions. Lucky us. The rain was heavy for a while this morning and then…

How many times in your life have you said to yourself that what just happened is as good as it could ever be? It is simply as good as it gets. Well, tonight is one of those nights when it comes to eating lobster. Folker and I were feeling pretty damn terrific about our campsite…

The waterfront campsite was very pleasant yesterday as I sat in my chair and watched the sailboats off in the distance. I also met a 93 year old retired truck driver that stays at this campground from May to October every year. He drove over three million miles in his career. He showed us all…

Folker met me after I walked for a little bit in the center of Cape Neddick last night for a nice happy hour that turned into a delicious dinner. We enjoyed a few beers and the ahi sandwich was absolutely ridiculously delicious. I may have gotten the most sleep of the entire trip after that…

I have never cooked with my camp stove inside a hotel room until last night. I did some quick calculations on my remaining food and was able to have two ramen noodles and two tuna packages for dinner. It filled me up and put me to sleep like a baby. I woke up ready to…

We walked down the street and found a great Mexican restaurant that had the Olympics playing on multiple televisions. Folker is not a sports fan by any stretch of the imagination, but this guy is and I enjoyed watching the U.S. Women’s Rugby pull of a last second score to win Bronze against the Australians.…

After plenty of sleep in a nice bed, I was raring to go early this morning. I left at the same time as Folker and off I went up the hill for another good day of cycling in these beautiful mountains. Early this morning I saw an animal that I have never seen in the…

It was nice to see the family yesterday and we had a great time relaxing and catching up at the campsite. Caroline played hard at the playground and big brother even took her over to the big playground in the sky. The kids and I enjoyed the pool for a little bit before dinner and…

After enjoying a delicious banana split yesterday afternoon, Folker recommended we head out to find us a nice camping spot for the evening. We figured this expedition might take a while with the abundance of no trespassing signs in the area. After riding for a little while, we talked to a local and he said…

The challenge was accepted when our waitress said she thought maybe we would have three slices left over of the massive pizza we ordered for dinner last night. I did have some initial doubts in our ability to finish when I first saw the actual size of this masterpiece. After the first slice, I realized…

New York City is the city that never sleeps. We may have at least witnessed it yawning a little bit early this morning as we departed Brooklyn crossing the Williamsburg Bridge one last time into Manhattan. The hustle and bustle was nonexistent on the city roads with the only traffic really being on the main…

Last night we grabbed a couple beers and some chips and headed down to a waterfront park to watch the city lights come on after sunset. As the lights came on the city skyline seemed to move closer to us. It was fun watching the skyline change as lights came on at various times soon…

Folker and I slept in a little this morning before walking across the street to The Butcher’s Daughter for a coffee and a little bite to eat. We both selected the menu item “The Best Damn Egg Sandwich” and it was pretty damn good and the coffee was also very satisfying. The plan for the…

Yesterday was very special spending time with Bob and his family. They generously opened up their home to cyclists when a nearby state park’s campground was closed due to continuous flooding causing many of the tree’s root systems to decay. A camper was actually recently killed when a tree fell on a tent and the…

We experienced two large thunderstorms with heavy rain last night with the last one hanging out for a little too long for my liking. Folker braved the heavy rain and pushed out on his normal starting time like a dedicated super trooper. I had plans of starting a little later anyway so I waited it…

It was a pleasant last three miles on the rail trail this morning before riding through the town of York. The weather has been cooler the last couple of days allowing us to start a little later and closer to sunrise. Before getting out of York, I was hoping to find a service station that…

The local human intelligence was spot on last night and we followed the given instructions to find a great site on the high ground with proper cover and concealment. Folker even ensured I kept proper noise discipline on the way into our site. He may have been in his element? I slept on a nice…

I throughly enjoyed my time with Gary and his wife the last couple of days as they were amazing hosts. We had the chance to get some well overdue laundry done and we definitely ate like kings. Gary is a highly intelligent human that has some amazing projects that he is currently working on these…

Let’s just say I have never almost dehydrated while sleeping until last night. I had to drink an entire water bottle during the night to replenish myself of all the water lost while lying in a shallow pool of sweat. This gives a water bed an entirely different meaning. This morning was going to be…

We had a nice quick downhill ride back to the route early this morning and before I knew it, I was heading back north. The rolling hills continued and the scenery remained the same as yesterday for most of the day. Today would be a day that reminded me of a couple of the many…

This morning was a definite early bird start as we are in a little bit of a heat wave it seems. The humidity makes these ninety degree temperatures feel more like temperatures well over one hundred. It is amazing to ride all day soaking wet from top to bottom, well maybe amazing is not the…

Prior to leaving this morning, we had a nice coffee with Cory and shared some more stories before setting out on the trail. Folker and I rode together until we got through Colonial Williamsburg. I then stayed on the Colonial National Historic Parkway and Folker took a more direct route to the upcoming Virginia Capital…

We were cordially invited to eat dinner with John and his wife, Twyla, last night. The couple are both originally from the Netherlands and last night we had some extra time to get to know his wife as John prepared the food. She is an amazing lady and it was a treat to have such…

My main accomplishment yesterday was getting a haircut when we walked up to the grocery store to get lunch and food for dinner. Felt so good to get a nice haircut and the rest of the day was spent watching movies on Netflix. When the house sitter replacements finally arrived from the Netherlands, Folker and…

The time with the family went by quickly as we stayed relatively busy taking in the sights. After the kids stopped laughing at my hilarious tan lines during our swimming preparations, we immediately hit the beach for some boogie board wave riding. Yesterday, we enjoyed visiting the Wright Brothers National Memorial and Museum, Jockey’s Ridge…

I took a nice leisurely walk on the beach yesterday and found a couple more small treasures for the kids. The beach was beautiful and had a very limited amount of other humans out and about. Before I retired for the evening, I sent some text messages to Erin giving her my expected timeline for…

The highlight of my camping experience yesterday was absolutely brilliant. I saw something I have never seen before in my entire life. Erin, brace yourself sister. Yep, I saw a Red-headed Woodpecker, multiple times. Not Woody Woodpecker the animated character silly, but a real life Red-headed Woodpecker. Shut the front door! With all the excitement…

I took a long walk on the beach yesterday evening just prior to sunset and definitely enjoyed the cooler temperatures and lack of direct sunlight. The east coast has plenty of treasures strewn across the beach that I have not been able to find out west. Seashells are abundant and for the true treasure seekers,…

With a new set of foam earplugs, I was not bothered at all with all the 4th of July local celebrations and random firework explosions last evening. I vaguely remember waking up a couple of times and hearing some smaller explosions. Sounded like a good time was definitely being had for sure. I met up…

It was so nice to see WL coming down the road as I eagerly waited at the campsite entrance yesterday afternoon. The kids were equally as excited and told me all about the rest of their time at Disney World and about the rocket launch they witnessed from a mile away. They have been living…

Folker and I went to a local dive bar last night for dinner. We enjoyed a couple Yuengling beers and I had a pimento cheese burger that was a hot mess. It was hard to keep it together but very delicious. Today was going to be a day of riding through a few beach towns.…

We experienced a torrential downpour late yesterday afternoon and it was a blessing since we were at a primitive campsite with no shower facilities. We stripped down to just a pair of shorts and let the rain rinse our souls. Our bodies were successfully cleaned of all salt and foul smells. Next order of business…

No need for the alarm clock to wake me up this morning because Mother Nature was a busy bee loudly making sure we were nice and wet. Fortunately, the rain did stop as I was about to break down my wet tent and finishing packing my gear on Wardog. This morning on the way to…

After some delicious Chimichangas and a couple Negra Modelos for dinner last night, I was soon fast asleep and enjoyed the longest amount of sleep all trip. The morning did come fast it seemed and we hit the trail enjoying the Spanish Moss Trail until the terminus. Once the trail ended and we found ourselves…

I know right now Randy is still wondering just what exactly I did to enjoy the Peach State in the best way possible. How about a visit to Georgia Peach World – For The Love Of Peaches! A warm peach cobbler topped with ice cream should be the most appropriate way thinkable to enjoy my…

We had to slow play setting up camp last night because we were told a nice thunderstorm was coming our way later in the afternoon. Hanging out on the big ol’ porch was perfect because when the storm came it was just as predicted. We finished up dinner and finally decided to make a recon…

Last night we experienced a proper southern thunderstorm as we had a few lightning strikes relatively close to our location. Thunder that rattles your entire body is always so comforting. Ear plugs were inserted to make the night quiet enough to fall fast asleep. The rain apparently fell hard just to the north of us…

I spent a lot of time yesterday down by the state park’s general store and grill. I was very fortunate to be in line at the grill behind an older gentleman who asked the cashier if they offered a military discount. The lady acknowledged that they indeed offered such a discount and he replied “Thank…

Last night I tried something new in camping and that was to not put my rain and wind guard over the top of my tent. I figured I would try it in this heat with just the inner part of the tent which is essentially like a big mosquito net offering plenty of ventilation. With…

We all made great use of the time that I was given with the family at Shades of Green at Walt Disney Resort. The kids and I swam and swam, eventually shutting the pool down Saturday night. Spending a day with the family at EPCOT on Sunday was also a treat to say the least.…

I met the most extreme human last night at the campsite, Shane Henry. He was camping a couple sites down from us and was super excited about fishing for bull shark late into the night. He said he would cook us up the best shark steak we have ever tasted if he hooked a big…

Folker and I hung out in the shade provided by the camp laundry facilities yesterday and enjoyed the continuous cool breeze as we relaxed and eventually cooked our dinner. I am enjoying my camp stove and cookware and getting the hang of it all. If you can boil water, then you have the potential to…

Folker and I treated ourselves to a proper seafood dinner last night that was super delicious. Folker got a preview of what is to come in Maine by having a Maine Lobster Salad and I decided to go with the trusty Coconut Shrimp. We got our taste buds warmed up before the main dishes with…

I had to get up a few minutes early this morning to carry the two outrageously large metal campsite markers back to the office to ensure we both get refunded our $10 deposit. As we rode back by the office they looked quite magnificent and reflective leaning against the door. There is no way anyone…

Our campsite last night was updated from a small square plot of sand to a nice screened in group campsite hut. The front door had three locks to keep us vagrants out, but no one bothered to keep the side door locked. Just a sleeping mat on the floor worked like a champ and Folker…

Flank Steak with many delicious sides was a perfect meal the night before the first day of riding and Erin kept the hits coming after dinner with some strawberry shortcake. Spoiled we are I tell you, spoiled we are. This meal put me to sleep like a baby and before I knew it, it was…

Here we are just hours away from another epic adventure made possible by a great friend from the Netherlands and my amazing wife and family. It seems to be commonplace for me to find myself in this state of mind when very close to embarking on an adventure. I find myself full of gratitude and…

The final leg into Key West gave us some time in Nashville before hammering down and getting to the start point of the Atlantic Coast Route. Nashville offered us a glimpse of what this iconic music city has to offer for those visiting Broadway seeking live music performances and a good time. Our visit was…

Folker’s arrival last week signified that the rapidly approaching start of our summer cycling adventure that will take us up the length of the Atlantic Coast is danger close. Upon his arrival from the Netherlands, it was as if we had not missed a beat as we immediately fell right back into joking with each…

https://www.adventurecycling.org/routes-and-maps/adventure-cycling-route-network/atlantic-coast/

Once again I find myself preparing to embark on another epic summer adventure in our great and beautiful country. This adventure will be the exact opposite of last summer as I will be traveling up the more heavily populated Atlantic Coast with my buddy Folker versus riding solo through truly remote landscapes. I was fortunate…

I can honestly say that this epic adventure was one that will leave an impression on me for the rest of my life. I experienced excessive happiness and an indescribable spiritual connection with nature, yet there were also moments that I experienced fear from being in such remote areas within the habitat of large meat…

Total Days: 46 Total Riding Days: 42 Total Zero Mileage Days (Days Off): 4 Total Mileage: 2,760.33 Miles Average Mileage Per Riding Day: 65.72 Miles Longest Mileage Day: Day 19. 98.89 Miles Total Elevation Gain: 156,919 feet Most Elevation Gain: Day 34. 8,186 feet

Rob and I crashed early last night soon after sunset and before I knew it, the last day had arrived and it seemed to have been brought in with rain and overcast skies last night. Rob was quickly all packed up and after putting some much needed air in his two tires, off he went.…

Reunited and it feels so good… I met Rob at Lost Llama Ranch in Montana on the 4th of July. We were both proudly showing each other our gear and bike setup and I was especially proud of the lightweight titanium camping knife I had for spreading my peanut butter and Nutella on my tortillas…

I had a nervous energy last night as I knew today would be the last long ride of the adventure. I eventually fell asleep and woke up a little after 4 am ready to get this show on the road. I was on the road before 5 am this morning and out of Silver City…

I normally do not post on my zero mileage days, but there was some excitement that needed to be recorded. My Canadian buddy had a rough go at it yesterday when his rear derailleur hanger broke and he had to walk about eleven miles before someone gave him a lift for the remaining seven miles…

It was nice to have company last night as we were the only ones around for miles apparently. It was easy to tell this USFS campsite is rarely used, but the good news was the toilet had paper and the creek was flowing right outside my tent. It truly is the little things in life…

Michael made it to the campsite a little after 7 pm and we shared a dinner together as he offered me some chicken teriyaki. He had lasagne after both adventure meals were sufficiently rehydrated. Too bad the Army’s field meals were no where near this standard. Dinner was pleasant and we listened to the Coyotes…

Michael did not quite make it in before the pie shop closed, so I had him a chicken sandwich and some pie waiting on him when he arrived. It was a pleasant stay at the Toaster House and I sincerely hope the family can figure out a way to keep the house available to hikers…

I had a wonderful dinner at El Cafecito with Michael last night as we shared some good laughs about our journey so far. I am hoping to see him later when he arrives to Pie Town. As a side note, I may have been a little disappointed since the restaurant did not serve alcohol, no…

I literally just sat in front of the trade center yesterday in my comfortable chair and talked to various people as they visited the store, did some laundry or simply picked up their mail. I met some very nice and interesting people for sure. Stacy drives a couple hours in from Albuquerque to help her…

I had a relaxing day yesterday cleaning War Dog and doing some well overdue laundry. My riding shirt had become as stiff as some of my BDUs in the Army when we used to get them starched. With the weather forecast for the next few days looking more like the typical New Mexico monsoon season,…

I had a pleasant evening sitting down by the river just outside of Abiquiu and using FaceTime to chat with the family after dinner. What a beautiful place to relax after a long day in the saddle. I left the oasis under the cover of darkness to get a head start on the Polvadera Mesa…

I noticed the signs at the campground about being mindful of the bears upon my arrival yesterday. I used the trusty bear sack and had it plenty far enough away that if a black bear wanted the items inside the sack, at least I would be far enough away from the carnage to hopefully not…

Nick and KJ took me in as one of their own yesterday and I have not felt as connected with other humans on this adventure as I did with those two generous individuals. They both graduated from LSU and have since tried various jobs and had not found the satisfaction they know they deserve. They…

I do not have a clue as to what is wrong with me these days. I ordered an elk burger, onion rings and strawberry lemonade for dinner last night and could not finish the burger. Now don’t get me wrong, the burger was way bigger than the bun and cutting it in half was an…

The campsite offered great white noise that put me to sleep quickly as the wind was blowing through the aspen trees. A couple hours into my sleep, I was awakened by a few coyotes that were howling and yipping. At first, I was not sure what was going on and then I enjoyed the echoes…

I found a great taco food truck last night and enjoyed a chicken burrito that could probably have fed a small family. I ate every bit of it and washed it down with a Jarritos Grapefruit! I feel asleep shortly thereafter. My excuse for waking up early today would be about a 90 mile ride…

Three other cyclists showed up later yesterday and the back lot began to look more like a normal campsite, well maybe. One rider was on the GDMBR southbound and made it to his destination for his journey, Salida, and was returning to Breckenridge to catch a ride back home. A dad and son were on…

I feel asleep ridiculously early last night and was up at 4 am, which was just too early. I slowed rolled the morning routine and was eventually on the bike path out of Frisco by 5:15 am. It did not take long for me to pull over and put on my rain pants for a…

I had a great time yesterday evening talking to another cyclist at the campground who had joined the TransAmerica Trail in Kentucky after departing from his home in Asheville, North Carolina. He does not really have a set schedule and has jumped from one route to another with plans to fly back home when he…

I throughly enjoyed the time I had to relax and recover a little bit while in Steamboat Springs. Seeing entire families going on bike rides and the number of people in general on bikes and e-bikes in this beautiful town made me smile. I took advantage of the hot springs across from the motel and…

My decision to stay at the Ladder Ranch will be one that I will always be thankful for looking back on this journey. I was able to be a fly on the wall, or on Charlie’s head, and get a sense of how a ranch operates that has 3,000 sheep, around 700 cows, 341 steers…

I was recently told by another GDMBR rider numerous times that I had to eat at the Thai restaurant in Rawlins because it was super delicious. He was correct as it did not disappoint and it hit the spot for a late lunch. On the way back to the motel, the wind that I was…

The wind finally died down last night and my tent was able to be put up without it being blown across the reservoir. I slept really close to the water and could hear the fishing rolling on top trying to catch the small flies and other insects landing on the water. If only I had…

Last night I began feeling a little anxious about today’s ride because it was going to be across the vastness of nothingness called the Great Basin. It is actually called the Red Desert by most locals. This section of the GDMBR can be very challenging depending on the temperature, wind and rain. Any unfavorable condition…

I slept better than I have the entire trip last night on a super soft motel bed with no threat of bears. I fell asleep with the TV still on some show about earth and all it’s natural beauty. I was up and on the road by 5:15 am this pleasant and beautiful morning. On…

The hike down to the falls of the Wind River was a nice way to spend the afternoon yesterday. The falls were amazing and it was interesting to see the significant erosion the falls have been responsible for while they rip down the mountain. It was a clear night last night and the morning air…

I met my camping neighbors last night when they came over to tell me the family that was at my campsite the night before had a black bear cub sniffing around for some food at 1:30 am. Guess that family decided to activate their car alarm as a deterrent to no success and luckily the…

After a great sleep in the security of the cabin, I started really early this morning because I wanted to see the Grand Tetons sitting off in the distance at sunrise. It was an amazing site to see in the still of the morning. It was not long at all before I found myself in…

I actually called Squirrel Creek Guest Ranch last night to make sure they had room for me tonight and come to find out they have had a grizzly and black bear situation over the past few weeks. Guess who reserved a cabin instead of a tent site, yep this guy! Good thing I called ahead.…

Can you imagine the disappointment I felt when Peat Steakhouse Saloon was closed due to giving their staff a day off after all the recent 4th of July festivities? It must have been one hell of a good time here in Lima last week. No worries! I left Lima this morning and not a soul…

Why is the vault toilet so much warmer than my tent in the early morning? I have wondered that for the past two mornings as I sit longer than I probably should enjoying all the creature comforts at a campsite. I was trying not to wake the 22-month-old in the tent adjacent to mine this…

Another cold night and morning meant that I needed to be proficient in getting out of camp so I could quickly generate some heat with the climb up to Fleecer Ridge. Using a bear bag really changes the routine from last summer and I think I finally have a good morning routine starting now. The…

To say I had the entire campground all to myself last night is the understatement of the year. I was afforded such a luxury maybe because I decided to stay at an unsigned abandoned USFS campground. I was a little nervous because it was so quiet that I could hear every creature that moved all…

It was nice to be around cell phone service in Helena as I was able to video chat with Folker yesterday afternoon and we shared some good laughs. I am really excited about our future adventures together over the next couple of years, stay tuned. I got plenty of napping and sleep during my stay…

I slept so good in the Alpaca Inn and really could have laid in bed for another hour. Rob was finishing packing up when I came out ready to get the day started and we departed promptly. Rob was a Navy Air Traffic Controller and is now a middle school teacher. Unfortunately, after about a…

Last night I ate dinner with Bill and Tory, two former Phoenix Police Officers, at Trixi’s Antler Saloon and it was super delicious. We ate and left before the band showed up at 8 pm, but saw many eager locals in sensible shoes showing up to listen to the music and watch the planned 4th…

I was surprised it actually did not take me long to remember how to set up camp efficiently. This morning I did wake up really early and with bear spray in hand, I walked to the vault toilet as quiet as a mouse. I was done with all my morning business and had camp broken…

Chase and Caroline played hard last night and apparently Erin has taught them proper tactical communication skills. They sounded legit, if I do say so myself. Caroline has the call sign Red Bird and they gave Erin the call sign Red Heron. Never caught Chase’s call sign, I assume it is just as clever as…

The cell phone service at the State Park was not adequate, so I decided to leave a little early this morning and stop by the Whitefish community library and use their Wi-Fi before I hit the road. Since I was the only user sitting outside the front door on a bench, the Wi-Fi was lightning…

I had a very nice time sitting in the shade and talking with Erin at our remote primitive campsite yesterday while the kids played in the hammock. We enjoyed a nice family walk to the creek and retired early into the van after a delicious supper. Simple, but just perfect. The decision to stop at…

Not sure what was more enjoyable for Little Lady, swimming in Surveyors Lake yesterday or playing in the campground playground until 10 pm last evening. Poor Chase was eventually sent to go and retrieve his sister from her late night shenanigans, at least the sun had not gone down yet. This morning was all about…

I leisurely departed at 6:15 am this morning and quickly realized that taking the back way into the campsite via a busy road yesterday was totally unnecessary since the trail was only about 200 meters from our camping spot. Amazingly, it did not take long before nature revealed itself to me this morning and quickly…

After a delicious dinner with the family, I found myself sound asleep with earplugs firmly inserted to ensure the Canadians having a wonderful camping experience beside us became nice and quiet. I was promptly up and on the trail by 6 am after some sound sleep, which was needed since today was going to be…

The kids were watching a movie in the WL theater when I quickly fell fast asleep last night meaning I slept way more than I had anticipated the night before the first day of riding on this epic adventure. Erin was extremely polite and very helpful early this morning as the kids missed all the…

Driving through Northern Idaho into the magnificent Canadian Rockies truly marked the beginning of this adventure as it brought the emotions of the desired new reality into focus and to the forefront. My mind was racing just as fast as our camper van, White Lightning (WL), as I sat behind the Captain of our ship…

https://www.adventurecycling.org/routes-and-maps/adventure-cycling-route-network/great-divide-mountain-bike-route/

I was fortunate enough to have completed the TransAmerica Trail last summer and the ride turned out to be a truly epic adventure that provided countless memories of a lifetime. Immediately following the trip, I felt an overwhelming desire to be back in the saddle and on the road again. There is something really special…

TransAmerica Trail 2022 Link: https://stansbikeride.wordpress.com/