Cross American - Showing May 8th at 7p at NW Documentary, 6 NE Tillamook St. Portland, OR 97212

Touring across the country is a rewarding experience, fraught with a wealth of mental and physical challenges and alongside victorious triumphs. Cross country bike tourist Tony refers this the journey of a “battle of attrition with yourself” and in this piece he inspires us to step out of our comfort zone and embark on a journey of a lifetime.

Embracing Adventure!

Yesterday, I was having breakfast with a friend at a local restaurant with my back to the window, and my friend calmly stated and pointed behind me, "Are those your people???".  I turned around and noticed two tour cyclist pulling up to the restaurant with fully loaded rigs.  I turned back and noted "Yup.....they are part of the tribe".  

They came into the restaurant, and long behold were seated directly next to us.  I let them order before blowing them up with questions - where are they from, where are they going, what are they eating, etc, etc.

Long story short........Brian and Alex came back to my place and camped at my house.  They are just embarking on a 4 month journey riding the continental divide from South to North.  They left Traverse City 6 days prior, and were headed to the train station in Kalamazoo.  We talked about my trip, and their trip and everything in between.  I showed them my short documentary, and gave them some books that had touched my heart in what seemed like a previous distant life......

The following day after resting, I drove them to the local bike shop to get a couple things, and then headed south of Grand Rapids to get them to a safe start point, and then sent them on their way, as they were hitching a Train to New Mexico and riding the continental divide over the next 4 months.

What's interesting and something they probably didn't understand (yet), is that what they provided me was way more than what I provided them.  Sure, they had a warm shower, a couple of books, and gained some knowledge of what I had done on my ride the previous summer,  but I had a chance to live vicariously through them and give back for all the gratitude I had received last summer on my ride across the USA. In a weird way, it was the same feeling I had on the road every time something cool would happen. 

The truth is - without turning this post into a 1000 word marathon monologue - that transitioning back to normal life hasn't been the buttery-smooth landing I had hoped.  It's tough going from being on the road, to coming back to everything that is comfortable and sane.  And meeting people like Alex & Brian, and taking a moment to realize that there is 'adventure' all around you, is something I need to embrace and incorporate into my life on a daily basis. 

Thanks Guys - and enjoy the ride of your life.  You're badasses!!!!!

Alex & Brian heading out to Kalamazoo with their fully loaded Continental Divide rigs

Tamarindo Costa Rica...My new home!

I decided that I'll be spending my winter in Costa Rica, learning to surf, relaxing in the sun, and discovering what all the hoopla is about regarding this place!  So far, I must confess, it has delivered on it's amazingness!  

Big week for this guy....was snowboarding one day at Snowbird, and watching the sunset the following day in Costa Rica!  

A typical sunset on Tamarindo Beach!

My 'spartan-esq' apartment!  I'm working on some wall coverings as we speak!

A local beauty with one of the random local k9s.

The local hero Moxie taking it all in!

Amazing vegetation down here....things grow different near the equator!

My trusty new Steed!  26" Haro.....which I'm told is the Cadillac of bikes down here!!!!

In case you don't know where Costa Rica is!

In case you want to visit......you should fly into Liberia!

Kansas.....Thanks for the views!

Eastern Kansas

Black Angus country.  

Without a doubt, since I've started touring across the country, Kansas has offered the most interesting landscape to date.  Interesting in a good way....as in "I'm relaxed when I travel through this part of the country!".  Obviously, it's totally different than the mountains, or the ocean, but it's not that it doesn't have great things to offer, the expansive views and wide open landscape are incredible to slowly pass through! The vast wide open views are unlike anything I've ever witnessed, and seeing that horizon span for miles and miles was something that provides a great sense of  tranquility.   

Caitlin & Casey in Kansas City.   

I also had a great opportunity to cross paths with my cousin Caitlin and her boyfriend Casey that live(d) in Kansas City.  It was cool that I had a chance to see Kansas City from the perspective of the locals, and they were able to show me the best parts of the city before they move back to Michigan (ironically the following week).  On the first night, we went to Joe's barbecue and had an amazing barbecue dinner.  We even had a chance to go to their friends Fourth of July party and go through a pretty thorough brewery tasting session, in which he converted his basement into a a man-cave-home-brew-tasting-room.  . It's probably not the right medium to discuss via a blog post, but there were some interesting conversations regarding patriotism and Edward Snowden that ended with a couple of people leaving the party!  No harm....No foul!  

Joes BBQ of Kansas City. Yeah!!! I ordered all the meats! 

The day after Joe's, Caitlin made a scrumptious breakfast utilizing the leftover barbecue from Joes. 

On my first ride out of Kansas City I cross paths with Frank Dorsey, owner of Frank's bar in Lawrence Kansas. He was awesome and offered to take me out for a beer once I settled for the night, to which I responded "Hell Yeah!".  We discussed the local cycling scene, and he told me about some great podcast that have change the trip for me....not sure how I listened to 16 episodes of 'Serial' in three days, but it happened! 

Frank and his proud crew at Frank's bar in Lawerence Kansas

Frank Dorsey in Lawerence Kansas.  

Happy customers at Franks Bar enjoying the women's World Cup 

As I moved through Eastern Kansas, the heat was incredible.  I tried to get an early start (7ish) to get the majority of the riding done prior to when the mid-day heat and humidity settled in.  On one of these days, i got lost trying to take a short cut, and I found myself in 'Dirt Road Purgatory' (unable to find pavement).  After 15+ miles of gravel roads, I finally found pavement and a place for lunch.  As I prepared for the final push to the campsite, I realized I wasn't going to make it before a crazy storm hit.  Stranded, I humbly asked a local rancher for a place to camp in his barn, to which he laughed and said, "Come up on the porch and tell me your story". After looking on the "www." we realized the storm was going to be in effect till midnight, So, Bill Bailey and his family took me, and allowed me to share dinner and the celebration of his first Great Grand Childs Nathaniel's 1st Birthday.  

Carrie &  Bill Bailey, and their grand daughters Ashley & Katherine

the storm front that approached and grounded me in central kansas

The bailey ranch

I also met Peg & Scott Garber in Council Grove as they hosted me one night as I hauled-ass across Kansas. It was really cool to meet them and spend some quality time with their son Todd (they had a group ride that night, so we only had a few minutes to chat before and after). Regardless, their son Todd took me out to dinner, and helped me restock my food supplies. Come to find out, the family does a really cool thing every year, and they pick a state and spend a week riding bikes through some picturesque areas of the US.  

Peg & Scott Garber

Hank Garber - 120 Lb. lab that I befriended at the Garber's in Council Grove.  He's awesome - he wanted to play as I laid on the floor, but he was so large he couldn't fit into where I was at, so I picked him up and laid him on top of me....I don't think the Garber's realized I had that in me!!!!!

On my last night in Great Bend Kansas, I randomly crossed paths with Chantel Mosher.  She's a 20 year old college student / fashion & travel blogger.  I ended up spending a couple hours chatting with her on my last day, discussing our adventures & aspirations.  It was cool chatting with her.  She's takes her blogging pretty serious, and is striving to make a career of it.  Not that fashion blogging is really my thing (maybe 'Beard-Vogue' at this present time), but she has some great photos that can be used for inspiration at http://www.wanderingwithc.com.  It was eye opening to spend time chatting with her, and seeing how professional she was in seeking an article for her blog.  Thanks Chantel for the vision.......you're pretty badass!

On a lonely ride across the plains of Hillsboro Kansas, I had the opportunity to meet Jason Sjorlund, the owner of the Hillsboro Sonic.  We chatted while my meal was prepared, and he end up buying me lunch, helped locate a youtube video on how to apply KT tape for an achilles (thats been bothering me for a couple weeks), and sending me off recharged.   It was a brief stop, but I exchange contact info with him, not thinking we'd ever cross paths again.  He wrote me a great email explaining how I was inspirational as he was having a touch day at work, and was getting pretty irritable with the team.  It's easy to go long stretches on the rode and become indifferent to the places and people you meet, but I found an unsuspecting rejuvenation from meeting Jason. Thanks for spicing up the plains of Kansas Jason!

Jason Sjorlund in front of his Hillsboro Kansas Sonic