About 46 years ago, a man named Fred Bauer read an account
of Sir Francis Chichester circumnavigating the globe solo in his ship, the Gypsy Moth. Fred seems to have been a
pretty average guy. He was married with three children and was pursuing a
career as a writer with good success. Reading about the adventures of Sir
Francis however, he started casting about for an adventure of his own. Maybe
hiking from the East to West coast? Or if not hiking, maybe on bike?
About 40 years ago, the book he wrote about his family’s
adventures cycling across the United States found its way into my home. “How
Many Hills to Hillsboro?” left me with a desire to do the same thing – ride my
bicycle across the United States.
This is the year that happens. I start cycling on May 31,
leaving San Francisco and the Pacific coast. I will arrive at the Atlantic
coast at Portsmouth, NH on July 21, 3,851 miles later. I welcome your company
in whatever form that takes!
