Destination Dewey ... after 3,500 miles
In a previous article for the Cape Gazette (tinyurl.com/4x3rd5ks), we shared a mid-journey update of the why, what and how of our cross-country bicycle tour. We finally completed the journey Aug. 1 on West Street in Dewey Beach and dipped our front tires into the welcoming Atlantic Ocean. As we worked our way over the sand dune, we were nearly stopped in our tracks by the vigilant (but kind) Dewey Beach Patrol. The young lifeguard on duty told us we couldn’t bike on the beach. We said, “Don’t worry, we have no intention of riding one more pedal stroke. We just finished our bike ride from Washington state.” The lifeguard simply replied, “Respect,” and we officially completed the journey.
Our expedition was part charity ride, part epic adventure. On the fundraising side of things, we netted nearly $30,000 to help close funding and access gaps for needy children in our byzantine medical care system. We are proud of this accomplishment and believe increasing awareness of healthcare access is a long-term project for our country. Those interested in learning more about these topics can visit our charity sponsors: chartway.com/chartway-promise-foundation/about.html and cu4kids.org/.
On the epic adventure front, we pedaled 3,500 miles across our vast country. Starting in Anacortes, Wash., on Puget Sound, we worked our way across the Cascades and Northern Rocky Mountains; survived the plains, badlands and prairielands of Middle America; navigated part of the upper Mississippi River basin, passed acres of corn and soybean fields; and finally re-encountered population centers in the eastern United States. The trip took a bit over two months, which afforded us a lot of time for reflection. Below is a short list of our insights.
Get out there: The act of starting something epic comprises 90% of the effort. We will always find reasons not to start things, but once we commit there’s a kind of resignation, a “let’s do this thing” attitude. We can recall all the negative self-talk that told us biking across the USA was a monumentally bad idea, but once we saddled up and headed east, the obstacles became manageable. Get off the couch, turn off your screens and find an adventure – it’s good for the soul.
Embrace Type 2 fun: Type 2 fun is miserable while it’s happening, but fun in retrospect. Navigating from point A to point B using our smartphones is efficient, but getting lost is sometimes much more enjoyable. While biking along Lake Koocanusa in northern Montana, we experienced challenging conditions including rainy, windy 40-degree weather. We were miserable as we ducked into an outhouse to change out of our wet clothes and warm up our extremities. While we wouldn’t want to repeat the experience any time soon, we do recall that day with smiles on our faces. Too much certainty and comfort can lull us into a mundane life.
People are kind: Yes, America seems headed toward some sort of partisan breaking point, and on our ride, we saw numerous political messages that don’t comport with our personal views. However, when you actually interact with people, even those who have different world perspectives, you find most are kind, helpful and considerate. Throughout the two-month ride, we were invited into peoples’ homes, received gestures of kindness along roadsides, and held interesting/surprising conversations in unexpected places. Removing ourselves from our narrow bubbles might be the salve that heals our country.
Setbacks are opportunities: Whether biking across the country, starting a new job or simply trying to reach a small goal, we all meet some sort of obstacle that hinders forward progress. Luckily, we didn’t have a single flat tire or other mechanical issue during the trip, but we did make our share of wrong turns, both real and figurative. Rather than getting frustrated, we found using setbacks as a learning opportunity was much more productive. When we crossed into Minnesota from North Dakota, we had a dangerously close call with an out-of-control semi truck driver. Rather than get overwhelmed, we cut the day short, rented a motel room, ate copious amounts of DQ Blizzards and watched trashy reality TV while we talked about our harrowing experience. This setback was scary, but we adjusted our mindset and kept going.
Alastair Humphreys, an epic adventurer who biked around the world, wrote a book called “Microadventures,” which he defines as, “an adventure that is short, simple, local, cheap – yet still fun, exciting, challenging, refreshing and rewarding.” Adventure is a relative term, and it’s accessible to everyone. We hope our experience encourages you to map out your own personal adventures and apply some of these insights.
