America taught me lot's.

I learn't that I can overcome anything I want to, and get what I want. I learn't to trust myself above all others, to take calculated risks and not look back. I learn't that deep inside most people is a heart of gold, just itching to be released and shine, but that too many never allow it to escape. This ride taught me that commitment is everything, 100% total and utter faith and belief in what you are doing is what it takes to achieve it. Others may (and will) talk you down, criticise, judge and generally attempt to sabotage you, yet all you need to do is politely ignore those people, listen to your inner voice, the one that says 'Do it and never look back', and follow your hearts desire and everything around you will conspire to make it happen.

I have been trying to apply that learning back here in the so called 'real world'. However I wasn't ready for how hard it would be to re-adjust to life 'in the box'.  People who weren't with me in spirit on that ride just don't understand what it was all about. They often have an idea about the physical challenges, however this type of ride is not about that, it is about the mental challenges. The will to keep going no matter what, the ability to blank out the enormity of the road ahead and concentrate entirely on each single pedal stroke, one at a time as you climb over the mountains one by one. The power of the mind is what got me across the United states on a bicycle, that combined with regular overdoses of jelly beans and ice cream!

Barely a day goes past without my mind drifting back to some moment of this ride, some challenge, smell, view, noise, person, feeling, mood and they are without exception positive. I even remember the dehydration  with a smile! I miss the wind, the mountain passes across the cascades, the Rockies, the Ozarks, the Appalachions. I miss the heat of Kansas, the emptiness of southern Wyoming, the beautiful streams and rivers or Oregon, Idaho, and Virginia. I can still hear the voices of those that I met, those who helped me and became friends...and I want to go back to this land across the 'pond', and live again like there was no tomorrow.

I learn't that I don't fit into the box, the commonly accepted norm's of life in England; Moreover I learn't that this is a very good thing, something to be proud of, not embarrassed about anymore. I am pleased I am different, I am happy to have been able to shine. I feel sure that I can carry these life lessons into my future, and more immediately the upcoming LEJOG ride across the UK.

24k visits to this Transam blog

Wow! ...24,000+ visits to this blog :)

After several days uploading I now have all the videos from this Trans American cycle tour on YouTube in three playlists in ride order. The link to these videos has been added at the top of this blog. I am trying to upload videos into each post in this blog, however you tube, BlogSpot and pilot error are conspiring against me lol! May the wind be with you.

It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.

Albus Dumbledore.

My last view of America and a bumpy landing back in the UK.

I read the google stats and this blog got over 20,000 page hits in the time I was riding. Bit of a surprise that lol!

For anybody thinking of doing this ride let me say...be very ready never to want to get back...America has a huge magnet at it's core that will pull you back!

Thanks for following me and Shinto on this amazing adventure !

Well I'm back in the UK....missing riding in America already!
Nothing changed here while I was away..strange to think that pne cam.cycle across a continent like north America while elsewhere nothing changes...riding a bianchi today felt silly lightweight under me...time to start a new dream I guess...

The beginning.

My plane at philladelphia at sunset tonight

The short flight up the coast to philladelphia.

Shinto getting loaded!

Well today is my last full day in America. The plan was to ride the 15 miles to the bike shop and try to survive the highway traffic. But first I needed to get my ice cream fix and some wi.fi T Ben and gerrrys.
Here I got an email.from my new friend Carlos who offered to collect me and Shinto and take.me to the bike shop, help me pack Shinto into the bike box and let.me stay over at his house near the airport ...let me wash.some clothes and then get Shinto and I to the airport in tbd morning! How.cool.is that...what a great gesture. So the logistics of taxis and motels all became much.simpler...cheers Carlos mate, you are a top man!

Getting Shinto taken apart and into.the box was easy, saying goodbye to Yorktown wasn't.  At Ben and gerrys this morning a guy bought.me ice cream just because he saw my.bike and figured, correctly, that I had ridden across the states!  I have to say that a lot of brits could learn a lesson in hospitality from our American cousins who throughout this little ride of mine have been amazing.
So, after and hour or so at the bike shop ans a subway lunch here I am at carlos' house taking a few moments to grasp the fact that I really did cycle across America and that in a day or so.I.will.be back in rainy windy England.
Roll on the next adventure...the memories of this one will stay with me always....

It's tomorrow now and I'm at the airport..Shinto is checked in and my.thanks go again to Carlos for making the trips final.moments easy and memorable.

Farewell America ...but not goodbye.

Yorktown town centre tonight.

Dear Ben and jerry,
Let me suggest a free icecream like this for all cyclists who ride across America to get to your Yorktown shop. You could also create a special transam flavour!
Ta.

I have changed jobs....from bike bum to beach bum !

During this trip I was interviewed pm radio in Missoula montanna, interviewed for padducas ilist in kentucky, had a song called Shinto riding man written.and recorded about the trip by Myke Steele and another called back in the saddle written and recorded by Andy McClelland.
Both those songs are very special to me and I feel happy to think that my trip inspired such wonderful creativity...and honoured because the guys who did wrote and recorded them are such great musicians and people.
Links to both songs are on this blog and on my facebook page :)

Arggghh! Lol!

Well I've done some basic math and I rode 4261.7 miles in 82 days which is an average of  52 miles a day I think. There was a day when due to rain my computer wasn't working so there is roughly another 50 miles to add but that's not important.

Right now I'm just realizing that I don't really properly comprehend yet just what o just did lol!  I'm staring at the Atlantic ocean wishing I didn't have to cross it .

The kindness here continues as I am able to stay here at the grace church until my fligjt leaves on saturday. The church house overlooks the beach and river..hence its name Riverview. I'm doing some  gardening work in exchange for this which I think is extremely fair as they didn't ask for it I just offered.

This is the best place to stay on the entire transam in my opinion and I am so pleased it is here at the end of my ride rather than the start.

If I can get a bicycle over the bridge to Gloucester point I will go.exprore over there tomorrow.

I'm incredibly tired for some reason. Perhaps the thought of the UK winter...hmmm....I'm told this place is similar in many ways to New England further north.....hmmm....

Maybe!

Think ill sell this ride as a diet plan....don't forget I'm 6'4" and weighed at least 230lbs when I started this adventure lol!

Honeybees at work!