Today I boarded a train to Oregon, the Amtrak Coast Starlight.  It’s a quick 26 hour hop from Los Angeles to Eugene, Oregon and from there another hour and half to the coastal town of Florence, where we start our cross country bike ride adventure.  By bikes, I mean bicycles, in case there was any doubt.  And by we, I mean my girlfriend Gabriela and myself.

My first observation is that traveling by train, at least in California, is awesome, if you have the time.  Huge windows, reasonable speeds, and a gorgeous coastal route (in this case, anyway.) Who woulda thunk it...we chose it because it was the most affordable option, and it’s been a pleasant surprise.  Plus, I can bring my laptop and plug it in (not so easy on airplanes).  Now all I need now is a 3G wireless card…

But I’m getting off topic.  I’m sure the question on most people people’s minds is, “Wait, you’re doing WHAT now?”

Um, we’re cycling across the country.  Starting in Oregon, we’re going to follow the established Transamerica route on it’s leisurely path to Virginia (The route is also known as the Bikecentenial, if you’re old-skool like that).  The trip takes about two and a half to three months at a healthy pace, and takes you through some of the most scenic places and historic sites in the US of A.  We’ll be biking more or less daily, taking days off to see the interesting stuff along the way, and camping most nights.

And then, the next question is usually, “But, but WHY?? You’re crazy.”

My stock answer is “Um, why not?” But I do have several better ones.  For one thing, I love a challenge, and I’m learning to set ambitious goals for myself.  This is such a goal, and completing it will be a growth experience.  And growth experiences are what I’ve been looking for in my life lately.  I will certainly grow in physical ability and cycling skill.  I know also that I will grow in self-confidence, perspective and self-knowledge.  More personally, I know that spending time in nature and away from life’s treadmill helps me grow spiritually, and spending time with Gabriela will certainly make our relationship grow.

So there it is.  The odometer officially starts rolling on Saturday and I’m psyched to get going.  We know our overall route (it’s the prescribed Trasamerica route by the Adventure Cycling Association) though we’ll be planning the stages only 2-3 days in advance, in order to listen to our bodies.  The first two days take us on the relatively calm, scenic route from Florence to Eugene.

My last thoughts here are for our family and friends. To all of you, thanks for your encouragement, your belief, and your love.  And, ummm well, we’re likely to need a lot more of it along the way. Also, I won’t say “Don’t worry about us” because I know for some of you it’s a part-time job. I will, however, say, “Please keep in touch, keep an open mind, join us, and share in our excitement and new experiences.”

Ride Summary
Time on the Road	32 hours
Spent the Night	On the Train