October 2, 2003
Well California and riding along the Pacific Ocean is still amazing and
inspirational. Each day the scenery and terrain changes, sometimes for
the better and sometimes for the worst. As of now it is just Mary and
I riding together and it will more than likely be that way for the rest
of the journey. Leon, Bre, and Lucas all took off back to Chapel Hill,
NC in San Francisco and Brian and Max are to far ahead.
My body is starting to break down and getting more tired everyday. So
as the end is coming near I am looking forward to the rest, but at the
same time I know I will miss this life. I feel so lucky to have been able
to make it this far and feel this country the way I have. I hope all is
well for everyone. Take Care and Be Safe!!!
Peace and Love,
Danny
------------------------------------------------------------------------September
22, 2003
Well I am in beautiful Northern California where life is a little slower
than what most people are use too. So we have fallen into the same rhythm
of riding about 50 miles a day, which is not to bad considering the terrain.
I feel so lucky to be riding beside the ocean day in and day out. I watch
the waves come in so rhythmically and timely and crash against the rocky
cliffs and shores. The cool ocean breeze has been a welcome change from
the hot weather of yester. I also feel as lucky as anybody for having
the chance to ride through the redwoods. These trees are truly amazing
and make you feel so small and insignificant. They are towering over you
standing 200-300 feet tall with 35-55 feet bases at a fresh young age
of 400-500 years old. And to ride beside them at 8 miles an hour you can
truly feel there majestic presence. They just leave you speechless.
The only bad part of the ride is the narrow winding road with little or
no shoulders is rather dangerous. But other than that things are going
great. We are planning on being in San Francisco in a couple of days.
We will be taking a few days off with some good friends of Mary. Well
be safe and happy.
Peace and Love,
Danny
------------------------------------------------------------------------September
18, 2003
Well the Oregon Coast has given us a little of everything that makes it
unique. Between the gorgeous coastline, the strong winds (which by the
way do not always blow from the north), the rain, and the mystical fog
Oregon has been great, even with all the ups and downs.
The only part that got to us was the amazing amount of rain that we received
on Thursday of last week. I have never been so wet in my life, but a free
lunch at a church and a warm dry hotel made it all better. Mary has been
doing amazing. It takes everything I have to keep up with her. As if you
expected anything less. Well of to California today, so I had better ride.
Take care and be safe.
Peace and Love,
Danny
------------------------------------------------------------------------September
8, 2003
Well I have been off my bike for a little over a week resting, relaxing,
and getting Mary and myself ready for the bike ride down the coast. During
this time I have been able to reflect on the last 2 1/2 months I spent
riding 4,200 miles across this country. I have looked back on all the
good times and hard times with a great appreciation for both.
After hiking the Appalachian Trail and training and running a marathon
I thought I was invincible. I felt as if I was strong enough for anything
both mentally and physically, but I was wrong. This trip was harder than
what I expected and gave me a big reality check and put me back in my
place. It made me question my abilities, which is something we all need
to do more often. To challenge yourself makes you stronger. There were
many times when I was able to meet the challenges and other times when
they got the best of me. From each I learned so much about myself and
my abilities.
This bike trip in so many was put distance back into perspective. When
I hiked the Appalachian Trail it took all day to cover 20 miles. When
running 26.2 mile in a marathon it took me 4 1/2 months of training to
run it in what I feel was a respectable time. Biking 70 miles pulling
a 40 pound trailer was a good day. When driving across the country driving
300 miles in a day was nothing. All these different modes of transportation
clearly define in my mind distance and what it means. So many people drive
20 to 30 miles a day to work. It would take you all day to hike that,
four or five hours to run it (only after training), and a few hours to
bike it.
I can not say enough about the guys I biked with. In my eyes they made
this adventure so great. Each one added so much to the group and my experience.
We all supported each other throughout, weather it was a good day or a
bad one. I can not put into words how much I appreciate them, so I will
not try. I just hope they know.
We truly live in a beautiful country with such caring and giving people.
So many wonderful human beings went out of there way to help us and because
of them this world is a better place. Thank You. I also want to thank
all of you for your positive words and support.
Peace and Love,
Danny
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August 29, 2003
Well we pulled into Anacortes around 5 o'clock and got somewhat wet. It
was an awesome experience and feeling. It has been awhile since my last
journal so I will back track slightly.
Washington was an unbelievably hard, but beautiful state. We climbed over
five passes in five days, which worked to be about 16,000 feet of climbing.
It took a lot out of the group, but made the completion so sweet. I wish
I could put into words what the climbs were like, but you would truly
have to experience them to understand. The only thing I can say is four
to five hours sitting/standing peddling in your lowest gear makes for
a long day. But it did pay off when we got to ride through the North Cascades
National park. I was just awe struck by the size and the colors of these
mountains. Granite walls rising thousands of feet all around you, sure
makes you seem small. From an arid dessert to lush green forest, Washington
has it all. I am so glad to have ended here. I will write more when I
have a chance to reflect.
Thanks to everyone for all your support and positive emails. I am sorry
I have not had a chance to personally reply but soon enough I will.
For those of you who do not know Mary and I will be biking down the west
coast. I just can not get enough of this.
Take care and be safe.
Peace and Love,
Danny
------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 20, 2003
So much has happened since I last sent anything out a 1,000 miles ago.
Montana is so incredibly long and tedious. We were on the same rode through
the entire state and the eastern part was the same everywhere you looked.
To the north side of the road hay fields were all around and to the south,
cattle grazing land. It was hard to bike 80-95 miles day in and day out
and still see the same thing. We were so lucky that we had a tail wind
through most of it.
The Rockies jut up from the earth out of nowhere coming from the east.
No foothills or anything. It was about 30 miles from the base to the mountain
pass. It was incredible!!! The only negative part about are rocky/ Glacier
National Park experience was that it was on fire. So all the health benefits
from biking across the country went out the window in a matter of three
days due to the heavy smoke.
Since the Rockies the riding has been hilly and hard, but at the same
time beautiful. The last to days we would climb are butts off in 95 degree
temps just to go down hill at 10 miles an hour due to the head winds.
But all of it make for a great experience.
I have got to go, but I want to thank everyone for all there support and
wonderful emails. Take care and be safe.
Danny
------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 7, 2003
I know it has been awhile since I last wrote, but towns have been few
and far between let alone a computer. We have made are way through Minnesota
with only a short break to stay with an old A.T. friend (thanks sugar).
Since then we have just been biking. We are almost in Montana only one
more day a biking and we will leave this awesome state. North Dakota has
been such a huge surprise with it's vast open land and beautiful sunflower
fields. The way the blue, gold, green/yellow (sky, wheat, sunflowers)
come together blow your mind away. Today through the northern badlands
I felt as though I was back at Bryce Canyon, UT the way the colors were
painted onto the hillsides.
As of now we are expecting to be on the west coast on the 30th of August,
but plans could change since we still have a lot of biking left to do.
Thanks to all those who keep sending emails of encouragement. You guys
rock. Until next time be safe and happy.
Peace and Love,
Danny
p.s. we got to see the northern lights in MN. Truly Amazing!!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 21, 2003
Well we have made it to Iowa and have about 1900 miles under our butts.
The Midwest is still amazing me. The storms here are getting more and
more impressive the further west we go. Almost everybody I know thinks
Iowa must be as flat as a pancake, but let me tell you it is not. We are
riding along the Mighty Mississippi River so the terrain is rather hilly.
So 2300 more miles to Seattle I had better stop writing and ride. Until
next time be safe and happy.
Peace and Love
------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 16, 2003
Well I am in Illinois about 130 miles from the Iowa boarder. So far the
trip has been filled with great friends, sights, towns, and people. We
have received so many kind offers from so many people that it would take
forever to list them all. So all I can say is thank you so much to all
of those who have gone out of there way to help us, especially Pam and
her family. I would also like to thank the Kropf family for there kindness.
So far the Midwest has been filled with corn, soybeans, corn, and more
corn. As far as the eye can see there are fields of this stuff. Besides
the farm country the thunderstorms here are out of this world. They fill
the sky and within minutes you have inches of rain on the ground flooding
everything. On top of that the thunder and lightning is so close it makes
your skin crawl. Just the other morning lightning struck down 75 yards
from where I was standing. But it is all part of the adventure.
Well that is it for now. Be safe and happy.
Peace and Love