We have run into the top hospitality of the bike trip so far and the honor goes to Jed and Jamie. We arrived in San Francisco nine days ago and just now got back on the bikes. We had an amazing stay and it was all made possible by the … Continue reading
It’s essentially the self-imposed diet rules I’ve been living under for the last five weeks and it’s a feeding schedule because it’s become somewhat of a running joke with Jenn and Dave, our cycling friends, because of how much we consume at our dinner meal with them. Julie hasn’t fully … Continue reading
SF has been great to us. We always talk about the food, and yet again, we have loved the dining here and will have a review of all the great places soon. We’ve had a good time with our friends and family. And most importantly for us at this current … Continue reading
We’ve been in San Francisco now for over 5 days and haven’t even touched our bikes. While we were out riding, we’d been struggling a bit with a feeling of aimlessness and lack of purpose that has been wearing on us quite a bit. We went into the biking trip … Continue reading
This morning we had beautiful sunny weather as we rode into San Francisco over the Golden Gate Bridge. It was a memorable event and it also brought back many memories as we made our way through Marin County with little towns like Sausalito that we’d visited many years before and … Continue reading
Today was it in so many ways. We have had a great trip so far but today was special because I had that rare feeling of ecstatic joy that comes when I truly feel fortunate for so many things, but especially the simple fact that I am alive in such … Continue reading
That title doesn’t really mean anything, I simply needed a title and that was in my head. Here are some of the highlights of the past few days along with some valuable lessons learned… and one interesting connection (only one degree of Kevin Bacon). -Days off are awesome (and a … Continue reading
My last post was about all the wonderful things about this bike trip so far. To be fair and balanced, here are the challenges: 7.) Wind: It’s tough when it blows right in our faces coming off the ocean and downright scary when we have a crosswind when we’re flying … Continue reading
After one week of the Life on a Bike adventure, it is time to list the top nine things I love about this lifestyle. Know that I am heavily influenced by my hiking experiences so much of my love of the biking life comes as a direct comparison to hiking. … Continue reading
I spoke with my mom tonight and she told me how she just got caught up on reading our stories and viewing our photos after being out of town for the weekend. Her comment, and it wasn’t said critically (I’m still taking it that way) is the stories are getting … Continue reading
And we found other bikers, lots of them. In fact, by the time we made it to our camp spot in Nehalem Bay State Park after riding 60 miles today, we encountered nearly a dozen other long distance cyclists fully decked out with big bikes and panniers to carry their … Continue reading
I am not saying hills are a holiday, I am referring to two clearly separate things, both of which were impactful on today’s ride. A third thing, frugality, should also probably be included but didn’t work with the alliterative title. Today we got into the Oregon Coastal Mountains and got … Continue reading
We are one day into our bike trip and have completed 50 miles. We arrived in the small fishing town of Goble, OR on the Columbia River where we’re camped in an RV park 30 yards from the river after leaving Vancouver, WA today headed towards Astoria, OR, the northern … Continue reading
We are getting ready to take off later this week and had the opportunity to learn a lot about bikes as well as experience a unique part of Portland we have never experienced before thanks to our friend David Gunther. We met David through a mutual friend a few weeks … Continue reading
What a whirlwind the past week has been. Last Sunday we drove from DC to Ohio and within 36 hours were on a plane to Portland, OR. Once in Portland, we took public transit to a bike shop Julie had researched and with our backpacks and gear at our sides, … Continue reading
As we work our way through the next path to choose in life, there are two big long term projects that are captivating my mind and both have been reinforced over the past few days thanks to our stay at the Wolpert family cabin in the mountains of Pennsylvania and … Continue reading
To summarize my experience on the road trip thus far and to find the commonalities between the various places we’ve visited and people we’ve spent time with, the most common thread is that I would love to live the lives of everyone we’ve spent time with and I’d be happy … Continue reading
The road trip is underway and our first stop was to visit the No-Car family in Toronto, Canada. No-Car was a hiking companion of ours for nearly 800 miles of the PCT in 2007. We spent Friday and Saturday with No-Car, his wife Yes-Car, and their lovely daughter Aaden. We … Continue reading
It’s somewhat hard for me to believe but insect enemy number one, the parasitic deer tick, somehow managed to infect me without me ever seeing them sucking my blood. I knew I had many of the symptoms for Lyme disease back in June when I was sidelined in Cheshire and … Continue reading
We are finished with the Appalachian Trail yet here I am, sitting in my tent with Julie, typing a story for Urbyville. We are currently in Manistee National Forest (Michigan) with my Dad, off the side of a trail. We’re doing a four day bike trip through the forest and … Continue reading
The last day of the AT hike was one of the most memorable for reasons including it being the last day of the hike of course but also for much more. I shared some of my reflections yesterday but I also want to tell the story of our trail and … Continue reading
We thru hiked the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine finishing yesterday on top of Mt. Katahdin and throughout the past week, I’ve spent a good amount of time thinking about why again it is that we do this sort of thing. I think this type of reflection is somewhat … Continue reading
We finally got our last Post Office care package bonanza today and it was like Christmas morning for the two of us. I say finally because we planned on arriving by July 2ndbut after tough hiking in the Whites and the first part of Maine, we finally made it 6 … Continue reading
Man the trail is full of ups and downs. Julie tends to be the one with the big emotional swings but of late, even the Optimist (I only referred to myself in the third person because of my trail name implying that I’m a positive person with a positive outlook) … Continue reading
We’re out of the Whites and now just a few miles from the Maine border so it’s time for a little reflection. As with all things, there are the good and the bad parts and I will share a few of those. There is also rock climbing as opposed to … Continue reading
We aren’t getting snowed out but the White Mountains of NH have been working us physically with long days, tough climbs, and little time to write or relax. It’s been so great to get into NH and we’ve enjoyed the amazing views of the Whites. We’d heard about this section … Continue reading
We had our first full day back on the trail today after a week off and I was reminded again about why I love the trail. We had beautiful weather, nice forest to walk through, some good views on the peaks we climbed, and most importantly, good time to talk … Continue reading
I know it does but for a week on the beach in SC, it sure seemed far away and almost nonexistent. We were in a touristy world so far removed from the Appalachian Trail that few would have known what it was all about and I actually enjoyed not thinking … Continue reading
And by Boshart, I’m referring to Cara, Greg, Devin, and Moxie Boshart, the amazing family living in Manchester Center, VT that were the source of an angelic trail magic experience and quite possibly, the greatest hospitality I’ve ever encountered in my life. The story is that on Thursday, we were … Continue reading
Yesterday was a monumental day for Optimist and me in our trail history together. We took a zero day. A zero is when no miles are hiked and no further progress is made on the trail. This was the first zero day we have ever taken including both the 109 … Continue reading
We’re getting off the trail tomorrow for a weeklong vacation to Myrtle Beach, SC with our family and as I lay here in the shelter tonight reminiscing on the first 68 days I have some major thanks to give out. Julie has already done this with her post “Our Support … Continue reading
And not like Run DMC. It’s been a painful and challenging experience to say the least. We had been rocking the “beach body push” on our way to 150 miles in 5 days and feeling good about it. To top it off, Sunday (Day 5) was to have been a … Continue reading
So we’re both still on the trail and we’re making good time with plenty of positive wind in our sails. We had our rough seas and Julie almost didn’t make it through, but we’ve turned the corner and are moving through the miles yet again. Our motto is the “beach … Continue reading
So my last post about my bug bandana was supposed to be kind of funny and mainly stupid. I was in a lighthearted mood that night after hiking and wasn’t thinking about anything too deep. Then, what I thought was simply a light skirmish with bugs escalated into an all … Continue reading
I’m being much more positive in NJ than I was in PA. It may have something to do with the fact that for the first two days of the state, we’ve had sunny weather and it rained nearly every day in PA. I’d like to think it is my attitude … Continue reading
For starters, it’s important for me to note that Julie and I walk together every mile of the AT. In the first part of the trail, she would always walk in front and I would follow. We realized that either she has gotten faster, or I’ve gotten slower because we … Continue reading
It’s rained for 8 days in a row now and everything is either soaked or at least damp, our spirits included. I am the Optimist on the trail and I am fully into this adventure but the rain, along with some of the trail section through PA thus far has … Continue reading
I’ve been meaning to share a little analysis of what I think about while I hike all day and today is the day that I’m actually following through on it because today was a bit out of the ordinary. So I’ll share a little about today along with some of … Continue reading
We have had such a great time the past week with friends, family, and food. We’ve met with my parents and brother on Saturday and Sunday and then met with our old roommate Brian, from Annapolis, today. The time off the trail with them has been excellent and we have … Continue reading
Today we passed the 1000 mile marker and completed our fifth state in moving from West Virginia into Maryland. I thought it was time to share one of my favorite joys I’ve experienced while walking ten to twelve hours a day. There are many good parts including the scenery, the … Continue reading
I am disgustingly dirty, and I’m talking about the down and dirty physical type such that I am covered in grime and filth and it is to a point that I disgust myself. We did this to ourselves. We each showered twice in Waynesboro last Saturday and Sunday but due … Continue reading
We had our third hotel stop of the trail this past weekend in Waynesboro, VA at the southern terminus of Shenandoah National Park and this time we did the town stop different than the other two and while we had a good time in the previous towns, Waynesboro takes the … Continue reading
I am going to paraphrase some Nietzsche from some lectures I’ve been listening to on my iPod while I hike along with some of the Nietzsche that I remember from college to discuss the memories from my thru hike of the AT 11 years ago with my friends Animal and … Continue reading
I did it, I broke from hiker custom and shaved the beard off in Pearisburg. It was a good beard too. I started it in late March when we went to visit my sister in South Carolina and shaved it a month later. I did it for a few reasons. … Continue reading
Most of my posts are about an idea or a specific story. I’ve been thinking about what to write since we left Damascus, VA this past weekend and while we have had many noteworthy experiences, there isn’t one best story or an overarching theme connecting them other than all happening … Continue reading
Physically, the trail is certainly a challenge; the emotional challenges may be greater. I think about the psychology books, Games People Play by Eric Berne and I’m OK, You’re OK by Thomas Harris to describe the emotional aspects of the trail that I often think about. They break things down … Continue reading
There is a part of the hiking life that I never experienced on the PCT, which is incredibly prevalent on the AT. It is the shelter part of the trail life. All along the AT, ranging everywhere from 2 to 10 miles apart are shelters for all the hikers. Most … Continue reading
Yes, we’re hiking with Whitney Houston. However, the Whitney we’re hiking with is a 27 year old guy from Oklahoma. He was excited by the mileage we were hiking and since we caught him, he hasn’t let us pass. We’ve since been pushing each other to 25 plus miles per … Continue reading
Life on the trail is a stripped down version of a life and one that takes things down to the basics. This could be viewed as a simple life but simple does not imply an easy life. Thoreau might say that simple is better (I’ve never actually finished Walden) and … Continue reading
Jefferson: We tip our hats Happy birthday little brother. We are proud of you and who you are. We think about you often while hiking and have enjoyed simply imagining that you may join us for the second half of our journey. We have literally spent hours talking about it … Continue reading
