This was something of a shakedown ride south to Mt. Vernon then back again to the Jeffereson and Lincoln monuments. The Mt. Vernon trail was very, very busy this chilly morning, but everyone did well and had a chance to see who rides at the speed they may wish to match once things get serious. Naomi succeeded in being as visible as possible while co-leaders Mark and Brianne (center and right) led the way and somehow managed to keep track of everyone. The return through charmi

Today all the members of the team met for the first time. One married couple, three other women and ten men. Everyone seemed very friendly and outgoing, which is goodness since we’ll be spending the next seventy-five days together. During the orientation meeting there were few questions about riding a bike 3,800 miles but a great deal of time was spent in Q&A about the shared cooking responsibilities. I guess I’m not the only one wondering how well I’ll do when my turn comes

Foodies rejoice! History will take a pause, or at least a (very) temporary backseat to sharing some pretty healthy food choices. I’m thinking of you, C and J and Drs. K. Chick and Ruth’s Deli on Main in Annapolis has been around for over fifty years, and has pictures of just about every Maryland pol on its walls. Feeling it was high time I started trying to eat better (Tastykake Crimpets will only take you so far) I chose the broccoli/cheese omelet… probably the first veggies

This is my favorite town in the US, what with its history, water, boats and charming 18th and 19th C buildings. So this will be a long post (even for me). In the mid 1650s Puritan exiles from Virginia moved their original settlement to a location south of the Severn River. It was later called “Anne Arundel’s Towne” and in 1694 became the royal colonial capital of Maryland and was again renamed, this time Annapolis. Annapolis’ central architectural feature is the Maryland Stat

Thanks to our 83+ supporters and sponsors, we have raised over $14,000 in memory of our Leslie and for the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition… second among all current (23) fundraising efforts. There has been a lot of interest shown by civilians as I wear the kit and have a chance to share what we’re attempting to do. When I told one gentleman about the plan to ride to the Pacific he just looked at the bike, then at me, then the bike again and simply said, “On that thing?” Aga

It has been a chilly and, at times, damp day on the bike at 53 degrees with intermittent rain. Still, one could hardly complain about the virtually deserted country roads. Delaware and now, Maryland, have the smoothest bike lanes I’ve ever seen. They are, at times, as wide as a full traffic lane, and since I’ve seen exactly two people on bikes since leaving Rehoboth, it felt like being on a dedicated, private bike trail. Maryland’s unique state flag bears the 17th C heraldic

It was a bit chilly when I dipped the back wheel in the Atlantic at Rehoboth Beach, but otherwise the weather today was fine (compared to two prior days of rain). The challenges began almost immediately after leaving the boardwalk, as the bike path from Rehoboth to Cape Henlopen SP in Lewes was closed. Perhaps as I was then virtually in the ocean, the GPS didn’t register anything, so I was lost, and finding myself “somewhere”, had to resort to my phone to find a way, a busy w

Some think that people along the East Coast are unfriendly. I could not disagree more. In fact, most of the locals I’ve run into thus far seem more welcoming and outgoing than what I’ve seen in the west. Fiona, at the Beach View motel in Rehoboth Beach, is the best example yet. She let me keep the touring bike in the motel kitchen, safe and warm, and practically comes running when I need to do something to it (like lubing the chain) to get it ready for tomorrow. Oh, to be twe

Cape May, NJ is generally considered the Country’s oldest seaside resort, having been a destination (largely from Philadelphia) since the mid 1800s. Its claim to fame are the many Victorian homes along the Atlantic coast and historic district. The ferry across the Delaware Bay was pleasant, and served as a reminder that my next adventure needs to be at sea, and lasting longer than about an hour. In 1631 Dutch whalers and traders came to Lewes (pronounced Lew-is), DE, but all

The time is fast approaching when I'll go wheels up and fly east. There are still a few things to pack before Friday, but being limited to two duffels at 25 pounds each means I have to be selective. The tent, sleeping pad and bag all have to fit into one of those duffels. Training is going well, with close to 1,600 miles and 45,500' of gain logged. I'm going to keep it slow and safe this week, as a crash at this point would be very inconvenient. If you're familiar with the gr

My first full day east was spent driving up to suburban Philadelphia to see the homes in which I was raised. My father purchased one for $30,000 in 1964, and a neighbor told me today they are selling for around $600,000. For some reason everything looked smaller than what I remember…. Just south of Wilmington (and a home I had in the late 1980s), New Castle, DE was first settled by the Dutch in 1651. It’s where Wm Penn first set foot on the North American continent in 1682. T