Originally Posted by Ravenwing

Ran into him at the restaurant having breakfast this morning. If he's not over fifty, he's real close. Started from his home in Sacramento on April 1st, headed south to San Diego, and then crossed the US to Florida. Then he headed north to Maine where he hit the northeast corner at Madawaska. I met him headed south in Patten, Maine, him enroute for New Hampshire, on his way west to Washington state. Said he figures as long as he's west of the Cascades by mid October, he should be ok.

I mean, Wow! Just Wow! He's totally by himself, unassisted. He has a tent, and sleeps in churchyards, cemeteries, campgrounds, occasionally someone's couch. Usually does anywhere from 75 to 100 miles a day. I asked him what was the most grueling part, and he said west Texas. Very hot and dry, and he ran out of water several times, to the point where he was really getting desperate. Had some ticklish times going through cities, including getting caught up in all the hoop-la and traffic in Philly during the Democratic convention (his father insisted on a photo of him eating a cheese-steak from Gino's!). Said he usually locks his bike up if he's away from it, but isn't real worried about someone stealing it. Said if they jumped on, they'd probably fall off because its so front heavy with his packs. He spent last night in the cemetery in Patten, but said today was going to be a tough day since he didn't get much sleep. It was windy, and they have several memorial flagpoles honoring veterans, and the snaps on the ropes hitting the poles made noise all night.

I think you have to be just a little bit crazy to undertake a trip like that, but what an interesting guy to talk to. Someone asked him why he decided to do it, and he said he wanted to do something special for his birthday. The four corners ride was actually his second choice, his first being a cross-Antarctica trek. He decided against that because it would involve at least five people, and he'd rather just have himself to consider.

I wish him the best, and I wish (sort of) I had what it takes to do something like that!