I too lived on my bike as a kid. My family was always into bicycles, from well before I was born (I am 56). I think it started when my dad built up some bikes from scrap parts for the family.

I remember my family driving past some bike tourists in western Maryland when I was young and being intrigued. In 1976, I was bitten by the bikecentenial bug, but the trip didn't happen. I did a short tour in a couple years ago and more recently decided to do a longer tour.

I was planning to do the Pacific Coast Highway in the summer of 2007, but my daugher asked if I could do something with her after she graduated college. It was to be a month or so and it wasn't for sure if we would go sailing or biking. A week or so later she called and asked if I could get the summer off to do the TransAmerica! Of course there could only be one answer to that.

I had always planned to do the TransAmerica at some point in my life, but expected it to be after retirement.

My daughter, one of her college room mates, and I had a great trip. I am now a bike tourist for life and I have a feeling it is their blood now too.