Wagons Westward

After trying out our new wheels and methods on our 3,000-mile New England road trip, we decided to explore a new section of this great country - the Southwest!  Our latest North American transect took us through Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona. We watched the landscape morph from the Atlantic coast to the Appalachians, to the expansive Midwest and high plains, to the buttes, mesas and mountains of the desert.

Here's a glimpse at the evolution of the great American landscape from east to west:

 Climbing Monk's Mound at the Cahokia Mounds in Illinois, the ruins of the largest and most complex pre-Columbian city north of Mexico.

Crossing under the Jefferson Expansion Memorial Arch in St. Louis, Missouri - our official entrance into the West!

Crossing the flat (and windy!) plains of Oklahoma

 As we entered New Mexico, the landscape changed rapidly to reveal rough rock bulging through the dry ground...

...evolving into beautiful mountain chains like the Sandias.

Stay tuned for more dispatches from the American Southwest!

Gravity Works

3,600 miles to cross the country by bicycle, and we avoided injury and illness. We didn't realize how great a feat this was until our third mile on the back roads of Loretto, Kentucky. The perfect combination of a downhill grade, sharp turn, gravel and dogs on the chase led to a scary spill and emergency room visit. We were reminded of a few tips for coping with dogs while riding, but, more importantly, we were reminded of the necessity of safety gear.

Always...

Wear a helmet.
Wear gloves.
Wear glasses (plastic, NOT glass).
Carry identification AND insurance information.
Bring a cell phone.
Ride with a buddy and/or tell someone your travel plans.

These few things made a dangerous situation much more manageable. For those who need a little more convincing... How's a shiner and some killer road rash?

Happy Halloween!

Adding It Up

10 States

2 Provinces

15 days

3,000 miles

$1,084.24

During our recent road trip, we often explained our route to folks as, "traveling to Ohio... by way of Maine." This usually led to a few raised eyebrows, which was a perfect opportunity to outline our tour of New England. The next question was usually something like, "How are you able to afford a trip like this?"  The answer is plenty of prior planning and thoughtful saving.

This venture was the perfect opportunity for us to practice traveling frugally, simply and efficiently (by car this time). It gave us a chance to make our own rules, and test how they work. A review of our expenses reveals that it is quite possible to travel comfortably on a limited budget, so we wanted to share the good news with others! Here is a breakdown of costs for a 2-week 3,000-mile car trip through New England:

Gas = $375.29
Tolls = $41.15
Food = $373.50
Lodging = $218.61
Miscellaneous = $106.58

Costs Explained

Transportation - For this trip, we drove a 2003 Subaru Outback. It doesn't get the best gas mileage, but it averaged 28 mpg on highways. More importantly, it had the roominess and driving capabilities that we needed. We were hit hard with tolls around New York, and later opted to select "Avoid Tolls" on our GPS.

Food - We spent $100 on a grocery store stop at the beginning of the trip to stock up on staples like peanut butter, bread, snacks and produce that lasted us beyond the two weeks of traveling. This included several easy-to-cook items that could be mixed and matched for camp-stove dinners like rice and vegetables. When we realized we had stayed under budget, we treated ourselves to a few inexpensive meals "out." Note: Our "food" category also includes tasty local brews from places like the Bar Harbor Brewing Company, Atlantic Brewing Company and some exotic Canadian micros.

Lodging - The majority of our accommodations were tent sites. We were generously received by family and friends in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York and Ohio (totaling 5 nights). Near the end of the trip, we noticed that the motel next to our KOA had a lower rate than our camping reservation. We cancelled our reservation (losing a $10 deposit), and treated ourselves to a small room with a mattress, cable TV (!), A/C and a clean bathroom all to ourselves. It's hard to believe it was less expensive than a patch of grass and public restroom! Word to the wise - Be on the lookout for better deals, even when you already have a reservation.

Miscellaneous - Most of these purchases were planned outings and fees, including park entry fees/passes and a kayak rental. Note: When traveling abroad (even if it's just across the border to Canada), be prepared for an "international tax" to be added to credit and debit card transactions. If you're only visiting for a short time (like us), and opt not to exchange for foreign currency, the few cents tacked onto your bill can be worth the convenience.

A Successful Experiment

When we finally added up our expenses and compared the numbers to our regular monthly spending, we quickly saw that these 15 days on the road were not tremendously more expensive than staying in our cozy little apartment and living a "normal" life in the suburbs. We are convinced that being able to travel in style does NOT require having lots of money, a travel agent, or a tour bus. So, if you're itching to go out and explore... do it! Just make sure you plan ahead!

Travel for Two

Traveling with a partner can double your fun and sometimes double your challenges. Traveling with your spouse is a sure-fire way to learn about yourselves as a couple. We were recently featured in a wedding/marriage blog about our cross country bicycle ride together. You can read the post here.

Let's Go to Maine

Our longest stop on our current route was Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island, Maine. We had heard great things about the park - from the fall colors to wildlife and things to do. It's essentially a playground for outdoor enthusiasts. It could easily take weeks to explore everything on the island, so we narrowed our list (and adapted to the very wet weather) to a few excursions:

Bar Island (which gives Bar Harbor its name) is only revealed at low tide, revealing tidal ecosystems for a few hours. It seemed to be just as exciting for the gulls as we watched them pick up a shellfish snack and drop it from the sky to crack open a meal. We had to keep our eyes on the tide though, since it is possible to become stranded across the water from Bar Harbor if you're not careful!

Thunder Hole is a popular tourist spot, giving crowds of visitors a chance to catch the sight and sound of thunderous waves crashing as the tide comes in. Despite our timing, the extremely calm ocean decided not to put on a show for us, though we're told that you can expect to get soaked during rough seas.

Sand Beach is the only beach of sand in Acadia, resulting from the cove's effect on the waves and what they carry inland.  On a warmer day, we might have considered swimming. Instead, we walked across the beach to a trail head for a great hike.

The trail took us over rocks, through evergreen woods and past beautiful overlooks of the beach and cove. We moved up into the clouds of mist and rain before heading back down to the beach.

We tried to make the most of our only full day of sunshine.

We started our morning on a tandem kayak exploring Long Pond, which flows between two mountains that were beginning to spark with brightly colored leaves. Our 4-mile paddle included an eagle sighting, as well as loon calls and a bird we've yet to identify!

For the second half of our sunny day, we hopped on our bikes (which had been spending far too much time under a tarp, safe from the rain) and headed for the famous Carriage Trails.

Thanks to John D. Rockefeller, these roads of finely crushed stone are wide enough for a carriage, but are only open to pedestrian and cyclist traffic. They span and loop large sections of the island, and even climb a few mountains. We climbed Day Mountain to give our legs a bit of a stretch. As great as the trails are, however, a good bit of rain can make for slow going on road tires.

Of course, we couldn't leave Acadia without summitting Cadillac Mountain - the highest elevation on the Atlantic, with arguably the best views of the park. So, we did it twice! Unsure how long we'd have sunlight, we drove up to the summit of Cadillac to get some photos from the different vantage points, and were able to get a glimpse of Bar Harbor from the top, including the submerged Bar Island.

The next day, we hiked the North Ridge Trail through the rain, which turned the trail into a stream...

and the climb to the summit into a magical walk through the clouds. 

On our way down from Cadillac, we hiked the Gorge Trail, which had become a roaring creek instead of a rocky path.

It was challenging, and should not be attempted by novice hikers (especially during or after heavy rainfall), but it is a rewarding hike through beautiful forests.

We highly recommend Acadia National Park to anyone seeking unique scenery and outdoor fun... as long as you don't mind getting a little wet!

Adapting to the Unexpected

Rule #2: Be Flexible

We're learning a lot on the road, and our most positive experiences have resulted from (or resulted in) us having to be flexible. For example...

• An unplanned stop at a Pick-Your-Own orchard, Larriland Farm, proved to be not only a great time, but also a great chance for us to stock up on fresh produce for our road trip... 

 and get gifts for our lovely hosts! 

• A detour in our walking route around downtown Boston had us cross paths with an old buddy we hadn't seen in seven years!

• Learning that hiking Mt. Washington was going to take more time and effort than we had planned (and packed clothing) for, we opted to drive it ourselves. We were rewarded with amazing views and had plenty of time to explore and make it to our next destination before sunset that day.

• Finding that our original destination in Vermont was closed landed us at Knight Point State Park for a beautiful view of  Lake Champlain under an empty picnic pavilion.

Here's to staying flexible, and finding more fun along the way!

One Simple Rule

Hello from beautiful Rumford, ME! Stay tuned for a field report from Acadia National Park (gorgeous!). Until then, we wanted to share the benefits of one simple rule we adopted for our road trip (on our new set of 4 wheels this time) through New England.

Rule #1: No Eating in the Car

We started this trip with a new car (new to us; it's a 2003). So, in an effort to keep it as squeaky clean and fresh-smelling as we found it, we adopted this rule. In addition to keeping our seats crumb-free and our hands free for driving and navigating, being forced off the road for snacks and lunch has led to some great discoveries like:

• Walnut Beach in Milford, CT

• Enjoying a Sam Adams and a cup of clam chowder at The Black Pearl in Newport, RI

• Old Orchard Beach, ME

• Rumford, ME

This posting is brought to you compliments of the Muskie Memorial Park in Rumford, ME, located on the banks of the "tallest waterfall east of Niagra." We're grateful for the shaded picnic benches, free wi-fi and Rumford hospitality. Here's to more pit-stops off the beaten path!

Earthquakes, Hurricanes, Floods, Oh My!

Looks like we won't be riding the Southern Maryland Century after all...

"As most are aware, several roads incorporated into the various routes have sustained significant damage, flooding, or experienced mudslides. The forecast for the weekend still includes the potential for additional rain and thunderstorms and the possibility of further damage to saturated road foundations. Thank you for understanding. Safety for all participants is and will remain paramount." (Oxon Hill Bicycle and Trail Club)

More information about the Southern Maryland Century/Indian Head 100 can be found on the ride's website.

A friendly reminder to please stay safe and alert on the road!

(Photo taken at Allens Fresh Run, Route 234/Budds Creek Road)

Coasting Cross Calvert

For our most recent ride, we wanted to explore roads on the other side of the Patuxent River in Calvert County, Maryland.

The main drag, Route 4, is a designated bike route with a nice, wide shoulder. Since the straight shot can get a little boring, we jogged onto a few back roads, following part of the Star-Spangled Banner Byway. The byway roads were fairly narrow, winding and even had a few steep climbs. It's a scenic ride, but without the presence of a shoulder, not recommended for novice riders, especially when traffic becomes heavier. We stopped at the Benedict Bridge, which looked a little too narrow to be bicycle-friendly.

So, we enjoyed the view of the river, snapped a few photos and made our way back south.

We opted for a slightly different route back, taking advantage of the dedicated bicycle lanes in Prince Frederick. As we neared the river again, our attention was drawn to the skies as the Blue Angels rehearsed some of their acrobatic maneuvers for the weekend's Air Expo at Patuxent River Naval Air Station.

This 50-mile route was our longest ride since stopping at the Atlantic. After a few days off the bikes, one of us already felt the strain. With our century ride only 2 weeks away, it's time to get back into training mode!

Country Roads, Take Us Home

After a week of rest (for both our bikes and our legs!), we were itching to get back in the saddle and do some local riding. It was great to be back on familiar roads, and we soon realized how much we had taken for granted when we trained on St. Mary's County's bike-friendly roads. The wide shoulders, relatively low traffic and low elevation changes made for a fun, easy ride. We surprised ourselves with our speed and endurance, even after a week off the bikes.

Our first destination after the Atlantic coast was to pay a visit to Slack Winery. Our good friend was keeping busy with the newly harvested grapes, but took a break to share the new award-winning wine with us - Not a bad way to celebrate our homecoming!

We hurried home (once we realized how early the sun is setting these days) convinced that we should sign up for The Southern Maryland Century/The Indian Head 100. A fellow local cyclist shared positive reviews of the ride, and we're excited to have a fitness goal in the not-so-distant future. The century will also give us a chance to experience some local roads that we have never cycled, and maybe even meet other local riders.

With the hurricane and earthquake behind us, we're hoping we'll have plenty more opportunities to get out on our familiar country roads, including the new Three Notch Trail!

Coasting To A Stop (For Now)

Many folks want to know how it feels to have crossed the country by bicycle...

To have woken up with the sun and ridden an average of 75 miles for several days in a row;
To have spent the whole day outside, making sunscreen a habit and changes in weather a daily concern;
To have climbed mountains and coasted down them, going from 5 to 50 MPH in a matter of seconds;
To have watched the corn grow on small family farms and expansive corporate fields;
To have met new people - kind, considerate and generous folks - in cities, towns and country;
To have gotten lost and found our way, navigating new roads and improving our map-reading skills;
To have eaten more than we ever have... and found ourselves hungry 2 hours later;
To have learned how to fix a flat, change a tire, replace a spoke, and other roadside repairs;

To have reached our destination, the Atlantic coast, and when asked, "So how does it feel?!" we answered, "Like just another day on the bicycle."

Our summer was amazing - from the changes in landscape to the interesting people and turns of events. We live in a beautiful and awesome country, and we couldn't be more certain that cycling is the best speed at which to experience it.

Physically, we obviously feel like we're in great shape. We've lost a few inches in some places (like the waist line) and gained a few in others (like our quads!). We have to be very conscious of our diets now that we're not burning an average of 6,000 calories each day, which mostly means we need to focus on portion control.

So what's our next step? When we created and named this blog, we did not intend for it to only refer to this cross-country ride. We're setting our sites on new adventures and more travel so that we can continue to coast cross country. Stay tuned...

One Week Left

Hello from downtown Pittsburgh! We arrived yesterday after 90 miles of rolling hills (which we actually welcomed after over a week of relative flatness) and convoluted city streets. We're enjoying our last rest day before our last 6 days of riding. We will be heading east over the Appalachian Mountains, leaving city centers for a few more days of camping, and then it's... New Jersey or BUST! Stay tuned for more posts after the ride's end about places seen and lessons learned.

You can find more videos, photos and stories at www.lvsride.com/social.

Rapid Progress

Hello from South Dakota! We crossed the state line today and are relaxing with root beer floats at The Newman Center in Spearfish, SD. Today was a light day, 60 miles. It still gives us pause to realize how quickly and comfortably we can complete so many miles. After our longest ride - 110 miles from Sheridan to Gillette, Wyoming - 60 feels like a breeze!

With two days left until our next rest day in Rapid City, SD, we've accumulated a long list of favorite routes, pit stops, foods, people and lessons learned. Here are a few things we've learned on our rides:

• Safety first, then teamwork.
• Stretch. Before, during, after and all the time.
• Eat. (See above.)
• Hydrate. Drink before you're thirsty. Water will do the trick, but it's okay to treat yourself to a sports drink and a cold one when the day is done. Just make sure any alcohol is followed by extra water if you plan to ride the next day.
• Sunscreen - Take the few extra minutes every few hours to avoid discomfort later.
• People are very generous when you give them the chance.
• Prunes really do work... Remember: everything in moderation.
• First step when making side-of-the-road repairs: Practice deep breathing!
• For long rides, carry spare tubes AND a patch kit... Multiple flats happen (Our personal record in one day: 11 flats).
• While riding with a partner is an obvious safety rule, a riding buddy can be a great coach on the uphills, your spotter on the straightaways and copilot on the downhills. But seriously... Don't ride alone.
• There are few things better than a long downhill and a tailwind.

Until our next post, check out the stories, videos and photos on our ride journal!

Ride With Us!

We have finished our second day of riding, and are back in Portland. We might not be able to update this as frequently as we'd like, so we invite you to follow us on the team's site: www.lvsride.com/social.

You'll be able to read updates, receive Twitter feeds and check out the incredible videos (like the one below) that are constantly being filmed and edited by our talented filmmaker who has joined us for the ride.

Thanks for your support!

Day One: A Lesson in Flexibility

Our first full day together as an LVsRide team proved to be an exciting one. After spending the night on the gym floor, we began the day with breakfast conversation. We then gathered around Brother Ed's colorful parachute circle and ran through some basic need-to-know items - from expectations to health and safety. An important focus was flexibility, which we were soon able to put into practice...

Around lunchtime, everyone inspected their bikes. Some of us unpacked and reassembled our bikes from shipment boxes, while others practiced changing tires and fixing flats. We soon discovered several red flags - from damaged frames to broken spokes to tangled chains. The rest of the afternoon was peppered with impromptu trips to local bike shops and lots of teamwork. The gym was full of upside-down bicycles as small groups tried to trouble-shoot and share skills. The day's schedule was also turned on its head, as we learned an important first lesson for this grand adventure:

Things might not go as we plan. In fact, they'll probably never go exactly as we plan. The important thing is to be flexible and go with the flow, because we are a team, and we have an awesome adventure ahead of us!

Greetings from Portland, Oregon!

Hello from the west coast! The ride officially begins in a few days, and we're excited to spend this week meeting fellow riders, grabbing some extra gear and practicing riding in a large group. For more updates on the ride as whole, including other riders, check out LVsRide's official blog: www.lvsride.com/social.

See you on the road!

Why We're Riding...

We're 22 days and less than $1,000 from taking off from Astoria, Oregon toward Long Branch, New Jersey. We'll cycle over 3,400 miles, sleeping on gym floors and camping in some remote areas of the U.S. We were never avid cyclists before, so why are we doing this?

Lasallian Volunteers, past and present, inspire us to keep training, and will continue to serve as our motivation during the ride this summer. This is why:

Does this sound like something you can get behind? Click here and JOIN US! You can support our efforts by coming along on the ride, or by becoming a virtual supporter. Every dollar counts... and we are so close!

Well-Worn PA Pathways

Surveying Valley Forge National Historic Park

On our way home from a wedding last weekend, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to check out Valley Forge and the Schuylkill River Trail. Time constraints limited our distance, but we were able to take in the sights for small sections of both trails. We found that the SRT was much more cyclist-friendly with no pedestrians, a wider trail, primarily flat ride and a straight shot into Philly (great for long-distance training!). Valley Forge is a great place to visit, but its rolling hills, narrow windy path and relatively short distance loops meant that we spent more time ringing bells and calling "on your left" to the pedestrians and junior cyclists out to enjoy a sunny afternoon.

In front of The Memorial Arch at Valley Forge

Upgrade Complete!

We've slacked off a bit on our posting, but we've still been venturing out on new and exciting rides. Our most recent rides have picked up the pace as we've converted to a clipless pedal system. We were hesitant to make the change (and the big purchase!), but great finds at our local REI's Attic Sale and loaner pedals from a friend made the upgrade possible. Since swapping our cage pedals for SPDs, we've seen big improvements: We've increased our average pace, and found both uphill and downhill grades to be much easier and more productive. An added bonus: by keeping the leg in a relatively fixed position, the knee issues we experienced on our Annapolis (mis)adventure have largely disappeared. We now understand why so many avid cyclists swear by clipless systems!

 Switching out our pedals proved to be pretty straightforward.

Just remember to pay attention to the direction of the screw threads: each pedal is designed to prevent the forward motion of the crankshaft from spinning it loose.

We opted for "mountain" style cycling shoes to make it easier and safer to walk around with minimal damage to our cleats or the ground/floor. After all, we plan on hopping off our bikes to check out the countryside this summer!















To test out our new pedals and shoes for the first time, we opted for a scenic ride to St. George Island in St. Mary's County.

It was a perfect test run, as it's a pretty flat route. We enjoyed the beautiful waterfront ride with family, and stopped for a few photos.

A highlight of the route was visiting Piney Point Lighthouse. Our SPD shoes made it possible to hop off our bikes and take a look around...

We'd love to hear from any fellow cyclists who use clipless pedals. Did you encounter any challenges when making the switch? We appreciate any tips/pointers as we get used to the new system!