2010 Trip Log

My first cross country bicycle trip

In 2010 I decided to fulfill a lifelong dream and ride a bicycle across the United States. As it turned out, this was far more significant than I ever imagined. With little training or knowledge about cycling I embarked on four thousand plus journey. It changed my life. What I experienced along the way, the challenges and people I encountered served to teach me lessons which even today are engrained in my person.

Below is the log I kept of that first trip. I didn’t have a GPS but rather an old Cateye Strada mechanical computer. Each day I kept track of my miles, the number of times my wheels turned, average speed and put it into a spreadsheet along with short notes about that day. It’s amusing to look back now and see what I did.

Rolling Across America 2010 Recap Video

This map mostly reflects the route I took. For this trip I did not have a GPS but instead used an old Cateye Strada mechanical computer. This was fairly accurate but not 100%. There were detours, day trips and other short excursions which are not on this map.

Total Miles: 4,022.42

Average Miles Per Riding Day: 45.20

Average Speed: 10.1 MPH

Average Saddle Time Per Day: 5.75 Hours

Date Distance In Miles Location Notes
May 18, 2010 25.62 Cannon Beach, OR First day, strong rain and headwinds. Getting used to pulling trailer fully loaded.
May 19, 2010 20.16 Wheeler, OR Constant rain, wind gusts to 50MPH. Battered pretty good.
May 20, 2010 23.83 Tillamook, OR Better day, flat and very scenic. No rain, some wind.
May 21, 2010 0 Tillamook, OR Day off.
May 22, 2010 25.29 Pacific City, OR Rain but no wind. Flat road for the most part.
May 23, 2010 40.70 Grand Ronde, OR Best day so far. Gentle hills, light sprinkles. Getting in the groove.
May 24, 2010 46.67 Corvallis, OR As a USC Trojan fan I resent being here with Ducks and Beavers. Good day, very good in fact. Rolling hills, no rain, light breezes. Legs are rubber. 6+ hours in the saddle.
May 25, 2010 0 Corvallis, OR Rest day. A bit sore. Off to Eugene tomorrow.
May 26, 2010 0 Corvallis, OR Rehabbing a very sore left knee.
May 27, 2010 41.27 Eugene, OR Flat and very nice roads. Needed an easy day. Mountains ahead.
May 28, 2010 0 Eugene, OR Taking care of business issues. Bank closed account! They thought I was a victim of identity theft again.
May 29, 2010 43.66 Blue River, OR Starting to ascend. Great ride out of Eugene. Moderate uphill climb.
May 30, 2010 33.80 Fish Lake, OR / Highway 126 Camped out in the rain on the side of the road. Went from 1,000 to 3,000 feet altitude. Tough climbing.
May 31, 2010 30.56 Sisters, OR Over the Santiam Pass at 4,817 feet. Very hard climb! Rain all the way. Still snow on the side of the road.
June 1, 2010 42.68 Prineville, OR Great day! Rolling hills and flat terrain. No rain! Average speed 15+MPH. Butt didn’t even hurt.
June 2, 2010 0 Prineville, OR Rest day.
June 3, 2010 49.22 Mitchell, OR Over Ochoco Pass at 4,731 feet. Longest day so far, most distance ridden, nearly 50 miles in 6+ hours.
June 4, 2010 0 Mitchell, OR Sightseeing day.
June 5, 2010 69.61 John Day, OR Longest day so far. One mountain pass, 8 hours in the saddle. No rain and warm, sunny.
June 6, 2010 0 John Day, OR Rest day and sightseeing.
June 7, 2010 28.71 Austin Junction, OR First of 3 5,000 foot passes. Camped tonight.
June 8, 2010 51.70 Baker City OR Did 2 5,000 foot passes, bucked headwinds. Lots of wildlife – deer, coyotes, eagles.
June 9, 2010 0 Baker City, OR Bicycle maintenance and laundry, bills and shipping extra stuff home.
June 10, 2010 54.39 Halfway, OR Brisk winds and one mountain pass / climb.
June 11, 2010 0 Halfway, OR Rest day.
June 12, 2010 0 Halfway, OR Stayed in town to attend festival.
June 13, 2010 57.64 Cambridge, ID First day in Idaho. Very hot, big mountain climb of 2,200 feet.
June 14, 2010 47.65 New Meadows, ID Couple of hills and hot again. No more rain for awhile I guess.
June 15, 2010 35.02 Riggins, ID Easy ride through canyon, downhill.
June 16, 2010 0 Riggins, ID Sightseeing day.
June 17, 2010 45.75 Grangeville, ID Tough 2,900′ climb up the White Bird Pass.
June 18, 2010 0 Grangeville, ID Bike maintenance and sightseeing.
June 19, 2010 0 Grangeville, ID Nursing sore back.
June 20, 2010 0 Grangeville, ID Nursing sore back.
June 21, 2010 0 Grangeville, ID Nursing sore back.
June 22, 2010 49.39 Lowell, ID Great day, downhill.
June 23, 2010 65.96 Powell, ID Slight uphill. Long day.
June 24, 2010 57.05 Missoula, MT Lolo Pass! Finally in Montana.
June 25, 2010 0 Missoula, MT New brakes on bike and visit Adventure Cycling HQ.
June 26, 2010 53.66 Hamilton, MT Nice ride in to Hamilton. Pretty flat but a little breezy.
June 27, 2010 16.45 Darby, MT Short hop to this great little town.
June 28, 2010 57.93 Wisdom, MT Over the Chief Joseph pass at over 7,200 feet.
June 29, 2010 18.54 Jackson, MT Sprint to this little town and stayed at the hot springs.
June 30, 2010 48.87 Dillon, MT Two 7,000 foot passes today. Herd of cows in the road stopped me.
July 1, 2010 0 Dillon, MT Rest day
July 2, 2010 39.20 Sheridan, MT Easy day. Flat, few hills.
July 3, 2010 35.59 Ennis, MT One big pass outside Virginia City. Camped outside of town.
July 4, 2010 74.24 West Yellowstone, MT Fireworks at Yellowstone. Long haul slightly uphill from Ennis. Bucked headwinds last 8 miles.
July 5, 2010 0 West Yellowstone, MT Playing tourist.
July 6, 2010 0 West Yellowstone, MT Playing tourist.
July 7, 2010 56.18 Grant Village, WY in Yellowstone Park Old Faithful and the Continental Divide. Camped out.
July 8, 2010 54.67 Moran, WY Left Yellowstone. Fairly easy ride. Saw grizzly bear up close.
July 9, 2010 45.82 Dubois, WY Climbed Togwotee Pass – 2,600 foot climb to 9,658 feet.
July 10, 2010 74.47 Lander, WY Easiest day yet. All downhill and fast pace.
July 11, 2010 0 Lander, WY Rest day
July 12, 2010 0 Lander, WY Sick as a dog! Food poisoning
July 13, 2010 0 Lander, WY Still sick.
July 14, 2010 0 Lander, WY Recovering.
July 15, 2010 44.46 Sweetwater Station, WY Bonk! Hot and dehydrated. Camped at Mormon Historic Site.
July 16, 2010 89.01 Rawlins, WY Bonk! Hitchhiked from Muddy Gap into Rawlins.
July 17, 2010 0 Rawlins, WY Recovery day. Refuel and replenish.
July 18, 2010 44.61 Saratoga, WY Relatively good day, windy.
July 19, 2010 18.13 Riverside, WY Easy and short day.
July 20, 2010 48.87 Walden, CO Windy day, rolling hills.
July 21, 2010 61.44 Kremmling, CO One pass, lots of rain.
July 22, 2010 0 Kremmling, CO Rest day. Heading up to highest pass on TransAm Trail tomorrow.
July 23, 2010 45.83 Frisco, CO Nice ride in. Easy day.
July 24, 2010 0 Frisco, CO Sightseeing day.
July 25, 2010 10.48 Breckenridge, CO Easy ride on bike path. Less than an hour.
July 26, 2010 68.15 Guffy, CO Over Hoosier Pass at 11,542 feet. Highest point on TransAm Trail.
July 27, 2010 35.31 Canon City, CO Easy ride, all downhill. Met up with my dad.
July 28, 2010 0 Canon City, CO Sightseeing with my dad.
July 29, 2010 38.00 Pueblo, CO Downhill into Pueblo, spend time with my dad.
July 30, 2010 0 Pueblo, CO Sightseeing with my dad.
July 31, 2010 52.93 Ordway, CO Easy ride, 4 hours. Hot!
August 1, 2010 62.07 Eads, CO Hot day, flat terrain.
August 2, 2010 55.52 Horace, KS Hot day again, humid. Better get used to it.
August 3, 2010 49.62 Scott City, KS Really hot and humid! Road at night to avoid heat.
August 4, 2010 56.08 Ness City, KS Ditto.
August 5, 2010 0 Ness City, KS Took day off. Too blasted hot and humid to ride.
August 6, 2010 64.43 Larned, KS Still hot. Started riding at 3:30am to avoid the heat.
August 7, 2010 69.93 Hutchison, KS Long day. Continued heat and humidity.
August 8, 2010 37.15 Newton, KS The song remains the same.
August 9, 2010 0 Newton, KS Took day off and lived in air conditioning.
August 10, 2010 0 Newton, KS Ditto.
August 11, 2010 37.61 El Dorado, KS Hot and humid. What’s new?
August 12, 2010 0 El Dorado, KS Too hot to ride.
August 13, 2010 0 El Dorado, KS Ditto.
August 14, 2010 64.63 Yates Center, KS Hot and humid and flat.
August 15, 2010 0 Yates Center, KS Too hot to ride.
August 16, 2010 60.58 Fort Scott, KS Almost to Missouri!
August 17, 2010 39.07 El Dorado Springs, MO In Missouri. A bit hillier.
August 18, 2010 49.72 Bolivar, MO First flat tire of the trip. On my trailer.
August 19, 2010 34.34 Springfield, MO Doing repairs, getting laptop fixed.
August 20, 2010 0 Springfield, MO Repairs and such.
August 21, 2010 65.24 Mountain Grove, MO Starting to hit the Ozarks. Some hills.
August 22, 2010 11.95 Cabool, MO Short ride to relatives place
August 23, 2010 51.59 Winona, MO Easy ride through the Ozarks
August 24, 2010 0 Winona, MO Sightseeing.
August 25, 2010 51.56 Piedmont, MO Rolling hills through some pretty country.
August 26, 2010 0 Piedmont, MO Sightseeing.
August 27, 2010 46.12 Marble Hill, MO Fairly easy day, rolling hills
August 28, 2010 29.87 Cape Girardeau, MO Easy day though hot and humid
August 29, 2010 0 Cape Girardeau, MO Rest day, sightseeing
August 30, 2010 49.92 Carbondale, IL Crossed the Mississippi River today!
August 31, 2010 38.53 Harrisburg, IL Rolling hills. Hot and humid
September 1, 2010 0 Harrisburg, IL Sightseeing day
September 2, 2010 36.79 Morganfield, KY Short but steep hills
September 3, 2010 47.04 Madisonville, KY Multiple dog attacks!
September 4, 2010 0 Madisonville, KY Sightseeing day
September 5, 2010 37.28 Hopkinsville, KY Nice little town
September 6, 2010 71.77 Bowling Green, KY Hot and long day
September 7, 2010 0 Bowling Green, KY Sightseeing day in college town
September 8, 2010 34.22 Glasgow, KY Short flat day
September 9, 2010 20.22 Edmondton, KY Dogs and more dogs!
September 10, 2010 0 Edmonton, KY Sightseeing and rest
September 11, 2010 30.65 Burkesville, KY Lots of steep hills
September 12, 2010 33.32 Monticello, KY More hills, VERY steep
September 13, 2010 55.89 London, KY Winding roads, steep, hot and humid
September 14, 2010 0 London, KY Sightseeing, nice little town
September 15, 2010 55.69 Middlesborough, KY Daniel Boone country, almost to Tennessee
September 16, 2010 0 Middlesborough, KY Sightseeing
September 17, 2010 46.62 Morristown, TN Smoky Mountains, steep climbs, pretty country
September 18, 2010 22.71 Newport, TN Nice day though some steep hills
September 19, 2010 0 Newport, TN Sore back, rest day
September 20, 2010 0 Newport, TN Rest day, sightseeing
September 21, 2010 0 Newport, TN Still have sore back so a little downtime
September 22, 2010 0 Newport, TN One more rest day perhaps
September 23, 2010 0 Newport, TN Okay, tomorrow I’m going
September 24, 2010 38.74 Ashville, NC Hard day, STEEP, STEEP climbs
September 25, 2010 0 Ashville, NC Sightseeing in this pretty little town
September 26, 2010 0 Ashville, NC Pouring rain, staying put today
September 27, 2010 0 Ashville, NC Still raining
September 28, 2010 59.28 Rutherfordton, NC Finally out of the Smoky Mountains
September 29, 2010 36.79 Kings Mountain, NC Very hard rainy day, windy
September 30, 2010 43.49 Mathews, NC Long day navigating Charlotte, lots of traffic
October 1, 2010 0 Mathews, NC Lunch with a friend, sightseeing
October 2, 2010 41.00 Wadesboro, NC Flat terrain
October 3, 2010 42.15 Laurinburg, NC Almost to my brothers place
October 4, 2010 23.00 Hope Mills, NC Arrived at my brothers house!
October 5, 2010 0 Hope Mills, NC At my brothers
October 6, 2010 0 Hope Mills, NC At my brothers
October 7, 2010 0 Hope Mills, NC At my brothers
October 8, 2010 0 Hope Mills, NC At my brothers
October 9, 2010 51.88 Elizabethtown, NC Finally push to the Atlantic
October 10, 2010 48.99 Wilmington, NC The End. Arrived. Great day!

Final Tale Of The Tape:

Total miles peddled: 4,022.42. Half on the TransAm Trail and the other half finding my own way. This is as measured using my Cateye Strada. With GPS (map above) the distance is slightly less but did not take into account detours and other day trips.

Total revolutions of my 26” wheel: 3,120,178

Total riding days: 89

Total rest days: 57  (okay, I like to sightsee)

Average miles per riding day: 45.20

Weight loss: Started at 170lbs plus and finished at 146lbs.

Total climbing: 157,000+ feet, almost 30 miles of climbing.

Flat tires: 3 flats – one front tire, one rear tire and one on my trailer. Better living through Kevlar….and good quality rim tape.

Major mechanical issues: None, zero, nada. I love my Surley Long Haul Trucker.

Brakes: Two sets, one in Missoula, Montana and the other in Pueblo, Colorado. After that got a little braver on the descents.

Broken spokes: None

Tires: One set. My Vittoria’s made it all the way, worn out but they made it.

Fastest descent: 51.4 mile per hour on a two mile stretch of 7% grade in the Smoky Mountains.

Close calls: A couple dozen. Six really close and two very, very close on the same day in Kentucky.

Dog attacks: 100+

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