Transamerica or Bust?

And so, it has come to this. Me, sitting in Florida looking at maps, and working out my options for continuing or pulling the plug on my ride across America. I still want to go, obviously. I mean, I have to go somewhere anyway since I technically don’t really have a home right now. Might as well go ride a bike.

Anywhere.

I’ve made some plans. Here they are, in order of preference.

Plan A – Ride Across America, Take 2

Using theatre of the mind, simply pretend that I hit an invisible pause button on May 19th. Hit play again and pick up in mid-July where I left off. At the spot I crashed. The delay will mean the nights might be a bit colder in Colorado and the daily mileages a bit longer, but I think it’s still totally doable. In fact, it’s actually brought into the light an even greater way to make the trip awesome.

I will ride across America, right to the the start of Levi’s GranFondo.

Yes, when I get to Astoria, I’ll continue on down the Pacific Coast route to Santa Rosa and to the start line.

Think of it as a reward for Precious. I had intended to take a different bike to the Fondo, but after being such a great sport about things, he’s earned the right to massacre King Ridge. He’ll have tackled the Rockies and the Appalachians, so this should be no bother.

The only thing that can stop the switch being thrown on this plan is a dude in a little office on the Upper East Side of NYC. I meet with him again on Monday for a shorter, more summer-friendly cast.

NOTE: Think you might like to ride with me for a day as I cross America? Here is the daily TO/FROM chart, with no dates attached yet. If you think you might fancy the mileage on a particular day, feel free to drop me a line. But please, no weirdos. I do have a can of mace and I ain’t afeared to use it.

Addendum – Ride Across America, Take 2 (Alternate Ending)
Should I get to Eugene in Oregon and feel like cheating, I will ride to Florence instead of Astoria. It’s only 78 miles to the Pacific doing that. Hey, it’s an option!

Plan C – Crankenstein Ride Across America

There’s actually an alternate route across America. Follow the TransAmerica all the way to Peublo in Colorado, then use the Western Express route. It’s about 475 miles shorter and finishes in San Francisco. I will take this one if the timeline for getting back on the bike is a little longer, and still ride to the start of Levi’s GranFondo. Not sure how to weave the Pacific Coast route into that, but first things first – get across America!

Plan C – Drive Across America and Ride the Pacific Coast

Let’s say everything goes poopy diaper shaped and the date for getting back on Precious is pushed back and back and back. I’m simply going to load him into a vehicle and drive across America to the left coast. By the time I get across, I should be right as rain to ride and will tackle the Pacific Coast Route.

Hopefully be able to ride here and there in the heartland, perhaps visiting with others and doing day rides. This will also mean my second attempt at the TransAmerica Trail will occur in 2011. Disappointing, but acceptable.

Wherever you are, ride on!

• broken arm
• florida
• injury