It all starts somewhere.

This is my first blog post ever. Although it's always been something I've considered doing, I figure now is a good time to start. Why now? Well, I don't feel it is necessary to write about my day to day life, but I would like to keep some sort of public journal for my upcoming adventure of a life time.

Beginning some time in early May (exact date is weather pending), I will be riding a bicycle from West Quoddy Head, Maine 44°48′55.4″N 66°56′59.2″W ~easternmost point on the U.S. mainland to Cape Alava, Washington (48°9′51″N 124°43′59″W) ~westernmost point on the U.S. (contiguous) mainland. I will not be using a support vehicle, and as of this point, I will be traveling solo. Generalized route is all of the northern most states, with the exception of Michigan.  Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and once I've reached the Pacific in Washington, I will ride down to Portland, Oregon. I do not have the exact route mapped, but I am roughly estimating about a 4000 mile ride and a rough time estimate of 7 or 8 weeks.

While I am not a "road biker" per say, I am not considering this a road bike ride. At heart, I am an adventure cyclist. I do not care what kind of bike I am on, if I have the opportunity to go fast and explore simultaneously, I am a happy person. I do enjoy racing mountain bikes, I have never raced roadies. This trip is in no way a race. There are uber endurance races, both mountain bike, and road bike, that one day I would considering competing in, just not now.  In fact, the more fun I am having, the longer this journey will take, primarily due to off-route exploration.

I will have more updates, insight, and details to come as preparation continues. 

Assembled and almost ready to roll.

This is how I took it out of the box. KSP