The day started with gorgeous weather and light winds. After cycling for 39 miles and with 8 miles to go to my first checkpoint, disaster struck. My left knee popped/crunched as I was ascending the last small hill before what would have been a downhill coast to North Bend. Alas, this journey has sadly come to a sudden end. To say it’s disappointing is the understatement of the year. I had been planning this trip for a long time and put a lot of work into it. I leave you with a picture of the start of the trip.
One Small Cloud
On the flight to Seattle, there was a sea of clouds clustered like flowers on a hill, then, it all cleared up and there was this little fella.
The Adjusted Route. More better, more gooder.
Constant tinkering with the route on Komoot (nice little rhyme there) yielded an additional reduction of total mileage as well as elevation. The mileage dropped from 3,284 to 3,248, 36 miles saved. Elevation went from 88,550 ft down to 80,325 ft. This new route goes through North Dakota and Minnesota instead of South Dakota and Iowa.
Obligatory overhead gear shot
The Bike Bike
This is Parimosa, the bike that’s gonna get me across the USA. It’s a long distance touring bike called the Surly Disc Trucker, more info here.
The Route
11 Days Out
It is April 20th. Eleven days to go before I start cycling from Seattle to Boston. 3,300+ miles of travel, looking forward to seeing America by bicycle.