Somewhere after mile 30 it really hit me. Not quickly but more so in waves. My bike tires smoothed to a stop as I rested against a chaine link fence on an overpass & looked out over a highway. Was I really doing this? Did I really think I could bike across the country? Why was I doing this & how come no one turned to me & said “you’re absolutely nuts, what are you thinking?” But none of that matters right now because, I am sitting in an old friend’s apartment in Morgantown, West Virginia & mapping tomorrows ride, 73 miles & then another 70 the day after that, & on & on, til the pacific.

Winchester, Virginia

After mile 30 I climbed & pushed thru Purcellville, got a locals directions & headed south & pretty soon west again through a sunset & up hills til my legs couldn’t push anymore. I veered off & laid out in a circle of trees, damp grass & little specks of stars hinting above. & I lost it. I laid there thru the night wrapped in my sweatshirt counting the seconds I could keep my eyelids open with the hopes of tiring myself out. But, soon it was sunrise & I was back at it.

Romney, West Virginia

I don’t know why I am doing this or even that I will make my eventual goal but there’s that old quote “a ship in harbor is safe, but that’s not why ships are made.” Well this ships sails are ragged, but they’re still catching wind.

Morgantown, West Virginia