Three of us, all women ages 58, 60, and 61 began this journey in the spring of 2014. We shipped our bikes to the east coast, hopped on a plane, and on May 3rd began the fundraising trek across America. For me this journey quickly became much more than a fundraiser, it became a rite of passage, a personal challenge, an exploration of self, and a survey of how aging seniors perceive physical activity and exercise.
I am not a novice. I have cycle-toured in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and Idaho fitting in shorter tours on vacation or long weekends. Now, I would ride for 11 weeks across America’s most beautiful mountain ranges, the Appalachians, Ozarks, and Rocky Mountains. I would dip into her valleys, marshes, and desert terrains ultimately covering over three-thousand miles.
Traveling through Virginia and Kentucky, on the TransAmerica Trail which routes cyclists off the major highways, I was captivated by the history of the area. I gazed upon the open battlefields of the Revolutionary and Civil wars where thousands fought and died. I reflected on how these wars were fought among the homesteads and the corn fields of civilians, I can only image the horror of seeing soldiers bearing down on one’s home and family, something very real in many parts of the world today.
Physically, the Appalachians were the most challenging to ride with grades averaging between 14% and 20%. On more than one occasion we had to get off our bikes and walk the top portions of the hills when the grades were too steep.
Eventually we crossed the Ohio River by ferry and entered Missouri. There, we explored a fascinating cave in the town of Cave-in-Rock. The natural cave was once home to thieves, pirates, and scoundrels in the late 1800’s. We had hoped for flatter terrain but Missouri kept us climbing. Moving through Missouri and the southern tip of Illinois we were fortunate to avoid tornados however, we were not able to dodge numerous thunderstorms.
In every state we met scores of people who were interested in our travels and were invited to spend the night at some retirement communities. We had a wonderful time engaging with the residents and sharing our adventures.
Page: 1 2
When Imperfection Strikes! What happens when those closest to us ultimately disappoint? Why do we…
We hadn’t done much planning. After all, we weren’t even sure we would get across…
My “Medellin Jubilado (Retiree) Odyssey” contained a trap. I toured,, was a wonderful tourist. I…
I have always believed in intuition and never more than on January 19, 2021. A…
We two have been motivated to hike and climb mountains through our 45 years of…
Fortunately, we were gifted with good genes at birth. We’ve kept persistently active walking and…
This website uses cookies.
View Comments
Congratulations Melinda on your amazing accomplishment. Your willingness to share you story should lend positive encouragement to those of us who are willing to follow your lead. So many adventures! So little time! Mark