Why?

Why not?!

Biking across the US sounds like a good time. This is not a lifelong dream and certainly not something I’ve been planning for years - I only bought a road bike just over a year ago.

I do know this is at least partially a result of hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2004. I knew I would do something similar again, it was just a matter of finding an opportunity and an idea. This trip was probably planted in my head on the AT: I distinctly remember Stretch and Ponderer discussing touring bikes at a shelter in Virginia one evening. Ponderer was already planning a trip to each state capital and Stretch had been considering the trip as his next retirement adventure. I wasn’t part of the conversation, and I never thought, “wow, that’s it! I have to do that!” but I did file it away somewhere.

When I started to hash out plans to start business school in the fall of 2009, the felt the itch to get out again. For me, the itch maifests as countless hours of Googling, reading, and researching every aspect of the trip simultaneously. Think Firefox with a lot of tabs: bike locks, jackets, shorts, socks, bike frames, wheels, kickstands, directions, number of spare tubes, tools, best bags, inexpensive racks, hardcore tires, food, and food (yes, food is in there twice).

I get strange looks now and then when I tell people about the trip; I saw the same when I hiked the Appalachian Trail. Most ask “why?” and “where are you going to sleep?” and leave it at that. Some ask how long it will take, which usually sparks a conversation about being able to see some parts of the country slowly and up-close. Very few have a different look and different questions - it’s all in the eyes. The last group are those that identify because they either took a similar trip at some point or thought about it years ago but never got the chance.

The last group usually says, “wow” then pauses for a second while the gears turn. The conversation turns to questions and a conversation about the experience instead of the logistics.  The point of comparison or the ability to identify has nothing to do with a bike tour, it’s about leaving the everyday routine for a while to do something new.  Backpacking, hiking, biking, going to Europe for a while, wandering around South America, driving aimlessly - the specific experience doesn’t matter, it’s about the mindset.

I enjoy what I do for a living, so I know what it’s like when a job gets you going in the morning. I also know that the view from my desk isn’t going to change much for the next 30 years, so why not get out when I’ve got an opportunity?  I’ll see things from my bike that I wouldn’t see from a car, and things I certainly wouldn’t see sitting at a desk banging out code, answering email, or trying to remember the cover sheet for TPS reports.

Why?   Why not?@#!

ArrayLunch stop in the 100 Mile Wilderness in ME
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