I have been in contact with a buddy from the UK, Chris Molena, since the first week of my trip. He completed a US cross country tour when he was like 19. He is currently biking around the entire continent of Australia. We have been talking back and forth and he has been incredibly helpful with everything.
"Cycling is easy- It's everything else that makes it challenging, it's everything else that makes the adventure" -Chris Molena
3bagsandaBike.com
Also Check out Jason Anderson's blog. He completed a cross country trip a couple of years ago. An awesome guy that I get to work with at Riverside Outfitters. A huge inspiration for my trip. If you like more adventure, then you will love reading through his.
persistenceadventures.blogspot.com
2 weeks ago- leaving Blythe, California
I was riding short days and had lots of time to kill. I rode about 30 miles paralleling the colorado river into the small town of Palo Verde.
I had to detour the main highway because of a fuel truck that had overturned the previous week. I ended up riding on the canal roads for a few miles.
I checked out a small park off the highway to camp, but was a little sketched out by the the types of discarded trash I saw on the ground. I rode a few more miles and discovered a nice BLM (bureau of land management) camp spot on the river. All good.
Ended up taking a cold bath and washing my bike clothes in the Colorado.
I actually crossed over the border into Arizona again that night. Geography
The next day I rode through the desert with heavy winds in my face. I didn't care though. I was experiencing this nostalgic feeling of everything coming to an end, but loving every moment of the day.
I lost count of the jars of peanut butter I've devoured. So goooood
I ran into this Frenchman, Jean Claude heading opposite directions. He was one happy dude. Full of energy and was constantly moving when he talked, but really positive about everything. He said he was biking from Canada and now heading to Maine.
I have seen hundreds of bottles filled with urine since Texas. Disgusting, I know. I suppose the long, middle of nowhere drives make it hard for truckers to take breaks.
The desert landscape changed from this..
If you look, you can see that the wind was blowing the sand across the road.
Luckily it stayed low and out of my face.
The Imperial Sand dunes. An ATV paradise. The landscape changed from desert to sand literally once I crossed over the train tracks.
I stopped in the only store before riding into the sand to grab some food and water. I got the typical jokes of "where's your engine" and "you need bigger tires" from all of the ATV riders downing beer at the store. Two brothers started talking to me and told me I could come hang out with them and pitch a tent in the dunes.
Another bath in the canal. Thank god it's still somewhat warm in the South.
Again, the best times are when you ride without a definite plan. You are always open to discover awesome people and places.
The next day I rode into the town of El Centro. Flat and miles and miles of perfectly planted fields irrigated by a system of canals.
I got a call last minute to stay with Brian and his wife Angela in El Centro for the night. Brian is an Author of a handful of books and the Dean of a local community college. It was really fascinating to talk about the local history with him. It seems that water is such a resource in demand out here. How do you divide that up between states and countries? Sadly Mexico gets the short end of the straw from whatever past legislation ruled.
Angela made an incredible dinner that night. Really enjoyed talking with the both of them. Thanks again.
Riding back into the desolate desert terrain.
This was the worst road I have ever been on in the entire US. 15 miles of a giant rumble strip.
High winds up ahead. Looks like the same sign Jason took a photo of a couple of years back on his cross country trip.
Hence the giant wind turbines. A touchy subject for people in the area.
I camped out in an awesome RV park in Ocotillo. They owner showed me a spot to stay shielded from the wind. I was a little creeped out when I noticed that I had unknowingly pitched my tent pretty much on top of two graves
behind a brick wall. The headstones were covered by some shrubs.
I hung out at this hole in the wall bar for a few hours for lack of anything else to do that evening. Dollar bills with drawings on them covered the walls and ceilings.
I met this couple riding East from San Francisco. They were from upstate New York. I really enjoyed talking to them. I ended up giving them a map I didn't need anymore and book of Jack Kerouac poetry, passed on to me from Casey in New Orleans. I'm sure they will pass it on again.
The only advice I gave was to slow down and have more flexibility. Maybe my only regret on this trip?
These guys offered me some beer and food from the grill as i rode by their RV. They offered before they even met or spoke to me. Awesome
This dude was awesome. Check out that hat. My aspiration for a future beard
The next day was heavy wind coming straight off the mountains I was about to climb from sea Level to 4000+ feet over about 16 miles.
This was the only day that I strongly considered turning around and not riding.
The wind was blowing so hard that an 18 wheeler passing by causes you to either almost get blown off the bike or sucked out of the median into the main highway. There were a few stressful moments heading up.
(Sorry mom!)
More climbing..
I saw some UFO's
This was crazy. Someone dressed up sticks with clothes and made it look as if there were bodies in the dry river bed.
Getting real close to the US/Mexico border.
Mexican border fence in the town of Jacumba.
I camped out next to a zen looking maze south of Pine Valley.
November 20, 2013
I woke up in my tent to check the weather and saw that it didn't look good for the next few days. Cold and rain. I was going to stretch the last 2-3 days out, but I didn't want to spend the last few days riding in the rain. I decided that today was the day I would reach the Pacific.
Wooooooooooo!!!!
I packed up my bike one last time and set sail for the finish. Euphoric.
The desert is getting greener
Ran into these veteran touring cyclist that just started their journey to the East coast.
Reminded me a little of the Appalachian mountains.
The countdown to San Diego
Now the downhill to the ocean
I had this idea in my head that I would be rolling up on the beach just before sunset. The more I looked at my watch, the more I realized I would have to pick up the pace.
I rode as fast as I could the last 25 miles. Kept thinking I would see the ocean over the next mountain, except San Diego is big. Really big.
I rode hard and didn't have time to take
pictures. I was getting lost and frustrated as the sun was falling beyond the horizon. I even rode my bike on dirt paths under small highway bridges. Dark and full of sketchy people. I didn't want to lose time. I kept moving fast. As the last bit of light was fading from the sky, I rolled up on the beach, let my bike fall in the sand, and walked (exhausted) to the edge of the Pacific. Words can't explain. I did it.
I rode my bike across the USA. Yorktown Virginia to San Diego California. September 16th- November 20th. 65 days. 3,500 miles. 12 rest days.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Like I said, I can't possibly sum everything up into some kind of sentimental closing of a journey. But here are some things I have learned and will try to live by.
Growing beards on long journeys is the coolest thing you could ever do.
Most people, including strangers, are good people. I will never forget all of the kindness and generosity that strangers have shown another stranger (myself). Thank you to all of the people who I have met that I have helped and taught me things along the road. Kindness goes a long long way
This journey wouldn't even come close to being as awesome as it was if it was done by car. Anyone can do it on a bike. Most people have thousands of reasons of why they cannot do things. We can do anything if we look for the few reasons that we can do it.
People constantly complain about what they don't have. Look at what you do have. Most of us don't need a lot. We need "the least most".
If you have too many expectations, you may be let down when something doesn't happen accordingly. Plan things, but keep some things open. You never know what you may stumble across.
The hills are never as big as they seem once you get closer to them.
Don't check your progress over an entire map because it may seem unattainable. Check progress over small sections of map. Haha maybe a metaphor for life/career success?
With that being said, life isn't forever. We have one life to live and then it's over. Afterlife or not, we can't take all of our riches and belongings with us when we pass. I suppose that's why I am inspired to travel and make memories? Make the best of it, make good choices, be awesome and kind to each other. Mark Twain wrote that you will be more disappointed in what you didn't do rather than what you did do 20 years down the road.
People always ask me why am I biking across country? Here are a few that I said:
-because it's awesome.
-for the adventure
-inspired by the many friends that have done it back home.
-I wanted to see the west
-Wanted to see if there were any places out there that I would rather live in other than Richmond.
...and why the hell not?
Anyways, I have been hanging out I'm San Diego with Allison and Mike (friends from college days at VCU) for the last few weeks. They have been so good to me. Letting me stay in their apartment and Allison letting me use her car most of the time. It's been huge and i'll never be able to thank them for all of the generous things they have done for me. Thank you so much.
Sammy and Mo to keep me company during the day.
This is their home in Coronado.
KIDDING! Maybe if we had about 5 mil $$ in pocket change.
It was really cool of Allison to wake up early and clean my teeth before her office opened. It's been 3 years and and not having dental insurance made her doing this priceless.
Johnny from the sand dunes came and hung out with me a few days after I arrived in San Diego.
Jonnny told me that his mother took a picture of him sitting on this exact same tree when he was a kid. He said that she had passed away a few years ago.
He showed me some awesome spots to see around the area and some good eats around the city. Awesome guy. Thanks you so much.
Margo told me that she would come out and meet me for thanksgiving wherever I was. Just so happened that I was done! Really happy to see her.
We had a great time. Like I said, I've talked to her every day on my journey since day one. A huge supporter. We had a great thanksgiving here on the West Coast. 
We saw a lot of San Diego. Even went to the zoo.
Beaches!
Yeah, I really like this girl.
She brought me letters that all of her 5th grade classroom had written me. They asked a lot of good questions. I have been sending them postcards from different states on the road. I can't wait to go talk to them about my trip. Somehow they all know that I'm terrified of snakes. Who told them that?!
I was sad to see her go, but happy knowing I would be returning home soon.
If you need anything bike related in Richmond, give Whit Brooks a call at Whitworth Cycles. He helped me build the bulletproof bike that took me from coast to coast. He does custom Welding projects too. Thanks buddy.
http://whitworthcycles.blogspot.com/?m=1
I couldn't have even thought about doing this trip without someone to watch my girl, Dandy. Thank you to my sister Katherine and her husband Jon for taking care of her while I've been gone.
Thanks to Matt Perry and to all my friends at Riverside Outfitters for taking up the extra end of season slack so that I would be able to make this trip happen. A great place to work and be a part of. Can't wait to return. Want some great urban whitewater? Call this guy
www.riversideoutfitters.net
Last but not least, thank you to my mom and dad for supporting me throughout the trip. Whenever I was having a bad day, I could always get them on the phone if needed.
It's been great. Tomorrow I will be returning to the place that can't compare to anywhere else:
MOTHER TRUCKIN' RICHMOND VA
Stoked
Thank you for reading
THE END
