After covering something like 9,610 miles in seven weeks, by bike and car and on foot, we have returned home safe and sound, probably to the consternation of paraskavedekatriaphobics.
To everyone who has supported us throughout this adventure: thanks! Thank you for reading the blog, for your words of encouragement, and for the hard cash so many of you sent so frequently. If you haven't had the chance to see all 89,247 photos from the trip, they are available at picasaweb.google.com/eplosky -- and soon we will be posting more videos, too, at youtube.com/ericandcarson. Feel free to read through all the past postings on this blog, especially since you are required to do so before you ask us any questions!
From Eric: this has been an incredible experience. I've enjoyed every minute and every mile, and I can't think of another way I'd have preferred to spend the time. It's hard to believe we actually did this. Now the next crazy endurance challenge: I've been accepted to the 2008 New York City Marathon on November 2, 2008 - my 31st birthday. Follow the training progress on the NEW BLOG! Carson, you're a great friend, an impressive athlete, a bit of a nut... thanks truly for it all.
From Carson: As we drove back, the "bike trip" began to sink in some. It's pretty mind-boggling - not life-changing - but mind-boggling. I suspect new themes will continue to reveal themselves for some time to come. I give thanks to everyone who supported and provided their interest and (often more than me) enthusiasm for the nutty idea. Next up: A visit later this summer to the Far East for the Olympics and other adventures then on to the Middle East afterwards......longer term: Ironman Arizona, Coeur d' Alene, or Wisconsin 2009? *That* will be true insanity.
12 June 2008
Return Trip - Day 48 - Pittsburgh, PA
Avast! -- it's Eric. Carson and I saw the Pirates game today here in sunny, 90-degree Steel City. The mighty Nationals (of Paris-on-the-Potomac) threatened in the late innings, but Pittsburgh pulled through. I'm actually looking at the ballpark through our hotel window as I type this; we had the foresight to book a place RIGHT NEXT TO the stadium (and of course, as Triple Platinum Ultra-Elite Premier Diamond-Diamond guests, we were put on the top floor and allowed to check in at 10:30 AM).
Short(er) drive this morning from Columbus, and we even had time to stroll around downtown before the 12:35 game, stopping for a surprisingly good Indian lunch. After the game, we found some Mediterranean dinner in Squirrel Hill, packed up our stuff, headed out for a sunset run, and are now enjoying the last night of Bike Trip '08. Tomorrow: an all-day drive back to the People's Republic of Cambridge. But first, tonight: will the Celtics win Game Four? As of halftime... doesn't look promising!
[Carson: big news in the final Bike Trip '08 Blog Post tomorrow.......!]
Kansas City, MO
Columbus, OH
Pittsburgh, PA
Short(er) drive this morning from Columbus, and we even had time to stroll around downtown before the 12:35 game, stopping for a surprisingly good Indian lunch. After the game, we found some Mediterranean dinner in Squirrel Hill, packed up our stuff, headed out for a sunset run, and are now enjoying the last night of Bike Trip '08. Tomorrow: an all-day drive back to the People's Republic of Cambridge. But first, tonight: will the Celtics win Game Four? As of halftime... doesn't look promising!
[Carson: big news in the final Bike Trip '08 Blog Post tomorrow.......!]
Kansas City, MO
Columbus, OH
Pittsburgh, PA
11 June 2008
Return Trip - Day 46 - Columbus, OH
After 675 miles of driving, we find ourselves in the always somewhat surprisingly cool Columbus, OH. with all the hours in the car, there wasn't that much time to goof off around town, but we did get to take in a bit of Columbus' hip and bustling Short North neighborhood. I would say it was reminiscent of some other place, but it had its own character worthy of being the example.
On tomorrow's penultimate bike trip morning, Eric and I head back to Pennsylvania - the state that brought so much second-guessing a few weeks ago (42 days ago to be exact). This time, however, we'll be in Pittsburgh, another often overlooked high-cool-factor city. After taking in a Pirates game and getting some rest (what's that?).....the much anticipated Friday the 13th long haul back to The Hub, home of the Red Sox, Revere's ride, and this increasingly home-missing body and mind. Stay tuned til then, as we plan on making a surprise announcement or two here on the trusty blog. In the meantime, don't forget to visit www.weaddup.com Use the code"carsonanderic" for a discount if you decide to buy anything. Goodnight.
On tomorrow's penultimate bike trip morning, Eric and I head back to Pennsylvania - the state that brought so much second-guessing a few weeks ago (42 days ago to be exact). This time, however, we'll be in Pittsburgh, another often overlooked high-cool-factor city. After taking in a Pirates game and getting some rest (what's that?).....the much anticipated Friday the 13th long haul back to The Hub, home of the Red Sox, Revere's ride, and this increasingly home-missing body and mind. Stay tuned til then, as we plan on making a surprise announcement or two here on the trusty blog. In the meantime, don't forget to visit www.weaddup.com Use the code"carsonanderic" for a discount if you decide to buy anything. Goodnight.
10 June 2008
Return Trip - Day 45 - Kansas City, MO
Long drive yesterday here to Kansas City, MO where we plan on taking in a Royals game this evening....if the weather cooperates. One thing we can probably count on is that it won't snow, as it did yesterday in Estes Park. Since it's early and I'm not sure what the day will bring, I'm posting some photos from this past weekend in the Rockies.
Eric's notes: really good day today. Great weather, morning run, a little work, a few fountains, several leafy boulevard trails, the huge shuttlecock-infested grounds of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, absurdly cheap produce at the City Market, the National World War I Museum (and a brief nap in the shade), giant salads-in-the-dark, a Royals baseball game (featuring the World's Largest Video Screen!), and perhaps the most amazing news of the day -- Sara and Mark, our Kansas City hosts, will be having their baby tomorrow! It couldn't have happened to a nicer pair.
Eric's notes: really good day today. Great weather, morning run, a little work, a few fountains, several leafy boulevard trails, the huge shuttlecock-infested grounds of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, absurdly cheap produce at the City Market, the National World War I Museum (and a brief nap in the shade), giant salads-in-the-dark, a Royals baseball game (featuring the World's Largest Video Screen!), and perhaps the most amazing news of the day -- Sara and Mark, our Kansas City hosts, will be having their baby tomorrow! It couldn't have happened to a nicer pair.
09 June 2008
Return Trip - Day 43 and 44 - Estes Park, CO
Eric reporting. Carson and Theresa -- who flew to Denver late Friday night to join us for the weekend -- are busy cooking dinner here at the condo in Estes Park, where we have generously been accommodated. Ongoing blizzardly conditions in the mountains thwarted our Rocky Mountain National Park plans, but the weather's been great down here (if you can call 7,500 feet "down here"). Yesterday we explored Boulder and took in a Rockies game. Today we poked around pleasant Estes Park: riding the tramway, racing go-karts, shopping downtown.
Carson and I managed some tennis Friday afternoon, but there hasn't been any biking this weekend, although all three of us ran both yesterday and today... gotta keep up with that. It actually snowed briefly this morning, and again this afternoon. Note to Colorado: this is JUNE.
And now, time for dinner. I must thank Carson (and Theresa) for doing all the cooking throughout this trip. I admit to being rather inept in that department. Friday night I set some rice and water boiling here in Estes Park, forgot (oh, OK... didn't realize) that we're at high altitude, and nearly burned the place down. Yikes.
Carson and I managed some tennis Friday afternoon, but there hasn't been any biking this weekend, although all three of us ran both yesterday and today... gotta keep up with that. It actually snowed briefly this morning, and again this afternoon. Note to Colorado: this is JUNE.
And now, time for dinner. I must thank Carson (and Theresa) for doing all the cooking throughout this trip. I admit to being rather inept in that department. Friday night I set some rice and water boiling here in Estes Park, forgot (oh, OK... didn't realize) that we're at high altitude, and nearly burned the place down. Yikes.
07 June 2008
Return trip - Day 42 - Estes Park, CO
About 10 miles were biked today - but not exactly where we had hoped or planned. True to Bike Trip 08 form, Rocky Mountain National Park's Trail Ridge Road remained closed today due to snow and winds upward to 50 mph. The outlook for tomorrow is uncertain. That said, it was a beautiful day in Estes Park despite paying $4.39/gallon for the first time ever -- a reason to wish we were biking back.
Along those lines, the gas meter in the car decided to stop working tonight and is accompanied by an unnerving, strange smell... Leaving us yet another indication that pedaling is an all around better mode of transport.
Along those lines, the gas meter in the car decided to stop working tonight and is accompanied by an unnerving, strange smell... Leaving us yet another indication that pedaling is an all around better mode of transport.
05 June 2008
04 June 2008
Return Trip - Day 40 - Salt Lake City, UT
We found something better than a hotel that has free breakfast. Keep reading...
Eric today's knight at the keyboard. Another few hours on the highway and we found ourselves in Salt Lake City. We stopped at Shoshone Falls on the way... freezing and windy. Is this June? The guy at the entrance station, noticing our Massachusetts plates, said, "We wanted to make you feel at home." Carson said: "Ah, so you've been!" (The guy didn't hear him.) Anyway, Carson and I alternated driving along the way, and we (oh, OK, I) ignored Philip's advice and chatted the whole time about a variety of scintillating subjects. I did at one point bore Carson into unconsciousness, with a long sermon on politics, but he woke up energized. (I was driving at the time.)
Speaking of which, we met a lot of awfully friendly people as we strolled around Temple Square in Salt Lake, giving the Mormon Tabernacle and a couple of other buildings the standard tourist treatment. We drove up to see the Utah State House, and then kept driving, where we got great views down to the city, and since we found a baseball diamond, we tossed the wiffle ball around a little bit.
And where we are staying tonight might just be the best hotel of the trip so far. Of course it was free on our points, and of course it has free breakfast and a full kitchen and free Internet and free garage parking downtown, and of course they gave us free cookies and bottled water when we checked in... but this place also gave us free DINNER. "Herb-encrusted cod." Actually, it was very good. The complimentary red wine helped wash it down. And they call this a straitlaced town.
Today wasn't a biking day after all, but we're thinking that we'll hit the two-wheelers at Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado (especially since the visitor center is closed due to some sort of massive structural issue... oops).
[Carson: ps - we're inching closer to filling in that missing little gap in the blue line on the route tracker....]
Requested Superlatives
Most spiritual experience on journey westward: Lunch on Day 2 took place in Canaan, CT. It had been a very windy and rainy morning, and the magnitude of the quest was beginning to dawn on me for real. It was beginning to seem very daunting, and I began doubting the point of the trip. As I sat down in this small grassy patch off to the side of a long, tree-lined valley and opened up my lunch bag/made a phone call, the rain and wind stopped - the sun came out - cars stopped coming by - and things were perfectly still. A calm settled in on that valley, and I remembered that things aren't lived in the years, but in moments like that. I resolved to notice and appreciate the little, peaceful moments during the trip's rides.
Did you dip your tire in the ocean? No. We finished in Florence, OR, which is at Oregon Dunes National Park. The dunes are extremely steep and we decided to climb (read: tumble) down the dunes to the beach. When I wrote "Bike Trip '08" in the sand with a stone, I spiked the stone as a period as if it were the winning touchdown, and I think that was the best feeling of the entire trip - spiking the rock.
Eric today's knight at the keyboard. Another few hours on the highway and we found ourselves in Salt Lake City. We stopped at Shoshone Falls on the way... freezing and windy. Is this June? The guy at the entrance station, noticing our Massachusetts plates, said, "We wanted to make you feel at home." Carson said: "Ah, so you've been!" (The guy didn't hear him.) Anyway, Carson and I alternated driving along the way, and we (oh, OK, I) ignored Philip's advice and chatted the whole time about a variety of scintillating subjects. I did at one point bore Carson into unconsciousness, with a long sermon on politics, but he woke up energized. (I was driving at the time.)
Speaking of which, we met a lot of awfully friendly people as we strolled around Temple Square in Salt Lake, giving the Mormon Tabernacle and a couple of other buildings the standard tourist treatment. We drove up to see the Utah State House, and then kept driving, where we got great views down to the city, and since we found a baseball diamond, we tossed the wiffle ball around a little bit.
And where we are staying tonight might just be the best hotel of the trip so far. Of course it was free on our points, and of course it has free breakfast and a full kitchen and free Internet and free garage parking downtown, and of course they gave us free cookies and bottled water when we checked in... but this place also gave us free DINNER. "Herb-encrusted cod." Actually, it was very good. The complimentary red wine helped wash it down. And they call this a straitlaced town.
Today wasn't a biking day after all, but we're thinking that we'll hit the two-wheelers at Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado (especially since the visitor center is closed due to some sort of massive structural issue... oops).
[Carson: ps - we're inching closer to filling in that missing little gap in the blue line on the route tracker....]
Requested Superlatives
Most spiritual experience on journey westward: Lunch on Day 2 took place in Canaan, CT. It had been a very windy and rainy morning, and the magnitude of the quest was beginning to dawn on me for real. It was beginning to seem very daunting, and I began doubting the point of the trip. As I sat down in this small grassy patch off to the side of a long, tree-lined valley and opened up my lunch bag/made a phone call, the rain and wind stopped - the sun came out - cars stopped coming by - and things were perfectly still. A calm settled in on that valley, and I remembered that things aren't lived in the years, but in moments like that. I resolved to notice and appreciate the little, peaceful moments during the trip's rides.
Did you dip your tire in the ocean? No. We finished in Florence, OR, which is at Oregon Dunes National Park. The dunes are extremely steep and we decided to climb (read: tumble) down the dunes to the beach. When I wrote "Bike Trip '08" in the sand with a stone, I spiked the stone as a period as if it were the winning touchdown, and I think that was the best feeling of the entire trip - spiking the rock.
03 June 2008
Return Trip - Day 39 - Boise, ID
Today, we drove in 6 hours what it took 5.5 days to bike! Of course, in that amount of driving time you could fly to Europe.....buuuuuuuutttttttt, you can't bike to Europe - from here at least. The most interesting item of note from today was that it rained non-stop from Portland to Boise, a distance of over 450 miles. That is a storm 7,920 football fields long (minus the endzones). Tomorrow we're off to Salt Lake City, stopping on the way at Shoshone Falls - the "Niagra of the West." It's 36 feet taller than the New York landmark. We're thinking there will be a little leisurely biking in Utah.
Finally, we've been doing some research on Rocky Mountain National Park's Trail Ridge Road, which at this time is *not* closed due to snow. There is some fascinating information about the road on the Park Service's website: www.nps.gov/archive/romo/visit/weather/scenicdrives.html . Taken from that site: "Covering the 48 miles between Estes Park on the park's east side and Grand Lake on the west, Trail Ridge Road more than lives up to its advanced billing. Eleven miles of this high highway travel above treeline, the elevation near 11,500 feet where the park's evergreen forests come to a halt. As it winds across the tundra's vastness to its high point at 12,183 feet elevation, Trail Ridge Road (U.S. 34) offers visitors thrilling views, wildlife sightings and spectacular alpine wildflower exhibitions, all from the comfort of their car." Well, if things go as planned, I'm going to put the bike trip '08 bike fitness to the test this weekend and try and see the view from the comfort of the bicycle and "time trial" the road...or at least, try and ride it fast. We'll see how it goes. Stay tuned.
Requested Superlatives
Biggest Roadkill: There was a remarkable amount of roadkill of all sizes seen. Only when we made it to Wyoming did the actual living wildlife become something other than rabid, teeth-showing dogs-off-leashes ready to chase spinning wheels and bright clothing. The biggest roadkill was probably a several point buck - a deer with many points on its antlers. Unlike with most of the roadkill seen, it always seemed as if someone had pulled the deer off the roads, which was a good thing. On an upbeat note, during the next to last day of cycling I saw a giant, living badger sitting in the middle of the road. That was cool. Also rode along side a hawk one morning in Idaho.
Finally, we've been doing some research on Rocky Mountain National Park's Trail Ridge Road, which at this time is *not* closed due to snow. There is some fascinating information about the road on the Park Service's website: www.nps.gov/archive/romo/visit/weather/scenicdrives.html . Taken from that site: "Covering the 48 miles between Estes Park on the park's east side and Grand Lake on the west, Trail Ridge Road more than lives up to its advanced billing. Eleven miles of this high highway travel above treeline, the elevation near 11,500 feet where the park's evergreen forests come to a halt. As it winds across the tundra's vastness to its high point at 12,183 feet elevation, Trail Ridge Road (U.S. 34) offers visitors thrilling views, wildlife sightings and spectacular alpine wildflower exhibitions, all from the comfort of their car." Well, if things go as planned, I'm going to put the bike trip '08 bike fitness to the test this weekend and try and see the view from the comfort of the bicycle and "time trial" the road...or at least, try and ride it fast. We'll see how it goes. Stay tuned.
Requested Superlatives
Biggest Roadkill: There was a remarkable amount of roadkill of all sizes seen. Only when we made it to Wyoming did the actual living wildlife become something other than rabid, teeth-showing dogs-off-leashes ready to chase spinning wheels and bright clothing. The biggest roadkill was probably a several point buck - a deer with many points on its antlers. Unlike with most of the roadkill seen, it always seemed as if someone had pulled the deer off the roads, which was a good thing. On an upbeat note, during the next to last day of cycling I saw a giant, living badger sitting in the middle of the road. That was cool. Also rode along side a hawk one morning in Idaho.
02 June 2008
Return Trip - Day 38 - Portland, OR
Got up at 6:20 this morning...that's sleeping in for the bike trip! We drove to Newport, OR to see the Yaquina Head lighthouse, eat at an amazing lunch spot on the inlet (the new port?), and then drove to Portland, where our date with the minor league baseball game got nixed by rain. It's okay - we've got Red Sox v. Yankees tickets for later this year, although it would have been nice to see the Portland Beavers take on the formidable Las Vegas 51s (!?!?!?!?!?!).
Tomorrow, we wake super early again to head back to Boise and Mountain Time. The next "big" bike experience is queueing up to be Trail Pass Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. It goes over 12,000 feet!
Tomorrow, we wake super early again to head back to Boise and Mountain Time. The next "big" bike experience is queueing up to be Trail Pass Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. It goes over 12,000 feet!
01 June 2008
Day 37 (June 1) - Florence, OR
We made it! - There is an ocean about 4 miles from where the bike trip began 37 days ago. There's even a "Carson Beach" there. The funny thing after reaching the Pacific is that, although I've walked there a bunch of times and driven there more, I've never biked to the Atlantic. Guess that's a trip for an upcoming Saturday afternoon.
Notes - (1) Thanks to Eric - who logged an impressive 775 miles - for supporting the trip and enduring challenges of another kind: my bike-trip compromised moods; (2) Thanks to Theresa - who biked to work every day except 2 times over the duration of the bike trip - for convincing me to continue. She got to hear the flux mood du jour throughout the day where cell coverage allowed; (3) Thanks to you blog readers, often giving us something about which to think, laugh, and chat; (4) We plan on keeping the blog going for the return trip, logging thoughts, photos, (and miles?) - so check back!
Superlatives
Best meal: Gernika Basque Restaurant, Boise, ID
Worst meal: Pickle's Place, Arco, ID: just say no to any food with "Atomic" as its adjective
Best snack: Jambajuice, Bend, OR
Best accomodations: 24 way tie among all the free locations
Worst accomodations:Motel 6, Clinton, IA
Biggest surprise: Decrepitating heartland of the U.S.
Worst trip weather: Lightning, flood, rain, hail, snow in Dubois, WY
Best cycling on route: northwestern CT/southern ID/western OR
Toughest cycling on route: Pennsylvania
Best scenery: ID with OR close 2nd
Best interaction: with man in PA general store who sold me gloves
Indispensible food item: peanut butter, honey, cinnamon sandwich
Indispensible clothing item: insulating cleat covers
Biggest malfunction: rubbing break pad for over 90 min on 130 mile day
Longest day: 131.8 miles or 8 hrs 21 min (different days)
Lowest point: tie snow day in Jackson, WY & most days in PA
If you have others about which you are curious, post a comment and let us know!
Requested Superlatives
Best bumper sticker: Eat...Sleep...Go Fish
Best meal ready to cook: vegetarian chili
Favorite License Plate: WY's cowboy plate and ID's "famous potatos"
Notes - (1) Thanks to Eric - who logged an impressive 775 miles - for supporting the trip and enduring challenges of another kind: my bike-trip compromised moods; (2) Thanks to Theresa - who biked to work every day except 2 times over the duration of the bike trip - for convincing me to continue. She got to hear the flux mood du jour throughout the day where cell coverage allowed; (3) Thanks to you blog readers, often giving us something about which to think, laugh, and chat; (4) We plan on keeping the blog going for the return trip, logging thoughts, photos, (and miles?) - so check back!
Superlatives
Best meal: Gernika Basque Restaurant, Boise, ID
Worst meal: Pickle's Place, Arco, ID: just say no to any food with "Atomic" as its adjective
Best snack: Jambajuice, Bend, OR
Best accomodations: 24 way tie among all the free locations
Worst accomodations:Motel 6, Clinton, IA
Biggest surprise: Decrepitating heartland of the U.S.
Worst trip weather: Lightning, flood, rain, hail, snow in Dubois, WY
Best cycling on route: northwestern CT/southern ID/western OR
Toughest cycling on route: Pennsylvania
Best scenery: ID with OR close 2nd
Best interaction: with man in PA general store who sold me gloves
Indispensible food item: peanut butter, honey, cinnamon sandwich
Indispensible clothing item: insulating cleat covers
Biggest malfunction: rubbing break pad for over 90 min on 130 mile day
Longest day: 131.8 miles or 8 hrs 21 min (different days)
Lowest point: tie snow day in Jackson, WY & most days in PA
If you have others about which you are curious, post a comment and let us know!
Requested Superlatives
Best bumper sticker: Eat...Sleep...Go Fish
Best meal ready to cook: vegetarian chili
Favorite License Plate: WY's cowboy plate and ID's "famous potatos"
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