See the Photos!!!

Finally, the photos I took along the trip are online. Have fun!





Also, have a look at this most inspiring webpage: www.bikersbarbecue.com Reading the book "Biker's Barbecue" certainly inspired me! It is fascinating, funny and very interesting at the same time.

http://www.livestrong.org/grassroots2008/alexanderacrossamerica

Epilogue

I have finished this epic trip I had dreamt about for so long and frankly, I have not yet quite realized that I have actually arrived, and achieved the target. Maybe it will take a few more days to sink in. I look at my photo with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background and think "I have really done this!"

At the moment, the thought of having arrived (and not having to bike anymore) wraps itself around me like a warm blanket. It took me seven weeks and two days to cover over 3600 miles and many times during this trip, I was daydreaming of the moment that I would arrive in San Francisco. Partially, it was this thought that kept me going all the time. It is certainly true that such a trip is not about the bike, not about the equipment or any such thing primarily, but it is about determination and willpower. What else could make you ride through days of rainstorms with an aching and swollen knee? What else could make you ride through the relentless heat of the midwest or climb two passes in one day to get the Rockies done? What keeps you going on a 140-mile-ride-day through the desert of southern Oregon? It can only be determination and willpower. - And a lot of food and water! I fail to remember how many gallons of water, Coke or Gatorade I have consumed, or how many bananas, ice creams and Snicker's bars I have eaten.

At the same time, going on such a long bike ride on my own was not only fun. There is the lonelyness that started to bug me after about three or four weeks. Apart from the forces of nature that include incredible heat, sudden rainstorms, strong western headwinds, cold temperatures in the mountains and mosquito bites, the cyclist on a trans american trip also faces obstacles like chasing dogs, unfriendly truck and car drivers and RVs that take up the road as if they possessed it. If certain passages of the posts in this blog appeared to be bitter or heavy hearted it was because this is just what it felt like whilst I tried to give to the interested reader as good an insight as possible. It is worth mentioning that many Americans were very excited when they chatted to me and found out that I rode the bike across their country. Some claimed that I get to see more of their country than most Americans do during their whole lifetime.
Most people asked me what made me go on this trip. Typically I would answer that I always wanted to see the States - and what better way is there than to bike through them. At the same time, I wanted (and needed...) a real long 3-months break from work and am raising funds for the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
Nearly at the end of the trip somebody asked me if it was fun. After thinking about it for a moment I answered that "I wouldn't call it 'fun', but it was an incredible experience I would not want to miss!"

So what do I take with me from this trip apart from the funny tan lines on my arms, legs and hands that will wear off eventually? Nothing material really except for the photos perhaps, but a heart and mind filled with unforgettable and lovely memories of sights, people and the great land of America!

It was a wonderful feeling to walk the streets of San Fancisco in the days after my arrival and just to be around other people. It was just as wonderful to get a haircut after nearly two monts and to feel (and look...) like a human again. One of the most remarkable things was the food. Whilst it was getting increasingly difficult to eat my way around fast food in he mid west (that means to stay away from it), the array of restaurants offering mouthwatering dishes in downtown San Francisco seemed heaven sent. At the same time, I no longer have to force down a breakfast that my stomach repels, just to keep me going through lunchtime. I have never been a big breakfast eater and never will be one.


A few conclusions:
The US are vast and yet full of variety,
nature is wonderful in many aspects but unforgiving at the same time,
mountains are OK - headwind is a huge source of annoyance when biking east to west,
there are other such crazy people out there who do exactly the same as I did - they ride cross country,
it is a wonderful experience to wake up every morning for over seven weeks and never knowing where I will end up for the night,
sunscreen really works at a protection factor of 55 or more,
each state really has its own character,
I can no longer eat as much as I want,
cars are the most wonderful invention of mankind!

Arrived in San Francisco!

The three of us (Tony, Sam and I) leave Ron and Wendy's house in Boise late in the morning and it is an easy 65+ mile ride to "Vale", Oregon. This is the second last state that I am entering and I am getting carried away by the thought of riding into California in a few days. Vale is a real dump, and in view of the 114 miles I'll have to cover the following day I decide to make it an early night. At this stage, Tony and Sam take a different route towards Seattle and I bid them goobye. The very dry and canyon-like landscape of southern Oregon is an unusual sight. At the same time it is very desolate and you could bite the dust out here without anyone noticing. After having ridden over a summit and two passes (drinkwater pass and stinkingwater pass) and faced tremendous heat, I arrive in "Burns", Oregon in the late afternoon. The map tells me that the following day holds 117 miles of riding for me and the desert becomes even more unwelcoming. One of the towns I ride through (Wagontire) was for sale about two years ago and now nobody lives there anymore. Scary!!!
As I get to today's destination, "Valley Falls", around 6 PM it appears that everything is closed and not a soul is in town. So after 117 miles I have no choice but to ride another 23 miles to the next town named "Lakeview" where I find a cheap motel and just fall into bed. 140+ miles is definitely too much in a day. Anyhow, the prospect of arriving in the State of California the following day keeps me going. At the same time, I pay the price for the 140 mile ride of the previous day as I am really tired for about 2 more days. Every 10 miles seem like endless now. Fortunately, there are lots of steep downhill rides to the city of "Redding", California and the heat is not quite as intense anymore.
I find it hard to fall asleep at night, as my mind races about the idea of arriving in San Francisco in just a few days. The ride through northern California is mostly flat (thank god) and pretty unspectacular. On my last day, I plan to bike to "Napa" and from there to "Valejo" which is sitting on the San Francisco Bay. From Valejo, it is a nice ferry boat-ride across the bay to downtown San Francisco. Someone tells me that the 12 mile road from Napa to Valejo becomes an Interstate at some stage. Seeing as it is illegal to ride Interstates on the bicycle in California, I am strongly advised to take the bus to Valejo and load my bike onto it. I do as advised, and arrive in Valejo at around 4.15 PM. The ferry boat leaves in just 30 minutes and as I arrive I am anxious to bike up to and across Golden Gate Bridge where I officially end my bike trip across the US! I have some photos of myself and my bike taken - with the GG bridge in the backdrop.

Total miles biked: ca. 3620.

The 'Epilogue' on this trip will follow shortly!

The Heat in Idaho

http://www.livestrong.org/grassroots2008/alexanderacrossamerica

I leave Rexburg again around 8 AM and take the ride through the desert-like area of rural Idaho. This has the advantage of not having to ride on the interstate highway and it is also a shortcut through Idaho. Today's target is to reach a small town called "Arco". The sun shines all day and by about lunchtime the heat gets to 35 - 38 degrees celcius. The only thing that helps stay cool is a little breeze. However, the ride through the desolate areas is beautiful. There is just nothing out there except for some stray cattle and rattle snakes. Sadly, a lot of the rattle snakes get run over by cars...
It is about 3.15 PM by the time I hit "Arco"; the first town in the world to have ever been lit by atomic power. One of the local motels offers rooms for as little as $36 (including tax) and I even get a chance to wash my biking clothes and dry them in the sun. Later in the evening I walk up and down the street of Arco and suddenly run into two bicyclists (Tony and Sam) I had met back at Mount Rushmore. We had exchanged email addresses, but frankly I never thought that I would see them again on this trip as they took a different route and are ultimately heading for Seattle. I can hardly believe it. What are the odds of meeting them again out in nomansland of Idaho? They are equally surprised and we have a good chat later in the evening. It turns out that we will be on the same route throughout Idaho. The following morning (Sunday, July 13) I hit the road just before 8 o'clock and head into what promises to be a long and hot day. It is about 90+ miles to "Fairfield" - a boring small town with a few houses, a motel and, most importantly, a gas station with a store. The last 25 miles are the hardest as there is a sudden pick up in headwind and it seems an endless journey until I finally get into Fairfield. After a good night's sleep it is roughly a 60 mile long ride to "Mountain Home", Idaho, where I plan to have lunch. Most unexpectedly, there is a 8+ mile downhill ride into Mounain Home and the scenery is beautiful. And whom should I meet there again? Tony and Sam! We have lunch together and decide to ride the 40+ miles on the Interstate 84 to "Boise", Idaho, together after lunch. Today there is a strong headwind blowing down from the north and the heat is as intense as it could possibly be. We all plan to take a rest day in Boise and Tony and Sam are staying at the home of a couple - Ron and Wendy. They very kindly ask me if I were interested to stay with them as well for the next two nights. Ron and Wendy invite me to their home and we are all in for a nice shower and an even nicer dinner offered by them. It is roast turkey, potatoes and vegetables and some lovely carrot cake with ice cream. The three of us, Tony, Sam and I are all sleeping in the lounge of Ron and Wendy's house. I get to sleep on their sofa and enjoy the much needed rest.
Today, Tuesday July 15, we are offered a delicious breakfast by Wendy and later on, Ron drives us to downtown Boise in his car. We visit a bike shop as Tony and Sam need to have their wheels fixed and later on linger through town. We venture to the "Boise State University" where we get free internet access and I get a chance to check my emails and write this blog. Some time later this afternoon, Ron will pick us up again in his car as they have dinner ready for us at 6 PM!
Tomorrow, we will ride on and enter the state of Oregon, where I will have to leave Tony and Sam again as they are heading further north. In about four days or so I will be in California. What a prospect!

Total miles biked so far: ca. 2980

Big Horn Montains, Rockies, Yellowstone NP

After leaving Gillette early morning I ride the 65+ miles on the Interstate 90 to "Buffalo". By the time I get there I see some very dark clouds on the horizon and the weather channel is issuing a "Severe Thunerstorm Warning" for the area. Therefore, I decide to stay in a cabin at one of the local campgrounds. (At one of the campgrounds, the manager tells me that all cabins 'have been took'. For some reason, I have to hold myself back not to correct her - 'have been taken'. I suppose this is American English...) Strangely, the severe storm never really hits Buffalo but the area to the north apparently got some very heavy rain and hail. However,the following morning the sun is shining in the nicest possible way and I continue my journey on the Interstate 90 (I-90). The I-90 takes a turn northwards, and there is some hefty wind coming from the north today. Anyhow, I am determined to make it to a small town called "Dayton", Wyoming, that is just on the foothills of the Big Horn Mountains. This enables me to start climbing the 'Big Horns' the following morning at 7.30hrs. They go up to about 9660 feet but after a lot of sweat and some breathtaking vistas I reach the top. There is a kind of a plateau up there for about 10 miles before the 18-mile-long descent to a small town called "Shell" begins. There is some construction work going on, on the road leading down to Shell and bicyclists are not allowed to ride on the fresh tarmac. A truck comes to pick me and my bike up and gives me a ride for a few miles. After a day of a lot of sweat I finally arrive in "Greybull", Wyoming and have a good night's rest. The following day promises to be a long one through the semi-desert area of Wyoming, to "Cody", where I have lunch at a Mexican and withdraw some much needed cash. By about 13.00hrs I decide to ride on to the border of Yellowstone NP. After about 95 miles I pull up by a lodge that offers cabins. This will be the most expensive night of the whole trip. It is high peak season and the cabins costs some $149 plus tax. All other lodges are already full and the campgrounds do not allow tents for the hazard of Grizzly bears. The lodge's dining room is closed due to electricity problems, but the lodge owner offers me to have dinner and breakfast with the staff. All the staff think that I am from Sweden...!
The following day I want to make it through Yellowstone NP. It is a very nice ride through the park but the winding roads and the endless headwind take their toll on me. It is already 17.00hrs by the time I get to the notorious 'Old Faithful' geyser and we have to wait for almost a full hour until it goes off again. But I say to myself that I cannot miss seeing the geyser going off - after having come all the way. Luckily, the 30+ miles out of the park and into a town named "West Yellowstone", Montana, are blessed with lots of tailwind and downhill rides. So by about 20.15hrs I finish the day after having clocked up some 110 miles today!

The next morning, July 11th, it takes me until 10.00 AM until I finally hit the road. It is a boring, yet fairly easy 80+ miles ride to "Rexburg", Idaho.

Total miles biked so far: 2680.

From South Dakota to Wyoming

I never thought that the weather in the plains of the American mid-west could change so quickly. A day of scorching heat whilst riding into Wall is followed by a day of cold wind and heavy rain. Anyhow, as there is no way around it, I leave the town of Wall early morning and start riding on the Interstate 90 towards Rapid City. Only a few minutes after I hit the interstate there are very heavy raindrops. I just manage to wheel to the next bridge to seek shelter and put on my waterproof pants and jacket as it looks as though the rain is here to stay. The fun thing about it is that there are a lot of downhill rides on the Interstate 90 and the tailwind also helps. Besides, I still believe that I am going to have a rest day at the foothills of Mount Rushmore, in Keystone tomorrow and so the soaking wet clothes and shoes don't bother me too much. The thing is that Mount Rushmore lies in a national forest surrounded by many hills, about 25 miles south of Rapid City. So it takes quite a while until I get there. I have plans to stay for two nights in the town of Keystone, which is the base town for everyone visiting Mount Rushmore National Monument... Practically all motels in town advertise rooms for $39,95 (plus tax) on their flashing billboards but when you ask for them they are never available. (Typical American...). Afer about five attempts during which I get freezing cold, I manage to actually get one of these low rates. Only to find out that for the following night, the room will no longer cost $39,95, but $199,95 (plus tax). (Oooohh, you know, this is because of the fireworks above Mt. Rushmore on July 3rd - the receptionist tells me) The motel across the road even wants to charge $299,95 (plus tax). Under the prevailing circumstances I decide to skip the rest day I had planned (and so looked forward to) but to ride on to a small town named `Newcastle`, Wyoming, after having visited notorious Mt. Rushmore. Fortunately, the weather on July 3rd could not be better and the sight of Mt. Rushmore sure is an impressive one. On the day preceeding July 4th, this national monument and the roads leading to it are overcrowded, and so after about two hours I get rolling again. Just before leaving, I run into agroup of 20 bicyclists who are also on a cross country ride - from NY City to Seattle. It turns out that they are on the ride to raise awareness for the cancer desease too. They, however, have the advantage of a support vehicle carrying all their belongings whilst they ride...
After all, there is still the `Crazy Horse` monument to be seen along the route leading out of South Dakota and into Wyoming. I arrive in Newcastle sometime in the late afternoon. Seeing as there is virtually nothing to be seen or done in this town, I have to postpone my rest day again. On July 4th, I ride the 80+ miles to `Gillette`, Wyoming, which is nestled along the Interstate 90 again. It is a beautiful ride through desert-like country and I even get to see a snake during one of my short pauses on the highway. Come what may, I WILL have my rest they in Gillette. It has now been exactly two weeks since I last had a rest day and I am beginning to feel the inherit consequences.

In Gillette, I manage to find a cheap motel that is right next to a launderette. Perhaps unlike most Americans, I wash my clothes in the launderette on the evening of July 4th and go to bed early after having eaten a cheeseburger and drunk two beers.

Today, on July 5th I enjoy the advantages of a rest day; stay in bed until 10 AM, hang out in the Starbucks cafe for about two hours (they are really much cheaper here than in Switzerland!) check out the local shops, buy some new brake-pads for the bike, go to Starbucks again, check emails and write this blog. It is very difficult to get internet access anywhere, but the local `Holiday Inn` very kindly lets me use their business centre without question, although I am not a guest.

Tomorrow, I shall be up at 6 AM again and in a few days I should arrive in Yellowstone National Park. Did I mention that I have no mobile phone reception in the whole of South Dakota and Wyoming?

Rural South Dakota

Now, it took me quite a while to update the blog again but this is because the motels in South Dakota do not seem to cater for people who don't have WIFI ready laptops with them.

Anyhow, after leaving `Albert Lea` a few days ago, I am in for some heavy rain. The good thing about it is, that for the first time I get some tailwind that blows me across the midwest flats. Somehow, it seems to me as if the state of Minnesota just doen't want to let me go. It just drags on and on. Finally, I spend my last night in `Luverne`, Minnesota, bevore entering the state of South Dakota. By now, I start to feel the many miles and the heavy headwind that challenged me during the last few days. The first city worth mentioning in South Dakota is `Sioux Falls`. However, the city also welcomes me with partial rainfall and more headwind. Just by coincidence I ride along the airport of Sioux Falls and it seems all too tempting to just dump the bike and buy an airticket to LA. `But no - can't do that...!!!` So I ride on to a small town called `Salem` with just one motel in it. The following day does not promise to be a good one for bicyclists heading westwards. The wind and gusts get a pace of about 40mph (and more) and I quite literally get almost blown off the bike. It takes me all day to just complete 60 miles to `Plankinton`, SD. Luckily, things are getting easier again the following day and I manage to cross the Missouri River. Just across the river there is a friendly place called `Oacoma` and a motel offers rooms at giveaway rates. However, there is no time to "smell the roses' and I hit the road again well before 8 AM. At least, one can escape the tremendous heat when riding early in the morning. After some very hot and long miles I arrive in a small place named `Murdo`. They seem to have more motels than visitors and so the rates are very low. They also have a kind of a car museum that houses all kinds of american made cars from the 20ies up to the 80ies. They have some fantastic memorabilia and vintage cars like Mustangs and so on. Sadly, none of the cars are restored or looked after. They just stand there and slowly gather dust and rust.

Today, Tuesday, July 1st I am determined to make the 85+ miles to `Wall`, SD. It is perhaps the hottest day I have so far encountered and I need to drink gallons of water, coke and gatorade. By the time I get to my room at the Best Western motel in Wall, I can actually scrub salt cristals off my forehead. So intense was today's heat and the sweat that followed it. For the last 200 miles or so that I have done in South Dakota there were repeated sign posts for "Wall Drug". None of the signs tells you what "Wall Drug" is, but given the hundreds of signs it must be something huge. By the time I wheel into Wall, the motel's receptionist tells me that it is a very large store that has been around ever since the 1930ies. - Now I know...
Another ting the receptionist tells me that I have crossed another time zone; I am now in the "Mountain Time Zone" which means I can sleep for an extra hour tomorrow...

Well, tomorrow, on July 2nd I will reach `Rapid City`, SD, and finally see famous Mount Rushmore. I plan to have a well deserved rest day there and look at the fireworks obove Mount Rusmore that will be launched on July 3rd - on the eve of July 4th, being the US national day.