Wednesday, July 9, 2025 Day 39 Mt. Rushmore KOA at Palmer Gulch, SD to Ellsworth Air Force Base, Box Elder, SD Miles: 46.26Elevation: 1,585Time: 4 hours 15 minutesTotal miles: 1,508.74 (1,939.74 w/ Uhaul)Total Elevation: 69,416Total Time: 153 hours 23 minutes…
The pendulum swings back and forth, back and forth with each second ticking by. The sound of time echos in the tile entry way…click, click, click. Moments fleet. Anticipation builds. We continue to prepare for our launch…for our journey.
A metamorphosis has occurred, from bike rider to cyclist to adventure cyclist. We learned so much during our 2023 tour and are building on this knowledge. We’ve decided to do things a little differently this time now that we better understand what it’s like to live on the bike for 3 months.
So when life gives you lemons...you Zwift.
Love this virtual cycling world that allows us to be tour ready when things don't go as planned. There's nothing like 50 miles in the saddle! Had a chilled ride with the thought...ride the first mile with the 4,800th mile in mind. Sustainability. It's all about the long game!
So blessed to be on such an amazing journey in life! Unless you put yourself out there, you’ll never know what treasures lie ahead. Day 4 46 miles 2,700′ Elevation gain 5,000′ Elevation loss Max grade 12.8% – Average grade…
Mesmerized by the movement, the sound…glistening tips rolling on and on and on. Feeling as if I had been taken to another place, somewhere unknown to me, somewhere out there.
So what do you eat when you ride day after day across wide open plains where grocery stores may not be readily available and there aren’t any gas stations? This was definitely an unknown during our 2023 tour but that…
Nothing but your happiness is needed. April 16, 2025 #roadrunnertour2025
July 24th, 2019. The fourth day into my first RAGBRAI. In flipflops. On a borrowed bike. And it was hot. Gay and I stopped at mile 78… the last stop before finishing the day. I knew that eating and drinking…
Sunshine. Clear skies. A gentle breeze. Our hearts full…of gratefulness, of love and curiosity. Today we rode for Roger Derr: a ride that began in thought and prayer for his health and comfort. We traveled through the ‘gate’ to a…
“Are we there yet?” “No. Not yet. 6 more miles.” “Mom. Are we there now?” “No. Not yet Baby. We have 6 more miles left.” This is a conversation I would have with a three year who had no concept…
Some say she had her head in the clouds but perhaps she was just a bit closer to heaven. Join me. Lose yourself in the beauty. And know you are loved. Photos across the USA 2023 Unscripted6160 Tour. April 10,…
This amazing woman, over the span of 93 years, touched many lives. Selflessly giving to all she met, demonstrating kindness, patience and faith, she changed the world, one person at a time. You won’t find her name in chronicles or…
Heart racing in anticipation. My breath…quick…eyes keen like a peregrine falcon. But that damn tail…it gives me away every time. You know. The tail…the one that wags the dog. The thing that is chased when you get the leash. Yeah…
While preparing for our 2023 tour, Drew taught me skills from his years of backpacking. When you have to carry everything you need, weight matters. And you’d be surprised what things weigh! That, coupled with years of cycling, watching cyclists…
I will forever remember being three years old and riding my red bicycle. It was a hand-me-down…a well-trained bike that my older brother and sister taught. Back in the day when there weren’t ‘striders’ but training wheels…when you rode on…
Last tour, while riding one of the most beautiful paths, bathed in the beauty of the snow-capped Tetons, we came to a parking lot where a van, equipped with a bike rack and touring information on the side, was parked. We suspected Drew’s rear tire may be a little low on pressure so decided to stop and ask if we could borrow a floor pump to top off. Drew and the tour coordinator got immersed in conversation and I saw beautiful flowers nearby. Like a moth drawn to a light, I left the two to their business and headed to take photos.
April 4, 2025 Can you see us? Two bicycles pedaling steadily, hearts beating strong, breaths measured. And can you see them? You see, when riding, while it may appear we are just two…we are many. We are the many who…
Welcome to the Roadrunner Tour 2025!
Our three-month tour across the United States of America embarks June 1 from Rialto Beach, WA to Bar Harbor, ME. We will be traveling approximately 4,900 miles on Salsa Warbird gravel bicycles, self-supported.
Our first time on the trail – Day 1 Imagine a path where the ghosts of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane still roam; where bicyclists, hikers, and horseback riders can explore spruce and ponderosa pine forests; and the very…
Landing in Ontario, our dear friend Gary Dittmar picks us up. It’s so good to see him and lots of chatter fly's during our trip home.
It’s nearly 1:30 am before we’re able to settle for the night.
What just happened? Did we really just cross the US on bikes? It all seems so surreal.
As the evening came to a close, we returned to our hotel to prepared for our flight home on Friday. A storm was expected and we are hopeful we don’t have delays.
As sleep crept in, thoughts and memories danced in our heads. We had just traveled across the United States, over 4,000 miles on bicycles. The thought is overwhelming at times. 💕💕
We check in at the KOA and head for downtown Bar Harbor. What fun! As with most tourist destinations, there are lots of shops fill with souvenirs. We have fun reading the towels and shirts with clever sayings and the people watching is over the top!!
We catch dinner at the Dog and Pony where Gail, a local, shares lots of insight into the area. And yes. I had fish and chips again!! Drew’s lobster Mac and cheese had huge chunks of lobster meat. It was a meal fit for a king!
We’ll come back tomorrow morning to do a little more exploring and have breakfast at Jordan’s.
The Atlantic is coming! The Atlantic is coming!!
It’s so hard to believe, at this stage of my life, that I’ve never bathed my feet in the Atlantic Ocean!!
Throughout the tour, a recurring theme is the unusual weather patterns. Excessive rain has caused lots of mosquitoes. Everyone comments how different and bizarre the weather has been. Constantly weighing and measuring risks versus rewards…do we travel north or south? Getting to Bar Harbor is important but safety is the top priority. After much discussion, we come up with Plan B.
Back on the road, we passed an apple tree loaded with little green apples. It was so whimsical and fun to look at. We got to Rochester in a few more hours. While we logged over 60 miles, we climbed less than 400 feet. A really chilled day!! The skies remained clear throughout the day making it an absolutely perfect day on the bike!
A short ride this morning under beautiful, clear skies and temps between 60-70 degrees and we were in Niagara Falls State Park.
The falls are breathtaking!
The crisp, fresh air is so invigorating. The sky is painted with clouds.
The day begins with nice tailwinds but as we turn towards the lake, side gusts nearly blow us over. The pace slows as we weave our way towards Niagara. The side winds turn to headwinds. Easier to stay upright but our travel is slow.
Past vineyards, watching ravens fly, partly cloudy skies and a lighthouse 200 years old. Mile after mile after another. The New York countryside is thick with trees, blossoming plants and lush grounds. I am thankful for being on a bike…to be able to experience this beautiful place.
Recount of the day coming soon.. Seems we might have missed posting to Facebook this day, could have been all the excitement of my brother and Ken’s surprise visit. We will dig into our brains and come up with the…
Once again, we’ve escaped the rain! It pored last night and now the morning sky is just beautiful!, soon We traveled through the home town of our friend Bill Green. Such a beautiful place!
And before we knew it, we were at Lake Erie! It is so huge! It looks like the ocean!