(by Mark)
Do you know that feeling of waiting in line for a roller coaster? One second you are nervously considering that, in retrospect, the double order of bacon and with a side of bacon you wolfed down for breakfast may not have been the ideal option. The next second you are Tarzan, Lord of the Coaster, beating your chest and telling your friends that you are “ready to do this thang!” OOHRAH! Regardless of what is going on in your mind, one thing is consistent. You. Feel. Alive. You could be at home digesting your baconfest from a gastronomically safe couch while watching Family Feud re-runs, but there is no adventure in that. Is there? Hint: The answer is “no.”
Planning a year-long bicycle trip is the same as waiting in line for that roller coaster. Times ten, or so. Oh, there is so, so much to be nervous about. If we can’t find food, will we be forced to eat our own shoe leather? If so, how does it taste with Tabasco? Where will we be forced to sleep if we can’t find a campground? I’m too tall to be a bridge troll. I’m also not afraid to admit (and it should be obvious) that I’m not exactly built like an NFL running back. How is it going to be hauling a 400lb train of gear, trailer and dogs up the Rockies? Three times. And there is much to be excited about. The scenery. The people we will meet (the people we have already met!). The adventure. The freedom. Being able to eat unlimited calories. And of course, the sexy biker tan, where you sort of look like a nutjob farmer who wears spandex shorts.
The best part of being in the planning stage has two parts…
The first is working out all the details with Georgia. We work very well together, each of us having different strengths and we allow each other to naturally take the lead in those areas. All of the final decisions have been mutual however, and we arrive there sometimes easily and sometimes with a lot of careful deliberation. The end result is that we both feel good about the choices we are making and where the trip is heading. Georgia is a great planner, decision maker, and loves adventure as much as I do. She is mentally and physically strong, and craves living simply. Truly the ideal partner. While planning and executing the trip on my own would have been possible, it would simply have not been as good.
The second is the reaction we have gotten from those we have told about the trip. It has been almost universally supportive, and we have received a lot of encouragement, advice, and assistance. To me, it has been shocking to see how much others have been willing to put into this adventure. Shocking in an absolutely fantastic and amazing way! It’s hard to even put into words how grateful I feel already. To those of you that have been part of getting to this point in the planning, thank you. I mean that very, very sincerely. I don’t know how to repay the kindness, but I can say this: You are helping one of my life long dreams come true and all of you will be on the trip with me! Again, thank you.
Everyone please take a step forward. We are getting closer to the ride. OOHRAH!
— Mark
“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” – John Wayne. (Thanks to my sister for that quote!)
freedompedalers.com 
If you venture to Washington State don’t forget the beautiful Cascades and Mt Rainier.
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Washington is one of the most beautiful states. And often #1 in bicycle friendly states!
Mt. anything sounds daunting at the moment, but by the time we get there, we’ll be made of iron.
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I am genuinely excited for you and your friend to be making this trip. Watching you plan little by little, reading your post which reflect your feelings of uncertainly & enthusiasm, seeing you step up and actually take a chance (when most people just talk about doing what you are about to do), finding the determination, strength and courage to live out one of your dreams… it is impressive and inspiring to say the least.
I have no doubt you will have the time of your life! I am looking forward to seeing it all unfold, reading the articles on your adventures, seeing you getting use out of a lantern you got for Christmas and living through your travels and experiences.
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Thanks for the kind words and support my friend! It means a lot!
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So excited for the two of you as you plan and set off on on your adventure. As Georgia’s big sis all I can say is take care of EACH OTHER and enjoy this once in a lifetime trip. You may take others but the first time is always the best – pretty much for everything. Congrats on such an exciting and wonderful idea as it turns into reality. I look forward to meeting you Mark and can’t wait to see the road updates.
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I look forward to meeting you too!
We will certainly be looking out for each other, I have no doubts. Our planning has gone like that, and the trip will too.
I’m sure it won’t be a surprise to you to learn this trip will be better organized and planned than some (most?) polar expeditions! Pair two contingency planner-types together…and well, there will be a spreadsheet or two.
Mark
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As a project manager – I’d expect nothing less than spreadsheets and graphs!
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This is an awesome journey that you have already embarked upon and I am excited for the two – oops – four of you. You are inspiring others without knowing and helping spur dreams of others to start rolling. There will be fun, there will be trials, but what I know is that there will be two forces to be reckoned with when all is said and done!
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I expect that National Geographic will get word of this and the next thing we’ll see is a documentary of you two crossing the US.
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I wonder what we would call the series? Dog Dynasty? Keeping up with the Bikedashians?
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