Why would anyone want to ride a bicycle across the USA? Ask this question and you will likely get as many answers as the number of people you ask! We are doing it because we love riding bikes together, and we like traveling and seeing the country (especially at a slower speed than the Interstates), and it is a great adventure we can do together.

We are Dave and Ann. We were married in 1979, are now empty nesters, in our mid-50s, from near Yakima in the south central part of the State of Washington in the USA. We have four children, each living in a different time zone, and we have 5 grandchildren (with number 6 on the way).

How did we come up with the idea to ride bicycles across the USA? It all started in 2005 when we had friends who were training to ride the Seattle to Portland (STP) ride. (This is an organized one or two day ride between Seattle and Portland - 204 miles - with 10,000 riders!) Ann had always said anyone who would ride a bike that far must be crazy, and to do it one day they are certifiably so. But she knew that she and Dave needed exercise so one day she suggested that they also train to do the ride! When Dave picked his jaw up off the floor, they agreed to do so. They discovered they loved riding bikes (once Ann got a decent bike to ride), and they completed their first STP in two days in 2005. (So Ann is crazy!) Since then they have done two more STPs (Dave doing the one day ride in 2007 - he is now certifiable!), and a 400 mile one week ride across southern Utah (where there is an amazing variety of beautiful country) in 2009. Riding across the country just seemed the next logical step.

Our plan is to start in June 2013 and ride from Westport, Washington to Pocatello, Idaho in two weeks. Our brother-in-law Dennis will join us for this leg, with his wife Lea (Ann's sister) driving our support vehicle. (We are not hauling all our gear on our bikes! Although Dave understands the draw in doing it this way, he would be riding alone if he insisted on it. And we will stay in motels/hotels to get a good night's sleep - the hard ground and tents are no longer comfortable at our age!)

This blog is our record of our multi-year adventure.