Indeed. Why? There are many reasons to bike across the country. Here are mine. And it doesn’t include escaping from a zombie apocalypse outbreak.

The thing is, I’ve always wanted to do an epic trip. Thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail - the “AT” has been on my list since high school. Then I learned about the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), and the Camino de Santiago. But I have a slippery SI joint, and if it slides out of place, like if I step wrong off a curb it hurts like hell. And I’ll have crazy nerve pain (that’s part of the hurts like hell). And I have a tear in the labrum of my left hip. So - I’m not sure that carrying a heavy pack and hiking will work out. I’d like to do a few overnight trips at some point to see how I do - but in the mean time I’ve been getting into biking. In no small part because of my concerns about the environment. and that I’m a terrible couch potato.

Biking is a great way to get exercise and reduce how many miles I drive. The DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) has a fairly extensive trail system and on-road bike routes. And the more I look up trails to see if I can get some place, the more clear it is that I can. Heck I can ride all the way to my parent’s house on trail except the last 3 roads which are essentially “neighborhood” streets. I can bike to the Farmers Market I go to every Saturday. I can bike to work (either “on campus” or “off campus”) - if I was going into the office or ever “return to the office”. I could even have biked to and from dropping off my car for a recall service (I didn’t because it was one of those crazy heat days, so I walked and metro’d instead). So the thing is, biking is a great way to get around - without burning fossil fuels. Carbon/methane/GHG contribution = zero.

What it does take is time. For some trips its not too much more than driving, there is so much traffic and lights here, that biking can be faster in some cases. Others its a little more. Plus my bike is on the heavier side, but I don’t really want to go back to a road bike, the trails here can be wet, muddy, have leaves, and have root cracks and bumps in the pavement. I want the versatility. Plus I want to be able to bike the C&O, and rail-trails that tend to be a combo of paved and crushed stone. I digress.

So besides my desire to do some sort of Epic Trip, I like the idea of self-sustainability. Of having all that you need for a period of time on the back of your bike. To get down to the essentials. To winnow out what our culture throws at us. To just be outside. Living. Using and trusting your body to get you where you are going.

Our culture tells us we need so much, that we need to buy more, consume more, eat more. Stay inside more.

Fear more.

In contrast there is a rich level of joy - to me - that being outside in nature brings just in the inherent nature of nature. The way the light changes in a day, the sounds of birds, the way the temperature changes from sun to shade, to low spot. The smell of decaying wood in a forest. The certain kind of quiet away from man made noises. Being away from the hum of constant energy and angst in a populated area.

I also really like the nerdiness of planning for something like this. I love the research, the training, the testing, the measuring and planning. I also like the opportunity for spontaneity, the flexibility and adaptability to deal with what comes. To wake up and say, how shall my day go today?

I’m already planning to practice dehydrating foods to make some things to take with me, at least on shorter practice rides. I won’t be bringing enough food to bike across the country, that isn’t possible, so I’ll be restocking in trail towns, and getting creative with eating healthy, calorie rich lightweight foods.

Between climate change and COVID I don’t see myself traveling to other countries anytime soon. And there are so many beautiful places here in this country to see. I should see it!

And I don’t want to drive across it. I don’t particularly like driving and being in a car separates you from your surroundings. And it makes my back hurt. So driving across the country doesn’t particularly appeal to me. Who wants to see a bunch of highways and get stuck in traffic? Plus hello fossil fuel burning! Perhaps when I have an electric vehicle I’d be willing to drive across and hit some different sights. But for now I’ll take advantage of the trails all across this country, and the Great American Rail trail aims to connect them! Granted it is only 53% complete, but every year new miles are added.

So that is my plan - to bike the Great American Rail Trail. 3,700+ miles. And why not do it the year I turn 50 - so, I’m looking at you 2023. Close enough to motivate me to plan and train, but far enough that I can plan and train. I’d love to do it when the trail is 100% complete - but we don’t know when that will be. And we don’t know what life will bring.

And then there is Climate Change (also known as the Epic Environment Destruction) that is already here and we are continuing to contribute too, and even watching it unfold we’re kind of just throwing our hands up in the air. What can WE do, little ol’ us? We act helpless in the face of our own self-driven destruction.

I digress -

The thing is The Epic Environment of Destruction will keep changing, harming, nay destroying the beautiful wild places in this world. The increase in heat, length of heat waves, droughts, wildfires, epic rain downpours and increase in hurricane fury will make outdoor activities more challenging. That makes me mad. So I can’t wait 12 years (or 9 years) to bike across the country. Already the wildfire seasons are starting earlier more frequently (this year is particularly bad it seems). This is and will affect the air quality - across the country and particularly as one goes more west. Kids are being kept inside at camps because of air quality and heat warnings.

All of this has a circular impact. The more we stay inside, the more energy we consume and the less connected we are to nature. The less connected we are to nature the less we value it. And so it goes until lions, elephants, polar bears and penguins go the way of saber tooth tigers and wolly mammoths.

And now I’m depressed.

But don’t worry, I’ll perk up keep fighting the good fight for the environment.

Who knows? Maybe I don’t complete it. Maybe I do half, a third. Maybe I just do the C&O - who knows. But planning, learning, training - the journey to get there is all part of the fun. I can see it laying out before me.

I’m sure I’ll be asked all sorts of questions before I go, and I’ll try to address them here as time marches on.

Now go put your hands in the dirt, watch a bee collect pollen, smell some basil or just sit and listen to the birds talk to each other.

Learn More

The Great American Rail Trail Website

The Route Assesment - In depth information on status in each state, completed miles, gaps, etc.

Rails to Trails Conservancy - consider donating!