The idea for this trip came from a 2001 conversation with my friend Greg at Flat Branch brewery in Columbia, Mo. Plans made in this way lead to the best and worst trips. For me, a 100th-meridian bicycle trip quickly became a fixed goal. Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota - states with boring reputations - are actually places I like a lot. I'm a fan of grassland, open country, Great Plains history, and bicycles.

I'm following a meandering line down the 100th meridian from the North Dakota-Canada border to the Texas-Mexico border. Classically the 100th meridian is the dividing line between east and west. The largest cities along the 100th are Pierre, S.D., Dodge City, Kan., and Abilene, Texas. I intend to finish the trip at the Rio Grande about mid-October, probably in Eagle Pass. I'll update the daily route map (see link on main page) as often as possible.

I ride an old and trusty Trek touring bike, which once carried me from Oregon to Wisconsin. I carry about 45 pounds in front and rear panniers, including gear for camping, cooking, and bicycle repair. Most evenings I will eat and sleep in parks, towns, and backyards, with occasional stays at hotels with ESPN.

Jeff Durbin