2015-08-01 Day 34: Oh the Joy!, Fern Ridge Lake to The Pacific Ocean at Florence, OR

"Great joy in camp. We are in view of the ocean this great Pacific Ocean which we have been so long anxious to see."

From the journals of William Clark, November 1805

We rolled onto the beach today at Florence, OR to the cheers of family members; We feel the same emotions as that day in 1805.

Miles Today: 66 Total Miles: 1963

Last night Jon and I sat at a picnic table 16 miles west of Eugene talking with some other bikers who minutes earlier had been complete strangers. We sat and talked with strangers a lot on this trip. One of these women asked what we would do differently on this ride if we did it again. I had not even considered this question. So after thinking about it for a minute, I honestly told her I could not think of anything I would change about this ride. All the aspects that we could plan went as planned. Even the sorts of things like the weather we could not control went really well.

This ride certainly broadened my perspectives. I really love the United States. Now I have a very personal concept for just how vast and diverse the country is. We visited lots of small towns with lots of small businesses that were getting by trying to make a go of it. We saw more ranchers and farmers than I ever imagined. We experienced more kindness from total strangers than we deserved; indeed more than I knew could exist for two cyclists pedaling bikes across the country.

The TransAmerican bike route is a bit of a parallel universe populated by cyclists from around the world who are looking for adventure, discovery, and to accomplish a goal that seems impossible. All along the route are rural towns and people who all are friendly, supportive, and willing to help those cyclists with those goals. With all those cyclists helping each other and the locals supporting the cyclists, the impossible becomes possible.

This ride has also expanded my expectations on what my 55 year old body can still do. When we started last summer, I was not sure if I could push myself this hard without a knee or a back quitting on me. I can not even count the number of times that people approached us on the route to say they always wanted to ride across the country. If that describes you, push aside the demons of doubt and go do it. Jon and I did. It was one of the very best things I have ever done. What is stopping you?

This ride would not have been possible with the support of my wife, Teresa. More than any other person, Teresa made the impossible actually possible.

My final note of thanks to Jon for spending the time, effort, and energy to do this amazing journey with me. The memories will last a life time.

- Doug