A Much Better Version

This blog was recently copied over to the Crazy Guy On  A Bike Website.  The format is MUCH better and I recommend you enjoy it there instead.  The main difference is that it progresses forward through the trip and not  backward.  

The Sibling Tour of 2009

The Short Version

If you only have time to watch one video - please watch this one. I think it wraps up the whole trip very well. However the entire adventure was amazing so if have time please start at The Shakedown trip at the bottom of this page and continue from there. Remember, you will need to read the blog in reverse (each page bottom up) - and you can use the links on the side to get to a particular month if you want to stop and resume later.

PS - I kept a few statistics on my trip each day - click here for the log.

Thanks for visiting my blog!

4806 Total Miles!

I updated the Google Map to reflect the actual route I took across the USA. Wait just a bit for the map to load all the way and then you can click on the location or zoom in.

Rollin into Seattle!

A Distant Welcome

My sister Evelyn had a very nice reception for me upon my arrival at her home in Edmonds, WA and in the midst of the celebration, I noticed these posters hanging on her deck. They were prepared by my sister Sharon in South Dakota so that the whole South Dakota gang could help celebrate a very special moment in my life. Sharon had a special party in my honor so these pictures could be taken and thanks to this group effort, I felt as though my whole family was there with me when I completed my adventure. Along with these great posters was a donation collected so that I might enjoy my stay in the Seattle area. Isn't my family great?!!

Incredible Adventure Completed

Week 14 of my bicycle trip proved to have the most incredible scenery I could imagine. The decent out of Washington Pass on Hwy. 20 was unbelievable but pictures and video just don't quite compare. I experienced mixed emotions as Larry and I rolled into my sisters place where they had a very nice reception for me with dinner, drinks and friends. It was a fantastic way to conclude an experience of a lifetime.





In all the excitement of the end of my adventure and a rush to get a "wrap up" type video posted, I forgot to post pictures from the last week of my trip. Now it is February 2nd 2010 and I'm finally getting around to posting these forgotten scenes. Riding through the Cascades was some of the most incredible scenery I have ever experienced. Many of the amazing visual moments from this week, and from the entire trip, were captured only by my eyes - I wish I could share them all. I hope you have enjoyed the few that I did capture with my cameras like these from the final week.

Washington Apples

Visiting my sister Evelyn who lives in the Seattle area was a really great excuse to ride across the USA from corner to corner. Evelyn is the oldest of 5 sisters and we are close in age so as children we always hung out together. Even though we moved as far apart as we could without leaving the continental United States, we have still remained very close through the years.

Evelyn and Jeff have had a very difficult past two years. Both parents on Jeff’s side recently passed after long battles with cancer. His mother passed a little over a year ago and his father passed just one day before I arrived. Jeff and Evelyn provided intensive care all the way through his Mother Pennie's illness and after she passed his father Jim, who was recently diagnosed himself moved in with them. During the last part of his illness he required intensive care that Evelyn and Jeff again provided without question, and Jim was truly grateful.

My family is fantastic and Evelyn and Jeff are just 2 more examples of “good apples” that just happened to fall a bit farther from the tree. Not so far that I couldn’t visit by bicycle though.

Twitter Updates - Month Three

For those not following on Twitter, here are the last month's updates. Read bottom-up to get proper sequence.


Hills, heat & heavy traffic as I rode the last 68 miles to my sister's place in Edmonds, WA. I MADE IT!!!!8:20 PM Jul 28th from txt

New video posted on blog bikedenbec.blogsspot.com9:01 PM Jul 27th from txt

Rode 44 mi to planned dest. Sedro-Woolley, WA which is over 50 mi North of my sisters house. Oops! LOL Nice hot weather. Camping.7:38 PM Jul 27th from txt

Thankful for perfect weather to cross my last big mtn pass and into the most beautiful scenery you can imagine. Camping Marblemount, WA 80 m9:24 PM Jul 26th from txt

Weather cleared as I crossed 2nd of 4 Mtn passes then got up to 97 then threatening clouds but not much rain. Camping in Okanogan, WA 74 mi8:31 PM Jul 24th from txt

20 miles slowly up (3 hrs) to Sherman Pass then 20 miles down in 20 min - first of 4 big Mtns this week. Camping in Republic WA rain now.6:43 PM Jul 23rd from txt

Rebooted Odo & it is working again. Rode over small Mtn Pass & continued on for 77 mi with temps over 100. Camping Kettel Falls, WA8:59 PM Jul 22nd from txt

Odometer totally not working but maps show I rode 59 mi from Sandpoint, ID to Usk Washington (woo-hoo-hoo!). Nice warm (hot?) day & scenic.9:07 PM Jul 21st from txt

New videos posted on blog bikedenbec.blogspot.com1:12 PM Jul 20th from txt

Rode 25 mi to Sandpoint, ID & got to see Harry Potter movie. Staying with warmshowers host & taking a rest day tomorrow.9:46 PM Jul 19th from txt

I am in Pacific time zone now. Daily updates may be slightly later.9:02 PM Jul 18th from txt

Found I can sleep through party animals just not wild animals. Nice day nearly 100 deg. Rode 85 miles to Clark Fork, Idaho (woo-hoo!) campin9:00 PM Jul 18th from txt

After no sleep last night (bear activity) I stopped a bit early in Plains, MT 50mi. Camping free at fairgrounds w/shower & elec. :)6:38 PM Jul 17th from txt

Stopped @ Adventure Cycling in Missoula for pic & free icecream then rode on to Superior, MT in nice warm 90s. 72 miles camping9:00 PM Jul 16th from txt

Passed 4000 mi. on way to Missoula. MT. camping just south in Lolo as it is cheaper. Nice warm day. 54 mi. Harry Potter will have to wait.7:42 PM Jul 15th from txt

After rain delay yesterday, left Jackson Hot Springs, over pass & out of Big Hole Valley then on to warmer Darby, MT. Camping 75 mi.8:35 PM Jul 14th from txt

7/12 climbed over 2 mountain passes & into Jackson, MT camping $10 w/use of hot springs. New Timers Fest & free food!!! 51m - no cell srv.5:43 PM Jul 14th from txt

Strong storms and big wind continue from yesterday afternoon. Was planning a rest day in Missoula but decided to take it here in Jackson, MT6:38 PM Jul 13th from web

No cell srv. here in Jackson, MT - today's message will be delayed until I get into service area. Camping behind hot spring lodge free food!6:05 PM Jul 12th from web

Very nice day for planned short ride to Dillon, MT & camping. Meeting a lot of other bikers. Tomorrow up again with cell srv not likley. 28m3:53 PM Jul 11th from txt


New videos posted on blog - bikedenbec.blogspot.com10:26 AM Jul 11th from txt

Nice warmer day - climbed to over 7000 ft then down and continued to Twin Bridges, MT. Camping in free camp for bicyclists 56 miles7:09 PM Jul 10th from txt

Morning temps in 30s last 3 days & storms with hail I managed to avoid. Rode 74 miles to Cameron, Montanna (woo-hoo!). Camping8:50 PM Jul 9th from txt

7/8 expected to leave park today but bad weather didn't allow. 28 miles in strong gusty wind. Camping at Madison in Yellowstone. No cell srv12:41 PM Jul 9th from txt

A good climb to 8400 ft & a long day of dodging RVs but very scenic. Camping in Yellowstone at Canyon Village. 44miles8:03 PM Jul 7th from txt

Rode 50 m to east ent. of Yellowstone - 27 m uphil to next campground, camping not allowed (bears), staying in cabin out of budget see blog9:11 PM Jul 6th from web

Great weather for 59 miles of very desolate plains between Greybull & Cody, WY camping at nice campground in Cody.6:25 PM Jul 5th from txt

New weekly video posted on blog bikedenbec.blogspot.com10:31 AM Jul 5th from txt

Left the top of Big Horn Mtns. & 20 mi down in a much nicer day. Continued on to Greybull, WY where I'll enjoy the rest of the 4th. 46 mi.6:25 PM Jul 4th from txt

20 mi up & then 2 mi down in cold pouring rain & thunder before I stopped at a church camp that welcome me in - still raining - staying here6:45 PM Jul 3rd from web

Mix bag of weather today but not terrible. Rode 62 mi & camping at foot of Bighorn Mountains in Dayton, WY. Tomorrow . . . . Up6:59 PM Jul 2nd from txt

Sprinkles as I left the comfortable home of Doris & Buzz then good riding weather for 71 desolate miles to Clearmont, WY. Camping city park6:09 PM Jul 1st from txt

Maybe It's French

This week had more incredible scenery, new friends and a language lesson.

The Big Chill

Remember the story of the day I nearly fell victim to hypothermia crossing the Big Horn Mountains? If you recall, a total stranger named David pulled his van over and took pictures of me as I battled the elements – a scene I could never capture myself. He sent the pictures this week via email and I think they really tell the tale. Also pictured are his two daughters who were with him – the youngest of which had blue lips that day too. Hers were from eating a popsicle while mine were from turning into one.

A New Friend in Sandpoint

Let me introduce my Spokes to Paula Lund. I met Paula on Warmshowers.org, but I suspect if I hadn’t contacted her first, she would have chased me down and offered a place to stay as she does so many other bicycle tourists. I really enjoyed my stay with Paula and her pets (kids were at Yellowstone with Dad), she was a very gracious host and a fun person too. Who else would have me out on the side of a mountain way past sunset picking huckleberries for the first time in my life? Mother Nature shines on Paula’s yard with food of all kinds growing in her garden and orchard. I enjoyed picking raspberries and cherries and grazing on snow peas and other delights. Circumstances allowed me only hours notice before my arrival – yet I felt like I had known Paula for years. I suspect I will keep in touch with her long after my trip is completed and I’m sure Paula’s adventurous personality will bring her to my home in South Florida one day soon.