We are in the Wild, Wild West! I’ve kept calling it that. It’s not that wild. Only wildly scenic. Such picturesque sunsets and landscapes, I am just in awe of what beautiful country we’re biking through. I’m also constantly kicking myself for my ignorance growing up and thinking places like Idaho, Wyoming and Montana were…
Author: Following Cairns
tailwinds to ya’
We are not in Kansas anymore! Instead, we are in the state we most anticipated, our current home state of Colorado! We have been looking forward to getting to this section of the TransAm since we started. The east coast and Midwest were also wonderful but the views and terrain are just much more scenic…
chugging along
We are far from Elizabethtown and out of Kentucky! Actually, we entered and left Illinois too and we’re now in Missouri! Things have been so wonderful lately. We’ve met a lot of riders, mostly eastbounders and many locals as well. Using WarmShowers more often has been a treat. Not only have we been able to sleep…
when the going gets tough…
Okay so how do we get rid of this bad juju? I have my Navajo ghost beads, I should be set! (But really, thank you for my beads, Kimmae!) Despite all of the amazing experiences we’ve had so far, things have gotten just a bit sour recently and we’re doing our best to not allow…
of courage, climbs, and confederate flags
It’s day 24 now and we finally crossed our first state border into Kentucky! I was beginning to think we were going to be in Virginia for the next month. We planned on going about 50 miles a day in order to complete the ride in 3 months but we have been going a bit…
the hills, the trials, the people
There’s been so much happening that it’s been difficult to keep up with this blog. I am trying my best but I also journal and have limited service/battery. My thoughts are also very much scattered so I apologize for that in advance and for the 6th grade journal entry quality of writing. It’s day 12…
changing the narrative
One of the reasons I’m choosing to document this journey is because I hope to encourage others to take chances and do the things they want to but that may feel distant and unattainable for numerous reasons. Had you asked me even a year ago if I would be riding my bike across the country,…
as the tour nears
By Austin Back in 2008 I was living in Austin, TX and I was of course one of the cool kids that rode a fixed gear bike around town, doing track stands at lights, splitting traffic lanes during rush hour, and enjoying the freedom that cycling brought. I recall sitting in the office for the Social…
to the highest of our hopes
We did a thing! On June 3rd, Austin and I graduated with our Master’s degrees from the University of Denver. Austin earned his Master of Social Work and I earned a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration. It was a long two years for me and a long, jam packed year for…
training rides
[Click photos to view them larger/slideshow] You’d be surprised, or perhaps not, that we haven’t gone for many long rides in preparation for the tour. When we ask anyone that has toured before about training, they all say the same thing: the best preparation for a bike tour is to do one. Of course, getting…
Following Cairns 