Planning the route

We originally planned to take off for our cross-country bike trip in May 2026, a day after Penn State commencement. Our goal – ride from Washington, DC to the Oregon coast. That gets us through the midwest heat before the height of summer.

But alas, an unexpected job change for me (Denise) makes that timing a bit too challenging. No real chance that we can get on the road in early May. So, a quick pivot, and we have a new plan.

Fortune smiled on us, and I secured a sabbatical for the fall semester. So a late summer start still works, and it gets us across the country by mid-October 2026. But, October in the West can be cold and unpredictable. We’re rerouting in the other direction – West to East, Washington State to Washington, DC.

Another big change for us, riding with only one support vehicle (thanks, Brian!). We originally had one per couple, but Mark will be joining us on the ride instead of driving. We’re glad to have a third rider for safety (and mechanical support), but the change means Anita and Mark are looking for hotels/cabins on the route.

My thoughts – there is no way you can ride across the country and stay in hotels/B&Bs/cabins. But, Anita has proven me wrong (except for three nights over a 75 days trip). She has planned a reasonable route with paved roads, gravel roads, and rails-to-trails, averaging 65ish miles per day (some a little longer and some shorter). This might be a new favorite route for folks who want to do the same. Stay tuned to see how it goes!