Chris Nadovich's 2009 Transamerica Bike Tour.

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Mon, 13 Jul 2009

Atlantic City, NJ

The most common question we were asked during our ride was: "how long will this take?" I found the question to be troubling because it implied that our journey was subtracting something from our lives -- that it was an overhead cost or temporary distraction that was keeping us away from what we really should be doing.

This ride didn't take anything at all. Rather, it gave us over forty days of wonderful experience that will add to our lives for years to come.

More than that (and most surprising to me) it gave to the lives of more people than just Gary and I. As I talked to the small crowd of friends and family that gathered like a cloud of homespun paparazzi at the end of St James Place to witness the ceremonial wheel dunk in the Atlantic Ocean, I learned that our ride had touched their lives on a daily basis. Through this blog, phone calls, cell photos, and an old fashioned post card or two, our progress across this great continent had become everyone's progress.

When we successfully spotted an unusual bird (like the whitewater pelican) or vainly hunted some local delicacy (like the elusive "squeeker"), our friends and family somehow were riding right beside us enjoying the thrill or disappointment. When we crossed an important dividing line, news of this accomplishment would be telegraphed rapid fire amongst our spiritual co-riders like the latest sports news or hot gossip: "The boys are across the Divide!" Or, when a few days would go by without us being able to communicate with the world, shared worry and foreboding would develop, turning into shared relief and excitement when we popped back up.

Discovering that so many of you were riding along with us in spirit was both thrilling and humbling. Through the comments on the blog I knew early on that many people were paying attention, but until I saw the crowd of you all dip your wheels of happiness, sympathy, and friendship alongside ours, I had no idea of the size and strength of our spiritual peloton.

We All Made It!

Of course, not all our co-riders were spiritual. Thanks, Mike, for hosting and riding with us at the very beginning. And thanks, too, for your brutally hilly route over the coastal range and the flank of Mount Hood that got us started in good, painful style. They say: what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Maybe Mike's route strengthened us better and earlier and thereby helped us avoid injury later on.

Thanks to the PA Land Sharks Sharon, Adam, and TJ for physically riding along with us at the end. Extra kudos go to TJ who devised what was (in my no so humble opinion) a most excellent, back-roads route to Atlantic City. He withstood the heat from the peanut gallery that accompanies the nearly thankless job of navigating. Thanks Teej! I owe you one.

Lastly, I'd like to thank Gary who's confidence and strength as a riding partner inspired me to push through some of my more challenging days, and who's camaraderie, exuberance, and sense of humor helped dissipate the tedium and loneliness of the big open spaces we crossed.

   9 comments    permalink

Rich Clevenger wrote

Hi

Congratulations on finishing your adventure. That's a big one off the bucket list. Gary, Mary Ann and I will see you in mid September.

Sharon T. wrote

Welcome home

What an accomplishment and adventure. Surely few of us have the courage and drive to leave our comfort zone for a largely unknown journey requiring such physical and mental endurance. You must surely have a better feel for the vast open spaces in the West as mile after mile would roll by with little change in scenery.

Your captivating blog was a joy to read. Thank you for sharing your adventure.

Fran wrote

wage slave

Bravo!

Congratulations.

Coffee at my desk at work in the morning just won't be the same without your journey updates.

Looking forward to keeping up with you in the more usual way, since even just day to day, it's a journey.

Take care.

Fran

Joy Holter wrote

Square One Bar & Cafe

WOO HOO!! Good for you guys. Glad to see you're back safe and sound. It's been fun watching your journey. Thanks for making us a part of that. Our patrons that we told about your quest asked how you were progressing when they came in. We've all enjoyed it. Joy and company.

Dalton Humphrey wrote

"Chris and Gary's Excellent Adventure"

Amazing accomplishment; looking forward to hearing more details and stories from the open road...

Mike Norkitis wrote

Congrats on the completion of your ride! It was a blast riding with you and Gary. Thanks again for letting me tag along for the first couple of days. Glad to see that everyone made it safely back. Take care and happy trails!

Angela Combest wrote

Congratulations on the successful ride. It was great following along on the blog.

Charlie Nadovich wrote

An AWESOME accomplishmen!

Son, I stood in awe and silence while you carried out your dream! I write this because I can guess as to the great amount of physical, mental energy it must have taken for both of you to stay focused and carry on in the face of the roads, dry runs, weather, body pain and many other items that none of us can imagine tugged on you! Hey, Lolo Pass was a breeze, right :-) I am in "AWE" of you because I am so proud of you as my son! At the same time, ashamed of myself, for not being their for the proud completion >> The Atlantic dip on St James Place! I, as all your other blog followers, thank you for taking me along with you and Gary, it removed the wonder what, where and how they are stress! For the recored >> I thank all who attended the GREAT DIP and had a drink with the two Cross Country Bikers << Now, I request that the two of you rest and let your bodies heal! God Bless you and thank you Chris for being my son!

Your PROUD DAD

PS I say, just as the wage slave says >>"BRAVO"<

Chris wrote

As much as I'd like to let you all believe that the 40 days were filled with grueling effort that required sustained willpower, it simply wasn't the case. There were some days that were tougher than others, but after a week or so it became a routine, like anything.

Real effort is needed to START a new journey. If our trip inspires people, I hope it inspires them to attempt new things, to break out of routine and gather to courage to move in new directions.

I know that many of you reading this are at turning points in your lives. I look forward to hearing about your new journeys. Where are they headed? How long will they take?