Introduction
IntroductionEarly in 1997 I finagled a two month leave of absence from my job and used the time to bicycle across the United States, from Delaware to Oregon. I'm not quite sure what impelled me to do it, other than that I like to ride my bike, I was feeling an urge to do something Large in life, and I suddenly found myself with an opportunity to get away from the office for a while without being missed much.
So I set out with no other goal than to go for some good rides and have an adventure or two, figuring that the expedition's meaning would become clearer after I had done it. It didn't -- there were no Zen Masters on the tops of the mountains, only liquor stores -- but I had a wonderful time, something I'd call the "adventure of a lifetime" if I didn't intend to do it again.
I saw interesting and pretty places, met great people and learned a lot of lessons about long-distance bike touring and about being away from home for a while. In these web pages, I hope to be able to describe the trip (or the better parts of it) in a way that spreads around the fun I had.
This remains a work in progress, so check in from time to time to see what I've added. Meanwhile, have a look around. Once you've exhausted these links, trying reading about my 1995 ride from Boston to DC -- more photos there!
Finally. I have a Guestbook and I'd be real happy if you'd sign it! You can also read what others have had to say (from April 2001 forward).
Thanks for visiting!
-- John Dorsey
Perfunctory autobiographical postscript: I'm originally from Michigan but I have lived and worked in Washington, D.C. since 1981. In the spring of 1997 I was 41, and single (a distinct advantage when it comes to planning trips like this).
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