Cycle across a continent.

“Golden Gate, as I slink underneath your shadows of symmetry, the reverence and anticipation for my bridge crossing continue to build. I watch as the locals approach you; as they utilize your structural prowess to ease their daily travels. I watch the tourists’ excitement – how fun to fly to your shores and be greeted by your iconic crimson towers. Fun and easy are delicacies that you so graciously facilitate, but I have traveled across America on a bicycle to experience your embrace. I have never seen you before in my life, but I have dreamed of you, fantasized about you, broken and rebuilt myself in order to meet you… I cannot wait to lose ourselves together in the waves of haze that strut past your towers – this daily masquerade that you seem to not only tolerate but enjoy. You steadfast, beautiful compilation of physics and poise. You have my full attention. Your tension cables ease my angst. I look up at your towers with awe, but please understand that a rediscovered stamina now lives behind my smile. You and I were both built to last, after all.”

“My personal experience of cycling across the north American continent could be described as a bitter sweet one. In no particular order, some of the things I struggled with were: the vast distances between towns/cities, particularly the further west I went, the lack of healthy food options available, a total absence of public transport in much of the country and despite my meticulous planning, there was no avoiding all of the extremities of American weather. On the other hand, there were plenty of aspects about this continent I loved: the super friendly people for one and the chance to meet a wide range of folk from different races and backgrounds. The scenery was mesmerizing (if you love deserts as much as I do) and the sense of wilderness and space found in the States is unmatched in any other country I’ve (as yet) been to.”