Wow, this is awesome. I would love to do this trip. I mean, not on a bike, I wouldn't be able to do that, but the general idea of a trans-American trip is great.

Agreed.

It's threads like this that make me wish I was a teacher with summers off. My dad is a prof, and when we were kids we did the cross USA road trip thing a few times. Even drove across Canada once. I feel like I'm abusing my own kids by not doing the same thing with them.

I'm pretty set with people to stay with in the KCMO and St. Louis areas. Thanks for the almost offer :)

Most people do go west to east, but since I'm already on the east coast I figure I'll just go from here. I've got low-gears and time! :earth:

Thanks for the offer, I'll let ya know if I get up to Seattle. I know the route map I posted shows a line from Vancouver to Mexico, but I'm still not sure exactly where I'm going once I hit the west coast.

North to Alaska? South to San Diego? I've never been to Washington, so it'd be a shame to miss Seattle (a place I hear I'd probably really like).

For the curious, here's some of the best long-distance cycling journals I've come across:

Chuck/Charlie, a 23ish year old IT consultant rides down the east coast, west to California, then north to wherever he ends up. I think he snapped something in his head a ways back.
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/conq

Jamie, 25 year old line cook rides the TransAmerican route and down the Pacific Coast to San Francisco. He doesn't come off as real likable, but his skill at relating his trip improves drastically.
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/jamie2006

Neil Gunton, founder of CrazyGuyOnABike. A really good journal.
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/neil98

It's 1986 and Dave is 20, he's riding across the country, this is his journal and commentary from 20 years later. Excellent.
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/Tuz1986

This one is by a middle-aged guy from France (one parent was British the other was French) who makes it to Kansas and has to pack it in due to an injury. It's one of the most charming and readable of the journals, and probably my favorite.
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/2189

If I apologize for the deep throating joke, will you join me for darts and beer while you're in town? You're bound to need the rest by then. We could get barefoot serpent to join us. He's also a prodigious peddler.

I'm not real sure I could peddle all the way to the grocery store right now, let alone across the entire country.

No need for an apology. I'm always up for good oral sex jokes, no matter what light they cast me in.

I'll definitely be up for drunken darting.

I'm betting I'll spend a few days south of the river (Lee's Summit) with friends and maybe venture up to Happyrock to see my 85 year old grandpa.

I also want to go check out KU as a grad-school possibility if I get a chance. I haven't been there in 10+ years.

Like a lot of things, pedaling across the country just takes time and a tough ass.

Well, as luck would have it, Lee's Summit is just next door, suburb-wise. I live right off of 350 Highway, which turns into 50 Highway when it enters Lee's Summit just East of here.

Hah, I don't think I ever noticed that you live in Raytown. I'm blind to those under-the-name boxes.

I lived in Lee's Summit from 6th to 10th grade, and lived in Liberty before that. I still dream of living in Westport someday, just a couple blocks from Mario's grinder joint if possible.

Fantastic! I'd offer you a place to stop, but it looks like we're a little off your path.

then you need to pm me when you get into the 'hood and stay at my place.

By that time she'll have so many weapons she can do what she damn well pleases. :D

Yes the Kansas wind can be relentless....not just Kansas. It's weird to pass a truck or go under an overpass, that breaks the wind, and your vehicle actually veers enough you have to make a course correction with the wheel. Motorcycles get pushed around too. It's worst when it's gusting
I remember in Montana the wind blowing so hard, I just put the van (3 tons) in neutral at a dead stop and it pushed us out of the parking lot and a half mile up a very slight incline. :eek:

Holy crap.

I'm actually sort of nervous about the first time I get passed by a semi. Apparently their draft tries to suck you out into the road after them. I have visions of being sucked out behind a big truck only to be hit by a tail-gating Geo.

But if you get into one of those drafts, you won't have to peddle until you get to the Rockies. :D

Grant, if you get a chance, look me up when you get to St. Louis. I PM'd you my phone number.