My husband Twain is driving Oakley and me up the New Jersey Turnpike towards home. A heavy rain is rattling against the roof of the car and every few minutes we hydroplane just a little. My knees and elbows ache, and I have callouses and some gravel embedded in my palms. I have lost 20 pounds. Other than that, there is no indication that Oakley and I have just completed a 4,329-mile ride across the United States.
It has only been three days since we coasted to a stop in Yorktown, Virginia, but already I ache to get back on our bikes and see what is around the next corner. Watching the land unfold before us, meeting kind strangers at every stop and focusing our days on the simplest of needs, food, rest, shelter and working together, which helped life make sense. Now these billboards I see out the car window, advertising XXX Erotica at exit 8 and the Honda Car Dealership at exit 7, seem especially crass and off putting.
Today, I feel pulled in many directions. I am longing to see my home and family, beginning to think about what the next phase of my life is going to look like, and already missing our adventure terribly. How is this possible?
Oakley has been very affectionate since we finished biking, and there is a deep feeling of camaraderie between us. I feel pangs that will soon become diluted when we get caught up in our respective lives, but maybe not. Maybe our bond will settle deep within and become the substrate for dealing with future challenges and teenage transitions that we will soon be facing.
This trip has taught us an incredible amount about ourselves, our abilities, the world, people and how they all entwine. It has taught us that the best things come from allowing ourselves to be a bit uncomfortable, a bit scared and a bit reckless. I will never be able to thank enough everyone who has supported us along the way, both emotionally and financially. The kindness we have experienced has been astounding.
On the last evening of our adventure, Oakley and I camped on the side of the James River, 30 miles from the finish line at Yorktown. We made a fire and sat up talking about our highs and lows and appreciating each other’s strengths on the trip. We slept under the stars next to the dying embers. In the morning, the sun rose over the river, turning the early fog pink. “Come on mom. Get up, let’s go!” called Oaks.
I sat up slowly and gazed about feeling quieted by the magnitude of this day. Suddenly, we both heard a roaring clatter coming toward us. Was it a military jet? A huge power boat? We froze and peered in the direction of the sound. “What the hell?” questioned Oakley, a little on edge.
All at once the sky filled with birds. Thousands of grackles descended on our campsite. Truly, thousands. More than I have ever seen. The cacophony they made was so loud that we had to shout over them, which we did, sharing our disbelief at their numbers and noise.
The grackles ousted a couple of hawks and a handful of turkey vultures that began circling overhead. A young raccoon went scurrying across our campsite and dove into a hole halfway up an oak tree right next to our picnic table. The grackle party went on and on. It was a madhouse. We packed up while this symphony was underway. It was like fireworks; it was like a party. It was the perfect send off, and I had tears again.
This trip was harder than I expected and more wonderful than I expected. I would do it again in a heart beat.
If there are any questions about our trip, please comment and I will be happy to respond.
Oakley’s Perspective:
Our last night on the road we stayed at a campsite on a peninsula on the James River. That night in some ways was really sad and and really happy. My mother and I sat by the fire and talked about our highs and lows of the trip and what we appreciated about biking across country. We both agreed that we appreciated how people were so nice and helpful to us. People would offer to fix our bikes. Someone paid for our meal one day. Everywhere we went people were always trying to help us in some way.
The next morning at our lovely campsite we were eating breakfast of granola and milk and coffee when a huge swarm of grackles flew into the trees above us and all started chirping to each other. It was so loud that they started to stir up other animals such as a raccoon, some hawks and some other creatures.
I didn’t really accept that we were done the trip until the next morning, the day after arriving at my grandma’s house. When I woke the next morning I got up and thought to myself, “I really just biked across the country.” Even in the car right now, two days later and on the way back home to Maine, I still can’t believe it.
Now that am literally on my way home I think about all the adventures that I had, and I would like thank my mother for making me bike across America and go through all the hard times together. I wouldn’t have been able do this on my own.
Thank you, mom.
Congratulations! What an amazing experience!
I am in awe of you both. I am inspired by your strength Congratulations!
That’s amazing!!!! GREAT JOB!!!!
Oh, you both looked so strong, tanned and happy. It was a great trip in countless ways!
Just plain astounding. Astounding. Astounding.
Thank you for bringing us on this journey with you, and I’ll wager this trip will benefit the both of you for the rest of your lives. This sure encourages ME to develop a much better, “I think I can” mindset. Thank you for that!
AND – welcome home! I’m just over-the-top impressed.
Congratulations — in SO many ways! I cannot wait to hear more tales over dinner on Peaks sometime soon…xoxoxoxoxox
Welcome Home!
OAKLEY YOU MADE ME CRY!!!!
Congratulations on your journey, and thank you for sharing so much of it with us. And welcome home, the island missed you.
Congratulations to both of you, after overcoming so many tough obstacles and setbacks, you persevered and made it!! I’m sure it was much, much tougher than what came across in your writing, but the wonder of your experience and achievement made it all worth much more, both for you and for us back home. Thanks so much for sharing your trip with us!
Congratulations! You both deserve to be proud of your huge accomplishment. Thank you for your willingness to share all of your highs, lows, and in-betweens. I especially enjoyed reading about your journey from two different perspectives. Blessings as you settle back into “civilian” life.
Congratulations on your amazing accomplishment! You are my biking and parenting hero! Thank you for sharing your journey with me. I have looked forward to your posts weekly. I hope you have a gentle transition back to home and routine life. Enjoy your new perspective on life. You will truly be changed forever!
Way to go Leah and Oakly. You will never be the same. I hope as your day to day life takes hold you both keep those incredible lessons and memories in the forefront and that those things will surly shape whatever is next. Let the adventures continue. See you in the spring. Wish I was there for the celebrations.
You did it!!! A life changing experience, I’m sure! Thanks so much for sharing your journey through this amazing blog. We will miss it too.
I am so amazed and happy for your both. This will be a memory you will cherish. I wish you both well in your future adventures. Thank you for sharing all this with us. Be well and take good care.
Amazing work, well done both. You crossed the US so fast! Thanks for sharing your journey with the world, it was really enjoyable reading about your travels, and having the 2 different perspectives was a nice touch. 🙂
Congratulations! You two are amazing.
Woot woot! So proud my heart is bursting. Congratulations Leah & Oaks! Sorry we won’t be there when you get home, we are on the road too.
Congratulations…
what to say? the trek is so inspirational. and so is your reporting/prose-both of you. memories forever! a journey to remember. well done!
j.
Thank you for sharing your adventures, I am in Australia and have four boys in or just out of their teenage years so loved following your journey from two perspectives. Loved your writing style, honesty and sense of humour. All the best in settling back into your daily lives.
Congratulations on completing this experience of a lifetime. You will remember it always. So glad you could complete it together and bond closer.
congratulations.. an amazing adventure!!!
A terrific story and a terrific bond! Happy for you both and ready for the next phase of your adventure no matter what it is nor where it goes! Ted Vaughan
Wow! CONGRATS!!!
You are now a certified specialist!
I have an idea about what to do next.
-Start a small company leading teens on adventures
-Get support from brand companies to complete your next adventure, maybe abroad!!?? ”
-Where’s bikemum” youtube channel. Companies will pay to get their ads shown.
-Write a local news blog with smaller adventures of fostering teen self reliance and exploration.
-Get hired by outdoor companies to test gear specialized for teens.
Need me to come up with more? Lets brainstorm in person 🙂
XO,
Miranda
What terrific ideas! Can you come up with some business ideas for me, Miranda? But first, Leah – I think you should sleep… 😉
Last but not least~
Boat and Bike the Eastern Seaboard Islands from Peaks Island to Key West. Oaks can learn basic boat navigation with Twain, Meet/greet/and eat like the locals at each island. Get to know the histories and interview the personalities. Book or blog it.
Everything everyone else has said so far…beyond Amazing! Sooo happy for you and Oakley! I don’t know why you’re wondering “what next”, Leah! You write so superbly…it’s as if you’re speaking to us all… how about turning it into a bestseller! It’s a profound and inspiring story that so many would benefit from, especially parents and their kids…I hope you pull it all together, complete with photos, and PUBLISH IT!!! Love to you and your entire extraordinary family! And…thank you!!!
What an incredible adventure and feat to have accomplished- and a bond to share forever. Thanks so much for sharing.
Congrats! As I followed you and Oakley on this epic adventure, I wished I would have done something like that with my own children. Well done!!!
Mazel tov.
Three cheers!!! Hip hip hooray ! Yes, totally cried when I read yo u thanking your mom, oakley. You two are stellar human beings making each other stronger, mentally and physically. The highest regards to you both. Thank you for sharing this adventure with us all.
Congratulations! An amazing trip! Thank you for sharing the ups and downs of the road. I look forward to the book!
I’m 63 with chronic Lyme disease and have every intention of the same route summer of 2021. Solo can you tell me if you think that is wise. All said and done did you bike every day or take a day off now and again ? What kind of mileage did you average a day? What kind of bikes? Thanks and I absolutely loved following you on this journey. Blessings
I absolutely think you can do it.You can set your own pace and you will et stronger everyday. Most people seem to do it solo, but you will never really be alone. There is so much encouragement and support out there. We averaged between 50 and 60 miles a day, but early on it was less and by the end an 80 mile day was not uncommon. It will all be up to you. We took a day off about every two weeks and stayed in motels 6 tomes just to regroup-and sometimes because there was no camping option. I rode a rebuilt specialized bike that only cost 400 dollars.Doesn’t have to be fancy-just strong.
Great Ride. Congratulation
Welcome back! Although we summer on Peaks, I don’t think we have ever met, but I have become your invisible companion on your trip. I worried about you as you prepared for your trip, struggled up and down the mountains, and rejoiced with you as each adventure brought you closer to accomplishing your feat – safely. Thank you for your weekly notes; I enjoyed reading and sharing your adventures. You might even think of still giving us at least another report as you both return home and attempt to settle back into “normal” routines.
I hope to meet you on Peaks in June to congratulate you both on an amazing feat.
Well done. I especially admire that the two of you were able to camp so much. Even if it was out of necessity, it’s still impressive.
Hope you find re-entry into your regular life easy. I’d enjoy an update from you two after a few weeks, if you can manage it. Especially, what things you look at differently day-to-day now.
Doing a real book is a cool idea, but if you want something a bit less ambitious, you could go to Snapfish, Shutterfly, Vistaprint, etc., and get a picture book made of your adventure. The words are already here on your website. My sister-in-law made a softcover book out of our pictures after a tour, and it was wonderful. Maybe I’m old school, but think it was much easier to show people a book than scroll through a tablet.
I actually gained 4 pounds on the Transamerica, but that was when I was young, more than 30 years ago. On the Southern Tier in 2017, I lost 15 pounds, and was glad to see them go. Strangely, in both cases, I ended up at the same weight. But one tip. I kept eating like I was on the road when I got back, instead of normal portions. Mistake.
Oakley’s final sentence makes it all worthwhile, doesn’t it? I’m NOT crying. The air is just smoky from the forest fire 200 miles away.
I have enjoyed reading about your trip, following along here and on Facebook! So proud of you two for doing this!
(If you ever decide to do another trip along the pacific coast, look me up, I’m a Warmshowers host in Washington…)
I’m so impressed by your tenacity, your bravery, and your strength to make it all the way across the country. What an experience that you will never forget! I have been fascinated by both of your accounts of the journey and looked forward to reading each week. So amazing! Thanks for sharing this grand adventure. I haven’t seen you since Oakley was very small, but wish you and your family all the best.
You two are incredible! Congratulations. I have loved reading your updates and I am in awe of your strength – both physical and emotional. Welcome home. 🙂
No need to post twice! I didn’t think it worked the first time!
i have a little tear that the trip is over. and also a sense of relief.
it will be challenging to find your new purposes for sure. vj
Congratulations!!! I just enjoyed reading about your adventures! Also, I love that Oakley expressed his gratitude to his Mom! ❤️
I am in awe of you both! What an amazing accomplishment. I have followed you all the way from dream, to planning, to the amazing daily rides, to the finish. Will stay tuned for the next venture, or maybe the book!
Welcome home!! So happy that you had this adventure and were safe through it. You should write a book about your trip.
Congratulations! An impressive journey, a life long change for you both. Thank you for sharing the highs and lows of your adventures on the trip. Welcome back.
It has been such a joy to follow you both on this amazing AMAZING adventure. Thank you for sharing it.
I think every one of your followers is grateful that you made it and that you are home safe and well.
Oakley, you’re mother is special! Of all the things you accomplish in you’re future, I bet this will top them all.
Thank you for sharing your experiences about endurance, perseverance and emotions. I can relate it to the many bicycle holidays I made myself. What I found most touching to your blogs is reading about the gradual strengthening of the bond between you two. It’s these experiences that make you unique, and you will remember them forever.
If you and/or Oakley ever undertake such bicycle journey again, I would be delighted to read from you.
Diane Cunha was who told me of your plan to ride across the USA with Oakley, And even though I do not know you at all, I loved following your journey. Such an awesome thing. What kid can say he rode his bicycle across the country, because his mother made him!!!!! I hope that it continues to work itself out in some astounding and satisfying ways.
God bless you both
Leah & Oakley,
An amazing accomplishment. Welcome home. Your journey is inspiring.
Jim
p.s. the old office remains empty and they just painted it. It’s looking pretty good. just saying
Bravo. A great adventure, finely observed and well told.
Is the glorious adventure truly over? Will the much anticipated stories of the triumphs. the trials, the thrills stop for good. I want to believe it and rejoice that you are safe at home but a part of me wants the trip to continue. Your adventure became one for those who love and admire you. What do we do now?! That is the question you must be struggling with and I hope you will share your answer when you find it. In the meanwhile I thank you again, each of you, for sharing your journey with us. And I send you wholehearted admiration and much love.