Oh yes- you may also run across / catch up with fellow CycleBlazer Chris George, who's starting an east-to-west on the TransAm a few days ahead of you. His journal is at:

https://www.cycleblaze.com/journals/chriscross/

Like Karen Cook, I'll be on the lookout for you as I head east, starting from Bend OR on 2 July. I'm on the TransAm route as far as West Yellowstone, when I divert onto other routes (some of my own devising) before returning to the TransAm in eastern Missouri.

You can follow my progress in my journal if you like: https://www.cycleblaze.com/journals/rejuvenation/

I too am an SIU-C alumnus, having earned my Master's degree there in the 1980s. Haven't been back to the campus since, so I've routed myself through Carbondale for old time's sake.

Yay to the Swiss Army knife!

For myself, my brother, and EVERY through-hiker we met on the AT, the effort to lighten our packs began in the first 50 miles of the trail. I still remember cutting the handles off of our toothbrushes, and once pages were read in our paperback books, those pages were used the next time we had to dig a cathole for a bathroom visit.

Look for me at about mile 500. I will reaching into my panniers to pull out stuff and chuck along the side of the trail to lighten the load :)

Your packing list sounds very well planned. I will be interested to hear if you find items to discard as the miles pass by. --Bret

Hope to see you on the road and to trade a few stories. Best of luck on your ride

You will love the ride and meet lots of other riders so going alone is no problem!

I will look for you as I head in the other direction starting in June.

Have a great ride!

It was a pleasure riding with you last year! Looking forward to following your adventure!

I live in upstate NY outside of Rochester so my training through the winter consisted of indoor group cycle classes at my local YMCA as well as stretching and lifting. As the weather has gotten better I have been riding outside 2 days a week getting in 20-35 miles each day. I plan on doing a 50 mile ride later this week (second week of April). I have not done any of these rides with the panniers attached with weight in them. I am sure I will be getting rid of some items and adding other items as I cross the country

Yes, I am going alone on this journey. There are about 1,000 bikers who do the Transamerica route every year, some east to west like me and some west to east. I will certainly meet many other bikers as well as many other people as I cross the country
I will be posting updates daily at the end of each days ride

Can’t wait to follow your journey Dave! Enjoy, be safe and know we’ll be thinking of you! Luv, Theresa

OMG! So thrilled for you, my Brother! Good for you!

Thank you for inviting me to track and wonder as you trek across this nation!

I have questions.

1) Are you going alone? Who is your safety net if needed?
2) How often will you be posting updates? I hope it's daily, with lots of pictures.
3) Is there anything you need? (Butt pillow?)
4) Do you have a plan for chronicling the journey? Family memoir, podcast, fodder for the retirement home to prove you did it?

People are going to love meeting you along the way. You have a great way about you. What a thrill. (Do you mind if I live a bit vicariously through you?

Peter Jenkins would be proud.

You have an excellent packing list - the photos are illustrative. Tell us about your training? have you loaded up and done an overnight trip? That one frequently brings second glances at the pannier contents!

I look forward to reading your journal.

420 mile journey
42 mile of elevations
4,200 mile trek across the country
I smell a theme!
B42 long, you'll be sending pics from the top of the Rockies!
Pretty amazing Dave! We love you!
Chris & Theresa