Transcon 2020

After years of dreams, Mike made plans to spend April and May riding 3500 solo miles across the USA, using the effort to raise money for cancer research at Dana-Farber as a supplement to his regular Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) fundraising. Donations, large and small, are welcomed and can be made via this link.

Then -- COVID. Rather than scrap the plan, a "virtual transcon" -- 3500 New England day trip miles, carrying all supplies for the day. The first 2000 miles will cover all 343 mainland Mass. cities and towns, the rest will add adjacent states. If you would like to be added to the blog d-list, use this email link.

Cape Cod is my second home, and it was fun to plan a ride that touched some of my favorite spots but also included some new roads. I made sure to include sections of Falmouth's Shining Sea Bikeway and the Canal Trail, the start of PMC's Day 2 ride to PTown.

A special shout out to friend and PMC rider AJ -- he volunteered use of his southern Vermont home as a base to do my Western Mass. riding -- it shortens up my travel time and is allowing me to finish much quicker than I expected. THANK YOU AJ!

Peru is aptly named -- it has the highest elevation town center and the highest mean elevation in the entire state. Getting there is a long series of two steps up / one step down riding -- the town center is higher than the top of Wachusett Mountain, with much more total climbing to reach. I also finally got a chance to enjoy a few miles on Route 66 (the Mass version) -- my original transcon plans were to spend 2000+miles on the American classic -- maybe another time.

Mount Greylock is the tallest mountain in Mass by far, a climb I have enjoyed several times before. Definitely recommend the visit, either by car or bike -- views from the top are awesome given how it towers over the surrounding countryside. Trip was even more enjoyable given that the access roads were closed to cars -- much safer and quieter :) I also enjoyed the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, very pleasant. The countryside surrounding Greylock is rolling farmland -- great riding!

2060 miles down -- 1440 to go! Just west of St. Louis and about to cross the Mississippi! And the Mass Map will be completed by next weekend if plans hold -- will be moving on to new challenges, starting with today's ride!