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.

Another Wampanoag story. A lake -- and the Pilgrims arrive. They want to fish. The Wampanoags negotiate. And thus -- the longest place name in the United States. Translated "You fish on your side, I'll fish on my side, and no one shall fish in the middle!". A lovely day in Central Mass -- including a fly-by of the Pan-Mass Sturbridge start -- a pass through the newest town in Massachusetts (celebrating its 100th anniversary this year), and a brief pass through the Nutmeg State.

Days 22 and 23 -- plugging in puzzle pieces. Mostly slog through urban towns. Lynn ("The City of Sin"), Chelsea, Everett -- no place for bikes. (and, given COVID, the one day I wore a mask). Enjoyed Deer Island (only in America would we combine a sewage treatment plant with a National Recreation Area!) and the visit to the near-island town of Nahant. And -- there has been no town transition more abrupt than the one from Andover to Lawrence. Like shifting from fourth to first on an old stick shift. One minute -- cruising by the quad of Philips Academy Andover, the next -- signs in Spanish, and cars maxing out the bass. I missed the picture, but I found it ironic that the town line sign was missing the sign pointing to Andover, like "hey, we don't really want to acknowledge this".

Today -- back to the countryside. Where town names ask questions. (cue: Abbott and Costello). Or copy nations. (cue: European Vacation!) Or are named after Revolutionary War heroes. It was a good day!

1631 miles down -- 1969 to go! Between OKC and Tulsa -- I will be past halfway by the next post!