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Post History

Nov 13th, 2022 by Julie Nov 12th, 2022 by Kelly Nov 12th, 2022 by Julie Nov 11th, 2022 by Julie Nov 10th, 2022 by Julie Nov 9th, 2022 by Julie Nov 8th, 2022 by Julie Nov 7th, 2022 by Kelly Nov 7th, 2022 by Julie Nov 6th, 2022 by Julie Nov 5th, 2022 by Julie Nov 4th, 2022 by Julie Nov 3rd, 2022 by Julie Nov 2nd, 2022 by Kelly Nov 2nd, 2022 by Julie Nov 1st, 2022 by Julie Oct 31st, 2022 by Julie Oct 30th, 2022 by Julie Oct 29th, 2022 by Julie Oct 28th, 2022 by Kelly Oct 28th, 2022 by Julie Oct 27th, 2022 by Julie Oct 26th, 2022 by Julie Oct 25th, 2022 by Julie Oct 24th, 2022 by Julie Oct 23rd, 2022 by Kelly Oct 23rd, 2022 by Julie Oct 22nd, 2022 by Julie Oct 21st, 2022 by Kelly Oct 21st, 2022 by Julie Oct 20th, 2022 by Julie Oct 19th, 2022 by Julie Oct 18th, 2022 by Julie Oct 17th, 2022 by Julie Oct 16th, 2022 by Kelly Oct 16th, 2022 by Julie Oct 15th, 2022 by Julie Oct 14th, 2022 by Julie Oct 13th, 2022 by Julie Oct 12th, 2022 by Julie Oct 11th, 2022 by Kelly Oct 11th, 2022 by Julie Oct 10th, 2022 by Julie Oct 9th, 2022 by Julie Oct 8th, 2022 by Julie Oct 7th, 2022 by Julie Oct 6th, 2022 by Kelly Oct 6th, 2022 by Julie Oct 5th, 2022 by Julie Oct 4th, 2022 by Julie Oct 3rd, 2022 by Kelly Oct 3rd, 2022 by Julie Oct 2nd, 2022 by Julie Oct 1st, 2022 by Julie Sep 30th, 2022 by Julie Sep 29th, 2022 by Kelly Sep 29th, 2022 by Julie Sep 28th, 2022 by Julie Sep 27th, 2022 by Kelly Sep 27th, 2022 by Julie Sep 26th, 2022 by Julie Sep 25th, 2022 by Julie Sep 24th, 2022 by Julie Sep 23rd, 2022 by Julie Sep 22nd, 2022 by Kelly Sep 22nd, 2022 by Julie Sep 21st, 2022 by Julie Sep 20th, 2022 by Julie Sep 19th, 2022 by Julie Sep 18th, 2022 by Kelly Sep 18th, 2022 by Julie Sep 17th, 2022 by Julie Sep 16th, 2022 by Julie Sep 15th, 2022 by Julie Sep 14th, 2022 by Julie Sep 13th, 2022 by Kelly Sep 13th, 2022 by Julie Sep 12th, 2022 by Julie Sep 11th, 2022 by Julie Sep 10th, 2022 by Kelly Sep 10th, 2022 by Julie Sep 9th, 2022 by Julie Sep 8th, 2022 by Julie Sep 7th, 2022 by Kelly Sep 7th, 2022 by Julie Sep 6th, 2022 by Julie Sep 5th, 2022 by Julie Sep 4th, 2022 by Kelly Sep 4th, 2022 by Julie Sep 3rd, 2022 by Julie Sep 2nd, 2022 by Julie Sep 1st, 2022 by Kelly Sep 1st, 2022 by Julie Aug 31st, 2022 by Julie

Post History

Nov 13th, 2022 by Julie Nov 12th, 2022 by Kelly Nov 12th, 2022 by Julie Nov 11th, 2022 by Julie Nov 10th, 2022 by Julie Nov 9th, 2022 by Julie Nov 8th, 2022 by Julie Nov 7th, 2022 by Kelly Nov 7th, 2022 by Julie Nov 6th, 2022 by Julie Nov 5th, 2022 by Julie Nov 4th, 2022 by Julie Nov 3rd, 2022 by Julie Nov 2nd, 2022 by Kelly Nov 2nd, 2022 by Julie Nov 1st, 2022 by Julie Oct 31st, 2022 by Julie Oct 30th, 2022 by Julie Oct 29th, 2022 by Julie Oct 28th, 2022 by Kelly Oct 28th, 2022 by Julie Oct 27th, 2022 by Julie Oct 26th, 2022 by Julie Oct 25th, 2022 by Julie Oct 24th, 2022 by Julie Oct 23rd, 2022 by Kelly Oct 23rd, 2022 by Julie Oct 22nd, 2022 by Julie Oct 21st, 2022 by Kelly Oct 21st, 2022 by Julie Oct 20th, 2022 by Julie Oct 19th, 2022 by Julie Oct 18th, 2022 by Julie Oct 17th, 2022 by Julie Oct 16th, 2022 by Kelly Oct 16th, 2022 by Julie Oct 15th, 2022 by Julie Oct 14th, 2022 by Julie Oct 13th, 2022 by Julie Oct 12th, 2022 by Julie Oct 11th, 2022 by Kelly Oct 11th, 2022 by Julie Oct 10th, 2022 by Julie Oct 9th, 2022 by Julie Oct 8th, 2022 by Julie Oct 7th, 2022 by Julie Oct 6th, 2022 by Kelly Oct 6th, 2022 by Julie Oct 5th, 2022 by Julie Oct 4th, 2022 by Julie Oct 3rd, 2022 by Kelly Oct 3rd, 2022 by Julie Oct 2nd, 2022 by Julie Oct 1st, 2022 by Julie Sep 30th, 2022 by Julie Sep 29th, 2022 by Kelly Sep 29th, 2022 by Julie Sep 28th, 2022 by Julie Sep 27th, 2022 by Kelly Sep 27th, 2022 by Julie Sep 26th, 2022 by Julie Sep 25th, 2022 by Julie Sep 24th, 2022 by Julie Sep 23rd, 2022 by Julie Sep 22nd, 2022 by Kelly Sep 22nd, 2022 by Julie Sep 21st, 2022 by Julie Sep 20th, 2022 by Julie Sep 19th, 2022 by Julie Sep 18th, 2022 by Kelly Sep 18th, 2022 by Julie Sep 17th, 2022 by Julie Sep 16th, 2022 by Julie Sep 15th, 2022 by Julie Sep 14th, 2022 by Julie Sep 13th, 2022 by Kelly Sep 13th, 2022 by Julie Sep 12th, 2022 by Julie Sep 11th, 2022 by Julie Sep 10th, 2022 by Kelly Sep 10th, 2022 by Julie Sep 9th, 2022 by Julie Sep 8th, 2022 by Julie Sep 7th, 2022 by Kelly Sep 7th, 2022 by Julie Sep 6th, 2022 by Julie Sep 5th, 2022 by Julie Sep 4th, 2022 by Kelly Sep 4th, 2022 by Julie Sep 3rd, 2022 by Julie Sep 2nd, 2022 by Julie Sep 1st, 2022 by Kelly Sep 1st, 2022 by Julie Aug 31st, 2022 by Julie

Kelly Johnson

I’m starting the Bike Across America adventure as a way to reacquaint myself with life in the States after having lived in Paris, France for the last three years (2019-2022). While in France, I had the opportunity to do several multi-day bike tours in the French countryside, the Netherlands, and the UK. I’m looking forward to exploring my homeland in a similar way, visiting states I’ve never been to before and embracing the adventure of each day.


Latest Posts

Ending On A High Note
Nov 12th, 2022

Kelly Johnson

We made it to Williamsburg! The ride from Richmond along the capital trail was smooth and scenic. It felt like an easy day, which is such a gift. In addition, the weather was perfect. This is a huge contrast from the tornado and flood warnings that hit the area yesterday and forced us to delay our push to the finish line. Tomorrow morning we’ll bike the final 12 miles out to Yorktown beach and then drive home to DC almost immediately thereafter. I must say, despite all the challenges, it’s bittersweet to reach the end. I cannot deny that I am relieved and glad to be done biking. The daily anxiety related to being in traffic and climbing hills has certainly taken a mental and emotional toll. That said, I’m going to miss the sense of adventure and challenge that permeated each and every day. I also love the camaraderie and can-do attitude our team has developed during the last two and a half months.

Entering The Home Stretch
Nov 7th, 2022

Kelly Johnson

As of this morning, we have 310 miles to go! It is so surreal to be in the final stage of this adventure. If everything goes according to plan, we’ll arrive in Williamsburg Friday afternoon and then bike out to the Yorktown coast Saturday morning. When we’re done biking, it’s back to DC and back to reality. Not sure if I know how to do anything other than bike touring at this point, though.

Goodbye Kentucky, Hello Virginia
Nov 2nd, 2022

Kelly Johnson

Later today, in less than 10 miles, we will cross the border from Kentucky into Virginia! I am so excited and proud that we will have reached our last and final state of the trip. It’ll take us about a week and a half to reach the coast (Virginia is a big state), but the end is neigh! We also still have a good bit of climbing ahead to get us over the the Appalachian Mountains. Part of our Virginia route will be on the Blue Ridge Parkway, which should be quite scenic.

The Rolling Hills Of Kentucky
Oct 28th, 2022

Kelly Johnson

Kentucky has been a real challenge. Despite the fact that the elevation is rather low, we’re doing more climbing than we did crossing the Rockies. The roads are just a constant up-down, up-down. It is exhausting. It feels like we spend all day climbing with only very short payoffs. Due to the ever-evolving landscape, we are forced to constantly change gears. There is never a long stretch where we’re just cruising. Instead, we’re constantly shifting from high to low gears. It’s rough on the knees as well as the drive train. My front derailer came out of alignment yesterday. Luckily, Jordan was able to fix it and it worked just fine today! Impressive handyman skills!

Illinois Recap
Oct 23rd, 2022

Kelly Johnson

We’re officially back on the TransAmerica Trail! Jordan and I decided to stick with the original plan and get back on the TransAmerica route after the Missouri Katy Trail instead of the Eastern Express. We decided that the Eastern Express went too north and risked running into rough weather. According to Julie’s very helpful and detailed route planning, we’re on track to hit Yorktown by 15 November.


En route from Paris to Chartes
Bike ride from Pauillac to Saint-Emilion
Bike ride around Lake Annecy
Cotswolds biking in Bourton-on-the-Water
Stop at the Pont du Gard during our Rhône River tour
My Surly Disc Trucker during a tour in the Loire

I became seriously interested in cycling largely as a result of the COVID pandemic. While in Paris, I spent three months stuck in the apartment teleworking with limited freedom to go outside. When it was time to start going back into the office, I chose to bike to work on my old Globe to avoid being squished with folks in the metro. As I got used to my daily commute, I invested in a Brompton (folding bike) to make it easier to get my bike in and out of my apartment building’s tiny elevator. Little did I know that this purchase would change my life. I absolutely loved this bike! I got one for my husband as a surprise Christmas present, and we embarked on a series of amazing trips across France and Europe. The Bromptons’ foldability made it so easy to throw them in the car or train luggage area, opening up so many new possibilities for bike adventuring. Our first multi-day tour was along the Rhône River in Southern France where we biked over 160 miles in three days from Tain-l’Heritage to Arles. It was on this trip that I realized bike touring would become a major part not only of the way I travel, but how I would live life. Even though I’ll be biking across America on a Surly Disc Trucker, it’s my Brompton that is responsible for getting me ready for this adventure.


My bike build for biking across the US:

-Surly Disc Trucker, 56 inch frame

-Flat handlebars with Super Sticky Kush bar tape

-Ergon GP3 grips

-Brooks B17 Imperial Saddle

-SKS fenders

-Tubus racks

-Newton flat pedals

-Avid breaks

-Hope hubs

-DT Swiss wheels

-Transmission: SRAM X5 3x10, SRAM X5, Shimano Deore triple M6000, SRAM 10v, SRAM 11-36

-Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tour tires

-Ortleib Bikepacker Plus panniers