Snow and Lolo Pass

The State of Montana begins, or began for us at the pass known as Lolo Pass. This is a pass in the Rockies at a height of 5,200 feet.

The pass is the culmination of a ride of two days to get there. The ride took the bikes through what is described at the countries wildest and most remote areas.

The road of 90 miles follows a river Lochso, its self a major river but one that joins the Snake River and this joins rhe Columbia River.

There are almost no phones, stores, or people.

Its is a very wild, remote and beautiful area.

10,000,000 acres of vigiln, wild, natural forest and home to wolves, bears, deer, Elk,  Moose, mountain loins and Cougar.

The great advantage of the river is the gradual rise the road takes over this distance, great for the bikers to gather height slowly and enabled the riders to cover a lot of ground and climb.  The road does have a sting in its tail though. The last 6 miles are a hard, severe climb to the top. When we did this the snow and wind joined the party and made the ride very difficult.

At the summit you would think the two intrepid cyclists would be tired, wet and cold, well of course they were but were they despondent? Well no!

And Alvon did what he does so well......

Have a good day and  think of us with another climb, 6,200 feet this time.

Bob Cox

What can you say, here is a guy who chooses to ride across the United States of America on a mission to help those that have served their country be that the US or the UK.    Bob was born on the UK but took American citizenship a few years ago, if ever there was someone with a foot in both camps it's Bob.

At 75 years old to even consider this is something that many would shy away from but not Bob.

The ride is committed to covering about 65 miles a day, but this is in spite of weather, wind, rain, snow or terrain. Bob was able, not only to complete the ride and often as the leader.

The latest news from the hospital is encouraging, what was first diagnosed as broken hip has now been confirmed as a broken femur.  The break is a the top of the leg and Bob has had surgery, this was successful and he has been on his feet - he is able to get around with  the aid of a walker.   He also has a small break in his shoulder. I understand that he should be able to get home this weekend.  So Bob if you get to read this, get well soon and you are in our thoughts.

Thank you for setting the standard, one that we will adhere to until we arrive in DC

Good Bye Washington State

Its now been a week from arriving in Washington State and commencing the US leg of the Sea2Sea challenge.  What a great experience we have had within the State, Seattle, Ocean Shores, and across the State.

The scenery has been amazing but the people have been wonderful.

Today we started our journey from the town of Pomeroy - we were hosted by Ed and Judy Huntingdon.    They gave us a great meal and a good breakfast - great hosts.  They were able to join us at the early morning ceremony, always a moving time.  More so this morning as we were joined by the grandmother of a soldier killed in Afghanistan.

Here are are hosts and pictures of the mornings ceremony:

Some photographs / video of the journey through Washington State:

No wi-fi

Dear Reader,

It soon becomes obvious how dependant we are on good comms to get the word out.

Over the last few days we have had sparse or no coverage of phones and no wi-fi for periods. So please bear with us on our aim of getting a blog out each day, we will if we can, but now in that great coffee shop, yes you know its Starbucks. This time in Clarkston in the extreme East of the state of  Washington.

The bikers are to join us and I'm bloging as quickly as I can, not too tough though with a steaming cappucino waiting!  The bikers are coming down a big drop, about 2,000 ft spread  over 10 miles or so, the wind has finally died. The weather is good.

The Sunday was a rest day and our departure yesterday which was proceeded by our remembering of the troops that will not be coming home.

This is always a very emotional time and a tough one. Made the more poignant by the names of local men or women.

We left and did just have time for a group photograph.  Anyone who takes photographs will know how difficult these are, the photographs  normally look less than great, so when the collected party  all jump in the air it has a good effect, its a fact that you cannot jump in the air with friends and not laugh!

Onwards today into Idaho,before leaving our overnight stop this morning we were given two large packs of beef from a local rancher. Great people.

The journey so far

We are now at the end of the first week's ride across the US, the question is 'How has it gone?'  Well the answer is that that is has gone well, very well indeed.  The bikers have covered around 500 miles of tough riding and finished the week fit and not so tired that the prospect of carrying on is daunting.  The bikes have stood up to the rigours well and the RV has been great.  We find that having 5 souls in the RV makes it just a tad cosy but just fine. Being able to pull over for a break, food and check out the maps etc is just great.


The country we have travelled through has been fantastic, rugged, beautiful and always chugging. The last two days has seen the bikes cover high miles, a 92 mile day and then a 85 mile day - all helped by a strong tail wind.

To prove the point here are intrepid bikers....Tom, Alvon, Bob

Many readers look forward to a picture of Alvon, our celebrity biker. Well today Alvon gave me a self portrait.

During the week we have met the very best of people, veterans from conflicts during this and the last century,  they have freely given their stories to us and their company has been exceptional.

At the weekend we were hosted by Eunice and Wally Hickerson at Prosser in the Washington Desert. The hospitality that have given us has been very welcome and they have been the most tremendous of hosts.  We would like to than Wally's company, ICF International as acting as corporate sponsors.

During the week we met with someone who wanted to share with us and others via the blog, her experiences of the war in Afghanistan, Hope Gallinger-Long.

Hope met her husband, Riley, while as school (they were best friends), they married and Riley then joined the Navy as a Corpsman, in the UK this would be a Filed Medic.   He was then seconded to the Marine Corps and was posted to Afghanistan. Hope and Riley had been married for just 5 months when he was shot and killed by a sniper on Aug 11, 2011.

This is her story, to view click on the train]gle.

So it has been a memorable and awe-inspiring first week.  Tomorrow we start week 2 as we push East towards Idaho and Montana.

Our continued thanks to all the Washingtonians who have made our 1st week truly memorable by treating us like one of their family.

Portland in the rain

The day started in the Salvation Army's accommodation in Portland Oregon.   We have found that people are very kind and very supportive, it was a good stay and we enjoyed the company as I mentioned in the last blog.  What was great that we were joined at the the start of the day by James  Mourning of the Disabled American Veterans  he was with us at dawn with his daughter Ashley and Son in Law Ian. They joined us for the the reading of the 100 names of those killed in battle in both the Iraq and Afghan wars.

Stan is a lovely man and heads the Senior Vice Commander of the chapter in Longville.  It was lovely to see him and his family join us.

As readers will know, the coffee chain Starbucks has to be checked out on a regular basis by the author of this Blog, (I know its tough but hey) - even some times by the riders. Below the person fast becoming the Poster Boy of the Blog, 

The riding was good in that it was not far but not great as it was wet, and Tom's chain broke, but still going well. 

And yes you're right that is Alvon in the lead.

Have a good one....B

Oakville - Washington state

Well now we are getting going and embracing the American culture I am sat in Starbucks posting the Blog.  Very good coffee as well!

We are getting a routine going, wake up, porridge (American translation - Oats) eggs, and away for 60 miles cycling.

Here in Washington State we are meeting the most wonderful people and this Blog starts with the finish  yesterday, that was in the town of Longview.   Here we were given accommodation.  Our thanks to the Salvation Army in the town,  they have a small Motel attached to their offices.

It was in the offices we met members of the DVA, this is the Disabled Veteran's Association.   Vets from Korea, and Vietnam.

It was very good to talk with Gerry Mies  who had fought and was badly wounded in the war that is often called the forgotten war, the Korean War.

This is part of his story, sorry no editing in Starbucks.

The day started in Oakville, we were given a great meal in the in the Methodist Church presided over by Preacher Bill.

No shortage of logs in this part of America.

To all people who view this, thanks for looking. its great to know that what are doing is being seen all over the world.

Now back to that cappuccino!

B