Part 24: Bicycle Coast to Coast Across America—Atlantic Ocean, Washington DC

Part 24: Bicycle Coast to Coast Across America—Atlantic Ocean, Washington DC

By Frosty Wooldridge

“A bicycle journey through life enhances a person’s body, mind and spirit.  Each encounter creates an opening for intellectual growth.  A bicycle journey promotes exceptional fitness.  Two-wheeled travel offers spiritual lifts in ways unexplainable.  On a bicycle, you know you live on the edge, at the peak and into the thrust of life.   You live it because you choose it.  Or, it chooses you and you accept the opportunity.  Thus, you command your life.”  FHW

(In front of the Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC)

In the morning, I jumped out of my sleeping bag to warm sunshine pouring through the deep forest leaves.  Birds chirped. A squirrel chattered from a tree branch above me.   I took a big swig of water from my bottle.  I reveled that I would see the Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, King Memorial and all the delights of the Smithsonian along with the Capital Building of the United States.

A quote by Edward Abbey started my day:

“Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread. A civilization which destroys what little remains of the wild, the spare, the original, is cutting itself off from its origins and betraying the principle of civilization itself.”

I packed up my gear, loaded Condor and pedaled onto Route 50.  Just imagine all the horseback riders, horse-drawn sleighs, mule- drawn wagons, buckboards, pioneer Conestoga wagons drawn by oxen’s and finally, Model T’s all the way up to 18-wheelers and Chevrolets.  This road watched the march of history, countless people and a whole lot of change in the past 300 years.

(Vietnam soldiers eternalized in bronze.)

I followed Route 50 right through numerous turns, twists and bypasses to ride into the heart of Washington DC. First up, I stopped at the Lincoln Memorial.  I stepped up to where Dr. Martin Luther King gave his “I have a dream” speech back in the 60s during civil rights.  I attended college at the time.  Pretty harrowing battles not only for civil rights, but anti-war marches against the Vietnam War.   I marched in those anti-Vietnam marches because I didn’t want to get killed in Vietnam. 

On the walls of the Lincoln Memorial where he sits in a big marble chair, the great president said, “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal….” November 19, 1863.

“In this temple, which remains in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the nation. The memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever.”

Powerful moment. Gut wrenching.  Inspiring!

I pedaled to the WWII Memorial at the far end of the pond.   Then, the Washington Monument, which seems rather boorish in that it’s one big spear of stone.  I visited his home at Mt. Vernon, which really gave a fabulous life story of his exploits.  Tremendous man! 

(The original Wright Brother’s first airplane that flew at Kitty Hawk. Treasured at the Smithsonian in our nation’s capital, Washington DC.)

I pedaled along the lake to the Jefferson Memorial. A magnificent statue enshrines Jefferson: “I swear on the alter of God, eternal hostility to any institution that prevails tyranny against the mind of man.”

Walking into Jefferson’s memorial caused me an almost spiritual experience. His brilliant writings adorn the walls.  He speaks lofty, noble thoughts.

Dr. Martin Luther King rises out of the ground in grand eloquence.  He gave people of all colors greater dignity toward their own destinies.  In reality, we all belong to the family of humanity.

Later, the raising of the stars and stripes at the Iwo Jima Memorial causes a great deal of emotions.  The Korean Memorial looks rather sad because, again, those kids died for nothing.  The Vietnam Black Wall War Memorial saddened me because I lost friends in that war.  All of them lost their lives for nothing but greedy politicians and corrupt presidents starting with Lyndon Baines Johnson.

In the next four days, I stayed with John Canon at www.WarmShowers.org . Each day, I took off on my bike to see all the monuments, visit all the Smithsonian exhibits and cherish our nation’s history.

(Thomas Jefferson, one of the men I admire most in U.S. history.  Yes, he suffered his faults as we all suffer our own foibles, however, his brilliant mind and tenacious drive birthed a free civilization.)

During my meanderings around Washington DC, a film crew for Channel 9 News asked me to interview with them. They shot me riding my bike in traffic. That night,  I saw myself on the news.  When I rode out to the airport two days later, everyone remembered the flags on my bike. They honked and waved for my entire 18 miles out to Reagan International Airport. 

“You’re living my dream,” some yelled.

Later, I pedaled across the Potomac River to make my way to Chesapeake Beach on Chesapeake Bay, which flows into the Atlantic. I dipped my plastic vile into the water to complete my Pacific to Atlantic bicycle adventure.  My journey completed.

(The Spirit of St. Louis signifies adventure. Each time I visit DC, I marvel at Lindbergh’s marvelous flight into the history books.)

Reflections:

A 3,400-mile bicycle creates extraordinary moments.  It’s not ordinary. It’s not usual. It’s not plain.  It’s not for the faint of heart. It takes muscle, guts and tenacity.  Very few Americans possess this kind of “true grit.”  At 60 percent obesity rates, we truly morphed into a physically debilitated citizenry.  It happened because of the automobile, working in cubicles and fast foods.  It’s difficult to see firsthand what it does to people. I cry for those people on the “Biggest Loser” show. I wish everyone could enjoy such an extraordinary journey on a bicycle. 

Yet, in the end, everyone gets to choose their lives and how they live them because of our nations’ heroes like Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, Adams and Lincoln.

For certain, when I draw my last breath, you will see a big smile on my face because as the late comedian Robin Williams said:

“Please, don’t worry so much. Because in the end, none of us have very long on this Earth. Life is fleeting. And if you’re ever distressed, cast your eyes to the summer sky when the stars are strung across the velvety night. And when a shooting star streaks through the blackness, turning night into day… make a wish and think of me. Make your life spectacular. I know I did.” 

I can say, “I know I am. It’s glorious!”

The end of a coast-to-coast bicycle ride with Frosty Wooldridge, six continent world bicycle traveler.

By Ken Molestina, Channel 9, Washington DC.

Interview with Wooldridge:

http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=209032

(The journey’s end. Washington DC)

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Frosty Wooldridge
Golden, CO

Www.HowToLiveALifeOfAdventure.com

Www.frostywooldridge.com

Six continent world bicycle traveler

Speaker/writer/adventurer

Adventure book: How to Live a Life of Adventure: The Art of Exploring the World

Latest book:  How to Deal with 21st Century American Women: Co-creating a successful relationship

Distributor for: www.lifevantage.com ; write me for further information on improving your health.

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Frosty Wooldridge, six continent world bicycle traveler, Canada to Mexico summer 2014, 2,200 miles, 100,000 vertical feet of climbing: