I’m going to ride my bike across Washington State in 2026. Now that I’ve put that in writing, I’m more or less legally obligated to see it through. It’s early 2025 and I’ve got a lot of work to do.
In the midst of an endless home remodel, I’m currently living in my basement like a twenty-something who can’t escape the nest, though I have the privileges of a mortgage, a stressful job and a bad back. And unlike a twenty-something, at 45 I put on 15 pounds last year alone.
What’s pushing me to do this? I’ve been progressing through adulthood with increasing levels of stress and anxiety, leading to a general loss of ability to move through life and the world with the physical, mental and emotional health of my youth. I’ve tried to do the right things to get back on top – natural supplements, sleep hygiene, exercise, meditation, drinking less and therapy – but anxiety is relentless. I spend my nights and weekends ruminating on the work-related molehills that I’ve made into mountains in my head. I often find myself physically present with friends and loved ones, but mentally elsewhere.
To help, my therapist suggested I find something to pull me in. I have hobbies and interests, but nothing that pulls me in and engulfs me, absorbing all available attention. So I needed something new. I love to think about big ideas and adventures, I’ve always loved bikes and my window for big physical pursuits is getting ever smaller – so a big bike adventure feels right. At my current fitness and experience levels, riding across the state will be a significant challenge requiring hours of training and preparation – but also doable. It will be a challenge but it may also open the door to a new passion and a new way of traveling.