My 81st Birthday Cross-Country Bike Ride for 2026
With dogs in tow 2016 I made a ride from Twin Falls, Idaho to the place of my childhood Morris, New York in celebration of my 71st birthday, serving as a fund raiser for Mary Alice Park Twin Falls, Idaho. Chobani (The premier US yogurt company) also having its roots in New York and Idaho joined me in this ad venture.
As I approach my 81st birthday planning is underway to once again make this cross-country ride as a fundraiser for Mary Alice Park celebrating the parks 20th birthday, my 81st and our country’s 250st birthday.
I hope to have my wife Bonnie, Diva my dog and Chobani join me in this adventure
The plan is to leave mid June 2026 and arive in Iowa by 18 July to take part inthe 53rd Ragbrai ride accross the state west to east.
https://youtu.be/blo2qxg5mak
https://www.soidrvmarine.com
1 January,2026 Happy New Year
Thanks to Bish’s for their assistance in finding this travel trailer for Bonnie to provide comfort and support for us on ths ride.
Stay tuned for updates!!!!!!!
In the Begining
In a world run by monarchs, the United States announced an unprecedented democratic experiment whose success was far from guaranteed.
“A revolutionary idea, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
It isn’t about right or left but it’s about us “We the People” under the declaration of independence that makes us stand boldly let us be awakened in this year of celebration and remembrance of our responsibility “We the People”.
“Decent conduct does not mean what serves any person at any moment, but what serves society. You can’t have real safety or happiness in a society unless everyone play fair and learn to be kind to one another.” C.S. Lewis
In the Begining
Art undercover
https://youtu.be/kNUkBa4DPQ0?si=gBRFBcYJhZRkXK9y53rd Ragbrai Route Set
Here is my route
Thanks to Lytle Signs
Ready to go 2 weeks and counting down
Kick off at Mary Alice Park on Main June 20th 11 am
Day one great send off from Mary Alice Park ended day in Heyburn ID.
Hope to get things in order for making post as I go along.
Day 2 in the book ended in Amercian Fals, ID
about 70 mile ride today
see Mary Alice Park fb page for some pictures
Day 3 -
Meet with Chief Pocatello to day got permission to pass through and continue on to New York.
Done for the day at truck stop in Mcammon. 58 miles today didn't quite make it to Lava Hot Springs but meet up with Bonnie here and called it good.
check map fb for photos and video.
Day 4 over bedded down in Soda springs
check map fb page for more pictures and details
Day 5 done we are at KOA in Montpelier, ID.
Bonnie wanted to get some laundry done so we cut the ride short not being sure of laundry futher down road..
Last day in Idaho Wyoming hear we come.
Thank you Misty & Chuck of Soda Creek Campground for their friendly hospatalty, check them out if you are through this way. Tell them Art, Bonnie & Diva say Hi.
check Mary Alice Park (MAP) fb page for days pictures.
Day 6 & 7
No internet last night. Spent the night at Sage WY. (Goast Town) what is left of it.Some pictures on Mary Alice Park fb page (map).
Long winday day today finaly settled in at Little America.
This morning Michael and partner found me on my way to Kemmerer they are headed for RAGBRIA also just in a little more comfortable mode.
As I was riding today I reilized one of the most significant aniversies in my life is my 51st year of recovery. 51 years ago I was at a point of excaping life through the use of alcohl and was about ready to call life quits but in recovery I have found a way to live life not excape from it. On a bike ride abt 40 years ago I meet a gentelman in recovery here in Wyoming and he wanted to know long I had been sober and said he thinks he will skip that year there is no way he wants to bike accrous country
Enough for today think I well sleep well tonight. check out more pictures of the day at MAP fb page.
Start of second week Day 8 done in Rock Springs much of the day on gravle couple thousand feet of climbing some steep mountian bike sections. Finished up just ahead of wind and rain with Bonnie waiting with warm & dry space for me and food. Check out MAP fb page for some pictures and maybe a vireo.
Good night from Rock Springs
Days 9&10
Nice days ride from Rock Springs to Wamsutter I think trail may have been an oeignal cattle trail (see some pictures on MAP fb page) challenging mt bike trail in many spots.Day end with hot meal and warm welcome by Bonnie camped out in city park. Wamsutter to Rawlins on main road nice weather and tail wind found Bonnie at KOA camp ground in Rawlins.Not much excitment today posted a few pictures on MAPfb page.
Crossed the Continental Divide for the second time should be down hill from here to New York!!
Days 11 & 12 Long hilly highways few thousand feet of climbing. Internet is iffy wendsay evening in Arlington WY last night in Laramie WY.
Today headed for Cheyenne WY.
Nothing exciting for the past couple of days except my 81st birthday wanted to get in 81 miles but Bonnie had other plans maybe today thanks for all the birthday wishes.
check MAP fb page for more pictures.
Days 13,14, 15 & 16 (today is July 5, 2026 ) Maybe entering the date will help me remember what day it is!! How time flies already into week 3. Bedded down in Chappell NE.
Have not had internet connections past few days but have been able to make post on fb page. Nearing 900 miles into this Jurney, yesterday I logged 81 miles + in calibration of my birthday. We spent nights in Laramie passed over a pass at 8640 elevation visited Abraham Lincoln monument (“We must think anew and act anew”) moved on to Cheyenn, than to Bushnell NE. then a night in Potter NE. now here in Chappell for the evening. I think it was yesterday a truck driver pulled over to talk with me and offered a ride to Chicago (if you see a gap in my track it wasn’t that I took a ride just forgot to turn on spot for a few miles). The driver was originally from central Russia has lived in the US and been a long haul trucker for the past 8 years. He has a good friend who bikes around the world and is currently in Canada.
Good night
Day 17- 6 July 2026
Got an earlier start this morning hopefully to get my miles in before it gets too hot. Caught up with Bonnie at Paxton NE. Passed through several small communities most of the world has passed them by but they all have long histories in the growth of our country. I am traveling on US Hwy 30 which is the Lincon Highway. I have shared pictures of area history to the Mary Alice Park fb page as I go along.
Day 18 – 7 July 6, 2026
Done for the day settled at city park Gothenburg NE. 70 + mile day. Got earlier start light wind and warm, passed through Sutherland, North Platte, had lunch at Bonnies lunch wagon in Maxwell then onto Brady and ended here at Bonnies dinner in Gothenburg. Visited a wonderful original Pony Express Station, here in the park. The community has done an excellent job of preserving the history of this era.
Day 19-8 July 2026
Up and on road early. Cool and calm. Passed through Willow Island, Cozad, Darr, Lexington met Bonnies Lunch Wagon in Overton continued to Elm Creek, Odessa, and ended the day at Bonnies Dinner in Kearney NE.
In Cozad there was an interesting monument about the 100th Meridian, I posted a picture of this on MAP fb page it is worth reading. Lexington was a charming old city with some interesting architecture. Overton had many banners with picture and dates honoring community members who have and are serving in the various branches of the armed forces. Again, I have posted many pictures on fb. The day ended hot humid and breezy.
Day 20-9 July 2026
Off to a later start this morning waiting to see what the weather was up to.
Around 8 looking good headed for Grand Island NE. passed through Gibbon, Shelton, Wood River, Alda ending day in Grand Island. Posted a few pictures on MAP fb page.
On entering Grand Island met a fellow biker Paul Webb who was headed west towards Gibbon for the evening. Later in the evening Tom Caraher Danny’s brother stopped by to visit us. Tomorrow we are planning a day off her in Grand Island.
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