Phase 1: Complete

You'd think by now that I would stop expecting tinker tape parades, media frenzy and general hoopla when I enter a town upon my steel steed.  You'd be wrong.  It seems that I was the only one aware that I was entering Portland after spending just over 4 months (127 days) cycling from Burlington, Vermont, traversing these states and provinces, wandering on the road, in my mind and in my heart for endless hours.  Life can become a blur, as we try to look behind, what we did can be covered in fog.  Four months is not forever, but the infinite things i have seen, experienced, the people places and animals, it can crowd my head and sometimes I dont see the past as clearly.  Of course, its the present that I am really into, and biking bingle by bingle helps re-enforce that it is the NOW that is always most spectacular and sweet.  With that said, lets take a look back:

May 3, 2011 Burlington, Vermont - September 7, 2011 Portland Oregon
Miles Traveled: 7,060.9
Days Cycled: 119
Zero Mile days: 8
Time Cycled: 615 hours, 30 minutes
Average Daily Distance: 59.3 miles
Longest Day: 132.04 miles, 10 hrs, 33 mins
States Cycled: (12) Vermont, New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Montana, Washington, Oregon
Canadian Provinces: Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia
National Sites Visited: (17) Sleeping Bear Dunes, Pictured Rocks, Apostle Islands, Pipestone, Badlands, Minuteman, Mt. Rushmore, Windcave, Rocky Mountains, Flaming Gorge, Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Glacier, North Cascades, Ross Lake, Mt. Rainier, Olympic
Canadian National Sites: Kootney, Banff, Jasper
Mountain Passes: (19) Colorado - Rabbit Ears 9,426 ft, Milner 10,758 ft, Trail Ridge 12,183 ft, Muddy 8,772, Fall river 11,796, Montana - Badger 6,760ft, Big Hole 7,630, Chief Joseph 7,264, Lost Trail 7,014, Marias 5,280, Logan 6,646 Alberta - Sinclair 1,486 m, Vermillion 1,640m, Bow 2,068m, Sunwapta 2,035, Yellowhead 1,131 Washington - Loup Loup 4,020 ft, Washington 5,477ft, Rainy 4,855 ft
9 Continental Divide Crossings

There are probably other things I can say, but i really dont feel like sitting around adding everything up or making up random stuff.  If you really need to know more, just ask.  Tomorrow, Chris arrives and we'll ride form the airport officially staring my Phase Two: Portland to Austin.  we have about 4 months to travel the Pacific coast and southwest before meeting up with some more touring friends in Texas.  But what the future really holds for us, who knows.  Thats what makes cycle touring so great, we dont need to know, only go.