Bike Lift

Chad Rainey, a software engineer from Georgetown, Texas, was a member of Adventure Cycling’s 2008 TransAmerica Expedition group. A glance at his portrait leaves no doubt that by the time the group hit Missoula from their start in the east, Chad was in great shape. Nonetheless he wasn’t focused on the athletic aspects of bicycle touring.

“This is my first bike tour and I am having the time of my life. Everyday is a new adventure and I get to see beautiful scenery and meet different people. One of my favorite moments is when I had to ride through a herd of cows that ranchers were moving down the middle of the highway…

…Everyday is a new adventure. Today it was a poetry book. A few miles west of Jeffrey City I found a poetry book by Jim Morrison that had been cast out of a car window just to bring joy to my day. I placed the book on top of my handlebar bag and a read a few poems as I biked…

…Lander has a nice bookstore where I plan to loiter most of the day. Plus there is a Shakespeare in the park tomorrow evening. I am sure my cultured biking group will be in attendance. And to prove to you that Lander is a happening place, in the RV park where we are tenting there is an ice cream social tonight…

…Three days out of Missoula I felt like I was in the middle of nowhere and there were very few services, much less phone reception. I had an amazing sighting of a bald eagle. He flew directly at me and swooped 20 feet above my head. It made my day.”