Menk's Across America
June 13, 2002
The Menk family, Steve and Mary with their sons, Ben and
Jeremiah, have planned the epic family summer vacation: cycling
across America. Departing next week from Deception Pass State
Park, just north of Seattle, Washington, they will average
about 90 miles a day on their journey east. With rest days
as needed, they hope to complete the trip by arriving at Elk
Neck State Park located on Chesapeake Bay in Maryland in early
August.
The Team
Jeremiah Menk collected short bios on each of the family members:
- Ben
I am turning 22 years old on the day we leave for Washington.
I am currently a student at the University of Minnesota,
and going across the United States sounded like a dream
summer job. In return, my parents will help me pay for school.
I knew several years ago my dad wanted to bike across the
U.S. when he turned 50. As it turned out we are going to
be a year early, but it has worked out better that way.
I committed to the trip a year ago, and we have been planning
since (mostly my dad). As for my skiing background I started
skiing at the age of 4 in Rochester, MN. We moved to Sioux
Falls, SD where we packed down our own ski trails at parks
and helped create one of the first groomed trails there.
The yearly trips to the Birkie, Vasaloppet, and Finlandia
kept me interested and excited about skiing, when hardly
anyone else cross-country skied in Sioux Falls, and certainly
no one else my age except my brother. I have added more
races to my schedule since I moved to the Twin Cities and
enjoy the winters and skiers around here immensely. Biking
is something I do for fun in the summer. It also helps me
to stay in shape for my main passion, skiing. I will also
try the different countryside's for a bunch of rollerskiing
since I am not locked into point to point biking schedule.
I think this trip will be a great time.
- Mary
Our background included lots of cross country skiing as
a family and also racing the Midwest races, with biking
and roller skiing as a way to cross train and enjoy the
outdoors. We (Mom and Dad) have always enjoyed the outdoors
and thought we'd ride across America after we retired. We
decided our health was good and our sons could join us,
so we thought it would be a great adventure as a family
to do it now. We've been planning for a couple of years.
We rode TRAM last year and part of RAGBRAII. We've spent
the last year planning the route, upgrading bikes and gear,
purchasing a travel trailer, and riding, riding, riding.
Mom.
- Steve
Jeremiah, Mom was trying to find a philosophical reason
for riding but it's very simple. We're crazy. What else
explains missing two months paychecks and riding a bike
across the US? Dad.
- Jeremiah
Hello, my name is Jeremiah, I am 25 years old and live in
the Minneapolis. I have been skiing since I was little.
I started skiing with my family in Rochester, MN. Dad took
a cross-country ski class through college and decided it
would be a good activity for the winter. He started with
a set of Army Surplus skis and pack boots. We moved to Sioux
Falls, SD when I was 15 and our family made up about half
of the more serious skiers in town. We packed our own trails
by skiing one kilometer laps again and again and again�
I like the ski trails in the cities much better. As best
as I recall, my dad suggested biking across the US for his
50th birthday. In the spring of 2001 we decided to commit
to biking across the US and are now realizing our goal.
We've been planning the route, looking for camping information,
and making sure that we have all of the gear we will need
for the past year. We will be biking from Anacortes, WA
to Elk Neck State Park, Maryland starting June 17, 2002.
My brother was hired to tow a camper ahead to each site
as the rest of my family bikes approximately 88 miles a
day. Luckily my 1984 Volvo has decided to die, so I have
been biking to work during the week and biking after work
when I get home. Most people tell me I am lucky to have
parents that are able to bike across the US with me, I agree.
Thank you skinnyski.com for publishing our bike ride so
our friends, family, coworkers, and anyone who is interested
in hearing about our trip can read about it.
The Route
The route is west coast to east coast, starting in northern
Washington and finishing in Maryland. They will ride over northern
Washington, Idaho and Montana before angling southeastward.
The route continues across North Dakota, the NW corner of South
Dakota, SW Minnesota, Iowa, and into Illinois. From there, they
proceed fairly straight east, cutting through Indiana, Ohio,
briefly into West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and finally Maryland.
Total mileage is expected to be over 3,400 miles.
Click to view larger map
Reports
Jeremiah is hoping they can file regular reports along the way,
and possibly some photos as well. Watch for the first updates
later this month!
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