Bicycling beyond the Divide: Two Journeys into the West (Outdoor Lives)

On a journey begun twenty years earlier, Daryl Farmer, a twenty-year-old two-time college dropout, did what lost men have so often done in this country: he headed west. Twenty years later and seventy pounds heavier, with the yellowing journals from that transformative five-thousand-mile bicycle trek in his pack, Farmer set out to retrace his path. This is his story of pursuing that distant summer and that distant dream of home, where home is endless space, a roof of big sky, and a bed of dry earth. Just as the years altered the man, so, too, have they altered the West, and Farmer’s second journey affords a unique perspective on these changes—as well as on what lasts. Whether caught in a Colorado snowstorm or braving a Yellowstone herd of bison, kayaking with orcas in Puget Sound, trading Ninja moves with a homeless man in San Francisco, or getting the lowdown on aliens on Nevada’s Extraterrestrial Highway, Farmer charts a moving landscape of people and places. This is the West where the natural world and personal character are inextricably linked, and where one man’s ride into the past and present takes us to the heart of that ever-evolving connection. (20080306) Title Page......Page 4 Copyright Page......Page 5 Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Prologue......Page 12 Colorado......Page 20 Departure......Page 21 On How Not to Begin......Page 23 Florissant to Fairplay......Page 26 Hoosier Summit......Page 32 Below Freezing......Page 38 A Colorado Cow Patch South of Baggs......Page 44 Wyoming......Page 52 Outlaws, Antelope, Prairie Dogs, and Sage......Page 53 Night at the Antelope Saloon......Page 68 To Jackson......Page 71 Elkfest......Page 78 Signal Mountain Lodge......Page 80 How to Bicycle through a Buffalo Herd......Page 87 Richard I......Page 94 Montana......Page 102 Another Log on the Fire......Page 103 Paradise Valley to Ennis......Page 107 Virginia City to Opportunity......Page 118 Anaconda to Missoula......Page 124 Face-planting on Highway 2......Page 133 Glacier National Park......Page 141 Kalispell Again......Page 146 Libby to Troy......Page 154 Idaho......Page 160 Karaoke Night in Bonners Ferry......Page 161 Washington......Page 170 Fire Trucks and Rodeo Queens......Page 171 Okanagan to Friday Harbor......Page 177 The San Juan Islands......Page 187 Anacortes to Port Angeles......Page 198 A Side Trip to Victoria......Page 204 Port Angeles to Shoalwater Bay......Page 209 Winnefred......Page 219 Oregon......Page 226 Astoria to Newport......Page 227 On a Sunday Morning......Page 232 A Coming to Peace......Page 239 At the North Bend Airport......Page 254 Intermission: San Francisco......Page 256 Like a Haggard Ghost......Page 257 City of Hills......Page 265 Return to Oregon......Page 272 North Bend to Gold Beach......Page 273 California......Page 280 To Eureka......Page 281 From Modesto to Yosemite and Mammoth Lakes......Page 286 From Mammoth Lakes to Mono Lake......Page 299 Nevada......Page 302 Tonopah......Page 303 The Extraterrestrial Highway......Page 312 Utah and Arizona......Page 324 Modena to Kanab......Page 325 At Jacob Lake......Page 330

on A Journey Begun Twenty Years Earlier, Daryl Farmer, A Twenty-year-old Two-time College Dropout, Did What Lost Men Have So Often Done In This Country: He Headed West. Twenty Years Later And Seventy Pounds Heavier, With The Yellowing Journals From That Transformative Five-thousand-mile Bicycle Trek In His Pack, Farmer Set Out To Retrace His Path. This Is His Story Of Pursuing That Distant Summer And That Distant Dream Of Home, Where Home Is Endless Space, A Roof Of Big Sky, And A Bed Of Dry Earth.

 

just As The Years Altered The Man, So, Too, Have They Altered The West, And Farmer’s Second Journey Affords A Unique Perspective On These Changes—as Well As On What Lasts. Whether Caught In A Colorado Snowstorm Or Braving A Yellowstone Herd Of Bison, Kayaking With Orcas In Puget Sound, Trading Ninja Moves With A Homeless Man In San Francisco, Or Getting The Lowdown On Aliens On Nevada’s Extraterrestrial Highway, Farmer Charts A Moving Landscape Of People And Places. This Is The West Where The Natural World And Personal Character Are Inextricably Linked, And Where One Man’s Ride Into The Past And Present Takes Us To The Heart Of That Ever-evolving Connection.

sports Literature Association

even If You Have No Interest In Bicycling, If You Haven't Ridden One In Years And Have No Intention Of Getting It Out Now That The Weather Is Warmer, Ride Along With Daryl Farmer To Learn More About Living.

— Duncan R. Jamieson, Sports Literature Association

On a journey begun twenty years earlier, Daryl Farmer, a twenty-year-old two-time college dropout, did what lost men have so often done in this country: he headed west. Twenty years later and seventy pounds heavier, with the yellowing journals from that transformative five-thousand-mile bicycle trek in his pack, Farmer set out to retrace his path. This is his story of pursuing that distant summer and that distant dream of home, where home is endless space, a roof of big sky, and a bed of dry earth.
 
Just as the years altered the man, so, too, have they altered the West, and Farmer’s second journey affords a unique perspective on these changes—as well as on what lasts. Whether caught in a Colorado snowstorm or braving a Yellowstone herd of bison, kayaking with orcas in Puget Sound, trading Ninja moves with a homeless man in San Francisco, or getting the lowdown on aliens on Nevada’s Extraterrestrial Highway, Farmer charts a moving landscape of people and places. This is the West where the natural world and personal character are inextricably linked, and where one man’s ride into the past and present takes us to the heart of that ever-evolving connection. "On a journey begun twenty years earlier, Daryl Farmer, a twenty-year-old two-time college dropout, did what lost men have so often done in this country: he headed west. Twenty years later and seventy pounds heavier, with the yellowing journals from that transformative five-thousand-mile bicycle trek in his pack, Farmer set out to retrace his path. This is his story of pursuing that distant summer and that distant dream of home, where home is endless space, a roof of big sky, and a bed of dry earth." "Just as the years altered the man, so, too, have they altered the West, and Farmer's second journey affords a unique perspective on these changes - as well as on what lasts. Whether caught in a Colorado snowstorm or braving a Yellowstone herd of bison, kayaking with orcas in Puget Sound, trading Ninja moves with a homeless man in San Francisco, or getting the lowdown on aliens on Nevada's Extraterrestrial Highway, Farmer charts a moving landscape of people and places. This is the West where the natural world and personal character are inextricably linked, and where one man's ride into the past and present takes us to the heart of that ever-evolving connection."--BOOK JACKET